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Subscribe to RSSRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan shifted their focus to the economy Wednesday, but Akin's "legitimate rape" gaffe continued to dominate the conversation. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
There are worrying signs about the Republican brand nationally, just five days before the party gathers for its convention and 76 days before Election Day.
A majority of voters in the new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll called presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and GOP candidates for Congress "out of step" with most Americans' thinking compared to President Barack Obama and Democratic candidates.
And 29 percent of registered voters said they had "very negative" impressions of the Republican Party – the second-highest number of voters to give the most intensely negative assessment of the GOP in the history of the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, dating back to 1990.
The only other instance in which the “very negative” rating for the GOP surpassed that was in 2006, before Republicans received a drubbing at the polls.
The numbers underscore the headwinds facing Republicans heading into an election they're eager to win, and illustrate the stakes for the GOP next week in Tampa, where they'll have an opportunity to soften impressions of the party.
"It’s frustrating. This president has spent tens of millions of dollars trying to tag Republicans as the party of the rich and the 1 percent," said Frank Donatelli, the chairman of GOPAC, a group dedicated to training Republican candidates.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd breaks down the latest NBC News/ WSJ poll.
"Republicans need to push back even harder talking about growth and jobs," he said. "That is the issue of the election; we’ve gotten a little bit away from that."
Indeed, the campaign has been focused mostly on Medicare in the week and a half since Romney added Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan -- the author of a plan including controversial reforms to the entitlement program -- to the Republican ticket.
That focus was only eclipsed by the controversy this week involving Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin, whose impolitic comments about abortion rights in the instance of rape threatened to raise a messy debate that could cost GOP candidates among women voters, with whom they already generally lag.
"Republicans have really gotten off-message in the last week and a half," said a veteran GOP operative well-versed in the party's campaign efforts. "If you’re Mitt Romney or a Republican candidate, you need to be operating within a message framework centered on economic issues, not on issues that are historically unfriendly to Republicans."
But the souring GOP brand likely has a longer tail than the last few weeks. A bloody presidential primary and congressional gridlock have contributed to a sense that Republicans don’t represent the mainstream.
GOP leaders like Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn were hoping Rep. Todd Akin wouldn't be running for Senate in Missouri, NBC News' Chuck Todd suggests. Todd joins a conversation about Akin's impact on the GOP brand, why Mitt Romney needs to make the RNC count for him and a new NBC News/WSJ poll on the '12 election.
Fifty-four percent of voters said that Republican candidates for Congress were out of step with the public, versus 38 percent who called them mainstream. By contrast, voters view Democratic candidates more evenly: 45 percent said Democratic congressional candidates were mainstream, and 48 percent called them out of step.
"The Republican brand has become the opposite of what the middle class is looking for," said Jesse Ferguson, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
He pointed to House Republicans' votes to approve Ryan’s controversial budgets, and repeated votes to repeal health care reform -- among other instances of legislative gridlock -- as contributing to a decline in the GOP's image.
To that end, Democrats opened up an advantage over Republicans on the question of the generic ballot -- which party voters generally prefer to control Congress -- in the August NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Forty-seven percent of voters said they prefer Democratic control of Congress, and 42 percent support GOP control; a one or two-point margin had separated the parties on that question since April.
Several Republicans who spoke for this story expressed concern that Romney's selecting Ryan as a running mate had needlessly made Medicare a central issue in the campaign. While Republicans had expected to fight on that issue, and had sought to inoculate themselves from having voted for Ryan's controversial budgets, some questioned the wisdom of having spent much of the last week and a half fighting on that issue -- one usually favorable to Democrats -- rather than the economy.
But voters’ adverse impression of Republicans might not translate to losses in Congress, at least in the House. Most election prognosticators have said their models don’t predict the kind of Democratic wave in the House that would deliver the net gain of 25 seats they need to retake control.
Brian Snyder / Reuters
Several Republicans expressed concern that Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as a running mate had needlessly made Medicare a central issue in the campaign.
“The popularity of Congress, top to bottom, is not extremely high,” said Brad Dayspring, a senior adviser to the Young Guns Action Fund, a super PAC founded by former aides to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. “That being said, a lot depends on what happens in the individual races. Individual members of Congress, especially a lot of our freshmen, remain popular at home. Additionally, the Republican majority becomes a lot more important to people when it serves as a check and a balance.”
The brand problem could be more serious in statewide races for Senate or governorships – or on the national, presidential level. But some conservatives are betting their enthusiasm and general disappointment in Obama’s performance after four years might be enough to deliver the election.
“The Republican brand is not fully restored to its pre-2000 level. But this election isn’t going to be won by the Republican brand, it’s going to be won by what I call the ‘Allied Forces’ – the Tea Partiers, the establishment and everybody working toward a common goal,” said Al Cardenas, the chairman of the American Conservative Union.
“You don’t need the Republican Party to be at full strength, but what you need is all of those forces to be working together,” Cardenas added.
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Romney and Ryan have already alienated all women voters of any intelligence (Ryan's abortion stance), seniors (Ryan's Medicare plans) and Hispanics ( Romney, by not choosing Rubio as VP). Mittens, good luck trying to win this election without the support of these critical voters!
However, the Tea Nuts and fringe looney Evangelicals must be very pleased.
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That's your Republican Party in a NUT shell!
Well,well just in time for their convention: Hundreds of pages from Bain are released.No major revelations,however they do show the lengths he has gone to hide his money so he does not have to pay taxes.Yeah,just who I want as my President !!
again dumb liberals,ur boy obame and his liberal idiot politicians are the party of no and have been ever since the the party of the dokey took charge,why do you think it was so easy to vote out almos 50 or better congressman and a few senaters,its because the liberal idiots are dumber then a stick,they cant even put a budget together and they own the senate,but that must be george bush's fault.every thing this clown in the white house is doing is against the middle class.almost 25,000,000 people are unemployed or underemployed,8.3 % enemployment for 40 mos.and the braindead media dont vent obame, if these #s were during george bush you real stupid liberals would be calling gor george bush to be impeached.obame has been playing this country when in fact he dont give a rats a— — about this country or .obame needed the liberal whites to vote for him cause he knew he could not come up with enough votes so he came up hope and change and now its this phony war on everything and you whites bit.he's backstabbing the israelies and europe,he's making backdoor deals with the russians,again if this was george bush the liberal scum and the traitorest liberal media would cry for george bush to be tried as a traitor when it is dems and obame doing.hell our brave men are getting out of the military so they can vent obame.israel should bomb iran and bomb them hard and they should do it before this election cause if they dont it will tougher to deal with iran when they have nukes and dont think that obame is islam that the iranians wont use nukes on the u.s.,it is thier goal to make everyone islam,but you real dumb liberals just keep whining cause it is you the liberals and obame that is ruining this great country,not george bush,the republicans or the conservatives and not even the tea partiers.this man in office has devided this country worse then the civil war. so liberals keep on blaming everybody but your damn selves cause i enjoy reading how dumb you really are
Seems to me, and the country as a whole, we know who stopped all action in the congress and it wasn't Obama. Quit spewing your hate, your bias is showing
The diminished GOP brand is a by-product of the very extreme, one-sided conservative rhetoric over the last four years.
Their chickens are coming home to roost.
People want the parties to work together,...to reach across the aisle.
The new GOP SCREEEEEEAAMs "My way or the highway"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The people are very concerned - and rightly so - about where the whole GOP party is mentally and spiritually. They are fully willing to throw the middle and lower classes under the bus,...instead of working for a solution that preserves the American middle class way of life that has been a cornerstone of the country. THAT SAYS A LOT !!!!!
"Give the rich people what they want,...or they'll hurt you more" !! (that's basically all they have to tell you). Wow,...great advice.
Where are the great men of good conscience,...leading the people instead of just looking out for corporate priorities and trying to mislead the public into believing that that is all there is to be concerned about,...that that is all the leadership a government should provide ?
In case you haven't already figured it out,...the GOP are not looking out for the majority of the people. Sure,...if you are very wealthy and invested,...they are looking out for YOUR potential to further dominate the economy.
A nation is more than just an economy,....and a president does something very different than a CEO. Romney and Ryan are too focused on the CEO activities,...and they have no solutions for the leadership of a country of people,...at all financial levels.
But them,...Romney and Ryan are just doing as their corporate masters have paid them VERY WELL to do.
In 2012,...vote for "We the PEOPLE",...vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
The Republicans are so out of step, you can't even see them! What a mess!
We've been inTHE GREAT BUSH DEPRESSION OF 2007, for 5 years now, and it will take another 5 years to climb out of it. There's no "returning to another recession" We are in a modern day depression that Hoover, I mean Bush ushered the U.S. into
the TeaBagging party has no clue as to what the real world is all about. They are all aloof, arrogant,egotistical, faux evangelical zealots like Romney, Palin, and the rest of their leaders. They only care about making sure that the already wealthy zombie followers are taken care of before they drive America off of the fiscal cliff. It is amazing to hear them talk about what they want to do economically since it is the same exact stuff that almost destroyed the USA in 2008.
What are these morons drinking or smoking up there.
The same goes for the DEMs, what the hell are they thinking by offering all these federal programs to entice the lazy, worthless, idiots to not seek jobs and using our tax dollars to do so.
You would THINK that in a country of 325million people we could find 500 or so that could actually be smart enough to find solutions to our problems and then implement those solutions. The problem is those 500+ idiots up there today.
Can anyone really believe that we have to vote for one of these two idiots in November??
What a shame!!!!!!!!!!!
I disagree, neither one is an idiot, one is a constitutional law professor and former senator, the other is a corporate raider/Capitalist you figure out which is which, But I know who I will Vote for!
We're about to get another "internationalist" and you can thank the likes of George Herbert Walker Bush and his so called "cronies",....but here's something for you, Georgie,....don't screw this one up or the Republican Party will be doomed,.... for good. You and yours have DESTROYED our manufacturing base, you gutted our defense systems as you've doled out crumbs to our citizens while you've filled your own coffers and trough. So you may want to take pictures of all your "wealth". It's physical and will not last forever. You might want to pass this on to Nathan and David A.............and for serfdom101, I will not vote for a communist, socialist, marxist, muslem pro-queer illegal.
2012 Armegeddon Romney wins - you can change that VOTE OBAMA 2012
Hey Mitt, where ARE those TAX returns ALL TEN years worth !
Your Daddy did twelve years, we are only asking for ten come on you can do it !
You will lose if you don't release, you will lose if you do it's a draw so release them we GOTTA KNOW !
GO OBAMA 2012
Republican party????
There is no republicans party, it's now the Mormon party and party of the Judas super wealthy. Next battled will be between the Judas super wealthy vulture capitalist, and the Mormon Church. Mitt Romney said "he is a subservient god of society and his family, and will follow the orders of the Mormon church until he is made God of the Worldwide Mormon Church". The Mormon Church, and the Judas wealthy/Vulture/Venture Capitalist, has stashed funds ($$$22-32 Trillion)(Gold/Diamonds) and other foreign currencies, in secret accounts in foreign banks around the world. The Mormons have stored a stockpile of food and supplies as a contingency, to continue operating independent of all failed governments that they take over, all over the world.
The Mormon Church and it's Judas, wealthy Venture/Vulture Capitalist, has divided and taken over the Republican Party, and will soon see their future divine leader, and God, Bishop Mitt Romney, and his personal servant, and servant to the Pope in Rome, Paul Ryan take over the American government, and make the Mormon and Catholic Church the most powerful religious government leaders in the world, with Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons, greater than any nation in the world.
Mitt Romney, want talk about this, or give the American people any information about himself, the International Bain Corp, His Judas Super wealthy Vulture/Venture Capitalist supporters, or his Mormon Church affiliation, Why????
Because then maybe the American people will ask "What is Mormonism?"
Mormonism is a cult that, like most cults, is sprinkled with enough truth to just hint at the truth of the Bible while missing it entirely. Again, we have a religion that denies the deity of Jesus Christ. In this faith, He is relegated to being a mere mortal, a true offspring of Elohim and an equal to Lucifer, another of Elohim's offspring. According to the Mormon Doctrine, "Every man who reigns in celestial glory is a god to his dominions;" "There was never a time when there were not Gods and worlds;" and, "Each god, through his wife or wives, raises up a numerous family of (Draft dodging) sons and (just for pleasure and Breeding-daughters). So, every man is equal to Jesus in that he has the opportunity to become a god and have dominion over his people.
Mormons believe that Adam chose to fall from grace so that men might be and have joy. They are instructed that they should consider the fall of Adam and Eve as one of the great steps toward eternal exaltation and happiness. Salvation is believed to be given to all living things: believers, unbelievers, heathens and even animals. Baptism is the gateway to Heaven and is vitally important to every believer. So much so, that the practice of a person standing in proxy and being baptized for dead people is widely used. It is believed that this practice actually releases people from the grip of Satan.
There are levels of Heaven present that are attained through works done on earth. Hell is only for Satan and his angels and for those who commit the unpardonable sin.
This religion is so chock-full of heresy that I do not even know where to begin with the biblical refutation of its beliefs. One major problem in refuting this religion is that at any time, the beliefs of Mormons can change if the current prophet of the day says that God told him something new. The current prophet always overrides any teaching that has come before. So, to make it simpler, take every thought, every doctrine, every teaching of this religion, and, toss it! Pick up a Bible and start there.
And if you don't believe any of this, than ask the man who will be made a god of the Worldwide Mormon Churches if he can get elected President of the USA. If elected Mitt (the twit) Romney will become the leader of the most powerful nations in the world, gain access to Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons, and become the chief executive of all the financial systems controlled by all the venture/Vulture Capitalist worldwide, who will help him take over because of their common greed, I.e.. Koch bros, Rove, Trump, Adelson, Perry, Bain Corp, Millionaires and Billionaires in Congress/Senate, Republican Governors, Etc. etc, etc.....
Is it possible that the Bible's warning and prophecy of the coming of the Anti-christ is the Mormon Church, and their future God, and leader, Bishop, Mitt Romney. and is the Apocalypse/ Armageddon coming soon??????????? You people said "Ann Romney" you (Peons and none Mormons) should really want to give Her man and Mormon Church that much power without questions about his past, or Taxes, or anything, Etc.etc.etc ??????
Why have the Mormons been kicked out of so many nations but have still organized Church Governments around the world ????
Sounds like Judgement Day, or World War III (BOOOOOOMMMMMmmmmm)
"""BUNCH OF DUMB ASS PILGRIMS"""WAR FIGHTER OUT"""HOOAHhhhhhhhh''''''''''''
In four years President Obama did not destroy this country like the fear mongering racial haters said he would do. Americans are probably more safe now then ever. He deserves four more years to finish fixing this use to be Republicans party mess.
Pres.Obama/Bidden/H.Clinton in 2012 and Pres. H.Clinton in 2016. Only the Democrats will vote for a minority male or woman to be President. The use to be Republicans Party and it's subservient women slaves, will never elect anything but a white male to be President, even if they fear that he (Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan) could probably blowup the world, the Republicans party believes that if he is a white male, then he is the right male.
I hope that the Democrats and Independents turn out in droves to vote for Obama...
It's time to stand up to the rich...Not wealthy hard working Americans...
I am talking about the FILTHY DIRTY RICH PULLING STRINGS AND MANIPULATING THE SYSTEM AND CALLING IT CAPITALISM...You can't buy the election.
They won't know what to do with themselves..Maybe or hopefully they will self deport.
Another liberal slant to the news followed up by the lemings making themselves known. That's all folks!!!!
And let the GOP continue to suffer.....
Three different religious divisions takes on Romney and Ryans greed.
Christian
Muslim
Jew
The Christian Division on Greed.
Proverbs 15:27
A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 18:1
An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
Proverbs 23:6
Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies;
Proverbs 28:22
A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
Proverbs 28:25
A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
Proverbs 29:4
By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
Isaiah 57:17
I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways.
Jeremiah 6:13
"From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
Jeremiah 8:10
Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
Ezekiel 16:27
So I stretched out my hand against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were shocked by your lewd conduct.
Ezekiel 33:31
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
Matthew 23:25
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Mark 7:21-23
21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
Mark 8:36
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Luke 12:15
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Romans 1:29
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
1 Corinthians 5:10
not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
1 Corinthians 6:10
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
1 Thessalonians 2:5
You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness.
James 3:14-16
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
1 Peter 5:2
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
2 Peter 2:3
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
2 Peter 2:14
With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed-an accursed brood!
The Muslim Division on Greed
1. Thou wilt indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life,-even more than the idolaters: Each one of them wishes He could be given a life of a thousand years: But the grant of such life will not save him from (due) punishment. For Allah sees well all that they do.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 96)
And ye devour inheritance - all with greed,
( سورة الفجر , Al-Fajr, Chapter 89, Verse 19).
But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient,
( سورة الليل , Al-Lail, Chapter 92, Verse 8)
Note: Here greed is the word used for selfishness.
2. With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read).
( سورة الأنعام , Al-Anaam, Chapter 6, Verse 59)
And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us; but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures.
( سورة الحجر , Al-Hijr, Chapter 15, Verse 21).
They are the ones who say, "Spend nothing on those who are with Allah.s Messenger, to the end that they may disperse (and quit Medina)." But to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the Hypocrites understand not.
( سورة المنافقون , Al-Munafiqoon, Chapter 63, Verse 7)
3. It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 177)
And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 195)
They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, -(Allah) knoweth it well.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 215)
O ye who believe! spend out of (the bounties) We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (Will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 254)
The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear Hath a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 261)
Those who spend their substance in the cause of Allah, and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,-for them their reward is with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter 2, Verse 262)
The Jewish Division on Greed.
The effects of greed and the fear of uncertainty, which lead to economic crime and theft, may be limited by the understanding of God’s role as the real provider of all the needs of His creatures. This, however, is not sufficient to create a moral economic system. All too often, faith in God’s bounty as satisfying all the needs of men leads to an evasion of social responsibilities. This piety can easily degenerate into the moral corruption of telling the poor, the weak, and even one’s competitors in the marketplace to trust in God’s bounty, using it as an excuse for not sharing what we receive from Him.
It is because of this ease with which people are able to find reasonable and rational reasons for not giving charity that the Tur [Ya‘akov ben Asher, 15th century codifier of Jewish law known by the title of his work, Arba‘ah Turim], in his opening statement to the laws of tzedakah uses a repetitive form, writing that “one is obligated to be very, very careful in giving charity.” By these laws, the belief in Divine bounty as a source of all wealth creates in Judaism a concept of stewardship, whereby part of that wealth is given to assist others. The religious concept of bitachon (trust in God) may be applied only to ourselves and may not be projected as the means to solve the economic problems of others. One of the chassidic masters said that he was taught this lesson when he found a ten ruble note. “I put it under a stone and wrote on the stone, ‘Thou shalt not steal!’ When I returned, I found a five ruble note in its place and written on the stone was the verse, ‘Thy brother shall live with thee.’ ”
The Mishnah (Avot 5:12) classifies one whose attitude to wealth is “What is mine is mine and what is yours is yours” as being a mediocre person. Such a person is prepared to respect the property of another and operate within the framework of the law. However, he is not prepared to assist others, nor does he recognize a social obligation in view of the wealth in his possession. “Some say,” continues the Mishnah, “this is the mark of the people of Sodom.” The people of Sodom have been the archetype of an evil community deserving of destruction ever since biblical times, primarily because of their selfish economic behavior. The Malbim (Rabbi Meir Lebush, Hungary, nineteenth century) comments that their sin lay in their refusal to share their wealth with the surrounding nations. It should be noted that while the Aggadah [classical rabbinic legends] is replete with stories of their inhospitality to strangers, the men of Sodom welcomed Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Lot was a wealthy man, and it was only poor strangers who were not welcome in Sodom. The Sodomite view of absolute private property rejects any obligations to assist others, which is contrary to the Jewish concept of limited private-property rights.
Hearing that in the World to Come evildoers would be punished by not being able to bend their arms, a chasid queried Divine Justice, saying that this was no punishment. “Well, they will not be able to eat,” answered his master. But the chasid countered, “Let them sit opposite each other and then they can feed one another with their outstretched arms.” That, however they refused to do. That is their evil way even as it was in Sodom.
However, what made it necessary to destroy Sodom was not the individual selfishness of its citizens, but the fact that this had become an integral part of its communal culture. While a society can exist with cruel and selfish individuals, the moral decay that sets in when cruelty and callousness become hallmarks of that society marks it for Divine retribution. Rashi, commenting on a verse in Amos--“They who sell the poor for a pair of shoes”--highlights this communal aspect. He notes the difference between a sandal, which is open, and a shoe, which is closed and possesses in Hebrew the same grammatical root as the word for “lock.” This is what the rich did. They closed in the poor farmer’s field and then forced him to sell—a perfectly legal but immoral use of societal legislation. So Judea had to be destroyed. In Sodom they gave charity generously. However, all the money was secretly marked so that the storekeepers refused to accept it. When the poor died of hunger, each Sodomite reclaimed his money—legal but abhorrent. Cruelty and callousness are expressed not only in relationships with the poor and weak but also in those between buyer and seller, employer and employee, and even competitors in all spheres of business activity.
When a chasid came to his Admor [the rabbi of whom he was a follower] to complain that his competitors were encroaching on his livelihood, the master told him the following story: “A horse, pausing to drink of the waters of a lake, was astounded to see the head of another horse, bending to drink of his water. In anger, he lashed out with his hooves to chase the other horse away. When, indeed the waves drove away the intruder, the horse put his head down into the water once again to drink, only to find that the other horse had returned. Once again he lashed out with his hooves. You, my friend, are a man, not a horse. The God who provides for you, provides also for the needs of your fellowmen.”
If people really believed that all their needs would be satisfied as a result of God’s mercy and providence, then they would not hesitate to share their wealth with others. Indeed, the refusal to share wealth with others is a denial of trust in God, a rejection of God’s merit as the provider of the needs of man, and an assumption that that wealth is the result solely of one’s work, ability, or luck. The selfishness of the people of Sodom and their imitators in all societies is actually a form of idolatry, since it negates the Divine Source of all wealth.
.....Forth from the tributaries and woods they came.
dwighthuth,
Thanks for the religious references. It is so obvious the evangelicals have turned religion upside down in order to get in bed with the Republicans . They didn't mind turning Jesus's teaching on wealth and charity upside down in order to join the Republican PArty for support for their campaign of bigotry.
The problem with Frank Donatelli's advice is that the push on jobs and growth cannot be harder without specifics and Romney's campaign loathes specifics. It's one thing to post something on campaign web sit, it's another to present specifics to a live audienceand submit yourself to questions. If the republicans vote against a jobs bill, how do you expect people to believe your vague generalities. There is growth, thus you hava to argue for more growth and specifics how to achieve that. The old coon dogs of tax cuts for the wealthy to generate investment thus job growth, less regulation, bailouts are bad, taxes are bad, cut government and all our problems will be solved do not hunt anymore, nor do Ayn Rand's "economic policies". Romney's statements, that he will reveal specifics after election and a lack of plan of how to deal with the Republican House, do not inspire confidence in his leadership abilities. Particularly, since the bulk of his business experience is limited to the financial sector and at that to a small slice of it: how to use the tax code to maximize my profit. is this how he will provide economic leaadership to the country?
I don't even have to read the article - the headline alone on this one fires me up. NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN = you guys really want to take the GOP down. Anything you can do to dirty their name is your ultimate goal. I know these debates are going to be a sham because they've chosen people from your network of socialists to moderate and I don't doubt but that Obama will be give the questions in advance so he can practice his answers - because this guy doesn't speak well when put out on his own without given dialogue on teleprompters.
Although the media is in the tank for Obama they can not hide the state of the economy, the price of food and fuel,the disaster in the Middle East that is the Obama Muslim Brotherhood supporting policy and the fact that most Americans realize that virtually everything Obama says is a lie.
I can not wait until the morning of November 7. Obama is going back to Chicago to live in Tony Rezco's house...
I live in Manhattan, everybody in my building (upper income), to whom I speak LOVES Obama, they are totally out of touch with reality. If you mention Solindra, 5 Trillion in deficit spending, the U-6 unemployment rate.they look look at you like you are Matian. On 11/6 he'll get their votes, but the guys my brothers work with (Union guys all), say to the shop stewart at work, Yeah, I'm voting for Obama, but on the deck on Sunday,watching the game, they are Fing Obama this and MFing democrats that. You lefties are in for a surprise in November. Obama will lose Fl., Ohio and Pa. (and about 33 other states)
I hope they get the sharp objects away from the Obamatons before the election results come in....Have a nice week.
Because of the down and dirty tactics of Obamaover this campaign I have come to consider him a "dirty politician" whom I cannot rust.
The Republicans have been relying on ignorance and on sowing confusion in the uninformed to win elections, that plus election fraud. It is very very encourging if the American voter is finally waking up. There are problems in both parties, true enough, but there are really deep, deep problems with the Republican Party. All you need do is look at their official spokesman, Rush Limbaugh, and you know that is a coalition that has lost its way and extremely dangerous for the country.
It is encouraging to see that --at last--the party that celebrates ignorance as our highest good is being exposed. The power behind the party uses the Republican Party to keep the ignorant distracted by irrational hatred of Obama, homophobia, etc. They, meanwhile continue to pilfer the national wealth and incorporate power into the oligarchy they want. The ignorant run around screaming "the sky is falling because of liberals and Obama." They are SO DELUDED . They would be pathetic except that their ignorance has consequences for us all. How much more wealth and power can be concentrated in one percent of the population and we still be able to call this a country instead of a medieval serfdom??????????????
NOrth Ga,
You pay taxes? if so , you may continue to commnt. If not, please do not comment.
Obama's mentor from 1970-1987: Frank Marshall Davis
“I admire Russia for wiping out an economic system which permitted a handful of rich to exploit and beat gold from the millions of plain people. . . . As one who believes in freedom and democracy for all, I honor the Red nation.” —FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS, 1947
While the Left has willingly dismissed Davis (with good reason), here are the indisputable, eye-opening facts: Frank Marshall Davis was a pro-Soviet, pro–Red China communist. His Communist Party USA card number, revealed in FBI files, was CP #47544. He was a prototype of the loyal Soviet patriot, so radical that the FBI placed him on the federal government’s Security Index. In the early 1950s, Davis opposed U.S. attempts to slow Stalin and Mao. He favored Red Army takeovers of Central and Eastern Europe, and communist control in Korea and Vietnam. Dutifully serving the cause, he edited and wrote for communist newspapers in both Chicago and Honolulu, courting contributors who were Soviet agents. In the 1970s, amid this dangerous political theater, Frank Marshall Davis came into Barack Obama’s life.
1947? get real
They are the party of the rich and the 1%. They are totally owned by them. They bowed before Adelson and the bowed before the Koch brothers. I'm sure they'd get on their knees if it was necessary.
I, for one, am disappointed that Sarah Palin won't be at the Repug Convention. I was hoping that she would bring along her machine gun and shoot the place up.
To have selected Paul Ryan as his VP, Romoney must have been paranoid about a coup at the Convention. Ryan must now produce mittigated lies about his extreme views and voting record
to keep the election results respectable. He must become as vapid and ingenuous a character as his mentor. Ryan's Congress was the most impotent do nothing lot in our nation's history and now they must pay the piper with nothing but meaningless tripe legislation that failed the smell test (and Senate approval) to present to the American voter for their disapproval.
One of the best lines heard lately was from Izzy Kapp, a now
retired shop foreman from the old Republic Steel Plant in Cleveland. At 17
Izzy immigrated to the USA from England after his family escaped from Poland
when he was 12. A more proud American can not be imagined. He often said,
"I am overwhelmed by the opportunities my county offers me!"
All five of his children graduated from college. One got an
MS, another got a JD, and the third an MD degree. It took Izzy 13 years of
night school to get a college degree.
When a young Black kid was being laid off at the end of his 90
day evaluation period he confronted Izzy in the huge Republic Steel Plant
break room at lunch and tried to intimidate him with all sorts of NAACP /
ACLU / Etc threats.
"I want this on-the-record in front of everybody." the young
man said. "You' firin' me 'cause I'm Black!"
Without even looking up from his sandwich the foreman said,
"No. We hired you because you're Black. We're firing you
because you're useless."
Hey Barrak, If the shoe fits.......
ROMNEY/RYAN 2012... it's time to get America Back To Work!