The major news agencies are doing their best to find something to use to smear Gov. Palin. I think they have finally slid into that dark and moist abyss called madness.
This news article relates how some YouTube video the author came across shows Palin being blessed in her church before she tossed her hat in the ring to become Governor. A bishop visiting from Kenya asked that she be protected from witchcraft.
Okay, so what? I mean, what does this have to do with anything at all?
The reporter who wrote the story seems to think they have a major scoop, though. You see, Gov. Palin was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church when she was an infant!
I can’t make this stuff up if I tried, folks.
It could be possible. Here is a link to the google cache of a page from the churches site.
I think it very plausible that a minister from Kenya would make a blessing against witchcraft. Belief in witchcraft is rife in Kenya and other parts of sub-Sahara Africa even among the educated. Almost every Africa I have ever met has at least acknowledged the possibility that there was something to the idea of witchcraft even if it was just a traditional secret lore of how to poison people.
I think the story buries the lead. I for one would like to see a video of a Republican VP receiving a benediction from a black man from the 3rd world. That he was invited by the congregation says rather a lot.
Most people do not know that the Pentecostals are the oldest integrated sect in America. Pentecostalism was founded as a integrated church in the early-1900’s when racism was mainstream and yet they managed to keep their doors open to all much better than any other denomination.
Christian missions to the 3rd world report quite a bit about the overly spiritual confrontations they face out there.
Satire: The Top Ten Rumors about Governor Palin
1. Diplomat asked Palin to fetch coffee. “She didn’t act like a Governor” he said.
2. Call to Wasilla library interrupted operations. “Palin talked for half an hour”, says librarian.
3. Palin’s children may not be citizens due to technicalities of Alaska Purchase.
4. Palin campaign operative asked for gun rack over VP Seal.
5. Sarah Palin did not inspire character Sarah Conner in the movie “The Terminator”. “She inspired the Terminator character”, reports screenwriter.
6. Secret sources report “Al-Qaeda will never surrender to a woman, may it please Allah”.
7. Palin was not vetted about future pregnancy. Federal law prevented asking.
8. Palin denies rumors of “virgin birth”, despite religious leanings.
9. “Killing moose is overflow hostility”, says psychiatrist.
10. When Bridge to Nowhere cancelled, 35 homeless denied shelter beneath.
She was willing to accept the hopes (ritualized in a different form than most of us use) that she would do the right thing. This is not unlike what she said to Gibson. It isn’t a foreign concept and indicates an appropriate humility. Such an attitude informed many of the greatest leaders of this country. The writer implies a comparison with Jeremiah Wright, et al. I think we see differences, but I don’t see those differences as coming out much in Obama’s favor.
“It could be possible.”
Oh, I wasn’t disputing that it was possible she received the benediction. I didn’t even question that as fact. I was just wondering why the AP reporter thought they had a “Gotcha!” moment.
Near as I can tell, they are under the impression that this will erode Palin’s support amongst people of faith due to two reasons.
The first is that the bishop talked about witchcraft, something that Christians might consider to be primitive. If she is willing to stand for a prayer of protection against witches, then she must be superstitious instead of religious. Since Liberals are convinced that all Conservatives are church-goin’ folk, maybe her support would erode.
The second is that she was baptized a Catholic before her eyes could track or she learned language, but she left that particular sect for another some time after she grew old enough to make her own decisions. That might annoy Catholics, and cause more disillusioned Republicans.
James
Hey, I’m from Chicago too. If you all think we should give foreign policy to such a lightweight like Palin then we should all start importing into Wal-Mart, plastic brains from China.
We gonna need some.
Furthermore, If Obama had said he wanted to delay the debate because he wanted to talk finances in Washington, D.C., you all would have jumped on him so bad, newspapers would have shown burnt holes with your extreme remarks on character, etc.
Derrick Hodges
So, you believe that someone who negotiates a complicated and consequential trade agreement with oil companies, other nations, and gets a good deal is a light weight, but someone whose chief international acts (well, in a meaning larger than performance) involved backing a relative who, when he didn’t like the results of an election, encouraged riots. I guess we all have our own ideas of light weight.
Looking at the responses to Palin’s speech on the CNN site, I began to realize the remarkable fact that those opposing her are guilty of one of the most prevalent of prejudices – that that beauty in a woman signals an airhead. I can understand envy of another’s good looks – we all feel that. I can even understand how such envy can eventually become a rather hardened reflex. But such prejudice is not useful.
I’ve always thought that Romney’s square-jawed, shirt-collar handsome look worked against him – we’ve all known attractive smooth talkers who knew how good looking they were. I came to have much more respect for him, but I have to admit that was my first reaction.
If you all think we should give foreign policy to such a lightweight like Palin…
Right, we should give foreign policy to a lightweight like Obama instead. That makes sense.
If you all think we should give foreign policy to such a lightweight like Palin”¦
I never mentioned Palin’s qualifications. The entire focus of the post was how the media is in a frenzy to dig up any dirt they can on her. In my previous comment, I stated my opinion that the stories they publish go a long way towards bringing their own prejudices to light.
But if we are going to judge a candidate’s fitness to serve on how much the media hates, fears, and tries to unfairly smear their reputation, then I figure the Republicans are obviously the more deserving of high office.
James
.
Whooptishit.
She visits the church because she’s from there. It’s not like Wasillia has all that many churches either, I’d bet, with only 10000 people or so.
They’ve got what I will presume is a visiting pastor from Kenya (many churches are now allying themselves with churches in Africa to help promote God and to give them direct feedback on their charitable efforts), who mentions witchcraft. The man is from Kenya. Even if HE doesn’t really believe in witchcraft, I have no doubt that many of his congregants do, so such platitudes are not uncommon in prayers.
It’s a smear by association. It attempts to paint such as her beliefs.
Funny how quickly they want to dissassociate Obama from Wright’s REPEATED BLATHERINGS, but woo-hoo!! “We got VIDEO of Sarah Palin in some obscure ceremony a few years back, and SHE’s CLEARLY A REDNECK BAAAABUL THUMPA!!”
yeesh.
.
> I was just wondering why the AP reporter thought they had a “Gotcha!” moment.
Ask Dan Rather why he thought HE had a gotcha moment that he was willing to stake his career and legacy on.
The questions about Kerry’s leadership abilities occurred because Kerry had demonstrated none.
The TANG stuff was utterly and completely irrelevant to Bush’s leadership abilities — he’d demonstrated that ALREADY in the days following 9/11.
Q.E.D. — there was no “gotcha!” there, either.
These people are stupid, petty, and vicious. Do not expect reason or rational behavior from them.
> Hey, I’m from Chicago too. If you all think we should give foreign policy to such a lightweight like Palin then we should all start importing into Wal-Mart, plastic brains from China.
Right. Let’s give it to a lightweight like Obama. Much, much better idea, than to give it to McCAIN, with Palin backing him, and learning as she goes.
I see your reasoning. In logic, it’s usually called GIGO.
Even if the race was a head-on Obama vs Palin, gimmie Palin.
Palin has given every indication she believes in American Exceptionalism and God’s blessing on the USA.
Obama’s worldview is found in his books.. where he meets Marxist after Marxist.. one communist after another. And after getting out of Harvard , which people are speculating that people from the Middle East paid for, he went to work with the Timothy McVeigh of the 1970’s, Communist William Ayers.
No.. sorry I dont want a Left Wing Radical in the White House.
Obama was recently seen reading “Post American World” by Fareed Zakaria.
Maybe he should spend time reading about WW-II because he is clearly ignorant of so much of it.
The video, not very nice so far as I am concerned, in fact is at this site passed off as a mere sound byte of little importantance. But here in fact is a bit more about it and the man and Palin
Muthee has visited the United States repeatedly, delivering ten sermons at the Wasilla Assembly of God in October 2005, during which he prayed over Sarah Palin, who was running for governor of Alaska at the time.[8][13] He returned to the Wasilla church for the weekend of September 20 – 22, 2008.[13][14] In his sermons attended by Sarah Palin, Muthee claimed to be able to “devil cast,” “tongue talk,” and to identify witches.[15] He claimed that God elected President George W. Bush and Governor Sarah Palin.[16] In praying with his hands on Governor Palin’s shoulders, Muthee prayed that God would control Governor Palin’s conduct, that God would intercede to promote Governor Palin and her policies, and claimed to rebuke “every form of witchcraft.”.[17] Governor Palin praised Muthee as “very powerful” because he could invoke God to “make a way” for her to succeed in politics..[1
that ending, to me, makes her a bit more involved in this ludicrousness than what is so readily dismissed.
“So, you believe that someone who negotiates a complicated and consequential trade agreement with oil companies, other nations, and gets a good deal is a light weight,”
Ginny, can you please provide examle of what you speak of. Complicated trade agreement with oil companies? other nations? I have no ideas what you are referring to.
Bradley,
My bad, I assumed our commentors read Chicagoboyz regularly and this has not been highly publicized, since it obviously doesn’t fit with the preconceptons of airhead beauty contestant (her oppoenents) or even the fresh breath of air, maternal picture proponents often admire. This is corner office competent.
First, Lexington’s quotes Jim Bennett. Bennett also links to Bloomberg.
Ginny,
Yout forgot to mention Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of her list of foreign policy experience.
Bradley,
With this reply, as with Fred Lapides on “J’accuse,” you have demonstrated that you are incapable of a discussion in good faith. What I like about the blogosphere is that so many people are.
Fred, you’re Dowdifying what Palin said rather atrociously. This is Palin rumor #86,
So what the guy did is basically said “this person has some great plan in mind. Lord make a way.”
Bradley,
It might surprise you to know that Alaska has long held a special position in American Foreign policy due to its unique geography. Alaska and Canada have a close relationship since one must cross Canada to reach Alaska by land. The Alaska state government negotiates many of the Alaska specific accords with Canada (the Yukon territory of Canada has a similar arraignment).
During the Cold War, the Alaska national guard was the only national guard to train specifically to fight on its own state soil. Today, the Russian Federation maintains a large consulate in the state in order to deal with the numerous marine territory issues.
So in terms of actually dealing with foreign nations on highly detailed practical matters, Palin has more experience than any of the other three candidates.
Fred Lapides,
…Muthee claimed to be able to “devil cast,” “tongue talk,” and to identify witches…
Again, not terribly surprising given the combination of Pentecostalism and African culture. I don’t suppose you’ve heard the views of any Catholic African by any chance?
As an atheist, I do find it amusing when people classify one set of mystical beliefs as silly while others are perfectly plausible. Given the rampant adoption of mystical beliefs on the left e.g. wiccanism, astrology, various new age stuff, I don’t think you have much cause to cast stones.
Personally, I will take someone’s sincere faith, no matter how unusual, over the opportunistic superficial adoption of a convenient faith for personal gain.
So in terms of actually dealing with foreign nations on highly detailed practical matters, Palin has more experience than any of the other three candidates.
Except that ‘R’ after her name discounts that experience by an order of magnitude. And Obama’s experience – or complete and utter lack thereof – like virtually everything else in his resume – is simply not mentioned.
Honestly, for the first time, I simply refuse to discuss politics with O! believers, Democrats, and other assorted folk of the Left. O! is such a weak candidate, kept afloat by the Left’s always and ever-present “silly… mystical beliefs”, it is simply pointless (as Fred and Bradley so aptly demonstrate) to engage them.
“..Ginny, can you please provide examle of what you speak of. Complicated trade agreement with oil companies? other nations? I have no ideas what you are referring to…”
As is often the case, you don’t know because you don’t want to know….
Ginny,
I will read J’accuse in a moment. However, I wa sjust quoting Governor Palin.
Did any of you sees Governor Palin’s two part interview with Katie Curic? Honestly, were you impressed?
For example, lets get look ate her position regarding Iran stating this is “beyond naive”? And remember that this is the opposite position of Madeline Albright, Colin Powell, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger. Whom would you trust more on foreign policy experience to?
Now, it is OK if you cannot vote for Obama for his policies and you may think he would be terrible for the country. I can respect that. What I find frustrating is those on the right build her up to something she is not.
JDM,
While O may not have much (or any) foreign experience, like many on the right who voted for GWB, I trust he is a bright man who can appoint intelligent people to important positions. You may feel the same about McCain amditted lack of economic experience while we go into what many have labled the most difficult economic time since the 1930s.
Lets just call a spade a spade, shall we? Is she a heavyweight?
Imagine Barry at the table… lurching forward, dying to put his hand on Mahmoud.. saying
“whoa whoa whoa wait a minute, you know. This is just what I’m talking about.”
And remember that this is the opposite position of Madeline Albright, Colin Powell, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger. Whom would you trust more on foreign policy experience to?
Certainly none of those. If her position is the opposite then there is much to be said for Palin’s understanding of foreign affairs.
Lets just call a spade a spade, shall we? Is she a heavyweight?
In comparison to whom? Reagan? Hell, no. Bush 41 and/or even 43? No. Clinton? Not really. Hillary? “She” is in the ballpark. Obama? A candidate created by one of the more corrupt and left-wing political machines in the US? A man with almost no experience in anything? A man who will (claim to) change any position and remove anyone deemed expendable at the drop of a poll? Yes. Hell, yes.
Need I remind you “she” is running for vice president? Against a presidential candidate who has set, quite possibly, the lowest standard possible for a presidential candidate?
But yet “we” go on and on about Governor Palin and her qualifications based on her family life and and her looks and her religion and split hairs about the “bridge to nowhere” and how well she interviewed with Charlie and Katie and how she annoys faux liberated women in NYC and LA (and probably Chicago) and how will she ever, ever take care of her daughter – or is that granddaughter?
Thanks, Bradley. That was cathartic. And as I wrote oh-so long ago on Protein Wisdom: I’m not voting for McCain so much as I am voting against people like you. Consider this “discussion” at an end. Or have the last word. As you will.
I apologize to the hosts here on Chicago Boyz for perhaps using up more than my allotted space.
Wow, Jdm, I hardly know where to begin.
I guess I was wondering in intellectual terms, but it seems like you do not think this matters. Regarding the fact that she is running for VP– give me a break. I think it is legitimate that we have a heavyweight and the second in command in case, G-d forbid, something happens to the President. Just me.
Again, did you see the Katie Curic interview? Are you saying that how well she interviews with Katie Curic does not matter? She will be representing the US around the world.
I did not mention anything about her family. I have mentioned the bridge to nowhere in comments on previous posts because the McCain camp on the stump and in commercials so I think it is fair ground and i f you think is splitting hairs, I got a bridge for sale. It shows something about her record.
Now, I can admit that Obama lacks experience but based on the issues, I must vote for Obama. I guess I believe he also is an intellectual heavyweight. Just like Reagan was, Nixon, and Cinton. Just don’t say Pallin is because you may be able to look this up a few years from now.
Just to be clear, Bradley: my message was cathartic in a generic sense, catalyzed by your question, but not necessarily accusing you of anything. The “we” in question was the US (voting) population and what (certain large parts of) the media have deemed to be important to know.
She seems to have a better grasp of US foreign policy than Obama does. Obama is clearly an adherent to the “Post-America” world view. I dont want that as my President. Do you know the sort of mischief that will occur if he staffs a military and diplomatic corps with similar-minded folk? It will be a disaster for the sovereignty of the US. I Not doing well in a interview with the Eva Braun of morning TV is not important to me.. what she believes is important.
Again, everyone is avoiding the question. Did you see the interview? Were you impressed?
Now you can say you think she is on the correct side on the issues. You can say Obama is wrong. But be honest with yourselves. Would you want this person as your boss? Running a company with your life’s savings in it?
I understand if you say “well, she is better than Obama.” But I am asking a different question.
Vince:
So belief’s are what make a good leader? Seriously. Intelligience does not matter? Communication does not matter? I guess you have to sell that one to historians of Ronald Reagan.
At NRO Conservative Kathleen Parker wrote a good article on why Palin is unsuited (obviously) for the job. Clearly, Palin is no Heinleinian heroine.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE
Vince:
>So belief’s are what make a good leader?
I believe they’re a necessary component. America is a nation premised on a creed of liberty and God-given rights. When we stop believing that, we lose our country… and I believe we are in that process now.
>Seriously. Intelligience does not matter?
I reject your implication she is not intelligent.
>Communication does not matter?
Communication is a means to an end. While yes, the mechanics of communication are important… what is more important is WHAT is being communicated.
>I guess you have to sell that one to historians of Ronald Reagan.
Well since half of your questions were putting my words in my mouth , I dont have to sell anything.
I haven’t hear her interview with Couric, in fact I didn’t need to hear it. I heard the results. Okay she isn’t an airhead, she is what McCain picked. McCain is the airhead for selecting an airhead of better Russia nuances. Yall remember that. Remember it Thursday night. I just hope she wears high heels. She is a good looker.
McCain destroyed 2 or 3 United STates jets before the Viet Cong caught him and stopped the destruction. Joy boy he was. He and Palin go together.
Obama is the best yall have. Remember that. Dr. King gave him to yall. Relax. Everything gonna be alright.
Derrick
Vince;
It is amazing that you still did not answer the question. Were you impressed by the interview.
What I am trying to get at is intellectual honesty. (Not on her but yours.) Maybe it is a bit much to ask. Again, I understand if Obama would be the last person on earth you would vote for and that Palin, is a far better alternative in your view. But come on, Would you have picked her to be McCain’s running mate?
Bradley: CBS has no legitimacy to me. So no, I don’t watch their corrupt product.
Vince:
What about the small bit about intellectual honesty?
I didn’t say about thing about the content of the interview. My honesty is fine.
Well, I guess that say a lot about you, if you would not be nervous about her being president.
Perhaps Edmund Burke was correct after all.
What says a lot about me is that I will never support a Marxist for President, ever. What does Burke say about Stealth Marxists running for office and those who blindly support them?
Stealth Marxist. So one who has read Marx in college makes him a Marxist. Is PJ O’Rouke a Marxist?
Thanks for showing your ignorance again. Burke died before Marx died.