“What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can’t make the vote tonight.That’s what they ought to pray.”
The person was Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, speaking on the Senate floor Sunday afternoon before this morning’s 60-40 vote cutting off a filibuster on the health reform bill.
The quote, courtesy of MSNBC’s First Read, prompted Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin to counter: “I don’t think it’s appropriate to be invoking prayer to wish misfortune on a colleague.”
As most Americans, I have listened to the Republicans for six months expressing opposition to improve our health insurance coverage proposals. Some of what they say was poignant. Some was distortions and fabrications.
But invoking God into the discussion?
That’s gutter politics. It demeans anyone’s faith in a supreme being.
What moral compulsion drives someone to claiming God is on his side and suggesting “God will get you” if you don’t comply?
Sen. Coburn’s comment tests my compassion to the brink, refraining from telling him to go to some place our religions claim is extremely hot.
Jerry Remmers worked 26 years in the newspaper business. His last 23 years was with the Evening Tribune in San Diego where assignments included reporter, assistant city editor, county and politics editor.