Category: Politics

GOP debate

Anyone else watch the GOP debate last night from Florida? Seemed quite civil compared to what I heard from the Democratic debate earlier this week.

MSNBC seemed to think Mitt Romney won the debate afterwards but I wasn’t impressed. Granted I already have my pre-conceived notions about him so that may have blinded me somewhat.

I thought John McCain and Mike Huckabee did a great job and I was also impressed with Ron Paul. Paul’s ideas may not be mainstream but he knows his reasons behind them.

I loved the challenge Huckabee gave to moderator Tim Russert. While Huckabee talked about how the Fair Tax would help stimulate the economy and help save Social Security, Russert basically said, “The idea of the Fair Tax is very improbable” (not a direct quote). Huckabee came back and said, “that’s what’s wrong with America. We keep saying that’s improbable or unlikely rather than looking for ways to make it work” (again not a direct quote but the gist).

And you can tell Huckabee knows the Fair Tax. If you’re wondering more about it, be sure and visit the Americans for Fair Taxation website.

What were your impressions after the debate?

Obama talks to Beliefnet

Presidential candidate Barack Obama recently spoke to Beliefnet about his (Christian) faith:

The Democratic presidential candidate discusses what he prays for daily and why the Golden Rule applies on the campaign trail.

You spoke at Martin Luther King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church this week and speak regularly at other churches. Is there a difference in speaking from a pulpit versus from behind a podium or at a political rally? Do you have a different set of responsibilities?

When I’m speaking behind a pulpit, I’m in church. And what that means is that it’s during a religious service. I’m there, mindful that the primary reason for being in church is to worship. And so I’m going to constrain myself in speaking on purely political issues and am more likely to broaden the theme to address broader issues—values and our ideals, how we can come together to solve the problems that we face as a nation and in the world. But I’m very sensitive to respecting the role that the church service plays and not wanting to abuse the privilege of addressing a congregation.

In writing about your experience encountering church people as an organizer in Chicago, you said you saw “their ability to make a way out of no way, I could see the Word made manifest… I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized.” It sounds like a conversion or a born-again experience.

It wasn’t an epiphany. I didn’t “fall out,” as they say in the black church. It was an emotional and spiritual progression, as well as an intellectual one. And it didn’t happen overnight. What happened was that I felt drawn to the message of Jesus Christ and the power of the church to fortify people in their spiritual journeys. And, you know, in my heart, at least, I felt God’s spirit beckoning me. So ultimately, as I write in [“The Audacity of Hope”], I submitted myself to his will, dedicated myself to discovering his truths.

But it’s an ongoing process for all of us in making sure that we are living out our faith every day. And, you know, it’s something that I try to pray on at the beginning of every day and at the end of every day, whether I’m living my life in a way that’s consistent with my faith.

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Thompson withdraws

In a three-sentence statement on his website, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson announced that he has resigned from the Republican presidential campaign.

“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.”

Wonder who he’ll endorse now?