Have You No Sense of Decency, Sir?

I call bullshit.

Sen. Frist , supposed reluctant champion of the "nuclear option" to end filibusters of judicial nominees, is declaring that Democrats are against people of faith because they don't support every damn judge nominated by the President.

The Family Research Council, that tax-exempt non-profit, is organizing a telecast from a tax-exempt church, to host Republican politicians and their supporters in a national condemnation of Democrats as anti-Christian. I guess all those Democratic Christians aren't really saved, didn't really accept Christ as their savior. Because, you know, Christ didn't command his followers to feed the poor, clothe the hungry, visit those in prison, or be love their neighbors as themselves. No, those aren't indicators that these alleged Christians actually believe in and follow the commands of Christ. Not all.

These fake Christians, haters of real Christians, Democrats, aren't reallly following Christ's call. You see, what Christ apparently commanded his followers to do is

• to cut taxes (that "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" is so misunderstood),
• to execute minors (just ignore that "do not kill" commandment),
• to bring freedom at the end of the sword (really, turn the other cheek?),
• to protect the wealthy (the "rich man in heaven is like a camel through the eye of a needle" was a  parable, people),
• to condemn gays (it really is okay to "cast the first stone"),
• to force everyone to sit through prayers at public events (He didn't really mean pray in secret when He said to, um, pray in secret),
• to establish a theocracy  (the kingdom of heaven starts here you know),
• and apparently to stack the courts (when the Bible says to submit yourself - for the Lord's sake - to every authority instituted among men, to show respect, it surely doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to control that authority, excuse violence perpetrated against it, condemn all participants in it as heathen secularists who hate God).

Above all, it must be clear that God calls us to condemn those who disagree with us on matters of state, to call out their obvious hatred for God-loving people because of a disagreement on the institutions of man. That's the real meaning behind the message of Christ.

I'm sick of love for God being aligned with support for Republican policies.They are NOT one and the same. To cynically use what is the truest part of a person - their search for truth, meaning, God - and to manipulate  it and say that unless you support ending the filibuster on judicial nominees then you obviously do not love God or His people, in fact you hate them, is vile. It trivializes faith. Do they really mean that I don't love God and I hate His people if I don't support a change in Senate rules? Apparently, they do.

Members of mainstream religions in this country must speak out and declare that the Republican party and their far-right religious supporters are not the arbiters of true faith. It is an insult to God and all that Christians hold dear to allow faith to be used, trivialized, and manipulated in the struggle for secular power. It is the antithesis of Godliness. Really, it has to end.

UPDATE: For a full round up of coverage of this issue on the blogosphere, check out this post at The Moderate Voice. The  Politburo Diktat has a roundup of responses from the conservative side of the aisle.
 

UPDATE II: The Clergy and Laity Network is organizing a prayer vigil on the 24th in protest against the Family Research Council/Frist telecast. I hope there's also some organized response for those who don't pray.

UPDATE III: The Judicial Confirmation Network is launching an  campaign on cable TV stations with similar religious themes. Here's one of their advertisements.

Ad script:

American values. They make our country great.
But some want to take them away.
They want God out of the pledge of allegiance.
They say child pornography is protected by the Constitution.
Who are these people.
Arrogant judges ignoring the Constitution and writing their own laws.
The President believes judges shouldn't impose political views yet his nominees are blocked by a minority of liberal Senators.
Contact your Senators. Tell them to support a fair vote on judges.

The initial ad purchase is for $250K with more committed "if needed". A second ad is in production. In their press release, they specifically state that the liberal agenda is " removing God from the Pledge of Allegiance and protecting child pornographers." Gary Marx, the executive director of this group, last served as the coalitions director for the national Bush/Cheney 04 campaign. Before that, he was a lobbyist and development director for The Family Foundation, a Virginia state affiliate of Focus on the Family. Before that, he worked in Ralph Reed's political consulting firm where his primary client was Pres. Bush (pre-election).

UPDATE IV: Apparently, this telecast is modeled on telecasts used in the 2004 election to oppose gay marriage.

Comments

[Half Sigma]

I am in no way a fan of the Republican party becoming the party of the religious Christians, but I observe that it's happening.

The Christian movement (or at least a vocal and somewhat numerous segment of it) in the U.S. seems to believe that their religion supports those political policy objectives you mention in your post. And I am certainly in no position to say that they don't understand their own religion. If religion were about logic, it would be called science.

[Alexander]

The problem here is you. And vice versa: the problem from another point of view is inherently that - their view is wrong too. Those that oppose are labeled left. Those that oppose the left are labeled right. The left stereotype the right as Religious freaks. The right stereotype the left as hippie stoners too stoned to get a job so they want the government to supplement. You hate them for the exact reasons why they hate you. Thus you my friend are the root of your grievance.

The others are in tandem with the news media too. They flag criticism as news. They niche micro-stereotypes on both sides to get "GOOD NEWS" to get ratings. All the contrarians flock to FOX NEWS. All the "hell no" liberals flock to CNN to sing to their choirs. Both news stations are aware of this and keep the fans blowing because it attracts RATINGS.

Be pragmatic about this. Not all Reps are Religious freaks. Not all Democrats are hippies.

[Kathy]

You make too many assumptions here. I'm not stereotyping the entire right as religious freaks. I don't hate them. I don't watch CNN. I am pragmatic. I am also frustrated. This is not a knee-jerk reaction to a politician mentioning God.

This post is in response to the Majority Leader of the Senate, one of the most powerful Republicans and a leader of the party, allying himself comfortably with a group that chooses to demonize the opposition in the name of God. It comes on the tail of the House leader, Tom DeLay, allying himself with a group that is dedicated to undermining judges that don't agree with them, using quotes from Stalin and claims of Satanic influence in their condemnation.

At what point do you believe it is appropriate to speak up, to get angry? When does a reaction cease to be reactionary and hate filled and become a reasonable response to unreasonable actions? I think we've hit it.

If you spend time on this blog, you should see that I don't demonize the opposition, I don't engage in much snarky posting, I work hard to respect those with honest disagreements. Am I in opposition to the current administration? Absolutely. Do I sterotype them? Perhaps on occasion despite my efforts not to. Do I villify them for having faith? No, no, and no. I villify them for using it cynically. And I think it's deserved. I'd do the same to anyone on the left who used faith in the same way.

You may dismiss my reaction, born from frustration, insult, and anger, as a typical sterotyping liberal knee-jerk reaction. That's the easy thing to do. But it doesn't make the issues that gave rise to my reaction disappear.

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