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

[HerbTee]

God, where do they find these crazy fools like Mara Liasson! And why is it a person's religion is so important in politics these days? I've always been taught and was lead to believe all these decades that a person's religious beliefs and how they choose to worship God, Allah, Jehovah, Shiva or Whomever, is a very private and personal matter usually not open for discussion or ridicule. Never have I remembered the religions of other politicians being dragged out in the open for ridicule or devious scrutiny. I don't recall Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton or GWB being judged by how often they attended church, who their pastors were, what their deeply personal private beliefs with God were, etc.

Religion is now being used as a wedge and a "morality meter" to judge and divide us, rather than leaving religion where it belongs...privately in the hearts, minds and souls of individual believers. What are we all coming to in this country?

[Diogenis]

Sip some tea before I answer that question.

[tploomis]

I agree with Mara Liasson that a liberal touting his Christianity is ironic. I equate liberal positions with being sensible and Christianity with a delusional explanation for the world. So, yes, this is ironic or at least a bad case of cognitive dissonance. Obama's focus on his faith is an aspect of his campaign persona I dislike, but I assume he has to put that forth to appeal to the religious nutcases in America, the ones for whom belief in "the Almighty" is a make or break deal. America has not yet evolved to a secular vision of the world, as the enlightened governments of Europe have, and so candidates have to play up their religiosity, no matter how ridiculous it may be. Hopefully, though, they don't have to really believe what they are saying.

[army193]

I think, I figure this one out...If your a natural born in America your not required to honor the Constitution unless you enter service like the military or public service and you swear to uphold the Constitution or your immigrant and become American citizen and swear to uphold the Constitution. The religious sector seems to holds the Constitution second place, only to there bible of choice. I just point this section out to the MSM/Print/Religious Groups that demand the receive protection under the Constitution, but to hell with this section:

Article. VI. - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

[ESerafina42]

With "friends" like Gary Bauer and Pastor Hagee, Israel doesn't need enemies. Obama at least doesn't fantasize about all Jews being either converted or wiped out in preparation for the Second Coming, since, as a REAL Christian he knows that he's not supposed to be trying to predict when it will happen, something expressly FORBIDDEN by Jesus. Personally, I think St. John (or whoever) was dropping some serious acid (or something) when he wrote Revelation.

[urojen]

This female is stupid in confusing secularism which is separation of church and state from a person being religious personally.Again does she know one can be very religious and pious and still have secular views?She looks to be confused and appears to think being fundamentalist is being religious as the present administration is!Contrary to what ignorant people like Mara believe religious values do not contradict secular values becos religions teach tolerance, respect for fellow religions and beliefs including atheism,inculcate social values and strongly advocate preservation and conservation.It is unfortunate that someone like Mara Laisson who is so ignorant of the matters like religion and secularism comes to be regarded as an "expert" in NPR,I can understand her role in promoting the Fox ideology,but she is a tital disgrace in NPR,

[BARRY08]

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS UGLY WOMAN ???

SHE WILL DO WELL TO KEEP OUT OF BUSINESS

SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND....

[Diogenis]

Have a blunt and relax!

[kay]

The idiot pundits don't know what to do with Obama.

The best thing about his candidacy is what fools it makes of them.

[applebutter]

This is the number two dingbat out of NPR making headlines this week. Amazing.

[Bobrobert]

Praise the lord.

Obama 08

Remember to vote all.

:-)

Pray for all the troops.

[MissDaphne]

whoa, scary picture.
I usually like listening to her on the radio, though. She doesn't seem like an extremist, to me--just someone who has had her mind poisoned so much by the craziness of the religious right that it's hard to remember that there are lots and lots of people who actually embrace the messages of Jesus

I'm misquoting here, but I think it's Woody Allen--If Christ came back and saw all the s**t people did in his name, he would never stop throwing up.

[saltysea]

yeah, like taking lewd photos of your adopted child.

[hlechols]

Who took Pics of their adopted child?

[saltysea]

although, to be fair, he probably didn't do it in God's name.

[getoffmedz]

When and by whom was the word "liberal" assigned a negative value?

[abigail1]

write them.
http://www.npr.org/contact/

[peskime]

What's ironic lady? Jesus was the ORIGINAL liberal.

[DrFitz]

Her eyelift looks pretty ironic to me. Then again, I feel sorry for the pressure on women in media to show no signs of age.

[helonias]

Well I find conservative christians Christianity really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, ironic

And so does Jesus.