OpEdNews » Obama v. "Oh, Bomb 'Em"

August 19, 2008 at 19:09:56

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Promoted to Headline (H2) on 8/19/08:
Obama v. "Oh, Bomb 'Em"

by Robert McElvaine Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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Republicans and self-styled "Christians" are agog over what Andrea Mitchell of NBC characterized as the "crisp, immediate, forceful response" John McCain gave to Rick Warren's question about evil during the forum at the Saddleback Church. They dismiss Barack Obama's "more nuanced approach."

"Sen. McCain was crisp, decisive, knew what he was about, knew his values," Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R, Minn.), who is a favorite of the "Christian Right," proclaimed on Face the Nation on Sunday. "Sen. Obama, I thought, was hesitant, halting, and quite wandering in his answers."

Pastor Rick asked the following question of both candidates: "Does evil exist? And if it does, do we ignore it? Do we negotiate with it? Do we contain it? Do we defeat it?"

Here is a portion of Obama's reasoned, considered, "nuanced" answer:

"Evil does exist. I mean, I think we see evil all the time. We see evil in Darfur. We see evil, sadly, on the streets of our cities. . . . It has to be confronted squarely . . . . I think [it] is very important for to us have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, because a lot of evil's been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil. . . . in the name of good. . . . [J]ust because we think that our intentions are good, doesn't always mean that we're going to be doing good."

Here, in stark contrast, is McCain's answer:

"Defeat it."

One can't get much more "crisp" and "decisive" than that! And it sure sounds like the proper Christian answer to what to do about evil, doesn't it?

Sen. McCain's values, which he knows so well, are based on that revered commandment from Jesus, "Shoot first and ask questions later."

Let's see, that's from . . . uh . . . the fifth chapter of Matthew, isn't it?

Oops. That's where Jesus offers an answer to Pastor Warren's question on what to do about evil that is nearly opposite to Sen. McCain's:

"But I say to you, 'Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.'" (Matt. 5:39)

Several biblical Proverbs also reject Mr. McCain's "crisp, immediate, forceful response." A few examples:

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty." (Prov. 16:32)
"A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient." (Prov. 14:17)

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." (Prov. 14:29)

"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention." (Prov. 15:18)
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Robert S. McElvaine is a professor of history at Millsaps College and the author of ten books. He is a frequent contributor to the op ed pages of the major national newspapers and blogs for the Huffington Post. His latest book is "Grand Theft (more...)

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6 comments

Michael Cavlan

Obama is O-Bomb-Them

Wake up

Your Emperor (rock star) has no clothes

by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 7:18:38 PM

(0+)

Aurora

Statement from Barack Obama's "Foreign Policy" page:

“When I am this party's nominee, my opponent will not be able to say that I voted for the war in Iraq; or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran; or that I supported Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don't like.

And he will not be able to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it is ok for America to torture — because it is never ok…

I will end the war in Iraq… I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus. I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”
— Barack Obama, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/

by Aurora (0 articles, 95 quicklinks, 52 diaries, 648 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 10:27:58 PM

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Goblue

Reply: Talk is Cheap

I was all for Obama until he voted for the FISA bill (flip-flopped) and he wants to deploy troops to Afghanistan. War on terror is a big lie so Obama will be killing more innocent people that did absolutely nothing to us. Either he is stupid or evil. It also bothers me that Brezinski is Obama's foreign adviser. Brezinski is a killer. Pure and simple. Not to mention the puppeteer (Obama's).

Although I am very harsh on Obama, I believe he is the lesser of the two evils.

by Goblue (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 70 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 10:54:01 PM

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Michael Cavlan

Well Nice Words But......

How many times did Barack Lets-Bomb-Them VOTE to fund the war?

Four times, same as Hillary Clinton.

Who said that he will not leave Iraq but instead take "combat troops" to Afghanistan, adding more mercenaries to Iraq?

Add to this a LONG list

Actions speak much louder than words.

Your Emperor has no clothes and is a war monger.

Wake up.

by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 at 10:57:43 PM

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Jason Paz

Is Anyone Decent?

Comment from Ratings: Is Anybody Decent? McCain and Huckabee profess allegiance to a democratic nation that has killed over 6,000,000 Asians since the beginning of the Vietnam era. At the moment a US armada is steaming towards the Persian Gulf with the ability to end life for 72 millions Iranians. Huckabee is in Jerusalem lecturing us on proper behavior [supporting John McCain]. If Americans had any decency, they would lock men such as McCain and Huckabee until the devil comes to take them. Do they intend to vaporize Iranians to gain a few points in the popularity polls?

by Jason Paz (68 articles, 88 quicklinks, 112 diaries, 1389 comments [98 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 at 2:48:22 AM

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Kim McDaniel

They're BOTH warmongers: OBOMBA & McBOMBEM

I don't like either one of them. Kucinich & Paul were the only strictly anti-war candidates (that I know of), but they were both cheated out of the race through vote fraud.

But as long as we're slinging Bible verses around, how about these:

Hate what is evil. -- Romans 12:9

But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. -- Revelation 2:6

I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men. -- Revelation 2:2

Expel the wicked man from among you. -- 1 Corinthians 5:13

You have ... hated wickedness. -- Hebrews 1:9

The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. -- Deuteronomy 28:7

And when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. -- Deuteronomy 7:2

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." -- Matthew 10:24

"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" -- Luke 12:49

I threw the last four in there, not to justify war, but to show that the Bible is not all love, peace & happiness. Nor is it fair to hand-pick a few verses & use them to support (or to browbeat) your candidate of choice.

by Kim McDaniel (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 30 comments) on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 at 2:22:04 AM

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