Recently letters to this column posed the question whether Democrats can be Christians. I pose a similar question. Can Republicans claim to be Christians?
Christ said to feed the hungry. Republican response is to cut food stamps.Christ healed the sick. Republican response is to repeal Obamacare and cut Medicare and Medicaid.
Christ said help the poor. Republican response strongly opposes increases in minimum wages and equal pay for women.
Christ spoke despairingly of rich men. Republican response is to cut taxes for the wealthy and big corporations.
Christ chased the money changers out of the temple. Today’s money changers have gravitated to Wall Street and Republican lawmakers have developed a mutually supportive relationship with them.
Christ’s basic message was love thy neighbor. Many Republicans follow the lead of their top spokesman, Rush Limbaugh, who seems to be a hatemonger, committed to the dissemination of hate. He seeks to have a broad array of hate targets, African-Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, homosexuals, women, the poor, and especially President Obama. Limbaugh seems to have found that the Bible Belt is fertile ground for marketing hate.
Undoubtedly, many Republicans try to follow Christ’s appeals. However, in Congress very few, if any, Republicans do so.
Philip D. Harr
Vancouver
