Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper
RECENT POSTS
- An Emotional President Obama Tours Former Slave Port with Family
- O Baby! The Obamas Visit Maternity Clinic in Ghana
- In Ghana, President Obama Gives Tough Love
- 2 Prez Obama: Questions Sent in Via Text, Email from Africa & the World
- Obama Campaign Plane Emergency: Report Shows it Could Have Been Catastrophic
- Give it Some Time, Obama Says in Defending the Recovery Act
- In Shift, US Calls for "Amnesty" for Journalists in NK
- Obama Pushes Back Amid Criticism Over G-8 Progress on Iran
- While the President's Away, Health Care will Stray?
- 'My Cousin In Kenya Can't Get a Job Without Paying a Bribe': Obama Tells African Leaders to Get Their Houses in Order
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Pastor Muthee and Mayor Palin
September 25, 2008 12:19 PM
A grainy 2005 video has emerged from the Wasilla Assembly of God featuring a Kenyan pastor named Thomas Muthee and then-Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin.
Some commentators have mocked the moment where Muthee prays to God to protect Palin from "witchcraft."
Catholic League president Bill Donohue said today that "for the past two decades, Americans have been lectured by educators and the chattering class that we must respect cultural, religious, racial and ethnic diversity. It seems that exceptions to the creed of multiculturalism are only made when it suits the ideological agenda of the left. ... Witchcraft is a sad reality in many parts of Africa, resulting in scores of deaths in Kenya over the past two decades. Bishop Muthee’s blessing, then, was simply a reflection of his cultural understanding of evil. While others are not obliged to accept his interpretation, all can be expected to respect it. More than that — Muthee should be hailed for asking God to shield Palin from harmful forces, however they may be manifested. And for this he is mocked and Palin ridiculed?"
Perhaps of greater interest to others are the comments Muthee makes before calling Palin to the stage.
"God wants us, wants to penetrate in our society, is in the economic area," Muthee says. "The Bible says that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. It's high time that we have top Christian businessmen, businesswomen, bankers, you know, who are men and women of integrity, running the economics of our nations. That's what we are waiting for. That's part and parcel of transformation. If you look at the -- you know -- if you look at the Israelites, that's how they work. And that's how they are, even today."
When Christian believers take over and become "the top transporters in the land ... the bankers," Muthee says, "we will not have the kind of corruption that we are hearing in our society."
Some are interpreting these comments to be a slam on Jews, the idea being that Muthee is saying believers need to take over the economy from Israelites so as to end corruption. Others believe Muthee is saying Christians should model Israelites, who put people of integrity in charge of the economy.
What do you think?
PRE-EMPTIVE NOTE: Yes, Palin defenders, I blogged and broadcast about Rev. Jeremiah Wright as well as Father Michael Pfleger.
- jpt
September 25, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (151)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I don't see anything wrong with this video and applaud Palin for embracing Christianity. The USA is traditionally a Christian nation. It is only through bombardment by a media rampant with a leftist agenda over the last 30 years under influence of the Bilderberg group, Trilateral Commission and their spin off groups who control media and politicians in America that witchcraft and satanic cults have become acceptable and the fad. Most Americans reject anti-Christian and anti-Christ ideologies.
Posted by: idbogue1955 | Nov 10, 2008 5:15:58 PM
K...lessee here...
Frankie said:
Isn't it funny how religon of any kind scares the hell out of liberals. I watched the vid,nothing about it was shocking.
Well, as a witch, I do.
Cogno said:
I don't see how this reflects poorly on Palin at all.
Were we watching the same video?
Mara said:
I don't see a single thing wrong with this video...Also if you would read your Bibles you will note that the "witchcraft" that THIS Minister is referring to is--Rebelliousness to authority, strife, consternation, trying to impose personal opinions and thoughts...1 Samuel 15:23.
Maybe so, but most people are too busy thumping their Bibles to read them, so it sounds to a lot of people like a justification of hatred based on religion---the old "appearance of evil" bit.
Just thought I'd stir the cauldron a bit.
Blessed be.
Posted by: Maelaius | Nov 1, 2008 1:32:05 AM
I'm a witch, a practitionner of Wicca. We certainly do not kill anyone, nor do we pray for anyone to be killed. I won't pray for your death, but you would pray for mine... and you think you're reasonable?
(1) Learn what Wicca really is
(2) Stop wishing death on people, it's just not nice.
Posted by: Aleks | Oct 15, 2008 4:16:36 PM
As someone said, yes, WE(the world)are laughing ; but it's a kind of nervous laugh mixed with extreme fear that these people will be in charge of the the world's police force, the world's army, the world's department of culture, the world's department of the treasure..... and we hope YOU guys are clever enough not to put such responsibilities in dangerous clown's hands.
Posted by: Pablo | Oct 5, 2008 11:25:26 PM
Is it just me, or does Pastor Muthee sound like Linda Blair in The Exorcist?
Posted by: Commontater | Oct 5, 2008 2:32:43 PM
McCain already has run the Rezko ads. He included poor Bill Daley, Clinton's Commerce Secretary and an upstanding businessman in the ad too. Apparently now guilt by association works in reverse: first Obama was guilty for associating with Rezko, but now Daley is guilty for associating with Obama.
Posted by: PG | Sep 27, 2008 11:30:32 PM
Muthee is praised by conservative Christians for getting rid of witches. As Donohue's comment demonstrates, certain people believe witchcraft is a "sad reality" rather than a dangerous myth that causes power-seeking people to scapegoat vulnerable women. It reminds me of CS Lewis's attempt to defend the witch-hunters, when he said, "Well, if there really were such things as witches, wasn't this a reasonable way to behave?" No, it wasn't. If you accuse someone of having supernatural powers, you had better have sane adults with no motive to lie who can witness that the "witch" was able to move inanimate objects. Relying on the testimony of hostile neighbors and hysterical adolescents isn't reasonable. Similarly, blaming a series of car accidents on the mystical powers of a single woman requires a very high burden of proof. That is the rational way to behave before driving someone out of town. Pity that even American conservatives are willing to accept witchcraft as a "sad reality."
Posted by: PG | Sep 27, 2008 11:29:15 PM
There is no reason why we should respect ANYONE'S religious beliefs.
Posted by: Rik | Sep 26, 2008 3:29:22 PM
In this video and the Alaskan Indepence Party video, both speakers praise Palin, and say that it is important for their groups to infiltrate mainstream America. It offers the possibility that Palin thinks that she should just pretend to be mainstream until she gets into power. It suggests the possibiilty that Palin may be some sort Manchurian candidate.
Posted by: iguana | Sep 26, 2008 3:23:18 PM
I don't believe that Palin's religious beliefs are relevant other than to women who seek choice or all those who abhor creationism as religion not science. The one exception is her possible belief in "The Rapture" common to many Pentacostals. Rapturists pray for Armageddon to cleanse the world and bring their instant ascent to heaven (kind of like the extreme jihadists). We cannot afford a Rapturist in the White House. She should renounce such beliefs before the election.
Posted by: jefflz | Sep 26, 2008 3:15:45 PM
I don't know - after last night's performance with Katie Couric - she sure did sound like she was speaking in toungues! Dang witches! They got her!!
Posted by: Firth Davenport | Sep 26, 2008 2:09:10 PM
Muthee said in the same service:
"We need believers who are educationists. If we had them we would not be talking about the Ten Commandments being kicked out of the high school. They would still be there...We need a core taking over our education system. If we had God in our schools we would not have kids being taught how to worship Buddha, how to worship Mohammad. We would not have in the curriculum witchcraft and sorcery."
Wow, I didn't realize Buffy needs to do some vampire slaying in Alaska's high schools. And doesn't freedom of religion in this country include Buddhists and Moslems? Wow, as a Jew I didn't realize I'm corrupting society and controlling all the money. Uhhh.. actually I don't control any money at all and certainly haven't corrupted anybody. Well at least Palin showed she is incoherent when talking to Katie Couric. More interviews please!
Posted by: Josh | Sep 26, 2008 1:39:25 PM
Let's get church out of state, pronto, and focus on the numerous pressing issues. The whole world is watching, folks — and they are laughing in horror. It's 2008: Wake up!
Posted by: Lynn C. | Sep 26, 2008 1:35:35 PM
Isn't it funny how religon of any kind scares the hell out of liberals. I watched the vid,nothing about it was shocking.
Posted by: Frankie | Sep 26, 2008 10:47:10 AM
As a lifelong agnostic, I really want to encourage Obama's media henchmen like Olbermann and his more masculine protege Maddow to hype this non-story. I hope it riles McCain up enough so that we start to see some prime-time campaign ads starring Obama's shrieking, deranged and racist friend and pastor of 20 years and his creepy pal (and fellow member of the Farrakhan reverence society) Pfleger.
Posted by: JSmith | Sep 26, 2008 10:11:57 AM
Palin’s Vice Presidential candidacy was launched by an undergraduate student interested in “Politics, Foreign Affairs & Zionism…"; perhaps, because she only knows about Politics, but nothing about Foreign Affairs & Zionism, which are crucial to a person a heartbeat away from the Presidency!?
Posted by: T | Sep 26, 2008 10:04:32 AM
This appears to be a flagrant breach of the rule that in exchange for tax exempt status prevents religious organizations from directly endorsing any political figure or party.
Posted by: Robert J | Sep 26, 2008 1:50:38 AM
Well, I'd say it looks like Muthee's 2005 prayer is getting answered.
Sarah is being lifted up as a beacon of righteousness -- and to hold a high position of leadership in the U.S.
Hallelujah!
Posted by: Lulu | Sep 26, 2008 1:42:44 AM
It's time to stop this nonsense and focus on the issues. It's appalling that she would be held accountable for something someone else said. Let's stick to relevant issues- like her views on domestic as well as foreign policy.
Posted by: Dave | Sep 26, 2008 1:36:07 AM
This is not Sarah Palin's pastor.
This is not Sarah Palin's church.
I don't share Palin's politics, but this is a hatchet job.
Posted by: Nijma | Sep 26, 2008 12:29:17 AM
Post a comment

