Stop Digging Already
- 04.15.2008 - 10:02 AMBarack Obama issued a somewhat standard greeting for Pope Benedict XVI, but apparently couldn’t resist throwing in this:
At a time when American families face rising costs at home and a range of worries abroad, the theme of Pope Benedict’s journey, “Christ Our Hope,” offers comfort and grace as well as a challenge to all faith communities to put our faith into action for the common good. It will not only be Catholics who are listening to the Holy Father’s message of hope and peace; all Americans will be listening with open hearts and minds.
Do Catholics and other people of faith think Pope Benedict’s appeal has special resonance because of “rising costs”? Would he be less welcome if gas prices were lower? I’m fairly certain Catholics believe in the message of “comfort and grace” even when prices are steady. And if Obama isn’t saying this–for an eloquent guy he seems perpetually to be misundertood–why mention “rising costs” at all?
This seems a bald-faced attempt to say “See, economic conditions do impact religiosity.” For those who were offended the first time Obama went down this road, they won’t be thrilled to see him try it again. Using the Pontiff’s visit as an excuse to reiterate his own political defense seems crass, at best.
At some point Obama may want to give up this “false consciousness” canard and instead concede that faith is not a mere refuge from economic anxiety. But no: he was right and he’s not backing down. See? See?
| »Back to Contentions | »Back to Commentary |
April 15th, 2008 at 10:24 AM
“Do Catholics and other people of faith think Pope Benedict’s appeal has special resonance because of “rising costs”? Would he be less welcome if gas prices were lower? I’m fairly certain Catholics believe in the message of “comfort and grace” even when prices are steady”
now who’s the elitist?
April 15th, 2008 at 10:44 AM
lester,
Marxism is so last century…
April 15th, 2008 at 10:55 AM
seen Andrew Sullivan’s AOL Politics poll today? The Question: Is Obama a fake Christian? I don’t think Andrew anticipated that the answer would be a resounding yes thus far (60% nationally) http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/04/14/hot-seat-is-obama-a-fake-christian/
April 15th, 2008 at 11:08 AM
My guess, GYM, is that once the Obamabots have learned that there’s an on-line poll making the Obamessiah look bad, they’ll swarm it until the numbers start to look better. Just my guess - unless it’s too hard for them to vote against their own anti-Christian biases. Many of his supporters would probably prefer to overlook his professions of faith in something other than himself.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:15 AM
rob - I’m saying two can play at this game.
whatever, this is just hazing for the new president, obama of indonesia. carry on, it’s just tradition
April 15th, 2008 at 12:30 PM
If there were only a photo of Pope Benedict clinging to a Winchester .3030.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:26 PM
J.E. Dyer: http://ckmac.com/images/special/pope_benedict_xvi.jpg
April 15th, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Close! And awesome. Thanks, CK.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:48 PM
From the-automated-Obama-translator, v.1.1 (beta)”
‘After all, all those bitter losers, stupidly clinging to their religion, need somebody better than themselves to show them their way. even if for the moment its only temporary, within the confines of their small minds, and pathetic existences.
Once I (Obama) become a president I will require them to be rid of their bitterness (because I am their leader), abandon their crutches of guns, religion and hatred of strangers and be happy. And the media will help too, all the reporting of economic gloom and doom will be gone come January 21st, 2009.’
April 15th, 2008 at 4:51 PM
CK MacLeod, I am not absolutely sure, but judging from the way Benedict’s lips are positioned, I think he just finished saying: “…FROM MY COLD, DEAD HAAAND”.