…plummets. Gillette certainly doesn’t seem “wicked smart” in this episode.
It occurs to me that Jillette wouldn’t say this if he thought that Obama really was a Christian. It’s just a pose for the rubes, and he approves, recognizing the cultural necessity. Obama doesn’t believe in anyone higher than himself.
Penn Gillette calling the President of the United States “wicked smart” is a proof of the existence of God?
Let me see if I follow the argument. Penn Gillette is not only a famous stage magician, he is one of the better known proponents of Skepticism, the view borne out from experience that other-than-physical-explanations for goings on in the world about us have explanations based on known laws of science, and Atheism, a view not strictly required by Skepticism but often connected to it. Penn Gillette is generally regarded as a pretty smart guy who has made convincing arguments in support of Atheism.
So Mr. Gillette blurts out that Mr. Obama is “wicked smart”, to which Mr. Gillette adds that “all our Presidents are that way”, and he says this in the context of at leasting wanting to believe that Mr. Obama’s outward show of religious conviction to a Christian denomination or church are a cynical although clever political ruse. You see, if Mr. Obama were a sincere Believer, Mr. Gillette would think him to be a whole lot less smart, and since Mr. Obama’s smartness is axiomatic, he is acting in cynicism as a politician as many politicians do?
Since it is axiomatic around here that Mr. Obama is not-so-smart, that means that Mr. Gillette is not-so-smart-afterall in thinking otherwise, which means Mr. Gillette’s arguments in support of Skepticism and especially Atheism lose their power, proving that God indeed exists?
I don’t know Paul. Until your logical framework describes how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, it’s just not practical.
Works for me Paul. Transitive properties FTW!
Yes…..err No! *scratches head* What was the question again?
Anyways all I know is when you zoom into someones face until it’s life size and then crank up the resolution to 720p it doesn’t make for a very flattering portrait. There’s something hanging out his nose and dandruff on his shoulders. And when he gets worked up about something there is this one wrinkle of skin between his eyes that gets bright red. Maybe that’s the source of all Penn Jillette’s (with a J) power. Guess I’ll have to play it again and try to listen instead of watch because I was getting too distracted.
If you listen a bit farther, he gets dumber. Did you know that the word “Christian” did not really appear until the anti-abortion debate in the 1960’s?
His last name is spelled “Jillette”.
Rand had got that covered by spelling the man’s name both ways . . .
[[[It occurs to me that Jillette wouldn’t say this if he thought that Obama really was a Christian. It’s just a pose for the rubes, and he approves, recognizing the cultural necessity. ]]]
The next crazy claim I am waiting for is for someone to argue President Obama is not really an African American, he has been just been using skin dyes since childhood to get the minority advantage 🙂
Hmmm, I wonder when that happens if Donald Trump will start demanding his DNA?
I thought you were one of those who always insisted that Obama isn’t African-American (I.e. one born in Africa who then moved to the U.S. and became an American citizen).
MfK,
[[[(I.e. one born in Africa who then moved to the U.S. and became an American citizen)]]]
I forget, the Tea Party has its own weird dictionary. Well in the real world beyond the Tea Partiers President Obama fits the definition well.
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/African-American
an American who has African and especially black African ancestors ◊Many people prefer the term African-American rather than black when referring to Americans of African descent.
an American who has African and especially black African ancestors
All humans have African ancestors, Tom.
What a useless definition.
Yes, they should have included a qualifier that limited it to indigenous Sub-Saharan Africans who left the continent after 1452.
But then this is written for the common folks, not the super genius types like you Edward.
Only “super geniuses” know that humans originated in Africa?
That’s basic knowledge which any high-school graduate should have.
Only a prog who doesn’t know any black people could make this comment. You have no clue as to the class structure that exists among blacks. At this moment, I have in my kitchen an African American. She was born in Africa, came to America, and became a citizen. She’s white.
In the sense of having African ancestry, all Americans without exception are “African Americans.” However, the only black people I know (and I’m friends with more than any white person on this list knows) who don’t want to be called “African Americans” are black people, born in Africa, who move to America and become US citizens. The ones I know regard “African Americans” as a pampered class.
Who cares about all of this, anyway? You obviously do. Many of the black people I know do. But I don’t.
Who are the racists?
Penn isn’t a mental genius but he at least advocates the use of one’s brain. As for Obama, he’s obviously smart enough to become President of the USA and that’s more than most people.
Trent, I can fly across the Atlantic in a few hours but that doesn’t make me Kelly Johnson.
I have no idea what you’re trying to say, sorry.
Obama had severe help getting elected.
“he’s obviously smart enough to become President of the USA”
Don’t say that to a liberal. After eight years of proclaiming how st00pid Chimpy McBushitler was- not to mention four years before that of proclaiming the essential dumbness of Where Was George, and another eight years before that of announcing the senility of Ronnie Raygun- they can’t logically believe that it takes any great intelligence to become President.
Which, when you think about it, goes far to explain Barry Obama, candidate John”Magic Hat” Kerry, vice-candidate John “Rielle Who?” Edwards, and oh how the list goes on…
That has got to be the most vapid defense anyone has come up with for our Community-Organizer in Chief. Let’s ring the changes…
As for Bush, he’s obviously smart enough to become President of the USA and that’s more than most people.
Yet we put up with almost a decade of his detractors calling him stupid and a chimp and a figurehead manipulated by the Evil Darth Cheney.
As for Reagan , he’s obviously smart enough to become President of the USA and that’s more than most people.
Again, that didn’t stop decades of “amiable dunce” jokes, before, during and after his presidency.
As for Nixon, he’s obviously smart enough to become President of the USA and that’s more than most people.
The less said, the better.
As for Gingrich, he’s obviously smart enough to become President of the USA and that’s more than most people.
Is that really a reason to elect the guy? Actually, he’s so smart that when he says or does something stupid, it’s really stupid.
No-one said it was. Penn doesn’t think Obama is religious. To hold this opinion he has to answer the objection that Obama says he is religious. His answer is that obviously Obama is smart enough to fake it because that’s required to become President.
…so Penn’s defense is that Obama is a liar? Gee, and here I thought that Presidents weren’t supposed to lie.
Was Jillette the kind of razor Occam used?