Take it from an atheist: Even an atheist could have faked a better answer than this. How is it that this guy, with all his billions, didnt think to hire anyone to teach him to lie convincingly about faith when addressing an audience of Christian conservatives, the key to winning the Iowa caucuses? He should have called the White House. They could have hooked him up with whoever coached Obama on his fake opposition to gay marriage in 2008.
Byron York and the NYT are right that this answer will end up damaging Trump more than his shot at McCains war service will.
A senior Iowa Republican who was in the room, sitting with a group of grassroots activists as Trump spoke, was dumbfounded by the candidates views of religion. While there were audible groans in the crowd when Trump questioned whether McCain was a war hero, the senior Republican said via email, it was Trumps inability to articulate any coherent relationship with God or demonstrate the role faith plays in his life that really sucked the oxygen out of the room.
The senior Republican continued: Milling around talking to activists in the hallways/lobby after Trumps speech, THAT is what those Iowa conservatives were discussing, not the McCain comment.
Trumps performance was really a one-two punch, the Republican said. His McCain comment gave free license to other candidates and the national political class to attack. His failure to demonstrate even the most rudimentary understanding of leading a faith-filled life will be his ultimate undoing with Iowas Christian conservative activists. Especially in a field with such credible alternatives.
Watch the clip. The bit about him drinking his little wine and having his little cracker at church is not Huckabean, shall we say, although I think its the second half of the vid thats more revealing. (The very end includes his bit about McCain, which the videos editor tacked on for whatever reason.) Luntz tosses him the softest of softballs what is your relationship with God? and Trump cant help answering in terms of his personal success, presumably because thats his yardstick for everything in life. Gods blessed him with an intellect capable of generating some of the great deals in business history; thats evidence that their relationships pretty good, no? Luntzs question very obviously cries out for the opposite answer, that riches and personal success mean nothing without grace and deep communion with the Almighty. He does note that he prays, but like I say, watch the clip. The mystery here is whether Trump simply misjudged his audience (in Iowa, at a forum devoted to family?) or hes convinced himself that being his honest, unfiltered self is the key to ultimate victory. This will test that theory better than the McCain thing will.
A rival campaign strategist told York he doesnt expect Trump to lose support for this so much as he thinks itll lower his ceiling in the state. If youre an evangelical tea partier trying to decide between Trump and, say, Scott Walker or Ted Cruz, thisll tip the scale towards the latter.
Poster Comment:
Elsewhere, Ace observes: "He eventually grabs at an answer -- that "drinking the little wine" and "eating the little cracker" constitute, maybe, an asking of forgiveness from God. He doesn't sound very sure of that (I don't know either way myself), but has already, by then repeatedly said he doesn't even think to ask God for forgiveness. So if the "drinking of the little" wine is such a request, it is only inadvertent, accidental, and symbolic."
I shall observe Trump, but I question EVERYTHING you post.
That certainly is your right as an insurance salesman who poses as an "expert" in demolitions and believes every official fairy tale spewed by fed.gov and the MSM.
As far as Trump goes, your really aren't considering that arrogant, money-worshiping wannabe dictator as a presidential candidate, are you?
Truth is treason in the empire of lies. - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
You almost think he's joking but then you realize he's serious. At least, as serious as he can be in his little Donald Trump World.
The GOP field deserves a raw, rude New Yawker. If anything Trump will expose what most of us know already to a wider swath of America...That Lady Lindsey, Jeb et al. have been in the bag for Obolo and the Clintoons for close to two decades now.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.---John 1:17
"You almost think he's joking but then you realize he's serious."
Perhaps the word you're looking for is "honest".
Here we have a guy, standing in frot of a political voting bloc, and he doesn't pander to them by telling them what they want to hear. That makes him a joke?
I don't care if he worships the devil, as long as he protects MY right to exercise my religious freedoms.
Seems to me that Trump was completely honest. He was asked about religion, and he answered it directly with what he thinks.
What you see as an "error" (because retail politicians are supposed to tell the public what they want to hear) I see as more evidence that he's a straight shooter. He says what he really thinks, and acts on it.
That is what is important to me: actions, deeds. Spoken words are deeds: they're the deeds done in answer to a question. Trump was asked a question and he answered it straight.
I appreciate that in the man.
It makes me more likely to vote for him.
When men rhapsodize about doctrinally pure Christianity, but then do not behave in doctrinally pure ways, when they compromise on what they say is their highest morality and belief in God, then I really look at them with a jaundiced eye.
But Trump's form of Christianity is pretty easygoing and straightforward. It is not correct in fact - he's a Protestant, after all - but his behavior squares with what he believes.
That makes him PREDICTABLE. And predictability is very, very good (and rare) in a political leader. It means that when he says something, you can expect he'll do it.
If, for example, you're an investor looking to get into a Trump project, you know from his long record that he will use all of the laws, including the full suite of bankruptcy laws, to advance his mission. He's there to make money on a project, taking shots on goal. If it works, great - you win and he wins. But if bad luck intervenes and things are not working and lawsuits intervene, you know that he is going to be a dogged, tenacious, experienced bargainer in bankruptcy, and that he's probably going to walk away as well off as anybody ever does out of bankruptcy.
So you factor that in when you're dealing with him. You either pore over the bankruptcy, control and indemnification clauses and seek to add language that is more protective of you, or you take the risk "as is" and hope the project does well, or you don't invest with him.
What you see as an "error" (because retail politicians are supposed to tell the public what they want to hear) I see as more evidence that he's a straight shooter. He says what he really thinks, and acts on it.
I was thinking the same thing.
Remember TC prefers Bush to Trump. Probably prefers Hillary to Trump also.
If you don't need forgiveness, you don't need Christ.
That's fine. I don't want any part of him. Everything built around around him is filled with repulsive morbidity, neuroticism, ignorance, primitive superstition, and demands compliance as the alternative to continual thinly veiled threats about sending you to hell in an afterlife.
Remember TC prefers Bush to Trump. Probably prefers Hillary to Trump also.
I don't know TC personally, but I'm pretty sure from communicating with him over the years that he doesn't prefer Hillary to Trump.
I see TC as being quite loyal to his vision of the Republican Party. His vision of the Republican Party doesn't square with the actual Republican Party's deeds, but he's still loyal.
If you don't need forgiveness, you don't need Christ.
That's fine. I don't want any part of him. Everything built around around him is filled with repulsive morbidity, neuroticism, ignorance, primitive superstition, and thinly veiled threats.
Better watch it, sneakypete got banned for such blasphemy.
Truth is treason in the empire of lies. - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
I'd be a stay-home rather than vote for her. Probably about the same with Bush. I didn't like the last two Bushes and only voted for a Bush in 2000 when Gore seemed such a wacky disaster.
Take it from an atheist: Even an atheist could have faked a better answer than this. How is it that this guy, with all his billions, didnt think to hire anyone to teach him to lie convincingly about faith when addressing an audience of Christian conservatives,
Why should he lie?
There are a number of reasons, I and other Evangelicals are supporting Donald Trump, I will not go into them at this time, but, his lying will not help him with evangelicals, only those who claim to be Christians but are really of the synagogue of satan.
If you don't need forgiveness, you don't need Christ.
That's fine. I don't want any part of him. Everything built around around him is filled with repulsive morbidity, neuroticism, ignorance, primitive superstition, and thinly veiled threats.
Better watch it, sneakypete got banned for such blasphemy.
I've been banned before. I got expelled from FreeRepublic for saying Bush was a drunken asshole.
Where I believe Trump is doing "God's work" is in courageously tearing off all the masks of the phony players and exposing decades of lies and charades of a political Kabuki Theater that MOCK and obliterate the Judeo-Christian morals and ethics and traditions and heritage of the Founders'. As John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Today, America is a Banana Republic, its government AND institutions awash in immorality.
Well said. Why I support him keeping in the dialogue. The leftists and the GOP keep spouting that everyone needs a voice. Well Trump is in the 'market place' of 'voice' and I don't think he is 'getting off the bus' right away.
I do like how he attacks the various rice bowls of both statist camps.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.---John 1:17
#47. To: Liberator, TooConservative, GarySpFc (#10)
Trump may be aware of the tents of Christianity, but is indifferent. NOT as bright as his thinks he is on that front.
Who knows the Workings of God? Perhaps with Trump on the campaign trail he will actually meet, sit and talk with some Christians and not the variant from his country club. One never knows...
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.---John 1:17
Perhaps with Trump on the campaign trail he will actually meet, sit and talk with some Christians and not the variant from his country club. One never knows...
That's true. Butterflies might fly out of my ass. One never knows...
And to think all of this time I thought it was supposed to be red, white and blue jelly beans!
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Scott Walker can't even convince his family that gay marriage is wrong, so how can he convince America.
So your wife believes EVERYTHING you tell her??
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Have any of you a proper rebuttal? I have a few ideas ;-)
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
What I do understand is how afraid the Marxists in this nation are of Trump and how his enemies are desperately trying to discredit him. That is a favorite trick of the left to attack their enemies.
What I do understand is how afraid the Marxists in this nation are of Trump and how his enemies are desperately trying to discredit him. That is a favorite trick of the left to attack their enemies.
Just the Left?
Seriously, do you really think anybody in the power structure of the country is afraid of Trump? He will not get the REP nomination. He will very likely run 3rd party.
In the hell freezes over scenario of him winning the national election just what kind of support in Congress do you think he would have? Whatever it would be would be Drat and not enough to make him veto proof.
The most likely scenario is that he gives the election to Hillary and we have another 8 years of Obama. Is that what you what for the country?
The most likely scenario is that he gives the election to Hillary and we have another 8 years of Obama. Is that what you what for the country?
Here is the mosty likely scenario.
Trump is the only one that has a chance of beating Bush.
People like you support 3 percent candidates and we get Jeb vs Hillary. Trump doesn't run third party. Hillary wins because her base loves her and half the Republicans or 80 percent don't like Bush.
So Bush can't win.
If Trump is the only one mathematically able to have a chance against Bush. Then he is the man because he is far better then the other two. Also he will expose all of them just for fun. So expect people to go to prison
So the choice will be in people like your hands. Do you go with Trump or allow Bush to lose to Hillary.
If Trump runs third party Hillary still probably wins.
So if someone else doesn't surge to take on Bush. Then it is your duty to vote for Trump unless you want Hillary.