There’s been talk for years that many Bush supporters believe he was literally chosen by God to be president. We don’t hear as much about this lately — God wanted a U.S. president who would screw up everything he touches? — but the notion of divine intervention on behalf of Republicans has been a relatively common sentiment in far-right circles for quite a while.
That said, direct comparisons between Republican candidates and Jesus are still rather unusual. (via mcjoan)
Georgia Republican Party chairwoman Sue Everhart said Saturday that the party’s presumed presidential nominee has a lot in common with Jesus Christ.
“John McCain is kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross,” Everhart said as she began the second day of the state GOP convention. “He never denounced God, either.”
Everhart was praising McCain for never denouncing the United States while he was being tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
“I’m not trying to compare John McCain to Jesus Christ, I’m looking at the pain that was there,” she said.
Right, of course. She’s not “trying to compare” McCain to Jesus, she’s just says he’s “kind of like Jesus.” The distinction is obvious. And sacrilegious.
Atrios added, “I’m not Christian so it doesn’t really matter much to me who is casually compared to their Lord And Savior, but still.”
I’d just add, speaking of Georgia Republicans, the day before the state GOP chairperson noted the similarities between McCain and Jesus, the state party hosted its annual “Victory Dinner.” (thanks to reader J.C. for the tip)
It was called a Victory Dinner. Said so right on the program. But it had the feel of an intervention session for a pill-popping, booze-chugging family member who was about to drag the rest of the clan down…. These are [Rep. Nathan Deal’s (R-Ga.)] exact words:
”I’m concerned about the Mississippi election, because I think it could signal a reversal of the process that the South has been a part of — and that is the power of the Republican party being swelled and invigorated by people who normally would have, in the past, been Democrats — myself being one of them.
“Now we have seen our state and our South make the transition to the Republican party. It was one of those phenomena, in my opinion, that started at the top and came down….
“The reform of party affiliation, I think, took great momentum in the South in particular with [Clinton’s] presidency. And now, I think we’re seeing the reversal of that process — and we cannot allow it to happen — and that is a reversal of the process from the bottom up.”[…]
Let [former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael] Steele tell the story from there:
“…It’s the story of America, folks. And it is the story of our party. It is a story, I’m afraid we have forgotten. We’ve forgotten how to tell it, we’ve forgotten how to share it, and we’ve forgotten how to live it. We have come to Washington, and we have become consumed by Potomac Fever.
“We have come to Washington, and we’ve become like those we were sent to replace. And in 2006 the people of this country replaced us.
“And my fear is, if we do not get our act together, if we do not reform ourselves, and remember who we are and why we are, we will continue to be replaced to the point where we will be irrelevant.”
This was, just a reminder, the Republicans’ Victory Dinner.
No wonder these guys are looking for a savior. Literally.
