Michela Skelton, Marx, and Scripture: what is the problem?

A special election early next month will pit Democrat Skelton against Sara Walsh, Republican, for the seat in the 50th Missouri House district. A forum given by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce was reported by the Columbia Daily Tribune July 12th here. At the forum Mrs Skelton quoted Karl Marx to justify her opposition to a tax reduction. Will Scharf, the Missouri Governor’s policy director, noticed here that the Tribune article failed to report this rather significant statement. Following up, the Tribune reporter in a subsequent July 16 article corrected his omission:

As she argued in favor of repealing a tax cut scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, Skelton said the principle should be “from each according to ability and to each according to need.”

This paraphrase without ‘sexist’ pronouns is clearly from Karl Marx. It is a fundamental characteristic of the workers’ paradise as envisaged by the Communist philosopher (Critique of the Gotha Program, 1875.) The July 16 story continues with Skelton’s reply to Will Scharf:

Skelton responded by pointing to a bible verse that is also similar.

But no ‘similar’ Biblical quotation or citation is given – probably because one does not exist. However, there is a verse that answers Marx and his progressive epigones:

If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (ESV)

The problem is not confusing Marx with Scripture or even being a Christian Marxist. But in knowing full well that the source is Marx, refusing to acknowledge that fact, and – worse – then claiming to be quoting Scripture. A gaffe, in other words, which is when someone in politics inadvertently says what he really thinks. In this case, it is when a progressive tries to mask her true beliefs, which are out of step with the voters.   

Troglo

Ps: Mrs Skelton’s website under the rubric of Values has this curious statement: “It is time we stand up and demand that the freedom and welfare of the people must be the supreme law of the land.” Curious because as an attorney she knows that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, that it was carefully constructed to preserve our liberty from the depredations and vaticinations of those who would wreck it thinking they know better.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Print