Christian Coalition losing chapters

[im10ashus]

Outgoing Christian Coalition president Ralph Reed, left, talks with television evangelist Pat Robertson during a dinner in Reed's honor in Atlanta, in this Friday, Sept. 12, 1997 file photo.Three disgruntled state affiliates have severed ties with the Christian Coalition of America, one of the nation's most powerful conservative groups during the 1990s but now buffeted by complaints over finances, leadership and its plans to veer into nontraditional policy areas. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Three disgruntled state affiliates have severed ties with the Christian Coalition of America, one of the nation's most powerful conservative groups during the 1990s but now buffeted by complaints over finances, leadership and its plans to veer into nontraditional policy areas.

"It's a very sad day for our people, but a liberating day," said John Giles, president of the coalition's Alabama chapter, which announced Wednesday that it was renaming itself and splitting from the national organization. The Iowa and Ohio chapters took similar steps this year.

Giles said he and his Alabama colleagues have "a dozen hard reasons" for the action but would elaborate on only one - a perception that the coalition's leadership was diverting itself from traditional concerns such as abortion and same-sex marriage to address other issues ranging from the environment to Internet access.

Giles predicted further defections and said the coalition was now left with only a half-dozen strong state chapters and a weak presence in Washington.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1130AP_Christian_Coalition.html

[whistle]

1. Christan Coalition = Christian Fascism

[im10ashus]

4. So true.

When bubble-boy started using the term "Islamofascism" a couple of weeks ago, I laughed out loud. I guess "fundamentalism" was hitting to close to his Christian fanatic base.

[charlie]

2. It's been going on for years

But none of the rebel chapters are breaking off to chart an enlightened course, more often than not it's because they think Pat's going soft. If they coalesce into a new national organization, it'll be something nastier.

[Robbien]

7. They are still here and stronger than ever

They are just dumping the "christian coalition" label.

I just read this:

Evangelical Impact on Congress

Evangelicals are more present-tense in the US Congress than even they would let on. They are not brash nor in-your-face with tracts in hand. They are mannerly, poised, well-educated, yet still firm in the faith.

According to The Washington Post’s Hanna Rosin, "Nearly every third congressional office stocks an ambitious Christian leader who calls himself ‘evangelical,’ according to Jim Guth, a political science professor at Furman University."

They are a new generation of biblical Christians. They know of the Tammy Faye Bakker types and the Jerry Falwell genre. But they’re not that, at least not in style.

. . .

"Sen. John Thune is the movement's new David, having overthrown former Senate minority leader Tom Daschle. When talking about abortion, the South Dakota Republican prefers abstractions: ‘I like to connect my principled view with my policy objectives,’ he says. ‘Good principles can lead to good policy.’"

. . .

"Rep. Mike Pence (D-Ind.) has promised to make a brief appearance at this antiabortion news conference. By the Pence was raised Catholic, born again in college, but a political experience brought on his real ‘conversion.’ In 1990 Pence ran what he described as the nastiest race in Indiana history. He lost.

"From then on he vowed that even while engaged in politics he would always be ‘true to his faith.’ Pence, 45, became a conservative radio talk show host who is stylistically the anti-Rush Limbaugh. ‘I'm a conservative, but I'm not in a bad mood about it,’ he'd say on air. Last year he ran for Congress again with the aim of rehabilitating himself; in ads he never mentioned his opponent.

"After he got to Washington his colleagues voted him head of the Republican Study Committee, a group of powerful House conservatives once known as Newt Gingrich's henchmen. Their platform hasn't changed in 10 years, but under Pence's leadership it's a new day. ‘You do not demonize those who disagree with you,’ he says. ‘If you believe in a woman's right to choose, you're not a bad person, we just disagree.’"

So go the prayer warriors for the Lord in up-town dress. God bless them all.

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/17502.html

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. They have diverted from traditional issues such

as abortion and gay marriage? Do these people never get any news or are they just mad because the coalition is not demanding execution for gays and people who have abortions?

[im10ashus]

5. It's scary insane to read some of this.

"In our prime, we were rated the seventh-most powerful lobbying organization in the country," he said. "Now, there's not even any blip on the radar screen."

May they all rot in the inner circles of hell.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. Well what can you say, things like this start to happen when

a society is imploding.

[T Wolf]

8. The only criticism of Bushists/right wingers is that they are not

fascist enough.

My in-laws in Ohio are not backing a long-time Puke Congressman because he disagrees with the Bush* policy on stem cell research.

I'm sorry. One semi-correct decision in six years does not warrant calling Ralph Regula a (from their perspective) bad guy. But, if they want to abandon him on election day, I will support their stupidity (in this one case).