Does Palin have a pastor problem?

Of course, we all know the Christian Right will haul out the WMDs to slay the messenger, but for the rest of us, this will be a pretty interesting read.  I have not had a chance to completely view the video, but it will be fascinating to see how the Christian Right can bash this Pentacostal Worldview.  Here's the link.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html

• Does Palin have a pastor problem? - Interesting read and link inside. sm
  • No, I don't think she has a pastor problem... - samsam
  • Have not read the article yet (not sure if I will or not) - ermt
  • Huffingtonpost.... oh please, I wont - bother... at least get a reliable source first.nm
    • Might find the 15 minute video of Palin - Preaching, shall we say, impeachable source? nm
      • Freudian slip. Meant unimpeachable source. - Sorry, silly me. sm
  • Huffingtonpost is far left whackos.....read with a grain of salt.... - ms
    • Huffington was a pub before she wised up - and switched sides. Does her job well. nm
      • Huffington has lost her mind. All you have to do is - try listening to her. whacked. nm
    • Grain of salt notwithstanding, read. - Slay the messenger predictable. nm
      • Did read it. So what? Take a chill pill, like my brother used to say....nm - ms
        • Iraq war messianic calling to US to - carry out will of God? sm
        • No need. Cool as a cucumber. - Calm, cool and collected as they say. nm

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WEST BEND, Wis. (AP) - Thirty-three pastors in 22 states used their sermons to make pointed recommendations about political candidates today.

The effort was orchestrated by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund.

The conservative legal group plans to send copies of the pastors' sermons to the Internal Revenue Service with hope of setting off a legal fight and abolishing restrictions on church involvement in politics.

Critics call it unnecessary, divisive and unlikely to succeed.

The Reverend Eric Williams of Columbus has organized 55 religious leaders across the nation to file a complaint about the ADF's challenge.

The minister with the liberal United Church of Christ says churches should stand apart from the government.

The founding pastor of a second Colorado church has resigned over gay sex allegations, just weeks after the evangelical community was shaken by the scandal surrounding megachurch leader Ted Haggard.

Haggard, a gay-marriage opponent, admitted to unspecified sexual immorality when he resigned last month as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs. A male prostitute had said he had had sex with Haggard for three years.

On Sunday, Paul Barnes, founding pastor of the 2,100-member Grace Chapel in this Denver suburb, told his evangelical congregation in a videotaped message he had had sexual relations with other men and was stepping down.

Dave Palmer, associate pastor of Grace Chapel, told The Denver Post that Barnes confessed to him after the church received a call last week.

The church board of elders accepted Barnes' resignation on Thursday.

On the videotape, which The Post was allowed to view, Barnes told church members: I have struggled with homosexuality since I was a 5-year-old boy. ... I can't tell you the number of nights I have cried myself to sleep, begging God to take this away.

Barnes, 54, led Grace Chapel for 28 years. He and his wife have two adult children.

Palmer said in a written statement that While we cannot condone what he has done, we continue to support and love Paul.

According to dictionary.com, the meanings of the N-word are “deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense.”  They go on to say, conversely, “it is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way.”  Since he whispered the statement behind what he thought was a cold microphone, it is highly unlikely that Rev. Jackson intended to cause great offense and his use of the word probably falls into the latter category of usage. 

For example, the N-word can become much less offensive and even assume neutrality within historical discourse, literature, poetry, cinema theater and the like.  One could further argue that within certain contexts (i.e. rap music, conversations within the black households, neighborhoods and businesses, to name a few) connotations of the word can be construed so as to convey a sense of community…even a brotherhood, of sorts.  Language is fluid, dynamic and vital in its nature, not static or one-dimensional.  Context, message, intent, environment, speaker and audience all impact the ultimate nuance of meaning in all forms of communication. 

I agree with you and take deep offense at the use of the N-word, regardless of who says it.  However, I would like to comment on some of the other points you raised in your post.  A careful read of the actual statement shows that Rev. Jackson did not use this epithet to personally attack Obama.  Rather, he was referring to the black population as a whole.  Granted, his choice of words was extremely poor (at least from a white perspective), but the statement was not meant for public scrutiny.  It was spoken from one black individual to another, much the same was that Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s statements were made from black preacher to black congregation. 

As a white person, I do not believe I can sit in judgment one way or another regarding his choice of words when taken completely out of context, in the same way I am not qualified to criticize the sermons of Rev. Wright.  I would like to think that I am intelligent enough to understand that, having lived in the US as a white person both before and after the civil right eras (1948 to present), I have not experienced life in America the same way black people have.  They are entitled to their own “take” on their own lives.  Who am I to tell them how to “tell it like it is?”

One last point.  I am sure that much flap and bruhah will ensue over this unfortunate news.  However, the very fact that Rev. Sharpton, you, I, the media and countless others will be having this debate over our outrage and dismay is a testament as to just how effective Rev Jackson and other early leaders in the civil rights movement were in defining the key issues, defying status quo of his times, enlisting support for the cause, effectively engaging his opposition in ongoing bipartisan initiatives over nearly 4 decades and producing fruitful, far-reaching and substantial bodies of legislation from which today’s black community continue to reap bountiful benefits and blessings.  They weathered storms of protests, incarceration, series after series of setbacks and reversals, and buckets of bloodshed in their efforts to secure the civil liberties and rights that reach far beyond the black community to encompass other forms of discrimination against women, gays, immigrants and the poor, to name a few…all so casually taken for granted and so easily dismissed in the blink of an eye with one ill-chosen, unfortunate slip of the tongue. 

For those of us whose memories reach further back than the latest round of CNN sound bytes and chat room chatter, we probably would forgive Obama should he decide not to denounce Rev Jackson’s support, nor would we feel driven to force him to abandon his own pastor of 20 years for the sake of our own righteous indignation. 

In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

accused Hillary of whining when she protested.  Talk about unity among women.

She banned reporters from her 1st meeting with world leaders.  Only allowed access to photographers and a television crew.  I'm just curious as to if anybody read as to why.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080923/ap_on_el_pr/palin_leaders

Palin has many shady contacts also: 

She has backed the Alaska Independence Party.  Its platform calls for the defense of "states rights," to "seek the complete repatriation of the public lands, held by the federal government, to the state and people of Alaska in conformance with Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17, of the federal constitution." Basically, the AIP wants a vote on secession. The AIP says that Gov. Sarah Palin used to be a member of the party. Earlier this year, Palin recorded a welcoming address to the AIP's convention.

Officials of the Alaskan Independence Party say that Palin was once so independent, she was once a member of their party, which, since the 1970s, has been pushing for a legal vote for Alaskans to decide whether or not residents of the 49th state can secede from the United States.

And while McCain's motto -- as seen in a new TV ad -- is "Country First," the AIP's motto is the exact opposite -- "Alaska First -- Alaska Always."

In an interview of extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll helped launch Palin’s political career in Alaska, and in return had influence over policy. “Her door was open,” says Chryson — and still is.

So, this is group is just one of her past supporters.  They helped her get where she is today.  And dont even get me started on McCain.

is an absolute insult to women in this country.  She was simply put on the ticket to try to get Hillary supporters, and seemingly was okay with that.  Women have worked just as hard as any other minority in this country for equality.  Regardless of that, she ran on a ticket that did not support equal wages for equal work (check out McCain's record), was against choice when it came to abortion, would like to overturn R v Wade, and every time she opens her mouth ignorance abounds. 

No, I don't want her to succeed because I would hate for any other country to think she is actually a portrayal of women in this country.  She is an absolute joke.

Point and click on everything -- several times (especially animals behind doors)

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

ROFL

She could not have gotten where she is today without having brains especially since she started in the PTA and moved up.  She didn't have mommy or daddy in politics bringing her name up every chance they got.  She is a very admirable women, IMHO.  I would be very proud to have her as VP.  A woman who can raise 5 kids and be a governor......that is just remarkable.  I admire the way she still had her youngest son even though the doctors told her he would have Down syndrome.  She isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes.  She is more of a real person to me.  She hunts, she is a hockey mom.  She is no b!mbo.  And lastly....she is a beautiful woman and I'm not just speaking about her outer appearance.  She cares.  She is for the people.  I think McCain made a great choice when he picked her.

Go McCain and Palin 2008!!! 

I like the fact that she is NOT a Washingtonian ..... Obama took a big hit with me - all that talk about change and then he picks Biden -- who has been in Washington most of his life, who does the Democrat double talk better than most!

I like the fact that she stands up for what she believes in and fights the big boys when necessary.

I like the fact she is a normal person .... sure, they have some money but .... she has problems and is dealing with them.   Her husband is blue collar worker, and to me that is a plus. 

Do I think she is ready to be VP?   I have to do more thinking and soul searching about that ...

Be honest about it -- they both chose their running mates based on what they hoped would help them win the most votes ... not who they really wanted or thought was most qualified!! 

I wanted a McCain/Lieberman ticket myself.

BUT.......  she does NOT deserve the crap she is taking.  That is what is wrong with politics in this country. 

The people who COULD do the best job -- WON'T EVEN RUN. They won't subject themselves to the BS they have to endure .....

JMHO .. I will be watching, reading and listening over the next few months.  Tough decisions to be made!

They looked great to me.  Cindy McCain reached for the child, it wasn't handed off to her.  Bristol looked anything but terrified.  She looked proud of her mother.  And well she should be.  She is running for VP of the United States.  I thought it was especially sweet with the little girl licked her hand to smooth down the baby's cowlick.  Circus freaks are the last words I would use to describe this family.

In response to Palin’s statement that she had nothing to hide, in August 2008 the Alaska Legislature hired Steve Branchflower to investigate Palin and her staff for possible abuse of power surrounding the dismissal, though lawmakers acknowledge that “Monegan and other commissioners serve at will, meaning they can be fired by Palin at any time.”[52] The investigation is being overseen by Democratic State Senator Hollis French, who says that the Palin administration has been cooperating and thus subpoenas are unnecessary.[53] The Palin administration itself was the first to release an audiotape of Bailey making inquiries about the status of the Wooten investigation.[50][54]

the voters were concerned about the language in some of them and felt it inappropriate for their children.  This was to help keep bad language away from children.  Not get rid of them because a certain race, nationality, etc. wrote them.  The Nazis burned books written by Jews.  This is entirely different. 

As for my supposed untruth about Obama being Muslim at one time:

Obama's Kenyan birth father: In Islam, religion passes from the father to the child. Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.

Obama's Indonesian family: His stepfather, Lolo Soetoro, was also a Muslim. In fact, as Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng explained to Jodi Kantor of the New York Times: "My whole family was Muslim, and most of the people I knew were Muslim." An Indonesian publication, the Banjarmasin Post reports a former classmate, Rony Amir, recalling that "All the relatives of Barry's father were very devout Muslims."

The Catholic school: Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press reports that "documents showed he enrolled as a Muslim" while at a Catholic school during first through third grades. Kim Barker of the Chicago Tribune confirms that Obama was "listed as a Muslim on the registration form for the Catholic school."

Koran class: In his autobiography, Dreams of My Father, Obama relates how he got into trouble for making faces during Koranic studies, thereby revealing he was a Muslim, for Indonesian students in his day attended religious classes according to their faith.

Mosque attendance: Obama's half-sister recalled that the family attended the mosque "for big communal events." Watson learned from childhood friends that "Obama sometimes went to Friday prayers at the local mosque." Barker found that "Obama occasionally followed his stepfather to the mosque for Friday prayers." One Indonesia friend, Zulfin Adi, states that Obama "was Muslim. He went to the mosque. I remember him wearing a sarong" (a garment associated with Muslims).

This along with his association with sketchy people including Ayers and his 20-year attendance to a church that promotes hates messages.....I feel I am justly right to be concerned about Obama and have reason to not trust him one iota.