Why is Obama getting a pass on religion influenced leadership?

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strawman

strawman

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/02/news/economy/obama_tax_rich_jesus/index.htm?iid=GM

When Bush indicated that he considered his religious beliefs in shaping his policy, it ignited a firestorm.

When Obama says it, nothing.

Why is it different this time, or for this president? Is it merely that the liberals were the cause of the firestorm last time, but since this is their candidate they aren't going to complain?

Don't get me wrong - I don't believe a politician can say that they are a rtue believer of their faith, but don't allow it to influence their decisions. As far as I'm concerned it's a good thing, so I'm not complaining about his statement. I'm merely wondering why it's not as big an issue this time around as last time.
 
Eriol

Eriol

Can you find a link to the "firestorm" in any way? Not that I doubt it, but I think it's important to the discussion to have a relatively mainstream example or two.
 
Espy

Espy

It's really in our nature to ignore the faults in leaders/politicians we personally prefer that we criticize in others. I haven't noticed those who would have supported Bush's similar rhetoric applauding Obama for this so it's the same idea in reverse.

Which to me, really sums up the real issue in our political system. We are not actually concerned about the candidates and their real positions nor about actually changing anything or making things better. We merely want to beat the other guy whom we have been told to hate.
 
Eriol

Eriol

Espy said:
We merely want to beat the other guy whom we have been told to hate.
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I've always interpreted it more that we don't want the person in that we've been told to fear rather than hate. There's some of both certainly, but I've always perceived it more as fear (at least in Canada). Fear what they'll do, fear what they won't do, etc. But that may be more personal perception. YMMV I guess.
 
Espy

Espy

Eriol said:
I've always interpreted it more that we don't want the person in that we've been told to fear rather than hate. There's some of both certainly, but I've always perceived it more as fear (at least in Canada). Fear what they'll do, fear what they won't do, etc. But that may be more personal perception. YMMV I guess.
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Eh, you aren't wrong. Hate and Fear are probably interchangeable, hell, it may be even less emotional than that, I mean, I'm sure for many it's less about beating the other guy because of an emotional or good reason and more because they are the other guy who isn't your guy, etc.
 
D

Dubyamn

The day that Obama's religiously influenced leadership steers him away from his help the America economy, pursue peace, and take care of the poorest people in the nation plans and into Bush's squandering the Clinton surplus on a tax cuts that send us into major deficit spending, killing 4,500 in an illegal stupid war in Iraq along with the trillions of dollars wasted in a completely optional war and then destroying the economy by refusing to regulate the predatory lending companies.

When Obama does change into that kind of stupid hypocrisy I will personally ignite the firestorm. Till then I'll enjoy the fact that we have a president who tries to exemplify the best in the bible instead of trying to recreate the old testament.
 
ElJuski

ElJuski

Staff member
yup, big difference is God didn't tell Obama to go fuck around in the Middle East and slaughter people for a while
Added at: 18:28
but hey, since this is the new Roger Ailes GOP line memo we're going to hear people drone about this for a while
 
Krisken

Krisken

Yeah, I'd have to go with 'what policies religious beliefs shape' as well. Helping people is cool. Killing people, not so much. If Obama had said his religious beliefs are what convinced him to kill Osama Bin Laden, then yeah, I'd be like "Dude, WTF?"
 
Terrik

Terrik

Krisken said:
Yeah, I'd have to go with 'what policies religious beliefs shape' as well. Helping people is cool. Killing people, not so much. If Obama had said his religious beliefs are what convinced him to kill Osama Bin Laden, then yeah, I'd be like "Dude, WTF?"
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I kind of get what you're saying, but at the end of the day, killing a dude is still killing a dude. If Bush had never mentioned God in relation to the war in the middle east, would you have been more supportive of it?
 
Krisken

Krisken

Depends on the reasoning. I was initially in favor of the war (betcha didn't see that coming, eh?). The lack of WMD's being found and discovering the level of BS coming out of that administration was pretty much what turned me against it.

I wasn't always liberal minded.
 
D

Dubyamn

Krisken said:
Depends on the reasoning. I was initially in favor of the war (betcha didn't see that coming, eh?). The lack of WMD's being found and discovering the level of BS coming out of that administration was pretty much what turned me against it.

I wasn't always liberal minded.
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This must be what it's like when doves cry.

Exact same story with me.
 
Espy

Espy

Count me in that pile as well. I was for it until the WMD thing went plop. I mean really, go watch the Colin Powell speech to the UN and tell me you don't support whatever that man is saying. He gave one hell of a speech.

That being said I get very, very suspicious whenever any politician is using the Bible or "God" to justify policy or their actions. I'm not saying it's wrong... but that adds a whole other critical level to how I'm viewing them.
 
ElJuski

ElJuski

Staff member
same boat as you guys
Added at: 01:01
but then again, the sheer nationalism and jingoism going down right after 9/11...
 
Bowielee

Bowielee

I was a liberal pre 9/11, and quite frankly, being against the administration in the few years following 09/11 was not a fun thing. I recall beign called un-american multiple times because I refused to blindly flag-wave and not question the administration's direction. I'd argue that questioning the government is the most American thing you can do, seeing how this country started and all.
 
ElJuski

ElJuski

Staff member
what's un-american fluctuates with the zeitgeist, regardless whether liberals or conservatives are spewing it.
 
Ravenpoe

Ravenpoe

Freedom fries!


I registered as a republican at age 18, in 2003. I honestly didn't know much about the party differences at that time. It was taking more of an interest in politics during the Iraq War that led to me changing my party affiliation.
 
AshburnerX

AshburnerX

Bowielee said:
I was a liberal pre 9/11, and quite frankly, being against the administration in the few years following 09/11 was not a fun thing. I recall beign called un-american multiple times because I refused to blindly flag-wave and not question the administration's direction. I'd argue that questioning the government is the most American thing you can do, seeing how this country started and all.
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I feel you man. Registered as Independent in 2003 but generally lean left. I live in Central Ohio... which is predominately Republican (except in Columbus proper and most of the poorer areas of the Westside). How Republican is it? I was almost thrown out of my polling place in '04 for wearing a t-shirt with the image of a donkey on it. It wasn't even a political t-shirt. I can barely talk to some of my family because of how far right they are.
 
North_Ranger

North_Ranger

Staff member
Bowielee said:
I was a liberal pre 9/11, and quite frankly, being against the administration in the few years following 09/11 was not a fun thing. I recall beign called un-american multiple times because I refused to blindly flag-wave and not question the administration's direction. I'd argue that questioning the government is the most American thing you can do, seeing how this country started and all.
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I have to admit, part of the reason why I haven't yet visited the States was, along with the cost of travel, the feeling that I'd just be asking for trouble if I did or said anything that could be construed as criticism of Bush. Hell, even here I try not to say anything in these political threads, since some things we consider reasonable and commonplace here in my country are apparently borderline Communism in American political rhetoric.
 
ElJuski

ElJuski

Staff member
North_Ranger said:
I have to admit, part of the reason why I haven't yet visited the States was, along with the cost of travel, the feeling that I'd just be asking for trouble if I did or said anything that could be construed as criticism of Bush. Hell, even here I try not to say anything in these political threads, since some things we consider reasonable and commonplace here in my country are apparently borderline Communism in American political rhetoric.
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Yes america is a very dangerous place stay away
 
SpecialKO

SpecialKO

ElJuski said:
New York isn't so bad once you get past the pimps and the CHUDs
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I know you didn't mean it like this, but now I have an image of an actual defensive line of pimps patrolling the New York Bay. With CHUDs on sniper support from the sewer outtakes.
 
ElJuski

ElJuski

Staff member
I mean I know it's a Season 9 episode, but there are still some pretty good ones that late into the game....
 
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