Eyeroll-inducing news story of the day......

[marmar]

DES MOINES, Iowa--He's mentioned during the presidential candidates' speeches. His image appears in their political ads. Is Tim Tebow the new Ronald Reagan?

What does a young NFL quarterback have to do with politics? Nothing, really. But the born-again athlete's star power and popularity have prompted several of the presidential candidates to try to hook themselves to his star.

A political action committee supporting Bachmann is the latest to get in on the Tebow comparison, running TV ads in Iowa that liken her to the 24-year-old born-again Christian.

The announcer in the ad, paid for by a super PAC called No Compromise, says that the establishment "loves to hate" Tebow, but notes he has "no baggage," keeps fighting and keeps winning, before adding, "The same could be said of Michele Bachmann: no baggage, Christian, and like Tebow, she keeps fighting and she just keeps winning votes." ..................(more)

The complete piece (of mierda) is at: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/michele-bachmann-rick-perry-compete-tim-tebow-vote-031316975.html

[arbusto_baboso]

1. Bachmann has "no baggage"?????

truly, these people live in an alternate universe....

[SomeGuyInEagan]

6. Well, among Republican politicians, she has "no baggage." n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Don't pro football players sometimes suffer a lot of brain damage?

[Capitalocracy]

4. Which would make him the perfect candidate. nt

[asjr]

7. That is certainly possible, but after hearing

some of them speak I think some are born that way.

[Fozzledick]

3. All I can think of when I hear about him is Matthew 6:5

[SomeGuyInEagan]

9. "Live your values," a favorite teacher of mine used to say.

He was a seminary-educated professor who lost his religion at some point. But never his moral compass - not that he would tell you.

[polmaven]

10. Exactly.

"Look at me! Look at me! I praying! Aren't I special??"

[Wait Wut]

5. The ad missed a point.

Both use their religion to gain attention, money and fame because they have nothing else to offer.

[AlinPA]

8. He has not been winning lately and looks bad. His passing stinks.

[dana_b]

12. that's what I thought

his team (and he) haven't been doing too well lately. Kinda like Bachmann though.

[GoneOffShore]

13. All that prayer and all those bad passes?

Hmm, maybe he makes the Baby Cheeses cry.

[ellenfl]

11. tim tebow is not a 'born-again' christian.

his parents are missionaries. he grew up with religious indoctrination. he didn't come to it after a secular life.

as a gator, it's his one characteristic that puts me off.

do those student who are mimicking him doing so in obeisance or mockery?

ellen fl

[fishwax]

17. one needn't have led a secular life to be a born-again

Even people born into born-again households can be born-again christians.

[ellenfl]

23. but he never led a secular life. eom

[fishwax]

25. I know, but being "born again" doesn't require one to have done so

[zipplewrath]

18. Huh?

Not sure born again means what you think it does. He was born again when he was baptized (most likely). It just means that he accepts Christ as his savior.

[WCGreen]

14. I have no problem with people and their faith...

I would be upset if I were a born again Christian and this kid thought that Jesus or God or what ever diety would be in any shape or form interested in the goings on in something as inane as a football game...

[rurallib]

15. me neither so long as they can the public piety

and the attempt to put their religion in state laws.

ETA - I wouldn't care if Tebow was a stock broker or a cab driver or a football player - the public "oh look at me" piety stinks.

[MilesColtrane]

16. Could God set a point spread so precisely that even he couldn't beat it?

[WCGreen]

19. LOL...

Gamblers are always praying for the one big win...

[Whiskeytide]

20. I subscribe to the theory that a lot...

... of what is wrong with the new Republican party is its attachment and affiliation to the religious right. When the country club married the country church in the 70s, the idea was to provide a block of committed voters to push the conservative agenda. It worked. But to keep them, the typical Republican politician now has to talk the talk. If he or she is a true believer and also walks the walk, fine. But many - probably a majority - perhaps even most - Republican politicians are NOT true believers. That makes hypocrisy a requirement for a successful Republican political campaign. And not just hypocrisy - "I love God" hypocrisy - clearly the worst kind.

I think if you are willing to prostitute yourself by faking religious conviction for votes, there are very few lines you would hesitate to cross. That's why we see more corruption (at least little more), more sex scandals (especially the "sinful" kind of sex), and more true douche bags on the right side of the aisle these days. They're recruiting them.

Tebowning is just the latest example.

[MisterP]

21. Tebow didn't try to start WWIII

nor is his name
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[RZM]

22. Politicians always try to co-opt well-known people and things

It's a time-honored tradition. Remember when Kerry talked about how 'interested' he was in Eminem's music video right before the election?

Obama has also mentioned Lil' Wayne several times as a candidate and as president, including his admission that he has Wayne's music on his iPod. I find it hard to believe that Obama rocks out to that while jogging, but anything is possible I guess.

Back before it was nonstop aliens and pawn shops, the history channel had an amusing piece called 'The President on Superbowl Sunday.' It was interesting seeing the endless ways that candidates and presidents have tried to insert themselves into the Superbowl hype and somehow gain an advantage from it.

Tebow's a big deal in the media right now, so it's natural for the candidates to try to shoehorn themselves into the story.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. As a poster boy for wearing a helmet, he's great. As a political commentator...