Trump just promised an authoritarian ‘task force’ to impose Christian ideology

[rjs330]

I don't think he is competent enough to become a dictator, but he certainly has less people who would oppose him in his party, this time around.

Don't be silly.

 

[MrMoe]

There's a difference between "Trump just promised a 'task force' to impose Christian ideology" (the headline as written) and "Trump just promised a 'task force to impose Christian ideology'" (what you're characterizing the headline as). The first one is actually saying "Trump just promised a task force that will, in my opinion, be used to impose Christian ideology." The second one is saying "Trump just made a promise that he will create a task force to impose Christian ideology on the country." Punctuation is important, and is frequently used creatively in headlines to get you to click on the story.

For a more benign example, see "The panda bear eats shoots and leaves." Compare to "The panda bear eats, shoots, and leaves." Same words, two totally different meanings - the only difference is two commas.

I'm pretty sure those are scare quotes.

"Scare quotes (also called shudder quotes, sneer quotes, and quibble marks) are quotation marks that writers place around a word or phrase to signal that they are using it in an ironic, referential, or otherwise non-standard sense. Scare quotes may indicate that the author is using someone else's term, similar to preceding a phrase with the expression "so-called"; they may imply skepticism or disagreement, belief that the words are misused, or that the writer intends a meaning opposite to the words enclosed in quotes. Whether quotation marks are considered scare quotes depends on context because scare quotes are not visually different from actual quotations. The use of scare quotes is sometimes discouraged in formal or academic writing."

Scare quotes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SimplyMe]

And you'd be all for it. Like I said.

And in case you missed it, I'm not for it from anyone. Including Trump.

I don't buy I to all the oppressed and oppressor nonsense. No one in America is oppressed and no one is an oppressor despite what the left claims.

Would I? I don't think you have any clue as to what I'd be for and what I wouldn't be for.

And it sounds like you should be against this Christian task force, since as you rightfully point out, we Christians are not oppressed in this country -- regardless of the purpose of the task force (whether "authoritarian" or just to investigate instances of "persecution" of Christians.

 

[Nithavela]

Don't be silly.

If you want to accuse me of being silly, it would be helpful if you at least gave a hint to why I would be so. Otherwise it just comes off as a snappy put down without substance (which is of course a legitimate debate tactic, if that's what you were going for).

 

[KCfromNC]

If Biden would have said that then the left in this country would be all for it.

Perhaps because Biden has a bit of a different history than the one term ex-president? You know, with the lack of his campaign colluding with a hostile foreign power, him not trying to use his position to extort a foreign leader to lie about a campaign opponent, and the lack of leading a violent attack on the US Capitol after losing his bid for reelection.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

I'm pretty sure those are scare quotes.

What makes you think that? Trump did promise a task force:

“Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-Christian bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable,” he promised. “Its mission will be to investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution against Christians in America.”

It seems to me that the author is distinguishing Trump's explicit promise of a task force from her opinion on that task force's purpose.

 

[rjs330]

Would I? I don't think you have any clue as to what I'd be for and what I wouldn't be for.

And it sounds like you should be against this Christian task force, since as you rightfully point out, we Christians are not oppressed in this country -- regardless of the purpose of the task force (whether "authoritarian" or just to investigate instances of "persecution" of Christians.

Yes as I said I'm against it as I would be against any task force aimed at LGBTQ or racial issues.

I don't have a clue? Maybe I don't. Let's test my theory.

If a candidate (not Trump) stated,

"Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-Lgbtq bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable,” he promised. “Its mission will be to investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution against the LGBTQ community in America.”

Would you be for it or against it?

 

[rjs330]

Perhaps because Biden has a bit of a different history than the one term ex-president? You know, with the lack of his campaign colluding with a hostile foreign power, him not trying to use his position to extort a foreign leader to lie about a campaign opponent, and the lack of leading a violent attack on the US Capitol after losing his bid for reelection.

I knew I was correct.

 

[rjs330]

What makes you think that? Trump did promise a task force:

It seems to me that the author is distinguishing Trump's explicit promise of a task force from her opinion on that task force's purpose.

Are you against looking into illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution? Or just against it where Christians are involved?

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Are you against looking into illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution? Or just against it where Christians are involved?

Maybe rephrase that as less of a loaded question? How about one that doesn't imply that I said something that I did not, in fact, say?

 

[FireDragon76]

It's all about human psychology. Let's just take what Trump said and make a change.

"Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-lgbtq bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable,” he promised. “Its mission will be to investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution against the LGBTQ in America.”

If Biden would have said that then the left in this country would be all for it.

Or perhaps
Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-African American bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable,” he promised. “Its mission will be to investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution against African Americans in America.”

There would be NO outcry from the left of authoritarianism. None of you would be posting about authoritarian task forces and the like.

Let's be honest. This is about human psychology and what the left has been doing for years in creating an oppressor/oppressed division in the country. Now that someone on the right is starting to do it, suddenly you guys are very concerned.

I don't think you are concerned at all. Because if you really were you would have been speaking out against it for a long time. You're not seriously concerned. You are just peeved that the right is borrowing from the playbook and Trump mentioned Christians instead any race but white people the LGBTQ community.

If you really were concerned about the general idea, you would be against the feds doing any such thing regarding anyone. Like I am.

I don't see any anti-Christian bias in the US, far from it. A majority of Americans still identify as Christians.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

I don't see any anti-Christian bias in the US, far from it. A majority of Americans still identify as Christians.

Right - this logic only works if you assume that there is an anti-Christian bias in the country, AND that the current legal structures are not able to address such a bias, should it exist.

 

[KCfromNC]

I knew I was correct.

Imagining a made up hypothetical scenario going as it was made up to go isn't a particularly compelling accomplishment.

Although I guess given how often right wing talking points end up contradicting themselves maybe we do need to grade on a curve.

 

[SimplyMe]

Yes as I said I'm against it as I would be against any task force aimed at LGBTQ or racial issues.

I don't have a clue? Maybe I don't. Let's test my theory.

If a candidate (not Trump) stated,

"Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-Lgbtq bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable,” he promised. “Its mission will be to investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment and persecution against the LGBTQ community in America.”

Would you be for it or against it?

Why should I be for it? From what I know, the current DoJ does a decent job at handling cases of anti-LGBT bias and has for a while. I don't see why a federal task force should be needed today, just as I don't see a reason why there should be a task force focused on anti-Christian bias.

I also could see where promising a task force focusing on anti-LGBT bias may make Christians feel it is setup to attack them, even if I don't agree with it; just as I can see where non-Christians may feel that Trump's promised task force is being done to re-impose Christian views on the country.

 

[loveofourlord]

what I want to know is what is he refering to anti christian bias? is he talking about evolution, any other sciences that have issue with strict understanding of the bible, or what? I think thats sort of the problem, it's kinda nebulous what he means.

 

[FireDragon76]

what I want to know is what is he refering to anti christian bias? is he talking about evolution, any other sciences that have issue with strict understanding of the bible, or what? I think thats sort of the problem, it's kinda nebulous what he means.

That's not an accident. When looked at critically, it doesn't make sense.

 

[rjs330]

This is just pandering for him. He finds a topic he thinks will resonate with some and he says something about it. Just like most oppressed/oppressor statements. Find a group that you think might feel oppressed and get on their side and agree that they are oppressed and you are going to do something about it. Look into the oppressors etc. Trump thinks he is identifying Christians as being an oppressed group. We are not an oppressed group. Although there are instances of it. They are generally not done by government agencies but are more often done by organizations. The one exception that I can think of off the top of my head is pro-life instances. But even they are few and far between. So far.

But overall, no we are not oppressed. Much like all the others that claim oppression in the US.

 

[Ragdoll]

Opinion | Trump just promised an authoritarian ‘task force’ to impose Christian ideology

The former president is still feeding the Christian right’s persecution complex

www.msnbc.com

In a Dec. 19 speech in Iowa, for example, Trump pledged, “As soon as I get back in the Oval Office, I’ll also immediately end the war on Christians. I don’t know if you feel it. You have a war. There’s a war.” Speaking just after the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified him from appearing on the state’s GOP primary ballot, Trump tied this “war” to his own legal woes. “Under crooked Joe Biden, Christians and Americans of faith are being persecuted and government has been weaponized against religion like never before. And also presidents like never before,” he added. “I always say Al Capone was treated better than I was treated.”​

​

Trump has promoted the theme of Christian persecution in the past, but is elevating it again as these legal issues mount. His clear purpose is to deflect attention from his own criminal liabilities by insinuating that the same Biden administration he falsely claims is unfairly targeting him for prosecution is similarly persecuting religious Americans.​

​

That Trump supporters believe him to be a "man of faith" is patently ridiculous. If I believed in such a thing as an "anti-christ", Trump would be the poster boy, A number 1 candidate.

So you, an atheist, are trying to speak on behalf of all Christians? Then, as an atheist, you try to preach to Christians about the Antichrist? Please stop while you're behind here. Before Trump decided to run for President, we Christians knew we were being attacked by our own government. I think you know that is true but just don't want to admit that. We know when our rights and way of life, our very thoughts and beliefs, are under attack. We certainly don't need an atheist trying to be our conscience.

If you are worried about Trump putting an end to open season on Christians then I'll take that as a confession you know we Christians are being persecuted. If it wasn;t true you would be supporting Trump. But you hate Trump because he wants to stop open season on Christians. Atheists are having so much fun these days being ordained by the government to attack our freedoms. Atheists think its funny when we lose a family member to atheism or the occult. Atheists laugh when our families are plundered and destroyed by atheism. They think its funny when our young ones lose faith in God and commit suicide. So naturally you'll be opposed to Trump because he does not cater to a country run by atheists that only allows atheists.

You live in a country founded by mostly all Christians who gave you the right to be who you are. In an all atheist country, Christians have no civil rights at all. Consider that.

 

[Ragdoll]

This is just pandering for him. He finds a topic he thinks will resonate with some and he says something about it. Just like most oppressed/oppressor statements. Find a group that you think might feel oppressed and get on their side and agree that they are oppressed and you are going to do something about it. Look into the oppressors etc. Trump thinks he is identifying Christians as being an oppressed group. We are not an oppressed group. Although there are instances of it. They are generally not done by government agencies but are more often done by organizations. The one exception that I can think of off the top of my head is pro-life instances. But even they are few and far between. So far.

But overall, no we are not oppressed. Much like all the others that claim oppression in the US.

The majority of Christians disagree with you. The overwhelming majority of us see how our government is openly attacking our faith. You may not see that but, then again, you are a very small tiny minority of Christians who say we are not oppressed. So are the rest of us delusional? We never made such claims until Obama got into office. He began forcing his Marxist ideology on the country and here we are talking about the harm his Marxist ideology has done to erode our civil rights as Christians. Had there been no socialist movement in this country we would not be saying we are oppressed (since we never said anything like that prior to the rise of socialism in America). I hope that makes sense.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

So you, an atheist, are trying to speak on behalf of all Christians? Then, as an atheist, you try to preach to Christians about the Antichrist? Please stop while you're behind here. Before Trump decided to run for President, we Christians knew we were being attacked by our own government. I think you know that is true but just don't want to admit that. We know when our rights and way of life, our very thoughts and beliefs, are under attack. We certainly don't need an atheist trying to be our conscience.

If you are worried about Trump putting an end to open season on Christians then I'll take that as a confession you know we Christians are being persecuted. If it wasn;t true you would be supporting Trump. But you hate Trump because he wants to stop open season on Christians. Atheists are having so much fun these days being ordained by the government to attack our freedoms. Atheists think its funny when we lose a family member to atheism or the occult. Atheists laugh when our families are plundered and destroyed by atheism. They think its funny when our young ones lose faith in God and commit suicide. So naturally you'll be opposed to Trump because he does not cater to a country run by atheists that only allows atheists.

You live in a country founded by mostly all Christians who gave you the right to be who you are. In an all atheist country, Christians have no civil rights at all. Consider that.

I am a former Christian. I can speak from my own experiences as a Christian just fine. Don't pretend Christians are something special. Supporting Trump is completely contradictory to just about everything Jesus taught. I certainly don't need a Christian telling me what I can and can't speak about. Take my advice\opinion how ever you want, but don't act like I can't "preach" at Christians and point out blatant hypocracy when I see it. I can and I will.

You make a lot of presumptions about what atheists think and feel for a Christian. Save your righteous condescension for that mug in the mirror. Not sure what "atheist" countries you're referring to, but last time I checked the closest ones, Scandinavian and maybe Japan, weren't the hell holes for Christians or anyone else that you seem to think. Christians in American certainly aren't being persecuted to any great degree.

How many atheists were involved in Jan 6th do you think?