Sunday, September 28, 2008


THE GAMBLER (click that link to the NYT article today.)
Correct me if I'm wrong (and I am not trying to be facetious.) Stop rolling your eyes at me! I'm not! But don't many folks on the religious right, particularly Born Again Christians find gambling to be highly sinful and downright wrong? I think we've seen examples of McCain's gambles so far in this campaign. The Palin choice. Suspending his campaign. Not going to attend the debate. Then attending the debate. He is a well known gambler. I'm not against gambling per se. Don't blow the mortgage payment and your kids' lunch money. But I have no problem with the casinos here in CT or elsewhere. But how does that sit with the base? And/or does Sarah Palin's not having had an abortion outweight that concern (and so many others) like a magic eraser?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you see Katie Couric's interview with Palin? Now there's a "gamble" for McCain that didn't pay off. Palin is so unbelievably clueless. How could anyone in their right mind think about voting for these two?

Niksmom said...

My thoughts exactly as I read the NYT article today. How can the religious right reconcile their beliefs/values with this man's behavior??

Anonymous said...

I am lost. What's the connection between abortion and craps? Should I care? Does this mean there's still no god reason to vote for McCain and Palin?

Confused of Highland

Aimlesswriter said...

Before Palin's candidacy was announced I read she would be chosen so I went to investigate who this woman was...
I read her bio, her history and everything I could find. I said to my husband, "This has to be some kind of joke. She had no qualifications." He agreed. When it was announced we were speechless. Now Sarah is speechless...or should be.
Go figure.
Some think that McCain is a throw away candidate. They don't think he'll win after the Bush fiasco so they are letting him play now and they'll use their real choice in four years. With this thinking they picked an obscure VP because they just don't care. Possible?

Tricia said...

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all you do!!!

Kim Rossi Stagliano said...

I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear. My question is really, "How did John McCain become the Republican candidate?" It appears to me that this former moderate/maverick who was pro-choice, is pro-gambling and is not, to my knowledge, a Born Again Christian, has little in common with the core of the current Republican party - which is the conservative religious right. How did he go from despised and ridiculed in 2000 to the choice? I think he chose Sarah
Palin solely to appease the base and that her only qualification as a candidate is that she did not abort her son who has Down syndrome. I do not think she has qualifications for the actual job. Governorship notwithstanding. I wonder why there is no public questioning of McCain's fondness for gambling - which is anathema to the social conservatives. I'm a bit clearer at 7:45pm than in the am when I wrote the post.

I'm stymied by the hypocrisy. But I guess that's just politics.

There's a good reason to vote for McCain Palin if that's your belief, your ticket. Aren't we fortunate to be able to debate this openly?

Amy said...

No one can know John McCain's heart and if he is truly born again. He claims to be one and attends a Baptist church in Phoenix. I'm born again and would be happy to share my faith if anyone is curious. We're not all nearly as judgemental as the 2% of us who are given a microphone.

Robin said...

If I remember right, I think the conservatives did not like McCain, but now they are stuck with him and doing there best I suppose.

Courting the "religious" is a tricky thing. You have your Catholics, very pro life and pro gambling, your Baptists - very prolife and anti gambling, drinking, dancing and swearing, your Methodist - not pro life but anti gambling and that is if everyone follows what the leaders of that religion decrees. sigh

Kim Rossi Stagliano said...

AMy, of course there are wonderful people in every walk of life. And knowing individuals helps temper the knee jerk reaction we all have about "them" (whoever them is.) I guess that's just human nature. I think back to my Born Again friend in Ohio who really did worry about my soul after death because I'm not saved, and yet never was in my face about it - just true concern. Even at Halloweem she'd gently counsel me - and I'd tease her about bringing her to Salem Mass with me to visit the witches. She and her husband live such a beautiful life. A Christlike life is the best way I could describe it. I have great admiration for her. But when politics comes into play and religion takes over, the results are often disastrous. The R party was highjacked away from fiscal responsibility to fighting for gun rights, abortion limits and preventing gay marriage by the religious right. None of which put food on American's tables, provide jobs, maintains worldwide "peace" (if that's possible) and bolsters our standing in the world.

Peace.