A curious worldview is on full display in this Huffington Post piece by Paul Blumenthal – “Religious Millionaire Backed Rick Perry’s Career.” Dr. James Leininger is a successful Christian businessman who has supported Perry financially. There was a time in this country when this piece would have never appeared. If it did, it would receive an odd reception rather than a place in a leading media forum. Imagine – “Church Goers Support Coolidge,” or, “Seminarian Volunteers Time for Kennedy.” But apparently there is a part of America that finds the following commentary in the Blumenthal piece noteworthy:
“Since the 1980s he [Leininger] has pushed a mix of religious right fervor and pro-business activism.” Oh, the horror!
“In 1994, Leininger pumped tens of thousands of dollars into the candidacies of three Christian conservatives seeking seats on the State Board of Education.” Yikes!
Even worse, “the board members he supported also shared Leininger’s Christian conservative values.”
And – “Leininger has also bankrolled a number of anti-abortion groups, including Texas Right to Life, Heidi Group and the Christian Pro Life Foundation.” One thing is for sure, they never tried to kill anyone.
Which brings up an important point. Apparently to Blumenthal, close association with a successful Christian is worth him spending the time to write the piece. That there might be an audience for this is doubly unfortunate. Notably, Blumenthal has never written any other guilt-by-association pieces (if such a thing was possible about Dr. Leininger) about William Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, or other surprises I will be covering in my forthcoming book Injustice.
Thankfully the hardened heart world view of Paul Blumenthal is a distinct minority in this nation. The founders made no secret of the importance of virtuous influence on public officials. That Perry attracts the support of such people, to most Americans, is hardly a liability.
There are human-like creatures who will hiss and retreat when confronted with a crucifix. They are needful and don’t have a sense of humor. It is not advisable to invite them into your homes.
+1
+2
Where ever liberals go, hypocracy follows!
Wow!
You noticed that, too!
Amazing!
Don’t worry. I have seven Beagles. They’ll get licked to death. Not a pretty way to go!
-10
The same religious slurs were cast against freethinking Founders like Tom Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Jefferson … who were dubious regarding the Resurrection. Not to mention, cast against Jews, Buddhists, Bahais, Muslims, and agnostics of every variety.
Spreading religious slurs no perhaps is viable strategy for winning nominations …but its a sure-fire path to losing general elections.
Although it must be admitted, that accepting small pre-election $$$ from preachers beats huge post-election $$$ from K-street. Unless Perry plans on doing both.
——————————-
Tom Ridge Joins the Marcellus Shale Coalition’s Gold Rush
URL: http://www.prwatch.org/node/9321
There was more than one Thomas Jefferson?
Whoops! I meant Abraham Lincoln … whose 2nd Inaugural Address is a masterpiece of double-edged religious sentiments.
Here Lincoln asks a deep question … that every faith answers in its own way … and yet Lincoln carefully declines to answer that question, but instead, he goes on to instead assert the inarguable principles of American democracy that bound together the Union.
And *that* is why Lincoln was the greatest (Republican) president … not by his uncertain religious faith… but by virtue of his resolute understanding of the principles of American democracy.
It is by virtue of Lincoln’s principles, held firmly for the next century and more, that our Marines in Afghanistan fought as Americans … without regard for the religion named upon their dogtags.
Of which “Wicca” was widely admired as being coolest, by the way.
———————————————
Military Views on Wicca: US Army Chaplain’s Manual
URL: http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/military.htm
My grandfather told me that when he went to Iowa State in 1916 he was prompted to declare his religion. Not wanting to be proselytized, he answered “Zoroastrian”. He told me that, a few weeks later, he was shocked to be contacted by the group of four Iowa State Zoroastrians. He then had to explain to them that he was really Agnostic.
Religious slurs? Perhaps you should look in a mirror.
Shhh… adults are talking.
Adults are talking? Uhhh … where exactly? Yah mean here?
Jefferson foresaw that the citizens of the United States eventually would convert to his own religious philosophy … unitarianism!
Uhhh … that conversion is taking longer than he thought.
————————————-
Thomas Jefferson: “Atheist and Leveler From Virginia”
URL: http://www.newwest.net/city/article/thomas_jefferson_atheist_and_leveler_from_virginia/C108/L108/
Indeed; you watermelons are doing your best to force the country to accept Gaianism.
OMG!
Has the Huffington Post actually become a “leading media forum”? I thought it was something someone gave to Arianna to keep her out of his hair, like Nancy Pelosi’s husband did.
I would wish he had given her a dog, but no dog deserves that. Not even a rabid Pit Bull.
It has NOTHING to do with any “Christians” supporting a politician or not! What does matter, is who and what the folks purporting to be Christians are and what they represent! For example, bleow are only a small sampling of ‘platforms’ taken from online TeaParty sites who are representing themselves as Conservative Christians.
•Eliminate all welfare programs that do not call for work in return. Why should the tax dollars of hard working Americans be used to support lazy people.
•Eliminate social security, medicare and medicaid. These are all just ponzi schemes designed to take money from hard working Americans and transfer it to others. It’s not the fault of hard working Americans that some people have to struggle. Everyone in this country has had the same opportunities, and if they did not take advantage of those opportunities, or were lazy, why should the rest of America have to support them.
•Return GOD to government. We all know when our founding fathers talked about freedom of religion, they were only referring to religions that believed in CHRIST. Only those religions are protected under the constitution, and things like mosques, abortions and gays shall be eliminated under the penalty of law.
“There will be no more free rides in this country. Either work hard or leave. Believe in CHRIST or leave.”
“We are a grass roots movement trying to take this country back from those who do not share our core values.”
“In times of turmoil there is only one place to turn, and that is to the word of God. When we do that all our problems can be solved, and it should be pretty obvious to everyone how God is telling us to proceed.”
“What we need to take away from that statement is that sacrifice has to be made, and it should be the weak that make that sacrifice so that the healthy and wealthy can prosper.”
“Social Security and Medicare must go. Continuing to drain resources from productive members of society, simply to benefit the weak is not only a sin, but also immoral.”
“I’m truly sorry if a few old, disabled and sick people have to suffer, but it sure isn’t my responsibility to help them. There is no other way.”
“Survival of the fittest!”
“God tells us that!”
“Freedom of religion for all Christians. Jews might be ok too.”
what exactly was the point of that article?
dr. leininger isn’t exactly a controversial man, and they are gonna be hard pressed to find any dirt on the man. (also, we do not call hill country ‘the brush.’ good grief.)
It’s ok for various billionaires, including the very richest men in the US, to support Obama and consult with him.
It’s not ok for a millionaire to support and consult with Perry.
This is how it works, see?