Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
Login | What's Hot
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Tuesday, October 02, 2001
Kathleen Parker :: Townhall.com Columnist
Born again, lucky, lucky me, born again!
by Kathleen Parker
Forward Print Share Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


As God and country become one again, at least two Americans must feel born (yet) again. I'm thinking, of course, about the Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose church is the Whole Wide World, and the Rep. Gary Condit, whose body is anyone's temple. Jackson was on television recently, discussing his invitation from the Taliban. And to think, (START ITALICS)we(END ITAL.) didn't get the nod. Jackson said he's reluctant to go, but, well, he'd make the sacrifice if he thought he could save innocent Afghan lives from a meanie U.S. military assault. The Bush administration, though issuing no official comment, reportedly has let word leak that, though it knows (muffled coughing) that Jackson's heart is in the right place, his going to Afghanistan would be a really, (START ITALICS)really(END ITAL.) bad idea. As Jackson discussed his usefulness to all the world's concerns with CNN's Paula Zahn, specifically mentioning "moral authority," I couldn't help wondering what ever happened to that baby out in Los Angeles. You remember, the offspring of Jackson's love affair with a Rainbow Coalition worker. But that's the silver lining of war. No one cares anymore about Jackson's extracurricular activities or his out-of-wedlock child. And no one cares about Gary Condit's "relationship" with Chandra Levy. You remember her, too. Condit's "relationship," which, gosh, talk about your bad timing, coincided with Levy's disappearance, is a distant memory amid so much tragedy. Levy's disappearance, meanwhile, is almost irrelevant contrasted with the 6,000-plus missing people whose lives disintegrated in the horrific blast of a fanatic's favorite nightmare. In a blink of hell's eye, both men have reclaimed legitimacy. Jackson, who views himself as an international savior (documentation to follow), and Condit, whose career was virtually finished a mere month ago, are back on the radar screen. Jackson once again can avail himself of our enemy's contempt by pre-empting our elected government's authority; Condit has been appointed, imagine, to the House subcommittee for Homeland Security. These glad-less tidings should help explain that uneasiness you feel upon waking each morning. Not only did something truly terrible happen, but characters like Jackson and Condit have regained legitimacy in the process. And no, it wasn't ever about sex. The relative insignificance of someone's sex life has never been clearer than now. What's morally offensive about the rev and the rep is that their individual corruption far exceeds their carnal concerns. Jackson doth not protest enough his invitation from the diabolical Taliban. Megalomaniac that he is (documentation forthcoming), he can't wait to go to Afghanistan and negotiate. He's so blinded by his own myth that he can't see how our foes use him over and over to mock our nation's leaders and minimize their power. OK, here it is: In Paris a couple of years ago, I happened to have been in the audience when Jackson spoke to a group at the American University. He compared himself to his "predecessors," Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ, even as he witlessly - and without irony - pointed out that the mighty fail because they fall upon their own swords. As for Condit, one need only recall that he was willing to lie about his "relationship" with Levy at a time when any information might have helped find her. By the time he admitted to knowing her better than anyone, it was too late. To save his own political skin, in other words, Condit was willing to risk another's life. And now he's bidden to protect ours? The recent terrorist attacks have put sins of the flesh in their proper perspective, as well they should. But the real enemy of God and man - the sin of which both Jackson and Condit are most guilty and from which all others arise - is pride. Both men inevitably will meet their just deserts, but meanwhile, Lord, save us from the saviors.
Share:
Forward Print Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author
Kathleen Parker is a syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group.
 
TOWNHALL DAILY: Be the first to read Kathleen Parker's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com daily lineup delivered each morning to your inbox.

Join The Debate!

Post Your Comment
(0 comments so Far)
View in ascending order     View in descending order
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
 *
State:
 *
Zip:
 *
Phone:
       
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.