This is getting scarey. It's bad enough that the McCain campaign has decided to run 100% negative and rev up the worst, most bigoted and xenophobic elements of the fringe of their base. Palin's abominable screed and McCain's enabling her caused Rep. John Lewis to warn them that "they are playing with fire." He should know. Now some religious wingnut is going even farther.
From the AP today:
"Unhelpful for establishing the tone McCain sought in Davenport was the Rev. Arnold Conrad, past pastor of the Grace Evangelical Free Church. His prayer before McCain arrived at the convention center blocks from the Mississippi River appeared to dismiss faiths other than Christianity and cast the election as a referendum on God himself.
"I would also pray, Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their god — whether it's Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that his opponent wins, for a variety of reasons," Conrad said.
"And Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name with all that happens between now and Election Day," he said."
We can't let this happen. Call out the McCain campaign and the MSM on this repugnant 'reverend's' incantations. No wonder McCain has been forced to stay away from Rev. Wright.
This wing-nuttery isn't just an attempt to turn the election into a referendum on God: it encourages the "us versus them" mentality of the worst, most dangerous elements of the Christian right.
We can't let this become a holy war. We must convince people the the Obama campaign offers the leadership and hope for the future of our country and the world, while McCain promises more division, fear and hopelessness.
Update via Ambinder from the McCain campaign:
"While we understand the important role that faith plays in informing the votes of Iowans, questions about the religious background of the candidates only serve to distract from the real questions in this race about Barack Obama's judgment, policies and readiness to lead as commander in chief." - Wendy Riemann, Midwest Regional Communications Director
Is that an actual repudiation of Rev. Conrad? Not so much....Stay classy, McCain campaign.