This clip of Paul on Fox – he says the following regarding Huckabee’s “Merry Christmas” ad:
…reminds me of what Sinclair Lewis said, “when fascism comes it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross”. I don’t know if that if a fair assessment or not but you wonder about using a cross like he is the only Christian or implying that subtly.
This is the statement of a man who doesn’t want my vote. This is a blanket insult to all Christians – that we are, somehow, on a track to fascism because we want to say “Merry Christmas” and are unafraid to proclaim our faith in the public square. Its also a stupid statement – stupid from Lewis who originally made it, and stupid for Paul to repeat it: fascism is anethema to Christianity. The two are entirely incompatible. Fascism asserts that the State may claim all – Christianity says that while we must render to Ceasar what is his, we must only render to God what belongs to God.
If there are fascists in the making out there, they are amongst the people who want to silence others with hate crimes laws and speech codes; who demand equality of result rather than of opportunity; who insist that there is a wall of separation between Church and State (actually, lefties, it is the vibrant Church which is the strongest defense against the tyranny of the State). Paul proves himself ever more to be of the rather kook fringe – whatever his good ideas are (and he has some) they are drowned out by his more bizarre beliefs.
Blogs For Victory 
Right on, Ron Paul!
This is not about saying “Merry Christmas” – it’s not even about Christianity. It’s about using religion and patriotism as a political tool. Bravo Ron Paul for pulling out that great Sinclair Lewis quote – proving once again he’s probably the only GOP candidate who actually has read a book other than the Bible.
Thank God there are some actual conservatives still out there – instead of the Bible-wielding, science-denying, budget-busting, corporate-shilling, country-invading, flag-waving, lapel-pin-wearing, drama-addicted, insecure fascist wannabes that make up the “movement conservatives” of today.
Aren’t you missing the point about Lewis’ quote?
I don’t think either Lewis or Paul are equating Christianity with Fascism in the slightest. Heck, Ron Paul is a serious Christian as far as I can tell.
Lewis is simply pointing out that tendencies towards authoritarianism and other hallmarks of fascist states, will, in the USA be be done in the name of God. Implicit in such an pronouncement (especially coming from Paul) is that this is a misuse of Christianity and religion.
So no need to fell offended – just a warning to be vigilant about politicians who use religion inappropriately in their grab for power.
Now whether Huckabee is doing that or not is a moot point.
I LIKED Ron, but it sounds as if he is trying to equate the cross with the swastika.
While Democratic candidates for President are discussing solutions for such problems as the Iraq Civil war, massive debt, how to best get Bin Laden, health care for all, affordable college tuition, and global warming Republican candidates debate if Mormons are Christians or was the window in a political ad a message from God. Just when you thought the religious divide within the Repug party could get no wider, you have Republican Congressman Ron Paul insinuating Hucabee just might be the anti-Christ that brings Fascism to the United States.
I believe the genie is out of the bottle and there is no way of corking it. Evangilicals will no longer simply accept Republican lip service. In the past, every election cycle a few on the take such as Robertson and Farwell would rally the Evangelicals with promises their agenda would be heard. They said give us Congress and you will be heard. Then they said give us the Presidency and you will be herd. Then they said give us the Supreme Court and you will be heard. But like so many Republican promises Evangelicals found them to be hollow. Instead of abortions going down, estimates believe they are increasing. Instead of building the American family, the entire Bush government is focused on the Iraqi family. Will Evangilicals still be the Republican’s puppets in 2008?
fascism is anethema to Christianity.
If fascism comes to the United States, it will very likely be an anti-Christian fascism that will hypocritically accuse Christians of being fascist. It could start with something like criminalizing any expression of disapproval of homosexuality. If anyone thinks this is far-fetched, this is precisely what’s going on in Canada. (By contrast, I have yet to see any Christians advocating criminalizing speech in favor of homosexuality or gay rights.) Historically, Hitler himself (although nominally Catholic) was viciously anti-Christian, and even blamed Christianity on the Jews.
politicians who use religion inappropriately in their grab for power.
You mean like Clinton hanging out in a church on election night? Or Gore getting donations from Buddhist monks?
>>>>While Democratic candidates for President are discussing solutions for such problems as the Iraq Civil war, massive debt, how to best get Bin Laden, health care for all, affordable college tuition, and global warming Republican candidates debate if Mormons are Christians or was the window in a political ad a message from God. – plainjane<<<<<<
Yet I remember the pandering quote from the Democratic Muslim candidate:
“We’re going to keep on praising together. I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth. – Barack Obama”
plain,
Your hatred towards Christianity is only matched by your cowardice to confront real problems. I am very interested to see your comments on the NOW thread. How do you fell about the Islam practice of killing women?
Bashing Christianity and Republicans now passes for intellect on the left. The degradation of that party is astonishing and will most certainly result their defeat in ’08.
plain,
Maybe you could provide some actual quotes where evangelicals said, “give us the Supreme Court and you will be heard”.
And it would be nice if you had real facts to back up your litany of hate. You asserted that abortions are on the rise, well……….
>>>>The number of abortions nationwide has dropped to their lowest levels since the year following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision Roe v. Wade, according to the latest annual Abortion Surveillance report by the Center for Disease Control. Mon, Nov. 26 2007<<<<<
I grow very tired of your ignorant dishonesty.
Hitler came with German flags and a cross. He absolutely opposed communism and atheism. A catholic priest penned Mein Kampf for Hitler.
The rest is history. Nobody ever said that Christianity cannot be used for something other than good things and salvation. Thats not the same as Christians failing to right what is wrong though.
There are good people in bad religions, and bad people in good religions. What people do are the acts of men, even if they are misguided.
bongo,
Sinclair Lewis was anti-Christian – he wasn’t issuing warnings about how a facsist movement would claim to be working for God – he was saying, quite clearly, that Christians were fascists in the making. For Paul to use such a quote indicates either massive ingorance of just what sort of man Sinclair Lewis was, or an agreement with him – in either case, he’s ever more disqualifying himself in my view for the Presidency.
hey
markadigger;
dumb alien question?
are you mad/disgusted at ron paul?
or afraid of ron paul?
i don’t understand?
Mark,
Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see the paranoid schizophrenic that Ron Paul is. The man is more than a table setting short of a picnic.
It’s hard to believe people even listen to him.
js,
What dregs of anti-Catholic websites have you been trolling? No Catholic priest had anything to do with the writing or publication of “Mein Kampf”.
bagni,
None of those things – I just strongly disagree with him and think he’s unfit to be President of the United States – along with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, etc, etc, etc…
neocon,
He’s a Libertarian dressed up as a Republican – I’ll have nothing to do with him, as far as the Presidency goes.
What Sinclair Lewis was refering to was deciet. Those that come “wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross” believe in neither. Rather they use those props to whip up a sense of patriotic and religious nationalisim to exploit the fear the massses have against an amorphious, shape shifting and indefinable “enemy”. In others words, he was refering to Authoritarians whose only real power comes from instilling fear and hatred towards the unknown and perpetuating it at every opportunity. Even if means to create “an enemy” so that they can fight it.
Ron Paul is money raising machine, especially from military families.
Mike Huckabee is Gomer Pyle. We are not electing a pastor in chief and The United States is not some evangelical mega church. Plainjane, Aaron and bongoman are absolutely correct.
As am I!
It would behoove many conservatives here to actually read the Constitution of the United States and maybe read a little history regarding why our founding fathers drafted this brilliant document as they did. Because of the religious dictates of England, many of the drafters wanted to make sure that each American has the freedom to practice the religion of their choice OR not practice any religion without fearing the government. Why any person running for President of the US should have to explain his religious beliefs is beyond disturbing. What has our country come to that we feel we have the right to invade a person personal beliefs before s/he is an acceptable candidate for President? If you cannot determine what kind of life this person has lived up this point, you probably need to find another candidate to support. It obvious that Mike Huckabee is pandering to the Christian right, that he is using religion as a drawing card for voters. The cross in the back ground (don’t tell me that was a accidental happening) of his ad is a deliberate symbol to pull in the evalgalistic Christians. As a Christian, I do have a problem with using religion to garner votes. I do wonder what Christ would say about such tactics.
Sunny,
Huckabees message was a Christmas message. You do know the origin of Christmas, right? Therefore, wouldn’t it be appropos to have the symbol of Christ in a Christmas message?
There are many moderate Christians, including myself, that comprise the American voting public, not just evangelicals, and I appreciated his message.
And just an FYI, most of our founding fathers were deeply religious and opened many of their meetings with prayer.
And Christ would ardently support Faith in our public discourse. In fact Christ spoke of God and Faith every day to show others the Truth. Do you not suppose he would support the message of faith in a political campaign?
Neocon:
I agree that it would be appropos to have a cross in a Christmas message. However, if that were the case it would have been prominently displayed with zero chance of ambiguity and Huck wouldn’t be defending himself today by saying it was a bookcase. It looked like a window frame to me. Either way, it makes him look foolish an niave.
Just like Gomer.
FYI Neocon, many of our founding fathers were not deeply religious. That is why they were so very careful in how they chose every word in the Consititution. If you would like, I can recommend a few good books on our founding fathers and the work they did in drafting the Consitution. Maybe you would get a better picture if you spent some time reading early American history.
To All My Democrat Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes For an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
To My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sunny,
I have read quite a bit about Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, etc. and they ALL had a strong faith.
In fact, Jefferson wrote the following:
In the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote:
>>>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.<<<<
You do know who the Creator is, right?
And you want to believe that he wasn’t deeply religious, even though he believes that our unalienable rights come from God?
Your liberalist revision of history is tedious.
Neocon – so is your naivety – tedious, that is. And as I stated earlier, I am a Christian, so yes, I know that we celebrate Christmas to honor the Christ child’s birth. And yes, I know my Creator is God Almighty. Any other really dumb questions?
No, just wanting to point out your baseless assertion that our founding fathers were not religious.
In fact, our founding fathers carefully crafted the constitution to avoid religious prosecution that they dealt with in England.