A grainy 2005 video has emerged from the Wasilla Assembly of God featuring a Kenyan pastor named Thomas Muthee and then-Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin.

Some commentators have mocked the moment where Muthee prays to God to protect Palin from "witchcraft."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/pastor-muthee-a.html

Catholic League president Bill Donohue said today that "For the past two decades, Americans have been lectured by educators and the chattering class that we must respect cultural, religious, racial and ethnic diversity. It seems that exceptions to the creed of multiculturalism are only made when it suits the ideological agenda of the left. ...Witchcraft is a sad reality in many parts of Africa, resulting in scores of deaths in Kenya over the past two decades. Bishop Muthee’s blessing, then, was simply a reflection of his cultural understanding of evil. While others are not obliged to accept his interpretation, all can be expected to respect it. More than that—Muthee should be hailed for asking God to shield Palin from harmful forces, however they may be manifested. And for this he is mocked and Palin ridiculed?

Seriously, can anyone explain to me how witchcraft has resulted in "scores of deaths in Kenya over the past two decades," as Catholic Leaguer Bill Donohue asserts?

All I could find from google was an article that supposed witches have been burned.  According to Keith Olbermann, Pastor Muthee actually participated in a witchhunt.  He denounced a woman as a witch, and she had to flee her village, fearing for her life (with good reason, given the AFP article).

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJ9t5L-mEUjMX185__GCAH7uvx3g

I don't know if this will post, but here's the YouTube video:

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These two great Progessive Dem Senate candidates need your help!  We need a bigger Senate majority in order to override GOP filibusters and pass progressive legislation in case we lose the support of a few conservative Blue Dog Dems.  Please donate what you can to help put them in office!

http://www.actblue.com/page/92kforkay

http://www.jeffmerkley.com/contribute?code=www

Kay Hagan of North Carolina is locked in a close battle with Liddy Dole (polls).

Born in Shelby, Kay met her husband Chip in law school at Wake Forest. After her third child was born, Kay left her banking job at NCNB, where she had worked in the estate and trust division and helped people plan for their loved ones’ long term security and care, to focus on being a full-time mom. Like many mothers across North Carolina, she stayed active in the community, raising money for local causes, helping out at the Bell House and the Moses Cone Hospital, volunteering with the Junior League, teaching Sunday school classes and leading a Girl Scout troop.

While in the state Senate, she has proven to be an effective leader who is not afraid to do the hard work to bridge partisan divides and always put people before politics. Named one of North Carolina’s “Ten Most Effective Senators,” three terms in a row by the non-partisan North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, Governor Mike Easley calls Kay “one of the smartest, hardest working, most effective senators we have in Raleigh.”

"Ten years ago, I was a working mom who went to Raleigh because I thought the state needed a voice like mine. I’m still that same person, but my children are grown and I’m no longer car-pooling them to soccer practice while talking to the Governor on my cell phone."

Jeff Merkley is trying to knock off Gordon Smith in Oregon (polls).

Jeff Merkley was born in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, the son of a sawmill worker. He's fought hard for working families in Oregon and he's ready to help lead America.

As Oregon's Speaker of the House, Jeff Merkley led one of the most effective, efficient and progressive legislative sessions in Oregon's history - with big achievements for schools, ethics, health care, jobs, alternative energy, and protections for working families.

Merkley raced [quarter-midget cars] as a child, and once owned -- and crashed -- a Harley. He roomed with an impoverished family in Ghana as a teen, hitchhiked across Israel as a young man and went on, as he puts it, to help shut down one of Portland's worst crack alleys.

"I've lived," he says, "a pretty unconventional life."

McCain continues his plan to campaign (and then govern) by gimmick.  Here's how you can tell it's a stunt:

A senior McCain campaign official said that the “Bush package is dead. This is a serious situation. Package must be resolved by the time markets open on Monday."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09/mccain-not-comm.html

Um, I've got news for you, anonymous senior McCain official:  the markets are open this week, including tomorrow and Friday.  They can react each day in real time.  There is nothing magical about this weekend and Monday morning.  This is not another Weekend at Bernanke's situation, as with Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers/AIG.  You better come up with a better reason for trying to back out of the debate.  You've had time to react to the financial market turmoil and the Bush administration's bailout proposal.  Right now, you look scared and weak.

Also, when your a Republican and you lose GOP Rep. Tom Davis, due to your own administration's lack of credibility on these issues, you're in serious trouble!

"It's a tough sell to most of our members," said Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., after a closed-door meeting with Paulson and Bernanke. "It's a terrible plan, but I haven't heard anything better."

Compounding the administration's challenge, Republicans and Democrats both say Bush has lost credibility, particularly in cases where he argues there will be dire consequences if Congress doesn't act.

"They sold the war, they sold the stimulus package and some other things. It's the 'wolf at the door'" argument, Davis said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080924/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown;_ylt=AmXjWJEVSGTBLYnMPvs3FPWs0NUE