Palin’s Big Week, Religious Attacks “Broaden,” and more…
The Canadians Think …
… the time is ripe. And so, we should dive right in to the possibles.
Palin Ascendant?
Well, she did get herself a Newsweek cover. GetReligion did not think much of the piece. I have to agree, it was one of those MSM pieces that looks at religious people kind of like they are lined up at the sideshow on the midway at a state fair, you know – freaks. But there are three things apparent from the coverage.
For one, the sharp knives are out when it comes to evangelicals in general. Frankly, the Newsweek piece is tame by comparison. But there is a reason the knives are out. Palin is an effective leader of a certain segment of people. Identifying too closely with that bunch pretty well concedes an actually POTUS candidacy, but it does make her an important political force, and ally. Which is the second point. Palin is simply not playing the game to run – but she may become the de facto voice of the religious right, which will prove very interesting as misogynist tendencies of our most fundamentalist religious relatives will become all too apparent. I would not be at all surprised to see the Huckster play the gender card. (BTW, the Huckster’s follower’s seem to have moved themselves into a very strange place. Huckabee as fiscal conservative? I don’t think so.) Since Huckabee seems to covet the that spokesperson role, and has shown a tendency to get nasty when things get tough, it would not surprise me.
But the final point supports the second. All POTUS roads on the Republican side keep leading to Romney. The extensive comment stream on this Allahpundit post on Palin’s stance on legalization of pot leads to a discussion of Mormonism and, or course, Romney. Amazing, but let’s follow the lead.
Romney and His Faith
I find it fascinating that as Romney works very hard for Nikki Haley in South Carolina, she is getting attacked on religion, not unlike he did last time around. What’s fascinating is that Haley is conventionally Christian – but ethnically of Hindu extraction, which is what is cited when the rumors fly. This makes it clear. In South Carolina at least, you can save the arguments about genuine religious differences and worldviews and all the rest. It’s just old fashioned bigotry.
Here’s what I don’t get: Why, if you are trying to say good things about Romney do you have to bring up ‘Twilight’ and Mormons? Of course, sarcasm is a distinct possibility in this piece, but if it really is designed to be supportive, then it is like handing ammo to the enemy. Romney’s credentials speak for themselves – LOUDLY. He does not need comparisons to superhero romantic vampires, loosely based on Mormon community, to make the point. Give it a rest.
Apparently the CJCLDS’ Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) is playing the role of the Mormon anti-defamation league. They are, in my opinion, a great information source and their work to dispel misconception and misunderstanding is excellent – but politics is a bare-knuckle game. Their effort is perfect for a church based effort. But there needs to be something extra-ecclesiastical that can play hardball.
The Others
Pawlenty keeps working hard, but just is not attracting attention save from the political geek crowd.
The Daniels boomlet continues here and here, while dying here. Like we said last week – he has blown the audition.
I do not know whether to laugh or be outraged.
Religious/Political Philosophy
Noted Godblogger Scot McKnight notes that the average Evangelical is not as political as the press would have us think. I disagree, the average Evangelical is politically fickle, but they are engaged. They are chasing after something unattainable. Which is what makes this Ross Douthat piece on “political romanticism” really interesting. Douthat is using the term “political romantic,” the definition of which he borrows from David Runciman:
What he most resembles, to an almost uncanny degree, is a particular kind of political romantic, as described by Carl Schmitt in his 1919 book Political Romanticism.
For Schmitt, political romantics are driven not by the quest for pseudo-religious certainty, but by the search for excitement, for the romance of what he calls ‘the occasion’. They want something, anything, to happen, so that they can feel themselves to be at the heart of things. As a result, political romantics often lead complicated double lives, moving between different versions of themselves, experimenting with alternative personae. ‘Reversing one’s position between several realities and playing them off against one another belongs to the nature of the romantic situation,’ Schmitt writes. Political romantics are ostensibly self-sufficient yet also have a desperate need for human comradeship…
They are both using this term to describe and argue with Christopher Hitchens and the ardent atheist crowd, but I have to tell you, when I read it so many Evangelicals came to my mind. They are, after all, tearing Iowa apart. Based largely on idealistic romanticism, not political practicality. Look for the 2012 effects of the religious battles in Iowa to be that serious contenders sit it out. Iowa is proving once again to be an outlier, not a trendsetter.
Which is why, in part, the standard “attack the religious person” formula David Brody as delineated, is effective even inside Evangelicalism. Being serious about things, including politics, matters. Its not a search for the next romantic high. Fortunately, even a leftie like Marc Ambinder wonders if we are not turning more rational.
General Religious/Political Headlines
- Baptists’ Large Military Presence Colors Gay Debate
- Proposition 8 case over gay marriage reaches arguments – just remember, it ain’t over for a long time.
- Pastor tests IRS by endorsing candidate
- Abortion Strains Religious-Government Aid Coalition
- Runoff splits Bob Jones leaders
Lowell adds . . .
Describing Twilight as loosely based on Mormon community is a new one to me. And I am qualified to comment: I’m a Mormon and the father of a 13 year-old girl who has seen all the movies and read all the books. (I’ve only done so once; she’s read and seen them multiple times.) Folks, there is nothing in those stories that is even distantly reminiscent of Mormonism, except for the young couple’s sexual abstinence (something that the reviewers regularly mock). Mr. Quigley’s admitted speculation in that regard is just laughable.
John, I think you should laugh about this one. Mr. Karger’s effort is simply offbeat (but brilliant) marketing. After this is all over the only difference he will have made is in the size of his client roster.
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