Contact: Susan A. Fani, Director of Communications, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 212-371-3191, catalyst@catholicleague.org
"Throughout the night, CNN closely examined Palin's religion, and it did so professionally. By contrast, MSNBC came across shrill.
"Two quotes from Palin got the most attention: (a) 'Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what it right also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God,' and (b) 'I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built.' In neither case did any CNN host, correspondent or panelist deride these remarks.
"However, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow interpreted the former comment as saying that 'the commander-in-chief for our side in the
"MSNBC's Keith Olbermann was worse. Calling Palin 'Amy Simple McHockey Mom,' he spoke sarcastically about her religious beliefs, alerting viewers to the news that in Palin's church 'they speak in tongues.' He did not say, as did CNN's Randi Kaye, that her pastor 'never saw Palin speak in tongues.' To its credit, CNN also branded as a 'hoax' the rumor—floated by bloggers, as well as by Juan Cole on Salon—that Palin once sought to ban books from a local library.
"The secular left does not understand, or respect, Christianity. In doing so, they not only expose their shallowness, hypocrisy and intolerance, they wind up convincing more and more Americans that the object of their scorn is worth a closer look—if not worth defending."