Mike Huckabee, annointed by God.

[carnivorousplant]

Here is the link to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette article.

[chaoticbear]

I am so buying a copy of that when I get off work. Hooray for living in Arkansas!

[carnivorousplant]

I shall bump this thread by quoting Mrs. Plant's response when I arrived home and showed her the paper.

Originally Posted by Mrs. Plant

Yarmulkes? Some of them were wearing yarmulkes? Jesus Christ.

[Voyager]

I'd become a believer if that church got flattened by a tornado.

Especially of the debris spelled out "I'm backing Obama, you shmucks."

[Mindfield]

St. Jude: "Thy disciples would have thee anoint this Mike Huckabee as the new Goliath."
God: "Yea, verily."
St. Jude: "He's a bit of a weenie."
God: "Eh, whaddya gonna do?"

[carnivorousplant]

I didn't realize the paper was subscription.

Huch, saying he believes he has a word from God for the Republican hopeful, quoted a Scripture passage from 1 Samuel that ends with the Lord declaring: “Arise and anoint [David to lead the nation] for this is the one.”

The crowd, some of them wearing yarmulkes, cheered noisily after Huch’s declaration, and they later stretched their hands toward Huckabee as they prayed for campaign-season favor from heaven.

“I believe that Sen. Huckabee is the David that you’ve brought in to be a head over this nation’s house,” Huch said, misstating Huckabee’s political rank. “And Father, I ask for the blessing on him, on his family, on their campaign, that you will keep them safe, you will give them wisdom, that you will give him favor, for he is giving you all the praise and all the glory.

Moderators, how much of this fascinating and politically important story may I quote?

[Manduck]

I thought that churches weren't allowed to endorse candidates. Won't they lose their tax exempt status?

[Lamar Mundane]

Originally Posted by Manduck

I thought that churches weren't allowed to endorse candidates. Won't they lose their tax exempt status?

New Beginnings church hasn’t endorsed anybody in the 2008 presidential race, but God probably has, pastor Larry Huch said Sunday.

That's how they get around it. That's all it takes.

James Dobson starts off his speeches with the same sort of disclaimer.

[Marley23]

I can see the election unfolding now: Heaven endorses Huckabee, Hell endorses the Democrat, and a tightly contested election comes down to a group of 537 seraphim in the southern peninsula of the afterlife. Finally, in a split decision that the Holy Ghost blames on partisanship, the Father and the Son rule that the vote stands and won't be recounted. So Huckabee becomes President.

[FriarTed]

Originally Posted by Lamar Mundane

That's how they get around it. That's all it takes.

James Dobson starts off his speeches with the same sort of disclaimer.

Dobson is not a clergyman, nor head of a church.

[Liberal]

Don't know what's so unusual about this. Democrats have always used churches in their campaigns. The photo-op and story of a Democratic candidate arm in arm with elders or the choir at the pulpit of (especially) a (black) church is standard fare for every election cycle.

[Little Nemo]

New Beginnings church hasn’t endorsed anybody in the 2008 presidential race, but God probably has

Just because he's good enough for God doesn't mean he's good enough for the New Beginnings Church.

Don't know what's so unusual about this. Democrats have always used churches in their campaigns. The photo-op and story of a Democratic candidate arm in arm with elders or the choir at the pulpit of (especially) a (black) church is standard fare for every election cycle.

But I don't recall any Democratic candidate of the last twenty years who's claimed an exclusive endorsement from God. I suppose it's just part of their wimpy liberal (no offense) agenda, claiming that God loves everybody. When conservatives know that what God really loves is winner.

[An Arky]

Funnily enough, Mike Huckabee was "called to preach", which he did for a while, then moved on to politics. My late step-grandmother, a Southern Baptist stalwart, was very miffed at him for "abandoning the call to preach", for in her eyes, that was disobeying God's will. So, for God to endorse Huckabee after he was so forsaken by him seems to be a stretch. Of course, if God just sits there and lets innocent children get raped and murdered, I don't take much stock in what he thinks, anyway.

[Sophistry and Illusion]

Originally Posted by Voyager

I'd become a believer if that church got flattened by a tornado.

Especially of the debris spelled out "I'm backing Obama, you shmucks."

Oh goody. This give me another excuse to link to my favorite scientific study ever.

[Lamar Mundane]

Originally Posted by FriarTed

Dobson is not a clergyman, nor head of a church.

He's the head of a non profit organization that does not pay taxes.

[eleanorigby]

Head is still spinning over fundamentalist Christians wearing yarmulkes....


I think baby Jesus might be crying somewhere.

[carnivorousplant]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

I think baby Jesus might be crying somewhere.

Or kvetching.

[Voyager]

Originally Posted by Liberal

Don't know what's so unusual about this. Democrats have always used churches in their campaigns. The photo-op and story of a Democratic candidate arm in arm with elders or the choir at the pulpit of (especially) a (black) church is standard fare for every election cycle.

Unfortunately, all politicians feel they must infest churches. However, how many of these churches make endorsements in the name of god?

One would think that the almighty creator of the universe could send out a press release if he had a mind to.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

Or kvetching.

Or throwing His yarmulke down in frustration?

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

But I don't recall any Democratic candidate of the last twenty years who's claimed an exclusive endorsement from God.

Me neither, but Mike Huckabee didn't make any such claim.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Originally Posted by Liberal

Me neither, but Mike Huckabee didn't make any such claim.

Well, he was apparently perfectly willing to ACCEPT the endorsement. He was standing right there.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

Well, he was apparently perfectly willing to ACCEPT the endorsement. He was standing right there.

Then again, he didn't correct the senator bit, so perhaps he's hard of hearing? Or God was speaking sotto voice to him right at that moment? Or perhaps he was wondering where he left his yarmulke?

[carnivorousplant]

You misunderstand. Huck doesn't need to listen. He knows what's going to happen.

Then Huckabee compared the future to an Arkansas Razorback basketball victory - tape-delayed and rebroadcast, but with the outcome never in doubt.

He compared that broadcast to the end times outlined in the book of Revelation, the apocalyptic final book in the New Testament. “Cheat just a little bit, and just go read the back of the book, because guess what? In the end, we do win this thing.

“Whatever the score is late in the fourth quarter, hang on, because when the final whistle blows, Jesus is Lord and that’s what matters.”

[AskNott]

Yarmulkes? Oy vey, it's those Jews For Jesus goyim again. They won't be happy until they're on everybody's cult list.

There's a subtle, but important difference between a candidate speaking in a church and that church's pastor endorsing a candidate from the pulpit. The candidate is not a tax-exempt leader of a church, so he can sing his own praises anywhere. The preacher, as an individual, outside the church building, can back any candidate. The same preacher, in the church, speaking to his flock, cannot endorse a candidate without jeopardizing his church's tax-exempt status.

I am not a constitutional scholar, so I can't quote the necessary court decisions, but that's the way this curious bargain works. The government shall not help the church, and the church shall not help (pay taxes to) the government. Each pretty much keeps its hands off the other, or the deal's off.

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

Well, he was apparently perfectly willing to ACCEPT the endorsement. He was standing right there.

Yeah, he should have taken off his shoe and beaten the minister with it. Maybe overturn a few tables while he was at it. At any rate, other articles paint a different picture of events. Huckabee was delivering the church's sermon, not making a campaign pitch a la Democrats. Not that you'll acknowledge the difference, but still.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Originally Posted by Liberal

Yeah, he should have taken off his shoe and beaten the minister with it. Maybe overturn a few tables while he was at it.

Anybody with any shame would have pointedly (but verbally) rejected such an absurd declaration. He was literally introduced as a Messiah (an "anointed" ruler, chosen by God). It was incredibly crass for Huckabee to stamp such an asinine statement as anything but grossly inappropriate, presumptuous and sacrilegious.

At any rate, other articles paint a different picture of events. Huckabee was delivering the church's sermon, not making a campaign pitch a la Democrats. Not that you'll acknowledge the difference, but still.

Did I say Huckabee was making a campaign speech? Did I say I cared whether he spoke at the church at all? I was just pointing out that your own observation that Huckabee didn't personally say he was God's anointed was disingenuous in light of the fact that he was only too happy to accept it.

Also, the political endorsement by the pastor was unmistakable, so let's not pretend the event was not political (not that I care, particularly, but at least be intellectually honest about it).

Also, I'm not a Democrat.

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

I was just pointing out that your own observation that Huckabee didn't personally say he was God's anointed was disingenuous in light of the fact that he was only too happy to accept it.

Bullshit. You should be more like Huckabee. As he told Jon Stewart, "Yeah, I'm a conservative, but I'm not mad at anybody about it." He took the anointing metaphor (if it really happened — still no independent collaboration) as he would any compliment, with humility and graciousness.

Also, I'm not a Democrat.

Me neither.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Originally Posted by Liberal

Bullshit. You should be more like Huckabee. As he told Jon Stewart, "Yeah, I'm a conservative, but I'm not mad at anybody about it." He took the anointing metaphor (if it really happened — still no independent collaboration) as he would any compliment, with humility and graciousness.

If someone calls you a Messiah, the only gracious thing to do is demur. Accepting the accolade as valid is arrogant and sacrilegious.

I have no idea what relevance your Daily Show quote is supposed to have either to this thread or to me.

[Sophistry and Illusion]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

If someone calls you a Messiah, the only gracious thing to do is demur. Accepting the accolade as valid is arrogant and sacrilegious.

"Only the true Messiah would deny His divinity!"

[carnivorousplant]

Originally Posted by Liberal

He took the anointing metaphor (if it really happened — still no independent collaboration) as he would any compliment, with humility and graciousness.

I live in Arkansas, and I don't recall Huck ever being humble or gracious. He's more of an "I'm right and you're some kind of nut" guy. Were he a Doper, he'd spend a lot of time in the Pit.


Here's a mention in the Arkansas Times that compares the religious reference to, well, 1999.

[Liberal]

He seemed humble and gracious with Jon Stewart. Jon liked him muchly. So did the audience.

[carnivorousplant]

Jon should have asked him about raising the minimum wage in Arkansas.