Monday, December 10, 2007

Manufacturing News on A Slow Monday: Can't Drudge Do Better?

DRUDGING UP THE NEWS FROM TEN YEARS AGO

This morning Drudge features---at the top of the scroll---a speech by Mike Huckabee preaching the need to Take This Country Back for Christ and headlining it as if it were made this weekend on the campaign trail, rather than almost 10 years ago to a national group of Baptist ministers.

The speech is here, and as a Baptist minister, it's right on. As a stump speech on the way to the presidential nomination, it could be construed as going way too far, in my opinion.

Again, this speech was made almost a decade ago by a Baptist minister to a convention of Baptist ministers meeting in Salt Lake City and, within that context, was totally appropriate. But the media will probably, sadly, eat Huckabee alive for this. And as usual take it out of context and then project it on the highest office.

I personally think Drudge is sensationalizing something that is business-as-usual for men who minister and preach the Word of God. It plays so well today precisely because it is a timeless message for our times within the religious/spiritual realms of our country.

Please note that it's a very slow Monday for Matt Drudge, a very slow news day for the media in general. So drudging up old news for the top of his scroll---even very old news--- sometimes takes going to heroic measures for lots of attention. and traffic.

I'm sure it will play well to the horrified masses, including the ACLU.

16 comments:

Cookie..... said...

**sigh**...as a journalist, I'm sure this is sadly nothing new to you...

Just about all News outlets these days generally attach their own spin to something...even FOX (which I watch most of the day) will spin certain things...

If you know of a completely honest, unbiased, facts only News source out there..Pleeeease let me know... ;-)

Anonymous said...

Agree with you totally. We're all biased and can misrepresent things.

But/And this speech needs to be kept in its proper context. I certainly didn't catch that it was 10 years old the first go round.

Still, Drudge may have an even stronger bias against Huckabee-style ministers who've come out against gay marriage, for instance....and on and on....glad you stopped by.

John R. said...

Those who want to let Romney off the hook for being a Mormon want to excoriate Huckabee for being Baptist.

Do people really believe there should not be a religious test for public office?

I guess everyone should be allowed but a believer in classic, orthodox Christianity.

"Conservatives" are not necessarily friends of Christians.

JR

Anonymous said...

agreed, JR.

Anonymous said...

suck it up folks. All the Republicans are going to out-Christian one another till we all gag.

Anonymous said...

"Do people really believe there should not be a religious test for public office?"

Uh, yeah John, people *do* actually believe that. And it's usually because of this little document called, what was it again, oh yeah, the U.S. Constitution. Article VI, Section III reads as follows:

"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

If it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me.

Slow news day, Web? Didja miss ol' Scooter Libby dropping his appeal for a new trial???

Doc said...

Vienna va has it right. We can't choose someone based on their religion. And if someone's biggest qualification for an office is the religion he is, then we should be wary of considering them for public office.

I'm more concerning with his record of raising taxes as AK governor.

Anonymous said...

Huckabee has never been my candidate for president based on a number of decisions and stands he took as governor of Arkansas. I nevertheless think he is a good man who conotributes to the national conversation greatly.

mRed said...

Actually, we can choose someone based on their religiosity and religion. I believe though more elections are decided because of a candidates lack of belief or their insincerity concerning the subject.

If voters believe a candidate believes "too" much in their religion or God, I guess those people can seek out candidates that are lukewarm to God or 1/2 a believer.

Anonymous said...

Yes. Mred, agreed.

As a citizen of this great country, we all can reserve the right to vote for whomever each of us chooses....for good reason or no reason at all. And it can be based on our individual criteria.

Anonymous said...

“Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime . . . .” — Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart

Also a hallmark of Webutante

Anonymous said...

Of course you can pick whoever you want for president, or any other office. You can chose your candidate based solely on how often they go to church, how well they can quote scripture, how well they live up to the standards of the bible. Or you could vote for someone in spite of those things. To think otherwise, to quote the Webutante, is silly.

What the Constitution specifically forbids is any sort of religious test in order to qualify for a political office of any sort.

We've already seen what happens when the Republicans out-Christian each other - John McCain suddenly becomes a Baptist, Mitt Romney does a complete 180* from his beliefs as Governor of the People's Republic of Massachusetts, and cross-dressing, pro-choice Catholic Rudy Guiliani, he of 3 marriages, 2 children voting for Democrats, and roommate of male partners during his separation from his 2nd wife, is now in favor of apointing judges like "Scalito" and Thomas.

And Hillary Clinton is the phony??

John R. said...

Vienna,

I'm saying that if people believe it [there should be no religious test for public office], then they should quit hammering Huckabee for being a Christian (and Baptist).

Secularists like what the Constitution says when it comes to putting secularists into office. They don't seem to afford the same Constitutional courtesy to others.

That's why I ask if they "really" believe the principle.

I know I do.

JR

Vienna VA said...

I think AMERICANS like the Constitution, regardless of political and/or religious persuasions. I think the Constitution applies to ALL OF US, regardless of political and/or religious persuasions.

You, Web, Mike Huckabee, even me, can be as religious or non-religious as we choose. Religious people and non-religious people can run for political office if they want.

I don't see people beating up on Mike Huckabee because he's Baptist, I see people beating up on him because he's not truthful. For example, he said he wouldn't raise taxes as Governor, then raised them. Also, he's claimed he had no involvement in the Wayne DuMond parole when he was intimately involved, going so far as to write Mr. DuMond a letter in prison telling him he hoped to set him free.

I mean, Web's not a huge fan of his, but I strongly doubt it has anything to do with his faith.

John R. said...

Vienna,

I hope we can get past all the religious debate in the campaign and maintain religious expression/freedom in the public square. It's a fine line.

All the issues you raise about Huckabee are legitimate concerns for debate.

I'm not making sweeping generalizations. Just regular ones about many secularists. :)

Anyway... I'm moving on.

JR

Anonymous said...

I agree with you John.

And Vienna you are correct, I am not for Huckabee because of his record as governor of Arkansas, especially illegal immigration. It has zero to do with his other Christian stands many of which I agree with.