The chairman of the Federal Election Commission yesterday predicted that 2008 will produce the first $1 billion presidential race and that the $500 million that each party's candidate will need to compete will severely limit the field of contenders.$1 billion??? So much for the idea of an America by the people, for the people, and of the people.
He is uncompromised by a past, it is true. He is also unburdened by a record, unworn by achievement, unwearied by long labors.
What does he believe? What does he stand for? This is, after all, the central question. When it is pointed out that he has had almost--almost--two years in the U.S. Senate, and before that was an obscure state legislator in Illinois, his supporters compare him to Lincoln. But Lincoln had become a national voice on the great issue of the day, slavery. He rose with a reason. Sen. Obama's rise is not about a stand or an issue or a question; it is about Sen. Obama. People project their hopes on him, he says.
He's exactly right. Just so we all know it's projection.
Teens were asked: "Would you consider taking action which may result in innocent
people dying if you felt very strongly about a cause?" Most said no. A quarter
of London teens said yes, a figure so surprising to the BBC that they sought out
advice from psychologists.
From My Friend:
Now, its not as though the CC isn't big enough to tackle more than one or two issues. I know an organization can't try to do everything, but why not expand its position to these issues as well? They would only have to have a general position statement on the environment and poverty, and maybe to lobby for or against (or just state a position) certain legislation pertinent to these subjects. It would not necessarily mean redirecting a massive amount of funding or work.
What we have in the CC is an organization that will not touch issues that secular liberals have dominated because they see them as secular liberal causes. They need to wake up and realize that it is the lack of a christian voice in these issues that is allowing such issues to be dominated by secular viewpoints and agendas.
Here's the article:
ORLANDO, Fla. - The president-elect of the Christian Coalition of America has declined the job, saying the organization wouldn't let him expand its agenda beyond opposing abortion and gay marriage.
The Rev. Joel Hunter, who was scheduled to take over the socially conservative group in January from Roberta Combs, said he had hoped to focus on issues such as poverty and the environment.
"These are issues that Jesus would want us to care about," said Hunter, a senior pastor at Northland Church in Longwood, Fla.
Hunter announced his decision not to take the job during an organization board meeting Nov. 21. A statement issued by the group said Hunter left because of "differences in philosophy and vision." Hunter said he was not asked to leave.
"They pretty much said, 'These issues are fine, but they're not our issues, that's not our base,'" Hunter said.
His resignation is the latest setback for the once-powerful group.
The Christian Coalition, founded in 1989 by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, became one of the nation's most powerful conservative groups during the 1990s, but it has faced complaints in recent years about its finances, leadership and plans to veer into nontraditional policy areas. The group claims more than 2 million members.
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From Me:
Thanks for that article. I must say that I've grown more and more tired of the CC. They are losing membership and relevance. They seem to be totally missing the idea that being a Christian is about having a worldview--a worldview that is Biblical--a worldview that is all-inclusive. Perhaps, though, the most telling part of this article is this: "They pretty much said, 'These issues are fine, but they're not our issues, that's not our base,'". How true. Their base is more concerned about one or two issues (granted, very important issues), and not these other important issues. What does that say about the state of the American church (as if we needed this article to point out that the American church is in trouble...)?
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From My Friend:
We have got to let people know that being a socially active Christian is much more than standing against a few issues. I think so many of the Religious Right lobbying groups are afraid to try and juggle more than a few issues. They have these pet issues that are dependable for rousing support, given their polarizing tendencies. They are scared to take on anything else (because it is not politically profitable in light of their "base") and thus they are unwilling to cooperate with any other lobbying organizations on issues such as the environment.
You are right, the Christian life is guided through a biblical perspective on all things. To use the tired term "compartmentalized", we have now compartmentalized our activism at the expense of a fully articulated Christian perspective on national trends and events. I actually admire the Catholics to a degree in that they make their whole perspective and doctrinal agenda clear as they stand adamently against certain issues. All people know about the politically active conservative evangelicals is that we hate many things they desire to have in life (alcohol, recreational drugs, equal opportunity for homosexuals, women's choice in reporduction, gambling, etc.) It would be nice if they could also see that we are for many of the things they are for (safeguarding the environment, fighting crime, fighting poverty, protecting children, education) and so on.
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From Me:
I think what you are saying about polarizing issues is true. Gay marriage and abortion get people fired up--fire up the base and get them to donate money and vote. Gosh, there is just so much there...so much of an opportunity to make a difference...so much of an opportunity to glorify Christ through our public policy...and it's being tossed in garbage because it doesn't rile people up.
I lament.....
Kevin
