Oxblog and Beliefnet have also remarked about the Fortue Cookie story. I disagree with David Adesnik at Oxblog a lot, though I like the site for foreign policy and general politics. I don't think he understands evangelicals (no links for this, just an impression, mostly based on old posts) that well and even he admits that he doesn't have much exposure to Republicans, agreeing with Roger Simon's quote that:
Most of my life I rarely talked to Republicans -- not seriously anyway. If I did it was without the full knowledge that they were Republicans. I didn't think they would have much to say that would interest me, that they were intellectually bankrupt and probably greedy, possibly even racists.
First, I don't mean to unduly place the two together - they aren't the same, despite verified quotes to the contrary.
Evidently, I should give David a break because given the Fortune Cookie story, it seems pretty understandable where he might get such misconceptions (which I still think they are, examples [which I would like to consider marginal] to the contrary). David is upset (rightly so) about the Fortune Cookies and calls them offensive. I had called only one offensive, the rest just stupid (or ill advised). I'm flip-flopping (at least partially). More than one is offensive and the whole concept is stupid.
At Beliefnet, Steven Waldman mentions the story and says:
Asked by one reporter whether the last one [about Senator Clinton and cloning] was a bit "mean," Perkins said, "If you can't take a joke, you don't need to be in politics."
What?? Apologize and get rid of the Fortune Cookies - all of them. This is way past hardball, this is meanspirited, uncharitable, and unchristian.
My suggestion for FRC - if playing politics gets in the way of being a Christian, STOP PLAYING POLITICS.
Randy, you make a GREAT point not emphasized enough:
"If playing politics gets in the way of being a Christian, STOP PLAYING POLITICS."
Posted by: John Zimmer | August 31, 2004 at 10:42 PM