Doug Mastriano announces his Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign by blowing a shofar

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Regular readers of this blog know a thing or two about Doug Mastriano. You can get up to speed on the antics of this pro-Trump state senator here.

Last weekend Mastriano announced his candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania. American Idol contestant Danny Gokey was there. So was the disgraced former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Here is Matt Shuham at Talking Points Memo:

The breakout attraction of the event was a shofar — a ram’s horn that Jews blow into on certain holidays, producing a trumpet-like sound. The use of a shofar has become more and more common among conservative Christians in recent years, sometimes employed as a battle cry. That trend has angered some Jews who see the appropriation as insensitive.

The shofar made its appearance long before Mastriano took the stage at Saturday’s event. It was sounded shortly after a performance by the Christian singer Danny Gokey and “Old School Patriot” Dave Bray’s rendition of the national anthem, and before remarks from Donald Trump’s former national security advisor, Michael Flynn.

Someone identified by an event emcee as “Pastor Don” — the Mastriano campaign did not return TPM’s request for more information — told the crowd that he would “blow the breath of God over this place and this people.” 

“I believe God is about to manifest himself,” the man said, before offering a few sharp blasts of the horn. “He has to, because he cannot keep going the way we’re going. Amen.” 

Read the rest here.

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  1. Susan says

    I was startled when a shofar was blown at a cousin’s funeral. He had become a Messianic Christian. After I virtually jumped out of my seat, I had a chance to talk with the Shofar blower and to understand the symbolism and their belief and adherence to Old Testament practices. I felt it was appropriate, but a little preparation would not have lifted all the people attending the funeral out of their seats.

    However, from what was reported about the Shofar episode at a political event…….. its use was inappropriate given it took an instrument associated with worship and twist it into a message that the candidate had God’s endorsement.

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