From Ed over at Dispatches From the Culture Wars quoted in its entirety:
The religious right has reacted with a predictable freakout to the Obama administration holding a meeting with the Secular Coalition for America last week.
“It is one thing for Administration to meet with groups of varying viewpoints, but it is quite another for a senior official to sit down with activists representing some of the most hate-filled, anti-religious groups in the nation,” said Council Nedd, chairman of the religious advocacy group In God We Trust.
And once again we see the religious right making a lame attempt to coopt the language of liberal causes that involve real oppression in order to strike the martyr pose and paint themselves as victims. When someone else disagrees with and criticizes their ideas, it’s just like when blacks had fire hoses, police dogs and lynch mobs unleashed at them. Because both are “hateful.”
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said the meeting provided a “definitive answer” about the administration’s stance towards religion.”People of faith, especially Christians, have good reason to wonder exactly where their interests lie with the Obama administration,” Donohue said in a statement. “Now we have the definitive answer. In an unprecedented move, leaders of a presidential administration are hosting some of the biggest anti-religious zealots in the nation.“
Riiiight. President Obama shows up at every prayer breakfast anyone can schedule within 1000 miles of the White House, has a team of spiritual advisers on retainer and talks incessantly about his religious faith, but he lets his underlings have one meeting with a non-religious group and it just proves how he’s really anti-religious and probably a gay-loving atheist…I mean terror-loving Muslim…oh, whatever. He’s obviously a terrible person now.
One has to wonder: Is there any claim so idiotic that the religious right won’t make it? I have yet to find a limit to their absurdity. I doubt I ever will.
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How sadly true. And from Comment #4 by Sadie Morrison comes an excellent question in response: Is there any claim the religious right can make that is so idiotic and repugnant that mainstream America finally stops giving it the attention and reverence it craves?
I can’t think of any.
tildeb
Questionable Motives 
It is refreshing to see just how bigoted these spokesmen are dealing with people who actually respect what’s true. And these comments should be a wake-up call to those who support them in their bigotry.
Comment by tildeb — March 2, 2010 @ 3:58 pm |
For me, it just shows how insecure these people are. Are they so insecure in their faith that they have to slam any reasonable person from meeting with people who have a different set of beliefs to their own? In addition, they appear to lack empathy to place themselves in the shoes of the president to such an extent that they cannot see what they have said is utterly stupid.
Comment by misunderstoodranter — March 2, 2010 @ 6:09 pm |
That comment by Council Nedd is as perfect an example of projecting. Council Nedd is one of the most vicious hatemongers in America today.
Comment by Todd Pence — April 2, 2010 @ 7:29 pm |
I will take your word for it. But we do know he doesn’t care about what is true. And that speaks loudly about the kind of character, the lack of morals, and the intentional loss of intellectual integrity he brings to any discussion.
Comment by tildeb — April 2, 2010 @ 8:44 pm |
How much do you honestly know about Obama and what he believes? Are you seriously on top of American culture, news and politics? Do you realize Obama went to a church that preached hate? That he was Muslim? Do you know his connections to wealthy muslims and how he got to where he is? Do you realize Obama lived in a 2 million dollar home on a $40,000 salary? hmmmm….Dig deep for the truth tildeb. Don’t just take one side. Get both and then decide as I have been saying on all that you write here on this blog. Obama obviously has no faith in God – or no real faith I should say when he is so pro-abortion. Tax payers money to pay for things they don’t believe in? Health care that will leave the old to die, many still without, if you don’t pay – they will charge you on your taxes, if you get ill and your spouse is ill, they can take your home. Yes, great plan – one we should all vote for. Obama is a far left person that wants socialism in this country. That is not what America wants or stands for. It’s clear in the constitution and the polls – yet it continues. You will see at election time! So please know that it’s not just the far right – it’s ALL!!
Comment by 4amzgkids — April 3, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
Regardless if what you write is true or not, the fact that these clowns lie about atheists this way is is intolerant, unadulterated, undiluted bigotry.
You may disagree about the policies Obama’s administration supports and that is fine. But I am shocked at how un-American and unpatriotic so many tea-bagging Americans really are. “My country, right or wrong” applies to these fickle Americans only when their man is in the presidency, it appears. What these hypocritical Americans are really doing is undermining the office of the President of the United States and thinking themselves patriotic rather than seeing their actions for what they are: idiotic.
Comment by tildeb — April 3, 2010 @ 10:50 pm
4amzkids, you should really spend some time outside of America. When Obama got elected most of europe breathed a huge sigh of relief. Bush was a loony, he started two wars – when what he should have done is spent the billions of $ on rebuilding the towers, and promoting health care – rather than bombing children and causing more war and more hatred – your previous president has done untold damage to the state of world affairs that has affected us all.
Only a fool would polarise Obama as a Muslim, and bigger fool would be against a state health care system – we have had the NHS for decades, it is brilliant. Why would you want a system where only the rich can get access to treatment – in what way is this Christianly, or brotherly to your fellow countrymen? And how does this promote choice? When you are sick you don’t have many choices, if you are poor and sick you have none – the health care reforms while not perfect are a step in the right direction.
I think you should be thankful that someone is taking the time to think about the broader picture of your country and how it is viewed overseas.
Comment by misunderstoodranter — April 4, 2010 @ 4:16 am |