Trump is rallying again...

[230RN]

Once again, "putting words in my mouth."

That's getting to be a standard technique around APS.

I'm not just icky about the bible part, I'm icky about the general slander inherent in that whole statement and many other characterizations of the right.

I'm really icky about us sticking our chins out for them to throw a left cross.

[cordex]

Once again, "putting words in my mouth."

That's getting to be a standard technique around APS.

I'm not just icky about the bible part, I'm icky about the general slander inherent in that whole statement and many other characterizations of the right.

I'm really icky about us sticking our chins out for them to throw a left cross.

Not sure what words you think I put into your mouth - and I certainly don’t want to do that. You said you wish conservatives would lay off the religious stuff. When asked about what you meant because few politicians make religion part of their platform, you pointed to the fact that Obama called conservative voters people who wanted to cling to their Bibles and guns. Because in your eyes that was an effective slur, you want people to … what exactly?  I mean specifically.  How should conservative voters change to prevent ourselves from “sticking our chin out”?

You keep bringing this up but I have apparently missed where you explained what you actually meant. I remember one crack about how it would be better for Christians to hide their light or something, but apparently by that you meant … something other than the obvious, I guess.

But again, if your big example of how religiosity is hurting our cause references Bibles and guns specifically, should we not also lay off the gun stuff (whatever that would mean in this context)?  Are we not leading with our chins regarding guns too?

[Bogie]

Well, what frosts my donut is the organization which the left has - and once they make a declaration, that's it...
 
Coup. Insurrection.
 
And they think that Trump was responsible for the arson and looting that happens during their Peaceful Protests.
 
THEY REALLY DO.

[MechAg94]

MechAg94:

"As for 'religious stuff,' what exactly do you mean?  I see few politicians making that a big part of their platform.  The ones who make a bigger deal of it are usually the worst because they can't talk about economics or constitutional rights."

Think "clinging to their guns and their Bibles."

E.g.

Don't give them that kind of opening to fling insults like that.  Their useful idiots eat that kind of stuff up and it soaks into the consciousness of the general public. 

Naturally, most politicians don't generally make that part of their platform.

Terry

I never considered that statement an "insult".  I just considered it a foolish comment from an extremely arrogant politician.  I think it was genuinely something he hadn't intended for public consumption and the public reaction was against him not with him. 

I really don't know why you think Christians should believe their faith is something they should hide for fear it will be the target of insults.  So long as someone is honest about their beliefs and confident in those beliefs, none of that should matter.  The only people who need fear that are those that are just grandstanding beliefs for public consumption and don't really believe what they are saying.  Those are people who earn ridicule. 

As for "useful idiots", there is a limit to how much I really care about what stupid people think of me.  Politicians should behave the same way if they are smart.  I think that is one of the big reasons why Trump pulled in so much support.  He didn't apologize or backtrack when useful idiots in the media attacked him.  He just kept moving forward.  People respect that even if they don't agree on issues. 

[MechAg94]

nm

[Perd Hapley]

And I wish to heck Conservatives would lay off the religious stuff.  As fervent as you and I are about our beliefs, I am sure that turns off a lot of sinners/voters.

Terry, 230RN

It turns out this may be a uniquely good time for politicians to talk about religion, and signal support for religious citizens who vote. Here are a few reasons:

It's only a matter of months since American churches were legally required to close, or restricted in ways that other public places were not. Pastors in Florida and Louisiana were actually arrested over this stuff. Some church-goers in Nevada actually held at least one service in a casino, as the state allowed more occupancy there, than at a place of worship. Churches in California were also treated as non-essential, and faced tighter restrictions than other public places, until the courts stepped in. Also, the Vice-President of the guy who tried to force nuns to pay for birth control was just installed in the Oval Office.

Across the border, Canadian authorities shut down a non-compliant church, and went so far as to build a fence around it. I guess fences aren't racist there. They jailed the pastor for a month, too. A church in Manitoba might be facing a million in fines. Another guy in Canada is in jail for "misgendering" his daughter. Which is to say, he refuses to misgender her, by referring to her as a boy.

The point here isn't a "defense of religion," or to whine or complain. The point is, if a significant portion of your constituents feel as if they're under siege, it makes sense politically to court their vote.