Christian Right Fight Heating Up
20 April 2006 7:36 am by Taylor Marsh
Christian Right Fight Heating Up
(cross-posted on firedoglake)
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In this corner we have John McCain and Jerry Falwell.
McCain, formerly known as the “straight talker” now
commonly referred to as Senator Suck Up around here, has moved into lock step
with George W. Bush. This has happened over many months, as Senator Suck Up
has become enthralled with the idea of becoming Bush's heir. In fact, McCain
has even flip flopped on the Federal Marriage Amendment, though his staffers
are saying it's just a states' right thing. Falwell and the other religious
right-wingers are dreaming it will become a reality, so McCain has to thread
the needle on this one, which he seems to be doing so far. So, Senator Suck
Up is now in partnership with man who said some things that no one should ever
forget, especially after 9/11.
“I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists,
and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to
make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way,
all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their
face and say 'you helped this happen'.” – Reverend Jerry Falwell on Pat
Robertson's 700 Club
Of course, Reverend Falwell's list of whopper statements
are legend. “Blow them away in the name of the Lord,” is one of my
personal statements. Hell hath no fury like a right-winger unhinged.
In the other corner we have Rudy gays are great (at least my gay friends are), marriage
is really serial monogamy (it's not supposed to be) Giuliani helping out Ralph Reed in Georgia. Formerly the Christian Coalition's head man, Reed has fallen far from grace and his once golden boy status.
Ralph is in deep, deep, deep trouble down south
in a race he would have walked through easily, EXCEPT for the fact that he got
involved with Jack Abramoff. Now Reed is up to his eye balls in criticism and
flagging poll numbers, with his
own people coming after him, as Reed is poised to take the Republicans down
with him.
So, the two biggest Republican heavyweights are squared off in
separate right-wing corners, just waiting for the 2008 bell.
John McCain recently courted Jerry Falwell. So I guess
Rudy Giuliani felt he needed to get Ralph Reed. According to the Associated
Press, Giuliani has agreed to headline a fundraiser in May for Reed's campaign
for Georgia Lt. Gov.Oh, the irony. A pro-gay rights, pro-choice, pro-gun
control New Yorker stumping with a right-wing Christian crook. If Giuliani
had to pick an evangelical activist to campaign with, couldn't he of found
someone who wasn't Jack Abramoff's best friend? Shouldn't the so-called law
and order Mayor be shunning a cynical political operator who defrauded fellow
Christians and robbed and ruined Indian tribes? Doesn't he realize that a
path to the presidency no longer runs through Ralph Reed?Campaigning with the likes of Rick Santorum, as Giuliani
did in Philadelphia today, is bad enough. But Reed represents a whole 'nother
level of despicable. If Rudy wanted to show solidarity with a conservative
moonbat, he should've picked Reed's primary opponent, Casey Cagle.
Neither of them are the best man. They both propped up President Bush when
he didn't deserve it, putting the Republican party before country. To say Republicans
are the last thing we need going forward, looking towards Iran, North Korea,
the federal and trade deficits, is an understatement of gargantuan proportions.
