"So What Do You Do, Matt Welch?": Kate Coe did a Media Bistro interview w/ me; you can read it at the link. The Hot Stove League and Tribune Co. tribulations are analogized.

01/19/2007 11:25 PM  |  Comment (3)

How John McCain Found God: Remember the other week back, when I posted all the reactions to my L.A. Times McCain deal, and the most laughably off-base criticism came from a site called Ankle Biting Pundits? Well, I see from the InstaPundit that John McCain's "Internet Guy" is a fellow named Patrick Hynes, and, well, guess what website Hynes founded and acts as "proprietor" of?

He didn't write the post in question, though there was this addendum at the bottom:

Hynesy Says: What a remarkably petty and childish editorial from the L.A. Times! Someday, perhaps, criticisms of Sen. McCain will graduate beyond name calling and puerile armchair psychoanalyzing. But today evidently is not that day.

Hynes does a good job demonstrating the demographic diversity of this voting bloc as well as the diversity of their beliefs-showing how they cannot all be lumped under the banner of a single high-profile leader, such as Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson.

[T]he level of discourse approaches low-brow telejournalism, picking apart sound-bites from left-wing politicos and pundits rather than taking on reasoned arguments. [...] Unfortunately, the lion's share of the book is more like a snarky blog than a serious consideration of the religious right. Despite its title, Hynes' work is not a defense in the standard sense; Hynes is more interested in strengthening group identity among one of America's largest voting blocs than convincing opponents of that bloc to reconsider their position.

That last book in particular, despite having great subjects to riff on (George Washington, Pat Tillman, Mark Twain), is about as enjoyable as watching a kid eat spinach. The six sections are entitled "Honor," "Purpose," "Strength," "Understanding," "Judgment," and "Creativity." Every chapter has an interchangeable title like "Honesty," "Respect," "Authenticity," "Loyalty," "Dignity." More germane to the topic at hand, at least half the stories become excuses to prattle on about God.

Let's back up a moment -- You do realize, don't you, that we're talking about a guy whose nickname well into adulthood was "McNasty"? Who spent the first half of his first book talking about extraordinary lengths he would go to find booze, throw legendary parties and date strippers? Who to this day cusses up a blue streak? Whose father was widely known as "Good Goddamned McCain," and whose grandfather "smoked, swore, drank, and gambled at every opportunity he had"? God does play a role in Faith of My Fathers; there are some particularly moving moments of faith and celebration during his Hanoi captivity. But the Guy in the Sky hardly plays a starring role. Character Is Destiny, though, is a veritable Godapalooza.

"God has given us ... life, shown us how to use it, but left it to us dispose of as we choose," he writes in the first paragraph of the introduction. The first chapter he devotes to, of all people, Sir Thomas More, a man history remembers for (among other accomplishments) being put to death by Henry VIII, who he had served with distinction, because he refused to publicly endorse the King's heretical marriage to Anne Boleyn and creation of the Church of England. Here's how the chapter ends:

In his last address, spoken moments earlier, he had asked the crowd of witnesses to pray for his soul and for the king, for he died "the King's good servant, but God's first."

One swift stroke and the king's will was done. The life on earth of honest Thomas More was ended. His glory had just begun.

More defended the Church out of religious principle, and because he and the king feared the uncontrollable social disorder that a permanent split among the faithful would surely cause. But his hatred, if it could be called that in such a mild man, was for the heresy and not the heretics. Death was the judgment for heretics in the courts that Thomas More governed, but he went to great lengths to encourage the accused to recant their views and escape their sentence.

Anyhoo, Chapter 2 is about Gandhi. Totally gratuitous religious bit, in the second paragraph:

I can't offer you an informed explanation of Gandhian philosophy; it is too rooted in his religious devotion, derived mostly from Hindu beliefs, for me to fully comprehend, much less explain, even though his beliefs were influenced by the traditions of all major religions, including mine.

God's messenger went bravely to her death, forgiving her accusers and asking only that a priest hold high a crucifix for her to see it above the flames. She raised her voice to heaven, calling out to her saints and her Savior. Even her enemies wept at the sight. Her executioner was shaken with remorse, and an anguished English soldier who witnessed the crime feared for his soul. "God forgive us," he cried, "we have burned a saint."

01/16/2007 10:57 PM  |  Comment (9)

Hi! What are you doing down here?