Most Republicans Think Jesus Would Denounce Universal Healthcare

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/most-republicans-think-jesus-would-denounce-universal-healthcare


Historic Jesus on the old Prague Cemetery, Czech Republic
Photo Credit: Kajano


Do you recall the part in the Bible where Jesus healed the leper, the blind, and raised Lazarus from the dead? I do. Apparently, Republicans remember those three respective biblical stories a little differently. According to a new YouGov poll, Republican Jesus did indeed heal the leper, the blind, and a dead man, but only after he asked each for a co-pay.

The poll was conducted July 1-2 among 1,000 U.S. adults using a sample selected from YouGov's opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population. On a wide range of political issues, from healthcare to gun control, from raising taxes on the rich to climate change, respondents were asked what would Jesus support or oppose.

According to the results of the poll, a majority of Democrats and independents have read the same version of Christianity’s Holy Book as I. For Republicans, however, it appears that, once again, they’ve conflated Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged with the Bible.

Eighty percent of Democrats and 52 percent of independents said Jesus would support universal healthcare. Indeed it’s hard to imagine Jesus would deny care to those who lack the financial means to enjoy the comfort of our for-profit capitalist healthcare industry. But that’s not the Jesus Republicans know. Only 23 percent of Republicans believe Jesus would support healthcare for all.

[shenmue]

1. Sigh

These Republicans... no compassion.

[Enthusiast]

2. Kicked and Recommended! Apparently Republicans will believe anything.

[hobbit709]

4. And do as long as it's against the general welfare.

[Enthusiast]

20. We need office holders that consider the General Welfare to be the nation's highest priority.

The absolute pinnacle priority.

[BrotherIvan]

31. + infinity

And we need a national conversation about what that is. The fact that Democrats have moved right and shut up--aka keeping the powder dry--has created space for the lying liars to define their vision of the country without pushback. Fox is so successful at brainwashing people because it tells them what to think. Democrats, because they have moved away from their traditional platform, really just run on "less evil" or "Republicans are mean and don't let them get anything done" don't really stand for anything anymore.

We need a VISION for the way forward, for how this country should run (and it shouldn't include a wish to return to the past which is what the TP is selling.) Kennedy dared us to go to the moon and surprisingly we won the space race. Our country needs someone to carve the road forward. A leader who can cut through (most of) the crap. There are so many issues such as energy and climate change, JOBS, infrastructure (including energy and faster digital communication so we can compete) education and college costs. So many things that most people agree with except for the fundies. But it does seem like at this point in recent history, everyone is so fed up and economically challenged, that we could make a sea change. We need it. People wanted it so badly in 2008. They still do.

[Enthusiast]

32. You nailed it, BrotherIvan.

We need it.

[liberal N proud]

3. It does no good to try and explain to these people how they have twisted their very own values

They want to claim to be Christian, yet they will deny the very things that Christ advocated publicly.

And arguing with a republican is either dangerous, futile or both.

[mark67]

5. It's in the Bible in the Beatitudes...

"and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying Blessed are the self-sufficient: for they shall take care of thy own ass"

[azureblue]

27. and here's what Jesus says will happen if you don't

Matthew 25:41-46:

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

[Bluenorthwest]

36. "For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes.

But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere.
"Blessed are the merciful" in a courtroom? "Blessed are the peacemakers" in the Pentagon? Give me a break!"
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

[sakabatou]

6. They believe in Supply-Side Jesus

[Swede Atlanta]

33. That is awesome!

[pwb]

7. Republicans have removed Jesus from their religion.

Seems they prefer the old testament when it comes to quoting the bible.
Just like the T.V. Evangelicals, and so called non denomination Christian churches all over the country, you can listen to them for the full hour and never once here a teaching of Jesus. Not one mention from the new testament, it is always what god wants and what god thinks. they should change their belief to Godstian because there is no Jesus in their thoughts or deeds.
To republicans the new testament is progressive. Personally I think it is a big improvement form the old to the new. But we all know how fearful they are of change.

[Wounded Bear]

9. And when they do quote the NT...

It tends to be Paul's writings and not from the Gospels as much. The Epistles kind of tweak Jesus's teachings, and not always in what I consider a good way.

[azureblue]

28. tend to?

how about rarely quoting Jesus? I recall sitting in church as a kid,and not hearing a word for weeks about what Jesus taught. Just the usual Old Testament and Paul...

[Cosmocat]

12. I grew up in a fairly conserative setting in the 70s

and the message I got from what we were taught about the bible and Christianity is COMPLETELY different from what the freakshow has twisted it into now.

It was about compassion and helping those in need ...

Just surreal how much where the republican party has twisted EVERYTHING, our country's history, what Christianity is, history in general, EVERYTHING in such a perverse way and have come to actually believe their own bullshit.

[abakan]

26. What I learned about christians, growing up...

For the most part they are hypocrites who do not walk the walk but are big on talking. They manipulate the words to suit their bias and ignore the meaning since it does not fit their world view.

[freebrew]

46. Right, but they go to church on Sunday...

and all is good for another week...

Got it?

[abakan]

47. that's all part of their hypocrisy.

I've gotten it long ago. Thanks for the reply.

[Wounded Bear]

8. One of my most memorable moments from the movies...

came from The Elephant Man.

I don't remember all of the details, but at one time in the story, the hospital was considering ending the doctor's grant to house and care for Mr Merrick and basically sending him back to the freak show circuit. It seems that the Queen, or a high member of the royal family at least, visited the hospital and Mr Merrick and commented, "I should think the hospital would find it in their hearts to do the Christian thing." Not a completely accurate quote, I'm sure, but the phrase "the Christian thing" to do is implanted in my memory from this scene.

This should be shoved in every fundy asshole's face when they start spewing their supply side Jesus crap.

[66 dmhlt]

14. It was Princess Alix - granddaughter of Queen Victoria ...

... The Princess is very interested in Mr. Merrick's fate.

PRINCESS ALIX
Indeed I am sir, as is the Queen. I have a brief communication from her Highness which she has requested I read to you:
To the Governing Committee, London Hospital:
I would very much like to commend you for the charitable face you have shown Mr. John Merrick, the Elephant Man. It is laudable that you have provided one of England's most unfortunate sons with a safe and tranquil harbour, a home. For this immeasurable kindness, as well as the many other acts of mercy on behalf of the poor, of which Mr. Carr Gomm has kept me informed, I gratefully thank you.
Signed Victoria, Empress of India, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
(looking straight at Broadneck)
I am sure you gentlemen may be counted on to do the Christian thing.

http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/elephantman.txt

[Wounded Bear]

49. Thanks for the clarification...

[Mustellus]

10. Jesus didn't give away no free food, neither.....

We have the end of day deposit receipt for the Feeding of the Five Thousand, and Jesus Ministries Inc (TM) made a handy profit, especially since they reneged on paying the little boy who had the three fishes and loaves....

[JHB]

11. They're breaking the first commandment

They may fool themselves into thinking they're not just because they paste the name "Jesus" onto their own wants and desires, but that's the essence of what they're doing, religiously speaking.

Jesus' teachings don't square with unbridled, unregulated "free market" capitalism, so they invent something else (lampooned by Al Franken as "Supply Side Jesus) and worship that. Jesus' teachings and behavior don't square with aggressive attitudes and posturing, so they invent something else (lampooned by someone as "Macho Jesus With Guns".

And, just to cap it off, they regard atheists such as myself as "arrogant", without even noticing the colossal gall they have to rewrite their own deity.

[adigal]

13. I love to mess with conservative "Christians" on Facebook!

I say things like, "What you do,to the least of my brothers, you do to me," followed by the question, "Who do you THINK he meant by 'the least of my brothers?' The corporations???"

Or I love to point out that Jesus would hate their "Personal responsibility" bullshit, when talking about the children ofmthe poor. Or when I really get upset at their beliefs, I have said, "Jesus is a socialist. He would hate you." That's a bad one, I use it rarely. But interestingly, no one has ever been able to argue against the first quote. I think we should all use it.

[Chasstev365]

15. Most Republicans Aren't True Christians

Honestly, when you look at the beliefs of Republicans, how could any one of them call themselves a Christian? When your party gets boiled down to "Fuck everybody else; its all about me", you cannot consider yourself a follower of the teaching of Jesus Christ.

[smirkymonkey]

40. Exactly right. And thank you. Welcome to DU!

[hue]

16. RWRepukes are based on AynRandian atheists who take the liberty of using religion for their own gain

The 1% don not really believe in Christianity, they conveniently use Christian sheeple as voting stock through use of Christian memes.

Ayn Rand, Secular Atheist Nietzsche protege and favorite of Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney vp choice

[11 Bravo]

17. I stopped reading after ""Most Republicans think", because I realized ...

that this had to be a joke.

[Igel]

18. It is.

It's what DUers think most conservatives think, presenting their views as one that Jesus would have said, "Hey, why didn't I think of that--let me follow you!"

It's as useful as saying that what Jesus actually did was organize for Caesar to set up universal health care, and had the leper, the blind man, etc., go and not do some ancient cleansing ritual but write to their legislator so that Jesus wouldn't have to do such things by himself. The "self-sufficiency beatitude" is matched by the "government beatitude," "Blessed are the politicians who heal and diaper the electorate, for they are already God."

Let anachronism abound, as long as we have the proper mix of church with state.

The Jesus quotes that come to mind for this are of the nature, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" and "my kingdom is not of this world." In other words, the ACA--it's not his doing.

Paul, on the other hand, did have something to say. "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good...."

I guess that means if Xians want to hire somebody to do their good works for them--sort of like some cultures hire official mourners--that's okay. Perhaps it would make a good marketing campaign: "Let us do good for you--you pay us our reward, and we'll sign over to you the reward that's laid up in heaven. Give food to the poor? Check. Visit the sick and infirm? Check. We do the feeding and visiting, you give us the check! Let us not be covetous of your neighbor's wife--just let us know when you're doing her!" The socialization of virtue and the privatization of reward.

(Yes, this is snarky. All such "we need to make sure the state does for us what we think Jesus wants us to do, all the better when we can use it to stick the beam in the other person's eye" threads just bring out the snark. May as well have a bell ringer with a cart wandering the street "Bring out your snark! Bring out your snark!" as far as I'm concerned.)

[Chasstev365]

22. Ha! Ha!

We have a WINNER!

[Aerows]

35. Damn. Great minds think alike

I said the same thing before I saw your post!

[LWolf]

19. Laugh, or cry, or both?

"...Republican Jesus did indeed heal the leper, the blind, and a dead man, but only after he asked each for a co-pay."

Both.

I'm not a Christian, but I think the world would be a hell of a lot better place if Christians acted like their Christ.

[underpants]

21. The pretty blonde lady on TV told them so

And she must know what Jesus wants because she is on the TV station that like Jesus more.

[samsingh]

23. they certainly are not listening to what Jesus said

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. Their Jesus is from a hot dark place beneath the Earth - the anti-Jesus

Naturally their Jesus loves guns and money and hates the poor, the sick, the meek, and the downtrodden.

[blkmusclmachine]

25. Rightwingers nailed Jesus to the Cross. And they'd happily do it all over again.

[LiberalFighter]

29. Makes no sense!

But that is not unusual.

If they don't believe Jesus would support universal healthcare then why are there so many taking advantage of it?

[TheKentuckian]

30. The Branch Leviticans are only about evil and stupid and despise Christ.

[Aerows]

34. I stopped reading at

"Most Republicans think."

[gratuitous]

37. "Full Metal Jacket" as documentary

"If God had wanted you to be cured, he would have miracled your ass by now!"

[IkeRepublican]

38. Most Republicans would sever their own genetalia

...if the Conservative Media Complex told them to.

That's been a no-brainer for 25 years or more.

[tclambert]

39. You're misremembering the Bible.

The correct translation from the St. Ronnie version of the Bible:

Three beggars, a leper, a blind man, and a cripple, came to Jesus and prayed for Him to heal them. And the Lord Jesus said, "Get a job, you freeloaders!"

[smirkymonkey]

41. Most republicans have their heads so far up their asses

they can see the back of their teeth. So what does that tell you?

[ladym55]

42. This biblical ignorance is fostered in conservative churches

The teachings of Jesus are overlooked, especially the socialist, Marxist Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are the peacemakers? Bah! Blessed are the meek? No way.

Whatever you do for the least of these? Give me a break.

Instead these churches and these "preachers" focus on Genesis, select verses from Leviticus (the better to bash gay people), the most misogynistic parts of Paul, and a gross misreading of Revelations. Then they intone how ALL of the bible MUST be taken literally. These churches thrive in very poor and less educated areas, and as a result, the poor are brainwashed into voting against their economic best interest because that is what Jesus would want them to do.

Comedian John Fugelsang sums it up best:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/28/jesus-radical-nonviolent_n_4512335.html

[Spitfire of ATJ]

43. THIS is their new God....

[AgingAmerican]

44. They don't know where the talking points end

...and the religion starts. It's all the same thing to them.

[4lbs]

45. Wait, didn't Jesus give out free healthcare? I don't recall ever reading about him charging money

for healing the sick and injured. Where's that written in the Holy Book of Fairy Tales?

Yeah, it isn't.

So, I guess Jesus was a Socialist/Communist right?

Thus, isn't all of Christianity founded upon Socialist/Communist ideas?

I blame Obama for that.

[EC]

48. Gee, I thought everybody knew

that Jesus asked for insurance cards before he healed the sick and crippled.

[ffr]

50. I, for one, don't care what Republis have to say about anything.

I've stopped listening to their BS years ago. They haven't changed any since, so I'm all for doing everything in my power to vote them out of office.

Perhaps when they show some humility and thought deeper than 'everything is black or white,' then we can talk. Until then, goodbye!

[NanceGreggs]

51. Most Republicans ...

... are waiting for one long-lost statement from the Sermon on the Mount to be unearthed: "Blessed are the Unbelievably Stupid ..."

What follows next is of no consequence to them - they just want to be recognized as of one of God's own.

[Adam051188]

52. modern american conservatives don't think. They "believe"

logical reasoning has nothing to do with their opinions.

[Jamastiene]

53. The ones who think like that make me question which master

they are really serving. Actually, I have no doubt which master they are serving. They don't see it though and cannot be convinced otherwise. If I was a Christian, I would pray for their souls. Why? Because when they face judgement time after death, they are going to be shocked to meet up with a gay, black, Jewish, transgender extremely liberal communist God who is going to give them a healthy dose of "what for" about how wrong they were.

They like to quote the thing about teaching people to fish instead of just giving them fish. The problem is after they do that, they only let the people fish in lakes that have no fish in them. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, but, oh, we are going to make sure you have no bootstraps on your boots. It's all bullshit. They are deluded and transparent to the rest of us.

[Gothmog]

54. I am glad that I am a Jew

The idiots taking this position really disgust me