Posted by Damozel | cross posted at BN-Politics | Hey, what do you know? McCain's ad, "The One," portraying Obama as Antichrist (see the ad here) seems to have worked! In "debunking" the "rumor," CNN actually treated this as a serious question. (cf. The Raw Story)
That such a subject is even speculated about in any but the most backwards, unreconstructed segments of American society -- let alone on a 24-hour cable network -- is a testament (no pun intended) to the depths to which political debate has fallen. But there was the caption on CNN Friday in big bold letters: "OBAMA THE ANTICHRIST?"
Apparently a not-insignificant number of Americans, after viewing John McCain's Web ad The One, with its Messianic overtones -- come away thinking that Barack Obama has been sent from Hell to Earth to turn its citizens against God. For inspiration, some of these people seem to be drawing from the fictional Left Behind series, which posits a dystopian future where the Anti-Christ comes to Earth as a charismatic politician. (The Raw Story)
Chalk one up for McCain! He did exactly what he wasn't---he assures us---setting out to do.
Teh Nutroots covered the initial ruckus surrounding "The One" here. He wrote:
The Republicans protest that it is a "light-hearted ad" poking fun at "his audaciousness."
Yeah, that sounds right. The GOPpers are known for spending large sums to poke affectionate fun with Democratic rivals. It happens all the time. (BN-Politics)
In the meantime:
Just so we're clear: Barack Obama is in fact not the Anti-Christ, sent here to feed on the souls of the innocent, resume Satan's reign over earth and bring about the apocalypse as foretold in Revelation.
Not. The. Anti-Christ. (The Raw Story)
Um, they seem awfully sure....
The Left Behind series writers don't seem to think Obama necessarily qualifies.
"I can see by the language he uses why people think he could be the antichrist," adds LaHaye, "but from my reading of scripture, he doesn't meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American."
I mean....come on. Obama? How about Vladimir Putin? He's certainly being characterized as everything else but. He's a lot closer geographically to "Nicolae Carpathia, a charming Romanian politician, who later reveals to be (sic) the long predicted Antichrist." (Wikipedia) Oh, but....Carpathia is described as "charming." Nope, can't be Putin.
Hey! What about Mikhail Saakashvili, the young, gorgeous, charming, charismatic politician who is currently president of Georgia and McCain's BFF? True, Georgia's in Asia---and Romania, home of the fictional Carpathia, a fictional character who is by definition a character in a work of fiction, is in Europe hundreds of miles away, but "Misha's" got the looks, the charm, the passionate character... Though of course, the segment of the "base" that finds the Antichrist allegations terrifying are the same people who would have responded to McCain's "Today, we all Georgians" with "Hell, no. I'm from Tennessee." [or wherever]
Or what about McCain? Bush?
Just so we're clear, as The Raw Story puts it, I do not believe either of them is the Antichrist either.
Throughout my Bible Belt childhood, I've heard people propose (always wrongly) potential candidates for Antichrist----though this is the first time I've seen one candidate in a campaign for THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES make such an implication concerning the other candidate.
In fact, I'd like to see everyone, especially the McCain campaign, agree that any such allegations are nonsense.
David Neiwart at FDL says grimly, "It's all about scaring the GOP base."
The story that inspired the segment -- in which "Left Behind" authors Tim LaHaye and Dan Jenkins officially pronounced Obama NOT the Antichrist -- was actually a clever bit of politicking: Even though the verdict was negative, it gave the very question a veneer of legitimacy it does not deserve. It made the question seem like a serious theological problem -- one that could then be debated further -- rather than the scurrilous nonsense it really is. (FDL)
Everyone should thank CNN today for thoroughly debunking the “rumor” that Barack Obama is the Antichrist (seriously, this is somehow classified as a “rumor,” that Obama may have magical powers). The big headline, “OBAMA THE ANTICHRIST?” along with the subhed claiming that this is a real “debate” online and thousands of other images of ANTICHRIST ANTICHRIST EVIL SATAN were very necessary for the viewers watching said debunking. Raw Story has the video. Oh and let’s thank CNN for covering this same thing yesterday, too.
I don't know---I can see a way this could work to Obama's advantage. Shouldn't true Christians look forward to the Antichrist? After all, his appearance signals the return of Jesus, the Rapture, and the rest.
EXHIBIT A: Anna Hosanna, a born against true believer---anticipating the return of Jesus--- asks her fellow Christians:
"If Obama Really is the Antichrist, Shouldn't We Vote for Him?"
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