Despite the allegations of sexual misconduct, Herman Cain continues to poll high with Republicans.
And yet they wasted millions of tax dollars in an attempt to impeach President Bill Clinton, because of a sex scandal. Clinton's was consensual. Cain's appear to have been uninvited assaults.
When it was discovered that "family values" czar, Vic Toews, had fathered a child with a young staffer, destroying his marriage, there was barely a murmur from the Right. In fact with mounting scandals, they continue to defend the Harper government, blaming the media and liberals.
David Kuo, a former member of the Bush (G.W.) administration wrote a book, Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction. He also speaks of this phenomenon. Despite the horrendous things that George Bush did, the Christian Right stuck with him. He said it was because Bush was considered to be a "brother in Christ". A "born again" Christian who might slip up once in a while, and it was their duty to be there when he did.
He did a lot of slipping. They must have been exhausted.
Kuo broke through the holier than thou image, and while still a devout Christian, is no longer a member of the political movement. He saw too many things that tested his faith, not the least of which was the fact that the Bush team referred to Kuo and his colleagues, as "the F---ing faith based group".
They were an annoying distraction.
As further proof of their hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich is beginning to "surge". A womanizer, who cheated on two of his wives, one while she was dying of cancer.
I hope they come out with a sinner's guide book soon, because I'm confused.
I may just be a saint.
Simple answer on this one, Emily. "Love the sinner but hate the sin." It's the fundamentalist get-out-of-Hell-free card.
ReplyDeleteIt's the train all those wayward good-ole boys ride straight back to the fold. Its most ardent adherents look upon revelations like Bush's and Cain's and Toews's as tests from their creator to put it into action in their lives by applying it to their "fellow man". And let there be no mistake: in order to merit such blessed acceptance, one must be very much both a "fellow" and a man. Clinton qualified only on the latter count, which just isn't good enough.
Worse, still, those same adherents love keeping the troubled, high-profile sinners in their midst; for their presence there positively shouts to the world and to their scorekeeper-deity how they are embodying His forgiveness and entitled to His rewards.
The pernicious concept of "the chosen" is something not terribly well understood or appreciated by the non-inculcated. But, among those who have bought into it, the kind of inconsistencies and double-standards you've identified are nothing of the sort. So trying to "out" them using logic and reason is often a futile exercise. It is a concept that, much to its own self-perpetuating convenience, transcends both those attributes.
Does the above mean that I condemn forgiveness, atonement and rehabilitation? No, not at all. It's just that I prefer to see them lavished on the truly contrite instead of squandered on "the chosen".
Paul Krugman tackled this issue just recently. I think his post makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeletehttp://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/genuine-hypocrisy-and-attitudes-thereto/
I agree Capt. Thanks Monika. I love Paul Krugman. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDelete“Franklin Conspiracy”
ReplyDeleteThe documentary done by the BBC was supposed to be aired by the History Channel, but was pulled at the last minute; somebody paid $500,000 to cover the air time.
It is about pedophile rings in the highest level of the US government with links to George Bush Sr.
It was a front page story in the Washington Times in 1989 about a call boy ring midnight tour of the White House. The tour guide committed “suicide” later.
http://youtu.be/edK2h5_1b3g
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Here’s a scanned newspaper front page. The story of pedofile rings in the White House for midnight tours. All the newspapers reported this story:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2003/02/06/15709461.php
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"A homosexual prostitution ring is under investigation by federal and District authorities and includes among its clients key officials of the Reagan and Bush administrations, military officers, congressional aides and US and foreign businessmen with close social ties to Washington's political elite. Reporters for this newspaper examined hundreds of credit-card vouchers, drawn on both corporate and personal cards and made payable to the escort service operated by the homosexual ring."
-- Washington Times, 6/29/1989
http://www.wanttoknow.info/890629washingtontimesfranklin
Thanks Nadine. Something like Penn State, standing by while a child is raped and tehn working to protect the school.
ReplyDeleteThe new conservatism is evil.
You probably are a saint, Emily.
ReplyDeleteI haven't led a blameless life, but I feel like I have, compared with some of them.
What makes the "elite" think they can get away with call-boy rings? Really, it would be funny, them thinking that way, if it weren't so gawdawful awful.