AddieStan

Getting Religion Howard Dean’s Theological Critics Miss the Mark (and Matthew) And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6* In their relentless compiling of reasons why Howard Dean is unelectable, members of the Stop Dean movement seem to think they have found their strongest one yet: the Democratic frontrunner’s apparent lack of religiosity. Advanced by Very Smart People with a conventionally wise bent, these critiques have so far tended to be based on a frightfully simplistic view of American religious belief or, in one notable case, logical inconsistency. They depend on a misreadin...

I Feel Good (Who Knew That I Would?) Weekend Politics - Sunday Show Wrap-Up Who knew the Reverend Al Sharpton, our favorite gadfly presidential candidate and general thorn in the Democratic side, could sing? Sharpton’s turn before the band on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend wins him the prize in the weekly Sunday show sweepstakes. (Yes, the show starts on Saturday, but ends on Sunday, so that’s how we’re working it in.) In a very funny bit--with Tracy Morgan playing the younger Sharpton, arrayed in the rev’s once trademark track suit and medallions (not to mention the James Brown hairdo)--the candidate covered the Godfather of Soul’s theme song with aplomb, including the footwork . (Unfortunately, the rest of the show failed to live up to the standard set in this opening piece.) Most Dems I know roll their eyes when Sharpton’s name comes up, but I must confess, I’m glad he’s in the race. A good friend--a civil rights activist who is African American (I ...