Two weeks

[solarbird]

There are 60 days left in the presidential campaign. Governor and vice-presidential candidate Palin will not be available for press questions for two weeks as they "brief" her on McCain policies. That's kinda weird. But at the same time, Senator McCain's campaign team is working to get the 'Troopergate' investigation either whitewashed or shut down, which one could argue makes that a lot less weird; if they succeed, then they won't have to answer questions. Andrew Sullivan notes that apparently Senator McCain has learned one more thing from Chief Executive Bush: how to obstruct justice. (Not that they haven't taken a few notes from the Democratic Congress, either.) Glenn Greenwald has commentary on the propagandistic nature of this exercise here, and the ways in which the political media will continue to fail to do its job.

But I wonder whether what they're really doing is briefing her on something else entirely.

A few days ago, Andrew Sullivan linked to this pair of YouTube videos showing Sarah Palin speaking at her old church a few weeks ago, where in everything, and I mean everything, is Jesus and The Will of God. I've talked before about what Focus on the Family, et al, describe as the "Biblical worldview," a rejection of "material," or fact-and-evidenced based, reason in favour of the "Word of God," whether that be their particular version of Biblical literalism or a literal inner voice taken to be that of Jesus, and how it's a central tenant that this system much be applied to everything - not just faith, but "history, law, politics, science," and so on. In that mindset, when the world - when the data, the evidence - and this "Word of God" collide, it's data and the world that are wrong and must be discarded.

This presentation at her church strikes me as indicating a personal endorsement and acceptance of that idea. I'm familiar enough with the rhetoric and the language of the evangelical fundamentalist movement to make that my working assumption - at least, until convinced otherwise - and her forays into library censorship, creationism in schools, and so forth fail to provide reassurance she might not. Her references to the use of prophecy as a guide to decision-making don't help either, because while she's speaking to theologists at a church and one could cry context, she's speaking to them about politics, making the context political. She's talking about God's Will in building a pipeline, how Alaskan government can't work if the hearts of the people of Alaska aren't "right with God," and so on. I don't know about you, but I'm extremely uncomfortable with intuition in the form of divine prophecy being used on engineering projects.

And I suspect that this is why the fundamentalist leadership is so overjoyed; I think they've come to this conclusion. I think they think she truly is one of them. And I don't like that, not one bit. Millions of fundamentalists will like it quite a lot, and are - hence her huge spike impact on McCain's fundraising, mentioned previously - but I sure don't.

So I wonder whether, in addition to getting her up to speed on things like foreign policy and McCain positions and talking points and so on, if they aren't reminding her of the important virtues of running as what the movement used to call a "stealth" candidate, insofar as that's still possible for her. I have no idea if that's the reality; this part is pure speculation. But two weeks is an awfully long time to be secluded away after being nominated for Vice-President. Obviously, they think they have a lot of work to do. I just wish I knew what work that was.

eta: Talk2action has a post with a set of Dominionist bloggers who want to see McCain/Palin elected, followed by McCain's immediate salvation and death, including calls for prayers for such an outcome. So the Dominionists are certainly onboard.

Comments

[silussa.livejournal.com]

The word I keep seeing is "Dominionist" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionist). And that's a word I most definitely don't like in politics.

[zarq.livejournal.com]

The tag fits her perfectly.

The dark_christian community has been up in arms over her candidacy.

[solarbird]

I don't think we entirely know that. There's a line between even Biblical Worldview people and active Dominionism, which has to do with intent and the role of non-fundamentalist politicians and that line matters.

[zarq.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* Actually, I was basing this opinion on what you said above, regarding the application of prophecy and the Word of G-d onto all aspects of life (including one's acts as a politician), while dismissing or rejecting fact-based thought and rigorous analysis.

But, I do see your point. :)

[solarbird]

Here:

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/3/11483/34706

The Dominionists certainly like her, quite a bit.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

I guess that would explain the "Palin for VP" ads I've been seeing online this week. I thought it was really odd, as I've NEVER seen ads pitched for the #2 on the ticket before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_vaH2BjVeA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkRjBFneUAU

[zarq.livejournal.com]

Sequestering a candidate or public official from the media is SOP for the GOP. Prior to 9/11, our President's biggest exclusive interview was with Runner's Monthly. The GOP doesn't trust the media. For that matter, they don't trust anyone who shines a bright light on them.

Who can blame them? If Palin says the wrong thing, she could wreck the campaign. Considering her religious beliefs, there's a decent chance she could make an offhand, unscripted comment and alienate everyone in the country but the fundie dominionists.

As far as I can tell, she hasn't ever had to deal with a hostile interview. Hasn't ever had to fight investigative journalists looking to dig up dirt on her professional or personal life. Hasn't ever had to deal with the stress of a real campaign. She won the governorship in a landslide because her opponent was incredibly corrupt. Did they even debate?

In her entire career, she's *never* been vetted.

[solarbird]

There's a difference between "interviews" and "taking any questions at all." With her, they're doing the latter.

[zarq.livejournal.com]

True.

It certainly gives lie to the "Ready on Day One" rhetoric.

[solarbird]

Also, you should read here, on how the political media will be used, again, as propaganda, and continue to fail to do its job.

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

I saw a posting on a Christian blog (via the Stranger) advocating that they should all work as hard as they can to get McCain/Palin elected and then pray for McCain's death!

[solarbird]

Salvation and death, in that order. I saw the same blog entry.

[solarbird]

Here:

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/3/11483/34706

That's a collection of such commentary from various Dominionist and fundamentalist bloggers.

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

If I were McCain I'd be pretty concerned about some Christian nutjob taking a shot.

[solarbird]

Not just him.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

Having had one run in many, many years ago with the Secret Service/Presidential Protection Detail....I feel safe in saying they're keeping an eye. Probably more then that; I imagine some folks might be getting visits from folks with VERY nice looking identification. (given the Secret Service works for the Treasury Dept, which makes the money, that figures, don't you agree?)

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

She's definitely one of them (far right, possibly Dominionist Christians). I have to say that I don't really mind her talking about Jesus and the Will of God in church. That's what church is for. But it deeply disturbs me that she talks about "God's will" in connection with government policy.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

Being old enough to remember Nixon-Agnew (although not to vote in it)...I can't help but find it strange when the #2 displaces the #1.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-07-mccain-palin_N.htm

[denelian.livejournal.com]

all i know is, this is really really really scarey. SHE is scarey.

i am, quite seriously, considering where to run if McCain/Palin win the election. i'm pagan, have worked in the sex trade, my boyfriend/fiancee/whatever is black, i've had an abortion (which, btw, saved my life, but THEY don't care, they'd rather i died...)...

in short. to them, i am The Enemy. course, so are you :-P and my sister. and pretty much every person i know.

Canada wants you to have a year's income before you immigrate, so i'm looking at Scandanavia. just idly, at the moment... any recomendations?

[mathmuffin.livejournal.com]

What is the point in having a worldview besides using it to view the world? What I find scary is when some Biblical worldview advocates act perfectly willing to reject large parts of the Bible too if it disagrees with their preconceived notions. The real Bible says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2) It teaches humility, which includes admitting that our view of the world might be wrong. That is why objective science could flourish in Renaissance Europe.

Sarah Palin sounded very ordinary in those videos. A local celebrity speaking at her hometown church reminisced about the people she knew and the experiences she had, using the language of the church. Lines such as, "We pray that God's will be done in the state of Alaska," translate into ordinary English as, "We pray for the best for Alaska."

However, her ideas had a scope more appropriate for the mayor of a small city than the governor of a large state. I have heard Sheila Dixon, the mayor of Baltimore, speak at a church-sponsored event, and Ms. Dixon sounded more gubernatorial than Ms. Palin. The Sarah Palin of that day (how old is that video? Less than two years, since she was already governor) was not Vice President material.