'Morning Joe' shock over Ginni Thomas points to a hidden Jan. 6 truth

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Greg Sargent
@ThePlumLineGS
The Ginni Thomas texts with Meadows also rip the lid off another big story: The hidden role of Christian nationalism in Trump's coup effort. Their talk about Jesus delivering the election for Trump invoked right wing tropes that deserve way more attention:

washingtonpost.com
Opinion | ‘Morning Joe’ shock over Ginni Thomas points to a hidden Jan. 6 truth
Texts between Mark Meadows and Clarence Thomas' spouse have a deep and ugly pedigree.
8:26 AM · Mar 25, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/25/joe-scarborough-ginni-thomas-mark-meadows-texts/

No paywall
https://archive.ph/7xgiY

Buried in the explosive news that Virginia Thomas aggressively advocated for Donald Trump’s coup attempt is a choice revelation: The spouse of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas texted with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about Jesus Christ’s otherworldly role in delivering the election to Trump.

Meadows texted to Ginni Thomas that the “King of Kings” would ultimately “triumph” in the quest to overturn the election, which Meadows characterized as “a fight of good versus evil.” Thomas, a longtime conservative activist, replied: “Thank you!! Needed that!”

This sparked serious consternation on “Morning Joe,” with host Joe Scarborough delivering an emotional diatribe about it. “Think about the sickness of this,” Scarborough said Friday. “He summons the name of Jesus Christ for his help in overturning American democracy!”

The sentiment is understandable. But what this level of shock really indicates is this: We haven’t paid enough attention to the role of right-wing Christian nationalism in driving Trump’s effort to destroy our political order, and in the abandonment of democracy among some on the right more broadly.

*snip*

[Hekate]

1. KnR

[TheBlackAdder]

45. They are some sick-minded people.

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. Anyone "surprised" by this

has either been asleep for the last ten years, of lost the ability to form long term memories due to head trauma.

[Hortensis]

24. Agree. It's always been huge. We've certainly seen it in GA and FL

all along, personally; and observers and experts in various disciplines, including political journalism, have been studying and discussing it for decades.

Most of the appointments during tRump's term were hard-core religionists chosen or at least approved by religious right powers, including SCOTUS. Plus his VP choice. The cost of getting and keeping their support. And Ginni's RW extremist behaviors have been making news for the 30 years her husband has been on the court.

[FakeNoose]

32. You've just described the majority of American news media

I prefer to call it "willful blindness" in service to the political horse-race fairytale.

[Warpy]

38. HELL no

I've been warning about screwball rich man's Calvinism sold to unthinking masses for decades. Everything about it is toxic and deadly.

It's just really hard not to laugh out loud that their earthly savior is TFG. Maybe we should. Most of us could use a good laugh and one at their expense is singularly appropriate. Then we can start warning them about false prophets and how to know them.

Their jackhole preachers told them a billionaire (TFG lied about that) would lead them into paradise on earth. Because it's perverted Calvinish, they will duly and slavishly support and adore any rich guy who grabs that office. They know he was chosen by god because he's rich. That's all it takes for them, MONEY.

[homegirl]

58. Something women should never forget about Ginnie...

...In 1991, Thomas returned to government service in the Legislative Affairs Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, where she argued against comparable-worth legislation that would have mandated equal pay for women and men in jobs deemed to be comparable.

[barbaraann]

3. The only thing that shocked me was that they didn't understand that their texts could be accessed.

Heck, they might even get targeted ads for Christian Nationalist merchandise! I swear sometimes I get ads for things I've only thought about or spoken about with my family!

[slightlv]

12. While merchandise isn't currently being hocked on TV

haven't you seen all the "come to Jesus" commercials just beginning to show up on TV? They're produced to mimic the same emotions that a lot of people have in a Baptist church when they start playing "Just As I Am" and issuing the "altar call." It's sickening to me. I'm Wiccan... wanna bet I could get a commercial in prime time TV?

[barbaraann]

19. We don't get broadcast tv, so I think we miss a lot. Mostly I think I get ads based on my

internet shopping. Regarding Christianity, I was raised in Protestant churches and took the guidance against sin seriously. So now when one of my brothers tells me I need salvation from my sins, I just can't relate. Unitarian Universalism works for me, but unfortunately I haven't lived close to a Unitarian church for decades, so it's lonely.

[slightlv]

51. We were married by a UU preacher.

It's the only place I felt comfortable, especially since they had a Wiccan presence there. I'm in small town USA now, myself, tho... and we only have the main sects of Xtianity around here. They are, however, on nearly every other block! (LOL)

[lagomorph777]

4. I always assumed the elites use Christian tropes as a tool.

It never occurred to me they might actually believe in that nonsense.

[Hortensis]

31. Most of the people in tRump's high offices, excluding family,

were extremely devout and in government to push various religious agendas, to great effect. AG Barr and Pompeo, many others appointed at various levels. Pence. A large number of his federal judicial appointments have been of RW religious extremists, including to SCOTUS. Not that this doesn't happen whenever Republicans have the power, but it was accelerated under tRump, who was their tool even more than whatever he was to Putin.

[erronis]

41. I still believe (BELIEVE) that most RW politicians are scam artists, non-xian, just cons.

And probably a few of the rest (Manchin, Sinema, ...).

They are in the BUSINESS of spouting nonsense - in order to get elected and get more funding.

[Hortensis]

44. Well, they can be and often are both, tho. Hundreds of millions have died

just in the last century because they didn't understand the power of zealotry until it was too late. Also, when looking at the power of authoritarianism and the great evils authoritarian leaders and followers are capable of, don't forget that "God" is the ultimate strongman leader...

[czarjak]

5. Theological nitwits are easy. Too bad they hold positions of power.

Hateful ignorance wrapped in religion and or patriotism is still hateful ignorance.

[dalton99a]

6. Goddamn assholes have been thieving lying assholes for decades

[Lasher]

27. Is that Paula White in the red dress?

Prosperity theologist in a red dress, LOL.

[NJCher]

66. This is probably the first time

Trump ever held two thoughts in his mind concurrently. The two thoughts are:

Paula White and “my mushroom dick.”

[Poiuyt]

56. Those pictures make me want to just PUKE!

What a blinding hypocrite that asshole is

[TNNurse]

7. It is her husband's vote to keep this from being revealed

that makes him culpable.

[Joinfortmill]

17. Yup.

[Lonestarblue]

8. How Joe could be shocked by the rise of Christian Nationalism is impossible to believe.

If it’s true, he must not have read anything political in the last decade. What did he think all those Oval Office photos of religious leaders laying hands on Trump mean? I personally would not have gotten within touching distance of the slimy bastard for any reason! What did he think was the goal of the Federalist Society and their Catholics-only Supreme Court nominees? What did he think of a Catholic AG who is a member of Opus Dei? Joe Scarborough is not quite that stupid.

Christian Nationalism has nothing tondo with actual religion and everything to do with wealth and the power of the few to rule the many.

[slightlv]

15. The question for inquiring minds...

how did all these disparate groups join up together to accomplish the Dominionists vaunted takeover of all the 7 "Hills" of Dominionism? These groups don't like each other; hold different theologies; and actually (in normal times) don't even recognize each other as Christian! Strange Bedfellows joining hands and working towards an autocratic Theocracy.

[wnylib]

42. A few issues unite them

One is their anti abortion stance. Another is anti LGBTQ rights. For some, it's misogyny. For some it's racism, but not all. There are many POC who belong to evangelical churches.

[slightlv]

50. Unfortunately, you're right.

The Dominionists believe that whatever they do is ordained and ok'd with God, so they have no problem welcoming people into their fold they ordinarily wouldn't associate with. They also believe all kinds of sins... lies, theft, murder, etc., are okay if done in the "Name of God."

Before I became a witch, I must have hit every church in our little town. The only one that had "Spirit" was the AME church. Even tho I'm white, they welcomed be open armed as I joined their service and played trumpet in their band that Sunday. But the words were all the same, and just didn't resonate with me.

My sister had to convert to Catholicism before she could teach at a Catholic school. She's counting the months until she can retire and says she'll never step foot in it again.

People have had it with the extremists of all religions. And regardless of the Constitution, we have to get a handle on them. We have to have an inviolate wall between church and state, and make sure they understand what we mean by it.

I'm actually turning into a pessimist, tho, I'm afraid. I honestly don't see anyway towards living with these insane R's in peace. I'm at the point where I dearly wish we'd divide into two countries and let them settle into their Southern territory, and we embrace and help the D's running from there. Then we could go on about our business without them dragging us back to the 18th century. But so many problems and issues arise with the idea. Still... I can dream about living in a country where the majority of the people feel as I feel, and our Government actually acts and reacts to -us- it's citizens.

[wnylib]

61. I was offered a teaching job at a school

run by evangelicals. Didn't apply for it but an acquaintance recommended me to them (without my knowledge) and based on her recommendation, they wanted to hire me before even setting up an appointment for me. My first thought was "What kind of school does that?" My second thought was, "Would I have to agree with their views and represent them in the classroom?" The acquaintance (a former Catholic turned evangelical) said, yes, I would. I declined immediately. Put up with that plus at lower pay than a public school? Not a chance.

The belligerence of Republicans and the religious political groups makes me believe that there will be a showdown with them at some point. I don't know what form it will take, but it could get violent because of their fanaticism. The merger of religion and politics is a facet of fascism.

I would not mind a split in the country. The differences don't fit conveniently along geographical lines. New England an the Mid Atlantic states are together in one region. The Southern region is politically apart from the northeast. The Midwest is more aligned politically and religiously with the South. But then there are Nevada and New Mexico who are politically more like the northeast. And California could easily stand alone or join with NM and NV. Maybe WA and OR could go with CA, NM, and NV.

3 countries instead of one. The large numbers of Blacks in the South would be in a bad situation with that kind of split. They would be welcome in the Northeast and the Pacific West, but would they want to move to a different climate and location? In Europe people changed countries in the past over religious differences. But would people in the US want to move for political divisions?

What a sad state for democracy when differences can't be accommodated without splitting up the country, but there cannot be accommodations with fascism.

[Joinfortmill]

16. Scarborough grates on the nerves.

[HUAJIAO]

20. Scarborough is just an opportunistic money sucker..

Whichever the way the winds are blowing.... wherever the negativity is to had and used.... He's like the old local news.. if it bleeds or (blows up) it leads.

[Volaris]

21. Joey isn't so much shocked as he is upset that this particular crop

of Republicans said this particular quiet part, as loud as they did. In his day, the Christian Loons that supported him and his, seemed at least hinged enough to understand that the political power that they sought, was based on listening to elected Republicans when those leaders told them to shut the fuck up.

He's mad the mask came off.
If he didn't know there was a mask, he's legitimatly dumber that he pretends to be.

[agingdem]

28. and don't forget because Joey and Mika

hated Hillary, they cleaned up their depraved corrupt narcissistic party buddy, Donald Trump, and sold this piece of garbage as a viable candidate, a righteous guy who, if elected, would grow in the office...and then the orange asshole turned on them and Joey and Mika reinvented themselves as never-trumpers...and now Joey is SHOCKED that his former GOP is a party of white christian hate filled zealots determined to overthrow the election, shred the Constitution, eradicate our democracy and anoint their former pal president for life...shut up Joey!

[Volaris]

30. They hated Hillary because she was better than they were, and they both knew it.

[OhioTim]

48. Joe Always Talks

about how conservative he is. Remember he was a big-time Tea Party member. Why these two loons (doing most of their shows from Florida) are so popular on MSNBC is beyond me. Maybe he didn't like Trump(?), but Regan would be fine with him.

[Volaris]

53. He's a conservative because he cares about his stock portfolio and his tax rate,

And NOTHING ELSE. In that sense, the defining line between himself, and Keith Olbermann, is that Keith cares about OTHER PEOPLES tax rates.

If the day ever comes that Joey can't afford his own health insurance premiums, you can bet your own ass that he will be in favor of Medicare For All (because, at his core, he's a selfish bastard and not much else).

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all about rational self-interest as it relates to politics...it's perfectly reasonable to me, for him to NOT CARE about anyone else....he can afford not to, right?!

But Democracy requires him and his, to recognize when they're in the minority, have their taxes raised as a result, and AT A MINIMUM, admit that they lost the argument.

Anything LESS than that, IS FASCISM, by its definition (at least imho).

[CTyankee]

75. I watch it because they always have people on who are competent and can tell us what is going on

and deliver their expertise on certain subjects. Joe and Mika just sit there with Joe occasionally sounding off. I watch to see those guests and now, since the wind is blowing Democrat Party big time, those two have more guests that I want hear from. I don't care whose show it is. They get the good guests. simple as that.

[KS Toronado]

9. Pat Robertson (7QQ club) came out of retirement

to claim Russia was doing "God's work" when they invaded UKR.
Does he look down on Ukrainians?

[Blue Owl]

55. Just another Putin toilet licker

[maxsolomon]

10. "You cannot petition the Lord with prayer!" -Jim Morrison

Nitwits.

[Celerity]

29. 🖖

[marie999]

11. If Jesus wanted Trump to win, wouldn't He have made sure there wasn't any fraud?

[Meadowoak]

34. All the fraud was Trump votes for dead relatives as far as I can tell.

[oldsoftie]

46. If God wanted Trump to win, he would have WON. Period!

So God is all-powerful, but a few thousand fraudulent ballots could outsmart him? Hardly. As I told a few of my friends who said "God chose Trump"; "Yes he did. Just like he chose Obama. Twice"
Because either you believe all the way or you don't believe at all

[marie999]

57. I kind of wrote that wrong.

[Ford_Prefect]

13. The Center for National Policy is the source and center point for the Christian Nationalist surge.

Their input directly into Trump's Whitehouse and GOP policy needs far more scrutiny than the MSM seems willing to apply. Congress and the DOJ likewise need to pay much more attention to CNP's involvement in the insurrection, the coordinated denial of election results across a number of states, the rapid dissemination and passage of state level restrictive voting practices legislation, and a similar pattern of laws attacking women's reproductive health and LGBTQ+ rights.

[Yoyoyo77]

62. Add ALEC to that list.

[calimary]

76. They'll go to any lengths to put their thumb on the scale.

Because that's the only way they can win - and I imagine that deep down, they know that.

[Joinfortmill]

14. Lots of crazy-ass crooks pretending to be Christians.

[sboatcar]

18. So if they were so convinced that god was going to deliver this for them

How do they reconcile with him not delivering on what they were so sure he would deliver on? Does it shake their beliefs?

[zeusdogmom]

23. It's proof the evil devil is at work

Satan has the democrats in the palm of his hand don’t you know. 🤣🤣

[sboatcar]

54. Sure makes god look pretty weak then, doesn't it?

The cognitive dissonance is just amazing here.

[DanieRains]

25. Ginny Doesn't Understand Evil I Am Sure

Neither does Meadows.

I am not evil.

Republicans are evil.

It's not that difficult to understand.

[IronLionZion]

26. Clarence Thomas needs to recuse himself from this case

or be impeached and thrown out. Just the threat of impeachment was enough to force Abe Fortas to resign from the Supreme Court.

[malaise]

33. JoeScum got it wrong

The Slobfather genuinely believes he is the king of kings- indeed he thinks he's the emperor of emperors

[Meadowoak]

35. In reality, Trump is the turd of turds.

[XacerbatedDem]

72. Ok, I spit coffee on that one. TOT! LMAO!

[ismnotwasm]

36. Who is "we"?

This has been clear since Tea party candidates started winning elections

[panfluteman]

37. This Conservative Evangelical Talk About Jesus Delivering the Election for Trump

May be total absurdity, total BS and bat s#*t crazy, but we gotta take it seriously. It's like at least one third of the country is in urgent need of cult deprogramming therapy. How the HECK do we do it???

[L. Coyote]

39. White Jesus, right?

Not the dark-skinned Middle Eastern counter culture hero who opposed Roman imperialism and preached love and kindness, am I right?

[Nevilledog]

47. ...

[OMGWTF]

40. Surprise! Surprise! The Talibangelicals elected the Anti-Christ

"... you will know them by the sign on their forehead" a/k/a MAGA hats.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. Jeez, lots of kill the messenger responses get SO old

Had a fleeting thought tho... Long ago, (first time FG ran), Bannon told FG that he could be president. But he would have to align with the religious right to do it. FG said, "I can do that"

I swear, how is there enough time in each day to have organized J6 to the degree it was. That is the real story.

[Hortensis]

52. Lol. tRump apparently was musing for decades and I'm assuming

must have been happily ready to schmooze and sucker the religious right so many authoritarians are part of. He fights any notion of control on him, though, like all preexisting alliances. My best guess, from what happened, is that Bannon helped him accept that they'd require a lot from him and helped structure the "deals."

I confess I haven't tried to look up things to read about that last especially...

[llashram]

49. a sexual predator

grifter, con artist is a "great president"? These clowns are delusional in believing that of trump and his family. I know they are in the prayers of these jackasses. This has been known for a while. Christian nationalists are fascist and over the top in believing I am, we are evil, as Democrats. The former potus proved in the last 4 years that he is an anti-christ covered in sheep's clothing. To fool the people like Thomas who want to be fooled it seems. Not the Anti-christ of biblical lore. Just like Putin one of the antichrists roaming the world now. Destroying and causing misery for millions of innocent human beings. They are mentally ill. If the RW takes over again we'll be in a fight for our Democracy and our lives. And guaranteed we won't be fighting Jesus...

[Cha]

59. These Ginnii Fucks are

the Anti Christs.

[L. Coyote]

60. "Jan. 6 committee members are discussing privately whether to demand that Ginni Thomas cooperate"

Link to tweet

[lambchopp59]

63. Theocratic nonsense

Albeit the Xtian Jeezus stories lustre wore off for me very early on: cracks in the legends appeared and by tweenage I had let the concept of heaven/hell and the associated simpleton appeal loose along with Santa Claws and the Easter Beast.
In some settings there is nothing more annoying than a Jesus freak who attempts to worm his/her religion into every sentence, snotnozed judgemental brats all. The irony of TFG worship entangled into that does not cease to astound.
"Oh... there aren't any athiests in the foxholes" *cough*
Since there is the "rapture" aspect of their lore, together let's pray:

"Jeebus save us from your followers. Take them home so we can live in a sensible world again".

[ZonkerHarris]

64. If you only wants God's laws (that you agree with) then the will of the majority is irrelevant to

you.

[TeamProg]

65. Completely totally, mentally deranged whacko insanity.

What’s more?

SCOTUS spouse.


forever

our poor ignorant nation

[dchill]

67. Best Joe Scarborough quote ever:

"Think about the sickness of this,” Scarborough said Friday. “He summons the name of Jesus Christ for his help in overturning American democracy!”

He seems genuinely upset. I don't think he's any more religious than I am (I'm not.) But he's upset for the right reasons.

[soldierant]

68. This is singing my song.

Let me just add that the idea that Putin's Christian values are superior to any values of the "left" (left meaning "sane people&quot is also starting to be heard.

[MiHale]

69. KnR nt

[Cosmocat]

70. Hello, the 1980/90ss are one the phone

Cause this shit goes back to the "silent majority" movement which centered on coopting the evangelicals and big name televangelists jumping on board, and you know who rode that wave?

Joe Scarborough.

[msfiddlestix]

71. Golly, Gee Williker's ...

Just Shocking Revelations!

[XacerbatedDem]

73. Reminds me of the last few paragraphs of Isaac Asimov's Guide to the Bible, esp. the last line:

“And when the description of the city in the most glowing possible
terms is completed, the writer of the book quotes an angel to remind
the reader emphatically that all that is predicted is rapidly to come
to pass:

Revelation
Revelation 22:6….These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God…
Sent his angel to shew… the things which must shortly be done.

Revelation 22:Seven…Behold I come quickly…

And with that assurance-still unfulfilled nearly two thousand years
later-the New Testament ends.”

[Algernon Moncrieff]

74. You heard some of those undercurrents with George W Bush supporters as well

"God has brought us a king" - that sort of thing. I'd say in general there is a great misunderstanding of religion in America. There is so much talk about lower church attendance, but my observation is that while the one-time mainstream protestant faiths (Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist) have atrophied, the non-denominational mega-churches have sprung like dandelions. Although they hold themselves out as accepting and open, many of these have extremely fundamentalist teaching.