by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
I am among those who, after last weekend's thrashing by some over my posts on Sarah Palin at the Left Coast Rebel, decided to steer clear of any further comments until such time as she declared her candidacy. A decision I believed a wise one because, after all is said and done, she is merely a "media star" at present.
However, the article by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in Friday's edition of the Washington Post got me thinking again about the possibility of a Palin run for the presidency. While I do not agree with everything Ms. Townsend said in her article there is some merit in her comments.
I provided the link to the article so each of you, after reading the full text can determine the validity, or lack thereof with respect to Ms. Townsend's comments on Palin and her {Palin's}reference to JFK's 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association .While I was only 11 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated I remember him well. While not an advocate of his politics {as an adult }I do admire the courage of the man and his love of country.
Now that you have read the Townsend article here is the clip from John Kennedy's 1960 speech.
On the issue of religion as it relates to governance, or more appropriately how it should have no relationship to or influence to government Kennedy had it right, both Constitutionally and morally. The wisdom and courage Kennedy displays in this speech is often lacking in todays politicians.
Professor Jacobson over at Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion offers an interesting analysis of the Townsend article with a pro Palin slant. His article is found here.
Now if she would just officially announce her candidacy.
Via: Memeorandum
Rational Nation USA
I am among those who, after last weekend's thrashing by some over my posts on Sarah Palin at the Left Coast Rebel, decided to steer clear of any further comments until such time as she declared her candidacy. A decision I believed a wise one because, after all is said and done, she is merely a "media star" at present.
However, the article by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in Friday's edition of the Washington Post got me thinking again about the possibility of a Palin run for the presidency. While I do not agree with everything Ms. Townsend said in her article there is some merit in her comments.
I provided the link to the article so each of you, after reading the full text can determine the validity, or lack thereof with respect to Ms. Townsend's comments on Palin and her {Palin's}reference to JFK's 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association .While I was only 11 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated I remember him well. While not an advocate of his politics {as an adult }I do admire the courage of the man and his love of country.
Now that you have read the Townsend article here is the clip from John Kennedy's 1960 speech.
On the issue of religion as it relates to governance, or more appropriately how it should have no relationship to or influence to government Kennedy had it right, both Constitutionally and morally. The wisdom and courage Kennedy displays in this speech is often lacking in todays politicians.
Professor Jacobson over at Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion offers an interesting analysis of the Townsend article with a pro Palin slant. His article is found here.
Now if she would just officially announce her candidacy.
Via: Memeorandum
The constitution states that the federal government has no right to dictate a certain religion on a person, it no where states that you can't talk about your faith when you are running for office.
ReplyDeleteA person's faith is an indication of how they view the world and how they conduct themselves in times of trouble. The reality is that Kennedy had no choice but to back away from his Catholic views if he wanted to be president. Which shouldn't have happened. The amount of pressure that is put onto strict Christians if proof of that. The secular left wants nothing more than to make people afraid of Christianity.
The view that his niece is espousing is a completely different animal. while she doesn't outright say it, she is talking about her family's view on abortion. One cannot call themselves a good catholic while promoting abortion.
just a conservative girl - I agree, the 1'st Amendment to the Constitution states:
ReplyDelete"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
This means that the government would make no laws that would establish a state religion, IE: as in the Church of England. Nor wold the government restrict individuals from freely practicing the religion of their choice.
The reference to "the separation of church and state" so often referenced is from Thomas Jefferson's writing to the the Danbury Baptists 1802, which contains the phrase "a wall of separation between church and state." ...
Following from Jefferson'letter...
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."
Jefferson was and remains absolutely right in his analysis.
John F. Kennedy, in his support of the Constitution and Jeffersonian principals was absolutely correct as well.
I disagree with the analysis that Christians are to be "feared" and that the "secular left what's such fear to prevail.
It is my humble opinion, and perhaps mine only, that the "secular left" wants only that any particular religion or religious dogma not influence the decisions of our elected government representatives.
As a nation holding diverse religious beliefs our officials must be "arbiters and decision makers for all" rather than basing decisions on any specific religious dogma or belief.
Call me a "secularist rightist" if you will. But the wisdom contained in the first amendment and Jefferson letter the the Baptist Church rings as true today as it did then.
While I do not know with certainty that Townsend is talking about her families (and Church's) views on abortion I acknowledge you may be correct.
To their credit they have supported a policy that is supported by a majority of Americans and in the strictest sense that of individual as well as human right sin general.
I find it interesting that so many on the right support and hold Any Rand up as one of the shining lights of the conservative movement without understanding the very basis of her philosophy.
More on this to follow at RN USA and the Left Coast Rebel.