Today's Topics: The Religious Right hesitates on McCain, while Lieberman can't say enough nice things about him. T.D. Jakes reacts to Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech. Supreme Court will hear case on public religious displays.
Hellooo? McCain Supporters? Anyone, anyone?
On last night's Countdown, Keith Olbermann highlights conservative criticisms of John McCain, particularly from Focus on the Family leader James Dobson. But commentator Rachel Maddox cautions against assuming the Religious Right will break with the Republican Party. (Video below the fold...)
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Alex Carpenter of Faith and Public Life made me smile with his post title "James Dobson: Should I Sway or Should I Go?" Carpenter highlights a "Hannity and Colmes" interview in which Dobson says, "I will certainly vote...I think we have a God-given responsibility to vote. And there are all of the candidates and the issues down the ballot that we have an obligation to weigh in on..."
While Dobson hangs back from supporting McCain outright, the Republican nominee finds a friend in good ole Joe Lieberman. Sen. Lieberman is an enthusiastic detractor of Sen. Barack Obama, his own party's likely nominee, preferring McCain's hawkish ways. Jane Hampsher at Firedoglake points out Lieberman's nauseating praise for McCain on FoxNews.
Continuing Repercussions of Wright Controversy and Senator Obama's Speech
In response to the criticism of Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity UCC in Chicago, the United Church of Christ ran an advertisement in the New York Times yesterday. The full text of the ad is available here. Hat tip to Scott Wells at Boy in the Bands.
Megastar minister Rev. T.D. Jakes responded last week to Sen. Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech (Hat tip to Dallas Morning News).
Senator Obama, in his follow-up speech, made some very profound statements in order to bring some context to his faith, his experience at his church, and the far more important issue of where race relationships are in this country. While there are many things about the headlines that I find reprehensible, the one thing that gives me some sense of thanksgiving is the fact that people are talking about it absolutely everywhere. I do not know of a preacher anywhere who isn’t grappling with could’ve, would’ve, should’ve in one way or another as we listen as the secular and sacred press try to bring clarity to the murky waters of a painful past some would rather forget than to forge into.
Supreme Court to Consider Case on Public Religious Displays
Adelle Banks at Religion News Service (via Ethics Daily) reports that
The Supreme Court decided Monday to review the case of a 33-year-old religious organization that wants to have its tenets posted in a Utah municipal park near a monument of the Ten Commandments.
The case could build upon an earlier decision from the court:
In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that religious monuments on public grounds are constitutional, but suggested they need to be displayed with other historical images or documents to avoid an overtly religious message.
