The plot against America: Inside the Christian right plan to "remodel" the nation

[babylonsister]

The plot against America: Inside the Christian right plan to "remodel" the nation
Religious right's blueprint for theocratic state laws keeps creeping forward. Is the left ready to fight?
Paul Rosenberg
April 13, 2019 4:20PM (UTC)


On April 3, USA Today published an array of stories under the banner, “Copy, Paste, Legislate,” exploring the political impact of model bills on state-level legislation — more than 10,000 bills from 2010 to 2018 — based on a two-year joint investigation with the Arizona Republic and the Center for Public Integrity. The lead story headline said it all: "You elected them to write new laws. They’re letting corporations do it instead."

OK, it wasn't quite all. While corporate influence was the strongest, figures revealed that conservative groups weren’t far behind: There were 4,301 bills from industry and 4,012 from conservative groups, far more than the 1,602 from liberal groups or the 248 classified as “other.” The hidden origins of these bills often hides their true intent. The most notorious such group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, for instance combines business interests with movement conservatives.

But within the fold of “conservative groups” there’s a whole other story to be told about the organizing of extremist religious conservatives, whose political mobilization, as I’ve noted in the past, played a crucial role in electing Donald Trump. Indeed, just the day before “Copy, Past, Legislate” was published, the Texas Senate passed SB-17, a bill that would protect anti-LGBTQ discrimination by all licensed professionals who claim to act on a “sincerely held religious belief.”

“It’s time for Americans to wake up to the harsh reality that the religious right, fueled by their fear of loss of power from the changing demographics in our country and their support from the Trump administration, is emboldened and aggressively pursuing all means possible to maintain white Christian power in America,” Rachel Laser, the president of Americans United For Separation of Church and State, told Salon. “Project Blitz, for example, has already introduced over 50 bills in at least 23 states this year alone,” she added.

One spin-off story published in the Nashville Tennessean dealt specifically with an anti-LGTBQ adoption model bill. (Simultaneously, NBC reported such bills were “'snowballing' in state legislatures.”) The Tennessee bill came from Project Blitz, which was described as “a legislative effort with the stated aim to ‘bring back God to America.’" But as Salon has reported in the past, Project Blitz is much more sinister than that.

Frederick Clarkson, senior research analyst at Political Research Associates, was the first to discover its three-tier playbook, produced by a coalition of right-wing activists he’d long been following, including Texas Republican activist and pseudo-historian David Barton, whose book, “Jefferson Lies,” which tried to remake Thomas Jefferson as an evangelical hero, was canceled by its publisher under withering criticism from conservative and evangelical scholars (followup here).

“The authors of the Project Blitz playbook are savvy purveyors of dominionism,” Clarkson told Salon at the time. “They are in it for the long haul and try not to say things that sound too alarming. ​But they live an immanent theocratic vision.” Not all their allies would go all the way with them, Clarkson told me, but the theocratic end they envision is chillingly akin to “The Handmaid's Tale” — reason enough to warrant far more attention than they’ve gotten so far.

more...

https://www.salon.com/2019/04/13/the-plot-against-america-inside-the-christian-right-plan-to-remodel-the-nation/?fbclid=IwAR0G2vKPMgPQZsSSaka5XXqWD7gpomt5G3r3Tlz-qf4gMQXGf2FVrGJ5D50

[underpants]

1. Look I don't have time to read these long articles

We've got morning golf coming on. MORNING GOLF!!!!

[babylonsister]

3. Ha! It'll be here when you get back!

[Lochloosa]

6. We'll he get another jacket? That would be great to see.

[underpants]

9. Rooting for Finau or Koepka

Molinari would be cool too.

[HopeAgain]

2. The irony

It's the kind of "Sharia Law" they claim to fear.

[Wounded Bear]

15. That's why I call them Talibangelists...

[DownriverDem]

24. We can change this

Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[democratisphere]

4. Must have separation of churches and states.

[gtar100]

29. And corporations and state

Bet that would be even harder to make happen.

[democratisphere]

35. Seperating rethuglicons from their corporate masters will be almost impossible BUT

it must be done.

[Kath2]

5. Thank you, babylonsister.

Just look at all the state anti-choice legislation that is out there now. Fundamental human rights are under attack in tRump's amerikkka.

[paleotn]

17. Right out of the play book.

The one thing about wing nuts, they've never had an original thought in their lives. Thinking is hard. Both conservo-nut legislators and their constituencies let the overlords do that for them. Copy and paste is easy.

[Zoonart]

7. Meanwhile the "revolution" on the left is doing...

nothing at the state level to thwart this or to match it with alternative ideas.

The right has been out-organizing us for forty years and they are steamrolling us on legislation.

I remember that during the height of the reproductive rights struggle before Roe became the law, while we organized for the streets.... the right organized in church basements where church ladies sat writing letters to their legislators by the thousands after church on Sundays.

When we "won" we left the streets and went home. They NEVER stopped. They kept writing those letters and kept writing legislation and pushing hard to get their vision achieved. They never surrender.

The left focuses on the White House, when State Legislatures and candidate incubators are the real power base. Democrats have totally dropped the ball there.

[Ligyron]

11. We don't have many groups who hold weekly meetings like they do.

Hell, Southern Baptists meet twice a week to do "God's work".

We have a few church groups I think, like Unitarians or maybe Buddists?

In terms of actually doing anything for our side, Indivisible is a great step forward. The midterms would not have had the outcomes it did without them.

Everyone should find a local group and join if possible.

[Lonestarblue]

21. Yes, Indivisible groups in Texas were part of the success Beto had.

The local Democratic Party is trying a bit harder, but the state party has been asleep for decades. How I wish Howard Dean had become chair of the DNC so we could have an organized 50-state attack with enough money behind it to start seeing some results. Democrats need to start running for an winning local and state elections (including school boards) if we are to make real change.

I think the Indivisible groups are replacing the local Democratic Party organization (at least in my area), which is good but the people running the groups are all volunteers with other jobs and they rely on a few donations to help them keep websites running and to advertise. They’re doing these things because the Democratic Party isn’t—and that’s why I donate to them and directly to candidates instead of the DNC. And the DCCC will get no contributions until they rescind their ridiculous policy on preventing a primary challenge of an incumbent. If an incumbent has been in the job for too long and is just occupying a seat, maybe it’s time for that person to go.

[Politicub]

34. We made gains in state houses and local races in 2018

Perhaps you weren’t aware of this fact. It’s going to take time to retake state houses. But we’re on our way.

Paraphrasing Leader Pelosi, do not characterize the power we bring.

[Zoonart]

36. I was certainly aware of this, however...

the Rethugs have a forty year head start on ... owning television stations, radio stations, newspapers, think tanks,policy institutes,candidate incubators...etc.
We are far behind organizationally and to not accept that is a major failure for the party and for the future.

BTW I have been an active party volunteer and Democratic organizer since 1976.

[yaesu]

8. For the second time this year I had to listen to a casher preaching while being checked out

Its getting ridiculous, the cult keeps growing & I have never been so disgusted with religion in by life.

[csziggy]

32. I would complain to the manager if a cashier preached at me!

I simply will not put up with evangelists shoving their agenda in my face - EVER.

I got enough of that as a child when I had to listen to my evangelical Baptist minister uncle preach at my mother for leaving the Baptist Church when she married my Presbyterian father - as well as having to listen to his racist "jokes" and comments. I will NOT ever put up with it again unless it is a situation I have chosen to be involved with (for instance, marriages of relatives that involve religious observances).

If a cashier started preaching at me, I would leave my items in mid-transaction, go directly to the Customer Service desk and raise bloody hell about having religion forced on me in a secular location. If I were not satisfied with the manager on duty's response I would walk out and find another place to do my shopping.

[yaesu]

37. idk, maybe I just look like I need saving

seriously though, I don't think this has ever happened before this year to me or maybe I'm just hyper aware of it now that the fascists have weaponized religion. I was able to change the topic rather quickly so it didn't ruffle too many feathers. I once worked with a religious fanatic at a factory back in the 70's. He was all the time preaching & even stood in the door preaching as employees were trying to enter until someone knocked him on his butt. He didn't last long & went into the military.

[csziggy]

38. Aside from my uncle I used to be more tolerant of religious fanatics

And would just blow them off. As they have gotten more and more in people's faces and more aggressive about pushing their agenda, I have decided to hold the line against their fanaticism.

I was lucky to be self employed where I didn't have to put up with other employees preaching. If a merchant or contractor shows religious tendencies, I will elect to do business with someone else who does not bring their faith to the front of a secular transaction.

In one way I was fortunate to have my fanatical, fascist, racist uncle as an early example of what to avoid.

[TexasBushwhacker]

42. I would definitely complain

I wouldn't inconvenience the next person in line, but I would let the cashier know I didn't appreciate the proselytizing and I would complain to the manager. If it hapoened again, I'd take it up the chain of command. It is NOT appropriate!

[UniteFightBack]

10. I'm not worried about the religious nuts. No matter what they do we are getting looser not

tighter. We had a naked dating show on tv a few years ago...good luck with your mission zealots because it
WILL FAIL.

[TexasBushwhacker]

43. Except they get power and make laws

There are school districts getting taken over by these nuts. They cut taxes to defund public schools so they have more $$ for private religious schools.

[Faux pas]

12. Anyone who's been paying

attention knows almost all 'the bills' written by the rethugs are really written by corporations and other entities. I've been pissed about that for a long time.

[c-rational]

13. I recently received a flyer fromm the American Humanist Society. One of their main goals is

to protect the separation state and church. May be a good time to contribute.

[mountain grammy]

14. This is, in my opinion, the most dangerous threat to America

In your face religion, and only one true religion and we all better pray about it..

[dlk]

16. In their Zelotry to Enact Laws Favoring Their Religion...

...Have they ever considered that by doing so they are creating a situation where a different religion, one they did not agree with, could be the basis of the law and they would be required to comply?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

26. Unfortunately

I think that they're deluded enough to believe that they won't ever NOT be in charge.

[keithbvadu2]

30. What will they say/do when it is not their version of Christianity in charge?

What will they say/do when it is not their version of Christianity in charge?

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/americas-true-history-of-religious-tolerance-61312684/?no-ist=;

Madison also made a point that any believer of any religion should understand: that the government sanction of a religion was, in essence, a threat to religion. "Who does not see," he wrote, "that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?" Madison was writing from his memory of Baptist ministers being arrested in his native Virginia.

[TexasBushwhacker]

44. Like some small towns run by radical LDS polygamists? N/t

[keithbvadu2]

45. Just imagine Westboro Baptist Church in charge? After all, they are Christians.

Just imagine Westboro Baptist Church in charge?

After all, they are Christians.

[Solly Mack]

18. K&R

[cstanleytech]

19. Aye, like I said decades ago there was never a Republican Contract with America rather they signed

and took out a Contract on America.

[Mc Mike]

20. I like P.R.A. I'd chip in that the same birchers who back ALEC's business oriented fascism

also back dominionism's religious oriented fascism.

Birchers like the Hunts, Kochs, Mercers, etc.

[TwilightZone]

22. Been going on for 40 years.

They've been emboldened by Trump, certainly, leading to an acceleration of the pace of bills being introduced, but this has been the plan for decades now, starting with the moronic "moral" majority. They've been chipping away at the rights of others under the guise of religious "freedom" ever since. Hobby Lobby, anyone?

[smirkymonkey]

23. K&R

[hedda_foil]

25. Who is PAYING for this legislative religious propaganda machine?

There's always, always a big funded or twelve behind these attacks.

[Nay]

39. There's a book about that -- "One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented

Christian America" by Kevin Kruse.

He reveals just how unholy an alliance this is.

[hedda_foil]

40. Thanks, Nay!

[Freddie]

27. Pointing out that Trump is personally immoral and not a Christian

Falls on deaf ears, as he is just a puppet for the “Christian” right. They don’t give a shit about him personally as long as they get what they want.

[Hotler]

28. dominionism, it is not good.

those people are whacked.

[Funtatlaguy]

31. Pence is a member. Something to always remember

[Politicub]

33. The only way the Christian right can keep power is to kill us

They have lost every culture war they have taken on. The only way they win national elections is by exploiting the electoral-college defect in the constitution. Those who claim to have no religion — the nones — is a group that is outpacing the growth of Christians. The young are rejecting the medieval views of their evangelical parents by a wide margin.

I’m not worried about them. I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian household. The Christian church holds its grip on people with fear and worry. Almost every teaching in fundamentalist and evangelical Christian sects eventually leads to punishment or everlasting torment for those who do no abide by what the church says. Fear is all they have. Their impulse to control and demean are their instruments of fear.

I shed my fear of them and their hollow beliefs long ago. They want you to feel helpless. Don’t give in.

One example of how they are overreaching American norms more than ever are heartbeat-abortion bills in state houses. They majority of Americans believe in a woman's Right to choose. Any gains conservatives make will be erased in short order. That includes these bills. Clarence Thomas is mortal. As is Kavanaugh and Gorsuch and the useful idiot Alito.

We need to stay aware of what’s happening around us, of course. Our duty is to resist and push back. Their anger will blind them and make them complacent. This is the arc of history. Liberalism and progressivism offer positive solutions to problems. We are attracting people. They are not. Indeed, the more they lay their bankrupt ideology bare, the more quickly they snuff themselves out.

[Initech]

41. I don't hate religion but I truly despise the Christian far right.

I don't want to live in a fascist totalitarian theocracy, thanks.