Just when I thought CNN was starting to treat Evangelicals fairly they let Jack Cafferty out of his cage. On Thursday he went on a tear accusing Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee of wanting to “put more God-like stuff in the Constitution.” The “God-like stuff” that he was referring to was amending the constitution to ensure the right to life and to prevent the courts from redefining marriage. Cafferty went on to say that Evangelicals are the reason George Bush was in office for eight years and, therefore, they are responsible for all of America’s troubles. Cafferty then said that Huckabee is “trying to bring out those Evangelical voters, to get them to the polls” by using the God-like stuff talk. Cafferty didn’t even try to cloak his disdain for Christians, leaving me to think he would much rather be reporting on bringing out the lions or staking Christians to the poles instead.
This all started when Mike Huckabee, in a speech last Monday night in Michigan, said he supported a Constitutional amendment ending abortion. [I]t’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God and that’s what we need to do, is to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards, rather than try to change God’s standards.” Huckabee made a similar comment about his support for a marriage amendment several weeks ago, but not being a front-runner at the time little was said about that statement.
I was on both CNN and MSNBC this week responding to Huckabee’s comments. The overreaction to them can be attributed to one of two things. Some in the media simply don’t understand Evangelicals, not to mention history, or they just willfully twist their statements. It all suggests an anti-Christian bias as they try to further the ludicrous notion that Evangelicals want to establish a theocracy in America. .
Mike Huckabee is not the first to say that God’s definition of life and marriage should prevail in our culture. In fact, the Declaration of Independence with its references to the “law of Nature and of Nature’s God” makes it pretty clear that the Founders held a very similar view. As for the U.S. Constitution, that “secular” document Huckabee purportedly wants to defile with “God-like stuff,” a majority of Americas agree with him that life and marriage are worth protecting and that if it takes amending the constitution, then so be it.
Again let me state for the record that I am not supporting Gov. Huckabee’s candidacy. I have not endorsed a candidate, but I consider attacks on any Christian candidate because of his or her faith an attack on all of us. I also predict, again, that these attacks by the media and others only serve to help Huckabee as more and more Evangelicals put policy concerns aside to lock arms with a man who is being attacked for publicly standing for the values they hold most dear.
Comments (9)
It simply amazes me how GOD would bankrupt his love for man kind (his creation) by sending his own son as a door way to be reconciled back to our father in heaven, with a message of promise, and a warning of his judgement on the unjustified(just as if I'd never sinned), evil and sin. People put this look of disgust on there face ,and through it back down at your feet as if, How dare you.That must hurt our father in heavens own heart, coming from what he created for relationship.Even satan will be made to bow before the lord and confess. I feel sorry for Jack Cafferty because he is no different in that he also will have to stand before our lord and give an account of every word, every deed, every secret thougjt he's ever had or done.
January 19, 2008 12:48 PM | Comment Permalink
It used to be just taken for granted that if you were pregnant, you were having a baby. If you wanted to get married, it had to be with someone of the opposite sex.
Now a woman has to practically fight off people who are urging her to abort, if she wants to give birth to her baby.
Now you are considered a hate-mongering bigot if you think that marriage should be confined to just a man and a woman.
A group calling itself a human rights group and that has human rights in its name, lobbies to make gay marriage legal. But if you are not gay and your rights are abused, say if you've got a handicap, or you're too old, too young, too thin, too fat, pregnant and wanting to give birth, an abused person, etc.; don't expect them to come to your side and protect your human rights. They are only concerned with the "human" rights of gays to marry each other. The rest of us are on our own.
As for whether Huckabee will turn this country into a theocracy; that depends on what your definition of a theocracy is. Some people have a really broad definition of a theocracy. For some people, if I say Merry Christmas to them in December, and the thought and speech police do NOT come take me away, that is proof to them that we live in a theocracy.
So don't listen to their hysterical screaming about a theocracy. Now the Islamic fascists do want to have a theocracy, and under them Christianity wouldn't be allowed. They would try to force all people to be Moslem. Now that's a theocracy. Gays not only wouldn't be allowed to marry, they would be killed. People like Rosie O'Donnell, if she managed to survive at all, would be wishing for the good old days when the Evangelicals were the fiercest thing she had to worry about.
January 19, 2008 6:44 PM | Comment Permalink
Thanks for the blog, Tony.
I couldn't tell from the above if Jack Cafferty was presented as a news anchor or a commentator, when he railed against Huckabee. If he was commenting on the news (rather than reporting it), then I'd say that's his right -- in the same way that we appreciate the pro-family, pro-faith commentary of Sean Hannity.
Media outlets choose what viewpoint they allow to get the last word on their network; and we as media consumers have choices about what we watch. Which is probably why Fox News has been royally beating CNN, MSNBC and every other news outlet for the past 5 years.
peace,
-joshMshep
Colorado Springs, CO
www.myspace.com/joshmshep
January 19, 2008 6:45 PM | Comment Permalink
Tony,
Extreme opposition to abortion and extreme opposition to gay marriage are positions usually justified by extreme religion.
They are outside the mainstream. Making them government positions would be theocracy.
I read recently about Jesus casting a demon out of an epileptic. Do you believe in demons? That epilepsy is caused by demons?
Are the answers yes and yes? Then how can you be surprised when others think you are a bit scary?
Best,
Ron
January 19, 2008 9:07 PM | Comment Permalink
I think you'll find Cafferty has a problem with evangelicals, not Christians.
January 20, 2008 5:52 PM | Comment Permalink
Why cant Huckabee speak straight? He could have said, clearly and simply, that he wants to ammend the constitution to ban abortion and gay marriage. Instead he goes through the verbal gymnastics about 'God's standards' in order to make it quite clear that he wants to use the presidency to advance his religious agenda, and in doing so makes it very vauge just what he intended.
If you want the constitution brought up to God's Standard, the first thing you need to do is remove the first ammendment. The right to religious freedom is in clear and direct contradiction of the first two of the ten commandments - the prohibitions on the worship of other Gods and on the worship of false idols respectively.
January 21, 2008 2:55 AM | Comment Permalink
A new group, composed of women who regret their abortions and now wholeheartedly support Mike Huckabee is forming. To find out more, or to join, write Jeanette here.
Ms. FIT's Confession of Faith (in Huckabee)
Domers for Huckabee
Go, Mike, Go!
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for Mike Huckabee and his team!
January 21, 2008 2:56 PM | Comment Permalink
nothing to the country. The judicious operations of banking, by substituting not at any time exceeded the quantity of gold and silver which would have
January 23, 2008 6:09 AM | Comment Permalink
".... Cafferty went on to say that Evangelicals are the reason George Bush was in office for eight years and, therefore, they are responsible for all of America’s troubles."
Of course such a sweeping statement is absurd. But we also ought to examine ourselves. "WE" are a major reason that Pres. Bush could beat the drum for war without significant opposition. The only voice he was hearing was that of the neo-cons with their designs.
We are for life in the womb but oblivious to the thousands of children killed Iraq.
January 23, 2008 9:52 AM | Comment Permalink