Jerry Falwell compares Hillary Clinton to Satan; Hugo Chavez does the same with George Bush

"I certainly hope that Hillary is the candidate. She has $300 million so far. But I hope she's the candidate. Because nothing will energize my [constituency] like Hillary Clinton. If Lucifer ran, he wouldn't." - Falwell

"The nation is weary of the vitriolic and divisive political rhetoric that still comes from some on the Religious Right. In particular, the country is tired, truly tired, of Rev. Jerry Falwell. At the Religious Right’s Values Voter Summit, Rev. Falwell said that Hillary Clinton’s run for the presidency would energize the Right’s base more than Lucifer. This is also the man who said the terrorist attacks on 9/11 were God’s judgment on America and he specifically blamed feminists, homosexuals and the ACLU. Agreement or disagreement with Senator Clinton’s politics is not the issue. Personally demonizing public figures is the issue. Such political poison isn’t just bad for the Body Politic and the more civil discourse we so desperately need. It also simply isn’t Christian." - Jim Wallis

Falwell also had the gall (or perhaps the stupidity) to say that, according to an article in the Guardian, the remarks were off-the-cuff and not intended to demonize the Senator. Well, he is either lying or stupid. When we demonize someone, we're saying that we don't see the need to engage with them as equals, and that we don't consider them to be a fellow child of God. As such, Jerry Falwell's actions here are particularly un-Christian. As an ordained minister, he has no excuse unless he was drunk or stoned.

""And the devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the devil came here. Right here." [crosses himself] "And it smells of sulfur still today." - Hugo Chavez

Now, for Chavez, at least he had the guts to call President Bush on his actions. "Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world," he said. "What type of democracy do you impose with marines and bombs?" he asked. These are things that need to be said before the rest of the world. But, as with Mahatir Mohammed, having the courage to condemn the US isnot a sign of true courage, or of wisdom, or of righteousness.

Once again, demonizing another person is a sin. It's also not useful. It does make for good rhetoric, but it will rally Americans behind Bush even more. And it will further increase the hatred that many people feel for the US.

Let us pray for the courage and the wisdom to resist evil, but to resist also the temptation to demonize the evildoers.