Wake Up and Smell the Hypocrisy Print E-mail
By John Rushing
Oct. 19, 06 10:37
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I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family. I attended a Christian school, and went to a Christian College. Growing up, everyone I knew was good hearted and God fearing. We wanted to do the right thing and expected our government to do the same. We all believed that our leaders were like us, and this thought comforted us. The older I got and the more I saw of the world, the more I began to believe that we Christians had been had. I suspected that the God-fearing leaders I once admired were really just using the faith as a way to mobilize voters. I just could not prove it.

 

Enter David Kuo's new book about how the Bush administration has cynically used the language of faith for political ends. Karl Rove, et al, have pulled the wool over the eyes of the Christian flock, using the Christian dialect for their own purposes without respect or regard for the principles we hold dear.

 

It is time to wake up and smell the hypocrisy. The Republican Party has courted the Christian vote and then ridiculed these faithful people for being so naive. It is no wonder in a party that puts its power above all else (including protecting Congressional pages from a pedophile) that its leaders use faith as a means to an end and behind closed doors make fun of people of faith. This party's god is power. There is no other.

 

So, my fellow Christians, join me and other Democrats who truly believe and honor our faith. I know that we will have differences about some policy areas, and the demands that faith may bring to the debate, but at least in us you have a partner who values the Christian message because we really believe it. We are not trying to use the faith for political ends, we are in politics because of our faith.

LIST OF COMMENTS

1/7. Bottom line
Written by Aaron Krager  | Oct. 17, 06 13:59
The bottom line regarding this administration is that they will do anything to manipulate anyone to get what they want.  All they care about is end result being in their favor. 
The biggest thing that I am wonder is where are the Christian right leaders in all of this.  Did they know they were being made fun of in the White House or were they in on some of this as well?  Why are they not criticizing the administration for leading them like a horse with a carrot dangling in front of them?
May be that is because it is a "marriage of convenience" for them as Perkins put it on Hardball.  I don't think that is protecting the "sanctity" of marriage with such bad bed fellows!

2/7. disturbing
Written by miggsathon  | Oct. 17, 06 20:15
one of the more disturbing things i read today was a post in the washington monthly blog saying the kuo book won't even nudge conservative evangelicals away from the republicans, but may indeed ever so slightly strengthen the republicans' hand.  after all, this is coming out right before an election, so these voters will just be mad at the democrats.  if this book won't work, what will?

3/7. thud, thud, thud
Written by trapper joe  | Oct. 17, 06 20:18
this year, the revelations about republicans aren't going drip, drip, drip...they'd going thud, thud, thud.  every one is incredible.

4/7. Mrs.
Written by Debbie Lackowitz  | Oct. 19, 06 14:45

I am a Democrat, and I consider myself a person of faith.  David Kuo's book just points out how well this Republican machine has been able to manipulate people of faith in "red states" (Kansas?) to get their margin of victory.  However, they have not really delivered on their "faith based initiatives", and I believe that it is finally coming down to whether they can keep using "empty" words and still get away with it.  Republicans in Kansas of all places have changed parties and are now running as Democrats.  It would not (did not) happen in 2004 or 2002 but it is happening now.  I may be from a "blue state", but I do not believe the good people of Kansas, etc are stupid.  I believe that they were horribly manipulated and are now "seeing through it".  Good!  Now, let's hope that the upcoming Mid-Term elections can bring about true change!


5/7. People are fooled when they want to be fooled
Written by Bill Taylor  | Oct. 19, 06 22:43
To say that Christian groups supporting Bush are gullible is too easy.  They want power and are willing to believe anybody who offers power.   Bill Taylor

6/7. Elect Deceived
Written by J Haynes  | Oct. 20, 06 14:04
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

New American Standard Bible © 1995 Lockman Foundation

As a Christian, it has been disturbing to watch the flock fall for these charlatans.  Modern History shows the Republican party has never been one of the "Common Man" nor has it been a "Progressive" group, it is typically thrown its support to the group with the most money or most to gain financially from the issues at hand.  I often wondered, if they are truly "conservative" what are they conserving, except their way of life.

Jesus, taught us to leave behind the things of this life.  Another thing these conservatives cannot abide.

Godspeed,

"We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate." ~ Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author (1743-1826)


7/7. Have you ever thought...
Written by WorkingMan  | Oct. 20, 06 22:46

Has it ever occured to the Democrats that those voting Republican do realize that politicians are, after all, politicians?  And what does a politician crave?  Power.  Authority.  To obtain the greatest position they can, at what cost only they are willing to do to obtain it.  If a polotician denys it, then, well, that goes back to the old joke of knowing when a politician is lieing.

Personally, I would love to see a third option, but I just don't see the Christians going out there to do their duty to get elected without getting suckered into one party or the other.  Money speaks volumes, and the two dominant parties have tons of it.  Where does the Christian money go?  I'd ventrue to say, almost all of it goes between the two big parties.  The reason why Christians won't have a party?  Because they can't agree upon the important issues that the Bible talks about and let personal feelings get in the way.

No matter how you slice it:

Abortion = Killing an innocent child

Sodomy = Didn't God destroy the town this is named after and what the men did there?

etc... 

So the argument is, "Should the government dictate morality, or allow the people choose based upon their own beliefs?"  After all, whose belief should we follow when setting up a law?  Islam?  Christian?  Jew? Budah? etc...

Is anyone waiting to hear that someone got no jail time for killing their own sister, because she is unclean based upon that person's religion?  And that person was just excecuting his/her religious right.  It's happened in Europe.  It happens all the time in the Middle East.  And I fear the day when it will happen here. 


Last Updated ( Oct. 20, 06 08:56 )
 
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