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The New York Times reported the other day on Republican/evangelical activist Ralph Reed making the transition from disgraced lobbyist to "sought after" GOP insider. The former Christian Coalition leader waited for time to elapse, assuming people would forget his scandals, and it worked like a charm.
Reed intends to use his restored status to "unleash a sophisticated, microtargeted get-out-the-evangelical-vote operation," backed up by at least $10 million in contributions from Republican donors, much of which will be invested in direct mail to mobilize 17 million like-minded evangelicals.
And what kind of messages should these voters expect to receive from Reed and his organization? Andy Kroll obtained a recent Reed mailing.
A mailer blasted out by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a nonprofit group spending millions of dollars to mobilize evangelical voters this November to help Mitt Romney's campaign, compares President Barack Obama's policies to the threat posed by Nazi Germany and Japan during World War II. It also says that Obama has "Communist beliefs." A copy of this so-called "Voter Registration Confirmation Survey" was obtained by Mother Jones after it was sent to the home of a registered Republican voter.
While groups like these routinely include over-the-top rhetoric, intended to pry donations from their members, Reed's mailing is especially histrionic. The mailing is a fake survey, pretending to solicit opinions, but in fact intended to generate political activism.
So, for example, the materials ask Reed's donors, "How much danger do you think liberty is in right now as a result of President Obama's policies, actions and agenda for America's future?" At the top of the list of "options" is this gem: "More serious than the threats we faced in World War II from Nazi Germany and the Japanese because the attack on liberty today is from our own government."
How subtle.
At a minimum, it's clear how Reed will put his millions to use in 2012.
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Pond, meet scum.
Scandal seems to be a selling point for GOP credentials rather than a hindrance. Forgiveness may be a virtue but atonement usually precedes deserving forgiveness. GOP diversity seems to involve suspects, those awaiting trial, and those awaiting exposure.
No, you don't understand how southernist religion works. You sow wild oats six days a week and then pray for crop failure on the seventh, and every once in awhile you go to a tent revival and get "born again" again, so all your sins (which you don't have to say aloud) are forgiven. One could almost think the South invented hypocrisy, but they're just its best practitioners.
Actually, you only have to get "born again" once. Then you can sow those oats 7 days a week if you want to. As long as you've "accepted Jesus as your personal savior" you can pretty much do anything you want.
"Acts don't matter."
Ok I'll bite, so simply because "Jesus forgives you of your sins" - it doesn't mean that I must trust you again. This isn't just "Southern biblical hypocrisy" - it's schizophrenia. On the one hand I am to believe that these people believe that their "Holy Book" is the inerrant word of "G-d", on the other I'm supposed to overlook the evil, nasty immoral, and traitorous behavior of these people because "G-d forgives them"? HUH?!?
That equivalent is the rapist who "promises" the judge not to do it again (with fingers crossed behind his back) because he now sees the error of his ways! Yeah right - I've got a bridge! The GOTP seem to have no shame, morals, conscious, memory - simply "the Lord forgave you", but the Lord didn't tell me that I needed to trust you again, now move on - next!
And what percentage of the $10 mil will our little "humper" (his own term) take as his "performance fee"?
This guy is Elmer Gantry brought to life. He is the epitome of every southern "cracking trader" who ever lived.
Yes, America, land of the "Self Made Man". And, if you don't turn out so well, (jail, for example!) why, then- you just RE-INVENT YOURSELF!
Is this a great country, or what? (I have a Pulitzer, AND a Cy Young, only I seem to misplaced them. . .)
I especially like question 4 about healthcare, which explores the idea that "leftists" are more interested in gaining control over our lives than in actually improving the health of Americans.
Right - Obama main goal was not to improve my health - He just wants to give me an enema.
Question 10 (Also referenced in the last paragraph of the post) seems to omit the option: "More serious than this survey"
He will have a tough sell.
I was extremely surprised by the sermon I heard this past Sunday by a conservative visiting pastor. He explicitly discussed Mormonism and described it as a sham cult.
While I am stridently opposed to the religiously intolerant message of this sermon, I found the sermon politically fascinating. While the overt meaning of the talk was on connecting your spiritual foundations to something true and unchanging, it was extremely difficult for anyone in the congregation not to note the context of his sermon. The church I attend is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention (Jimmy Carter's former affiliation). For those of you unfamiliar, it is by and large extremely conservative politically and theologically although I personally am at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum on both scores.
Evangelists are not especially transactional. Even Gomert admits that the President is Christian. In the extremes of the evangelical world, mormonism is equated with warnings from Revelations about the coming of an antichrist- a movement that would pretend to represent Christ but in fact would be the tool of the Devil. Even if someone believed Obama is insincere in his profession of Christian faith, he at least is in their corner, and not playing for the other team.
A vote for Romney is essentially a vote for an agent of the devil.
That is, "From this evangelical perspective, a vote for Romney is essentially a vote for an agent of the Devil."
It does not reflect my view. I personally could easily vote for a Mormon, Muslim, Buddhist or atheist. The badge people wear is unimportant- the spirit of the walk that they walk is what is important. At the heart of it, that is what the spiritual life is about-- to pay attention to the essentials behind the appearances which allow one thing to masquerade as another.
Curious about why you remain a member of the SBC. I was raised in that environment, hearing every Sunday in 1960 that if Kennedy were elected, the Pope would rule America. I went to SBC colleges, and was even ordained into the ministry. However, over the years as I became more reflective and concerned, I realized that the message was largely an anathema to my core observations of the world. The final blow was hearing a SBC minster, at the onset of the pastoral prayer, reminding the congregation that God called his servants to pray, not think. I now consider myself a recovering Southern Baptist, and will never go back.
Thinking is a problem that all religions would like to banish! Ha!
I was raised Roman Catholic and did the 12 years of school thing; thinking was frowned upon unless it was focused on algebra rather than the inconsistency in their religious message.
It's not religion in general, but organized religion in particular that causes major issues in this world. I think it is because it has become a "business" and the most important mission is to "propagate the faith" - a favorite phrase the nuns used to explain the life purpose for the girls in their classes - to have as many babies as the Lord sends you (this was in 50s & 60s do not know what they say now) - which is to say populate the future to keep those donations/fees/tithes a'coming!
How better to keep you in line than to instill fear or fearYness - the favorite tatic of the GOP.
The political assault in SBC began in the late sixties when the conservatives feared that the new surge in evangelical anti war anti establishment youth would take Jesus at his word and reject our culture's militarization and surrender to the social darwinianism at the heart of mafia capitalism. A series of changes to their covenants were put in place- the most theological violent of these was the notion that a passage citing Jesus's words holds no greater weight over other passages- such as those banning the consumption of shellfish, or stating that genocide is sometimes acceptable in the eyes of God (Amelikites, and Moses). If ever there was an antichrist type move, that was it. For this and other reasons, I have steadfastly refused to accept membership in the church I attend every Sunday.
So why go?
It's because like minded Christians on the Left don't need me, or the true Christian spirit my family breaths. They see my children, they see the "I stand with the President" bumper sticker on my car, I explain to women in the church my opposition to the covenant barring women from pastoral duties. I set up cognitive dissonance amongst them. These places are like clubs of bigotry where people feel greater license to espouse reprehensible views as we saw in the Romney 47% video. Think about the first evangelists- what they really did and what the act really means, not what the radical right has made "evangelism" mean. You don't convince people swayed by Reed that democrats are not atheist slackers with no respect for the moral fabric of society by telling them. You show them. Nothing is accomplished by hiding in Christian Left churches.
I am an insurgent. That is what Paul did, that is what we are called to do.
My Sunday's are certainly not comfortable, and my children are exposed to many hateful ideas. It creates friction and puzzles for them. It is part of their spiritual training.
My parenthetical note on genocide was misleading. I was referring to David's genocide against the Amalekites and Moses' genocide against the Midianites. I have little doubt they believed they had God's backing in these acts. Nowadays, many Christians also fervently believe in a God who would approve of such actions. It seems to me a preposterous perspective that Christ set the record straight on. Anyway, the SBC leadership objects to those I consider to be the true Christians who adhere to what I believe scripture records as Christ's views.
Anyway, there is a place for not just Christian Left, but right of center Christians who believe in socially progressive policies but are conservative on fiscal issues. The radicalization of the GOP has created an opening for the Dems to scoop up these voters. The blue dogs and wallace democrat's social conservatism provides no home for them, and those blocks are dieing off.
If the Dems are unable to form a centrist alternative to the blue dogs, we won't be winning the House anytime soon. Just look on Youtube at the NRCC advertisements against blue dog candidates. What is the DCCC doing? Nothing. Where are the counter advertisements? Maybe the DLC's "New Democratic Coalition" will take advantage of this vacuum.
I'd love for Pelosi to run in 2016, and the DLC crank up recruitment of viable New Democrats in the purple states to give her a comfortable majority to push through radical reforms to the financial and electoral system, and aggressive programs to freeze and reverse the rise in global CO2 emission.
To be clear, I will be happiest if the DLC is in the back seat doing their democratic leadership from behind. I have very little confidence that Hilary and company are inclined to deliver any significant change in ANY of those areas. You don't have to look much farther than the State dept. handling of the XL pipeline or Bill's warnings about using terms like "fat cats" to understand who the monied interests would prefer control the Dem party apparatus.
poor little lying Ralphie. just the kind of Christian advisor everyone wants to have! I do love when they get so rabid that they can't decide what to call President Obama and trip all over themselves.
Newt advising Akin...Ralph Malph advising anyone that'll have him (THAT HARLOT!!)
Shouldn't he have to wear a Scarlet "L" (for lobbyist)?
And don't you just gawk at the size of those elephantine chestnuts?
WOW nothing on this from FOX news........
I do believe that Mr. Reed was a part of an organization that was basically involved in slave labor over seas, as a lobbyist. I think that Reed ought to pray on this, as it could get back out in the public eye on TRMS, and expose Reed for the phony that he is. I thought I remember that he couldn't even run the moral majority organization very well, and stepped down. This flier is nothing but hate, and I have not forgotten his scandalized past.......
Re: 'Reed intends to use his restored status to "unleash a sophisticated, microtargeted get-out-the-evangelical-vote operation," backed up by at least $10 million in contributions from Republican donors, much of which will be invested in direct mail to mobilize 17 million like-minded evangelicals.'
Yet another Republican-donor-funded operation that I bet fizzles out soon after the ink is dry on the checks. In the long run, it doesn't look like these things are about doing anything, other than raising money and getting the money-collectors rich.
If there's any justice left in the USA, 2013 should be a banner year for embezzlement prosecutions.
He ain't that fresh-faced young man anymore. He looks worn out, like his message.
Honest-to-God my first reaction when I saw his picture was "Why is Pete Campbell in the Maddow blog?"
Remember separation of church and state. That is so that government will not end up mandating a dictators religion destroying democracy and freedom of religion. These people putting themselves into government intend to do just that. They need to be excluded from government. They have their church followers to dictate to. Be happy with that. Oh yeah, all the nonsense everybody is supposed to forget. Religious leaders are supposed to be above vices. Clean house.
At a minimum, it's clear how Reed will put his millions to use in 2012.
A major portion of the millions to enhance his reputation and a major portion to line his wallet.
Wasn't "The Master" already released...like last Friday?
We could just call this episode, "Son of Falwell."
These Evangelical Zealots, need to look at their candidate a bit more closely:
1. Mitt Romney paid for son's surrogate 'abortion contract',right to kill fetus http://www.examiner.com/article/mitt-romney-paid-for-son-s-surrogate-abortion-contract-right-to-kill-fetus
2. Was Bain invested in Stericycle corporation - a vendor to Planned Parenthood - lined Romney's pockets with profits from the incineration of aborted fetuses. This would be in his tax return and how are you against abortion when you are making money from it, or was this his pro-choice cycle of his abortion stance. http://www.mmdnewswire.com/romney-hiding-bain-abortion-profits-116358.htmlTop of Form
Regarding Ryan:
1. In 2003, the Wisconsin Republican told The Weekly Standard’s writer Katherine Mangu-Ward, now at the libertarian Reason magazine, that he gave out Rand’s books as gifts and tried to make interns read it.
“I give out ‘Atlas Shrugged’ [by Ayn Rand] as Christmas presents, and I make all my interns read it. Well… I try to make my interns read it,” he said.
In 2005, he said before the Objectivist organization the Atlas Society that, “[T]he reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand. And the fight we are in here, make no mistake about it, is a fight of individualism versus collectivism.”
Perhaps Paul Ryan and Evangical Leaders have forgotten the first commandment: "I am the Lord thy God, Thou shalt have no other gods before me".
He just reminds of Steve Newlin from True Blood..
He should be in JAIL! He's no evangelical Christian...he's nothing more than a huckster!
Oh, no! Not him again! His use of Christianity to gain wealth and power is incredibly blatant and sickening. How is it that he can fool even one person?!
Ralph Reed and the Faith and Freedom Coalition are so far from being Christians that it boggles the mind. The use of fear to gain political advantage is an old ploy and the fact that Mitt Romney has aligned himself with this type of activity is reprehensible.
People, wake up. Mitt Romney is the puppet and we do not know the true identity of the millionaires pulling his strings. They are hidden and their true objectives are evil. If they were not evil, they would not hide in the dark, musty corners of the Republican Party aka the Super Pacs.
True Christians?
There Must be at least 37 left in the United States,,,,,
What is with the right?
Newt comes back from the grave,
Ralph is dredged from the slimy depths,
and their candidate has been running for president for ??
This is the Best they can do??
The "Bible Belt" states are a contrast in absurdity, the first time I drove to Alabama, I was laughing, I wasn't sure that I had seen the first sign, but by the second, it was one of those wow expressions. As a New Yorker I was blushing and could not believe that the states that would restrict every right of a woman would openly condone prostituting of women. I guess since Sodam & Gomorrah is in the bible, that they have a right to have some semblance of that in their states. But these states are a contrast in outrageous human conduct.
Ralph Reed and the “Christian” Vote…
Over 2000 years ago a man the Son of God walked this Earth with a message. It was to be the New and Everlasting Covenant, for Christians around the world. The New Testament came with many blessings and many warnings. This man Jesus Christ summed up his message to the world and to all Christians in the Sermon on the Mount. To most believers in Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount contains the central tenets of Christian discipleship. To Catholics the Beatitudes are the central message of the Sermon. For those of you that are not Christian or that are Christian but have not or do not read the Bible the Beatitudes are a great summary to refer too and they go like this:
The eight beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12 during the Sermon on the Mount are stated as Blessed/Happy/Fortunate are:
In Luke the Beatitudes are followed by the FOUR WOES, Woe unto to you:
The danger of “NOT” reading the Bible is that men like Ralph Reed can manipulate your Faith in God; these are the false prophets you were warned about. Ralph Reeds past behaviors betray his so called Faith. He has put himself out there as the voice of a Christians, yet has deceived and corrupted the message of Christ. Before you give your support to this morally bankrupt man with the corrupt message let me remind you of what he has done to you in the past:
(Olasky, Marvin, World Today News Christian Views, February 17, 2006) March 20, 2001 - Jack Abramoff (JA) and Ralph Reed (RR) are manipulating evangelicals for the benefit of their casino clients, and Mr. Reed wants his pay: JA writes to an associate that RR "is out of money. He has asked us to get another $250K asap." Here come the checks: "Pay to the order of Century Strategies [RR's company] Two Hundred Thousand Dollars…. Pay to the order of Century Strategies One Hundred Ninety-Eight Thousand Dollars."
Reed was named in the scandal arising from lobbying work performed by Jack Abramoff on behalf of Indian gambling tribes. E-mails released by federal investigators in June 2005 revealed that Reed secretly accepted payments from Abramoff to lobby against Indian casino gambling and oppose an Alabama education lottery.
You can look up the scandal yourself, but the point is he manipulated the Faithful. Ralph Reed now wants another go at it. Sending out a flyer that goes against everything that we are taught in the New Testament; it is deceptive, it bears false witness and again tries to manipulate the Faithful.
The Republican Party espouses that they are the “Christian Values” party, but they speak for the rich, they suppress the vote, they call democrats “Bleeding Hearts” as if that were bad, they say that caring for the poor, the sick and the disenfranchised is a bad thing, but making money and avarice are good things now. The GOP sows dissention among the races and the World Religions in the Name of God. Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
As a Catholic I try my best to be the best person I can be, Christ-like is what the Gospels ask. Ralph Reed has been everything but. Do not be fooled my fellow Christians, beware there are many out there that say they are Christians but are not following the message of Christ…Matthew 7:16 “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles?” If the message sounds NEGATIVE it is NOT “CHRISTIAN”…
Follow your heart you know what is right and what is wrong…Republicans have strayed…Listen to their words, are they Christ-like? Jesus Christ never turned his back on the poor, the sick or the disenfranchised… May God Bless you…