# Democrats say: we luvs ya, Heath Mello . . . for now **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 9, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173 "2017-05-09T01:24:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/41 "2017-05-10T14:48:29Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Well thank Mr. Mace for bringing in taxation. > > We’re still back to the fact that Jesus never once addressed abortion, yet this is the issue here and addressed by Republicans such as Shodan as being the primary moral issue of the day, while they rage and froth over the very idea of the government feeding the poor and healing the sick. You know, stuff Jesus actually spoke about. > > I’d think a “Christian Government” would do as Christ commands. Since Republicans oppose such an agenda, they are not practicing christians. They’re only culturally identified as “Christian” in the same way you have lots of Europeans who might be culturally identified as christian, but don’t really believe in God. The new testament addresses when life might begin. I think John the Baptist stirred in his mother’s belly when he recognized Jesus in Mary’s belly. This lends support to a Christian notion of ensoulment before birth. Who knows exactly when it happens but for a while at least, the Catholic church thought it happened at the quickening (when the fetus started moving), now we know that it happens at conception for poor women and whenever it is convenient for rich women. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/42 "2017-05-10T15:08:18Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It will? > > So care to translate that into any specific predictions on net seats gained/lost in the House and Senate? Careful, everybody. He’s getting that crazed gambler’s look in his eye again. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/43 "2017-05-10T15:18:46Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I have a feeling that should he win, Mr. Mello will fare better in the Democratic Party than Trump will in the Republican Party. It’s going to be Republican rats fleeing a sinking White House ship in the 2018 elections. 217 of them are also going to be fleeing themselves, given last week’s vote. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/44 "2017-05-10T15:22:21Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Amazing how the Republicans are so focused on an issue that Jesus Christ never mentioned, but totally opposed to the things he did, like helping the poor, tending to the sick, etc. > > Almost as if they’re not actually followers of his. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Easy now – the Republican who criticizes Democrats for their blatant hypocrisy (who started this thread) has very little patience for non-Christians who criticize Christians for their blatant hypocrisy. As a Christian, I second what **Chimera** said. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/45 "2017-05-10T15:44:24Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It will? > > So care to translate that into any specific predictions on net seats gained/lost in the House and Senate? I got no damned idea on numbers, but I’d be happy to wager that Dems pick up seats in the House. I think the Senate is too unpredictable at this point based on the seats that are up for election. So do you want to make a wager that R’s will maintain or increase their House majority? I’d be very interested in that action. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/46 "2017-05-10T15:51:08Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > We’re still back to the fact that Jesus never once addressed abortion, yet this is the issue here and addressed by Republicans such as Shodan as being the primary moral issue of the day, while they rage and froth over the very idea of the government feeding the poor and healing the sick. I don’t recall ever defining abortion as the primary moral issue of our day. > [@Chimera](#): > > I’d think a “Christian Government” would do as Christ commands. Since Republicans oppose such an agenda, they are not practicing christians. So, have you sold everything you own and given it to the poor? > [@](#): > > When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Luke 18:22 So the Christian position is necessarily a 100% tax on all possessions and income. And anyone who does not support such an agenda is not a practicing Christian. Right? > [@](#): > > I don’t ever recall Jesus or anyone at all in the bible ever discussing government funding of ANYTHING, so it would not be practical to claim a biblical opposition to taxes, public education, public healthcare, et al. Nor biblical support either. So what you said earlier about Republicans must not be correct. So which is it - [ul] [li]Jesus actually did address government funding for healthcare, and when you said He didn’t, you were wrong. If it’s this, I will need a cite. Or[/li][/ul] [ul] [li]Jesus didn’t address government funding for healthcare any more than He did abortion, and when you accused Republicans of not following Jesus’ instruction, you were wrong.[/li][/ul]Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/47 "2017-05-10T16:08:27Z")
\*I’d think a “Christian Government” would do as Christ commands. Since Republicans oppose such an agenda, they are not practicing christians. So, have you sold everything you own and given it to the poor? When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Luke 18:22 So the Christian position is necessarily a 100% tax on all possessions and income. And anyone who does not support such an agenda is not a practicing Christian. Right? \* So you’re a Christian, arguing against a position Christ espoused, and angry at us about it? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/48 "2017-05-10T16:11:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So which is it - [ul] > [li]Jesus actually did address government funding for healthcare, and when you said He didn’t, you were wrong. If it’s this, I will need a cite. Or[/li][/ul] > [ul] > [li]Jesus didn’t address government funding for healthcare any more than He did abortion, and when you accused Republicans of not following Jesus’ instruction, you were wrong.[/li][/ul]Regards, > Shodan Wait, this is even better. Jesus didn’t tell you exactly how to heal the sick and who should pay for it, so you don’t have to do it? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/49 "2017-05-10T16:11:43Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Gosh, what a straw man you’ve built. No one mentioned anything of the sort. I’m sure as he was typing it, **Shodan** was thinking, “Gotcha ya!” But as we were reading it, I’m sure we just heard that sad clown horn: wah-waaaaah. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/50 "2017-05-10T16:27:34Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Jesus wasn’t living in a democracy, nor was he preaching to the Roman governors who held the actual power. I don’t think it’s a huge stretch to go from “you should do as much as you can to help the poor” (as suggested by the verse **Chisquirrel** quoted above) to “if you control the government, you should use that power to help the poor”. Not a slam-dunk, irrefutable argument, but not a huge stretch either. And not a stretch at all from “you should do as much as you can to help the poor” to “if some ungodly party controls the government, you should rejoice when they use that power to help the poor”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/51 "2017-05-10T16:33:18Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Wait, this is even better. Jesus didn’t tell you exactly how to heal the sick and who should pay for it, so you don’t have to do it? :dubious: Better! Showed us _exactly_ how, on many occasions. Blindness, he applied some spit to his thumbs, smeared them on the blind man’s eyes, and presto! Cured! Not that I’m suggesting I’ll go find some blind guy and spit in his eyes, _way_ over my pay grade! Severe schizophrenia is really demonic possession, yank 'em out, stick 'em into some pigs and…! Crazy bacon! “Demonic” could be the new “organic”! Whole Foods would be all over it! (Scholars I have read point out a long-standing Jewish tradition of care and concern for the unfortunate and suggest that the Boss was simply reaffirming an essential principle of humane and worthy behavior. I favor this interpretation, it seems unlikely to me that an avatar of loving mercy would insist that you make yourself and your family miserable simply to rack up Heaven Coupons. Yahweh’s Milage May Vary.) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/52 "2017-05-10T16:33:41Z")
Missed the edit window there, but I was particularly thinking of the Dems and the ACA as the ‘ungodly’ party and their use of power to help the poor. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/53 "2017-05-10T16:38:36Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Scholars I have read point out a long-standing Jewish tradition of care and concern for the unfortunate and suggest that the Boss was simply reaffirming an essential principle of humane and worthy behavior. I was reading Deuteronomy lately, and a good deal of that tradition is spelled out there. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy (among other OT books, needless to say) in the Gospels. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/54 "2017-05-10T17:15:55Z")
Eleven times the bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is even spelled out as God’s #2 charge to us as Humans. Love God, Love your neighbor. Considering the hostile attitude displayed by our own Republicans here on this board for the very idea of helping the sick and poor and how God didn’t command them to pay for it… Again, how can you call yourselves “Christian” and have such a hateful attitude toward helping the less fortunate? Now don’t pull straw men out of your ass and claim that I’m saying you have to live in a burlap sack while you labor ceaselessly on behalf of the poor. This isn’t a choice between extremes. It never is. This is a choice between living in anger and hate, despising your fellow men and denying them what God commanded you give, _ **because you don’t want to** _, and paying a few extra dollars per year to do as he commanded. And for my own part, I will tell you to your face that you are not a Christian if you call yourself one, yet get angry at the very idea of paying taxes to help the less fortunate. I John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/55 "2017-05-10T18:00:06Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Wait, this is even better. Jesus didn’t tell you exactly how to heal the sick and who should pay for it, so you don’t have to do it? :dubious: Your allegation was that Republicans who did not support increased government spending on healthcare weren’t Christians. Therefore, it must be the case that Jesus specified support for increased government spending on healthcare was a necessary part of being Christian. But Jesus never said that, as you mentioned. So your claim that they weren’t Christians is incorrect. > [@](#): > > So you’re a Christian, arguing against a position Christ espoused, and angry at us about it? No, I am a Christian arguing against a position that you espoused, which is not based on what Jesus said. And I am not particularly angry - I have heard the whole “Anyone who doesn’t vote for my party is a bad Christian” any number of times, and you get used to it after a while. So, you need either to cite where Jesus said that it is bad Christianity to fail to support increased government spending on healthcare, or feeding the poor, or admit that your accusation that Republicans who don’t support increased government spending on healthcare is based on your own opinions rather than anything Jesus said. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/56 "2017-05-10T18:08:14Z")
_“Love my neighbor like myself? What do I gotta do, go next door and jerk him off too?!”_ - Noted theologian R. Dangerfield ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/57 "2017-05-10T22:50:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Your allegation was that Republicans who did not support increased government spending on healthcare weren’t Christians. Therefore, it must be the case that Jesus specified support for increased government spending on healthcare was a necessary part of being Christian. But Jesus never said that, as you mentioned. So your claim that they weren’t Christians is incorrect. Wow, that’s getting awfully specific. That’s a good way of being able to say “Jesus didn’t say to do this” simply because he was talking to first-century people rather than 21st century people. I’d put it more broadly: Christians should rejoice when the needs of those who are poor or struggling are met by any reasonable means. Now you can either disagree with that, or argue that government assistance for such people is unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/58 "2017-05-11T11:57:49Z")
Or I could say ‘anyone who doesn’t vote the way I do isn’t a Christian’. Which, as I said, is an approach I have heard fairly often in the past, from both sides of the [del]pew[/del] aisle, and which I don’t find to be particularly compelling. The next morning the Good Samaritan didn’t tell the innkeeper “take care of him, and send the bill to Caesar”. Jesus also said “Let he who has no sword sell his coat and buy one.” Does that mean the government should cut spending on welfare and spend the money on defense? It’s the same logic. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/59 "2017-05-11T14:17:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Or I could say ‘anyone who doesn’t vote the way I do isn’t a Christian’. Which, as I said, is an approach I have heard fairly often in the past, from both sides of the [del]pew[/del] aisle, and which I don’t find to be particularly compelling. > > The next morning the Good Samaritan didn’t tell the innkeeper “take care of him, and send the bill to Caesar”. > > Jesus also said “Let he who has no sword sell his coat and buy one.” Does that mean the government should cut spending on welfare and spend the money on defense? It’s the same logic. > > Regards, > Shodan “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” We’re a bit over $500 billion past two swords. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173/60 "2017-05-11T14:33:04Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Your allegation was that Republicans who did not support increased government spending on healthcare weren’t Christians. Therefore, it must be the case that Jesus specified support for increased government spending on healthcare was a necessary part of being Christian. But Jesus never said that, as you mentioned. So your claim that they weren’t Christians is incorrect. > > No, I am a Christian arguing against a position that you espoused, which is not based on what Jesus said. > > And I am not particularly angry - I have heard the whole “Anyone who doesn’t vote for my party is a bad Christian” any number of times, and you get used to it after a while. > > So, you need either to cite where Jesus said that it is bad Christianity to fail to support increased government spending on healthcare, or feeding the poor, or admit that your accusation that Republicans who don’t support increased government spending on healthcare is based on your own opinions rather than anything Jesus said. > > Regards, > Shodan Do you think Jesus would support the notion that access to health care should be one of those things that should be distributed based on ability to pay? OR do you think that Jesus would support a system where health care (like education) should be available to all regardless of ability to pay? Between he Republican vision for health care and the Democratic vision of health care in this country, which one do you think Jesus would vote for in a referendum? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-say-we-luvs-ya-heath-mello-for-now/786173.md?page=4)