Mokhiber exiled for asking if Bush was pushing for the rapture?

[Cell Whitman]

Last December, Russell asked a hugely important question. Maybe the key question which would shed light on Bush's 'vision' for our nation's future. Scotty not only dodged it, he RAN off the stage. As Ari before him, Scotty often tries to mock Russell's questions instead of answering them.

Appears that this VERY important and legitimate question has put Russell in the theofascist's doghouse big time. He hasn't been called on since Dec. 6.

from 12/6/04 press briefing or from Russell's "Scotty and Me" page.

Q Scott, on the Middle East , many evangelical Christians are supporting right-wing Jews in Israel who want to rebuild the temple on Temple Mount in Jerusalem . They believe this is a prerequisite for Christ's return to Earth. They believe when Christ returns to Earth -- they call this "the Rapture" -- he will take back with Him the true believers, and the rest, the non--believers, Jews and Muslims, will be left behind to face a violent death here on Earth. My question is, as a born-again Christian, does the President support efforts to rebuild a temple on the Temple Mount ?

MR. McCLELLAN: Russ, we can sit here and talk about religious issues, but I'm not -- I will be glad to take your question and if there's more, I will get back to you on it.

Q Is he a born-again Christian?

MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you.

Scotty: exit stage right

______

Here's the link to Mokhiber discussing with Ian Masters how he walks a tightrope trying squeeze in a question or two. Let me add, when you shut out Russell, you are shutting out THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. imo.

scroll down for December 12th, 2004 show

Russell Mokhiber on his recent encounter with White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, to whom he posed a question we’ve wanted the answer to for quite some time–as an evangelical born-again Christian, does George Bush believe in the Southern Baptist/”Left Behind” notion of the rapture, end-times and the apocalypse? Does he support certain policies in the Middle East which would "help" the end times to arrive and spur the return of Jesus, as do many of his right-wing Christian supporters? McClellan ducked the question. Mokhiber is the editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter and co-author, with Robert Weissman, of the weekly column “Focus on the Corporation." He is also the co-author, again with Weissman, of the forthcoming book “On the Rampage: Corporate Predators and the Destruction of Democracy” (Common Courage Press).

[htuttle]

1. There's no way Bush can actually answer that question, politically

The Kapitalists think Bush is faking his religion as a marketing ploy, and would get mighty nervous if they thought he really wanted to start Armageddon.

The Right-Wing Christians, his brownshirts, think Bush really believes it -- all the way, Tim LaHaye style. That's why he drops little code words into his speeches all the time. If they thought he was faking it, they'd stop supporting him (and some might even decide he's the Anti-Christ).

So he really can't ever give an answer to that question. He needs to keep the dual messages going out to both sides of his 'base' without either side communicating with the other.

With a complicit press, it's easy.

[LisaM]

2. Exactly - the question puts him in a box

Therefore, someone should ask the question EVERY NEWS conference. Can they eventually ban every reporter, if they rotate the question?

[Quakerfriend]

4. I love it...rotate the question!!

Truthfully, few, if any, in the press corp have the guts.

[Cell Whitman]

9. I like your thinking LisaM

Wish there were more than only a couple of backbones in the whole WH press bunch. They should have handed the mic back to Helen when Bush quarantined her. Make the child coward face her.

[tgnyc]

14. That sort of teamwork

among the press corps is so desperately needed on a range of issues. But every one of them is so sure he has the killer question of the day, that they will never drop it to take advantage of such an opportunity to pin the spokesmoron down.

Biyatches, the lot of 'em!

[blm]

16. so true...imagine if they all tried a same page approach on Bush the way

they did with Clinton.

[Democrat Dragon]

5. According the those who believe in the rapture,

The Anti-Christ is supposed to be in power before the event. So if they think * is the Anti-Christ, they won't hesitate to support him.

[leesa]

7. That's the hook. That's why it doesn't matter how evil he is or what kind

of death and destruction he causes. He's their ticket to Heaven. This is what I have been saying for years and why it is so EASY for them to rationalize all the lying and murdering he does.

[blm]

8. You nailed it EXACTLY, htuttle.

Bush is a big fraWd for the Christian right, but, they don't WANT to hear about it. They think that even if he is committing evil for profit and greed that it is still part of God's plan, somehow.

[Sub Atomic]

11. What's scary is

I think * is leaning more towards the former, Kapitalist version of his religion.

But those-who-wear-their-religion-on-their-sleeve praise jeebus that's he's the latter, god is the greatest and anyone and EVERYONE who doesn't believe so is going to hell.

[burythehatchet]

19. Slight disagreements, the rank and file RW christinas yes, their leaders

no. Pat and Jerry and the rest are in it only for the cash. They don't even believe their own crap. Its just a marketing franchise with a very high franchise fee, your soul.

[Helga Scow Stern]

3. Plus, it's the policy of the theocrats

to be extremely secretive about what they are up to:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1544256

[dweller]

6. wow, just like terrorists!

I wonder what else they have in common?



don't answer, it was /sarc on /sarc off

dp

[Cell Whitman]

15. Joan Bokaer and her folks are doing the Lord's work.

Yes, anyone who hasn't should go though the horror of watching the religious right's home movies.

http://www.theocracywatch.org/audio-video.htm

"Life and Liberty for All Who Believe" is a must see.

Let me spoil the last line in it for anyone who hasn't seen it, when James Robison says:

"Let me tell you something else about the character of God. If necessary, God would raise up a tyrant, a man who may not have the best ethics, to protect the freedom interests of the ethical and Godly."(James Robison - visualizing Bush?)

here's another:

"Ultimately, EVERYTHING can be reduced to right and wrong, EVERYTHING!" Paul Weyrich (Theofascist - with veins popping from his neck in the video "Life and Liberty for All Who Believe")

Domionists, theocrats, fascists and John Birchers have been around America a long time.

ULTIMATELY, they could not have gained power in America without direction. They needed a "boost" to get over the fence, so to speak. Falwell, LaHaye, Viguerie, the kingpins all were financed at one time or another, "saved" at one time or another, by Moon. it goes on and on and few see who has been driving the bus...

Read some of how it happened here: http://cellwhitman.blogspot.com/

Brings John 5:43 to mind.
http://bible.cc/john/5-43.htm

[no name no slogan]

10. I love Mokhiber. He's a hoot

I followed "Ari and Me" for quite awhile back when Ari was the press secretary. He's always got some tough, pointed (and hilarious) questions for the Bushies. So sad that he's one of few in the White Whores Press Corps who even throws curveballs anymore.

[CBHagman]

12. Mokhiber's whereabouts today, January 31st.

I watched Eliot Spitzer deliver his speech at the National Press Club (check your C-SPAN listings!) today, and Russell Mokhiber was one of the head table guests! And he got an earful from Spitzer.

[nonny]

13. "after the last tree is felled, Christ will come back."

I once visited someone who had a large painting of The Rapture in their home. I thought "how bizarre". I certainly never learned anything about this at church (Episcopal). This visit was several years ago, but that picture remains with me.
A couple of days ago I read that bush is going to log Giant Sequoia National Monument.
What is he thinking???
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2005-01-27.asp

Then I read an article about Bill Moyers...
snip-
Remember James Watt, President Reagan's first Secretary of the Interior? My favorite online environmental journal, the ever engaging Grist, reminded us recently of how James Watt told the U.S. Congress that protecting natural resources was unimportant in light of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In public testimony he said, "after the last tree is felled, Christ will come back."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/120504G.shtml

What are these people thinking???
How BIZARRE

[leesa]

17. Was he actually exiled? Sometimes it is a long time between

questions. He always has balls of steel though. Send him some encouragement when you can.

Not alt all like the pathetic wimps at those "press" conferences.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. obviously not because he asked about "thou shalt not kill"

the other day.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1552935

[Cell Whitman]

20. woo woo That was today!!!

he's back. haha I didn't really think he was exiled, just wondering. Did you listen to the Ian Masters' interview? They play a lot of games with him. He didn't acknowledge the question here.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050201-7.html

Q Scott, last night, in an amicus brief filed before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Justice Department came down in favor of displaying the Ten Commandments in courthouses and statehouses around the country. The question is, does the President believe in commandment number six, "Thou shalt not kill," as it applies to the U.S. invasion in Iraq?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead. Next question. Ken, go ahead.

[blm]

21. scotty couldn't answer THAT? shouldda been easy for SuperChristianMan.

George the Innocent Victim Slayer.