US evangelicals warn Republicans

[CornField]

Prominent leaders from the Christian right have warned Republicans they must do more to advance conservative values ahead of the US mid-term elections.

...

Support from about a quarter of Americans who describe themselves as evangelicals was a factor in President George W Bush's two election victories. The Republicans will need to keep them onboard if they are to retain control of Congress in November.

At a news conference in Washington, some of America's most influential conservative leaders said the current perception among evangelical Christians was that the Republican majority was not doing enough for them.

...

The leaders appear to be reflecting a growing sense of frustration among the Christian right, over what they see as a lack of legislative progress on issues such as banning same-sex marriages.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4815912.stm

[mogster]

1. Woohooo, I was just about to post this piece

The Repubs must do more to advance conservative values, yes, yes.

What ho? :shrug:

Even more, evangelicalistas? Isn't the shame and disgrace brought upon the US enough?
What does 'advance conservative values' mean these days? Kill more Iraqis? Kill Iranians as well as Iraqis?
Persecute gay people, single mom's and the occational liberal too uppish, in the name of your Xtian Jezus?

Fine. More conservativity coming up, fresh from the pulpit. Only have to sprinkle it with dead people and serve.

[izzie]

4. I have been saying this will happen. They are worried.

I am sure that in the next three years all hell will brake out with them to pass all those things they want and feel they are owed as they put Bush in. Maybe if we are lucky God will save us.A far right person under every bed.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

24. hey, mogster, it's a good start. Prisons for gays, life sentences for pot

manditory ADHD treatments from Big Pharma, a ban on all product liability suits, a ban on all medical malpractice cases, a ban on civil litigation unless it is approved by Alberto personally.

Forced religious education in all classes K-12.

Taxes on all organizations not connected with a local, approved religious institution.
cancellation of all passports and a stringent re-application procedure, based on proper beliefs, organizations and a detailed internet study insuring proper political purity

[go west young man]

65. Sounds like V for Vendetta!

Great movie with a strong message.

[davidinalameda]

68. prison for gays?

trying capital punishment for gays

[cornermouse]

2. They have an agenda. They want it. And they want it now.

You may not have noticed, but their agenda is much broader than same sex marriages.

[RC]

5. And not much of it good.

They want to reshape the US to their imagine.

[TheModernTerrorist]

41. Hooray for Theocracy

fuck that. they can burn in hell for they are the true sinners...

[durtee librul]

72. I have NO time for these guys....

after what one of their favorite sons did for my grama - every Sunday she would sit in front of the tv and 'pray' with these guys to heal her mythesnia gravis.....and since she never was healed, it was because she didn't send the asshole enough money...

After she died and my dad got into her personal papers, she was sending those pukes about $3 grand A WEEK! We found letters from the 'ministry' telling her they were 'sorry' she was still suffering but that God loves a cheerful giver so she should cheer up and of course send more money.

Oral Roberts you f**ker, hell isn't hot enough for the likes of you and yours.....Robertson, Falwell, you can all burn in hell...and I don't care if God takes me to task for that statement at judgement day which from the way Bush has this world in turmoil won't be long.

Ironic isn't it - the bible thumpers bringing on the end of days......

[Tesha]

14. Their agenda is described in "The Handmaid's Tale"

> They have an agenda. They want it. And they want it now.
>
> You may not have noticed, but their agenda is much broader
> than same sex marriages.

Their agenda is described in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
This book should be required annual reading for all lefties.

Tesha

[northernsoul]

25. Agreed. Gilead is not many more miles away now.

Banning gay marriage is just the tip of a very nasty iceberg.

[kysrsoze]

37. The funny thing is the Repubs don't even have to bother with them

What are they going to do in response - vote for Democrats? It's not as if they will support what these idiots want and everyone knows it. The X-tian Right are no longer an issue for either party - too bad neither party even realizes it.

[opihimoimoi]

3. These are the Fellas responsible for giving us Bush ....Look how Selfish

they are....They see how the PUBs/Bush have fucked up this Nation/Planet and yet...all they care about is themselves and their fucking stupid agenda...Not a TINGE of GUILT...their DELUSION IS ASTOUNDING....

[salin]

6. From the people who brough Schaivo to congressional theater

one of the first turning points against the GOP - as the discussion initially included language that would prevent living wills - and suddenly much of the public opened its eyes and revulsed at the extremism bordering on theocratic leanings of the GOPers seen to be behelden to the extreme, politicized, religious right.

In many districts, to pander to the whims of these folks would just make their defeat come a little more swiftly.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. I hope all their kids turn out gay.

[DanCa]

13. I hope all their kids get drafted

Isn't amazing that not one of these soldiers of christ wont fight in their christian king's war? If he really is such a good leader than how come no ones joinning up and following the chimp?

[cboy4]

36. Actually, that would probably turn out to be more of

a nightmare for the kids than it would be for the parents.

But I understand your point! ;)

[displacedtexan]

8. Get Down Off the Cross. Somebody Needs The Wood.

US evangelicals warn Republicans
By Jamie Coomarasamy
BBC News, Washington

Prominent leaders from the Christian right have warned Republicans they must do more to advance conservative values ahead of the US mid-term elections.

Their message to Congress, controlled by Republicans, is "must do better".

Support from about a quarter of Americans who describe themselves as evangelicals was a factor in President George W Bush's two election victories.

The Republicans will need to keep them onboard if they are to retain control of Congress in November.

The main problem I have with this approach is that the evangelicals want their changes made by stealth congressional fiat.

They know that most of what a few of them have managed to slip into law is not good for America, like the Terri Schiavo Law. They wanted to save Terri, but they still want to make their own decisions about their loved ones.

Total Control of everyone around you is not a family value I'm familiar with. Whatever happened to rejoice and be glad?

Heavy sigh.

[wakeme2008]

9. Nom and

IMHO if they try to run up the Gay Marriage thing just before 2006 elections, Maybe some of these fools will see they are just that fools and stay home on election day.

[Judi Lynn]

10. It's a marvel they don't recognize they have no real power.

What ARE their options, if their Republican idiot politicians don't bow and scrape to them? Will they REALLY vote for Democrats?

Not likely. They've been trained to foam at the mouth when they think of Democrats. They fear/hate Democrats.

[CornField]

11. It's sad when you think about it

And, in many ways, I think there is a correlation between what's been done to the religious in America and what is being done to all Americans. We are also being trained not to trust anyone who doesn't have an American flag on his/her lapel. We are being trained that the entire world is our enemy. We are being trained that security is, above all else, the thing we most desire and need.

[Dulcinea]

18. They're being used.

Yes, the Repubs need evangelical votes, but for Boy George et al., business trumps religion every time. This administration just gives lip service to the fundies; what they really want is to cut taxes for the rich & corporations, & to make as much money as possible off the war.

[corkhead]

35. just like us by the DLC

:banghead:

[Platypus]

12. Or what?

If the Republicans don't accede to the evangelicals' demands, what are the evangelicals going to do? Vote Democrat? Libertarian, perhaps? Don't make me laugh. Blackmail doesn't work if you have no credible threat to carry out, but I guess it's just a habit with these people.

[Tesha]

15. The Evangelicals could go "third party" at least as easily as the Greens.

> Or what?

The Evangelicals could go "third party" at least as easily
as the Greens and probably with *MUCH MORE EFFECT*.
Doubtless they could elect candidates to statewide offices,
the House, and the Senate their first time "at bat".

The Corporatist Wing of the Republican Party really does
need to worry about this.

Tesha

[MGKrebs]

31. Doubtful.

Start a new party or go independent? There may be a few state legislative districts here and there that they could take, but it would be tricky for them to keep the money from mixing and not lose their tax exemptions.

I would think the most they could do is not do get-out-the-vote stuff.

[Tesha]

45. They could take the entire Confederate States of America...

They could take the entire Confederate States of America
and substantial portions of the Jesusland midwest.

Tesha

[MGKrebs]

49. Not so fast...

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport_main.aspx?g=504eba1a-feac-4931-a04d-1e4ae9ec4ca2

[kysrsoze]

38. Wow, you nailed it before I did! Exactly! Welcome to DU

[stepnw1f]

16. The Backlash a Cometh!

for both the GOP and Christofascist Zombie Brigade. Buh bye GOP...

[Devils Advocate-TX]

17. They just replace one Freeper for another

That's what happen down here. James Leininger (nutjob extraordinaire from San Antonio) paid millions to run opposition candidates in Rethug primaries because he was miffed that they hadn't sufficiantly kissed his ass, and voted in school vouchers like he wanted.

Alright, so its not quite the same as the religious fundies, but what happens is that they just replace one puppet for another. And, unfortunately in politics, there is always another smiling asshat too happy to take their place.

[Tight_rope]

19. Funny how the "Christian right" ...

have chosen to belong to a party that contradicts almost everything that they supposedly believe in. Hell, Republicans have broken all of the 10 Commandments and continue to break them.

I've always said that some of us have to go to hell and I really and truly believe that it will be those who "think" that they are following the word of God (At least their interpretation of what God wants).

[speedingbullet]

20. Conservative Values

Conservative values? These are things like fiscal restraint and the government not being overly involved in peoples lives, right? I'm glad we don't have liberals in control, then we'd have like a $9 trillion debt and the government spying on people. The next thing you know they would want to say what schools should teach children.

[tanyev]

21. Hey, conservatives! Take a good look at what you invited

into your bed. Now they're turning into a creepy stalker. Whatcha gonna do?

[Akoto]

22. What I'd say the evangelicals really mean is ...

"We know you're going to lose your asses in the elections, so before that happens, you'd better ram through everything we want."

[mitchum]

23. I will fight these theocratic bastards tooth and nail

[freefall]

51. Here's some ammunition from a post earlier this week in case you missed

it, mitchum. I absolutely love this which was posted by cyberia.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2510826

On March 1st in Annapolis at a hearing on proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify. At the end of his testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: "Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?"

Raskin replied: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

Peace,

freefall

[mitchum]

56. Thanks!

That is an excellent retort

[Zen]

26. Fundi morons - never happy, always bitter

Jesus would be pissed at these anti-Christian jerks.

[drmom]

27. Is that stat true? Are 25% of Americans really idiots???

I always thought it was a much lower percentage...wow, we are in trouble.

[DuaneBidoux]

42. You didn't see the recent poll showing 50% don't believe evolution?

So I'd place the dumb crowd at about half.

[MGKrebs]

48. I question that poll.

If I recall, the choices were "Bible as written" or " God had no part". The story I saw about it offered no middle ground there.

So maybe there is some hope.

[DuaneBidoux]

52. I didn't hear that but I hope to God myself that you're right!

[MGKrebs]

64. Sadly, my memory was inaccurate.

The most recent poll, last September, posed the question this way: "Which of the following statements comes closest to your views on the origin and development of human beings." This produced the 53% who chose "God created man exactly how Bible describes it," the 31% who said man did evolve but "God guided," and the 12% who backed evolution with God playing "no part.""

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002154704

Respondents did have a chance to take a middle road, i.e., maintain their faith AND recognize science (reality?).

[Zhade]

61. That many apparently believe the SUN revolves around the EARTH.

So, yeah.

[mom cat]

28. These people are never going to be satisfied. Just having a

coathanger court is not good enough!

[Roy]

29. Fools..... Republicans have already shown them.....

that they only need "The Wackos" to make noise on issues that put $$$ in their own pockets.

Otherwise, fundie issues get lip service, or passed in an unconstitutional form to be overturned by the courts so they can continue to use them to divide America.

[kineneb]

30. "We done been gamed!

It took them this long to figure this out? Just a little slow there, guys. The NeoCon party does not care about your wishlist, only your vote, oh Fundies. They held some carrots in front of you, but you did not get the fact that they were only carrots. They had no intention of giving you all you wanted. You done been gamed, suckers!

[AlCzervik]

32. did they just figure out they got punked? Boofrigginhoo.

[maxsolomon]

33. nah, we'll just come up with another wedge issue

and you won't be able to stop yourselves from voting for it.

love, the GOP

[hang a left]

34. For some backround on who these people are and who they are

in bed with...

snip>

For Tony Perkins, Justice Sunday was the fulfillment of a strategy devised more than two decades ago by his political mentor, Woody Jenkins. In May 1981, in the wake of Ronald Reagan's presidential victory, Jenkins and some fifty other conservative activists met at the Northern Virginia home of direct-mail pioneer Richard Viguerie to plot the growth of their movement. The Council for National Policy (CNP), an ultra-secretive, right-wing organization, was the outcome of that meeting. The CNP hooked up theocrats like R.J. Rushdoony, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell with wealthy movement funders like Amway founder Richard DeVos and beer baron Joseph Coors. As DeVos famously said, the CNP "brings together the doers with the donors."

Jenkins, then a Louisiana state lawmaker, became CNP's first executive director, and promptly made a bold prediction to a Newsweek reporter: "One day before the end of this century, the Council will be so influential that no president, regardless of party or philosophy, will be able to ignore us or our concerns or shut us out of the highest levels of government."

Eighteen years later, in 1999, the CNP was addressed by Texas Governor George W. Bush, on the eve of his presidential campaign. At the gathering, which was closed to the press, Bush reportedly sought to put to rest any notion that he was a moderate. Later, when he was asked to release to the public a transcript of his speech to the CNP, Bush stubbornly refused. But the press reported rumors that he had promised the CNP he would appoint only antiabortion judges if elected.

For years, Jenkins had been grooming Perkins as his political successor. "To Jenkins, Perkins was like a son, and the feeling was and is mutual," wrote former Jenkins staffer Christopher Tidmore. In 1996 Perkins cut his teeth as the manager of Jenkins's campaign for US Senate. It was during that campaign that, in an attempt to consolidate the support of Louisiana's conservative base, Perkins paid David Duke $82,000 for his mailing list. After Jenkins was defeated by his Democratic opponent, Mary Landrieu, he contested the election. But during the contest period, Perkins's surreptitious payment to Duke was exposed through an investigation conducted by the FEC, which fined the Jenkins campaign.

snip>

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050509/blumenthal




They are well coordinated and have deep deep pockets albeit different agendas.

snip>

The Times’ Kirkpatrick was able to obtain the CNP’s current membership list and reported that its roster includes Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson, Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation, Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association and Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform. A CNP financial disclosure form for 2002 lists Norquist and Howard Phillips, founder of the ultra-conservative Constitution Party, as directors. The current president of the group is Donald P. Hodel, former executive director of the Christian Coalition.

Other CNP directors include names that would not mean a lot to most people, but they are key players in the right-wing universe. Becky Norton Dunlop is vice president for external relations at the Heritage Foundation. James C. Miller III is former director of Citizens for a Sound Economy. Stuart W. Epperson owns a chain of Christian radio stations. E. Peb Jackson is former president of Young Life. T. Kenneth Cribb Jr., vice president of the CNP, was a domestic policy advisor to President Ronald W. Reagan and runs the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, a group that funds right-wing newspapers on college campuses. Ken Raasch is a businessman who works in partnership with popular artist Thomas Kinkade.

Others who have been affiliated with the CNP include TV preachers Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, longtime anti-feminist crusader Phyllis Schlafly, Iran-Contra figure turned right-wing talk radio host Oliver North, former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), wealthy Cali­fornia savings and loan heir Howard Ahmanson, former House Majority Leader Dick Army (R-Texas), Attorney General John Ashcroft and Tommy Thompson, secretary of the U.S. Depart­ment of Health and Human Services.

Republican Party glitterati and top government officials frequently appear at CNP meetings. During the gathering before this year’s GOP convention, The New York Times reported that several Bush administration representatives were scheduled for speeches. Under­secretary of State John Bolton spoke about plans for Iran, Assistant Attorney General Alexander Acosta talked about human trafficking and Dan Senor, who worked for Paul Bremer in Iraq, was scheduled to talk about the war there.

snip>

http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6949&n...

[Rex]

39. Uh oh, the Base is getting antsy. This can mean only one thing

GET READY FOR THE RAPTURE BUS!

[superconnected]

40. nobody was more surprised in 2000 and 2004 than the repubs

because they knew they were not a majority. Never were.

Since those two elections were fixed, and on election night they blamed it on family values and the war in iraq, I suspect this one is going to be the same way.

And what do you know, here's the issue again, family values and the war in iraq.

The real question is how do we stop diebold.

[EVDebs]

43. Threaten thy neighbor...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=684351&mesg_id=689497

[mitchum]

44. Well, they could hurry on to their heavenly reward...

I wouldn't mind in the least.
Good riddance.

[Megahurtz]

46. Oh STFU!!!

Stupid Fundazealiots!:grr:

[phylny]

47. Or what? What will they do?

Vote for Democrats?

BWAhahahahaha

[Critters2]

50. The Neocons have never had any intention

of giving the fundies what they want. The Repug leadership keeps them all hot and bothered about gay marriage, abortion et al to win their votes. If they actually pushed any of that agenda through, where would all the rhetoric come from?

They really have no power. And they seem to be figuring that out. If they had half a brain between 'em, it wouldn't have taken this long.

[undergroundpanther]

53. A what if noboddy thinks of..

What if the "evangelicals" OWN the republican party?
And yes just like closet Nazis can exist..you can have closet theocrats too.

[VegasWolf]

54. Evil Republicans!!! If you don't do exactly what we want, Gawd will smite

thee back to the barren flames of Hell!! To rot FOREVER in the sulfur fumes of Hell next to the pederasts, the tax-hikers who want to take our tax-free status away, the Democrats, the molesters, and all the deviants of the earth!!!!

[progressivebydesign]

55. They can just blow me. Pardon my french.. but I'm in a mood. n/t

[Jade Fox]

57. One quarter of Americans?? No way are there that many...

evangelicals, for which we can thank God.

The Fundies are sick of the GOP making campaign promises they forget right after election day. They are holding the GOP's feet to the fire to get them to act on the Fundie agenda, and in the long run it will do untold damage to the Republican Party. Which is a good thing.

[MiniMe]

58. Hmmm, blackmail, what a Christian attitude

[Arugula Latte]

59. "You's Crazy, But Ya Ain't Crazy 'Nuf Fer Us 'Uns!"

:eyes:

[regnaD kciN]

60. This is one of those stories that should come with its own laugh-track...

I'm sure that imposing even more of the Talibornagain agenda is just what November's voters think this country needs. :sarcasm:

[JeffR]

62. You promised us ice cream? Where's our ice cream?

Get a brain, morans.

[JerseygirlCT]

63. Good. The GOP will be running hard for the center -

trying to distance themselves from their failed president and his autocracy.

Now they'll be pinched by the wild-eyed religious radicals insisting they prove their radical credentials.

If we have fair elections, they're toast.

[freethought]

66. These Evangelicals say that they are accept Christ?

But the message is "Vote our way or else!" Or else what? These people are closer to those who were responcible for nailing Christ to the cross than to Christ himself.

I am convinced that their movement isn't about Christ at all, it's about power. They have gotten a taste of it and they like it.

[Occulus]

71. It's called Domionism.

Creating the dominion of Christ the King on Earth for ALL to live under, without question or exception.

They openly seek theocracy.

[high density]

67. Apart from two conservatives S.C. Justices, they're doing nothing?!?!?

Wow, are you kidding me? For one thing I think two justices is a pretty big deal!! Granted, the GOP installed them to protect Bush and corporate interests, but as a side effect they also get the opinions they love on social issues.

Do these dipshits really expect the GOP to ban gay marriage and abortion over night? And assuming they do that... Then what? Porn bans? TV and movie censorship? Do they focus on keeping these things banned for the next few centuries? I just don't get these "social conservatives" that hate privacy and feel they have the authority to tinker with everybody's lives.

[Raine]

69. Must be nice

with a war going on, global warming past the point of no return, peak oil, poverty and disease on the upswing to have a single concern...gay marriage. :eyes:

[long_green]

70. This is all part of the lame duck strategy

I noticed a week or so ago that certain right wing writers were criticizing the insane spending of the administration and saying that the failures of Bush were due to his not being a "true conservative." Now you have the evangelicals criticizing the GOP for not being "Christian" enough.
The ideologues have forgotten about W. This is about reaching out to the next generation of candidates.
It is of course interesting that such people are in effect admitting what every sentient being already knows: this administration is a catastrophic failure. If you think Bush is isolated now, wait until 2007. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised to see him be almost invisible at the next GOP convention.

[durtee librul]

73. I just wish he was invisible

NOW!