by Mark Silva
So what is the "favorite book of all time'' for Barack Obama and John McCain? Katie Couric was asking last night.
"Well, the Bible is the book that shaped me and moved me the most,'' said Democrat Barack Obama, in response to the CBS News anchor's question, the last in a series of presidential questions aired last night on the CBS Evening News.
"But, in addition to that, Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon" might be one of my favorite books. It's just a beautiful, beautiful book,'' Obama said. "nd I've gotten a chance to know Toni Morrison during the course of this campaign, and she's just as elegant and wise and thoughtful as you would want her to be.
"ou know, it's always nice to meet somebody and they turn out to be just like you want them to be. She's just a spectacular writer and a spectacular woman,'' he said. "Shakespeare tragedies, whether it's Hamlet or Lear. There's so much in each of those tragedies. You can read them once a year and each year, there's something new, there's something you didn't notice. There is some insight into the human dilemma. It's powerful stuff.''
"For Whom the Bell Tolls,'' Republican McCain replied, naming the Ernest Hemingway novel. "It's about a fella from Montana that goes to Spain to fight for a cause he believes in. His name is Jordan. He falls in love, of course, with a beautiful Spanish young woman, but he's willing - even when disillusioned with a cause he came to fight for, which was the Communists - he's willing to sacrifice his life for his comrades. And that's where I got the phrase "the world is a wonderful place and well worth the fighting for."
And, then, this: "What would you like to have on your tombstone?'' the CBS anchor asked the candidates for president.
"He served honorably,'' McCain replied, "and he put his country first."
"That he was a good man, and an honest man,'' Obama said of himself.
"And that he was a good father and a good husband... and that he tried to give something of himself to make the world better. Something pretty simple, but somehow hard to achieve sometimes. '
Comments
The Bible is Obama's favorite book? Isn't there something in it about telling the truth?
Across America there are 538 citizens and each is entrusted with the sacred duty of protecting American Democracy. The Electoral College - The Penultimate Firewall to Electoral Fraud. Will one step up to join Philip Berg?
http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/the-electoral-college-the-penultimate-firewall-to-electoral-fraud/
Posted by: ZachJonesIsHome | October 30, 2008 8:05 AM
Just can't pass it up, taking the cheap shot. Why would one bother with the Bible, if one lied !!!?? Those, good, old christian values are showing again, with Bush-McCain Republicans !! They will bear false witness against their neighbors and then, pose as good christians !! To many, in fact, far too many, the Bible is an object, with which to beat someone over the head with, to bully them and to try to character-assassinate their good name and their family's good name !! I imagine Reverand Hagee will have given that sermon out, last week, if you don't like your neighbor, for what ever incidental reason, caste doubts about his character, if you have to, tell lies on him !! God will for give you, you are actually doing His work !! Well, that is not the God I know ! He doesn't condone lying, nor does he condone the attempt to destroy the good name of a United States Senator, Senator Obama. It is one thing to disagree with his political positions, but it is a diabolical act to take away his good name and to destroy his reputation !! I suggest you re-read your Bible, maybe you will stop bearing false witness against thy neighbor !! It's a long shot, but try it anyway !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | October 30, 2008 9:26 AM
Good Post Don.
Barack even has McShame beat in literature taste. But that shouldn't surprise anyone. One's family life tells the tale about what a person is on the inside.
Posted by: Live from the Southside | October 30, 2008 10:09 AM
Now let me get this straight. McCain's favorite book is a story of a left wing leaning romantic American socialist who joined in the fight against the fascists in the Spanish Civil War. And his favorite hero character in the book Jordan is a communist sympathizer who by nature is probably fighting for the Marxist principle of sharing the wealth and the workers control over the means of production. So John McCain apparently likes the motivation of a socialist if they are characters in a story but not in real life.
Furthermore, to McCain being "willing to sacrifice his life for his comrades" is the redeeming factor here, not what one believes in that motivates them to fight for one side or the other in the first place.
Therefore following McCain's logic won't this make anyone who opposes the United States in war absolved of any wrong doing if they simply believe in what their doing and are willing to sacrifice themselves for "their comrades".
This type of militaristic honor worship hogwash is unusually what starts wars in the first place.
Posted by: Danny OBrien | October 30, 2008 3:21 PM