On a special Saturday edition of MSNBC's Hardball, while previewing that night's presidential candidates forum hosted by evangelical leader Rick Warren, NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd seemed to suggest that it is not out of the ordinary for evangelical Christians to feel "personal hatred" toward a Democratic presidential candidate. Todd, who is normally relatively balanced in his coverage of politics, once even admitting to being a "fan" of the MRC despite a history of working for liberal Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, made the uncharacteristic remarks as he contended that the forum would give Barack Obama an opportunity to keep evangelicals from feeling "personal hatred" toward him. Todd: "It's a huge opportunity for Obama tonight to at least not be hated by the evange-, look, these folks are not going to ever support him. They know what kind of judges he's going to appoint. It's going to be judges that evangelicals aren't going to be happy with. But they're not going to, if they don't have a personal hatred of him, then that's a good thing for Obama."
Update: NewsBuster Mark Finkelstein reports that Todd has since apologized for his comments.
Below is a transcript of Todd's comments from the Saturday, August 16, Hardball on MSNBC, substitute hosted by Andrea Mitchell:
ANDREA MITCHELL: Let's talk about the subject of tonight's forum and the evangelicals, which could be a game changer in a close race. Certainly in Ohio in 2004, Karl Rove felt that the turnout, the enthusiasm of white evangelicals for George W. Bush made the difference in Ohio, which was the difference in the election. You've got the latest Pew poll finding, which is that 68 percent favor John McCain, 24 percent favor Barack Obama. Obama has the ability to talk about faith and social values, but you still have 12 percent of the people in the Pew poll thinking that he is Muslim. And he wants to counteract that. And he also has a certain number, you know, concerns still about Reverend Wright.
CHUCK TODD: Look, this is, though, a huge opportunity for Obama. McCain's playing defense tonight. He's going to this thing because it would have been terrible if he didn't. Obama's going, and it looks like, "Oh, wow, look at him reaching out to evangelicals." As you mentioned, there is that one in eight people still think he might be Muslim and that he isn't a Christian.
MITCHELL: How many times tonight are we going to hear him talk about his Christian faith.
TODD: He will probably say the word "Jesus" many more times than McCain will. McCain really is an old school western conservative Republican-
MITCHELL: Ronald Reagan.
TODD: -like Reagan, Alan Simpson, Barry Goldwater, these guys didn't talk, Richard Nixon, these guys didn't talk about their faith in public. It's just not what they did. It's very much a southern Republican thing to do, not a western Republican thing. Obama being, you know, sort of, almost a born again Christian in some ways, not born again in the way George W. Bush is, but he sort of chose his Christianity, and so he's very comfortable with it. You'll see him tonight almost look more at home with this crowd, probably bond a little bit more personally with Rick Warren than John McCain would. It's just not, it's just not his comfort zone. So it's a huge opportunity for Obama tonight to at least not be hated by the evange-, look, these folks are not going to ever support him. They know what kind of judges he's going to appoint. It's going to be judges that evangelicals aren't going to be happy with. But they're not going to, if they don't have a personal hatred of him, then that's a good thing for Obama.
—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Obama (the Muslim) Chose His Christianity?
August 18, 2008 - 09:44 ET by Gothampc"Obama being, you know, sort of, almost a born again Christian in some ways, not born again in the way George W. Bush is, but he sort of chose his Christianity, and so he's very comfortable with it."
Whaaaaaaaaaat? How is a person "almost" a born again Christian. Either you've made the decision to become born again or you haven't.
And how is Obama "not" born again in the way GWB is? There is not one born again process for liberals and another for conservatives.
And how did Obama "choose" his Christianity? Does that mean he was Muslim and moved over to Christianity? Was Christianity just thrust upon GWB?
Please!! I am begging the news media. If you don't know what you are talking about, DON'T TALK. It just makes you look stupid.
heh
August 18, 2008 - 10:01 ET by bdshepherdI think it's a case of 'what you see is what you get.' Also, if they actually followed your advice, what would they have left to talk about? Where to get the best latte? Obama's shoe size?
for Christians, hatred is a
August 18, 2008 - 13:10 ET by TruthMongerfor Christians, hatred is a form of love
hate the sin, love the sinner
you're much better off with the tough love of conservatives over the uncaring ambivilence of liberals
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
Definitions
August 18, 2008 - 10:02 ET by cvgbuckeyeI would like for the MSM (Lefties) to do some word/term definitions for us:
1. Christian-
2. Evangelical-
3. Evangelical leader-
4. Evangelical Christians-
5. Evangelical Christian Leader-
6. Evangelical Christian personal hatred-
7. White Evangelicals-
8. Faith-
9. Christian Faith-
10. The "WORD" Jesus-
11. born again Christian-
12. born again the way George Bush is-
13. not born again the way that George Bush is-
14. chose his Christianity-
15. these folks-
16. this crowd-
Well, we'll never hear from "this crowd" at National Barack Communications but hows about one of our resident trolls or leftoids to define these terms for us (or defend them). C'mon now; don't be shy.
Obama proved he is not a Christian
August 18, 2008 - 10:04 ET by c5thenHe said all the right words and phrases, but is ideas and thoughts give him away as another secular pretender and deceiver. Going to church does not make you a Christian. I can stand in a garage all day and it won't make me a Toyota.
The secular liberals that dominate the media cannot understand evangelicals and hate them for continuously bringing up issues that they'd rather stayed burried. Therefore they project their hatred onto those they hate and assume that evangelicals hate liberals. It's untrue. They have no concept of how one can disagree with the thought or the deed, but love the person. If you are a parent, you understand,
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Person vs Deed
August 18, 2008 - 10:10 ET by Gothampc"They have no concept of how one can disagree with the thought or the deed, but love the person. If you are a parent, you understand"
If you are a human being, you understand. I'm not a parent, but I completely understand what you are saying because I saw that behavior in my parents toward me. It is possible to separate the person from the deed.
The idea is: I love everybody but I don't have to love what everybody does.
This is just more New Age
August 18, 2008 - 10:06 ET by bradbenj5952This is just more New Age psycho-babel (since babel is where this stuff originated), to wit (according to New Ager thinking), "God manifests Himself to different people in different ways". Of course, they are tolerant of all such "manifestations" except the exclusivity meticulously defined in scripture.
But what saith the Lord? "I am the way, the truth, and the life". Read carefully Mr. Todd. All others are counterfeits. No one who supports murdering of the unborn is born again. This is not hatred of Obama. It is hatred of what he believes and what he represents. The people in the MSM need to learn the difference.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
Wrong again.
August 18, 2008 - 10:07 ET by JWFNewsbusters needs a sister sight. Newsbusters is all about the bias. Newsmorons is all about the idiocy.
Evangelicals do not hate Sen. Obama.
Veterans hate Sen. Obama. Not the veterans currently deployed to combat zones. They are too busy dodging bullets to care about him. Just the veterans that are retired or back from the show and have been paying attention to the cut & run democrats.
Newsmorons
August 18, 2008 - 10:13 ET by Gothampc"Newsbusters needs a sister sight. Newsbusters is all about the bias. Newsmorons is all about the idiocy."
I like this idea! Except that Newsmorons would have so much content that it may crash the World Wide Web.
Hatred?
August 18, 2008 - 10:07 ET by NortoThe dems that I know hate us cons with a passion, wishing we would ship off shore to Holland with our ancestors.
Hatred?
August 18, 2008 - 10:08 ET by billbFunny, Todd never said a word about W appearing before the NAACP!
Tom Brokaw must be....
August 18, 2008 - 10:11 ET by robertjacobTom Brokaw must be sick to see what a nutty network NBC has become with regard to this Presidential election. And don't tell me Brokaw is a liberal - because he is also a professional journalist with a lot of self respect.
NBC has really lost their way.........
Too bad really...
Sorry
August 18, 2008 - 10:30 ET by cvgbuckeyeSorry robertjacob but Brokaw is a flaming liberal of the classical example. He is simply so saddened that he was born to soon but he would love to be "born again".
Born again in the regard that Brokaw had the misfortune of living out his career at a time when the MSM claimed some deniability of being left loonists versus where they are today in an outright blood orgy of "To hell with the denials; we are leftoids through and through and we no longer deny it. We will throw our women and children under the bus to get this Barack Hussein Osama Obama elected and wash our national, sickeningly, white souls of all the guilt that we have most aptly been carrying for the last 200 years".
YES! We are born again AND SO ARE ALL YOU WHITE SOUTHERN & WESTERN, BORN AGAIN, CHRISTIAN, EVANGELICAL LEADING, BARACK HATING, RACIST, SONS-OF-----S
Brokaw
August 18, 2008 - 10:41 ET by GothampcBrokaw also worked in a time when Conservatives didn't have as much exposure. Fox News broke down some liberal barriers, then the wide spread usage of the internet made it much easier for Conservatives to point out the liberal bias. I'm sure Brokaw would be exposed for the liberal that he is if he were still working steadily in media.
OK,,,,,
August 18, 2008 - 11:10 ET by robertjacobOk,,,, I won't argue your point or your passion.
Well said.
But they're not going to,
August 18, 2008 - 10:12 ET by motherbeltBut they're not going to, if they don't have a personal hatred of him, then that's a good thing for Obama.
Gee, that's very charitable of you, Mr. Todd.
That's kind of like saying So they probably won't threaten to assassinate him, and that's a good thing.
So the main goal was
August 18, 2008 - 11:21 ET by SickofLibsSo the main goal was defusing 'personal hatred'? Talk about downsizing expectations. BHO also was not shot by an audience member, another big plus to the night.
Wow, it really is going down in flames... I just hope there's enough time for the zeppelin to hit ground before November.
Ignorance
August 18, 2008 - 10:15 ET by jaywlThis is another prime example of the left/liberal ignorance of the conservative movement. They really must believe evangelicals are filled with hate. If that is true they must also believe they are liars and have all manners of evil since they profess, preach and write the exact opposite.
Why Todd said that
August 18, 2008 - 10:18 ET by coffee260Why did Chuck Todd say Evangelicals hated Obama? Because liberals hate Evangelicals.
If a liberal accuses you of stealing. Check your belongings.
Whenever you hear a liberal accuse somebody else of wrong doing. Rest assure that same liberal is guilty of the very same aspersions he has cast.
The LEFTISTS are entering "ZONE DEPSERATION"!
August 18, 2008 - 10:27 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasHere is why THESE kinds of story are popping up. LEFTIST are beginning to understand that McCain's support among ALL BRANDS of non-leftists is GROWING and particularly with Evangelicals as they come to understand the radical nature of The Obamanation and the AXIS MEDIA is going berserk.
The Axis Media holds to LEFTIS ideology. LEFTIST ideology teaches that you don't examine and discover ideas and weigh their value, instead you establish your doctrine and treat all other ideas as threats. So in order to combat challenging views certain tactics are used that are not typical of discovery or insight.
And what is one of those famous tactics from LEFTIST that the Axis Media LOVES to use? S-H-A-M-E! Since LEFTIST know they really aren't interested in examination of ideas they must find tactics that make others let go of theirs so they don't use them against the LEFTIES because the LEFTIST stand a good chance of losing when ideologies are compared.
And SHAME is an overwhelming favorite. If LEFTISTS can shame someone (employ false guilt built upon a false system of moral superiority) into dropping their views then NO CONTEST will ensue, no examination of the IDEAS and DOCTRINES of the left will ensue and the LEFT will WIN by default.
And the AXIS MEDIA right now is understanding that GOP members are coming together which includes Evangelicals of ALL stripes (with the exception of Gomer Pyle Huckabee who is a disgrace and part of the expected 10% of any group to have their panties in a wad no matter what).
So you will see MORE and MORE of this, particularly toward Evangelicals. Why? Well for one, Evangelicals are SUCKERS for false guilt. They are so spiritually immature (by no means all but a vast majority) that every wind of doctrine blows them about. And while the AXIS MEDIA may not know this is the actual problem, instinctively they know they can guilt EVANGELICALS very easily.
But know this, it is a good sign. It means the LEFTISTS are entering "ZONE DEPSERATION"!
The answer to terrorism IS war. Next Please!
Hmmm!
August 18, 2008 - 10:34 ET by cvgbuckeyeHey Guy Arthur Thomas:
Could you possibly be refering to "The Obamanation that causes desolation"? Hmmmm
Let's see how many people know what we're talking about, here.
What's that
August 18, 2008 - 10:39 ET by Cool ArrowIs that where he stands in the Temple proclaiming himself to be God?
I don't think anybody's gone quite that far yet. Least not since Antiochus Epiphanes in around 70 AD.
I ♣ my seal
Could be
August 18, 2008 - 10:44 ET by cvgbuckeyeThat's one interpretation Cool. Only thing is, he doesn't do it himself. He inspires others to do it for him.
It is
August 18, 2008 - 10:51 ET by Cool ArrowLet no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or
that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God.
2 Thess. 2: 3-10
I ♣ my seal
I'm getting
August 18, 2008 - 11:13 ET by cvgbuckeyeboring Cool but I started this and I guess I am obligated to see it through;
Matthew 24:15-16
Mark 13:14
Daniel 9:26-27 & Daniel 11:31-37
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
cvgbuckeye 7:18 "And they will say that we are radicals". That's OK, I am.
Christians in Media's Eyes
August 18, 2008 - 10:33 ET by GothampcThe really scary part is that they can't differentiate belief systems. They see born again Christians in the same light as radical Muslims. They actually believe that Christians have a "submit or die" mentality.
Todd Predictions: 0 for 10
August 18, 2008 - 11:14 ET by SickofLibsTODD: "You'll see him (BHO) tonight almost look more at home with this crowd..."
Yup, it worked out just like you predicted it would, Todd. Got any stock picks or horses for us?
"...but he sort of chose his Christianity, and so he's very comfortable with it."
BHO was dumped on his white Christian grandparents when he was 10. What else could have happened, announcing he wanted to be a Buddhist or something else?
More hate from the Left.
August 18, 2008 - 11:24 ET by mattmMore hate from the Left. How does Mr. Todd know what people feel? Has he ever set foot in a church?
I wonder if he ever said "it's not unusual for Liberals to feel personal hatred for a Republican presidential candidate."
What a clueless dolt!
Where is it, Obama?
August 18, 2008 - 11:28 ET by Cool ArrowHey, Obama! Any chance we can get to that National Discussion On Race you promised back when you were saying "D@mn you Jeremiah Wright, I can't quit you!"
cue crickets.
I ♣ my seal
OBAMA STAGGERED IN ROUND 1
August 18, 2008 - 11:47 ET by reelman46Crux of the matter..demo-rats are
very worried...
BHO cannot handle himself without a script...he is not a thinker
... a sock puppet I would say...answers not even informed...a virtual
fog machine...
As I have said (See July 21st my theconservativecrawfish BLOG post
predicting JM wins 48-47)
IF BHO is drawn out, is exposed for the radical liberal dufus he
is...over and over...he will lose...
its that process...drawing out the radical so millions
can see him when challenged...key: when challenged...
now the demo-rats will probably have cue cards for pat answers to 8-10
major issues so this does not happen again...
but Obama lost, lost big in Round One...and even his people know it.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
Separation of Church & State
August 18, 2008 - 12:09 ET by GothampcI've been reading some comments on liberal blogs and they are saying things like: "Why isn't the IRS taking away Warren's tax exempt status for breaching separation of church and state?" I bet if Obama had made a better showing they would be praising Warren as a new type of Christian.
Keep Religion out of Politics
August 18, 2008 - 12:40 ET by doctorfixitBee Blogger
Ten Reforms That Will Save America
I will not vote for a politician who talks about religion. Religion has no place in politics, period. I oppose abortion because it is killing, not because some religion told me to. I don't need religion telling me how to live, I don't need politicians telling me how to live. Politicians who use religion are using it as another tool to control people. We need to get religion out of politics. Freedom from religion, that's what the Constitution was founded on.
And this “Freedom from
August 18, 2008 - 14:04 ET by Dan The Man 2And this “Freedom from religion, that's what the Constitution was founded” on is the most ignorant statement I have seen today. The Constitution said freedom of religion without state interference or state sponsored religion. Also I want to know what a candidate believes and if you believe “I will not vote for a politician who talks about religion” then you should rethink that.
Morality is being legislated and it will be legislated and by knowing the morals of an elected official then you determine whose morality is legislated. Religion has to be in politics. This is also pretty dumb “, I don't need politicians telling me how to live” as the very laws you want them to pass controls your life
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
I will not vote for a politician who talks about religion.
August 18, 2008 - 20:59 ET by R D HelmSo, I take it you do not vote?
-Dave.
Personal hatred....oh cute
August 18, 2008 - 12:44 ET by bigtimerPersonal hatred....oh cute by half.
Gawd these critters are desperate....they really are now after this little show aired, especially Andrea Mitchell carrying the water for Obama by insinuating somehow McCain cheated...boo-hoo...yesterday on Meet the Press.
The only thing that Andrea got right about all of this were her own words here...which could be a game changer in a close race
A game changer indeed Andrea....Obama got his clock cleaned...all by himself....with his own words.
So, Chuck Todd believes Barry-O to be a Christian.
August 18, 2008 - 20:56 ET by R D HelmOn what planet?
-Dave.