Big business, not religion, is the real power in the White House

[im10ashus]

Bush is again pandering to the Christian right over gay rights. But Democrats should not be distracted from the main enemy

Jonathan Freedland
Wednesday June 7, 2006
The Guardian

Well, it gave George Bush the presidency once before, so why not use it again? Our old friend gay marriage is back, evoked anew by the man in the White House to scare "values voters", most of them Christian conservatives, into voting Republican one more time. It did the business in 2004, when Bush's efforts to turn the election into a referendum on same-sex unions may well have tipped the pivotal state of Ohio, chiefly by persuading social conservatives to get out and vote.

So it's no surprise to see a beleaguered Bush, facing second-term poll numbers in the Nixon depths, reaching for the same stick now. The Republicans could get whipped in November's midterm elections, unless they can persuade God-fearing values voters to turn out to halt the devil of gay marriage all over again.

Bush wants to amend the constitution so that that precious charter of rights and liberties will include a new sentence defining marriage exclusively as an arrangement between a man and a woman. Such an exclusion clause would demean the document, like graffiti scrawled across a sacred text. The constitution has been altered before - but usually to expand rights, not to restrict them. (Examples in the opposite direction, such as the 18th amendment, which launched the prohibition of alcohol, have not been a great success.)

The president and his allies wrap this up in the usual preachy language, of course - stand by for the radio pastors intoning that "It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" - but there is nothing holy about this mission. It's brazen politics, an obvious lob of red meat to the hungry of the Christian right. If they gobble it up they will show just how easily they are bought.

cont'd...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1791827,00.html

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. No question!

I do believe that you can classify religion as "big business" as well. The radical right are in it for the money as well.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. The leaders are, at least

The Robertsons of the world remind me of con men, and in a way they are, imho. They aren't really teaching spirituality-they are preaching hate, intolerance, and fear-and to go to Heaven, give them money.

[im10ashus]

7. That's all religion is nowadays.

Big business. That's why I feel they should not be tax exempt. Just my opinion. How are things in Indy?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. the religious bigotry is merely a distraction

No one is going to like someone who says, "Hey, I'm for Big Business raking you over the coals, selling you defective or dangerous stuff, polluting, stealing money with scams-and I'm going to make sure legislation is in place to take money from you and not from the very rich."

[rock]

3. Yep.

bush* is willing to do anything for religion (as long as it doesn't cost any money), and willing to do anything for big busines (as long as it does).

[bryant69]

5. I don't know

I agree that on the whole the Bush Administration has put business first, well ahead of the Christian Conservatives. But an argument could be made that this may not prevail. Business interests tend to be pragmatic - and President Bush is a lame duck and seems even lamer than most lame ducks. His numbers are in the toilet, and hsi ability to serve big business seems lacking - they might have gotten all they can out of him.

So faced with unstable support in the business world, this white house might well conclude they need to actually do what religious conservatives want, for the time being.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[The2ndWheel]

6. There's a difference?

Those stadium mansions people go to on Sunday's could've fooled me.

[im10ashus]

8. Truly.

You see the televangelist in there expensive suits, driving sports cars and attending $1,000 a plate dinners for their repug of choice. It makes you wonder what the HELL their congregations think of all that spending. Losers.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. Specifically, Big Business controls fiscal policy and Religious

Wingnuts control social policy.

[xchrom]

10. jesurtainment rakes in something like 14 billion dollars

annually in this country.

and that's just cds and books and crap like that.