As Democratic lawmakers reel from violent attacks and threats, religious leaders have issued a “covenant for civility” pledging that they will pray for politicians and model respectful behavior.
“The church in the United States can offer a message of hope and reconciliation to a nation that is deeply divided by political and cultural differences,” reads the statement, signed by more than 100 Christian leaders.
The covenant was released Thursday (March 25) by the anti-poverty group Sojourners, as members of Congress who voted in favor of health care reform have faced attacks. A brick was thrown through Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter’s window in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and a gas line was cut at the home of the brother of Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va.
So these same people spoke out against the attacks on Republican delegates to the 2008 convention where, among other things, sandbags were thrown from overpasses at buses carrying delegates? And against the man that hung an effigy of Gov Palin during the election? And the shots fired at Rep. Cantor’s office recently as well as the death threats against him and his family that resulted in an arrest? And I’m sure they spoke out against all the Bush/Hitler analogies and violent protests during Pres. Bush’s tenure? And the Code Pink protest yesterday that resulted in Karl Rove having to cancel his book signing? And the SEIU members who beat up Mr. Gladney in St. Louis during a Tea Party rally (captured on video, although the Dem powers that be haven’t yet arrested anyone for the physical beating)? And the guy who threw eggs at the Tea Party bus during this past weekend’s rally in Nevada? I know two wrongs don’t make a right, but I for one am very, very, very tired of the hypocrisy.
“And I’m sure they spoke out against all the Bush/Hitler analogies and violent protests during Pres. Bush’s tenure?”
That was Art, OK?
Branford, your comment is very divisive and I feel certain that the elves will have something to say about this.
You’re right, azusa, I forgot about “Art”!
And, Sarah, you forgot the smiley face 😉
Excellent piece here with my favorite quote:
RE: “As Democratic lawmakers reel from violent attacks and threats . . . ”
Instantly gives away the bias. The person who was arrested yesterday for a death threat to a legislator and his family gave money to Obama’s campaign and the legislator in question was a [drum roll] . . . Republican.
But of course, it is only Democratic lawmakers who are reeling.
What a transparent operation from the left has gone on over the past two weeks since that dreadful bill was passed.
I recently tried discussing this subject in a comment thread at [i]Sojourners[/i], which you can find [url=http://blog.sojo.net/2010/03/29/christian-militias-revelation-and-christs-consistent-nonviolence/]here[/url]. I invite you to take a look at the comments to see how even Christians can wind up closing their eyes to anything on their side of a political debate that might be uncomfortable or unflattering. It was a very frustrating discussion, one that I abandoned when it became evident that no one was listening to anything they disagreed with.
#6–Sounds like the libs on the HoBD list serve.
Indeed a weird comment thread on your link, #6. The modus operandi is to define all the bad guys as “right wing” and then denounce anyone who is “right wing.” There are beyond doubt violent extremists on the fringes of the various political and religious streams in our country. I deplore violent threats against legislators and administration members. I would be more respectful of this current effort, though, if I’d seen more public denunciations of the vile language of anti-Bush demonstrators or of violent environmental extremists like the Unabomber and ELF.
Katherine–Here’s what you don’t understand: When liberals do something bad its Ok because their motives are always good. When conservatives do something good its an accident because their motives are always bad. Got it now?
Oh yes, David Keller, I knew that was the routine. But in some cases, as for instance the guy who flew the private plane into the IRS building in Austin, even though he quoted the Communist Manifesto in his online final statement, he had to be identified with the “right wing” by virtue of his “anger at the government,” because they cannot admit that anyone with left-wing tendencies could do something terrible. Critics couldn’t justify what he did (killing an innocent IRS agent) so they had to make him “right wing.”
I would encourage those democrats in DC who might be living in real fear right now of any radical nut jobs out there, to maybe have Obama bring Bill Ayers in for a little primer on how to protect themselves. You know, get some expert advice from a real anarchist.
Katherine: Exactly.