by Shush – PolitiPorn Religion Correspondent
Today’s White House dinner in honor of Pope Benedict’s first visit to the United States will have a conspicuously absent guest- the Pope himself. Today’s itinerary shows the Pope going to the White House for a Rose Garden photo op, and then he leaves. It’s like when your new boyfriend consents to meet your parents, but says bitterly that you can make him shake their hands but not share their table. I wonder if the Pope is intentionally snubbing the president and causing American Catholics to question God’s opinion of our cowboy in chief, or if his papal duties are already starting to wear on his mind and sense of decorum.
The bitter new independent voter in me is hoping that it’s a snub.
Speaking of religious snubs, while researching the current candidates for President and their various religious endorsers, I noticed an interesting discrepancy. Hillary Clinton appears to have no religious endorsement. Obama and McCain both have varied voices speaking for them, McCain’s mostly being fairly conservative religious traditionalists like Hagee and Obama’s mostly coming from progressive leaders. This makes me wonder what we’ll be seeing in the next election- fundamentalism versus the new way, or fundamentalism versus a resounding echo. Most people currently backing Obama would probably rather endorse Clinton than watch fundamentalism stomping around in its dirty old boots, but people planning on voting in the Democratic primaries need to keep in mind that the Presidency isn’t about celebrity and isn’t even solely about policy- it’s about the friends one keeps and the people one can sway.
Obama has swayed religious leaders his way. With Hillary there’s this dial tone. If they aren’t calling her- will they answer when she’s calling them?
Get the hell out of here. The Pope won’t break bread with Bush? I should have seen it coming; with the Pope being so wrapped up in that Christianity stuff it doesn’t leave much room for meeting war-mongers.
I was hoping for an exorcism.
LOL! “Come out demon! The power of Exxon compels you!”
Yeah, I was disappointed too. I can’t get enough of other world leaders looking like they smell wet dog while Bush cackles at his own jokes… ah well.
An exorcism would’ve been great.
@PolitiP- that brings a whole new meaning to “anointed with oil”.
Oh, that’s a great line, the power of Exxon compels you!
Thanks for making me laugh so hard coffee came out of my nose!