Think I’m Too Liberal? Think Again.
You know what? I’m completely disgusted by this fracas over Sarah Palin’s pastor. In case you haven’t heard it yet, Palin was in the pews two weeks ago when David Brickner, top gun at the evangelical organization Jews for Jesus, came to her church to speak. Her pastor invited Brickner to speak, and predictably, he said his usual tripe. It’s a preposterous organization, so he was preposterous.
Now the liberal blogosphere has its knives out: Is Sarah Palin an anti-Semite? The story is making the rounds: DailyKos, Politico, Atlantic.com’s Andrew Sullivan, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, Beliefnet.com, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Israel e News, New York Jewish Week, etc. And as a Jewish American and as a journalist who’s reported on Jews for Jesus in the past, I just want to say that I think this claim is baseless.
So she sat in the pews at church? So what? How many times have I gone to synagogue and thought, “That was an idiotic sermon,” or, “What a lousy guest speaker.” It happens. Not all programming is terrific. Even if she did think it was terrific, we don’t know that. All we know is that she was seated, on her ass, in a pew.
What makes me uncomfortable about this is that it’s disingenuous. Does anyone really believe that listening to one’s pastor’s guest speaker talk on Sunday morning signifies anything other than regular church attendence? It’s utterly hypocritical to bash Palin for this sermon after flying into a fury that Obama was attacked about Rev. Wright. You can’t have it both ways, my liberal friends. Either it’s fair game or it’s not. (And believe me, for those of us voting Obama, we really don’t want to dredge up the ghost of Pastor Wright.)
What should matter to the Jewish voter is which president will respect their issues and represent them best. Given that the majority of American Jews care about reproductive freedom, healthcare, just wars, gay and lesbian rights, etc., they will be voting Democratic. If they choose to vote Republican, they should do so based on what John McCain and his party have to offer, which, in my opinion, is nada.
Thoughts?
liz | 5:49 PM | Uncategorized
Disclosure: I am a liberal, I thought the whole Rev. Wright thing was blown out of proportion.
As for Sarah Palin and this guest speaker? What a yawner. HUGE non-issue.
I am so tired of being grossed-out by liberals. Really. I can’t vote for either of these idiots. I can’t vote for a guy who’d break bread with Ayres and Dohrn, and I can’t vote for a Republican continuation of Georgie-boy. But I’m getting serious wishes to vote for Sarah Palin if only because she is getting SO fucked over, and these dirtbags in the press are twisting her daughter around. So, for that matter, are the right-wing Protestant fundies who have the gall to carry on about Palin’s daughter having gotten laid before she was married. Oooo, straight to Hell with you miss!
All that said, Jews for Jesus is the biggest damn cop-out in religious history. “I’m a Jew who is completed by Jesus Christ” instead of “I went as far as I could with being a Jew, I don’t want to do that anymore, I am called elsewhere so I’m converting.” It’s a painful choice that makes people turn away from you. It did me 11 years ago when I became a Catholic after 53 years as a Jew. If Sarah Palin buys that happy horseshit…well, she can be both brave and damned stupid.
Well, i think it’s fair enough to at least ask her what she thinks of that sermon/position, just as Obama was grilled as to whether he agreed with Rev. Wright’s more extreme positions.
But, yes, the majority of Jewish Americans historically have been far to the left of the Jewish institutional establishments (AIPAC etc.), let alone Jews for Jesus.
Dearest Liz:
Joe Lieberman a proud American and Jewish; He just happened to be your democratic vice presidential candidate last time around I guess he must be a traitor and totally foolish in your line of thinking then? I guess he is either not liberal or Jewish enough for you? I happen to respect him a lot and strongly considered voting for him, if only they would have made him the presidential candidate! Not that I agreed on lots of issues with him, but he’s a great man, a great leader, and shows great character. That does happen to count!
As for that insane Jews for Jesus comment you made? That was out in the Left Field Bleachers. DUH WHAT! If you happen to be Christian, then you believe Jesus was not only Jewish, but the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. So to say out loud that a Christian that believes in Jesus {who was without doubt Jewish in the Christian faith} and the fulfillment of scripture for Christians is an anti-Semite is about as far over the top as a person can possibly get. Not to mention there are quite a few so called Jewish Christians out there in this world {Liz you can call them anti-Semite if you want, but it doesn’t make it so}; do you actually believe that make them bad people for choosing their own personal belief in God?
No wonder you’re such a great Dumocrate representative. From what you wrote we can now gather that Christians, Jews that choose to accept Jesus, and non-dumocrates are the enemy and just plain stupid? Your narrow mindedness leaves me stunned quite frankly.
That’s actually really just fine with me. I will not longer read or post here ok. I will leave that to your liberal far left Jewish only supporters (unless you happen to frequent a racist so called Christian church and run for president) .. See? Now everyone is Happy! Happy! Happy!
This is why I keep this political and religious type of stuff off my own mental health blog unless it relates to a mental health issue directly as with scientology at times {I use that as an example only, though I personally have not written on the subject}; since this obvious division among those that are supposed to be mental health advocates defeats the educational purpose, unified support base, and the whole movement to improve mental health care in America! Last time I checked, when your page opens at the top it states “A BLOG ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH”. You might want to change that a little?
I believe Joe Lieberman said it quite eloquently – We are American’s first and foremost, then we are Democrat’s., Republicans, Independents, and so forth. I now truly find your blog post offensive and completely bias! I’m sure the readers that leave or stay will be forever in your graces.
I happen to go with the personal opinion and philosophy that God and your spiritual journey in the end is a very personal one for each individual to decide for themselves.
Yours Truly
Stan
Agreed — you can’t tag Palin automatically with Jews for Jesus if you don’t tag Obama automatically with Jeremiah Wright. (Funny how so many conservatives do just that, though …)
On the other hand, it is peculiar that a woman who says she supports gay rights but not gay marriage attends a church that has prominent advertisements of classes in Anchorage to “convert” people from homosexuality …
It continues to amaze me that this country, which was violently formed in the name of “freedom of religion”, is so divided. Despite the Founding Father’s decree of Separation of Church and State, this bugger of religion sneaks in everywhere!
On the money, in the courts, in the schools, in the “understanding” of what you stand for. Madness.
Most faiths believe almost the same moral code. I think that, just possibly, the media flames our diverse beliefs, for the sake of a good story.
I understand that there are some morally and socially disturbed people out there, who would object to anyone who was not related to them. But I also think that many people would be swayed, if the concern was less about the place of worship, and more about their earthly issues.
Hi Liz, good post, good topic. Stan, Joe Lieberman supports the most criminal administration in the history of the country. If that represents being a good American…19 guys with box cutters take our own planes and use them against us. Our response is to blow up the world. I used to be a Repub. No more. I just want somebody smart who cares about people. Is that too much to ask?
Liz, the whole God topic is entirely appropriate for this blog. First off, this guilt by association crap has got to stop. As I recall, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and other assorted reprobates. I dont think he’d be welcome in the Republican party. Enough already. You are right. Obama and Palin. NOT an issue. Going a bit further though, as someone who was raised Christian and struggles with my faith, especially during my deep dark depression days, I’d like to feel something from some higher being. In mental illness, there can be isolation which creates a hunger for some connection, come reassurance some solace or comfort. We’re all born into this world without a clue and spend our lives trying to figure out a glimpse as to what this all means. You’re jewish. My faith is completely made up of jews. Why all the division? I see order in the universe and wonder, well how did that all happen. I dont want to believe a fairy tale. I just want to know something I’ll never know. God it’s tough being human sometimes. ANd then, it can be so wonderful. Liz, dont change your blog. Don’t second guess yourself. You’re just fine by me, Dave
liz,
please stop baiting the right-wing nutjobs. i am pretty successful at avoiding them most of the time, but i don’t want to have to stop visiting TTWS.
Reply: