Politics
Who Loves The Lord?
by Clay Staggs
Just when you think that politics can’t get any weirder when it comes to its intersection with religion, along comes something to prove you wrong. Perusing Hugh Hewitt’s blog (which I recommend to all interested in politics, especially on the GOP side of the aisle), I found a link to a little video of Harold Ford, Jr., who is the Democrat candidate for the Senate in Tennessee, giving a campaign speech. In it, he says:
My friend Lincoln Davis who chairs our campaign says there are, there’s one big difference between us and misfortunate Republicans when it comes to our faith: he said that Republicans fear the Lord; he said Democrats fear AND love the Lord.
Go watch the video if you don’t believe it.
As a Christian and a Republican, I probably should be offended by this. But, it’s so silly, and probably, from Harold Ford’s perspective, self-destructive electorally, that I can’t get too worked up about it.
Geez.
Posted by Clay Staggs at October 30, 2006 09:43 AM
Clay, Denigrating comments can be weathered and dismissed if you happen to be a Republican…or anybody, for that matter. But the most telling gem from this “slip” is the self-perception of Mr. Ford. Transpose this over a news-release by your favorite right-winged fundamental nut: (fill-in-the-blank, here) and the resulting mistake is identical: the brash and ignorant equation of faith and politics. Certainly, politics can stem from the root of faith, but making the two into one (or even making them interchangeable) is a great blunder that plagues our American politics. Self-righteousness abounds— on both sides of the aisle. Good find…I would like him to elaborate more on why he thinks that is so— I have my guesses, but it would be good to hear it from him