State of Change

Smearing Obama (The Sequel)

posted by Ari Berman on 10/06/2008 @ 11:18am

The long-awaited smear campaign against Barack Obama has once again gone mainstream, with the McCain campaign and their Republican allies caricaturing Obama as a terrorist-loving 60s radical.

Like me, you may be experiencing a sense of déjà vu. Much the same thing happened to Obama last spring, with Hillary Clinton and her surrogates pushing these flimsy connections and the mainstream media latching on. I documented these smears and their origins in two pieces, "Smearing Obama" and "Obama Under the Weather."

That strategy didn't work then and it isn't likely to work now, as former Clinton communications chief Howard Wolfson writes in a new blog.

Yet it's worth reflecting on just how low the McCain campaign is stooping. Many of the dubious claims and outright falsehoods against Obama first took root in the far, far right, started by anti-Semitic con artists (as my colleague Chris Hayes documented in "The New Right-Wing Smear Machine"), discredited fringe bloggers and Islam-hating Christian right radicals.

McCain once pledged to fight this kind of politics. After all, it was Rove-spread lies that brought him down in South Carolina in 2000.

The Dow plunged 500 points today and the McCain campaign is talking about Bill Ayers a month before the election. How pathetic and irrelevant.

As Wolfson writes:

Republican philosophies have been discredited by events. Voters understand this. This is a big election about big issues. McCain's smallball will not work. This race will not be decided by lipsticked pigs. And John McCain can not escape that reality.

Comments (112)

  1. "The dow tumbled 300 points today and the McCain campaign is talking about Bill Ayers a month before the election. How pathetic and irrelevant."

    Thank-you Mr. Berman. I couldn't agree more.

    Posted by HAL9000 at 10/06/2008 @ 11:22am

  2. We knew this was coming. Desperate and out of time, the Straight Talk Express is stuck, spinning its wheels and flinging mud. I only hope the American people take this as an opportunity to emphatically reject this kind of campaign. Say whatever you want about Obama's policies and his voting record (the ACTUAL voting record), but to question this man's character and patriotism is ridiculous. John McCain has lost all sense of decency, this is truly despicable.

    In my weaker moments I feel sorry for McCain, but then I snap back to reality and look forward to seeing Obama capture 325+ electoral votes and end a seven year war on the middle class.

    Obama/Biden '08

    Posted by DGKusel at 10/06/2008 @ 11:39am

  3. and end a seven year war on the middle class.

    Posted by DGKusel at 10/06/2008 @ 11:39am

    that gonna kinda be like trying to plant corn after gettysburg......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/06/2008 @ 11:51am

  4. 's

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/06/2008 @ 11:51am

  5. Come on, guys....what do you expect?

    1. They CAN'T win on the issues.

    2. The polling has slipped (and continued to slip this weekened) since the GOP Convention and Palin's supposed draw of "all the Hillary voters" never appeared.

    They've got nothing left. Frankly, this new run of old stuff is actually PRETTY GOOD NEWS....because it means they don't have anything NEW to run with!

    heheh

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 12:07pm

  6. Posted by madlib at 10/06/2008 @ 12:10pm

    Another reason the polling is taking its toll....

    Virginia and North Carolina are now "toss-ups"....that's two FORMERLY "Solid Red" states that Bush won in 2004....and McCain can't afford to lose ANY of the states that Bush won in '04 or he's through.

    Soooooo....despite "jayne's" insistance, he surrendered Michigan, which Bush lost by only 150,000 and "re-focused" in Virginia. Which isn't the main problem...the main problem is MONEY, which McCain doesn't have, though the GOP can shore him up with 527s and "issue ads".

    But that's money defending "previously held territory" that ISN'T available for the battlegrounds.

    Obama has them fighting a multi-front war and trying to protect what ground they already SHOULD have locked-up.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 12:20pm

  7. If you want THE best VISUAL reason for why the Republicans are just throwing out anything and seeing if it will stick....this is it-

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10

    (In fairness, that's converting "leaners" and "toss-ups" into solid states....but the other map isn't much better for them!)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 12:33pm

  8. From Obama Camp:

    Over the weekend, John McCain's top adviser announced their plan to stop engaging in a debate over the economy and "turn the page" to more direct, personal attacks on Barack Obama.

    In the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, they want to change the subject from the central question of this election. Perhaps because the policies McCain supported these past eight years and wants to continue are pretty hard to defend.

    But it's not just McCain's role in the current crisis that they're avoiding. The backward economic philosophy and culture of corruption that helped create the current crisis are looking more and more like the other major financial crisis of our time.

    During the savings and loan crisis of the late '80s and early '90s, McCain's political favors and aggressive support for deregulation put him at the center of the fall of Lincoln Savings and Loan, one of the largest in the country. More than 23,000 investors lost their savings. Overall, the savings and loan crisis required the federal government to bail out the savings of hundreds of thousands of families and ultimately cost American taxpayers $124 billion.

    Sound familiar?

    In that crisis, John McCain and his political patron, Charles Keating, played central roles that ultimately landed Keating in jail for fraud and McCain in front of the Senate Ethics Committee. The McCain campaign has tried to avoid talking about the scandal, but with so many parallels to the current crisis, McCain's Keating history is relevant and voters deserve to know the facts -- and see for themselves the pattern of poor judgment by John McCain.

    http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 12:39pm

  9. Yep, it's working soooo well...

    OCTOBER 6, 2008

    US: Obama 52, McCain 44 (Rasmussen 10/03-05) By PH Staff

    Rasmussen 10/03-05,08; 3,000 LV 2% Mode: IVR

    &&&&

    Will we see McPOWhowmanyCARSMANSIONS hit 39%? Will Obamanation stay in the 50's?

    It's beginning to look a lot like this.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 10/06/2008 @ 12:40pm

  10. Here's the problem with the Republicans running strategy right now. Every point the DOW drops. Every attack in Afghanistan. Every step backward in Iraq. Equals points lost for them. Since all of these things are happening right now, they can't win on the issues so they have to low ball and try any trick the can. They have already lost the battle of issues. Now they have to hope that their tried and true method of fighting dirty works.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 10/06/2008 @ 12:58pm

  11. Quite honestly even a terrorist attack wouldn't work at this stage. As bad as that sounds. Everything they have been doing to "protect" us. If it was all proven worthless by a terrorist attack that would hurt the McCain campaign even more.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 10/06/2008 @ 12:59pm

  12. VA may be lost to McCain already. Latest polls in VA show Obama with a pretty solid lead...

    ...and it appears to be growing.

    Posted by Lillian at 10/06/2008 @ 1:00pm

  13. And now McCain is taliing about cutting Medicare/Medicaid.

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html

    So it looks like he's conceding Florida as well.

    Posted by Lillian at 10/06/2008 @ 1:03pm

  14. And Palin didn't help...she actually HURT McCain with undecideds...

    Key Part---"It also found that Palin's performance in the debate did nothing to clinch undecided votes for her running mate, Arizona Sen. John McCain. Before the debate, those same undecided voters were leaning 56 percent to 44 percent for McCain. The day after the debate, the numbers tilted 52 percent to 48 percent for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

    "It's suggesting an overall tendency of undecideds toward Obama, so it is significant," said Clifford Young, a senior vice president at Ipsos Public Affairs. "We're catching an underlying trend that's going on."

    http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/53475.html

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 1:09pm

  15. Posted by RedRiver_. at 10/06/2008 @ 1:03pm

    The problem with McCain's attacks is they are FACTUALLY INACCURATE and imply much more of a connection than what is actually there.

    It would be more persuasive RED RIVER if you could cite ANY advice on the economy Obama received from these men...and if you can't, that should be a large Red Flag that you are pushing distortions, innuendos and untruths for McCain.

    Keating 5, on the other hand, is VERY REAL. McCain vacationed with the Keating family, flew around on the Keating jet, and took lots of money from Charles Keating since Keating was one of John's first political patrons.

    And perhaps more significantly, Keating and John McCain were on the same page concerning deregulation of the Savings and Loans banks, and this cost the taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars in bailouts, just like the current crisis.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 1:20pm

  16. Of the members of Congress who own investments in Fannie and Freddie, 7 of the top 10, and 16 of 28 are Republicans, including...

    ...John McCain.

    Posted by Lillian at 10/06/2008 @ 1:21pm

  17. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:21pm

    This is the basic problem with the Fundies - they twist the words of Jesus Christ to support a "war ideology" and completely forget about the GREATEST COMMANDMENT according to Jesus, which was about LOVE.

    >>>One of the Pharisees tested Jesus with a question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" (Matthew 22:36 NIV). Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV). <<<

    How could the Fundies like LVL miss the ENTIRE ESSENCE of the Gospel of Jesus - which is about LOVE - and still call themselves Christians? Could it be they are so hung up on hate and killing those who don't believe as they do that they missed the whole point of Jesus?

    When Jesus says "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments", doesn't that suggest that his entire Gospel is based on this, so if you miss these commandments and don't elevate them above all others you couldn't possibly be a true follower of Jesus?

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 1:36pm

  18. Funny. Lvliberty sounds my mom and my aunt when describing Catholicism. They always say, "the one true faith". I love her but that is one of the very few things we disagree on.

    Now back to the topic. Okay I'll give you one. McCain's campaign is neither straight talk nor an express. Discuss.

    Posted by k330k at 10/06/2008 @ 1:37pm

  19. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:21pm

    The mental image here is of the weary chaplain praying for the soul of a man on his way to the gallows.

    McCain will tough it out, he's done it before. I do expect Palin to break down before this is over, though.

    Posted by MyParadigm at 10/06/2008 @ 1:40pm

  20. Of course I hate Islam. It is the work of the devil designed to steer people away from the true G-d. It is a religion based upon hate. It is a religion who's doctrines require the murder or subjugation of others.----Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:16pm

    But you ALSO believe that we can bring a "peaceful, friendly democracy in Iraq" into being?!??!?!?

    What? Are the 97% of Iraqis who are Muslim going to convert to Christianity?

    Or do you hold two opposing views in your head at the same time?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 1:43pm

  21. It took 3 months for McPalin to move the polls back from just a high a Obama lead-- see the graph and numbers here:

    http://tinyurl.com/2yke8u

    Posted by hsuBfools at 10/06/2008 @ 1:45pm

  22. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 1:43pm

    No, MASK...Fundies like LVL really believe that war making should be used to get "non-Christians" - whatever that means - to convert to the same version of Christianity as them.

    It's The Crusades all over again with more destructive weapons, and megalomaniacs as politicians who want to meet Jesus by hastening the end of the world!

    Truly scary!

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 1:48pm

  23. er, it's war for profit not prophet..., but they do so enjoy the confusion-- DUH!

    Posted by hsuBfools at 10/06/2008 @ 2:03pm

  24. Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 1:48pm

    You really don't have to get so hyperbolic about it.

    LL (and others like him on the Right) prove their weird-ass hypocrisy via that paradox all the time...

    on the one hand, they agree with Dubya and the neo-cons and defend the idea of us "bringing peace and democracy to Iraq...even the entire Middle East" (which is 97% Islamic).

    on the other, they (in their Islamophobic zeal) tell us that NO Muslims can be trusted and Islam "is a religion based upon hate. It is a religion who's doctrines require the murder or subjugation of others."

    Yet, they don't see any contradiction in the two positions?!?!?!?!???

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 2:08pm

  25. What? Are the 97% of Iraqis who are Muslim going to convert to Christianity?

    Or do you hold two opposing views in your head at the same time?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 1:43pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Didn't you hear....on "Countdown" the other night. Bush has awarded approximately $300 million to private contractors (more than his alternative energy research budget) for development and aid of Iraqui television. I assume this will include televangelists singing the praises of Jesus and asking for donations to 1-800's. Onward Christian soldiers..........

    Posted by OneVote at 10/06/2008 @ 2:09pm

  26. Okay so here's the deal... Imagine if Obama had sought political endorsements from preachers who said...

    "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

    "Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans,"

    "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say "you helped this happen."---talking about 9/11.

    McCain sought out Hagee and Falwell, but that's not talked about by the media like the way they love to fall for race baiting with Wright.

    Posted by CanWeQuestionPalin? at 10/06/2008 @ 2:13pm

  27. McCain sought out Hagee and Falwell, but that's not talked about by the media like the way they love to fall for race baiting with Wright.

    Posted by CanWeQuestionPalin? at 10/06/2008 @ 2:13pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Who needs Hagee and Falwell when you got Palin?

    Posted by OneVote at 10/06/2008 @ 2:16pm

  28. Posted by OneVote at 10/06/2008 @ 2:09pm |

    LVLIB's contradictions on the Middle East are the stuff of legend.

    Try this one on him next time some post or thread on Israel comes up--Simply ask-

    "LVLB, you worry about Iran getting a nuclear weapon...is it possible for Iran to destroy Israel?"

    He locks up. On one hand, he MUST stick with his paranoid view of Iran and say that "it poses a grave threat to Israel" and "Ahmadinejad has SAID he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth"....

    but as a fundey/evangey Christian he ALSO must stick with his religious dogmatic idea that Israel has a "shield" around it, granted by God, that will NOT see it destroyed.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 2:19pm

  29. What if Obama had a preacher who was "Laying Hands" on him saying protect him from witchcraft? Like Palin did with head bowed. What if Obama had sat and listened to a Jews For Jesus "preacher" talk about...

    NEW YORK (JTA)--Vice presidential pick Sarah Palin says she doesn't share the views of a Jews for Jesus leader who in a speech at her church suggested that violence against Israelis resulted from God's judgment against Jews who have failed to embrace Jesus.

    David Brickner, the executive director of Jews for Jesus, suggested in his Aug. 17 sermon at Wasilla Bible Church that the refusal to accept Jesus was responsible for the long history of devastation visited upon Jerusalem. He also described his group's successful targeting of Israeli Jews, both in Israel and elsewhere.

    "Judgment is very real, and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television," said Brickner, according to a transcript posted on the church's Web site. "It's very real. When [my son] Isaac 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."

    I guess in the end it seems the only times the "mainstream media" find religious figures relevant to a candidate is if that candidate is at least half-black. A cute white woman can apparently get away with anything.

    Posted by CanWeQuestionPalin? at 10/06/2008 @ 2:28pm

  30. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 2:19pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Is it my imagination, or is LivLib getting ever more irrational as the election nears? He seems to quoting alot of ominous scripture stuff today.

    Contradiction is the Middle Name of a Charlatan --- ancient proverb.

    Posted by OneVote at 10/06/2008 @ 2:38pm

  31. Well, lets see, with the Dow tumbling and and the country in economic crisis, the Nation is examining Palins realationship with Polar Bears.

    How Equally Pathetic

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 10/06/2008 @ 2:53pm

  32. Hey LivLib - how about Palin's association with secessionist characters in Alaska? They want to expropriate lots of Federal land - our land. How anti-American can you get?

    Posted by OneVote at 10/06/2008 @ 2:55pm

  33. Dow is down almost 800 points now. Thanks to Republicans. And still they blather on..

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/06/2008 @ 2:55pm

  34. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 2:42pm

    One thing for sure...after Karl Rove loses this election, the POLITICS OF DISTRACTION AND FEAR that he learned from Lee Atwater will never again gain currency in presidential level politics.

    Most Americans are tired of you NOT telling them how you are going to help improve their lives, and if all you have to offer is distraction and fear then you really have nothing to offer Americans at all.

    Atwater is dead and Rove is dying a slow and painful political death.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 2:59pm

  35. How Equally Pathetic

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 10/06/2008 @ 2:53pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    This election should be titled "Name Your Poison." All this Palin fodder would be better left to Entertainment Tonight. The Nation seems to be getting their cues from the MSM as to what is newsworthy.

    Posted by OneVote at 10/06/2008 @ 3:00pm

  36. it's goal of creating a dominant Shia led Islamic rule.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 2:54pm

    BOO!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/06/2008 @ 3:10pm

  37. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 2:54pm

    You don't answer the question, LL.

    Here it is in another way-

    "In a future scenario, could the Islamic Republic of Iran with multiple nuclear warheads at its disposal, destroy much of the State of Israel?" Yes or No?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 3:21pm

  38. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 2:54pm

    Oh, and the OTHER question you won't answer...

    "Do you believe that Iraq, a country that is 97% Islamic, can become a peaceful democracy and ally to the United States?"

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 3:22pm

  39. Just wanted to bounce around a scenario. What if on election day all the exit polls show Obama as the clear winner buy a large margin. But all the newspapers and cable network staions declare McCain the winner? What then?

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/06/2008 @ 3:26pm

  40. Posted by chaoszen at 10/06/2008 @ 3:26pm

    Paranoia gets you nowhere....especially on a GRAND scale.

    Want to get it "neck-n-neck" and McCain pulls out a "strange" squeaker in Pennsylvania which wins him the EC...sure.

    But if you are thinking Obama will be up by 10% and McCain WINS by 10%....that's RESE/PLUNGER Country.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 3:30pm

  41. "Rove is dying a slow and painful political death."

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 2:59pm

    I guess if Mr. Turdblossom laughing all the way to the bank is your definition of "painful", then ok.

    As long as it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

    Otherwise, he seems pretty happy to me on television with that familiar look of 'You'll never catch me coppers!!"

    Posted by Benchrest at 10/06/2008 @ 3:34pm

  42. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 2:49pm

    Keating 5.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 10/06/2008 @ 3:36pm

  43. Paranoia gets you nowhere....especially on a GRAND scale. Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 3:30pm

    It was just a what if question. No paranoia. Im not paranoid anymore. After 8 years of Bush and 12 years of Republican rule the facts are what scare me. The things I never thought I would ever see in this country have come to pass.

    It difficult to be paranoid when reality supercedes paranoia.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/06/2008 @ 3:45pm

  44. Posted by chaoszen at 10/06/2008 @ 3:45pm

    Well, I'd just wait and see. Remember, McCain's not dead, nor terminally wounded...yet.

    He's got two debates and 30 days, he CAN pull it back to within the MoE in the polls. Glacier Gidget will keep the base happy, so he's free to appeal to moderates and Indies.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 3:50pm

  45. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 2:42pm

    (and other posts)

    That's really hilarious. You take the fact that several individuals who were far-left at some point in the past and see that they are now in some way working for the first serious black candidate for president, and conclude that the candidate must be influenced by them.

    Yeah, and my drunk cousin who sweeps up on the third shift at the local Ford plant has undivided attention of the board of directors.

    Your pyramid is upside down, pal.

    Posted by MyParadigm at 10/06/2008 @ 4:00pm

  46. http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c44e0c7b53

    This is awesomely hilarious, and probably a role model for LVL.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 10/06/2008 @ 4:03pm

  47. Once again we see another example of how "pathetic" the McCain campaign is. How could anyone in there right "mind" vote for someone who approves of such "disgusting" tactics. The blatant realization of the McCain campaign not having any concrete strategies, or even putting more effort into talking to people about the "real" problems/issues, clearly shows they know they are running out of time!

    Americans have had eight (8).....count them...eight years of lies and deceitfulnesses from this diabolical administration (and the people behind them who are really in control). Eight years of facts, facts that "no" smear campaign can divert from.

    To vote for John McCain is a blatant act of cowardliness.

    Posted by rayven at 10/06/2008 @ 4:07pm

  48. One thing for sure...after Karl Rove loses this election, the POLITICS OF DISTRACTION AND FEAR that he learned from Lee Atwater will never again gain currency in presidential level politics.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 2:59pm

    you are dreaming in colour.

    plus, it's only october.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/06/2008 @ 4:07pm

  49. Speaking of the profit/prophet confusion:

    http://tinyurl.com/3lesxn

    http://whereisthemoney.org/collateral_II.htm

    Posted by hsuBfools at 10/06/2008 @ 4:12pm

  50. Posted by Benchrest at 10/06/2008 @ 3:34pm

    First he will lose his "one-trick-pony" political genius status as his DIVIDE AND DISTRACT strategy fails in a huge way in this election.

    Then he goes to federal prison where all that "laughing all the way to the bank" stuff you just talked about won't seem so funny any more.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 4:21pm

  51. Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 4:21pm

    I may be eating crow and offering apologies in the future..

    however,

    I do not see Rove spending one minute in custody of any kind, unless you count talk shows as prison.

    Posted by Benchrest at 10/06/2008 @ 4:36pm

  52. Rove will spend eternity in the purgatory of richly deserved public opinion, namely that he is the one who, nmore than any other person, brought us eight years of having an idiot for a leader.

    Ah, so sweet to have someone to blame.

    Posted by MyParadigm at 10/06/2008 @ 4:49pm

  53. >>>unless you count talk shows as prison.

    Posted by Benchrest at 10/06/2008 @ 4:36pm <<<

    I am sure there will be some show that will want to interview him from prison but I don't think anyone will ever take his political advice seriously anymore.

    Rove was the ultimate usurper. He stole Atwater's political tactic of "divide and distract", but since Atwater was dead, Karl was made out to look like some sort of political genius for stealing Atwater's ideas.

    Divide and distract only works when the public doesn't realize that this is what you are doing to them. As soon as the public becomes aware that you are trying to manipulate them with this tactic, the tactic fails.

    The problem for Karl is that he doesn't have any other tool than Divide-and-Distract in his toolbox.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 5:05pm

  54. Deuteronomy 13:6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 10 Stone him to death

    There are a thousand more scriptures just like this that prove you to be a hypocrite lvliberty1.

    Christianity is as intolerant and violent religion as any other.

    Posted by analogcolor at 10/06/2008 @ 5:57pm

  55. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:21pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    sounds kinda cultish to me.

    Posted by dexter666 at 10/06/2008 @ 6:17pm

  56. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 6:08pm

    OK - you say you are not a Fundamentalist Christian and do NOT believe that war should be used to "bring people to Christ".

    So from a strictly Christian point of view, what was the purpose of invading and occupying Iraq?

    Don't you think your stories from the Bible about the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah sound like a Fundamentalist Christian that wants to substitute THEIR judgment for God's?

    Re-Read your post - Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:21pm - and then tell us how this post does not appear to condone force and war to spread your Christian views?

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 6:23pm

  57. ...so Obama "the fundamentalist drug dealer" must have sold junkie Cindy McCain her prescription pain killers... no he was like 11 then in Thailand somewhere....

    Posted by ucanthandlethetruth at 10/06/2008 @ 6:33pm

  58. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 6:35pm

    By that logic we should invade and occupy Israel since they CONTINUE TO VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW with their illegal settlements on Palestinian land, right?

    And where do you draw the line between "Man's judgment" and God's judgment"? Isn't it easy to slip into this Palin religious view that "we are doing God's will" by invading and occupying Iraq. In essence, man becomes an "agent of God" carrying out his judgment against other men, right?

    And I know about the "sword" being the Word, but some Fundamentalists twist this verse and others like it (e.g. Moneychangers in the Temple) to meant that Jesus condoned violence against other men to pursue "God's will" from the Christian perspective.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 7:11pm

  59. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 6:35pm

    Hey, LL....now explain Titus 3:2 and how it doesn't apply to blogs!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 8:05pm

  60. The things I never thought I would ever see in this country have come to pass.

    Posted by chaoszen at 10/06/2008 @ 3:45pm

    What things?

    Posted by twillie at 10/06/2008 @ 8:11pm

  61. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 8:14pm

    But if you believe God's judgment against certain people is appropriate because God tells you so in the Bible, is it appropriate for man to carry out this judgment as "agents of God"?

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 8:23pm

  62. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 8:14pm

    See, I KNEW there was an excuse for your insults and put-downs. As long as us "leftists" are not "good people"...it's "okay" with God for you to insult us.

    BTW, here's the verse and the next one as well (see if 3:3 sounds familiar)

    Titus 2--To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

    Titus 3--For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

    ((Oh, and LL...still waiting for your explanation of why you think we can bring peace and democracy to a nation full of Muslims like Iraq?))

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 8:33pm

  63. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 8:27pm

    Fourth Geneva Convention, article 49 makes the Israeli settlements illegal. Period.

    And failing to answer question #2 is peculiar since this is the entire crux of the issue concerning Christians having poser in world affairs.

    When does God's judgment of other men according to the Christian Bible become "man's judgment" of other men, as men seek to carry out this judgment as "agent's of God"?

    And once this line is crossed, how are these Christians any different than the Islamic extremist that they deem their enemies?

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 8:39pm

  64. Ayers is old news. Move along, nothing to see here.

    Much more fun is to follow the bread crumbs trailing behind Penny Pritzker, the Obama campaign finance chairperson. They lead back to the failed Superior Bank and a $460M settlement related to, wait for it, sub prime loans and accounting irregularities! Wheee!

    Posted by sntauri at 10/06/2008 @ 9:26pm

  65. Jeez I wonder if the mainstream media will ever talk about Palin's own connection to an anti-American group - The Alaska Independence Party. DON'TCHAKNOW!

    Posted by caibarra at 10/06/2008 @ 9:29pm

  66. Jeez I wonder if the mainstream media will ever talk about Palin's own connection to an anti-American group - The Alaska Independence Party. DON'TCHAKNOW! Posted by caibarra at 10/06/2008 @ 9:29pm

    They already did. Extensively. NPR, even. There's nothing there. Except they both reside in Alaska.

    Posted by twillie at 10/06/2008 @ 10:01pm

  67. Ayers is relevant for people to understand Obama's ideologies. His black power radicalism from Rev Wrong is also part of Obamas thought processes that he continues to hide at all cost. It is relevant and has finally come to light. The DOW sliding should not affect most of the liberals posting here since they are anti-capitalism anyway. Aren't they?

    Posted by apoorspic at 10/06/2008 @ 10:02pm

  68. Jeez I wonder if the mainstream media will ever talk about Palin's own connection to an anti-American group - The Alaska Independence Party. DON'TCHAKNOW! Posted by caibarra at 10/06/2008 @ 9:29pm

    They already did. Extensively. NPR, even. There's nothing there. Except they both reside in Alaska.

    I'm still waiting for the MSM to ask Obama to name the rulers of Uzbekistan, Myanmar, and Djibouti. Somehow, I think I'll still be waiting on Nov. 5th.

    Posted by twillie at 10/06/2008 @ 10:04pm

  69. Love Liberty, first off you are on shaky ground if you are gonna quote the Gospel of Matthew to buttress your positions. That Gospel includes the Sermon on the Mount, and even if one acknowledges that this is more or less cribbed from the Gospel of Mark (Sermon on the Plain as it were), it is a pretty good template for a socialist society. If you are gonna quote gospel, why not get about to the whole picture instead of picking and choosing.

    Also, you wrote, "The sword that Jesus refers to is both the Word of G-d and the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12). It has nothing to do with a physical war." This is very debatable considering the Old Testament is among the most genocidal books out there. As well, there is no holy spirit in the Old Testament--there is some mention of breath of god and the like, but not the Holy Spirit as you type it. That is a product of the New Testament.

    Posted by onthehelm at 10/06/2008 @ 10:07pm

  70. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:16pm

    I don't think you have the slightest idea of significance of Islam, and it's emphasis and influence on the monotheistic tradition of expansionist western ideology. You slam it, and with it some of the most enlightened thought since that of one of its true prophets, ol' JC hisself. And I'm a little surprised at you, LL. I haven't been around long but for all the LL shell I believe there is a heart down in there connected a sense of abstract goodness bestowed on you by our creator, whatever that may or may not be. Maybe we are just a theory in god's r & d department, anyway. But I think you are better than hatred, and I think that, if you will excuse my possible impertinence, J.C. would be proud of you if you could just set it aside.

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 10/06/2008 @ 10:21pm

  71. Fourth Geneva Convention, article 49 makes the Israeli settlements illegal. Period.

    Posted by Metteyya at 10/06/2008 @ 8:39pm

    How so?

    Posted by twillie at 10/06/2008 @ 10:21pm

  72. You know, I was trying to explain Lying Larry to my pastor, a wonderful old Monsignor with some 50 years experience as a true Christian and priest.

    He was having a hard time grasping what kind of person could be a whacked out, psycho, nutjob, perverting the word, claiming Jesus didn't teach love and peace...and yet still claim to be, not only a Christian, but a preacher.

    Then I showed him Loony Larry's posts here, and a few others, like where Larry was advocating dropping a few nukes on the Chinese...

    ...now Monsignor gets it.

    Posted by Lillian at 10/06/2008 @ 10:29pm

  73. I just read the New Mexico GOP told their Senate candidate he's on his own, McCain has made his last stop there for the season.

    Iowa isn't looking too good either and he just wrapped up an appearance there too.

    That's 12 electorals that went to Bush in 2004 that are now "toss-up" or "leaning Obama".

    Again, explains why "Bill Ayers" has been brought out AGAIN after a late summer vacation....heheh

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 10:34pm

  74. "As well, there is no holy spirit in the Old Testament-"

    Posted by onthehelm at 10/06/2008 @ 10:07pm

    I thought I would give you a heads up before LVL comes back to gloat, even though he is a false teacher.

    He guided God's people --- "Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself an everlasting renown, who led them through the depths?" (Isaiah 63:11-12) " You gave your good Spirit to instruct them." (Nehemiah 9:20)

    "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." (Psalm 143:10)

    "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11)

    He gave power to Israel's leaders --- "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him." (Judges 6:34) "So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power." (1 Samuel 16:13)

    Posted by Benchrest at 10/06/2008 @ 10:34pm

  75. Posted by onthehelm at 10/06/2008 @ 10:07pm

    onthe, you are obviously mistaken.

    If you cock your head (to the Right of course) and close one eye and turn the Bible sideways a bit...

    it is quite clear that Jesus was a laissez-faire capitalist who disapproved of all government spending, except for road-building and space travel, and that he favored total war and the utter destruction of the enemy, including 'regretable' civilian casualties, and the use of insults and ad hominem attacks in more "peaceful" venues like political discussions.

    Love thy neighbor and turn the other cheek was ONLY for fellow conservative Christians and Titus 3:2 was ONLY to apply to "good people" which Jesus allows Christians to judge for themselves since he was all in favor of Christians judging others.

    Anything to the contrary is just liberal, Marxist, atheist, America-hating pseudo-Christianity.

    here endeth the lesson....

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/06/2008 @ 10:39pm

  76. McCain is actually still stuck back in the 60s, resenting those damn liberals who wanted to end the war that got his sorry ass stuck in Hanoi. If the damn hippies hadn't interfered, he believes, we could have won! That's what his position on Iraq is all about--trying to redeem his wasted youth in Vietnam.

    What he doesn't seem to realize is that half the voters alive today have no memory of Vietnam. They don't care about the vets vs. the hippies.

    He is so yesterday!

    Posted by EvelynU at 10/06/2008 @ 10:54pm

  77. E=mc2

    He who cut and pastes King James will claim truth, have only half truths, and will not be persuaded by truth.

    Posted by winyahn at 10/07/2008 @ 12:03am

  78. Jesus was right IMHO in that truly loving our neighbor, enemy, brother, sister is the greatest, as in most important, difficult, humbling, transformative, rewarding, impossible, critical, etc, etc, of all endeavors.

    Posted by winyahn at 10/07/2008 @ 12:15am

  79. why doesn't the bible warn us about chinese people or eskimos?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/07/2008 @ 12:21am

  80. Why in the world do you REICH wingers support Mcwars and his dogma? are you folks that robotic and mindless that you would rather vote for mcwars and his smears because he can`t win on the real issues like iraq and the billions of dollars spent and not to mention the fact that it was a ruse,or our country`s infrastructure that is collapsing like a house of cards or is it that you can`t stomach an african american man running this country and doing it the right way by giving the middle class a break it sorely needs and regulations that business needs to keep from doing what has been going on for 28 eight years.Can`t you see that 28 years of reaganomics has killed our manufacturing which in turn gives jobs that give peole money to spend on the things we make which keeps the economy moving.John Mccain has sold his soul and has lost his honor in this campaign and yet you would still vote for him, Why?

    Posted by crease at 10/07/2008 @ 01:49am

  81. It's always amusing when Liberty posts passages from his favorite fairy tale...

    Posted by Balrog at 10/07/2008 @ 02:29am

  82. ""Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:21pm | ignore this person | warn this person "

    "It is a religion based upon hate. It is a religion who's doctrines require the murder or subjugation of others."

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:16pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    So, apparently, is your version of Christianity. To argue that you can hate Islam but not hate those who practice it is pure hair-splitting.

    Posted by brunowe at 10/07/2008 @ 05:19am

  83. I am always amazed by those who say that they hate Islam. They say that Islam is based on this or that, its obvious then that you do not know christian history then. Christians do not want to open to their to the fact that their own history is just as violent as Islam. Have you forgotten the Crusades and the Inquisition? Those things happened folks, at any rate for McCain and Palin to bring up this tired song about Obama "palling" around with terrorists and leaving out the part that he was 8 years old at the time and that a reformed Bill Ayers held a fund raising event at his home and Obama only met with the guy briefly (oh yea thats really palling around). Lets look at what McCain and Palin have in their closests shall we? McCain was involved in the Keating 5 debacle and he was involved in the Iran-Contra affair, but its ok hes a "war hero". Palin attended a church where the "visiting" pastor commited an act of domestic terrorism in Africa against a woman whom he claimed was a witch. Her husband was part of the Alaska Independence Party that wants to secced from the union, talk about your guilt by association.....why is it the more mud these 2 toss the more they manage to get on themselves????

    Posted by jloughry1976 at 10/07/2008 @ 07:32am

  84. "The guys who brought down wall street singlehandedly, where are they today?

    Posted by RedRiver_. at 10/06/2008 @ 1:03pm

    Explain to me how it takes 3 guys to do something "singlehandedly".

    Dipstick.

    Posted by drhammer at 10/07/2008 @ 07:32am

  85. What about Reagan,Iran and the osama funding in Afghanistan, weren't they terrorists? Rumsfeld meeting Hussein and Aziz, not terrorists? I do not think you would have heard McCain back then and since Palin couldn't see Iran from her backgarden she probably still believed the world was flat and Russia was purgatory...

    Posted by blowfly at 10/07/2008 @ 08:50am

  86. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 08:39am

    Still waiting LL, how does Iraq become a peaceful, US-friendly country...

    if 97% of its population believes in a religion that YOU say "is the work of the devil designed to steer people away from the true G-d. ... is a religion based upon hate. (and)...is a religion who's doctrines require the murder or subjugation of others.----Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 1:16pm??!?!?!?!?!?!?????

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 08:59am

  87. For you who are trying to associate Obama with Ayers and let's see who McCain has been PROVEN to "pal" around with in the past.

    Mr. Ayers is now a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, holding the honor of Distinguished Professor. Ayer's was awarded the title of Chicago's Top Citizen in 1997 for his outstanding charity work. Obviously has turned his life around in the last 40 years. Obama has run across his path only in the PRESENT!

    Where is Charles Keating? That's right, PRISON!

    Posted by throwin at 10/07/2008 @ 09:34am

  88. In fact the difference is exactly the same as the principle that G-d continues to love even while He hates our transgressions.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 08:39am

    that's right.

    i hate cluster bombs and depleted uranium

    but i don't hate you.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/07/2008 @ 09:40am

  89. answer mask's question.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/07/2008 @ 09:43am

  90. So like Jesus who is my example, I will call hypocrites and liars and those who mock G-d exactly what they are. That is not inconsistent.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/06/2008 @ 8:14pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    .

    When Jesus was on the cross, he did not call his tormentors hypocrites, liars, or murderers (even though they obviously were.) He prayed for them, asked God for their forgiveness. This is the absolute essence of everything Jesus was and is. "Love one another, as I have loved you." Not 'judge one another as I will judge you.'

    Larry's words are a vile and contemptuous perversion of the message of Jesus. Just as his words when he lumps together all who disagree with him and spews the label 'baby killing leftists'. These words are, in themselves, a sin against God and his Son. What's more, Larry's sin is born of another sin...pride. Larry just can't admit that he is wrong...his ego won't allow it.

    I pity Larry and I pity the poor people who seek his 'council' for spiritual advice. I pray for their souls...and for Larry's soul...even as he defecates on it in thrawl to his own ego.

    Posted by Lillian at 10/07/2008 @ 10:07am

  91. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:04am

    you are dreaming in colour......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/07/2008 @ 10:22am

  92. HEY LARRY,

    "- but the fact is, if we went in on the ground into Baghdad that's the only way I know of that the Arab world could turn Saddam Hussein from the bum that he is into the hero that Nasser was, number one.

    Number two is I don't think you could do it with air power. Unbeknownst to a lot of people, we tried bombing- We weren't trying to kill him, but we were just trying to bomb every place we thought he might be or could possibly be.

    Third of all, I'm not sure that if we did go in on the ground we could tell a Shiite from a Sunni, even from a Kurd. And who is it that we'd be fighting and battling against on the streets of Baghdad? And, if we got into Baghdad, we would lose all of our military supremacy and we would take casualties. . ."

    guess who...........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/07/2008 @ 10:23am

  93. Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:04am

    Okay, let me get that straight...and NO, there is NO OTHER WAY of "interpreting" or "spinning" or "lying about what I said"....

    you think Iraq is going to become a peaceful, US-friendly democracy...

    because the Iraqis are going to convert to Christianity?!??!?!?!???

    Man! I didn't realize how MUCH of a bind that paradox puts you in! To keep BOTH your religious hatred of Islam AND your neo-con "idealism"....you have to go TOTALLY off the end of the Earth into thin air!

    ROFLMAO!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 10:34am

  94. BTW, to those who even want to momentarily seriously consider LL's "theory"...

    Christianity PRE-DATES Islam in Iraq, beginning with the "Church of the East" which spread outward from Syria.

    Yet since the life-time of Muhammed, Iraq has been 90%+ majority Islamic, with only the tiny Chaldean Catholic Church occupying a itty-bitty Christian contingent in the country.

    OH and before Larry claims that "the only reason it hasn't taken root is because of Islamic suppression"?....the destruction of the Church of the East came at the hands of the Mongol Timur (or Tamerlane), not Islamic governments. And upto World War-I (and anti-Western sentiments) they operated quite freely in the Ottoman Empire and other parts of the Mid-East.

    Yet with a "head start" and little repression, Christianity couldn't gain a foothold in Iraq...

    yet SOMEHOW it will now, since OBVIOUSLY ANY government by Muslims CANNOT be friendly or non-repressive! (Again, LL's theory)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 10:44am

  95. Men and women are attacked frequently for attending the churches. The pastor must communicate in code with me and others by phone or even email because of the Pakistan Intelligence's cooperation with the Taleban and others.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:04am

    THAT is persecution. You cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, claim that Christians are persecuted in the US. What happens here in the US is DISAGREEMENT.

    Posted by Balrog at 10/07/2008 @ 11:04am

  96. "Hating philosophies, political ideologies, or even wrong acts, does not and should not translate always into hating those within such.

    In fact the difference is exactly the same as the principle that G-d continues to love even while He hates our transgressions.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 08:39am | ignore this person | warn this person"

    Such a distinction IS possible, but your posts on such matters are so full of bile that I don't believe that you make such a distinction.

    Posted by brunowe at 10/07/2008 @ 11:09am

  97. Jeez I wonder if the mainstream media will ever talk about Palin's own connection to an anti-American group - The Alaska Independence Party. DON'TCHAKNOW!

    Posted by caibarra at 10/06/2008 @ 9:29pm | warn this person

    Check out "Countdown" commentary by Olberman last night.

    Posted by OneVote at 10/07/2008 @ 11:25am

  98. You cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, claim that Christians are persecuted in the US.----Posted by Balrog at 10/07/2008 @ 11:04am

    SURE he can. Despite being 90% of the population, with others cracking only single digits and "atheist/agnostic" lower than Jews and Moslems...every President being a nominal Christian...Christian holidays Federal holidays...."In God We Trust" on the money and a benediction before the start of Congress....

    "Christians are an OPPRESSED majority, unable to practice their full religious rights (i.e. to indoctrinate in the schools, remove science, and keep control the agenda)!"

    Oh...he'll stretch his imagination, trust me!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 11:37am

  99. The pastor must communicate in code with me and others by phone or even email because of the Pakistan Intelligence's cooperation with the Taleban and others.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 10/07/2008 @ 10:04am

    Whew!

    Posted by OneVote at 10/07/2008 @ 12:17pm

  100. i'm sure this has been mentioned, but instead of just exposing McCain's smear as the absurdity it is and refocusing back onto what really "matters" -- ffs, wasn't Obama 8 when the Underground bombings occurred? -- Obama instead decided to drag the Keating Five scandal back into the fray.

    while the latter exposes poor judgment on McCain's part and might have some bearing on our current economic crisis, most people have no idea what the keating five was, nor what it was related too and as such it just seems like more of the same type of smear that McCain is peddling.

    i don't think it will help Obaman's cause to get into a race with McCain to see who can get to the gutter first.

    Posted by Shaad at 10/07/2008 @ 12:29pm

  101. John McCain himself was big enough to embrace former '60s radical David Ifshin.

    According to a recent Marc Cooper huffingtonpost story: ". . . Ifshin traveled to North Vietnam with other anti-war radicals and it was then that he went on Radio Hanoi to denounce his own country's war effort. That broadcast was piped directly into POW McCain's cell in the Hanoi Hilton and he was understandably enraged by what he thought was a traitorous act by a fellow American."

    Cooper quotes McCain two years ago, recalling his eventual relationship with Ifshin (who is now dead):

    McCain: "We worked together in an organization dedicated to promoting human rights in the country where he and I had once come for different reasons. I came to admire him for his generosity, his passion for his ideals, for the largeness of his heart, and I realized he had not been my enemy, but my countryman . . . my countryman ...and later my friend. His friendship honored me. We disagreed over much. Our politics were often opposed, and we argued those disagreements. But we worked together for our shared ideals."

    It is hypocritical for McCain to tell voters that they should disqualify Obama for something he did more so himself. (Though to me that was to McCain's credit.)

    Posted by rainstick at 10/07/2008 @ 1:00pm

  102. Is there ANYbody here ...

    who isn't laughing at LVLIBERTY sermonizing on "hypocrites"?!???!???

    Posted by Maskdelta at 10/07/2008 @ 1:25pm

  103. hey larry,

    are all the people born before jesus in hell?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 10/07/2008 @ 1:27pm

  104. It is hypocritical for McCain to tell voters that they should disqualify Obama for something he did more so himself. (Though to me that was to McCain's credit.) Posted by rainstick at 10/07/2008 @ 1:00pm

    I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you equating a friendship with a misguided peacenik, to a friendship with someone who bombed institutions in his own country, went to prison, then lamented that he didn't do enough?

    Posted by twillie at 10/07/2008 @ 2:00pm

  105. Are you equating a friendship with a misguided peacenik, to a friendship with someone who bombed institutions in his own country, went to prison, then lamented that he didn't do enough?

    Posted by twillie at 10/07/2008 @ 2:00pm

    The record is clear: Obama and Ayers had and have no friendship.

    Posted by Balrog at 10/07/2008 @ 2:08pm

  106. The record is clear: Obama and Ayers had and have no friendship. Posted by Balrog at 10/07/2008 @ 2:08pm

    Well, in the end we have to let Obama decide if he would use the "F" word to describe his relationship with Ayres. Personally, if I served on a board with someone, served as chairman of a foundation he founded, and served on another board with his father and brother, I would consider that person a "friend". But, that's just me.

    Posted by twillie at 10/07/2008 @ 6:03pm

  107. LV, Just trying to follow along... How long ago did the earliest human go to bad Hades - and same question for good Hades.

    Were you referring to the before Christ folks and/or the during & after but on the other side of the globe, etc., when you said "the ungodly, along with all those like them" go to bad Hades?

    Does this all reach back in time to the early hominids, say 60-100,000 years ago? Or just 4000 years?

    How does the "3 days" thing work with the earliest of these folks?

    How does the "3 days" thing work with those who lived after Christ, but didn't have any knowledge of him?

    How does the "3 days" thing work with those who lived after Christ, but only learned about him when they were 19, or 17, or 15, or 13, or 11, or 9, or 7?

    Or the info was conveyed by a person with dyslexia and most of the facts of Christ, being saved correct, some of the facts correct, few of the facts correct, learned about everything correctly but then suffered a closed head injury, or suffered the injury just before hearing the good news, or were brainwashed by a pagan cult after being saved, or same, but recommitted themselves, or this but then were threatened and recanted then persuaded by a mix of intimidation and confusional techniques while coping with early onset dementia, but only a mild form?

    Peace!

    Posted by winyahn at 10/07/2008 @ 6:55pm

  108. On Sunday night the RNC repeatedly ran the ad in prime time that in this time of financial meltdown, Obama would add more debt. With no mention of whose financial policies got us into this mess.

    Beth Wellington The Writing Corner

    http://bethwellington.blogspot.com

    Posted by BethWellington at 10/07/2008 @ 8:10pm

  109. With no mention of whose financial policies got us into this mess. Beth Wellington The Writing Corner

    So whose financial policies got us into this mess?

    Posted by twillie at 10/07/2008 @ 9:14pm

  110. LV, So in some cases, some percentage of kids who die at age 6 year suffer eternal damnation.

    Regarding those sent to Hades A or Hades B, does this all reach back in time to the early hominids, say 60-100,000 years ago? Or just 4000 years?

    Posted by winyahn at 10/07/2008 @ 9:54pm

  111. I am a Jewish believer in Jesus. Most blogs and news services have quoted the same one paragraph of the six-page transcript of the message that David Brickner of Jews for Jesus delivered at Sarah Palin's church, giving the false impression that he is saying that a bulldozer attack by a deranged Palestinian is God's judgment on the Jewish people. Please read or listen to the entire message for yourself at www.jewsforjesus.org/blog/20080817 so that you can hear Brickner's remarks in context. Please also take a look at Brickner's comments concerning his message at Wasilla Bible Church, as well as interviews by Christianity Today and MSNBC with Brickner about this issue, at www.jewsforjesus.org. Among other things, Brickner says, "The comments attributed to me were taken out of context. The notion that the terrorist, bulldozer attack in Jerusalem this summer was God's judgment on Israel for not believing in Jesus, is absolutely not what I believe. In retrospect, I can see how my rhetoric might be misunderstood and I truly regret that . . . . Let me be clear. I don't believe that any one event whether a terrorist attack or a natural disaster is a specific fulfillment of or manifestation of a Biblical prediction of judgment. I don't believe that the newspaper should be used to interpret the Bible. The Bible interprets the Bible. I love my Jewish people and the land of Israel. I stand with and support her against all efforts to harm her or her people in any way."

    Posted by msieger at 10/08/2008 @ 1:54pm

  112. LV so all true: Adam/Eve were real humans? Made from mud? Earth created in seven days? Virgin birth? Demon possession? Exorcism? Evolution?

    Posted by winyahn at 10/11/2008 @ 10:48pm

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