Last night's debate and the "favorite bible passage" question....

[zanne]

Who else thought this was an arrogant, biased question? Assuming that everyone is a Christian is such a simplistic, arrogant notion. I was offended by it. Anybody else?

[rodeodance]

1. Those who are upset should email/write/call msnbc now

[Skinner]

2. I didn't watch the debate, so I was not aware of the question.

But having said that, it sounds like a pretty brilliant question to me. Not because I am Christian (I'm not). But because some of the Democratic front runners have been working very hard to project the image that they are people of faith. Asking them their favorite Bible passage cuts right to the nub: Is your piety real or is it a political posture?

It's like when Stephen Colbert asked that Republican house member (Sorry, I can't remember which) to name the 10 Commandments. The guy couldn't do it, even though he was an advocate of posting them in public places.

So, did anyone flub the answer?

[Coexist]

9. Obama said sermon on the mount

Kucinich prayer of St. Francis
Clinton the golden rule

don't remember the rest.

[Vickers]

3. Just *once* someone should answer Matthew 6:5

:P

[China_cat]

7. Amen.

[truebrit71]

13. I dunno Matthew 19:24 would have some heads exploding...

...

[LWolf]

4. Yes, but not surprised.

The remarks before the question were about "faith." Then the question about a bible passage effectively defines "faith" as Jewish or xtian, leaving out the rest of the faiths active in the U.S..

Irresponsible and lacking in journalistic integrity, imo.

Of course, that could be said for the whole debate. Tim Russert got more than double the talking time than fully half of the candidates, and no candidate got more time than he did. Only one of the candidates not in the "top 3" even made it into double digits; Richardson got 11:49.

Some candidates got questions that allowed them to get their message out on the table, some didn't.

That's not a debate. That's a media event set up to manipulate the outcome.

The "analysis" after the fact showed clear bias. The favored few who decided for us who "won" and who didn't had obvious favorites to pump and opponents to bash. It wasn't about what they said, it was about spinning what they said to fit a media talking head's preconceived opinions and/or agenda.

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. I was offended, and wished that somone would have said, I will not give you may favorite verse

go cheney yourself.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. aren't all the candidates Christian, though?

I mean, if Lieberman was up there I'm sure he'd be allowed to quote some old testament stuff.

[CrispyQ]

10. Who can really say if they are Christian?

I guess that one reason I believe this line of questioning is irrelevant.

Considering the attitude this country & most of the world has about atheists, if there was an atheist among them, it would be political suicide to admit it. I find this particular question (fave Bible reference) odious. Yes, I want to hear about the candidates integrity, but why does it have to be stated in terms of faith & religion? Integrity & morality can be discussed without referencing god.

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. They call themselves Christians, yes

Behind the veneer of piety, who can tell? :shrug:

[bdamomma]

8. I just wish they would keep politics and religion separate

[zanne]

15. Exactly.

And, in asking the question, they were asserting the "America is a Christian Nation" theme, which I greatly object to.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. How would you answer such a question?

I wasn't terribly offended; one can be an atheist or neo-Pagan and still have a favorite passage. Here is mine:

"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you,
the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:6-8, Revised Standard Version

Actually, all of Isaiah 58 is pretty good.

[themaguffin]

14. Sorry it's low on my priority list; Asking candidates about Hillary is insulting

[L0oniX]

16. Don't fret about it ...most of them couldn't quote an accurate bible verse anyway...

and most never read or studied the bible either.

[Rydz777]

17. Russert has built his career on "gotchas." He copied this one

about a favorite Bible verse from Larry King who pulled it on an unsuspecting Paris Hilton. But the clever little minx was too smart for him. "I like them all, Larry."

Full disclosure - mine is: "For now we see through a glass darkly." (1st Corinthians)

Aside from its religious significance, the Bible is a part of western literature, so such a question is essentially a question of depth of education. "What's your favorite quotation from Shakespeare, Senator Clinton?" She replies, "Out, out, damned spot!"

"What's your favorite limerick, Senator Gravel?" Gravel says, "I can't repeat it on TV, but it begins...."