Pope Dean-o: Democratic Party believes “there are no bars to heaven for anybody”
posted at 8:24 pm on November 12, 2007 by Allahpundit
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And just like that, I understand why most atheists vote Democrat.
We’ve always thought the left tends to treat its politics as religion. But little did we know, my friends, little did we know.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean came out against Christian team prayers in public schools while speaking Sunday to a gathering of thousands of Jewish leaders, according to a leading Jewish news agency.
In another statement likely to stir debate among the evangelical Christians his party is urgently trying to court, Dean also asserted “there are no bars to heaven for anybody,” according to the report by JTA, a 90-year-old non-profit organization which calls itself “the global news service of the Jewish people.”…
“This country is not a theocracy,” Dean said, according to JTA. “There are fundamental differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party believes that everybody in this room ought to be comfortable being an American Jew, not just an American; that there are no bars to heaven for anybody; that we are not a one-religion nation; and that no child or member of a football team ought to be able to cringe at the last line of a prayer before going onto the field.”
Beyond the sheer freakishness of his suggestion that the Party has a formal position on who qualifies for eternal salvation (anyone who’s donated to MoveOn?), Dean seems to imply that Republicans as a general rule do think Jews are barred from entering heaven — even though, ironically, the most notorious statement on that subject by a prominent conservative of late specified that Jews can indeed be saved by following their own laws. It’s we Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist/godless heathens who have strayed from the Book who seem to be SOL. Ah well.
Rhetorical exit question: Why did this numbnuts frame the issue in terms of the Republican versus Democratic Parties when he’s really making a point about Christian doctrine? Might it have something to do with the left’s newfound interest in wooing religious voters?
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I just can’t believe that. It seems that reasoned thought would lend itself to Jeffersonian conservatism.
TheSitRep on November 12, 2007 at 8:30 PM
I’ve never been prouder about goin’ to hell, myself :D
lorien1973 on November 12, 2007 at 8:31 PM
I didn’t think that Jews believed in heaven or the afterlife anyway. I could be wrong, I’ve been wrong before. . . let me google it and I’ll be back to you.
ThackerAgency on November 12, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Did he say that or was it “There are no bars in heaven so drinks are on him ?”
William Amos on November 12, 2007 at 11:04 PM
So Democrats say “there ain’t no hell”; Republicans say “the hell there ain’t!”
see-dubya on November 12, 2007 at 11:05 PM
This is what I thought. They emphasize the here and now more than what happens after you die. But the reference I just read did say that some believe in some sort of afterlife.
Ole Deano opening up a whole lotta cans of worms with that one.
ThackerAgency on November 12, 2007 at 11:06 PM
I guess Dean’s saying that, if you’re stupid enough to vote Democrat while still believing in heaven, then the Dems will legislate you in through the pearly gates!
stonemeister on November 12, 2007 at 11:06 PM
No bars? Where will I drink?
Asher on November 12, 2007 at 11:09 PM
No… I think his real point was there is no right or wrong… only politics.
In the end… the non judgemental everything is grey… so don’t worry about right and wrong will be the death sentence for any society.
Romeo13 on November 12, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Sounds to me like an idiotic statement all the way around…
I know plenty of Democrats who would eschew any sort of religious universalism…and plenty of Republicans who would embrace it.
The statement he is really making, as I understand it, is that Democrats are smarter than those stupid Christians, who believe that Jesus actually died for something. It is one thing for a person to disagree with me on that – it is quite another to make a claim that the entire Democrat party knows better than Christians – or Jews – or whoever. Cause, you know, Democrats understand our faith better than we do.
nailinmyeye on November 12, 2007 at 11:13 PM
And, the good doctor, turned political hack, received his ordination from what theology school? My, wonder if the Pope knows Dean has been ordained and speaks with divine guidance? Treading on some real slippery slopes there Howard, along with, falling stars and stripes on HRH Thunderthighs. Sounds like a remake of “The Omen.”
24K lady on November 12, 2007 at 11:29 PM
Religious statements from a guy who quit his church over a bike path. I haven’t seen a Democratic leader who seemed genuinely religious since Lieberman (actually, he used to make a point about it in ever statement in 2000 until I got sick of it).
frankj on November 12, 2007 at 11:29 PM
For reasons that are inscrutable at least to me, K-Lo linked to this story with the line “In stark contrast with Ann Coulter, I guess, Howard Dean says Jews can go to heaven.” I kicked her over the part of the transcript where Coulter says exactly the opposite, but thus far nada.
Maybe I missed implied sarcasm in K-Lo’s post? I don’t think so, but…?
omriceren on November 12, 2007 at 11:35 PM
Well, as the song says…
In heaven there is no beer.
That’s why we drink it here.
And when we’re gone from here,
All our friends will be drinking all the beer.
Bigfoot on November 12, 2007 at 11:38 PM
I’ve got a bit to add on what I found odd about this whole thing:
Um, don’t all 3 of the major religions believe that ther ARE BARS ON HEAVEN? Wouldn’t the Jews he was speaking to, if they truly believe in their own religion, believe that they are the chosen ones who will go to Heaven? I mean, this is what that whole Coulter “controversy” was about… She deliberately worded it for controversy, but she was right.. those who were offended, were admitting that they’re offended by her own personal beliefs, which was more revealing about the critics than her.
RightWinged on November 12, 2007 at 11:38 PM
well I’ve played extensively and always felt strange during the team prayers that were a mainstay of my football career… every game most likely two to 5 prayers, and these were public schools… if groups want to get together and do it fine, but to have school officials leading prayer is wrong…
anyway… I still vote GOP. this is the least of my worries in a president.
Kaptain Amerika on November 12, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Politics of fear…
He’s implying that the more control the Republican party gets, the more persecuted Jews will be. And what’s that bull about praying at a football game? There is no “official government regulations” on what kind of prayers people may or may not say.
AlexB on November 12, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Because he’s Howard Dean, that’s why. To frame the statement the other way would dissuade potential Democratic voters, and he doesn’t come off looking bad. This way, he keeps his ass out of hot water by not dissing Christian doctrine, yet still gets his message across as you believed his true intentions were. Now we can only hope that someone in his party will take issue with his remarks, if anyone has the ‘nads to do so.
When Vermont succeeds from the United States, we can only hope that they will take him with them.
RMCS_USN on November 12, 2007 at 11:49 PM
The Old Testament has plenty of passages where people blithely claim to speak for God. Not to give away the ending, I’ll just say it does not end well for them.
pedestrian on November 12, 2007 at 11:55 PM
i smell theocracy, dean style.
its vintage duh on November 13, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Who told him that?
Some makes it
Luke 13:28, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out
Some don’t
Matthew 13:41-42, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Does Dean have inside information?
Matthew 22:13
13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and[a] cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
For some stupid reason I always assumed Dean was an atheist. That was crass. I apologize to atheists many of whom are rationalists. Anyone notice this:
IF they are able to cringe will it be OK?
No Christian member of a football team should be able to cringe when they listen to Dean but they ARE able. Was that a miracle?
entagor on November 13, 2007 at 12:10 AM
Not to be outdone, Fred Thompson said that if he were elected president, not only would EVERYONE get to go to heaven, but he would allow most dogs and cats in too.
Kevin M on November 13, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Uh, Dean? Buddy?
Seriously dude. Not a good idea to speak for God. You don’t wanna take that ‘down’ elevator when you scream up the ghost.
On a side note … The Democrats laying down religious guidelines including but not limited to “who is qualified for eternal salvation” shows hypocrisy in at least three more ways that I can think of.
Ryan Gandy on November 13, 2007 at 12:30 AM
It’s Dean the theologian now, wow. Ya know, Jesus was under the impression that most people were headed to hell.
I think I’m gonna have to go with Jesus on this one.
Mojave Mark on November 13, 2007 at 1:20 AM
Does anyone else think the Democrat party is like the Mafia?
They play all ends against the middle, lie like hell. scare the hell out of the rest, take care of family business and pick up the neatly wrapped box of cash on the way out.
No wonder the GOP is too afraid to take them on.
Speakup on November 13, 2007 at 1:35 AM
This is going to be one surprised loon.
pat on November 13, 2007 at 2:05 AM
All praise to Allah…for a great post. It’s all about the tone.
Jaibones on November 13, 2007 at 6:45 AM
I bet God and Lucifer both got a chuckle.
.
GT on November 13, 2007 at 7:06 AM
Sheesh. Read your Bibles people. Jesus NEVER said “most” people would be going to Hell.
When specifically asked (Luke 13:23-30, read the WHOLE thing) He said “many” will be going to Hell, but also (in the next breath) said that people from “east, west, north and south” WOULD be entering Heaven (that is, many). So many will be in both places. He never gave numbers because the point of his answer was: don’t worry about how many exactly. Just strive to get in yourself because “you yourselves” aren’t guaranteed a place either.
Sorry for my crabbiness, but (1) I haven’t had coffee yet and more importantly (2) I’m sick of non-Catholic Christians assuming because I’m Catholic I don’t know my Bible, yet many of them don’t even know basic things about the Bible, or what Jesus said. That goes double for Dean, who if memory serves thought the book of Job was in the New Testament.
inviolet on November 13, 2007 at 7:13 AM
Heaven and Hell are states of mind.
Jesus spoke to the LIVING, not to the Dead.
bridgetown on November 13, 2007 at 8:22 AM
roflcopters
Dash on November 13, 2007 at 8:26 AM
Short answer: because Dean’s knowledge of Biblical Christian doctrine is nearly non-existent. It appears to be mostly his own creation, not surprising for a liberal in La-La Land.
oldleprechaun on November 13, 2007 at 9:20 AM
No. Heaven and Hell is a great album!!!
kcluva on November 13, 2007 at 9:29 AM
Good to know that, according to ol’ Deano, even Jeffery Dahmer will get into Heaven, since there aren’t any bars for anybody.
crazy_legs on November 13, 2007 at 9:31 AM
“Today’s Democratic Party: There’s no one we won’t pander to!”
CP on November 13, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Howard Dean says “no bars to Heaven.” Senator Kennedy suffers panic attack.
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on November 13, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Luke 16:19-31
Matthew 25:31-46
Revelation 20:12-15
You might want to start with those.
I’m betting its been a very long time since you read your Bible or went to church.
Ryan Gandy on November 13, 2007 at 1:08 PM
I’d be more impressed if Mr. Bike-Path to Heaven didn’t believe in accelerants for Jews.
Dean’s Prayer:
Our Society, who art in Washington, hallowed be thy bike-path.
Thy Taxes come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in our delusions.
Give us this day our welfare state.
Forgive us our fabrications, as we refuse to forgive those who we imagine lie against us.
And lead us not into rational thought, but deliver us from the Republicans. A-persons.
DANEgerus on November 13, 2007 at 2:28 PM
To Ryan Gandy on 11/13 at 1:08
How about
When the Pharisees asked Christ, in Luke 17:20–21, when the Kingdom of God should come, he answered, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
It is all in your interpretation.
And, your betting would make you a loser.
The world is my church. I do not need a building to worship in.
And I am an avid reader of many spiritual tools, including the Holy Bible.
Again, it is within your interpretation.
bridgetown on November 14, 2007 at 9:25 AM
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