Next up, Sen. John McCain, speaking in South Carolina, announced that his religion has changed from the gay-friendly Episcopalian church to the more homophobic Baptist church, a whole long time ago, and everyone's been reporting his religion incorrectly, even when they report him saying that he's Episcopalian:
Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who has long identified himself as an Episcopalian, said this weekend that he is a Baptist and has been for years.
Campaigning in this conservative, predominantly Baptist state, McCain called himself a Baptist when speaking to reporters Sunday and noted that he and his family have been members of the North Phoenix Baptist Church in his home state of Arizona for more than 15 years.
"It's well known because I'm an active member of the church," the Arizona senator said.
While McCain has long talked about his family's and his own attendance at the Arizona church, he appears to have consistently referred to himself as Episcopalian in media reports.
In a June interview with McClatchy Newspapers, the senator said his wife and two of their children have been baptized in the Arizona Baptist church, but he had not. "I didn't find it necessary to do so for my spiritual needs," he said.
He told McClatchy he found the Baptist church more fulfilling than the Episcopalian church, but still referred to himself as an Episcopalian.
The Associated Press asked McCain on Saturday how his Episcopal faith plays a role in his campaign and life. McCain grew up Episcopalian and attended an Episcopal high school in Alexandria, Va.
"It plays a role in my life. By the way, I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist," McCain said. "Do I advertise my faith? Do I talk about it all the time? No."
Well, he knows one thing - the Religious Right sorts aren't just after atheists, polytheists, or Muslims, as they generally claim, if they ever get through with them, it's on to the Jews, then the Orthodox and Catholic Christians, then whatever branches of Protestantism they don't like. When you're working to bring theocracy to America, you'd better be on the right side, even if that side gets narrower and more nuanced every day.
Or not. He said just yesterday that what's important is not whether he's Baptist or Episcopalian, but that he's Christian:
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday that questions over whether he identifies himself as a Baptist or an Episcopalian are not as important as his overarching faith. "The most important thing is that I am a Christian," the Arizona senator told reporters following two campaign stops in this early voting state.
Uh, yeah. That's why there have been so many Mormon, Catholic, Orthodox, Jehovah's Witness, Quaker, and Coptic Christian presidents.
Honestly, I don't care which branch of Christianity he comes from. But he's just so obviously playing to the Religious Right (although he didn't go to their debate, but that's another story) with the specific denomination he's a part of. If he weren't, then "the most important thing" would be his policies, his politics, and his experience. But those aren't the issues that are important to GOP voters, he knows that, so he has to put together this whole dog and pony show for them.
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2 Comments
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I think I've cracked the code: On Sunday you're a Baptist or Nazerine except in New England where being a conservative Episcopalian is preferred if not mandated. If its Monday and you're in Utah you can share your undergarments with Mitt Romney; otherwise Baptist remains best. On Tuesday as you tour Northern Minnesota (staying carefully away from the facilities at the Minneapolis airport, learn to quote some favorite things from Martin Luther. Be assertive and tack some campaign literature on the church door.
Wednesday, well.....the middle of the week is a tossup. If you are within 50 miles of a mega-church the decision is simple (see Monday except that the Utah exception doesn't apply....even to Mitt). Otherwise just say you don't discuss your personal religious convictions. Wait: No, that's OK except in South Carolina where you had better get quickly immersed in the water and the Spirit unless you took care of that in your youth and have the paperwork to prove it.
Thursday it's back to basic evangelical leanings, wherever you are, and a coutesy visit to James Dobson or to Jerry Falwell's tomb likely gets you some extra polling points. Friday, despite the relaxation Rome made way back in the middle of the last century concerning roast beef sandwiches, its best to be Catholic (especially in the larger Eastern cities) and attend lots of fish fries and Knights of Columbus sponsored events, especially the ones denouncing the homosexal lifestyle and imposition of the gay agenda on the Boy Scouts of Holy Family Troop 456.
Saturday also has some latitude, but try to avoid sabbath observing sects, especially Jehova's Witnesses, who don't really form a big voting block anyway. Judiasm.......well, Joe Lieberman's phone number is around here somewhere for advice. Anything outside of traditional "Judeo-Christianity" (whatever that is supposed to mean), including, heaven forbid (as it clearly DOES) atheism or (gasp) secular humanism......you really never thought you wanted to be the POTUS anyway, did you?
Don Sherfick | September 18, 2007 7:02 PM
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John McCain is such a joke any more. I'm embarrassed to say that I rooted for him against George W. I love it how Storm draws him as a fuse-lit bomb each time. There's no one left for him to pander too, is there?
Bil Browning | September 19, 2007 10:04 AM
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