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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Parker Griffith Does Spin On His Answer

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  October 16th, 2008 at 08:41 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Parker Griffith is the Democrat in North Alabama who said America’s greatest enemy is America.

Well, he is in full-bore coverup mode now.

Parker Griffith claims his remarks were taken out of context. He says

“I don’t think anyone in the room misunderstood what I was saying,” Griffith said. “I was in a room full of Baptist ministers, and we were talking about religion, not matters of national security. The point I was making was that if we are strong in our Christian beliefs, that is stronger than any Islamic threat.

But, let’s look at the question that was asked.

Here is the questionnaire for the debate.

Question twelve asks, “Who do you think America’s greatest enemy is and why?”

Parker Griffith’s answer was, to repeat,

I think America’s greatest enemy is America and its materialism.

And I think that . . . uh . . . we have nothing to fear from radical Islam. We have nothing to fear from any other religion if we are strong on our own beliefs. I don’t fear radical Islam.

Sure, if we’re strong in our Christian beliefs, we can be stronger than Islam.

But that still doesn’t explain Griffith’s initial statement that America’s greatest enemy is America.

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COMMENTS

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  • peg_c

    is really getting out of hand. Every single Democrat who says something anti-American and stupid has to come out the next day and cry “out of context.” Jesse Jackson and now this idiot. Is there an elected Democrat who can speak without sticking his foot in his mouth? Not as far as I can see.

  • ronalddaniels

    … he’s just done a poor job of articulating his point. If you can’t articulate your point you should either keep your mouth closed, or choose a different set of words.

    He knew he messed up when he said that, and one can only wonder WHY he would say that if he didn’t mean it to some degree. I don’t think that is what he was trying to say, however, but we can’t judge people on what they meant to say – we’ve got to go by what they say and what they do.

  • GregWarhol

    No Mr. Griffith, Americas greatest enemy is not America, it’s liberalism!

  • Republicanuck

    Nothing to fear Mr Griffiths? Don’t come back crying when you find yourself living in the Glorious People’s Republic of Barackistan, paying more than 50% of your income in taxes, and have your guns taken away by this new Civilian National Security Force he wants to establish.

    So, one might wonder about:

    1. the need for a private army the size of the US Military;
    2. who’ll pay for that;
    3. and what exactly do you have a National Guard for ?
  • skorrent

    Reading of his statement cannot place it in a “belief system” context. He was asked about America’s “enemy” and he minimized the threat from “radical Islam”. He did not say, e.g., that “Christianity has nothing to fear from Islam, Hinduism or Atheism.” (That would be hopelessly naive, in any case.) This spin cycle won’t wash!

  • civil_truth

    I getting tired of “gotcha” politics. I’ve been grieved to my core with the incessant attacks on Sarah Palin, and also see how good public servants are maliciously taken apart for a few mispoken (and perhaps not mispoken, just taken out-of-context). How many of us could stand before a malicious microscope attached to a megaphone?

    Thus, the key issue is Rep. Griffith’s track record.

    As someone who doesn’t know his history, and putting aside for the moment his political pary affiliation and just looking at what is listed above, Rep. Griffith’s statement does not fit the usual pattern of “blame America first” – which generally accused America of being a racist and oppressive nation and which also tends to view America as the source of all the various ills abroad.

    Also, few “blame America firsters” speak approvingly of American values; rather they want us to be “multicultual” and accepting of everyone else’s values except America’s.

    On the other hand, it is quite reasonable from a Christian viewpoint to say that we need to take responsbility for our lives and actions and say that we need to reform ourselves first (with the grace of God working within us) to change the world rather than blaming outside forces for our problems.

    And it is falls well within a Christian social doctrine to view materialism as a key ill in American society and to promote Christian faith as an antidote.

    So assuming it true that he was speaking to pastors, I see that this statement very reasonably could be interpreted as an inartful expression that America needs to confront its idols (materialism) – which is a prophetic type of message – return to its Christian roots; and that a nation firmly anchored in faith should not fear its external enemies.

    And indeed I would like to hear more politicians affirm the strength of the American character and confidence in our future rather than constant appealing to our fears of enemies foreign and/or domestic.

    Which is why this comes back to track record.

    I have no interest in spinning for someone who has a history of “blame America first”. And if Rep. Giffith has such a history, then by all means take him down.

    However, even if this fellow has a “D” next to his name, I don’t want to attack him for telling the truth inartfully if he really is on the side of America.

    So what are the facts regarding Rep. Griffith’s past history, from those who know his record?

  • SusannasDaughter

    Dear Eric: I just wanted to thank you and all the other commentators on this site for making me aware of Parker Griffith’s excellent description of America’s true enemy — its own greed and arrogance.

    I was so impressed by your report on Mr. Griffith (and by the comments against him) that I went to his site and donated to his campaign, even though I don’t live in Alabama.

    I’m going to be watching your site regularly from now on. And everything you’re against, I’m gonna be for, including putting my money up for courageous, faithful leaders like Mr. Griffith. I refuse to let your twisted vision warp America any longer.