70% of Americans support Michael Schiavo making the decision regarding his wife’s life support, and 70% of American’s think Congress has overstepped the separation of powers laid out in the Constitution. Criminy, now that’s a mandate! The logical question that Americans should ask is, why is Congress doing this if the people don’t support it and why is this getting so much media.
The answer is simple, and one bloggers and Democratic Party activists have known for a long time, the money of the Christian Theocrats. That money buys alot of pundits and lawyers who apply the same old strategy we are oh so familiar with. As Majikthise so aptly puts it, pseudoscience and character assassination.
The cable tv onslaught has been led by various representatives of Concerned Women of America, who have been on every television show, just as they always are when a so-called “values” issue arises. Just who is this group? It was founded in 1979 by Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye, founder of the Moral Majority along with Jerry Falwell.
Online, the attack is being led by Gary McCullough who operates several Christian organizations. His Christian News Wire has released a national call for thousands to travel to Pinellas Florida. He has had access to Terri and is the photographer of several pictures. He also heads the Christian Communication Network and has been involved in Prisoners for Christ, Society for Truth & Justice, and Operation Witness in conjunction with Randall Terry of the radical Operation Rescue group.
The Life Legal Defense Fund is the primary organization providing legal services to the Schindler’s, and have spent at least $300,000. Much of this money has come from the Alliance Defense Fund, a multi-million dollar anti-gay organization whose founders include James Dobson and Bill Bright of Campus Crusade. You might remember the Alliance Defense Fund, as they are also involved in the civil rights case of the teacher who is suing a California school over hand outs filled with religious references.
In fact, there are really only a handful of individuals directing the most powerful Christian Theocrat organizations. You may know the names, but you probably don’t know the money behind the names. Jon B. Eisenberg, a lawyer for Michael Schiavo, wondered about the money and influence himself. His research turned up the same money names we’re all familiar with, Richard Mellon Scaife (heir to the Mellon industrial, oil and banking fortune), Harry Bradley (electronics), Joseph Coors (beer), and the Smith Richardson family (pharmaceutical products).
These names turn up over and over in conservative and religious foundations, like Heritage, AEI, Moral Majority, and CNSNews. A handful of Christian Theocrats pushed a handful of US Congressman into usurping the Constitution. I never thought it would be that easy. I wish people understood how few of them there really are.
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