MMS Friends

United Brethren is currently on blog sabbatical.

Democrats Commit Suicide?

Dissident Voice claims that the "Democrats Commit Suicide" with the appointment of Harry Reid as SML. Basically, he's too conservative, a point that is linked again-and-again with his being Mormon. We're still a sideshow act, my friends. I don't remember Reid making anything of the fact that he's a Mormon, but for some it easily explains all that is wrong with the man. John Ashcroft is a good example of this media hostility towards religion. For me, Ashcroft was a scary, weird, unpleasant little man. For the media he was all of the above precisely because he was an Evangelical. How do they get away with this? Some faiths, it seems, are still allowed to be disparaged. Mormonism is one, Evangelical Christianity is another (although the latter, for their part, enjoy mocking the former so I don't have too much sympathy.)

Links to this post:

Create a Link

Comments

Anonymous said ... (November 18, 2004 11:23 AM) 

Well said. I actually have a better view of Ashcroft but regardless of one's views on the personal man, he was unfairly typecast as an Evangelical wing-nut. And that was somehow always a legitimate tool to criticize his policies. And another excellent point that I have never heard Reid mention his religion but it is endlessley repeated within the first sentence or two as he he has been discussed the past two weeks. I gues that is to be expected by way of introduction but will hopefully die down as the next session of Congress gets underway. 

Posted by David H. Sundwall

 

Anonymous said ... (November 18, 2004 11:46 AM) 

Ronan, thanks for the heads-up. I've written an angry letter to the editor of Dissident Voice (you know me!) responding to Mr. Frank's prejudiced and arrogant vitriol. I posted it over at a bird's eye view since I have little hope that a forum such as Dissident Voice will actually publish a dissident voice (dissident, that is, from their rabid orthodoxy). 

Posted by john fowles

 

Anonymous said ... (November 18, 2004 5:49 PM) 

While I would not characterize Mr. Frank's piece as "prejudiced and arrogant vitriol," it does reflect the unwillingness of some Democrats to face reality. A more conservative spokesperson for the Democratic Party is just what they need to change their image (which middle voters view as too far to the left). That should hold regardless of what any Dems think about policy questions. If you can't win middle voters, you can't win many elections in the US.

Noting Reid is Mormon is just standard for the media--they'd note it if he were Catholic, Jewish, or Hindu. I didn't think the article's reference to his being Mormon was really that negative. 

Posted by Dave

 

Anonymous said ... (November 18, 2004 5:50 PM) 

While I would not characterize Mr. Frank's piece as "prejudiced and arrogant vitriol," it does reflect the unwillingness of some Democrats to face reality. A more conservative spokesperson for the Democratic Party is just what they need to change their image (which middle voters view as too far to the left). That should hold regardless of what any Dems think about policy questions. If you can't win middle voters, you can't win many elections in the US.

Noting Reid is Mormon is just standard for the media--they'd note it if he were Catholic, Jewish, or Hindu. I didn't think the article's reference to his being Mormon was really that negative. 

Posted by Dave

 

Anonymous said ... (November 19, 2004 9:38 AM) 

It's not vitriolic, that's for sure. But I'm ever so slightly annoyed (but not much, to be honest) that religion is held up as the explanation for why people are like they are. I long ago realised that my political beliefs have been shaped mostly by the society I grew up in. The Church has had an influence, but it's not the only one, nor even the most important (politically). 

Posted by Ronan

 

Anonymous said ... (November 19, 2004 5:27 PM) 

Ronan, if the church was the most important influence regarding how you act politically, how would that change how you vote? 

Posted by John Crawford

 

Anonymous said ... (November 19, 2004 5:59 PM) 

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

 

Anonymous said ... (November 19, 2004 6:03 PM) 

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

 

Anonymous said ... (November 19, 2004 7:15 PM) 

John, it would be The Monster Raving Loony Party whose platform includes bringing Parliament closer to the people by putting the Palace of Westminster on wheels. 

Posted by Ronan

 

Anonymous said ... (November 20, 2004 3:46 PM) 

Wow! I think that I just found a third party that I can wholeheartedly back. 

Posted by John Crawford

 

post a comment