NPR Correspondent Finds Obama's Christianity 'Ironic'

Via MediaMatters comes the news that NPR's Mara Liasson can't quite come to grips with the idea of a "liberal" being "Christian." because everyone knows the story of how Jesus Christ stood and yelled at Lazarus, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you dirty appeaser!" just before inviting the moneylenders to set up shop in the temple to fondle Congressional pages. Liasson, on the August 7th iteration of Morning Edition, segued to commentary from religious-right fixture Gary Bauer by saying, "The irony of a liberal Democrat showcasing his faith is not lost on Gary Bauer, a leading conservative religious activist."

Irony, of course, means "the use of words expressing something other than the literal intention." For example: the central tenet of Christianity is Christ's admonition that we shall be judged by what we do for the least among us, making it, wait for it... IRONIC!...for Christians to lobby heavily for massive tax-cuts for plutocrats. Thus, it's difficult to see what's ironic -- indeed, even "alanic"
-- about a "liberal Democrat showcasing [their] faith." I'm actually used to presidential candidates like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton showcasing their faith -- in fact, both did so at great length during CNN's "Compassion Forum."

But hey, if you really want to get into some religious irony, why not put Gary Bauer on the spot? Bauer is on the board of Christians United for Israel, a group that ostensibly "supports" Israel, because Israel's existence figures heavily in their crazy "end-times" scenarios. Supporting Israel so that it can be apocalyptically decimated? Now, that is the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention!

Comments

[Egalitare]

Dear Ms. Liasson,

See, there are these people who are United Methodists, Unitarians, Quakers, etc.

And guess what: we call ourselves CHRISTIANS!

[Anonani]

Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and ... For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be. saved." Hebrews 13:6-8, 14-15 ...

[disgusted48]

Mara Liasson, pushing hard for a full time gig with faux news. NPR is low budget. Baby needs a new pair of shoes.

[MemphisBuffalo]

I understand Christ as helping the poor and the GOP says if you are poor then god hates you. It is all pretty clear to me.

[sisteract]

Finally someone has called out the "Christian Right" for how wrong they are. If you don't believe me check out Mathew 25. Democrats can be Christians at the same time. There is no conflict of intrest.

[aofh]

For Baur et. al.: Is that the voice of God you're hearing or your Ego. After all, Desire is a very strong thing that makes us hear what we want to hear. With all of the misery that you are promoting, I'd hate to see you get your wish only to find that the end does not come as you expect and that you aren't in God's eyes what you think you are.

[WatchIt]

Last I heard, in the context of 1st Century Judean politics and religion, Jesus was a R A D I C A L. He told people to give away their possessions and money to the poor. He told people that becuase, if they did, the Kingdom of God would come (haha, not the end of the world, the beginning of a better, kinder world).

So, I am proud to say that as an animist, an agnostic, a buddhist, and a liberal, I have always thought that Christianity, in its original form, was liberal. And it would be liberal still, had it not been for the usurpers who have taken Jesus' message to such a low degree...

[nivek]

So they have filmed the elusive chupa cabra?, oops! thats what happens when you skim the headlines. Sorry Mara

[rktboy]

Actually, I liberal BECAUSE I'm a Christian.

[bmaggiemay]

Oh I'm so surprised....she can't come to grips that she a nobody either...some people will say anything to get in the news these days

[andban]

Now isn't this the same Mara Liasson from Faux News? I thought as much... Who did Bush put in charge of Public Broadcasting? I remember there was an up roar about him and how they were slanting NPR... looks like it worked

[MaeScott]

Why is this woman talking? She doesn't make any sense. Only republican conservatives can be religious? This is stupid. I am a liberal Christian, and in the grand scheme of things, Jesus would have qualified as a liberal....

[lincat]

Why are her eyes bugging out?

[loax]

I am a liberal Christian. am I ironic? The ironic statement proves is how moronic Republican surrogates can be.

[avvocato]

True cristians are liberal!

[Ajita]

The truth is that you can interpret the bible to reflect liberal or conservative values, depending on what your interest is. Whats annoying is that some people think that their interpretation is superior to others.

[conservativesoncrack]

Irony is people that subscribe to Repugnican "values" calling themselves Christian.

Jesus never promissed anyone a fu**ing tax cut!

[izAriver]

Mara Liasson long ago proved herself a hypocrite.