“. . . whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity . . . is above my pay grade.”
Althouse apparently just figured out that Obama was referring to God in that comment.
I thought that he was referring to God the first time I read the quote (didn't see the event live). I've been sort of shocked that the folks on the right, you know - the ones who are supposedly religious and look to their faith in God to guide their decisions and politics, didn't grasp that immediately. It seemed like a pretty obvious reference to this lapsed Catholic and, I thought, a nice turn by him. Certainly something that religious voters would have to ponder even if they didn't ultimately accept it as a valid answer.
Given his position as not only a Democrat but a Democrat who may secretly be a Muslim provoking some introspection from viewers would have been, in my opinion, a win. Actually winning them over to his side was out of the question but softening overt hostility should still be a goal.
Anyway, the reaction by the pundits on the right had me confused. If I didn't know better I'd guess that they were being intentionally obtuse in order to spin Obama's answer to their political favor. But then again I know better, to these people religion is a deeply held set of beliefs and not just another tool with which to bludgeon their political opponents. That is indeed the case, right?
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