{"id":220,"date":"2008-09-02T16:38:10","date_gmt":"2008-09-02T16:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/stevenwaldman\/2008\/09\/did-huffpo-misinterpret-palins.html"},"modified":"2008-09-02T16:38:10","modified_gmt":"2008-09-02T16:38:10","slug":"did-huffpo-misinterpret-palins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/stevenwaldman\/2008\/09\/did-huffpo-misinterpret-palins.html","title":{"rendered":"Did HuffPo Misinterpret Palin’s “God’s Plan” Remark?"},"content":{"rendered":"

HuffingtonPost’s running a huge headline reading, “Palin Exclusive: Iraq a ‘Task from God’ “:<\/a><\/p>\n

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I agree with Crunchy Con <\/a>that in this quote she does not appear to be saying that the Iraq war was part of God’s plan but rather that people should be praying that it is <\/em>part of God’s plan. That’s almost Lincolnesque: rather than trying to claim divine justification, hope and pray that what you’re doing matches God’s desires.
\nHowever, there were a few other things in the HuffingtonPost’s item that should cause concern:<\/p>\n

Speaking in favor of a natural gas pipeline she wanted build in Alaska, Palin said: “I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also, she may have a small Jeremiah Wright Problem. Ed Kalnins, the senior pastor of Wasilla Assembly of God, where Palin worshipped, may stir some controversy. HuffPo summarizes a few quotes:<\/p>\n

During the 2004 election season, he praised President Bush’s performance during a debate with Sen. John Kerry, then offered a not-so-subtle message about his personal candidate preferences. “I’m not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation. I’m sorry.” Kalnins added: “If every Christian will vote righteously, it would be a landslide every time.”
\nMonths after hinting at possible damnation for Kerry supporters, Kalnins bristled at the treatment President Bush was receiving over the federal government’s handling of Hurricane Katrina. “I hate criticisms towards the President,” he said, “because it’s like criticisms towards the pastor — it’s almost like, it’s not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That’s what it’ll get you.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s hard to tell from the transcript whether he was being sarcastic. If he wasn’t, and Palin’s pastor really believes that voting Democratic pretty much consigns one to hell, then that might strike some as, er, a bit partisan. Then again, if Obama is the anti-Christ, it all fits together nicely.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HuffingtonPost’s running a huge headline reading, “Palin Exclusive: Iraq a ‘Task from God’ “: “Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nDid HuffPo Misinterpret Palin's "God's Plan" Remark? - Steven Waldman<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/stevenwaldman\/2008\/09\/did-huffpo-misinterpret-palins.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Did HuffPo Misinterpret Palin's "God's Plan" Remark? - Steven Waldman\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"HuffingtonPost’s running a huge headline reading, “Palin Exclusive: Iraq a ‘Task from God’ “: “Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. 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