Michelle Boorstein, writing in the Washington Post's The Trail, sounded more like she was presenting a glowing Barack Obama campaign press release than a political story when she announced the hiring of Obama's new religious affairs adviser:
Shaun Casey, who teaches religion and politics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., has been hired by the Obama campaign to focus on outreach to evangelical voters.
Casey, who has been informally advising the Obama campaign on faith issues for a year, next month will become a formal part of the faith outreach staff, Casey said today. His title will be senior adviser for religious affairs.
The Obama campaign plans a strong push to attract religious voters -- with small group "faith forums" held around the country, regular meetings with clergy of various faiths, frequent appearances in religious media and a faith outreach staff of a half-dozen that may grow as the general election nears. Expert observers, however, say they find the senator's outreach to white evangelicals the weakest part of the effort. It will be Casey's job, he explained, to get Barack Obama's story and policy positions out into the evangelical world.
It will also be Shaun Casey's job to explain to evangelicals his own religious beliefs such as his bizarre conviction that "Jesus was an illegal alien" which he proclaimed in Faithful Democrats:
...I am convinced Matthew included the flight to Egypt by Jesus and his family to show that Jesus' own story was part of the ancient story of Israel. They, too, fled to Egypt, suffered persecution, were redeemed by God, and then were empowered to live lives in solidarity with sojourners and aliens wherever they encountered them. Likewise disciples of Jesus throughout history pick up the same ministry of solidarity with displaced people. Jesus was an illegal alien and that ought to shape how we enter the current debate. But too often political ideology clouds good theology. In the current debate over immigration policy it distresses me to no end that so many of my fellow church goers ignore this fundamental tenet that should be central to our identity. Instead as theological amnesiacs we insist on a secular law and order ideology over a biblical mandate.
Great way for outreaching to evangelicals by reinterpreting the Bible to conform with trendy leftwing 21st century political ideology. Apparently Ms Boorstein did little research on the background of Shaun Casey who was previously in the news running cover for Obama over the Reverend Wright controversy. Boorstein also seems to imply that Casey himself is an evangelical without actually saying so:
Casey, who was raised an evangelical and received his undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University before heading to Harvard Divinity School, has also informally advised Sen. John Kerry and Democratic Party chair Howard Dean in the past.
So Casey was "raised an evangelical" but does that mean he is one now? Boorstein does not say. She also neglected to tell the readers that Casey is a visiting fellow with the far left Center For American Progress which, along with Media Matters, is heavily funded by billionaire George Soros. Among the "charitable" projects of this group is a blatant attempt to silence conservative talk radio. Perhaps CAP visiting fellow Shaun Casey can cite for us the Bible passage justifying censorship.
—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.
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I had no idea that Jesus
June 27, 2008 - 20:08 ET by Clear thinkerI had no idea that Jesus was from Mexico!
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Jesus from Mexico?
June 27, 2008 - 22:29 ET by jefflebowskiWell, he does have a Mexican name.
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
I'm sorry...
June 28, 2008 - 00:16 ET by HillbillyKingI just can't resist.
Do you think he likes to bowl?
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you.
Don Marquis 1878-1937
Hillbilly
June 28, 2008 - 22:25 ET by jefflebowskiI was thinking the same thing but didn't want to offend anyone more than I already had..lol
I wanted to ask if he had a bowling partner named Liam.
I'm going to vacuum my rug...it ties the room together so nicely.
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Jesus-"illegal" Alien
June 28, 2008 - 09:05 ET by Marine GruntIn the the 80's , the libs told us that Jesus was a communist. Now, he is an illegal alien. What will he be ten years from now?
Soros, the enemy within
June 27, 2008 - 20:10 ET by bigtimerSoros, the enemy within is hard at work...
Obama is his sock-puppet...the vehicle he speaks through.
Jesus was an illegal alien...OMG...this takes the cake.
God help us all.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Oh, for crying out
June 27, 2008 - 20:15 ET by motherbeltOh, for crying out loud!!
I think it was Hillary Clinton that said, some time ago, that Mary and Joseph were homeless; that's why Jesus was born in a stable.
But this beats all. I don't think there were any immigration laws back then. They may have been aliens in Egypt, but they certainly weren't "illegal."
And I guess Professor (?) Casey will be shaping Obama's policies on immigration?
Instead as theological
amnesiacs we insist on a secular law and order ideology over a biblical
mandate.
Is he going to suggest that we should be governed by "biblical mandate"? We all saw what happened when Gov. Huckabee said our laws should be brought into line with the Bible.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
OK, I'll be first -
June 27, 2008 - 20:16 ET by j. frank wilsonIf Mr. Casey believes Jesus was an illegal alien, what planet does Mr. Casey believe Jesus came from?
frank... Personally...I
June 27, 2008 - 20:24 ET by bigtimerfrank...
Personally...I don't care what Casey believes.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
BT
June 27, 2008 - 20:35 ET byyou must admit j. frank has an oblique point here.
Yes, you are even more annoying than Blonde. the EYE
Agreed, botg.
June 27, 2008 - 21:21 ET by tracheostomyJ. Frank has a major point. >_<
Huge.
The problem is, half of the so-called "good guys" here are too afraid to look.
-PJ
botg... Like I said...I
June 27, 2008 - 21:27 ET by bigtimerbotg...
Like I said...I personally don't care what Casey believes.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Conservatives should be
June 27, 2008 - 21:31 ET by tracheostomyConservatives should be caring a-lot about what Mr. Casey believes.
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
No way
June 27, 2008 - 20:36 ET by jay_1975These statements on top of Obama's stand on abortion should ensure that no true person of faith votes for him.
the Son of God in enemy territory
June 27, 2008 - 21:12 ET by needleJesus might very well sup with illegal aliens, but to put to him in the same category as the millions of people that are furtively sneaking into this country… Well, such a twisted association would probably spring from the mental machination of campaign henchmen working with a long time worshipper at the Trinity United Church of Christ.
On the other hand, C. S. Lewis might describe Jesus Christ as “the Son of God in enemy territory.” Now that has an interesting resonance; but please don't say that describes our present day illegal aliens.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
They're blurring facts on their side, can we clarify ours now?
June 27, 2008 - 21:19 ET by tracheostomyI dunno if I'm allowed to comment on this or not.
The liberals are pushing the issue. What do we do about it?
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
An illegal named Jesus?
June 27, 2008 - 21:26 ET by riff_raffHere in L.A. where I live, there are literally thousands of illegal aliens named Jesus. I don't think any of them are directly related to God, but I'm sure quite a few of them have parents named Jose and Maria.
rr... LOL... My first
June 27, 2008 - 21:34 ET by bigtimerrr...
LOL...
My first boyfriends name was Jesus...I'm a So Cal gal originally.
Just wanted to throw that in for a Friday night...
...well, now that I think about it...there was Harvey in for a tie...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Who wants to take "Operation Chaos" to another level?
June 27, 2008 - 21:34 ET by tracheostomyI'm planning on going to one of Obama's "faith forums."
Who wants to join me?
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
Jesus was never an alien
June 27, 2008 - 21:36 ET by nkviking75At the time in question, Egypt and Israel were both under Roman control. The flight to Egypt was more like a trip from Iowa to Minnesota. But let's ignore that for a moment. Herod was killing all the babies under 2 years old. Joseph and Mary fled with Jesus to Egypt to prevent his death. Jesus and his family might be more like the Vietnamese boat people than Mexicans coming over the line to make money.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Shaun Casey looks like an English butler.
June 27, 2008 - 21:41 ET by R D HelmA very old one.
LOL-Sorry, all.
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Pasty is more like it in my
June 27, 2008 - 21:43 ET by bigtimerPasty is more like it in my first thought of his picture.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
bt, LOL-Okay, he looks like a pasty English butler.
June 27, 2008 - 21:49 ET by R D HelmHell, it's Friday, ya know? :-)
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
LOL...That works for
June 27, 2008 - 21:53 ET by bigtimerLOL...That works for me.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
bt,
June 27, 2008 - 21:59 ET by R D HelmLOL-Actually, he would have fit in with this crowd all the way.
Sans accent, of course. :-)
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
RD... LOL...You got that
June 27, 2008 - 22:11 ET by bigtimerRD...
LOL...You got that right...
Picture perfect!
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
pasty is more like it not
June 28, 2008 - 05:47 ET by larry on LIhe looks like a ped..., aw forget it
In order for Jesus to be an
June 27, 2008 - 21:43 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveIn order for Jesus to be an 'illegal' alien, Egypt would have had to have immigrations laws. Did they? World politics were very different 2,000 years ago.
Trying to stir up a "Christian guilt" with the goal of convincing Christians to disregard our laws is shameful. The left does the same thing with social programs. Things like: 'A good Christain would support higher taxes because it helps the poor'. It's a bunch of crap. If the government didn't confiscate so much of our money in the first place good Christians would be able to help many more people and much more efficiently than the government could ever hope to help.
"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Robert A. Heinlein, "Beyond This Horizon", 1942
I don't care what Casey says either
June 27, 2008 - 21:45 ET by Delsaexcept he is another nutty friend of SOBama's
His friends scare the Hell out of me and I"ll bet they are all
BLIVITS :)
There is something
June 27, 2008 - 21:50 ET by Delsawrong with this guy. He looks really strange.
Can't put my finger on it.
He's too pink or something.
What's with the eyes?
What is that guy smoking?
June 27, 2008 - 22:01 ET by tbbaxterIt's so convenient for Mr. Casey to believe that Jesus was an illegal alien. Perhaps he also believes that Jesus was a member of the teacher's union, the leader of Iran and Tony Rezko's lawyer. But Jesus was the Son of God. Period. No more and no less. Personally, I think that's quite enough.
Besides the Biblical
June 28, 2008 - 00:10 ET by zfBesides the Biblical manhandling, trying to tie in 21st century political situations to an ancient world vastly different than ours is retarded. The concepts of borders and nationhood were NOT the same.
Maybe Obama thinks that religious people will forget his roots
June 28, 2008 - 10:10 ET by GameGridYou hit it right on the money. Sadly many, many people these days read the Bible as though it is a 21st century text and not the ancient text(s) that is actually is.
This attempt by Obama to "reach out" to evangelical voters is pathetic, borderlining on offensive already when you also look at his statements on the Bible. I wouldn't trust a guy who spent 20 years in a church where they preached black liberation and marxist theologies to lick my stamps much less run the country.
Well I don't seem to
June 28, 2008 - 01:00 ET by Cureboy675Well I don't seem to remember Jesus getting a scholarship or having a driver's license. So I'll let it slide.
Wait a minute. He did take in low paying carpentry work. This guy might be on to something (rolling eyes)
I think it would be safe to
June 28, 2008 - 05:02 ET by badger.I think it would be safe to assume that Prof. Casey was probably not the honored valedictorian speaker at any of his schools. I won't bother to research, would be a waste of time & energy. I bet this sharp tool was either daydreaming/sleeping in class often, maybe failed to complete or ignored his homework assignments.
I'm no Bible scholar nor a NASA rocket scientist, neither is Professor Casey. Perhaps Mr. Harvard educated ought to dust off his Bible for further in-depth study, before making another asinine statement, in addition to this one. Verses & Scriptures that stand out to me, (contrary) are from the King James Version as follows:
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
Psalm 50: 10-11 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
Jesus is quite clear imo, in any context; beast, diamonds, gold, land, oil, etc.etc. etc., anything & everything created/made, by definition meaning all inclusive - across-the-board, are/is His.
IMO this Prof. Casey, is pandering for Obama, as the go-between liaison, to acquire the Christian-Conservative votes. As a diehard conservative speaking for myself only, no chance of Obama getting my vote.
To be an illegal alien you
June 28, 2008 - 06:41 ET by LaValletteTo be an illegal alien you must be breaking a law of some sort. To my knowledge there was no law that Jesus and his family broke in going to Egypt. Besides Jesus and his family returned back home as quickly as possible after the emergency disappeared.They did not hang around waiting to be supported by the Egyptians/
A registered citizen...
June 28, 2008 - 10:35 ET by rsb1The reason Jesus and his parents were in Bethlehem was to be registered and taxed. Even going to Egypt, they were acting under the laws of the time.
Illegal aliens of today are NOT registered and often are NOT paying taxes and are acting against the laws of today.
The man needs to read his scriptures and quit cherry-picking in order to create excuses for the wrong choices he makes. It seems to me that Jesus offered a few cautionary words in that respect as well.
The problem with his interpretation
June 28, 2008 - 11:53 ET by Rhymes With RightIs that he is dead wrong.
As citizens of a tributary kingdom, herod's subjects would have been welcome in a Roman territory like Egypt.
Also, Rome did not have the sort of immigration laws that we do, so the category does not make sense.
And at best, the proper category for the Holy Family would "political refugee" -- not job-grabbing, border-jumping immigration criminal.
Blogging at rhymeswithright.mu.nu
Jesus was an illegal alien?
June 28, 2008 - 15:12 ET by CobraManHe's doesn't know history very well. It was the ROMANS who were the "illegal aliens" as it was they who "immigrated" into the areas in question and displaced the local populations by force.
If you want to compare the motivation of the movements of Jesus to those of the modern era, then, at best, you could claim that Jesus relocated for the simple reason of tax evasion because he traveled to Egypt in order to avoid the tax collector back at home. Not that this would be a correct interpretation as to what really happened, but it's a lot closer to the truth than claiming that "Jesus was an illegal alien."
Two most misused words today...
June 28, 2008 - 20:37 ET by m4ster chief...are "Christian" and "evangelical." I have my own little system for applying terms to people. I think there are "Christians," who have accepted Christ as their savior and try to live in accordance with His teachings and commandments. Then there are "christians," who claim to be Christian, but whose behavior and beliefs are are opposite those which Jesus taught.
Some may say to me, "Well, the Bible says not to judge, but you are judging them." No, I am judging their actions...not the state of their salvation. Obama says, for instance, that he is a "Christian," but I read where he promised NARAL that one of his first actions as president would be to sign into law the "Abortion Rights Act," or whatever it's called. So to me, he is a "christian." And I will not vote for somebody who promises to enact a law that will increase the number of babies slaughtered. That goes for Obama, McCain, or Bishop Holier Than Thou.
Same goes for evangelicals...judge them by their words and deeds. A recent poll found that 54% (I think) of "Evangelicals" think people can believe in Allah, Buddha, Zeus, The Great Pumpkin, etc., and still get to heaven despite holy scripture that says "...I am the Lord thy God; no one gets to the Father but by Me."
Take all this christian and evangelical stuff with a grain of salt. Bible says, "...thinking themselves wise, they became fools."