Using candidates' own words to discredit them

Never lacking creative ways to discredit popular conservatives, the Associated Press and liberal newspapers did a superb job ridiculing Herman Cain and Rick Perry Sunday. The A.P. writer's technique was particularly effective because he used the candidate's own words, or, in the case of Rick Perry, the words of his spouse. To draw the attention of as many readers as possible, The Denver Post put the teaser for the story at the top left corner of the front page of the paper: Cain: God told me to run for President.

"The Georgia business executive played up his faith Saturday after battling sexual harassment allegations for two weeks, trying to shift the conversation to religion, an issue vital to conservative Republicans, especially in the South." "Cain isn't the first to say God prodded him toward a campaign. Texas Gov. Rick Perry's wife, Anita, has said she felt God was speaking to her about the race, adding that her husband needed to see a "burning bush," a Biblical reference to God's first appearance to Moses."

But, wait! Has the A.P. writer "misunderestimated" the American people? Are we really turned off by politicians who talk openly about their religious faith? I'll admit it makes me uneasy when people tell me God spoke directly to them, because I have never experienced that phenomena myself. Furthermore, the A.P. writer clearly infers that Cain's religious talk is only an effort to change the subject away from allegations that he may have acted sexually inappropriately in the past.

Obama ridiculed the voters of rural Pennsylvania in 2008, telling some "one percenters" in San Francisco that the voters in rural Pennsylvania were bitterly clinging to their guns and religion. Someone in the group, probably not one of the one percenters, had a tape recorder, and Obama's words were soon all over talk radio. The result? Obama won Pennsylvania!

So, Americans, where do you stand on candidates talking about their religious faith? Have the mental health industry and liberal newspapers convinced you that talking to God and God talking to you is a form of schizophrenia? Would you feel better about the candidate if he started talking to God, but then realized all he really needed to do was pop an anti-psychotic med? I think the A.P. and Obama are betting on the med.

Read more: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/11/12/1832415/cain-criticizes-obama-on-space.html#ixzz1ddMDtaNk

Update: The Lonely Conservative has this comment: "Ugh. We already have a president who believes he’s the Messiah. We certainly don’t need another one."

Read more: http://lonelyconservative.com/2011/11/ugh/