Posted on 02/27/2015 2:37:55 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
When Scott Walker pronounced himself agnostic about President Barack Obama’s patriotism and Christian faith, it must have seemed like a clever formulation. “I’ve never asked him, so I don’t know,” he said. And about Obama’s Christianity: “I’ve never asked him that.”
Walker quickly found his pitch unequal to the presidential big leagues. His argument can’t be generalized into a rule. I have never met Billy Graham, for example, but I’m pretty sure what he believes. As political attacks go, this one is particularly heavy-handed—the equivalent of saying: As far as I know, my opponent is not a swindler and a degenerate. A politician who tried this form of passive aggression before also got criticized for it.....
For Walker, this is more of a paper cut than a chest wound. But it can’t be good for the Republican Party, which some Americans associate with religious exclusivity, for a front-runner to sound religiously exclusive.
Walker’s Baptist upbringing—he is the son of a pastor—does put a particular emphasis on the personal acceptance of Christ. It was another Baptist governor, Jimmy Carter, who elevated the idea of being “born again” into the realm of presidential politics. For evangelicals in general, there is no such thing as a birthright Christian. Faith requires a conscious and highly consequential decision—a choice that some do not make.
But here Obama has been as forthright as anyone could be. “I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian,” he said in a 2008 Christianity Today interview......
Questioning this affirmation involves a serious charge—an accusation of the worst sort of cynicism. And it is simply not the role of a Christian layman to publicly dispute the self-identification of other Christians, especially in a political context. It is a practice that can lead down ugly alleys of sectarianism...
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
I have been doing a lot of reading from the book of Sirach lately. The insights and wisdom are astoundingly applicable to our times. While it is from the Old Testament, I did think of our founding fathers this morning as I read chapters 37, 38, and 39 covering keeping good counsel and what that actually means, respecting people of trades and skill, to lawyers etc.
It was a very good read with lots to think about. As it applies to this editorial about Scott Walker, Mr. Gerson doesn’t sound like the kind of person one should take counsel from regarding potential leaders. Sadly though, there is nearly half our nation that doesn’t know who to trust for counsel.
Walker handled the media just fine on that issue. They did not like it because he could not be manipulated by them. His answer was honest.
“This is the Bush team sending out the attack dogs.”
Yep. Gerson is a former speech writer for the Bush white house.
LOL. Gerson’s supposed comparison of Obama’s Christianity to that of Billy Graham’s - as an example of how to handle a persons impressions of the two is laughable. Billy Graham is currently the American that most personifies a true, believing Christian, who has talked the talk and walked the walk. Obama’s name should not be put into the same sentence as Graham’s
Just because Obama said he is a Christian, and then ‘a devout Christian’ - does not make him a Christian. Also, Walker has been preoccupied with all the Wisconsin problems with unions - he may not really remember Obama ever saying he was a Christian. It is certainly possible - that whether Obama has stated he is a Christian - it did not become a memorable moment to Scott walker.
Gerson is implying that Walker’s Baptist upbringing may be the reason for this. Gerson is an idiot, and he, himself, is showing a glaring lack of understanding of what Christianity is and how a Christian should live. Because Obama seems to have a decent family life, are we to assume that that alone is evidence that Obama is a good Christian?
The entire article is lame.
Obama also was against same-sex marriage.
Funny he mentions Billy Graham, when Franklin Graham is going around saying something entirely different. Epic fail here to prove Obama is a Christian.
Obama: I am a Christian.
MSM: Obama is a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Muslim is some kind of nut. That is completely false.
Later this year:
Obama: I became a Muslim when I lived in Indonesia.
MSM: Of course, he’s a Muslim. There is nothing wrong with that. Only a nut would think that is bad.
Orwellian
Exactly! Anybody can proclaim anything but if they claim to be a Christian, then their daily lives will be the proof of it, not some answer given once in an interview.
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