Tom Cox says he will listen to the Bible: Ark Times finds that Controversial (UPDATE – So Does the Democrat Gazette)
Today’s Arkansas Times wrote about they believe to be yet another gaffe by an Arkansas Republican Senate candidate. After my story on Kim Hendren’s “that Jew” remark, it seems that has become a sport with the Times as well as others picking up on Curtis Coleman’s “a visas and a shot” remark earlier this week. The Times reports today on Cox saying that he seeks advice from the Bible. The Times writes…
A “tea party” candidate for the Senate, Tom Cox, told Little Rock supporters that he “will listen to you and do what the Bible tells me to do first and you guys second, and that’s how you’re supposed to live your life.” Whether that’s how private citizens are supposed to live their lives is debatable. That it’s not how elected officials are supposed to behave, not in the USA, is irrefutable. An American senator is obliged to listen to the Constitution, not the Bible. Government and religion are kept apart in America, and the country has flourished because of it. Government officials in Iran put religion first, if Cox wants to try for office there. The counting is not always reliable.
The remarks (see video clip above for the full context) were part of Cox’s criticism of our current Senators lack of response to constituents. Cox was emphasizing that he would do a better job listening to the people back home saying, “When I get to Washington, DC, brothers and sisters of Arkansas, I’m going to listen to you. I going to be a different kind of honest Christian representative that you can be proud of. And if I not doing the job, you bonk me on the head and oust me because I’m telling you right now, I’m giving you my word. You can read these lips and I don’t need a teleprompter. I will listen to you and I will do what the Bible tells me to do first and you guys second, and that’s the way you’re supposed to live your life.”
Major gaffe or political promise? I will let you decide for yourself but I would not be surprised if other Arkansas media repeat the Times refrain before it is over.
UPDATE - Evidently, Seth Blomeley of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (subscription required) find it controversial to listen to the Bible as well. So much so that Blomeley showed up at the Central Arkansas Young Republican lunch last Thursday to press Cox on this issue. Blomeley is always welcome but is not a regular attendee of the monthly lunch. He writes in his article Saturday about how Cox might apply his Biblical worldview to his decisions as a U.S. Senator.
Reading the article, one might get the impression that Cox is a religious extremist but that is not at all the impression I have from talking to him. My impression is that Cox is just new to being a candidate and has not yet learned the art that more experienced politicians have of talking to reporters without saying anything at all. For an example of that, see this clip of Sen. Lincoln, who is a master at this.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
June 26th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Of course the Times is repeating their normal, Christian-bashing, Republican-hating behavior; but, my jaw just about hit the ground when he said that. “Doesn’t he know there are media here?” That’s all I could think when he said it. I might’ve said it out-loud to my wife. Maybe it’s a sad commentary on our culture; that a politician must refrain from such religious discussion regarding politics, but Cox should have known better. If he’s our nominee, I sure hope he learns from this.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Being a new politician, for the first time, is a Huge Plus to me.
He is not new at being the President of groups, however. Pushing agenda’s with success.
Tom Cox has my Support and Vote. Check him out, Really!! Go for it, he is a fine husband and father, businessman and also a good friend to many.
Starting a new campaign take tons of money, he’s working his way up. Starting with a shoestring budget now and working his way up to the Top Hat.