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

[scooperss]

I thought that woman was a billy kristol type republican pos.

[viewfromuphere]

If Ms Liassom finds Obama's faith ironic , her head will do a 180 when it's pointed out to h er that the father of Canada's universal health system, Tommy Douglas was for much of his life a baptist minister.

Actually worse...a socialist....which I'm thinking is worse than liberal

[AnnieinOR]

Mara finds it ironic that the party that worries about everyone and not just the rich is Christian? Wasn't it Jesus who said it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to go through an eye of a needle? Gee, Benny Hinn and all those rich evangalists sitting on their millions better start worrying.

O has been a Christian in deed, not just word.. he worked to find jobs for the displaced workers...what has she done other than "bear false witness" day after day.

[indypete]

They repealed the camel-eye-of-needle thing. Now you have to have enough money to buy a ticket to Heaven. Poor folks aren't welcome.

[Mercurial]

and I find her eyes frickin scary.

[bandillero]

... and ironic. Is she the sister of the Runaway Bride?

[Americanium]

Conservatism is organized hypocrisy.....................!@#$%^^**

[Mayoyo]

Why are we listening to these morons.
Doesn't she know that we worship an Awesome God in the blue stats.....you think.

[lincheryl]

How Christian of her! Judge not lest you be judged. Some people need to get a grip.

[BlackDots]

Wait a minute, irony also means "incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result ." Given how liberals as of late have distanced themselves from discussions of their religious beliefs, it is unexpected that a liberal would discuss it now, therefore rendering that discussion ironic.

What's the big deal?

[dogstar7]

"Given how liberals as of late have distanced themselves..."

Gee! Generalize much?

[BlackDots]

Oh please. If some random politician got in front of a podium and started talking about his/her faith, and you had to guess what party the politician belonged to, which would be the safe bet, Republicans or Democrats?

[eugenegerard]

Face it Public Broadcasting has been taken over by Right Wing idealogues. This country needs an exorcism to get rid of the evil Bush has brought with him.

[wizardofoz]

get jindal hes so good at exorcisms.

[cdub1991]

Sure Liasson isn't the first person to misuse the word irony, although you'd think she would have a better copy editor.

[RatgurlSD]

Isn't it ironic... dontcha think?

[barackobama4prez]

No shortage of Xenophobic nutjobs on the right.

[ianochaye]

The sheer arrogance of the proposition that liberals cannot be Christians is breathtaking!

How can there be any semblance of a sensible discussion with folks like this involved in the process?

Oh - meant to ask while we have those folks on board - are we still burning witches or have we gone back to drowning them?

[srtjsrtj]

Christians are Everything the Republicans are Not, Not Greedy, Not Power Hungry, Not Judging People, Not A Rich Robin Hood.

Let's give this Woman a Real lesson in Christiany, apparently she does not Read the Bible. Jesus came from Humble beginnings, was not Rich, Came to Save the Lost, Feed the Sick and the Hungry and to offer us all Salvation. "The Love of Money is the Root of all Evil" the good book says.

Perhaps this woman could find a church a real church that does not teach that Dems/Liberals are Not Christians. No we Just don't use it to Bully People, Lie, Cheat and Steal.

[kkuate]

MORMONS FOR OBAMA !!!! - - From a liberal Republican... Not a Neocon.

[wizardofoz]

is there such an animal?

[Kurt]

It as only until the late 19th century that people took the bile literally, before that, peole look on it as a source of advice for the troubles they had and tryed to see how the folks in Biblical time would have solved them.

Most Christians (like my Mom) still feel the same way. the fundamentalists miss s much wisdom by taking it literally, I pity them.

[srtjsrtj]

The Bible is to be taken Literally it's why Christ left if to save our souls.

[indypete]

You're either being sarcastic/ironic or you're beyond reason.