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

[hutom]

Is IS deeply unsettling when a liberal talks liberally about faith - and that too one particular faith.

Seems like times are tough for the Barak Brigade. They are having such a difficult time to define and defend their candidate. All this triangulation and warming up to quota votes ... kind of remind me of somebody whose name the Barak Bots cannot bring to their lips. Tsk...tsk.­.

[roald]

Why do you find a liberal expressing faith unsettling (to the point where that liberal or anyone else tries to force their faith on me)?

For the rest, what are you trying to say?

[mergina]

Obama is about as Christian as, uhm?

[Skua]

Out of curiosity, what would make you think a presidential candidate was "rather Christian"? If he acted like Jesus? The Emperor Constantine? St. Francis? John Calvin? Pat Robertson? Queen Mary of England? Jimmy Carter? Whether it's war or peace, pomp or simplicity, love or hate, individual rights or government power, you can find a "Christian" on just about any side of any issue..... no?

[conservativesoncrack]

As, uhm... Well, more like Christ than Bush, in both word and deed.

[tbone99]

The only irony is that somehow a legendary figure as entered into the conversation of 21st century politics as some kind of proof of suitability for a president who will be making decisions on nuclear,
gentic, nanotechnology and other scientific issues and the critical route to ensure the survival of planet earth.

[valleygent]

The radical left is utterly out of touch with American society.

[Skua]

Isn't this an off-topic remark? Neither Bauer nor Liasson nor Obama is within miles of the "radical left".

[WineWonkette]

The radical right is bent on destroying American society.

[conservativesoncrack]

Oh, so Jesus is out of touch with American society, eh? I actually agree with you...

[conservativesoncrack]

And, just in case this was above your head... Amercia is in no way shape or form a truly "Christian" nation. Nor should it be...

[xargaw]

Liberalism is influenced by grace. Fundamentalism is ruled by dogma. There was more grace than dogma in Christ. Why should this suprise anyone? Like so much in the political realm today, the right and the religous right have sold a bill of goods to the public that is the opposite of reality.

[schicklett3]

She's just another FUX NEWS puppet - they're all a bunch of hypocrits that have no idea of what the Bible actually teaches.
FUX NEWS has painted Senator O as everything from a terrorist to a muslim to the anti-christ - yet their news anchors are the worst of the worst. Racism and hate run rampant on their shows (Hannity comes quickly to mind).
Anyway, lets talk about JOhn McCain's religious beliefs...­... ;)

[hchriste]

I seen a women protesting the people protesting the harsh imigration policy of workers in Iowa. She had a sign that said "What Would Jesus Do? He would obey the law of the United States." I don't think it fits the Jesus of the Bible who was for the under dog and who encouraged civil disobedence and encouraged the people of Israel to over throw the government of Rome. I believe Jesus would be on the side of people that need to sneak across the borders to support thier families The true Jesus would look down a long nose at Conservatives and a very long nose at many Conservative preachers who use religion to sell their goods, create division among people by color and class, and collect cash from homebound old ladies.

[Lindy222]

There's something wrong with these so-called Fox liberals. (See also Juan Williams)

Is it a Stockholm Syndrome thing?

[Egalitare]

You might be on to something here.

[MilesTone]

That's a scary looking woman right there!!!

[jmpurser]

I'm not sure if this is an example of a media person who's utterly clueless about Christianity, Politics, or the English language. Let's face it, given today's "media" it could be any or all of the three.

[edwcorey]

Today's journalists are more about being media stars than about knowledge or confronting power and corruption. Even the tabloids are showing better how shoe leather should be used. I've even sworn off NPR--bunch of knuckleheads.

[TRex86]

NPR is a bad joke. Whatever edginess it permits always favors the Repugs. I long since gave up on them. One of my faves was Scott Simon's reflection on D-Day a few years ago (drawing a parallel to the ill-conceived invasion of Iraq). He opined that absent our invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe it would assuredly have remained under Hitler's boot for a thousand years. I guess Republican historians have used white-out on the role the USSR played in WWII. In fact, absent our invasion Europe would have been under Soviet rule for a thousand years, which is a better point to have made but too subtle by far for the folks at NPR.
And don't you just love all the euphemisms they deploy for our use of torture?

[TheIndependenceParty]

"Liberal", ... "Christian"? The irony is that the Fundies have so trashed the reputation of Christianity, that twerps like Mara Liasson think one precludes the other. That a NPR reporter would choose Fox as a venue to make comments like that is troubling.

Like many above, I express my faith in fair journalism at NPR with my member donations, ... which stopped this year, and won't start again until shenanigans like this one stop. Tell that to your bosses, Mara!

[JohnFromColorado]

There are many liberal churches, but the religious right does not consider them Christian.

I remember being told by a Colorado Democratic state representative of a story about her daughter and her daughter's school friend. The school friend came from a fundamentalist Christian family.
Her daughter and her friend were at her house and the representative mentioned going to the Methodist church. The friend was confused because she did not think Democrats were Christians.

I think conservative and Christian are considered to have to go together. That is not the case. But from the conservative Christian perspective that seems to be the case.

[NoSillyName]

Obama has a personal faith? BFD. He's not one of those "born again" fanatical freaks.

[antiparanoid]

Christ also ran the merchants out of the temple.