# Will Palin still trust God if they lose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 23, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269 "2008-10-23T23:01:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/21 "2008-10-24T17:18:33Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > If the OP is serious (I have a hard time believing these type of questions are nothing more than rhetorical and a set up for ridicule), I’ll bet she’ll be blaming herself along the lines of Saul’s experience. > > Here she was miraculously polevaulted into the serious opportunity to be president of the United States and blew it by lying about her opponents and succumbing to the vanity that accompanies expensive apparel and the adulation of crowds. Bull-fucking-shit. At no point will Palin give voice to the idea that she was less than the perfect candidate. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/22 "2008-10-24T17:46:29Z")
You are asking if there will be a logical response to an illogical belief. Not likely. If she wins it is god supporting her. If she loses it will be something else. Maybe McCain pissed off god. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/23 "2008-10-24T17:48:07Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Here she was miraculously polevaulted into the serious opportunity to be president of the United States and blew it by lying about her opponents and succumbing to the vanity that accompanies expensive apparel and the adulation of crowds. That will happen the day after Bush admits he screwed up. I bet she’ll blame the McCain campaign managers for not letting her continue her successful set of interviews. I read that she broke free from her handlers the other day and started answering questions, much to the consternation of the McCain staff. I bet she’s convinced that most of the country is just as extreme as she is. As for the OP’s question, people have kept faith in far worse circumstances, like when their family dies horribly. It’s a tic of the religious. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/24 "2008-10-24T17:58:46Z")
> [@Gotterfunken](#): > > Well, if she agrees with the pastor [Arnold Conrad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEoZscGrTu0), who recently spoke at a McCain rally, then we’ll have to assume the Hindu is, indeed, a bigger God than God himself. > > Whoever “Hindu” is, that is… JOHN STEWART: Did Reverend Arnold Conrad just call God a pussy?! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/25 "2008-10-24T18:29:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > God is voting for Obama. Nate Silver says that the confidence interval on that survey is really bad due to the sample size. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/26 "2008-10-24T23:07:08Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > These folks always say “God has a plan” whenever even the most heinous shit happens, somehow it’s comforting that the awfulness was on a to-do list somewhere in God’s mind. And it’s been my experience that no matter which way it goes, they say it strengthens their faith, even though it all happens exactly as if it was just chance or the result of non-supernatural causes. Or as if their God was sending them a message to stop dragging Her name through the mud. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/27 "2008-10-25T02:10:50Z")
> [@](#): > > This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone question her faith. You might as well question whether she’s a Muslim or not. You don’t question her stand on the issues that divide fundamentalist Christians from other Americans do you ? I’m not questioning her faith. She has said she’s a devout Christian and that God will make sure the right thing happens on Election Day. Therefore, I expect that if Barack Obama is elected, Sarah Palin will openly rejoice in his victory and give thanks to the Lord for her defeat. Sure, she might be a little disappointed at losing the election, but as a devout Christian and loyal American I’m sure she’ll be happy knowing that God’s plan for America is on track. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/28 "2008-10-25T02:12:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m not questioning her faith. She has said she’s a devout Christian and that God will make sure the right thing happens on Election Day. Therefore, I expect that if Barack Obama is elected, Sarah Palin will openly rejoice in his victory and give thanks to the Lord for her defeat. Sure, she might be a little disappointed at losing the election, but as a devout Christian and loyal American I’m sure she’ll be happy knowing that God’s plan for America is on track. That was sarcasm, right? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/29 "2008-10-25T02:28:49Z")
Seriously, if your not voting Republican you’re voting against god. Conservatives have gone too far. They will spend the next twenty years recovering. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/30 "2008-10-25T02:48:50Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > Sarah Palin’s recent comments to James Dobson (Focus on the Family) re’ the upcoming election make me wonder. > > She said: > “And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.” > > and that the outcome of the election is “all in God’s hands.” > > SO, if she and McCain lose come Nov. 4th, will she either conclude that God considers Obama/Biden the “right thing for America” OR will she conclude that God’s will was somehow subverted? > > Because to hear her talk now, she seems to consider Obama and his platform pretty close to the personification of all that is evil and, or at least to be in more or less direct opposition to all she holds sacred. > > Or perhaps this is a silly question, given the logical leaps her belief system regulary requires. If Mr Obama wins, Ms Palin will indeed accept Mr Obama’s presidency as part of God’s plan for America. That’s her belief system. It may be silly, but it really is as simple as that. It’s not the same as saying that everything that happens is the best possible outcome. Gotta wait for heaven for that. It will not affect her faith. In her belief structure, all things, good and bad, happen as part of God’s plan. In this plan, ultimately all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). I am sure she prayed for her children. Neither the pregnant one nor the one with Down’s are very ideal outcomes, but in Ms Palin’s belief system, both are part of God’s overall plan and neither has lessened her faith. I don’t think you can take an isolated conversational sentence and pretend it’s a distillation of core belief, but even if someone Ms Palin genuinely considered evil (and I don’t think that applies to Mr Obama for her) were elected, she would still see it as an event that is part of God’s plan, and she would still see God as absolutely sovereign. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/31 "2008-10-25T02:52:24Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Conservatives have gone too far. They will spend the next twenty years recovering. I think for in order for that to happen, we’re going to need to break out the wooden stakes, crosses, silver bullets, and machetes. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/32 "2008-10-25T13:51:22Z")
Of course Palin will still trust God. I’ve known a bunch of people like her, and here’s how it works: they give God credit for all the good things that happen, but never, ever, blame him for the bad stuff. (Wish _I_ could get such a cushy gig!) She’ll just have someone perform an excorcism on her campaign wardrobe, then move on. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/33 "2008-10-25T14:11:47Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > Of course Palin will still trust God. I’ve known a bunch of people like her, and here’s how it works: they give God credit for all the good things that happen, but never, ever, blame him for the bad stuff. (Wish _I_ could get such a cushy gig!) > > She’ll just have someone perform an excorcism on her campaign wardrobe, then move on. Bobby Jindal might be able to do the exorcism for her. ---
**Author:** ![InterestedObserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@InterestedObserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InterestedObserver)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/34 "2008-10-25T17:54:07Z")
I assure you, it was a serious question, though asked a bit tongue in cheek, and I appreciate all the input, both serious and silly. I’ve no doubt her faith will not be seriously challenged by a loss, but I suppose my point was more along the lines of: for her and those who believe as she does (including her audience for that interview) how will they rationalize an Obama win within their belief system and in light of the fact that they obviously believe McCain/Palin to be the “Godly” ticket. The “America is being punished” angle is one I suspect many will adopt. Or, McCain is too secular/moderate in his views on certain key issues for God to “endorse” him, even with Palin bringing the ticket closer to “right with God”. The one thing I don’t expect anyone of that mind-set to conclude (and where I was being a bit facetious in my question) is that Obama won because he is actually the candidate God prefers and considers “the right thing for America”, although her comments imply that logic. I realize that logic as those outside of that belief system would term it doesn’t enter into this. And that if McCain wins, they will have no problem declaring it proof that he is the annointed one and installed by God. Those wacky fundamentalists…gotta love 'em:D ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/35 "2008-10-25T18:29:48Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > The one thing I don’t expect anyone of that mind-set to conclude (and where I was being a bit facetious in my question) is that Obama won because he is actually the candidate God prefers and considers “the right thing for America”, although her comments imply that logic. She did not imply that logic. You inferred that logic. If you can call it logic. > [@](#): > > I realize that logic as those outside of that belief system would term it doesn’t enter into this. > > And that if McCain wins, they will have no problem declaring it proof that he is the annointed one and installed by God. I don’t recall any declaration that Bush was the annointed one when he was elected. I certainly get that feeling though from some Obama supporters. > [@](#): > > Those wacky fundamentalists…gotta love 'em:D Gotta love those \*\*\*\*\*\* who make up bullshit about other groups or people in order to have a laugh at them. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/36 "2008-10-25T18:57:53Z")
[Bush says God chose him to lead his nation | World news | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/nov/02/usa.religion) Bush said he was chosen by god. He said it several times. Obama backers did not make it up. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/37 "2008-10-25T19:07:26Z")
I’m surprised by the oblivious theological heresy in Palin’s statement that God can determine an election. That’s a direct contradiction of free will. God logically cannot intervene in an election without abrogating the free will of the voters. Palin is a heretic. As for how she’ll interpret the results – my take on her is that she’s a raging narcissist. I think she’ll interpret it as being part of a larger divine plan for her to run against the “Obamanation” in '12. If she ever gets asked publicly, I think she’ll make a vague, generic statement about “God having a plan,” but won’t say out loud that she thinks the plan is for her angelic self to defeat the Beast of Revelation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/38 "2008-10-25T19:13:33Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [Bush says God chose him to lead his nation | World news | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/nov/02/usa.religion) Bush said he was chosen by god. He said it several times. Obama backers did not make it up. There’s certainly enough fodder there for you to draw the inference that “Bush said he was chosen by God”, but I see nowhere where he actually said it. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/39 "2008-10-25T20:14:00Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m surprised by the oblivious theological heresy in Palin’s statement that God can determine an election. That’s a direct contradiction of free will. God logically cannot intervene in an election without abrogating the free will of the voters. Palin is a heretic. Heh. Well said. It’s pretty obvious that Focus on the Family and God have nothing to do with each other (excepting FoF’s consistent attempts to invoke God as a justification for their dementia.) > [@](#): > > As for how she’ll interpret the results – my take on her is that she’s a raging narcissist…If she ever gets asked publicly, I think she’ll make a vague, generic statement about “God having a plan,” but won’t say out loud that she thinks the plan is for her angelic self to defeat the Beast of Revelation. If the Repubs cling to Palinmania in an attempt to gain solace after they get crushed on Nov. 4, they will ensure their marginalization for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Sky\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Sky\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sky_King)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269/40 "2008-10-25T22:15:47Z")
Most devout people I know believe that all prayers are answered, but sometimes the answer is “No”. They believe that things happen for a reason, and sometimes that reason is at least momentarily beyond thier understanding. It helps them get through the trials of life. I believe that if Senator Obama is elected, Governor Palin will assume that God’s plan didn’t include her being Vice President at this time. Maybe she should try again later, maybe her best service will be rendered elsewhere. She’ll accept it, try to understand it, and move on. No need to be assholes about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-palin-still-trust-god-if-they-lose/469269.md?page=3)