Image from http://critterscrap.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-republican-hypocrisy.html
Religion is a funny thing. Many people tout their religions like cars. “I’ve been a Christian since I was fifteen, and never missed a service, so I must be better than you.” That phrase was actually spoken to me one day, when a group of pro-life protesters gathered on my campus, in a free speech area, as I was walking down the sidewalk. They actually had a giant sign declaring groups of people were going to Hell. Some of them were barely justifiable, like rapists and murderers, and others were simply ludicrous, like being liberal or socialist.
Now, normally, I get angry. I want to turn to them, whip out a bible, and tell them in an excruciatingly detailed rant how they’re wrong. But I don’t. I keep walking, and allow them to continue being wrong.
But when these people start running the country, I get really angry.
In general, the Republican party at large has an astounding level of hypocrisy when it comes to their faith. They make a good show of having “Christian values” and such, but that’s just what it is. A show. A staged, fake pretense. Let’s take a look at some of these hypocrisies.
1) “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
Wow. In no particular order…
- John Ensign, Nevada Senator. Had an affair with a campaign staff member sometime between December ’07 and August ’08. Resigned from office in May ’11.
- David Vitter, Louisiana Senator. Exposed as a client of a prostitute in 2007. Still in office.
- John McCain, Arizona Senator. In 1979, was courting another woman “who was as beautiful as she was rich” (direct quote from http://fromtheleft.wordpress.com/2006/06/20/infidelity-and-three-republican-president-hopefuls/) while still married. In 1980, he divorced his first wife, married his new rich wife, and used her family’s money to fund his campaigns for senator and President. Still in office.
- Newt Gingrich. Former Representative from Georgia, former speaker of the House of the Representatives, and current Presidential hopeful. At at the very least, has had three affairs, attempted to negotiate divorce proceedings with his current wife while she was in the hospital, recovering from uterine cancer, got caught with a 33-year old congressional aide. Currently in the race to become the Republican nominee for the Presidential election in 2012.
- Michael Flory. Formerly the Michigan Young Republican Party President, pleaded guilty to raping a female colleague. Currently in prison.
The list just goes on and on. I could write an entire article about Republican sex scandals, and that is not hyperbole. Now, when you consider that this particular party demanded (not requested, demanded) that Senator Anthony Weiner resign because of his sex scandal, gave endless grief to Bill Clinton for his affair with Monica Lewinsky, and are currently trying to have Planned Parenthood defunded (despite the mounting evidence that politicians cannot restrain themselves any more than an average hormone-ridden teenager), but the Republican Party itself seems to be okay with each of the above mentioned (with the possible exception of Flory), this is a double standard so profound that I literally have no words to adequately describe it. Don’t get me wrong, I know that there are many Senators and Representatives on the Democrat’s side who have had affairs. But they’re not the ones trying to monopolize “Christian values.”
For a more in-depth, partial list of known Republican sex scandals, please visit http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals, and http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358×814.
2) “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)
Yes, I know. It’s not often that a politician directly gets caught up in a murder investigation. But which Party was more active in bringing the War on Terror into Iraq? The Republicans. Who are the ones who are trying to keep the American soldiers in Iraq? The Republicans.
Now, I would like to point out that, yes, all of America was crying out for Bin Ladden’s blood after 9/11, but the loudest cries for blood were coming from the right-wing, where the concentration of professed “Godly men” was the highest. In the Old Testament, there were many “Holy wars” that the bible claims that God himself lead against the enemies of the Jewish people. But in the New Testament, Jesus was a staunch supporter of peace, and cried out against unnecessary war. In Ecclesiastes 3, it’s pointed out that there is a time for everything, “a time for war and a time for peace.” Was the Republican’s cry for war against Osama Bin Ladden justified? Maybe, maybe not. Was their call for war in Iraq justified? Absolutely not.
Do the Republicans value peace at all? I have yet to see any evidence of this. Our country only really has a good economy during times of war. Our economic status is dependant how many people we’re bombing at any given time. Please think about how messed up that is.
3) “Thou shall not bear false witness.” (Exodus 20:16) Translation: Do not lie.
No. I’m not going to touch this one. The universe could undergo heat death, and I still would not be done writing about the right-wing lies.
4) “Do not judge, lest you be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
Now, this is an interesting one. This is one of those bible quotes today that are thrown around without any proper context or definition. Here’s the full verse, with context.
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5, NIV)
The whole point of this passage that if there is a failing in your life, you have absolutely zero room to throw accusations at another person about that particular failing unless you have acknowledged that failing and are actively trying to do something about it. So, my question is this: who are the Republicans to lecture people about sexual immorality when they can’t seem to keep their pants on? Who are they to accuse people of not caring about human life when they send soldiers to a pointless war for profit, oil, and political power? Who are they to tell Obama “You lie” on anything when they probably couldn’t recognize the truth if it hit them on the head with a piece of two-by-four?
New rule: No political candidate, none of them, have any right to run on a ballot during an election, whether for the executive or legislative branches of the government on either a state or federal level, on the basis of his religion, faith, or spirituality.
If there is a candidate that wants to run on a platform of “religious values,” let those values show. Because I am sick to death of hearing about their supposed faith. Actions speak louder than words, and all the actions of these supposed “Christians” are saying is “We do not care for your well-being. We do not care if you live or die. All we care about is lying, cheating, sex, and stealing in order to get what we want.” James 1:26: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
America is the new Rome, and the Republicans are little better than third-rate Pharisees.
Dear Republican Party,
Please shut up.
I think this says it all about the Congress and the Rebuplican party:
…. “the fact that they have been intentionally sabotaging the economy for political and personal gain……”
But since they all took oaths of office in which they promised to protect the American people and defend the Contitution this means they are basically engaged in something called “Treason”.
People should ask themselves this one question: why would people elected in a democracy try to destroy this very democracy? Because they are traitors to the Constitution; the one that became real when the words “All Men Are Created Equal” became true the day Barack Obama took Office: now we have a document that stands for the Truth itself: as the Word of God is also True; so now we have something not seen since the Kingdom of David: a Real Utopia Appearing with Real Justice For All: which means a Day of Reckoning is Coming: a Real One; a Day of the Lord; in fact.
As for John Boehner and the rest of the treasonous and proud servants of the Rich and slaves of their god Mammon who they whole-heartedly proclaim in their acts; although never their words:
this is their epitaph:
as in Zephaniah 3:5, to wit;
“…….but the Unjust knoweth no Shame….”
but their everlasting shame in the etes of God and the Lamb and our ringing contempt for them shall be known to them: Christmas Day 2012 is Judgment Day; get ready….
I agree with this for the bases of 1, politics is all about propaganda, (basically all people withing the political office lie to achieve there true goal). 2, in the bible it says, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” (basically you have your own faults don’t talk about others faults.) Yet republicans do just that. 3, if they did give a crap about their religion half as much as they seemed to claim they would practice what they preached (preached in the usage is hopefully self explanatory).
Judge is an interesting word – an obsolete definition is “To pass sentence on; condemn.” This is probably more in the lines of what the biblical interpretation would be. I am not a biblical scholar, but judgment in the bible always seemed to involve condemnation and negative consequences.
Certainly politicians from all sides have hypocritical members who pass judgment, and are guilty of the same offense; however, espousing or pushing for biblical principles is not necessarily hypocritical. The baby boomers who used drugs, but do not want their children to do so are not passing judgment, but trying to help them avoid the same mistakes. Politicians can be the same way; they push for biblical or other religious moral values, not because they are perfect and not to pass judgment, but they believe that society will be better following those principles.
Don’t forget 1 Timothy 2:12 in the case of female congresspersons or Senators who also happen to be reTHUGliCON w*ores
Only one thing wrong that I can see: Your “new rule” is actually an old rule. It’s in the Constitution (“establishment clause”) and has been defined as “separation of Church and State”. Interesting how the GOP-on-u party always adds “…except [my brand of] Christianity”.
EXCELLENT!
And can I have an AMEN to that!!! Well done, Daniel. I would add another example under #2; why is it that so often the same righties that scream and wave signs calling themselves “pro-life” are also pro-death penalty? Not okay to abort a blastocyst but somehow consider it their responsibility, nee duty, to show a murderer he was wrong to murder by murdering him??? WTF? Don’t think you can get much more twisted and hypocritical than that.
Wonderfully written and said as a gay christian I loved it.
Religion itself is a hypocrisy
Why is there always the ‘Discover how liberalism destroys peoples and nations’ ads at the bottom of each AddictingInfo.org. article? It is extremely annoying and offensive.
I’ve tried repeatedly to block that ad from the site, sorry. I have no idea why it is still showing up.
These same hypocrites like to rail against “moral relativism,” an argument used to justify intolerance. Yet nothing subtracts more from transmitting solid values to the next generation than hypocrisy; children learn from what they see adults do, not from their empty talk.
My apologies, but there is a small typo.
In the article, I wrote “In the New Testament, there were many “Holy Wars,” when I meant for that to be the OLD Testament. There were no Holy Wars in the New Testament.
“Republicans And Religious Hypocrisy”…Ain’t that the truth!!!