The g.o.p. wants to be g.o.d. We can't let them.

[pnwmom]

They call themselves the "Tea Party" now, but they're the same religious righters who have been trying to take over for decades. The ones who think they have a direct link to God.

We can't win by disparaging ALL people with a belief in God, since that's the vast majority of U.S. citizens. But we can win by reminding everyone that there's a very good reason the Founding Fathers decided to write freedom of religion -- and from religion -- into the Constitution. And that was so people like THEM -- the religionists with a god complex -- couldn't take over.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/opinion/crashing-the-tea-party.html?_r=1&src=rechp

Our analysis casts doubt on the Tea Party’s “origin story.” Early on, Tea Partiers were often described as nonpartisan political neophytes. Actually, the Tea Party’s supporters today were highly partisan Republicans long before the Tea Party was born, and were more likely than others to have contacted government officials. In fact, past Republican affiliation is the single strongest predictor of Tea Party support today.

SNIP

More important, they were disproportionately social conservatives in 2006 — opposing abortion, for example — and still are today. Next to being a Republican, the strongest predictor of being a Tea Party supporter today was a desire, back in 2006, to see religion play a prominent role in politics. And Tea Partiers continue to hold these views: they seek “deeply religious” elected officials, approve of religious leaders’ engaging in politics and want religion brought into political debates. The Tea Party’s generals may say their overriding concern is a smaller government, but not their rank and file, who are more concerned about putting God in government.

This inclination among the Tea Party faithful to mix religion and politics explains their support for Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. Their appeal to Tea Partiers lies less in what they say about the budget or taxes, and more in their overt use of religious language and imagery, including Mrs. Bachmann’s lengthy prayers at campaign stops and Mr. Perry’s prayer rally in Houston.

SNIP

[socialindependocrat]

1. IS this a problem with our education system?

I know, this shows why students are failing in science and math!!!

They are really good at Greek Myths and fiction.

Why, oh why, are there so many of these people? There must be some explanation!

[tblue]

2. No surprise to me.

A rose by any other name. Makes no difference, they are rightwing diehards. Probably the same % who give W a + rating.