Video: Throwing Jesus under the bus, too?
posted at 11:56 am on April 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Larry Lessig works as an adviser to Barack Obama’s campaign on technology issues, but he has a day job in the field as well. In a video that’s making the rounds today, Lessig included in a presentation to Google employees a video of a dancing, half-naked Jesus cavorting to “I Will Survive” through Hollywood before getting hit by a bus. Offensive? Maybe. Foolish? Perhaps. Relevant to Obama? I’d call it a stretch:
Perhaps the connection could be made that this reflects a general anti-religious bias on the hard Left, which Obama revealed on Billionaires Row in the Crackerquiddick scandal. Having seen worse on South Park — several times over — I’d be inclined to say it reflects poorly on Lessig, but that’s about it.
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When and where do we have our riots and beheadings?
Tony737 on April 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I’m offended.
davidk on April 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Jesus has been thrown under the bus for two thousand years. Obama’s preacher is using Christ’s name to encourage the Almighty to loose his wrath on America. That’s throwing Jesus under the bus (and, by the way, your country).
They can laugh it up now, but it won’t be so funny on Judgment Day.
emailnuevo on April 22, 2008 at 12:02 PM
I guess if you’re not a White redneck this is considered humor.
I’ve seen how Obama’s reverend dresses and acts so I could see where it might seem OK to him.
Hening on April 22, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Just so long as Mohammad isn’t getting hit by a bus, its cool and funny. Progressives are just awwwwwesome, amirite?
Vincenzo on April 22, 2008 at 12:05 PM
What a difference a hemisphere makes.
Limerick on April 22, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Jesus has been through worse, bless Him.
joewm315 on April 22, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I hereby issue a fatwa against Lessig.
Beo on April 22, 2008 at 12:07 PM
“Touchy, but I don’t get why”.
That explains it all.
cat-scratch on April 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Yawn… who cares?
ninjapirate on April 22, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Imagine if they used Mohhammed instead of Jesus.
GT on April 22, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Writing him a strongly-worded letter, are we?
amerpundit on April 22, 2008 at 12:12 PM
It’s a final example of what? If this was part of a video presentation at my office, that would be his final act as an employee.
Zaire67 on April 22, 2008 at 12:13 PM
amerpundit: If I’m not mistaken, “fatwa” is an old, old, wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era…
Hi-oh! :)
loganthompson on April 22, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Ha ha, ho-hum.
Christine on April 22, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Wait, you’re telling me a wealthy, white, anti-intellectual property rights hypocrite with a law degree in San Francisco hates Christians but is the top advisor for technology issues in the Obama for President campaign?
SHOCKA!
ScottMcC on April 22, 2008 at 12:27 PM
“Imagine if they used Mohhammed instead of Jesus.”
GT on April 22, 2008 at 12:10 PM
That’s a lot more interesting but you know in the land of the free and the home of the brave, that would never happen.
Christine on April 22, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Being a bit semantic here, but if Judgement is supposed to be at the end of time, would it still be a day?
Weebork on April 22, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Where’s the Spanish Inquisition when ya need’em?!
Irenaeus on April 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Kiww de wabbit, kiww de wabbit!
Bigfoot on April 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
At what time will who Barack Obama associates with, who he hires, who he has campaigning for him, who he has giving him money – ever be a reflection on him?
That the Left would mock Jesus Christ is a given. That a Christian would mock Jesus Christ, or be associated with those who do, is another matter.
Does skin color eliminate accountability?
OhEssYouCowboys on April 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Comment removed — let’s be careful what we post, even in jest. — Ed
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 22, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I don’t detect any hints of bitterness.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 22, 2008 at 12:36 PM
The guy mockingly portraying Jesus wasn’t thrown under a bus, but instead stepped into the street in front of one, and got run over. I guess that could be called poetic justice.
Bigfoot on April 22, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Amen, brudda.
JustTruth101 on April 22, 2008 at 12:39 PM
This is the telling statement…some people are offended, but I don’t know why…
They haven’t a clue, not one iota of a clue of how precious someone is to Christians. We can make fun and have a laugh, but a half nude Christ throwing off his garment and over acting the feminine part…they just don’t have a clue.
And Christine has a great point, why not use Mohammad, because they respect that “god”?
right2bright on April 22, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Offended too. Yeah, Lessig, we believe your nervous voice when you say, “now chill [sic], the underlying message is that Jesus survives.”
Half naked prancing:
–Mohammed
–starving Holocaust victim
–abused woman
–African slave in chains
–Dalai Lama?
Unspeakable.
But it’s Jesus? Oh “chill.”
We got your “underlying message” just fine. So did Jesus, BTW.
inviolet on April 22, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Can we question Savior BO’s love for Christ now?
kirkill on April 22, 2008 at 12:46 PM
By the way, why is Jesus always portrayed as so emaciated and frail-looking? He was a carpenter in times before treated wood and electric tools, so he probably had forearms like a fence post. He flipped the tables of the merchants who had invaded the church, and nobody stood up to stop him.
joewm315 on April 22, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Settle down internet-tough inquisitors.
ninjapirate on April 22, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I totally disagree with you that it reflects on Obama, Ed. This is just ANOTHER example of an Obama intimate that hates something that is mainstream in America, in this case Christianity. He is close with a former murderer and terrorist, his wife feels no pride in America, his pastor is a racist, his associate hates Jews, his… well, it goes on and on.
This is a ppatern of Obama surrounding himself with people of extremist opinions against things that the mainstream of America hold dear. In other words, it shows that Obama does NOT reflect 80% of the very Americans he claims to want to be president of.
Warner Todd Huston on April 22, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Watch me score a funny on all those hayseed hicks who still believe in Jesus and God and such! This just proves my worth as an intellectual political satire figure, you people who are offended just don’t get it!
Its sad that this isn’t surprising anymore.
John_Locke on April 22, 2008 at 12:57 PM
and yet you can’t even SAY JIHADIST any more.
per OUR State Dept.
shooter on April 22, 2008 at 12:58 PM
He’s a tough Woden-like Germanic warlord in the Dream of the Rood
Tzetzes on April 22, 2008 at 1:00 PM
google is evil.
TexasDan on April 22, 2008 at 1:01 PM
The first vid was circulating on LiveJournal more than a year ago, I seem to remember that I linked to it myself at the time. LiveJournal has a lot of leftist/anti-Christian content.
piraticalbob on April 22, 2008 at 1:06 PM
exactly.
Zorro on April 22, 2008 at 1:09 PM
This is the guy PA gun nus cling to in their bitterness?
Akzed on April 22, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Lame-o
saiga on April 22, 2008 at 1:11 PM
The question is:
How is this relevant to software development?
corona on April 22, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I would like someone to explain to me why people think the greatest thing that ever happened in the history of the world is that Jesus was nailed to a cross. People who claim to love Jesus dance, sing, celebrate, etc. about it. I would think that someone who truly loved Jesus would think that him having been nailed to a cross would be a terrible thing and take no comfort in it, rather than celebrate the creation of a spiritual welfare state.
How is that any less offensive than this video?
deewhybee on April 22, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Replace Jesus with Mohammad and let’s see if this jackass survives.
Disgusting and offensive.
rplat on April 22, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Larry Lessig = a$$hole
D2Boston on April 22, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Thanks for keeping that link alive. Of course, “you” only applies if you’re working for the State Department. The rest of us can use the term all we want.
Connie on April 22, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Sorry, Ed. I should have phrased that better. Mea culpa.
OK. How about this pithy comment.
Anyone have an indication of how the members of the Westboro Baptist Church are going to respond?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on April 22, 2008 at 1:24 PM
This is.. years old.
controversy!
Reaps on April 22, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Old Wives Tales
LevStrauss on April 22, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Offended by the video?
Yes, but not in the “death to all infidels” offended.
Just “roll my eyes” and “I think I’ve heard everything I need to hear from you” offended.
Ah, but this is old stuff, isn’t it? Quite honestly compared to dunking a crucifix in a jar of urine this video is practically high entertainment!
Religious_Zealot on April 22, 2008 at 1:35 PM
I hereby release the Presbyterian Martyrs Brigades! This infidel shall cower in horror when he is ruthlessly not invited to a potluck.
TheUnrepentantGeek on April 22, 2008 at 1:36 PM
It is a terrible thing, the worst of all things, the killing of God Himself (Jesus is God). We “take no comfort” in that fact ALONE, as evidenced by the thousands upon thousands of people sobbing their eyes out at the graphic portrayal of Jesus’ suffering and death in, say, The Passion of the Christ. If you were in the theater for a screening of that you’d know what I mean.
The “comfort” comes from the fact that Jesus loves each of us (including you and me) so much that He was willing to go through THAT to pay the price for our sins so that we could go to heaven and be with Him forever. “Endless love” indeed.
Imagine that. A God Who would, quite literally, rather die than live without us. Hence all the songs and celebrations. Amazing love.
inviolet on April 22, 2008 at 1:40 PM
And I hereby release the Methodist Avenging Angels.
Lessig is now condemned, CONDEMNED I say, to sit in the FRONT PEW for church!
-shudder-
That’ll teach him!!
Religious_Zealot on April 22, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: … and with his stripes we are healed. [10] Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, … [12] … and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The joy isn’t in the crucifixion. The joy is that, having been crucified and put to death, Jesus was resurrected. The joy is in the victory over sin … in that sin had brought death into the world. Jesus, by his resurrection, defeated death and, therefore, the sin of this world.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 22, 2008 at 1:49 PM
The most offensive thing is the first commandment. God gave you reason but he will damn you to hell if you use it.
LevStrauss on April 22, 2008 at 1:52 PM
How’d the scan go?
(sorry, OT, i know)
shibumiglass on April 22, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Lessig is extremely popular among technical folks for his advocacy on copyright and patent reform. He is, for instance, the primary force behind the Creative Commons copyright licensing mechanism. Recently, he has turned his attention to “reforming congress” and had actually decided to run for Congress until became obvious that he couldn’t win. Based on what I’ve seen, this is likely a publicity stunt intended to give him some greater visibility outside the Geek Community.
jasnell on April 22, 2008 at 2:05 PM
I’ll buy that, but I think we may be looking at the question from the wrong end. Often the Left doesn’t use sacrilege to win elections; they want to win elections so they can indulge in sacrilege.
JackOfClubs on April 22, 2008 at 2:13 PM
What was the context of him showing this video during a major presentation? It just seems so out of place.
Typhonsentra on April 22, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Lessig – and Obama, for that matter – should remember the words of a certain “bitter man” who clung to his religion about two thousand years ago in the damp and stinky prisons of Rome:
I rest my case.
newton on April 22, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Yeah, that puzzles me, too.
Ed Morrissey on April 22, 2008 at 2:26 PM
God has been mocked since the beginning of time. Sadly, this is nothing nothing new.
It is only inevitable that Christians evrywhere will riot in the streets and start lopping off heads of the infidels. *crickets*
Grafted on April 22, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Shhh…if you invoke them they will not come. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
Rosmerta on April 22, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Actually, we don’t think it was the greatest thing that ever happened in the history of the world. What we really think is the greatest thing that ever happened in the history of the world is that act coupled immediately with what came after. The two acts are inseparable — man doing great violence to God, and God surmounting the act and yet forgiving man, for he knows not what he does.
Had things stopped at the crucifixion, there would be no legs to this story — just another sad death, like so many performed in the world before and since. It’s the part of the story after that point that makes the difference.
unclesmrgol on April 22, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Try to go to church on good Friday, and you will get the effect you are looking for.
What you ask is kind of like saying, you packed the car for the trip but leave for the vacation…then you wonder later, “What so good about a vacation, all you do is pack and and you leave out the vacation part. You have to read the whole book, not just one chapter.
right2bright on April 22, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Others have addressed the first part of your post, so I’ll just reply to the last bit: the Christian’s spiritual “welfare state” has little to do with a worldly welfare state – though the two have one important thing in common.
The main difference first: we’re born with the freedom to work our way up to the lives we want to live, so a political welfare state that enslaves us, stealing the fruits of our own labor to provide for the lazy against our will, is unjust and a barrier to progress. But in the spiritual realm, Christianity teaches us that nobody can work their own way into Heaven: all have sinned and fallen short. Only the mercy of God, freely given through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, can save anyone.
The big similarity: both the worldly and spiritual “welfare states” reward people freely, through no merit of their own. In the economic world this is unjust. In the spiritual world it’s “unjust” too, but God has chosen to pay that price for us – He was the one who was unjustly robbed of His very life. Yet we rejoice: both at His immense love thus proven, and at the resurrection as proof of His victory over sin and death.
Chesterton said: “Children are innocent and love justice, while most adults are wicked and prefer mercy.”
Rosmerta on April 22, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I can’t believe that anyone who genuinely and sincerely seeks the truth would be damned by God just for not having reached the point of belief before the point of death. No matter what we believe, nobody knows empirically what happens when we die. My theory is that the truth we seek is presented to us after we’ve crossed that threshold: that God in some way gives us the choice to accept or reject Him, with full knowledge of the truth and the consequences.
Chesterton wrote (sorry, you’re flying Air Rosmerta now; the dial is set to All Chesterton, All The Time, with an occasional break for C.S. Lewis or Monty Python): “Christian morals have always said to the man, not that he would lose his soul, but that he must take care that he didn’t. In Christian morals, in short, it is wicked to call a man ‘damned’: but it is strictly religious and philosophic to call him damnable.”
Rosmerta on April 22, 2008 at 4:34 PM
So a tech guy showed some other tech guys a years old viral video? NO WAY!!
Nonfactor on April 22, 2008 at 5:33 PM
So why not “Terry Tate: office linebacker”, like most death-by-powerpoint sessions I have been forced to endure?
joewm315 on April 22, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Yep
Maxx on April 22, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Gee, and I thought I was clinging to my guns before…
greggriffith on April 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM