Excerpt from this month’s Newslines column in Sword and Trumpet:
Jimmy Carter stated that, “I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he’s African American.” Those who are strongly against a socialist health care system were not impressed that they were being dismissed as racist, when they believed strongly that a socialist health care system was bad for America. I think this is validated by the same animosity from the Right toward white folks like Sen. Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and others from the Left that have advocated government-run healthcare. Obama has been commendably honest on this issue, rebuking Carter by saying, “Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are. That’s not the overriding issue here.” Excellently stated.
Sources: AP, Washington Post
12 Responses
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Wow, if The S&T agrees with this article or any political commentary in The Wash Post for that matter. I’d say there is no chance of me subscibing to this “mennonite” publication!
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 am
A very level-headed analysis, I must say.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Doug, you’re really confusing me. I know some folks are unhappy that Newslines is written from a conservative perspective, but this item is quite bipartisan (given that I am agreeing with and commending Obama!).
Are you one of those that thinks that any comments about politics should be avoided by True Mennonites? Or do you think I’m being too conservative? Too liberal? Does the Washington Post somehow affect this? They are on the liberal side of centrist. However, in this case, I simply pulled the quote by Carter (or Obama, I forget) from an article in the WaPo. Even if they were the Humanist Today, it doesn’t usually affect the accuracy of direct quotes.
Could you lay forth your Biblical and Mennonite theology based reasons for your rejection of this snippet? What are the principles being violated?
October 5th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Question Hans. What is the function of Newslines in the Sword and Trumpet, reporting, commentary, or both?
October 5th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Both.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Is the commentary to be politically unbiased?
October 5th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Does such a thing exist?
October 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Maybe not, but some closer than others. For instance, both sides being represented as fairly as possible.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Is the above not evenhanded?
October 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I retract my earlier comment.
I didn’t read into your piece to totally get it at first.
Better then I could ever state the same point, ha!
It must be how the piece begins, (with the liberal view), that might be what I would change.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
No, I don’t think it is. It is clear what your opinion is, and that you are trying to make a partisan point. However, maybe that is an acceptable part of what Newslines is meant to be.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I do think it is. Actually, it’s very evenhanded, even-tempered, and logical. Well put, Hans!
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