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If you thought Obama's minister was a piece of work, get a load of Palin's church (italics mine):
An illustration of that gap came just two weeks ago, when Palin's church, the Wasilla Bible Church, gave its pulpit over to a figure viewed with deep hostility by many Jewish organizations: David Brickner, the founder of Jews for Jesus.Palin's pastor, Larry Kroon, introduced Brickner on Aug. 17, according to a transcript of the sermon on the church's website.
"He's a leader of Jews for Jesus, a ministry that is out on the leading edge in a pressing, demanding area of witnessing and evangelism," Kroon said.
Brickner then explained that Jesus and his disciples were themselves Jewish.
"The Jewish community, in particular, has a difficult time understanding this reality," he said.
Brickner's mission has drawn wide criticism from the organized Jewish community, and the Anti-Defamation League accused them in a report of "targeting Jews for conversion with subterfuge and deception."
Brickner also described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity.
"Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It's very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment -- you can't miss it."
Palin was in church that day, Kroon said, though he cautioned against attributing Brickner's views to her.
According to the Reverend Wright rules, we should now expect to Palin renounce these statements and criticize the church for inviting him.
Yeah, right.
Politics
Comments
The Reverend Wright rules clearly state that crazy black ministers are demonized in the media, crazy white ministers get a pass. These days you'd have to crank it up to Charles Coughlin-level crazy to really get people mad.
Posted by: Moopheus | September 5, 2008 1:02 PM
"According to the Reverend Wright rules, we should now expect to Palin renounce these statements and criticize the church for inviting him."
Which is it? Should politicians be held accountable for the kooky positions of their preachers and churches, or not? Seriously; it's one or the other, and that goes for both sides.
Posted by: Colugo | September 5, 2008 1:48 PM
Yes, Colugo, which is why Obama got kudos for clearly speaking out against Waters.
Posted by: PalMD | September 5, 2008 2:40 PM
Sometimes religious leaders say things that I like, but it doesn't change the fact that they're deluded as ever. Even a blind squirrel occassionally finds a broken watch.
Posted by: doug l | September 5, 2008 4:38 PM
"Reverend Wright rules" were a mistake. Obama had no control over what his preacher said. Neither did Sarah Palin. To talk about their religious leaders as extensions of themselves is to say that what my cat thinks about me ought to reflect on my job interview.
Posted by: Anna | September 5, 2008 6:18 PM
The Reverend Wright rules clearly state that crazy black ministers are demonized in the media, crazy white ministers get a pass.
From what I remember, it was Rev. Wright's "God damn America" statement that caused the most outrage. This may be a bit different, asking God to destroy a nation, than being an idiot viewing terrorists attacks as God's judgement.
I agree with Colugo, you cannot dismiss the Obama pastor situation and then criticize Sarah Palin for this.
Posted by: Joel | September 7, 2008 10:03 AM
Is there some sort of law that states whenever an observation is made about how someone should react to avoid being hypocritical, the person making the observation will be accused of being hypocritical?
Colugo, Anna, Joel: you missed the point Mike was making. Hint: it's the corollary of Joel's final sentence.
Posted by: W. Kevin Vicklund | September 7, 2008 10:54 AM