Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 9, 1916 ... Oregon and Alaska lift suspension of troubled insurance carrier Moda ... Oregon refuge occupier releases videos mocking FBI ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 9, 1916 ... Oregon and Alaska lift suspension of troubled insurance carrier Moda ... Oregon refuge occupier releases videos mocking FBI ... Kent Bush: Moral and ethical standards need to be higher Comment By Kent Bush More Content Now MailTribune.com By Kent Bush More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 6:27 AM By Kent Bush More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 6:27 AM » Social News I really hate it when people endear themselves to the religious right and then fail to use that platform responsibly. To me, Jesus isn’t some celebrity’s name to drop to try to impress people. He isn’t part of a political platform or point of view. When you represent people of faith, the bar is raised. The standards of ethical and moral correctness have to be the highest. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. In Biblical stories, David was a shepherd boy. When he faced the giant Goliath, he showed no fear because he had already killed a lion and a bear protecting his flock. He went on to kill Goliath and end his attacks on the soldiers of Israel. Later David became king of his people. But what happens when the shepherds start fleecing the sheep instead of protecting them? Somehow, Todd Starnes has used his conservative point of view to make inroads with social conservatives. But he often plays a little fast and loose with the truth and that is no way to behave when you are broadcast by Christian media outlets. Last week, Starnes used his daily radio spot to berate President Barack Obama and the liberal media for not speaking out about the death of a 25-year-old officer in New York City. Of course, he framed the officer’s death in a false-equivalence with the Baltimore protests and riots because of the death of an unarmed black man at the hands of the police. Starnes’ piece ran Tuesday morning. Obama had already commented and most media outlets – whether liberal or not - with any national interest had already covered the unfortunate death well before Starnes’ comments aired. Via a Twitter exchange, Starnes defended himself for his inaccurate comments by stating that he had to record his piece before the President or media had responded. He said it was accurate when he recorded it. I’m not sure when he hit the record button on that segment, but it must have been within minutes of the officer’s death. Facts are facts, Starnes has an anti-Obama “us against them” narrative that he has to maintain. He has not – and likely will not – correct his erroneous claims. That is unfortunate. It is a black eye not only for Starnes, but for the stations with whom he is affiliated. But the problem goes beyond pundits who push a point of view. Mike Huckabee should have no problem with credibility with the religious right. They don’t get more religious or more right than Southern Baptist pastors. But Huckabee has also been a little lax when it comes to how he makes money lately. Huckabee is famous for dropping more than 100 pounds. Like Jared from Subway, Huckabee has endorsed weight loss products. However, one plan includes medically unproven uses of cinnamon and chromium picolinate to assist in weight loss and balancing blood sugar. Anecdotes are not evidence and claiming that these things can work is one thing but endorsing them as a cure for diabetes is far from scientifically proven. Like Huckabee said on Sunday morning shows, if that is the worst thing anyone can find against him, he is a pretty good candidate. Alas, it isn’t. Huckabee rented out his email list to a company that claims there is a cure for cancer if people will just perform some sort of holy acrostic puzzle with randomly selected Bible verses. That may have worked for Tom Hanks in “The DaVinci Code” but if that is what you are banking on to cure your cancer, you might need to seek a second opinion. Huckabee said he never endorsed the cancer cure and it is no different than media outlets advertising “catheters and adult diapers.” Well, one way it is different is that catheters and adult diapers are real and the people who order those from advertisers actually get what they pay for. I understand that many people want to see someone like Huckabee do well at the polls because there are parts of his resume that are very appealing to people of faith. I want to like him too. It’s just hard when you see him taking advantage of people by pushing false products and false narratives to build audience and pad bankrolls. Kent Bush is publisher of Shawnee (Oklahoma) News-Star and can be reached at kent.bush @news-star.com. By Kent Bush More Content Now MailTribune.com By Kent Bush More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 6:27 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501