How would Jesus run?

[casus belli]

Let me preface this by saying that I am really not trying to be controversial. I have just had an opportunity the last couple months to really become disgusted with how elections have devolved in to a blood sport in this country.

I won't muddy this point with any specific condemnations or any endorsements of one candidate over another. I think this is more a statement about what the PROCESS has become. I'm wondering how much further the election process can devolve, before it literally destroys anyone who dares get involved.

American History is full of examples of politicians who were good human beings and great leaders. But, like all human beings, their lives weren't perfect. They weren't pristine. Not one of them, no matter how strong a leader, was flawless. Our history books are full of all the imperfections of each politicians predecessor. It is, after all, hard to live a life without making mistakes.

So that begs the question. Who could we hold up as the perfect politician? Who could possibly run that doesn't have something in their history, some experience to be learned from, some incident they vowed to never repeat, some mistake they drew valuable lessons from? Have our expectations of perfection become so unrealistic that we cancel out potentially brilliant leaders for the sake of proving their frailty as humans. Have we set the bar so high as to be virtually unattainable by anyone who has lived?

If Jesus were alive today (and I merely use him as an example not any particular endorsement or condemnation of a belief or religion), could he pass the test? Is there anyone alive today, or who has ever lived, that could measure up to our expectations of character and judgment in a political candidate? Or have we merely allowed our political system to become the equivalent of a sporting event - where the person with the least flaws (real or supposed) wins?

Some days I wish our society as a whole examined themselves the way they examine candidates for office. If the scrutiny were set so high during self-examination, we'd probably be much better off as a nation - as a world. Or maybe, this rush to prove the imperfections of those who run to represent our interests is merely a way to avoid looking at our own.

Flame on...and have a great weekend everyone.

edit: Spellcheck missed some stuff

[Johnny__Motown]

Well, I assume he would not have voted for the IWR so he may be running as an anti-war candidate

[JoFerret]

1. Away from DU

asap.

[againes654]

12. Why?

DU seems to LOVE Jesus so much.

[Duke Newcombe]

2. Well...

(a) (unwanted hat-tip to Huckabee), Jesus wouldn't be dumb enough to run for political office-
(b) When your God's son, any political office is a step down
(c) Jesus threatened the stability of the political and power structure at the time...exactly the WRONG person to have His hands on the reigns, and one who would be stopped before he even got near them...even if you had to use nails and some dead tree parts...

duke

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Who would Jesus Ruin?? Thinking about some of the tactics

employed by certain candidates of late.... you are spot on, "What the process has become", here's to your valid point and timely expression of dissatisfaction with what is going on. With what is going on in Iraq, our economy, foreclosures, healthcare and the like, the bloodletting needs to go out with the tide.

[casus belli]

4. LOL, touche! :) n/t

[rug]

5. He'd win Iowa but lose New Hampshire.

[casus belli]

8. I see what you did there.

I'm wondering if Jesus' supporters would have been condemned as "Jesites", or "Jesutons". That's not Kool Aid they're drinking folks.

[Drachasor]

6. A pacifist could not be elected President.

[ikojo]

7. Jesus would be a socialist

He spoke out against corruption within the Temple

He supported the downtrodden...he actually cared for people who had leprosy and for prostitutes. Can you imagine Pat Robertson and John Hagee actually touching someone who had AIDS? I don't think so.

He believed that all should share in the wealth.

He certainly would not be a Democrat (at least not a post FDR Dem) and most definitely would not be a Republican at any time in that wretched party's history.

[casus belli]

13. His "guilt-by-association ratio" would be off the charts n/t

[boppers]

9. WHY would Jesus run?

Seriously, take a look at Gore. Once he got out of the game, he realized that there is more power to be wielded, more change to create, more differences to be made by staying *out* of the political game, and spend the game energy on actual goals instead.

[casus belli]

10. You have a point...

but if we cease to care who we elect, how does that change happen? I'm not sure how change could happen unless we have advocates for it in positions of power. I think THAT is the crux of what I'm getting at. Isn't it better to judge a candidate on how you feel they would lead, rather than seeing how much they can take before they break. I'm not sure we would want the politician with no flaws. They would either not have lived a normal life, or they would be very VERY good at hiding things from scrutiny.

In any case, I'm certain that if the American people stopped caring, corporations would be more than happy to fill in the blanks. This National Election brought to you by Calgon.

[GoldieAZ49]

11. Very Fast and Very Far

and would leave no forwarding address

[againes654]

14. But would he be back????

[saltpoint]

15. Good post, pertinent questions.

Just my take, but I think of Jesus primarily as a political revolutionary, reinforced iinternally by spiritual intelligence. Small 's' on "spiritual."

The more he became public and confrontational, the more notice the local Roman authorities paid, and the less likely his survival became.

If he existed (I have no proof on hand), my guess is he was far more interesting in private conversation or in small groups than he was as a political figure understandably rising against tyranny and cruelty.

If the test was public, he would pass it on points but not in the practical realm of first century Palestine. Clear vision and collective action often lgot itinerant spiritual figures nailed onto boards.

[K Gardner]

19. Can I just be #1 in your Fan Club? The points you make are so concise, yet so pointed and in

such wonderful prose, they sometimes take my breath away.

That last sentence is, as we speak, being printed and tacked onto my "favorite quote" board over my desk. Excellent and thought-provoking.

[casus belli]

21. Get in Line. ;) n/t

[K Gardner]

25. Pfft ! Don't make me come over there ! :-)

[saltpoint]

29. Hi, K Gardner. Thanks, but there's a series of roving posses on DU

out to put my head on a platter.

Also, I can't really type worth a damn.

Who knows what jibberish I spew out of this old computer on a daily basis?

You hang in there. It's strange and oily out there right now, but by November, we'll reunite as a party and send John McCain packing.

[casus belli]

20. I'm not really sure he would pass the public test

I mean, sure there are some who would understand the message, but I think if he were running today questions would be raised about how he hung around with undesirable characters. News reports would probably surface about his associations, past and present and question his motives. People would make arguments questioning his character, maybe even questioning how out of touch "God" must be to provide such a weak candidate.

He would be crucified again today, but it wouldn't be with nails and boards. Well maybe boards, but not the kind made out of wood.

[saltpoint]

30. "...but not the kind made out of wood."

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

[LisaL]

16. And what would Obama do?

[casus belli]

18. I'm afraid you may be missing the point entirely. n/t

[book_worm]

17. he would run a 50-state campaign not a pick and choose what state "counts" campaign

because Jesus believes that everybody and everything counts. (in the secular race that Obama and Clinton are running it's the states that don't count that do count and have lots of delegates and H decided didn't count that are counting big time for Obama).

[IndianaGreen]

22. If Jesus were alive today, he would be a Palestinian

opposed to Israel's occupation and to the new Roman empire.

[K Gardner]

27. I've often wondered about this. Tend to agree.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. If Jesus did run, it would certainly be without the support of the DLC.

"Too Liberal!!"

[casus belli]

31. I don't think corporate sponsors would be rushing to get behind him either. n/t

[Recursion]

24. Jesus would run by bringing a crowd of armed followers to the Capitol

and throwing out all of the lobbyists.

People forget that "messiah" means "armed revolutionary political leader". Think Che more than Mohandas.

[bklyncowgirl]

26. Jesus statement "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Media, "Jesus admits guilt"

There's a great story in the Bible where Jesus encounters a crowd who are about to stone a woman to death. The Scribes and Pharasees who were always trying to trick JC into saying something controversial asked him whether the woman should be stoned as the law of the time demanded.

Jesus looked around, stalled for time and then said. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

The crowd melted away. Jesus then said to the woman. "They could not condemn you and neither will I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

No doubt this would be taken by the media today as an admission of guilt.

"Jesus admits committing adultury"

[casus belli]

32. Brilliant response!

And very good example. I completely agree with you.

[K Gardner]

28. This is turning into a really great thread, started by a very thoughtful OP. Let's REC it up :-)