Parker Griffith, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Alabama’s 5^th Congressional District, while speaking to a Baptist association as a fellow believer, recently made one of the most patriotic and faith-infused statements a candidate can make:

“I think America’s greatest enemy is America and its materialism. And I think that . . . uh . . . we have nothing to fear from radical Islam. We have nothing to fear from any other religion if we are strong on our own beliefs. I don’t fear radical Islam.”

So, let’s see here…

“…America’s greatest enemy is materialism.”

SCORE: Bedrock Christian theology, especially the Baptist belief of living in the world but not of the world. Christians know their reward is elsewhere… not in the materialism of this world.

“…we have nothing to fear from radical Islam. We have nothing to fear from any other religion if we are strong on our own beliefs.”

SCORE: Believers know that if the truth, if God, is on their side then who can be against us. We have nothing to fear. Are you afraid of some people hiding in a cave or is your faith strong enough to go forth with confidence?

“I don’t fear radical Islam.”

SCORE: A President once said “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” And when Franklin Roosevelt said that the United States was dealing with the Great Depression. He was calling Americans to be Americans… to stand up and not be afraid, to recognize the potential in our great nation and recognize that we cannot be our own worst enemy.

But instead of applauding Mr. Griffith’s call for Americans to be wary of materialism, to not be afraid and to stand strong a rightwing blog attacks him.

How sad and how out of touch with the American people, especially a Baptist association in Alabama, I’m sure these bloggers claim to speak for. Why are they affraid? 

Give me a break. Parker Griffith is offering the type of patriotic, faithful leadership we need in the United States Congress.