God may be technically an independent, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stated that he is the power behind the selection of Barack Obama as our leader. It was God who “blessed us” with the elevation of Obama — a remark that seems designed to justify a controversial video below on Obama being divinely chosen for good or evil.
At a California fundraiser, Pelosi called Obama “a leader that God has blessed us with at this time.” For the full story, click here.
This comes after Obama was criticized for statements that were portrayed (unfairly in my view) as claiming virtual divine status. These statements led to this controversial spoof video.
Given the fact that we just finished eight years with a president who believes that God speaks to him on such questions as invading Iraq, many voters are actually not looking for more divinely inspired leadership.
Once again Granny Pelosi shows me why she is surely worthy of the mansion I’ve prepared for her in my kingdom.
Spend 7 years condeming the Bush administration everytime they even hint at his presidency having anything to do with God or Jesus, and then declare her candidate is “blessed by God”.
Hypocrisy.
It’s always been my favorite sin.
Nancy Pelosi, third in line to the office of president of the united states, is a very sick woman.
Watch her on camera.
She shakes.
She stutters.
She thinks she is saving the world.
Nancy Pelosi is a very sick woman.
How about just asking them what they meant by such and such a statement. Make them explain what they said. Having to answer those questions could be uncomfortable and make the statements decrease.
Gyges,
For my part I’m going to pray about it!
I understand what you’re saying and agree it’s destructive any way you look at it. I don’t know if it’s really true that you have to be so overtly “godly” to be elected. I’m guessing the political focus groups say yes. Still there are many religious people who favor separation of church and state and there might be a great many of us who would, in fact, welcome less religiosity. Maybe if the press and the rest of us did not let them use religious codes as shortcuts/standends for thoughtful responses to issues but make them answer real policy questions with real answers, perhaps this would make religiosity not so useful to politicians.
Excuse me “Your view…”
One of these days I learn my lesson and figure out a way to do better editing.
Binx and Jill,
Your points are well made, but I still hold to my opinion that it was an unintentional turn of phrase. I do think I should clarify my position: By saying that it’s unintentional, I’m not saying we should ignore it. If anything the fact that it’s an unconscious gesture (like baby kissing) makes it that much worse. It means that politicians are so used to harnessing religion for their own political goals (versus being sincerely religious) that it’s become a second nature.
You’re view is that Speaker Pelosi made a conscious choice to cynically use “God” to give her an certain air of holiness. I’m trying to say that the cynical use of religion has become institutional. Either way we agree that it’s wrong and should be stopped.
So now the problem is, what do we do about it?
Isn’t this goal of all practicing Christians, that is to say – to invoke the name of God in everything including the prevention of droplet infection from sneezes?
Jewish Orthodoxy forbids the use of G-d’s name, while Muslims and Christians use like Ketchup. Some religions don’t have a singularly Deity and some Deities have no religion.
But seriously – Pelosi didn’t say God Blessed Obama – she said God blessed us by giving us Obama. With that sentiment sets ones head nodding in assent or wagging in dismay, any mention of G-d, God, or god – brings a certain legitimacy in many peoples minds. It’s the God – bump that everyone craves. Have you ever heard of successful Atheist politician ??? Not many of those around in the US. You must invoke a Deity on a regular basis.
While I’m no fan of Pelosi – I’m sure she was using the political, highly secular usage of both God and Blessed in order to make a political point in a political environment for political purposes.
For further clarity I feel obligated to pray for Christopher Hitchen’s to pop in.
Guzentite* !!
*see Pagans
Gyges,
This has all been your final interview. Welcome to the WEEKLY STANDARD son!
Jill,
As well you should
Gyges,
I bow to that level of superiority! Most impressive!!!
Jill,
I’m egotistical enough I can admit my faults and still think I’m better then everyone else.
Gyges,
Never admit to mumbling in a public forum! I just claim I’m “thinking” aloud!
Jill,
I always assume it’s me that’s being unclear, but that’s because I mumble. I used then instead of than, so that might be the problem.
Gyges,
Sorry I didn’t see your other post first. I think I understand what you’re saying but there’s one part I’m not clear on. When you say, “then as a cog in a large, intricate, and complicated system” if you have time to expand on that now or later it would help me understand your point. Sorry if I’m slow today. I don’t assume it’s you being unclear!
Thanks,
Jill
Gyges,
I don’t think this was an accidental slip-up. My understanding is that the evangelical vote is up for grabs for both parties in this election cycle. Both Obama and McCain have been courting them as have their respective parties. I think the increasing (cynical) use of religious language is deliberate. Both parties are trying to project an image of “morality” through the short cut of sickeningly pious language.
I certainly agree that this language should be rare!
Jill,
I think a large part of the problem is just how people process things. It’s easier to view the President as a symbol of the United States, the Federal Government, and of his paticular political beliefs, then as a cog in a large, intricate, and complicated system. It’s also easier for the press to treat them as such. While this might be convenient and even a sort of short hand for those in the know (how many times have we used Bush as a symbol for the whole Neo-con movement?), it’s all to easy for our thinking to shift from “symbolizes” to “is.”
I think this might just be an unintentional misstep on Speaker Pelosi’s part. Certain phrases are just part of the American Political language, and get used without much thought. I think that “…God has blessed us…” probably falls in that category. As has been brought up before “God” is just a fall back answer, a large number of people just use the word to symbolize some guiding force in the Universe. She could have just as easily said “We’re lucky” or “We’re fortunate,” but the rhetoric is stacked toward the theological.
I would like see this sort of thing eliminated. as Prof. Turley implied, it lays the groundwork for the abuse of religion to justify all sorts of things. People have a blind spot on the subject that could (and has been) easily used to the advantage of the power hungry. It would make it much harder to abuse religion if instead of being the norm, this sort of language was scarce enough to set off warning bells.
I do agree with Andrew Bacevich (who was on Bill Moyers friday) that we have wildly unrealistic visions of both major party candidates. We maintain these delusions at our peril. Below is a short quote from Bacevich:
“The Congress, especially with regard to matters related to national security policy, has thrust power and authority to the executive branch. We have created an imperial presidency. The Congress no longer is able to articulate a vision of what is the common good. The Congress exists primarily to ensure the reelection of members of Congress… As the Congress has moved to the margins, as the President has moved to the center of our politics, the presidency itself has come to be less effective…
Because of this preoccupation, this fascination with the presidency, the President has become what we have instead of genuine politics, instead of genuine democracy… We look to the next President to fix things and, of course, that lifts all responsibility from me to fix things. So one of the real problems with the imperial presidency is that it has hollowed out our politics and, in many respects, has made our democracy a false one. We’re going through the motions of a democratic political system, but the fabric of democracy really has worn very thin.”
What do you think?
Why have a red phone when you can have the phone with a cloak of invisability? Evidently, this DARPA project has been installed in the current whitehouse for 8 years and now Congress just got one. Direct communication with the divine–way cool!
Pelosi, like the Clintons is trying to undermine Obama. All three would prefer McCain, however only Hillary has been honest enough to actually say so.