6.27.2008
Using a Pagan to Smear Obama?
Conservative pundit Cliff Kincaid writes an anti-Obama polemic for Right Side News bizarrely equating Obama with a Pagan leader because they happen to support the same piece of legislation.
"While Senator Barack Obama struggles to keep the public in the dark about the nature of his pro-U.N. Global Poverty Act, a recent “Bay Area Interfaith Leaders’ Luncheon” was held to lobby for Senate passage of the bill, whose cost has been estimated at $845 billion. An actual witch who spoke at a “Pagan Pride” festival in San Francisco was one of the listed participants. The witch, known as the “Elder Donald Frew” of the 'Wiccan Community,'"
Gasp! Not an "actual Witch" from the "Wiccan Community"! I'm still not seeing the scandal though. I get that Kincaid opposes the legislation, and I also get that Kincaid doesn't like Obama much, but I'm still a bit fuzzy on why Frew being supportive of the bill matters in any way. Perhaps Kincaid will explain in greater depth?
"Frew’s reported participation was significant. A featured speaker at a “Pagan Pride” festival in San Franciso, he is described as an Elder in both the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn and Gardnerian traditions of modern Wicca and a High Priest of Coven Trismegiston in Berkeley, California ... According to his bio, Frew “has been very active in interfaith work on behalf of the Craft for over 17 years and is the National Interfaith Representative for the Covenant of the Goddess (the largest Wiccan religious organization on Earth).” He has represented Covenant of the Goddess at both Parliaments of the World’s Religions and serves on the Global Council of the U.N.-affiliated United Religions Initiative."
Wait. Wait. Did he just quote Don Frew's bio as why his "reported participation" is "significant"? Seems to me Kincaid is trying to whip up right-wing hysteria by invoking the old association fallacy
"A Muslim representative to the Bay Area conference was identified as Iftekhar Hai of the United Muslims of America (UMA). The UMA is a member of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), an umbrella organization that includes controversial groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations."
Muslims! And Witches! How could anyone support this bill! This horrid bill that would ... work to eliminate extreme global poverty, a bill that is supported by such dangerous extremist groups as ... Bread for the World, the Daughters of Charity, and the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. How brave of Kincaid to sound the alarm!
It is obvious that one can oppose a piece of legislation in good faith. If something goes against your principles, criticizing its merits is perfectly acceptable. However, what Kincaid attempts to do in this editorial is cowardly and ethically repugnant. Trying to raise the specter of "witchcraft" in order to turn people (ie Christians) against the bill is the worst kind of gutter politics. The pathetic howling of a man who all but admits he lost the moral high ground long ago, and is as good as beaten.
* My favorite manifestation of the association fallacy is Reductio ad Hitlerum ("Hitler (or the Nazis) supported X, therefore X must be evil/undesirable/bad"). A fallacy that has been used against Pagans and vegetarians on multiple occasions.
Labels: Barack Obama, Cliff Kincaid, Don Frew, Global Poverty Act, legislation, Paganism, politics, Wicca
Comments:
Brilliant. Welcome back.
One thing that helps 'When Dominionists Attack' is the fact they know so little about us, and what little stuff they parrot is wrong or very outdated. I followed discussions
on Xtain blogs & msg boards about the various attacks on the Harry Potter novels. After a few strident attacks, a number of fair-minded Xtains would chime in, saying Wiccans were not really Satan worshipers, and that we were a pretty harmless bunch. Many also stated they and their children loved the novels! So, the falsehood of such attacks is pretty easy to expose and I think that went a long way stopping the Anti-Harry movement.
I am a friend of Don Frew. I am also an avid support or Barack Obama for President, and have been so since the early Spring of 2007. I also happen to be on a Pagans for Obama listserv in which I participate minimally (when I can) and that I'm really glad exists. This is crazy. I'm sure Obama knows he has Pagan supporters. He seeks to represent all Americans.
Yours in changing culture,
Macha
This is what I posted on the hillaryclintonforum.net...
I am the Witch in question and I sincerely hope that this issue dies soon.
In point of fact, I was a Hillary supporter when I attended the luncheon, but I am a Democrat first and will support Obama's candidacy.
I attended the luncheon on behalf of the Covenant of the Goddess (www.cog.org) - the largest Wiccan religious organization in the world - as its National Interfaith Representative. The luncheon was in support of the Millennium Development Goals and global efforts to support them, just as President Bush does:
"To spread a vision of hope, the United States is determined to help nations that are struggling with poverty. We are committed to the Millennium Development goals. This is an ambitious agenda that includes cutting poverty and hunger in half, ensuring that every boy and girl in the world has access to primary education, and halting the spread of AIDS -- all by 2015."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea.../20050914.html
Bush supports the MDGs, Obama supports the MDGs, CoG supports the MDGs, the Catholic and Episcopal Bishops of San Francisco support the MDGs, LOTS of folks supports the MDGs, I hope all of YOU will.
By Kincaid's logic: Frew supports the MDGs --> Bush Supports the MDGs --> therefore President Bush should be opposed because he is connected with Witches.
Kincaid is a right-wing looney looking for ANYTHING to complain about about Democrats.
Tomorrow it will be something else.
Blessed Be,
Don Frew
Reply With Quote
Since Don Frew is such a respected member of the Pagan community, this makes me really angry. Somehow it doesn't matter what we do, some people will never treat us with respect.
I agree with Don - Kincaid is a right-wing looney who specializes in unfounded right-wing allegations and conspiracy theories. I feel dirty just having visited his web page and having read his commentary.
On the other hand, I was grateful for the links to the Global Poverty Act of 2007 and felt very proud indeed of Don's accomplishments and sanity. We should all keep our eyes on the goal - Point 7 that is - and other interfaith-related efforts that fundraise on behalf of food banks at home, anti-poverty efforts abroad, and support all 8 of the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Melusina
Weavers LC
Post a Comment
Brilliant. Welcome back.
One thing that helps 'When Dominionists Attack' is the fact they know so little about us, and what little stuff they parrot is wrong or very outdated. I followed discussions
on Xtain blogs & msg boards about the various attacks on the Harry Potter novels. After a few strident attacks, a number of fair-minded Xtains would chime in, saying Wiccans were not really Satan worshipers, and that we were a pretty harmless bunch. Many also stated they and their children loved the novels! So, the falsehood of such attacks is pretty easy to expose and I think that went a long way stopping the Anti-Harry movement.
I am a friend of Don Frew. I am also an avid support or Barack Obama for President, and have been so since the early Spring of 2007. I also happen to be on a Pagans for Obama listserv in which I participate minimally (when I can) and that I'm really glad exists. This is crazy. I'm sure Obama knows he has Pagan supporters. He seeks to represent all Americans.
Yours in changing culture,
Macha
This is what I posted on the hillaryclintonforum.net...
I am the Witch in question and I sincerely hope that this issue dies soon.
In point of fact, I was a Hillary supporter when I attended the luncheon, but I am a Democrat first and will support Obama's candidacy.
I attended the luncheon on behalf of the Covenant of the Goddess (www.cog.org) - the largest Wiccan religious organization in the world - as its National Interfaith Representative. The luncheon was in support of the Millennium Development Goals and global efforts to support them, just as President Bush does:
"To spread a vision of hope, the United States is determined to help nations that are struggling with poverty. We are committed to the Millennium Development goals. This is an ambitious agenda that includes cutting poverty and hunger in half, ensuring that every boy and girl in the world has access to primary education, and halting the spread of AIDS -- all by 2015."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/relea.../20050914.html
Bush supports the MDGs, Obama supports the MDGs, CoG supports the MDGs, the Catholic and Episcopal Bishops of San Francisco support the MDGs, LOTS of folks supports the MDGs, I hope all of YOU will.
By Kincaid's logic: Frew supports the MDGs --> Bush Supports the MDGs --> therefore President Bush should be opposed because he is connected with Witches.
Kincaid is a right-wing looney looking for ANYTHING to complain about about Democrats.
Tomorrow it will be something else.
Blessed Be,
Don Frew
Reply With Quote
Since Don Frew is such a respected member of the Pagan community, this makes me really angry. Somehow it doesn't matter what we do, some people will never treat us with respect.
I agree with Don - Kincaid is a right-wing looney who specializes in unfounded right-wing allegations and conspiracy theories. I feel dirty just having visited his web page and having read his commentary.
On the other hand, I was grateful for the links to the Global Poverty Act of 2007 and felt very proud indeed of Don's accomplishments and sanity. We should all keep our eyes on the goal - Point 7 that is - and other interfaith-related efforts that fundraise on behalf of food banks at home, anti-poverty efforts abroad, and support all 8 of the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Melusina
Weavers LC
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