Coleman is first Jew to lead National Prayer Breakfast

[dflprincess]

I suppose he heard Jesus forgave whores so that's why he agreed to do this.

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/216018.html


WASHINGTON — The annual National Prayer Breakfast will be co-chaired by Sen. Norm Coleman, the first time in memory that a Jew will lead the gathering, and at a time when some rabbis have expressed misgivings about what they see as the event's overtly Christian tone.

"To the extent that Senator Coleman's co-chairing signifies a more inclusive approach, I think that's a positive development," said Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. "Whether it represents a shift in tone remains to be seen when the event occurs."

Coleman, a Minnesota Republican, raised some eyebrows himself at last year's breakfast when he said, "I have a profound respect for the tangibility and accessibility of God that my colleagues find in Jesus." A New Jersey rabbi in attendance, Shmuel Goldin, was taken aback by that, and by registration material that said "Jesus Christ transcends all religions." He wrote to Coleman to express his concerns. "He raised some concerns that I, as a Jew, was sensitive to," Coleman said in a telephone interview. "He was concerned about proselytizing literature; we're going to try to make sure that that isn't the case."

Goldin said he asked why there were so many references to Jesus if the breakfast were truly nondenominational. "That was one area we couldn't come to terms on," said Goldin, an orthodox rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, N.J. "At a nondenominational event, there should be a recognition that different religions worship differently and believe differently," said Goldin, who is on sabbatical in Jerusalem this year. "And the assumption that everyone benefits from being under the spirit of Jesus really runs counter to this concept of diversity."

I really liked the remark about the weasel being sensitive to some concerns. I wonder if it was the Rabbi's remarks to him that made him see the light or if Rudy Boschwitz called and reminded him what can happen when you alienate people.

[Salviati]

1. IMO he's as much a Jew as he is a republican...

which is about as much as he was a democrat... Normie's in it for only one guy, and that's himself....

[Greeby]

2. Amazing how one can be Jewish and a Nazi at the same time

:shrug:

[katinmn]

3. I could have sworn it was Normie kissing Bush's ass on National

Journal or whatever the C-Span show is in the morning.

The voice of the caller sounded exactly like Coleman's and his nose was firmly, well, you know....

[dflprincess]

4. I always think Normie sounds a lot like Elmer Fudd

especially, for some reason, on the radio. (I bet when they're alone, he calls Rove a Wascally Wepubwican)

[mndfler]

5. Smile, you're on Minnesota Democrats Exposed

This is what happens when you make irresponsible and completely inappropriate remarks like those found in this thread.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

6. Uhh...right

Now they're just nitpicking. Anti-semitism, indeed. :eyes:

So we should watch what we say? Is that it?

[mndfler]

7. Yes, that is it

Apparently my opinion, that we should not be throwing accusations of Nazism at Jews who are not Nazis, is more controversial than I thought. If we're going to be saying crap like that, then yes, we should watch what we say.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

9. Well, for one, I didn't know that Coleman was a Jew.

And for two, he's surely allied himself with some very fascist-esque people, so you'd think he'd be smarter than that...
Oh, I'm sure the GOP under Bush doesn't have the same numbers of people killed that Hitler does, but they're sure on their way. (A disgusting way of qualifying the comparison, but I've seen people state numerous times on this board that since Bush hasn't killed six million Jews, he's not a Nazi. Not even close. 30,000 to 100,000 Iraqi civilians not enough for you?)
They've declared war against brown people worldwide, and nothing has stopped them from bombing the shit out of countries who don't go along with their global view.
Not to mention the inherent racism, sexism, and homophobia that's buried beneath years of slick varnish to make them a "party of the people".
For not being Nazis, they sure share quite a few traits.
Don't forget the evangelical Christan right-wing of the party which is a MAJOR driving force for GOP policy today.
All the while accusing the Democratic party of being those very same bad things which the GOP is guilty of.

And for three, I don't give a fuck what MDE says about me. Unlike Media Matters, these people nitpick at the tiniest things
and then scream "lookie here! SEE? All 'demon-rats' are anti-semitic!!!"

And don't you find it just a tiny bit odd that ol'Normie agreed to give the prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast
when the entire tone of the Government is being forced towards Christianity? Rabbi Goldin seemed to think so...

Here's the section from the article (also posted at the top), in case you missed it:

Coleman, a Minnesota Republican, raised some eyebrows himself at last year's breakfast when he said, "I have a profound respect for the tangibility and accessibility of God that my colleagues find in Jesus." A New Jersey rabbi in attendance, Shmuel Goldin, was taken aback by that, and by registration material that said "Jesus Christ transcends all religions." He wrote to Coleman to express his concerns. "He raised some concerns that I, as a Jew, was sensitive to," Coleman said in a telephone interview. "He was concerned about proselytizing literature; we're going to try to make sure that that isn't the case."

Goldin said he asked why there were so many references to Jesus if the breakfast were truly nondenominational. "That was one area we couldn't come to terms on," said Goldin, an orthodox rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, N.J. "At a nondenominational event, there should be a recognition that different religions worship differently and believe differently," said Goldin, who is on sabbatical in Jerusalem this year. "And the assumption that everyone benefits from being under the spirit of Jesus really runs counter to this concept of diversity."

So how again are we being anti-semitic? By pointing out the oddities of Coleman doing this? Calling Norm a whore isn't anti-semitic. It's a tad misogynist, but it's not anti-semitic. Are you going to say it's because Hitler killed millions more than Bush and to even mention the two in the same breath is anti-semitic? If we wait around until Bush's has killed (still a disgusting way of qualifying the comparison, but I've seen people do it here too many times) even a tenth of the people Hitler killed it will be too late for everyone.

Go ahead and worry what MDE says about you. I will not watch what I say when it comes to "crap like that".

[dflprincess]

8. If they want to nitpick

it's whores who should be insulted because I compared Normie to them.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

10. Heh

:thumbsup:

[preciousdove]

11. The Great Pretender

Normie pretended to be a liberal. If he ever had been he wouldn't have his staff change it to "activist" in his biography he would have fessed up to it and asked forgiveness from his new friends.

Normie pretended to be a Democrat when he ran for mayor of St Paul and then when he won he switched parties.

Normie pretended, at least in his Senate commercials to be a regular family guy hanging around the farm house with his daughter. The truth is that he and his wife live separate lives thousands of miles apart and that he at least does not keep his marriage vows most weeks, (see previous posts in this forum.) I sat next to him at the same McDonald's in the Midway one afternoon while he was still St Paul Mayor when he evidently had visitation with his kids. He was on his cell the whole time and the kids ate in silence.

Normie pretended to be the best person to represent Minnesota and then has spent all his time working for AIRPAC and the Bush administration lying about Anan and that wonderful British guy, sorry name escapes me who told Congress off and won his libel suits against the people trying to smear him with lies.

Now Normie is giving a prayer and judging by the opinion of the Rabbi quoted above why wouldn't those who have had to deal with the consequences of his pretending not wonder aloud at the logical conclusion that perhaps he is also pretending also to be a Jew?

Now if we were antisemitic we would say that because Norm Coleman has no ethics, has moral behavior often condemned by the right and a definite lack of stable character that all Jews are miserable human beings like Norm. I am happy to say that we know that he is the exception rather than the rule.

Fascism - government run by amoral corporations at the expense of the people often using repressive religious dogma. That is the USA this minute and Norm is defending with all he has. Judging by the Anan thing Norm is not real good on facts and history so he may really not have figured it out that he has become a fascist and if he is really Jewish a Jewish fascist. I believe I read that there were some in Europe before the Holocaust so he isn't even unique in that.

[katinmn]

12. Wonderful! I hope MDE readers explore all of the MN-DU threads

They might learn something.

:hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. They can't even spell "anti-semitic" correctly

:eyes:

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

14. I totally missed that!

:rofl:

[indigo32]

15. LOL

good catch

[MnFats]

16. if he thought it would get a few votes or a tidy contribution...

...
He'd convert tomorrow and be singing "How Great Thou Art" in a church choir by tomorrow night.
Norm is a chameleon.
Witness his switch from DFL to R.
I have Republican friends who admit that was craven pandering.

[Spike from MN]

17. Is he also the first Communist to lead the National Prayer

Breakfast?

[MsAnthropy]

18. LOL--Jesus forgave whores!

:rofl: :rofl: :applause: :woohoo: