O'Reilly and Coulter try to explain why right-wing scroogery is really Christian charity

[HarveyDarkey]

Bill O'Reilly really took it personally when Stephen Colbert made fun of O'Reilly's bizarre column claiming that Jesus really wouldn't have helped the poor at Christmas time -- or at least worried about their unemployment checks.

So O'Reilly earlier this week featured an opening segment responding haplessly to Colbert, attempting a serious theological argument with a comedian -- and miserably failing:

But Judeo-Christian tradition does not require blind largesse. We are not mandated to buy people gin or cocaine, or pay someone's bills if they refuse to work. If you want to do that, you can in a free society. But to force the responsible to pay for the irresponsible is immoral in my opinion.

The U.S. government makes no distinction when it comes to entitlements. The feds do not drug test or regulate the behavior of those on the dole. And there is no question that the feds waste billions of dollars every year, money taken from hardworking people.

Americans are the most generous people on Earth, but our government does not have a right to seize anyone's assets in pursuit of an impossible social nirvana. And I do believe that Jesus would agree.

Video & links http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/oreilly-and-coulter-try-explain-why-

[SpiralHawk]

1. Jeez, talk about a War on Christmas -- O'Reilly's Republicon War on Charity

Ptooooey.

For an overpaid chickenhawk republicon propaganda stoolie, O'Reilly is a pretty damn sad specimen.

[tabasco]

2. They musta missed those parts of the Bible where Jesus was talkin'.

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'
Matthew 25:41-45

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Mark 10:21


Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Luke 12:33


But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Luke 14:13-14


Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I Corinthians (ch. XIII, v. 13)

[onethatcares]

11. and then the powers to be killed him

couldn't have the rabble listening to clabbertrap like that ya know. Someone might take it to heart.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I don't recall that Jesus placed any conditions on charity.

If someone is in need, you help them, period. And whether that's done individually or collectively (as by government) -- well, I don't remember anything from my Sunday school lessons about how it should or shouldn't be done, either. Just do it.

And if Coulter and the other wingers would read their New Testament a little more closely, they might notice that there are a number of references to how you should give all your belongings away, like this: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21)

Of course, their position is that Jesus wouldn't want the government to "take people's money away from them" and give it to the poor.

Wouldn't he? He felt so strongly that the poor should be taken care of that he threatened damnation for those who refused to clothe the naked and feed the hungry (Matthew 25). Would he have objected to using the instruments of government to be sure the poor were taken care of? And didn't he say, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's

But, heck, I'm an agnostic, so what do I know? I'm a big fan of Jesus, though. Maybe a bigger fan than O'Reilly and Coulter, since I think people actually ought to do what he said: Help those who need help. No questions asked.

[PADemD]

4. Correct link

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/oreilly-and-coulter-try-explain-why-

[highplainsdem]

5. Such hard work, trying to justify greed and selfishness as Christian.

[WinkyDink]

6. We are not "the most generous." And your theology is suspect.

[Rocknrule]

7. Remember, according to right-wing Christians,

Jesus cared ONLY about abortion and homosexuality

[WinkyDink]

9. When He condemned only the rich and the loud-mouthed holy-rollers.

[prolesunited]

8. Just the same tired shit

If you are poor, it's your fault and if you are rich, it is because you are awesome. Being irresponsible doesn't necessarily mean you will be poor and vice versa.

There are plenty of hard-working, responsible people who are struggling to make ends meet and get ahead. Does losing a job through no fault of your own, and then losing your health insurance, winding up with cancer and racking up huge medical bills mean you are irresponsible? Does working two jobs but not having enough to save, much less invest, after paying for daycare make you irresponsible? I could go on, but people like O'Reilly just don't get it.

I guess if you're rich, it's just because you work harder, are smarter, more responsible, of higher character, more loved by god, etc. than the other guy that just didn't catch the same breaks as you. I'm not saying luck or birth are the sole determining factors, but they certainly help.

[Stevenmarc]

10. Yes, Welcome to Jesus's Loves and Fishes Prix Fix Menu, Vino D'Aqua ($10 extra)

[Initech]

12. Fux News has a war on everybody that doesn't agree with them.

It's another symptom of the Fox News virus.

[Rex]

13. Wow, what a pathetic little man. Can Bill get any more sad and embarrassing

of the entire human race and western civilization? How did a jackoff nobody from a garbage 30 minute tabloid show (inside edition) become the most powerful name at Fauxnews? What a sad comment this makes about ALL journalist and supposed pundits everywhere.

He is the new Robert Novack, just more of a piss poor version.

[movonne]

14. Just another elite looking down his nose at poor people...and he

has to justify it with religion...if there is a place in the bible that says kick a poor person in the ass for being poor he will find it...although I doubt he would find it so make up stuff...

[Maru Kitteh]

15. I can buy people gin and cocaine? Thanks Bill! I didn't know that!

Gin and cocaine for everyone!

:party: :bounce: :party:

[True_Blue]

16. Don't you remember how Jesus hated the poor and ...

how much he liked hanging out with those wealthy Pharisees that hated paying taxes?