I happened to catch the last half hour or so of the Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate on MSNBC tonight. Pretty much of a yawner as the questions and answers were the same as all of the previous debates I've seen this season. No new ideas. Lot's of criticism. No definitive solutions. Basically the same old same old. What should we really expect from these debates anyway?
However, it was the last question and the candidate's responses that I found most interesting.
"What's your favorite Bible verse?" Tim Russert asked the democratic presidential hopefuls.
Barack Obama was first. He seemed dumbfounded. He mumbled something about the Sermon on the Mount and then went into the usual talking points about brotherhood and social justice.
New Mexico's Governor Bill Richardson agreed that The Sermon on the Mount was "his favorite verse". Seemed pretty obvious to me that neither of them was very familiar with the Bible in general or the Sermon on the Mount in particular.
Hillary Clinton didn't hesitate a second. "The Golden Rule", she said. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." To her credit, she did quote an actual Bible verse.
Mike Gravel didn't even try to quote a verse. He gave a short discourse on love. Period.
John Edwards quoted Jesus as saying, "In as much as you have done it unto them you have done it unto me." According to Edwards, that quote appears "many times" throughout the Bible.
Chris Dodd's favorite "verse" was "The Good Samaritan". He allowed that's the behavior we all need to model.
Dennis Kucinnich pulled a card out of his coat pocket and said he carries it with him at every event he attends. It quoted a prayer of St. Francis asking God to "Make me an instrument of thy Peace." I'm a little confused. What Bible book, chapter and verse is that from Dennis?
Delaware's Senator Joe Biden got a stern look on his face and said his favorite verse was "Jesus condemning the Pharisees". He explained that the Pharisees today are just as dangerous and have gotten us into much of this mess. "Beware of the Pharisees" Biden warned.
These folks are running for President, not "Theologian in Chief", but you would think that most of them might at least be able to quote an actual verse. Mrs. Clinton did and Edwards came close. They all sounded pretty sanctimonious but a little hollow. All are well read, but not many of them seemed to be too familiar with the best seller of all times.
Now, lest I be accused of only picking on Democrats, let me get an equal opportunity jab in on a Republican as well. Idaho Senator Larry Craig has sought to withdraw his guilty plea to the charges of trying to solicit bathroom sex in a men's room in the Minneapolis Airport a few months ago. A judge is considering allowing Craig to withdraw the guilty plea. His decision is due to come down in a couple of weeks.
What makes this all interesting is that Craig, under pressure from Republicans and Democrats alike, had earlier announced that he would leave the Senate at the end of September. Now today he says he will wait to see what the judge's ruling is before he decides whether or not to step down. So now we know that Senator Craig is not only a degenerate - but he's a liar too!
As an interesting footnote, a news agency revealed polling information today that indicates that the present Congress has the lowest approval rating (11%) than any Congress since polling has begun.
And so it goes on the political scene.
No comments:
Post a Comment