Politicians and Their Faith. Practice or Political Practicality?

During the Vice Presidential debates, moderator  Martha Raddatz asked the two contenders about abortion and how their faith informs their lives. VP Joe Biden said,  “My religion defines who I am...”  He is, like Paul Ryan, a Catholic. Unlike Ryan, it appears he decides which doctrines and dogma he decides to accept.

The longer quote:

"I accept my church’s position on abortion as a — what we call a de fide doctrine. Life begins at conception in the church’s judgment. I accept it in my personal life. But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews, and I just refuse to impose that on others…"

Not being Catholic I had to look up "de fide": De fide (of the faith) is a "theological note" or "theological qualification" that indicates that some religious doctrine is an essential part of Catholic faith and that denial of it is heresy.[1] (Wikipedia Dictionary)

This also, to my understanding, something revealed by God. Apparently the issue of abortion doesn't qualify. 

To my greater point, politicians often separate their faith from their politics. This causes me severe cognitive dissonance. If your faith informs and defines you, how can you in practice ignore the values, beliefs or teachings of your Faith or Church?

Biden's answer is typical; he refuses to impose them on others. The Kennedy's are all pro abortion and nearly all have gotten divorces against the doctrine of the Church they claim to belong to. Nancy Pelosi, another Catholic has even said abortion is an unsettled matter in the Church, and doctrine has developed only in the last fifty years.

"I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time.  And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition.  And Senator–St. Augustine said at three months.  We don’t know. The point is, is that it shouldn’t have an impact on the woman’s right to choose.  Roe v. Wade talks about very clear definitions of when the child–first trimester, certain considerations; second trimester; not so third trimester.  There’s very clear distinctions.  This isn’t about abortion on demand, it’s about a careful, careful consideration of all factors and–to–that a woman has to make with her doctor and her god.  And so I don’t think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins.  As I say, the Catholic Church for centuries has been discussing this, and there are those who’ve decided…"

 The Catholic Church teaches life begins at conception. It has been since at least 70 CE.  

“The second commandment of the teaching: You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not seduce boys. You shall not commit fornication. You shall not steal. You shall not practice magic. You shall not use potions. You shall not procure [an] abortion, nor destroy a newborn child” (Didache 2:1–2 [A.D. 70]).

The Catechism in paragraphs 2271, 2272, and 2274, and explicit in 2322:

 "From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a “criminal” practice (GS 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life."

If a politician claims to belong to a religious institution, or claims belief in the teachings and values of their stated Faith, when they say, like Biden, their Faith defines them, they should walk the talk. It's not a matter of forcing beliefs on others. Such people deciding to be politicians, regardless of political affiliation, should vote issues according to their Faith if they state it's what defines them. They should run for office stating they cannot vote for pro abortion laws or State funded abortion because of religious beliefs. The same with any issue. They should tell the public their affiliation and beliefs when they run for office, and that they obey and practice them. Biden saying his Religion informs his life, then not acting on that, makes him both a hypocrite and a liar. These people's politics and lust for power inform their lives, not their Church or their Faith.

What church or what religion one practices is a matter of choice. Belonging to a Church is voluntary.

If one disagrees with those teachings, dogma, doctrine, another Church should be found. To do anything other than that is hypocritical and cowardly.

 From the debate:

http://youtu.be/KOpb9irG3Cw

Janesville Plant Closing Date Still an Issue?

The Dems are still lying and frothing and spinning about the date of the Jamesville plant closing, saying Ryan, in his Republican Convention Speech, said it closed in 2009 and that Obama caused it.
Here's what he said:

“A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: `I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.’ That’s what he said in 2008. Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year.”

Does anyone see a statement of accusation and date here?

Here's the vid of what Obama said at the plant.

http://youtu.be/4TsV_Z0NPCA

The Leftist member of the Re-elect Obama Press, actually, for a change, practiced some journalism, and stated: Article here.

"And even though he wasn't president, General Motors and Chrysler did get word that they would be receiving a bridge loan from the U.S. Treasury in mid-December, 2008, before the plant stopped producing GM vehicles. It continued to produce some cars for Isuzu and completely shut down mid-2009."

The Dems are supporting a failure, who is responsible for a horrifying economic disaster, and all they can do is call everyone that opposes them a liar and a racist. How embarrassing for them, though they won't recognize it because they have no shame. 

Paul Ryan vs "Fact Checkers"

Paul Ryan answers the lies the Leftist\Re-elect Obama Press and  "fact checkers" have been propagating. Namely about the auto plant and when it closed. The other how he criticized Obama for creating the Simpson-Bowles commission, then rejected it, and Ryan himself voted against it. He points out it didn't fix the problem, they took elements that worked, added some things, and passed it in the house. Obama did nothing. This is brilliant.

http://youtu.be/dHSPM2SoO0M

Republican Convention: Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan

He speaks the truth, and inspires. The Re-elect Obama Press, and other Leftists\Dems are in full throated roar denying everything said here. Just saw a great line, something to the effect that a lie to Leftists is a truth they don't like. True.

http://youtu.be/pZipUINVXIc

Paul Ryan, Choices and Taxes

Ryan offers a clear choice. Do we want to have Washington and local governments take most of our money and pass it out as they see fit, or let the people spend their own money as they see fit. Brilliant presentation.

http://youtu.be/fDzRFSPglM4

Simple Explanation of Our Economic Problems

This is the most simple explanation of the dire straits our economy is in. It's a Left vs Conservative view of the problem and solutions without the yelling. Well worth 12min.

http://youtu.be/iwJTORFuG6g


Of course the politicians won't fix the problem. Just look at the beating Paul Ryan takes for even marginal solutions to the problem. 

Paul Ryan on Washington's Fantasy Economics

http://www.mrctv.org/video/104131

Paul Ryan on the US Financial Crisis

Hard truth.

http://youtu.be/NddO5yMxicw

Before and After Debt Meeting Between Obama and Republicans

http://video.foxnews.com/v/970367064001/rep-ryans-debt-message-to-obama/


http://cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2011/06/01/bts.boehner.cantor.debt.cnn

Yet Another Example of Leftists "New Civility"-Vid Accusing Republicans of Murdering Seasoned Citizens

The Dems for years whined about the "politics of fear", and after the Texas shooting by a deranged madman, were all over Republicans and Conservatives for their lack of civility; many of the accusations posted on this blog. Of course the madman had no political agenda, but the Jurassic Press and Dems kept repeating that he did.
Here's the 'civility' of the Left. The murder of an elderly woman by Republicans. The big lie underneath this is nothing in the Ryan budget plan touches anyone's existing Medicare, it only gives insurance options to those under 55.
Another example of the "new civility".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnE83A1Z4U&feature=player_embedded

This Ain't No Budget, It's a Tax Bill

Because the Democrats and Obama could not stop the Bush tax cuts from being extended, Obama has created this work around. This is his 10 year plan. Most Statist Plans are 5 years, so this is pretty ambitious. This will be a $1.5 trillion tax hike over the next ten years. That’s taking one and a half $trillion out of the pockets of the citizens, money we need to pay for housing, food, child rearing, and transportation to name just a few things.

Of course military spending will be cut by about $78 billion, one of the things the Constitution says the government is required to do; protect the borders and citizens, which this president has shown no inclination to do. We do know Leftists despise the military (they have guns and vote Republican).  

There’s no cuts to any entitlement spending, and an increase in several.

What Republicans need to be saying over and over again is what the Dems say every time a Republican president submits a budget, it’s “dead on arrival”.

This is immoral, that we are spending and borrowing $trillions at least two, maybe three generations into the future, saddling the unborn with massive economic problems they didn’t have a say in creating.

Obama and the Dems have cut revenue to the federal government by their effectively shutting down production of the oil and coal industries. By not being able to produce, there’s no income to tax. This is a huge revenue loss.

Reduced revenue from that, plus reduced revenue because fewer people are working so they aren’t paying taxes, plus about 47% of the population not paying taxes in the first place, and lots of other stuff too numerous to mention in a short post (plus its being mind numbingly boring except for us political and economic wonks), here’s some of the ways he’s going to get blood from the turnip.

Obama proposed budget:

Raises the top marginal income tax rate (big hit on small business profits) from 35% to 39.6%.

Raises the capital gains and dividends rate from 15% to 20%.

Raises the death tax rate from 35% to 45% and lowering the death tax exemption amount from $5 million ($10 million for couples) to $3.5 million. 

Caps the value of itemized deductions at the 28% bracket rate.  This cuts tax deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions, property taxes, state and local income or sales taxes, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and unreimbursed employee business expenses. 

Creates new bank taxes.

Creates new international corporate tax hikes.

Creates new life insurance company taxes.

Creates new taxes on energy

Increases unemployment payroll taxes. (This is on the 53% paying taxes so the 47% can continue to live off the fruits of our labor). My view is that everybody should have some skin in the game.

Taxing management capital gains in an investment partnership (“carried interest”) as ordinary income. 

Companies could no longer deduct the cost of punitive damages from a lawsuit settlement. (Trial lawyers, one of the largest contributors to the Democrat Party after Unions, love this.)

Increasing tax penalties, information reporting, and IRS information sharing.

Plus there’s a whole bunch of hidden taxes in ObamaCare that we must must must repeal.

House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.):

“The president punted on the budget and he punted on the deficit and on the debt.” “This doesn’t even include any of the president’s fiscal commission’s recommendations [and] it doesn’t address the drivers of our debt.” (The Budget Commission formed by Obama spent $millions to come up with reports and recommendations. Obama didn’t use one of them.)

“I really thought that we would see an advancement, that we would see a step in the right direction.” “Instead we saw a step farther to the left than if we did nothing at all.” 

Rep. Paul Ryan Educates on Fiscal Policy

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZrVoQCPV8

Chris Matthews' "Thrill" Up His Leg Short Circuited His Brain

Paul Ryan precisely and specifically answered Matthews' questions and he didn't understand a word of it.

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