New frank Rich op-ed, excellent as usual

[AlCzervik]

A High-Tech Lynching in Prime Time
By FRANK RICH

Published: April 24, 2005

Whatever your religious denomination, or lack of same, it was hard not to be swept up in last week's televised pageantry from Rome: the grandeur of St. Peter's Square, the panoply of the cardinals, the continuity of history embodied by the joyous emergence of the 265th pope. As a show of faith, it's a tough act to follow. But that has not stopped some ingenious American hucksters from trying.

Tonight is the much-awaited "Justice Sunday," the judge-bashing rally being disseminated nationwide by cable, satellite and Internet from a megachurch in Louisville. It may not boast a plume of smoke emerging from above the Sistine Chapel, but it will feature its share of smoke and mirrors as well as traditions that, while not dating back a couple of millenniums, do at least recall the 1920's immortalized in "Elmer Gantry." These traditions have less to do with the earnest practice of religion by an actual church, as we witnessed from Rome, than with the exploitation of religion by political operatives and other cynics with worldly ends. While Sinclair Lewis wrote that Gantry, his hypocritical evangelical preacher, "was born to be a senator," we now have senators who are born to be Gantrys. One of them, the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, hatched plans to be beamed into tonight's festivities by videotape, a stunt that in itself imbues "Justice Sunday" with a touch of all-American spectacle worthy of "The Wizard of Oz."

Like the wizard himself, "Justice Sunday" is a humbug, albeit one with real potential consequences. It brings mass-media firepower to a campaign against so-called activist judges whose virulence increasingly echoes the rhetoric of George Wallace and other segregationists in the 1960's. Back then, Wallace called for the impeachment of Frank M. Johnson Jr., the federal judge in Alabama whose activism extended to upholding the Montgomery bus boycott and voting rights march. Despite stepped-up security, a cross was burned on Johnson's lawn and his mother's house was bombed.

more at link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/24/opinion/24rich.html?hp

[Mercury_Rising]

1. I haven't read this article, but Frank Rich is my hero.

Every time I read one his pieces (I will do it as soon as I finish typing this) I feel like:

"Okay. How did this guy get to be so smart? And how does he manage to get the tone of things so very right? I can't think of another writer who so seamlessly finds connections between pop culture and politics."

I also wish everyone could read his writing with an open mind. I wonder how people could not be persuaded by his p.o.v.

[AlCzervik]

2. i print out his pieces and save them, i love his writing

and his pov as well.

[Pirate Smile]

5. I read it and am recommending it. Here is a nice tidbit:

"Senator Frist had hoped to deflect criticism of his cameo on "Justice Sunday" by confining his appearance to video. Though he belittled the disease-prevention value of condoms in that same "This Week" interview, he apparently now believes that videotape is just the prophylactic to shield him from the charge that he is breaching the wall separating church and state. His other defense: John Kerry spoke at churches during the presidential campaign. Well, every politician speaks at churches. Not every political leader speaks at nationally televised political rallies that invoke God to declare war on courts of law."

[Cha]

3. With all the fascist media presence

it's a wonder..the intelligent and eloquent Frank Rich gets to give his opinion in the nyt.

I think we should impeach senseless senators like frist and delay..America could start on her road to healing from this terrible Wound they have inflicted.

[AlCzervik]

4. I think Frank was sending Bill Frist a message in the last paragraph

[Cha]

10. Yes, indeed! Isn't it just like

a televangelist to be in engaged in hypocritical sexual conduct?

[AlCzervik]

11. and died in "Obscurity"

[mcscajun]

6. I just finished reading it...and these two paragraphs stood out.

The only major religious leader involved with "Justice Sunday," R. Albert Mohler Jr. of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has not only called the papacy a "false and unbiblical office" but also told Terry Gross on NPR two years ago that "any belief system" leading "away from the cross of Christ and toward another way of ultimate meaning, is, indeed, wicked and evil."

(snip)

Senator Frist had hoped to deflect criticism of his cameo on "Justice Sunday" by confining his appearance to video. Though he belittled the disease-prevention value of condoms in that same "This Week" interview, he apparently now believes that videotape is just the prophylactic to shield him from the charge that he is breaching the wall separating church and state. His other defense: John Kerry spoke at churches during the presidential campaign. Well, every politician speaks at churches. Not every political leader speaks at nationally televised political rallies that invoke God to declare war on courts of law.

We'll need to broadcast the former, and hang the latter, plus his association with Mohler, around the neck of Sen. Frist like the Albatross it is, making sure it really stinks by the time he tries for the Presidency.

[AlCzervik]

7. I really think this stupid ass stunt will sink any chance

he might have had at running.

[mcscajun]

8. One can only hope...

...this one, combined with his utter foolishness during the Schiavo case, compounded with his ridiculous "I don't know" answer during the AIDS discussion on transmission via tears and sweat.

For an educated man, he's Such a moran.

[Eloriel]

9. Elmer Gantry is a FABULOUS allusion. Good on Rich. n/t

[AlCzervik]

12. kick for the night crew

[saltpoint]

13. Good point -- "excellent as usual."

That is definitely true of Frank Rich.