Hume: ‘There’s Been Very Little If Any Reporting’ On Obama’s Faith
Hume: ‘There’s Been Very Little If Any Reporting’ On Obama’s Faith
Yesterday on the Laura Ingraham show, Fox News’s Senior Washington Correspondent Brit Hume agreed with Ingraham that examinations of Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) religion are inappropriate. He argued that such reports are completely different than questions the press stoked about Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) church, because those questions were about Obama’s pastor, not about Obama’s faith:
HUME: There was a big controversy about Barack Obama’s church, not because of the Christian doctrine that was preached from the pulpit or the nature of the faith that was practiced there, but because of the highly political statements that the pastor had made, mostly about America. Which is an entirely different proposition and an entirely different story. There have been very little if any searching reporting done about Barack Obama’s faith.
Listen here:
Despite Hume’s attempts to rewrite history, the fact is that the media — with Fox leading the way — spent months discussing Obama’s religion, first wondering whether he was a Christian at all and then raising ominous questions about the type of Christianity preached at his church. In fact, a simple Nexis search of Fox transcripts for “black liberation theology” gets 37 returns in just the last six months — including discussions by Hume himself and on his show:
– BRIT HUME: And he distinguishes between Reverend Wright’s religious message and these occasional political assertions. … That is a church that is rooted in what is called “black liberation theology.” So is that really a distinction that can be credible? [Special Report with Brit Hume, 3/17/08]
– NINA EASTON: But I think the problem is actually deeper and one that will keep on coming back to haunt him, in that it is this church, Trinity Church, which a lot of it practices black liberation theology, which is what this reverend practices. [Special Report with Brit Hume, 5/29/08]
– JASON RILEY: I want to know what Barack thinks about black liberation theology. What dogs he subscribe to? What does he not subscribe to? I would be interested in knowing this. I don’t think it is a religious test. I think in our country, with its racial history, it is due diligence. [Journal Editorial Report, 5/2/08]
– SEAN HANNITY: Now, we explored the roots [of] liberation theology on last week’s program, but keep in mind that its, quote, “sole purpose” is to apply the freeing power of the gospel to black people under, quote, “white oppression.” [Hannity's America, 5/11/08]
Is it really “an entirely different proposition” to examine how Palin’s religion might affect her governing views?
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Hume: ‘There’s Been Very Little If Any Reporting’ On Obama’s Faith
– - The GOP has officially been co-opted by the Right wing Christianists who clearly want this country to function as a counterbalance theocracy to what they perceive as a Holy War with Islam.
Gosh, what about them heathen Commies, though?
September 11th, 2008 at 6:33 pmCan’t you just see the sheeple bobbing their heads?
**uh huh, uh huh** Lordy…
BTW, nice picture of Hume. Did he get that wingnut on the back of his head tightened…?
September 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pmHow many of our leading institutions can operate from ignorance and our country survive? The Bush White House is rivaled by Hume’s Fox News.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pmBwahahahaha! That Shit Brume. Such a comedian.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pmWhich is appropriate.
Unless you want to get into McIIIrd’s two word response to the question put to him about what it means for him to be an Xian.
I’m saved.
What a POS. How about something meaningful, jackass?
September 11th, 2008 at 6:35 pmThose Men in Black memory erasers are standard issue at Fox News.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:36 pmOT, sort of, but here’s a clip of the Gibson/Palin interview. Watch carefully, at around :48 or :47 there is a neat little cut, but the topic stayed the same.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5778018&page=1
So, the question is, how much editing did Camp McStain need to do, and how many “takes” did dear Sarah get before she “got it right”?
I’m appalled, but certainly not surprised.
PEACE
September 11th, 2008 at 6:39 pmI think it is entirely appropriate to question her religion. At least Obama’s religion doesn’t believe that Armageddon is going to happen and wipe out everyone except for 145,000 special people who have been identified by God.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:41 pmOT – but just saw the first part of Charlie Gibson’s interview with Palin. His questions were actually pretty targeted, and some of them she danced around on. One example: he asked her if she supported the Bush Doctrine. It was obvious she had no idea what he was referring to (U.S. has the right to make a preventative strike against any country which we feel threatens us). One thing I noticed is that the interview was very choppily and obviously edited. Interesting. Wonder what they cut?
September 11th, 2008 at 6:44 pmThe Republicans should just draft a memo to the press that says, “Go after Obama and question him on every policy and ethical choice he’s ever made. But don’t you dare question us on anything and please give us the People magazine/Entertainment Tonight treatment we so deserved for Palin’s convention speech and Senator McCain’s straight talk. We’ll take any questions, just in how you obey what we say.”
If one-sided politics needed to be spelled out anymore clearly to the world, it goes like this: G-O-P.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:47 pmLet’s investigate McCain’s religion and Palin’s religion, ‘k?
Oh, wait. THERE is NO religious TEST for PUBLIC office!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:47 pmimpeachcheneythenbush Says:
One thing I noticed is that the interview was very choppily and obviously edited. Interesting. Wonder what they cut?
I noticed the cuts, too, as I posted in #7. What clip did you see? I haven’t seen the “Bush doctrine” one.
Thanks!
PEACE
September 11th, 2008 at 6:49 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I think it is entirely appropriate to question her religion. At least Obama’s religion doesn’t believe that Armageddon is going to happen and wipe out everyone except for 145,000 special people who have been identified by God.
Well, then Daryll needs to gather his prayer warriors and get started because he isn’t anywhere close to being above the cut line at current.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:51 pmOH Brit,
just like your corrupt check writers, you choose to ignore the Constitution and the Spirit of The United States of America by constantly injecting religion into the political debate.
You spineless, low, low creature.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:05 pmI keep hoping we get to the tipping point with these despicable people. At some point, can’t we get to the stage where their lies as SO apparent that they backfire? Are there people who like being lied to? The whole lot disgust me.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pmspencers mom Says:
impeachcheneythenbush Says:
One thing I noticed is that the interview was very choppily and obviously edited. Interesting. Wonder what they cut?
I noticed the cuts, too, as I posted in #7. What clip did you see? I haven’t seen the “Bush doctrine” one.
Thanks!
PEACE
I watched World News with Charles Gibson on ABC tonight, so saw the first part of the interview and then the second part at the very end (questions about whether the Iraq war is a “task from God,” and related ones). The question about the Bush Doctrine was during the first part of the interview.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pmReligion and Spirituality are all important and good on a PERSONAL LEVEL.
By forcing politicians to “represent” their denomination and make them stand on what ultimately are more “esoteric” things than say, one’s stand on environmental issues, it totally devalues not only politics, but religion as well.
Shameful.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:09 pmHow come I think Brit Hume’s home is a storage closet in the FOX HQ? Because they power him down since he’s a robot and all.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:15 pmThis is a very partial transcript on the ABC News website of the Gibson/Palin interview. Hopefully, they’ll release the full interview + video later.
The Palin Interview
September 11, 2008 5:07 PM
Abc_palin_080911_main Charlie Gibson has just finished his first interview with Sarah Palin. It’s a global tour — Iraq and Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Georgia and Russia, and America’s place in the world. For all of you who were concerned — Charlie asked plenty of follow-ups. There were also questions about her general qualifications to be Vice President. Or Commander-In-Chief. Here are a couple of excerpts. Much more on World News this evening.
GIBSON: Governor, let me start by asking you a question that I asked John McCain about you, and it is really the central question. Can you look the country in the eye and say “I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?”
PALIN: I do, Charlie, and on January 20, when John McCain and I are sworn in, if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, we’ll be ready. I’m ready.
GIBSON: And you didn’t say to yourself, “Am I experienced enough? Am I ready? Do I know enough about international affairs? Do I — will I feel comfortable enough on the national stage to do this?”
PALIN: I didn’t hesitate, no.
GIBSON: Didn’t that take some hubris?
PALIN: I — I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can’t blink. So I didn’t blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.
****************************
GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, “Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.” Are we fighting a holy war?
PALIN: You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.
GIBSON: Exact words.
PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln’s words when he said — first, he suggested never presume to know what God’s will is, and I would never presume to know God’s will or to speak God’s words. But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that’s a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God’s side. That’s what that comment was all about, Charlie.
GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln’s words, but you went on and said, “There is a plan and it is God’s plan.”
PALIN: I believe that there is a plan for this world and that plan for this world is for good. I believe that there is great hope and great potential for every country to be able to live and be protected with inalienable rights that I believe are God-given, Charlie, and I believe that those are the rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That, in my world view, is a grand — the grand plan.
GIBSON: But then are you sending your son on a task that is from God?
PALIN: I don’t know if the task is from God, Charlie. What I know is that my son has made a decision. I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2008/09/the-palin-inter.html
September 11th, 2008 at 7:16 pmI haven’t exactly heard McCain preaching from the mountain top either. But then again, he has had his hands full putting something on a pig.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:16 pm“braindead Media” doesn’t so it justice… these huys are not braindead they are maliciously misleading.
How about using “Lying Sleezebag Media” instead ?
September 11th, 2008 at 7:18 pmIs it really “an entirely different proposition” to examine how Palin’s religion might affect her governing views?
hell no!
and her carazy, scary pastorS too!
September 11th, 2008 at 7:18 pmIf two thousand times more than the reporting on fake christian McCain is very little, the execrable Hume is correct for a change. I have a hard time deciding what is more repellent about Hume; his hypocrisy or his pretense of being human.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:20 pmThere’s an interesting post over on Daily Kos about Failin’ Palin trying to protect her emails in the Troopergate investigation.
Right there in the story there is reference to her use of a personal email account to conduct business and avoid official discovery. They give the actual email address — gov.sarah@yahoo.com.
I wonder how many messages are flooding into that inbox right now.
lol
September 11th, 2008 at 7:22 pmGod. Brit Hume makes my teeth hurt.
Oh, maybe if I unclenched my jaw…
September 11th, 2008 at 7:24 pmIf Palin’s tap dancing doesn’t show in these answers, then we should really fear the “undecided” voters, because the People magazine politics are the wool that the GOP is hoping to put over enough eyes until November 5.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:25 pmThis is a very partial transcript on the ABC News website of the Gibson/Palin interview. Hopefully, they’ll release the full interview + video later.
-impeachcheneythenbush
Did he ask her:
September 11th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
If you have seen the footage of Palin’s church, you really have to question the sanity of those attending. And Palin attended, and they should question if a person who believes that Creationism should be taught in our schools should have any position in government, I don’t think they should.
Religion is a faerie tales written thousands of years ago by ancient primitive goat herders, it has no business in modern government.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:28 pmI am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer.
real easy path going to jail?
September 11th, 2008 at 7:32 pmI’d rather have a friend that may say a few crazy things(like Obama does) than be caught myself saying “the Iraq War was a task from God” (like Palin did). Palin is a religious crusader who would love nothing more than to justify preemptive invasion on a sovereign nation through “God’s will”.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:37 pmIf a person has religious beliefs, that is their own and if they want it to remain so, they need to keep it out of the spotlight.
If that person is running for public office and has made comments that could imply a view that runs concurrent with any party beliefs of the thought to abolish church and state, then it is fair game in this era of the 24/7 news cycle.
If you’re a politician, you simply have to be smarter with who you ally yourself and your family with. Because you can’t hide anything from the media now…or if you can, not for long.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pmI am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made . . . real easy path going to jail?
I think that going to Iraq probably was a lot easier than staying at home and being haranged and tongue-lashed by his shrewish mother and abusive father on a daily basis for his drinking, drugging, sexual antics and vandal activities.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:42 pm“Hume: ‘There’s Been Very Little If Any Reporting’ On Obama’s Faith”
That’s because it’s none of your god-damned business Brit. There are more important issues to talk about. Now STFU.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:49 pmFaith shouldn’t be a factor in determining the President. That is, unless, the candidate intends to use faith as an alternative to reason.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:58 pmSorry to go off-topic, but there’s another dot to connect.
First, good-paying US jobs become scarcer.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:00 pmNext, banks and other lending institutions offer to “help”
those families who have lost those good-paying jobs by
offering sub-prime mortgage loans.
After that, the lending institutions jack up the interest rates sky-high; foreclosure notices are sent out soon after.
And then, GOP operatives use lists of foreclosed properties to challenge votes.
backup Says:
Faith shouldn’t be a factor in determining the President. That is, unless, the candidate intends to use faith as an alternative to reason.
and georgia isn’t
a member of nato.
remember that.
*
thank you.
#
September 11th, 2008 at 8:04 pmSo the fact that Obama had to denounce him and ‘quit’ the church and find another church, all very publically, has nothing to do with his faith? No discussion of Obama’s faith came up in weeks of coverage dedicated to the implication of one line of a fiery surmon?
Yeah, there should be no discussion of personal faith, which is why Rev. Wright should not be a household name. It’s an entirely different story, standard, the double standard.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:08 pmPalin’s religion & church are very scary– they believe the U.S. will be destroyed & Americans who don’t die will flock to Alaska as the last safe haven protected by their God. Say what?? Also she thinks the Iraq war is God-driven. Huh?? She also does not believe in global warming, and denies evolution while promting creationism. Educators be afraid! This is a leader? This is a VP? Let’s hope not, as she will continue the destruction of the U.S. on the world stage. Given all these beliefs, she is really a buffoon, not a leader. Anyone who questions her & demands answers is doing a great service to the country. Her wild, unfounded, unscientific, scatterbrained beliefs need to be brought fore & center for all to examine. Stop with the closeted Palin (she’s so afraid!! Ooohhh- the nasty media wants to interview her!!) & let us all find out who she really is. Cheerleader? Moose hunter? I don’t give a crap– what are her real issues? Besides all the lies she’s been spewing, I mean. Time for some honesty from this unknown, rich elitist, middle class hater – Palin. We need to know more. The fact the Repubs won’t let her talk speaks volumes– they are afraid of what she’ll say unless they prompt her & make her memorize the talking points. Need they reveal more than that?
September 11th, 2008 at 8:08 pmTechnically there hasn’t been much reporting on Obama’s religion: there’s been a lot of speculation, conflation, distortion, and lying about his religion. acrtual reporting, not so much.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pmI’ve been dealing with this phenomenon with a right-wing friend of mine with whom I correspond via email.
He’s proving incredibly resistant to the concept of treating both sides the same as a matter of fairness.
I think it’s his almost total lack of empathy.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pmOh, damn, Bobwurst!
How come I didn’t see that obvious “out” that ol’ Brit left himself?
September 11th, 2008 at 8:12 pmNat Says:
This is a very partial transcript on the ABC News website of the Gibson/Palin interview. Hopefully, they’ll release the full interview + video later.
-impeachcheneythenbush
Did he ask her:
Do you finally know what the responsibilities of the vice president are? A little over a month ago you had no idea.
Not in that interview, but there are two more interviews scheduled with Gibson (over the next few days, I believe).
September 11th, 2008 at 8:19 pmmaybe
if I posted
only
abstraction
and double spaced,
I’d make less mistakes
*
good luck
#
September 11th, 2008 at 8:32 pmHow much do we know about John McCain believes? Come to think of it.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:14 pm.
Does Sh!T Fumes expect Americans to elect an Christian Ayatollah?
.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:19 pmMy beliefs are not for the government to consider. I want a fair president, who is not partisan sees all Americans as his constituents.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:30 pmDoes anyone know how you get to Fantasyland? Can I drive there? Fly? Do I need an application? Please tell me because it sounds damned nice. Well, not their version of fantasyland, but clearly this is a place where you can create your own reality.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pmYou get to Fantasyland by registering as a Republican and touting the talking points as gospel. You become a resident by either giving and/or making money off of the cause.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:00 pmIs it really “an entirely different proposition” to examine how Palin’s religion might affect her governing views?
Especially as Palin’s religious views are flat out nuts. Whether or not you agree with Wright’s seperatist beliefs, at least there’s some logic there but if you reject the thoroughly established Theory of Evolution for the fairy tale creation story you have no business being second in line to run this country.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
September 11th, 2008 at 10:26 pmbackup Says:
maybe
if I posted
only
abstraction
and double spaced,
I’d make less mistakes
*
good luck
#
September 11th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Um, it’s “fewer” mistakes….
:-D
September 11th, 2008 at 11:33 pmThey call him B.Hussein but aren’t questioning his religion. IOKIYAR
September 12th, 2008 at 12:37 amThere’s been very little reporting on Obama’s faith?
Well gee Brit, you’re a reporter. Why not get cracking on that?
Sure, Obama’s running for an office which the Founding Fathers said should have no religious tests placed upon it. But why let that stop you? We need to make sure that all presidential candidates have their faith resume dissected by the media.
You could set up a 24 hour news crew around Obama’s church. Place some sort of digital tracker on his bible. Find some way to empirically quantify the man’s faith and make a big faith chart. One of those snazzy Fox-graphics with cool sound effects.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:10 amGood lord, they’re not beating that dead horse again, are they?
September 12th, 2008 at 1:27 am