Is there a link to what Jindal actually wrote rather than to this gentleman's interpretation of it?  

Evangelicals have been very distrustful of McCain, which has been a major problem for him.  I think we need to tread lightly on calling anybody "psycho" for their religious faith.  This story may sound completely crazy to you but not to many people in this country.  The last thing we need to do is rally Evangelicals to McCain's side because they feel their faith is being insulted.  

I also think that attacking someone for their spiritual beliefs is not in keeping with Senator Obama's vision of America.  

There's just no value in attacking people's spiritual beliefs.

Nonetheless, I don't think that Bobby Jindal is a priest, nor an ordained minister.  So, who is being insulting?

I mean, you don't get to perform surgery unless you've been through medical school.  You don't get to fly a plane until you understand aerodynamics and get your hours and certs.  

I can proclaim myself a lawyer, but if I walk into a courtroom and start making motions without passing the bar, that's not just stupid (and largely illegal), many would call it psychotic.

Is not the gentleman governor of Louisiana a convert to his current faith? As we all know, converts are always more pure and more righteous than those born into a faith, or, as they say, "more Catholic than the Pope." That probably explains the excess.

It's certainly the case that people wishing to serve as lawyers, surgeons, and pilots must legally be licensed by the government to do so.  But there isn't any sort of exorcism or prayer license.  

Evangelicals believe that miracles happen every day and that prayer of the faithful is powerful, whether the faithful are ordained as ministers or not.  Evangelicals believe they can have a very personal relationship with God and that God can work through them.  This is not the first time I have heard stories like this from Evangelicals.  

There are a growing number of Evangelical progressives, those who believe that serving the poor, protecting the environment, promoting peace, etc. is what they are called to do.  And many Evangelicals are looking for a political home.  Senator Obama is making great strides with this community.  

Clearly Jindal is not a progressive.  He may not even be an Evangelical.  I don't know much about him.  Heck, for all I know, he may even be psychotic.  But the video link above wouldn't prove that to many people in this country.  Rather, it would prove that Democrats don't welcome people with faith like theirs in their Party.

I think we need to start thinking more about how we will make sure that those Evangelicals whose faith gives them more common cause with us than with the Republican Party are made to feel welcome here.  

We cannot and should not ever abandon our core principles, but those who wish to support these core principles mustn't be made to feel unwelcome.

Just something to think about.

As I watched the video and then read some of the comments, I found this whole process to be somewhat disturbing, and your words correctly and succinctly captured my feelings about it.

Hey, Levar; please be sure to keep Susan around, O.K.?

Thanks!

Steve

Snake oil cured my great grandma's gout.

You just don't see snake oil around these days like you used to. Nobody wants to oil a snake anymore.

What with the war and the economy and the price of oil, et al.

Agreed, Jack; it's all about viscosity, and that's why those cold-blooded snakes just can't cut it in the winter time...

Get my drift?

Thanks!

Steve

If Jindal actually wrote that this woman's cancer was cured by prayer, that could be very problematic if there is no supporting evidence that she ever had cancer.  But if there is any evidence that this woman had cancer and then didn't for whatever reason, it will be interesting to see the response from Evangelicals if he is chosen as VP.  

but frankly, this is very wrong. He is basically slamming the guy, and in some ways all Christians, for his/their religious beliefs.

When he lampoons this woman being able to say "Jesus is the Lord" with his goofy, automaton face, I wonder how that would land on the ears of the millions  upon millions of Christians in this country who believe exactly that?

Exorcism is extreme -- no doubt -- and even as a religious person, I question the credentials of any person who professes to have a closer relationship to G-d than as a prayerful and humble supplicant -- there are, I suppose, many more false prophets than real ones -- but this kind of stuff is just counterproductive in any kind of practical political sense.