Invoking religion into politics? Unheard of

[ugonow]

What is he doing,turning the floor into church serrvices,.•Religion, Rangel and the Debt Ceiling
by Bree Tracey | July 08, 2011


In what seemed more like a Sunday church service than a Capitol Hill press conference, Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., called out for his fellow lawmakers and all Americans to do "the Lord's work" as a solution to fixing the debt ceiling.

"These are not political questions," Rangel asserted. "These are moral questions."

The raspy-voiced congressman urged spiritual leaders to highlight the role federal programs including Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security play in protecting the vulnerable, sick and poor despite Washington's concern about the $14.3 trillion deficit.

"Why don't you call your pastor, your rabbi, your imam? There has to be a moral answer," Rangel preached to reporters. It was just a year ago that the former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee was censured by his colleagues for various ethical violations.

Before Rangel's comments, Friday's debate about cutting Social Security was discussed at a Ways and Means subcommittee hearing where congressmen vacillated on whether reforms would lessen the debt crisis.

"Social Security has never contributed a dime to the nations $14.3 trillion debt, not a penny to our federal deficit or any year of our nation's history, yet some in this town insist that we should cut Social Security benefits for seniors to pay for these deficits," said Rep. Xavier Beccera, D-Calif.

"In times of this deficit, Treasury [Department] has to borrow it. Today the U.S. borrows 40 cents for every dollar it spends, much of it from the Chinese and sends the bill to our children and grandchildren, and part of that's to cover Social Security," said Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas.

While lawmakers from both parties are asking what President Obama is going to do about the debt ceiling, Rangel continues to ask, "what would Jesus do?"



Read more: politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/07/08/religion-rangel-and-debt-ceiling#ixzz1RcAXjlSx

[Deleted]

I agree... first we should cut off funds to ALL other countries. Then bring home service people from countries where we no longer need our long standing presense... then we need to start drawing back Iraq and Afganistan. Then we need to cut ALL subsidies to big business including agriculture. ... Lets see... where should we go next...

[ugonow]

Wonder why I didn't get blasted for biased bs for using that source?

[billisonboard]

Jul 9, 2011 8:46:17 GMT -5 ugonow said:

Wonder why I didn't get blasted for biased bs for using that source?

HOW DARE YOU USE THAT SOURCE.






_{feel better now?}

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...lol...

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

"Social Security has never contributed a dime to the nations $14.3 trillion debt, not a penny to our federal deficit or any year of our nation's history, yet some in this town insist that we should cut Social Security benefits for seniors to pay for these deficits," said Rep. Xavier Beccera, D-Calif.

"In times of this deficit, Treasury [Department] has to borrow it. Today the U.S. borrows 40 cents for every dollar it spends, much of it from the Chinese and sends the bill to our children and grandchildren, and part of that's to cover Social Security," said Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...makes me rethink cutting out the trip to the movies next time I'm short on grocery money... because it's not Hollywood's fault that my wallet is empty...

[Deleted]

? ... Social Security IS grocery money.... now if you want to cut out the tax breaks for Hollywood... go ahead...

[privateinvestor]

Charley Rangel is tying to garner favor with religious conservatives since he wants to run again for congressman from Harlem NY...and has a few strikes against him.....or he doesn't like to pay his taxes..

[handyman2]

Does anybody take old Charlie seriously anymore?

[cme1201]

Well just one more bit of proof that it is not just conservatives who will use "there" god to justify whatever it is they want.

This BS of trying to tie religion to every godd**n thing that is done in this country is sickening, I personally don't care what jesus would do, what I want are the Congresspersons to do there job, stop the shit and get work done.

From Bachmans pledge to Anti-Semite cartoons, it is becoming increasingly clear that many people on both the left and the right could care less about there religion and only care about bashing the beliefs of others, it's disgusting, disingenuous and dangerously lowbrow, when everything you look at becomes the "enemy" don't look in the mirror.

I have asked over 50 times, how long do you guys want to beat the religion drum? What exactly is the OP's stance on the Democrat doing this, because if it had been a republican making thees statements on the house floor I am fairly certain OP would have actually brought something to the discussion other than bashing his/her own source.

[ugonow]

Well,IMO, if it had been Bachmann, Palin,Huckabee,Pawlenty,Santorum,etc,etc. that did this on the floor,the source would not had said----"In what seemed more like a Sunday church service than a Capitol Hill press conference, ..." or..."While lawmakers from both parties are asking what President Obama is going to do about the debt ceiling, Rangel continues to ask, "what would Jesus do?"" or brought up questions of ethics.I don't like Rangle,don't get me wrong,just found it ironic the way religion on the floor is now a bad thing.

[cme1201]

Jul 9, 2011 9:48:47 GMT -5 ugonow said:

Well,IMO, if it had been Bachmann, Palin,Huckabee,Pawlenty,Santorum,etc,etc. that did this on the floor,the source would not had said----"In what seemed more like a Sunday church service than a Capitol Hill press conference, ..." or..."While lawmakers from both parties are asking what President Obama is going to do about the debt ceiling, Rangel continues to ask, "what would Jesus do?""

Well, ugonow if you take a blog as a news source then yeah I am sure you are right, what is a blog a blog is an Opinion piece.
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/08/rangel-what-would-jesus-do-on-the-debt-talks/

Your asking about the What would Jesus do comment, it came from Rangel

"What would Jesus do this weekend? Or Moses. Or Allah. Or anyone else," the New York congressman said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. "I don't want this book (debt negotiations) closed without the clergy having an opportunity to forcefully express themselves as well as I know they can do

So I believe that I can with the congressman's own words disprove your accusation that it was done with malice, unless using another exact words none twisted is malice to you.

[ugonow]

I see a difference between the CNN and Fox piece,don't you? I was accused of posting biased bs because I posted a piece on Bachmanns pledge....just thought I would balance it out by posting this Fox piece on religion being used by Rangle.

[cme1201]

Jul 9, 2011 10:06:55 GMT -5 ugonow said:

I see a difference between the CNN and Fox piece,don't you? I was accused of posting biased bs because I posted a piece on Bachmanns pledge....just thought I would balance it out by posting this Fox piece on religion being used by Rangle.

A difference No. Both are Blogs, opinion pieces that being the opinion of the writer, again to try and pass off a persons opinion of what they are writing as news, well I believe Walter Cronkite put it best, all you need to do is read my signature.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Interesting article. Interesting thread.

I find it interesting that Mr. Rangel seems to think it's "the Lord's work" to "fix the debt ceiling." It seems to me that if Congress created the problem, then Congress should fix the problem.

And, no matter what faith tradition people follow (or don't), I would hope that most would agree that being head-over-heels helplessly overwhelmed by debt is a bad thing for a country.

[cme1201]

Where is the outcry that a Democrat is demanding that religious leaders

clergy having an opportunity to forcefully express themselves as well as I know they can do."

or that he is issuing the call for more Religious involvement

"I have not heard from those people who have been called by God to protect the poor. I haven't heard them," he said. "The issues that are going to be discussed this weekend involve spiritual, moral issues."

Which is neither true nor accurate, the issue is in all reality monetary, can we afford to continue spending the way we have? Can we afford not to make the changes that are necessisary?

We are a country based on Law, when you bring morality into a discussion you have to set aside legality

3.
founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations dictionary.reference.com/browse/moral

We as a country have no "moral" obligation to anyone, we do have a legal obligation as long as it stays within the......... wait for it...........

law.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...and the fact that we've made 'wrong' legal kinda stinks, imo...

[Deleted]

Social Security has never contributed a dime to the nations $14.3 trillion debt, not a penny to our federal deficit or any year of our nation's history, yet some in this town insist that we should cut Social Security benefits for seniors to pay for these deficits," said Rep. Xavier Beccera, D-Calif.

Damn interesting times. I'm guessing politicians are going for the bigger voting block. What's actually happening here is once again congress is cutting (or trying to cut) the benefits of a socialist program from someone THAT HAS ALREADY EARNED THEM to start a new socialist program for people that didn't earn a damn thing. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Oh & all the while congress just keeps spending. I have heard NOTHING about any review process to look back at spending that they have already done & canceling it. Nope that doesn't happen.

[reasonfreedom]

Jul 9, 2011 8:42:38 GMT -5 oped said:

I agree... first we should cut off funds to ALL other countries. Then bring home service people from countries where we no longer need our long standing presense... then we need to start drawing back Iraq and Afganistan. Then we need to cut ALL subsidies to big business including agriculture. ... Lets see... where should we go next...

The only thing that I could add is that maybe have subsidies only for emergency issues like floods or droughts. A business is meant to prosper or fail, but I think we can come together on natural disasters and such.

[reasonfreedom]

Jul 9, 2011 8:46:17 GMT -5 ugonow said:

Wonder why I didn't get blasted for biased bs for using that source?

Lol, nice. For me it is more of the quoted text or statistics, as long as it is right. I don't really pay much attention other to be aware to the bias thoughts of the media by fox,cbs,cnbc ect......

[reasonfreedom]

Jul 9, 2011 10:24:36 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

Interesting article. Interesting thread.

I find it interesting that Mr. Rangel seems to think it's "the Lord's work" to "fix the debt ceiling." It seems to me that if Congress created the problem, then Congress should fix the problem.

And, no matter what faith tradition people follow (or don't), I would hope that most would agree that being head-over-heels helplessly overwhelmed by debt is a bad thing for a country.

I agree, he should not be trying to influence a situation with a specific religion when the situation pertains to multiple religions and cultures. He can believe what he wants, it wouldn't even bother me that he thanks the Lord.


Seriously though if it was "the Lord's work" it would have already been fixed.

[Deleted]

Charley Rangel is tying to garner favor with religious conservatives since he wants to run again for congressman from Harlem NY...and has a few strikes against him.....or he doesn't like to pay his taxes..

I really don't know much about him. I think that I've seen him on TV speaking a couple of times & don't agree with his stances. From the last "trouble" that he got into I guess that I could say he has parlayed his position into a fair amount of wealth, possibly dishonestly. I do know that the people have elected him over & over. If I lived in that state I would have voted against him...over & over.

[handyman2]

If charlie runs he will be re-elected. You must take into consideration of the district he is from. Most could care less about his tax problems etc. He is one of them so they will return him to Washington. Case closed.