Falwell says evangelicals control GOP, Bush's fate

[question everything]

By Scott Shepard
COX NEWS SERVICE

September 25, 2004

WASHINGTON – The Rev. Jerry Falwell said yesterday that evangelical Christians, after nearly 25 years of increasing political activism, now control the Republican Party and the fate of President Bush in the November election.

"The Republican Party does not have the head count to elect a president without the support of religious conservatives," Falwell said at an election training conference of the Christian Coalition.

Falwell said evangelical Christians are now "by far the largest constituency" within the Republican Party, their route to dominance beginning in 1979 with his founding of the Moral Majority, a precursor to the Christian Coalition.

"I tell my Republican friends who are always talking about the 'big tent,' I say make it as big as you want to, but if the candidate running for president is not pro-life, pro-family . . . you're not going to win," he said.

More..


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040925/news_1n25christ.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. And why moderate Republcians are leaving teh party

and IF bush looses big in November, we will see a virtual civil war in teh GOP... any body cares for some popcorn

[GeorgeBushytail]

12. After the "Big Tent"

It'll be fun to watch the Rep party explode after they lose this election.

Instead of their mythical Big Tent there will be a scattering of pup tents.

[Cha]

46. And some Dawg Wars!

[AmerDem]

29. Novak spoke of this

a few months ago. He went on to say that if reukes don't take this election it would turn into a major break up of the party. Many ( probably the majority ) of repukes want nothing to do with these far right religious nitwits and will separate themselves as soon as possible.

[joefree1]

2. Finally, truth in advertising

And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. 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."

-- Rev. Jerry Falwell, blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, quoted from John F. Harris, "God Gave U.S. 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says," The Washington Post (September 14, 2001)

[Bandit]

8. God is pissed and showing it right now

God is sending hurricane after hurricane into the GOP heartland and destroying their homes and businesses. This is all an act of God not humans. 9-11 was an act of Human atrocity but had nothing to do with God either Christian or Muslim. The forces of Nature however that are pounding the South are totally God's creation. If you believe in that sort of stuff anyway. I suppose one could consider some of it Human influenced through Global Warming. That brings up another issue. The GOP doesn't believe in Global Warming and they are mostly the one's paying the Piper for those beliefs.

[JuniperLea]

10. and then ivan head toward socal..

to cool us down, refresh us and possibly gently sprinkle us with some much needed, life giving rain.

i guess god loves the liberal southwest:)

[Fla Dem]

16. Well if you want to believe God is punishing Florida your rationale is

a little skewed. Although we have a repug governor,and repug controlled legislature, currently both our U.S. Senators are Dems, and Betty Castor, the Dem candidate for senate to replace Bob Graham is ahead in the polls over the repug Martinez.

Actually, registered Dems outnumber registered Repugs in Florida. If God is sending any message, it's "Don't screw up this election again."

[DoYouEverWonder]

26. If you look at the tracks

of Charles, Frances and now Jeanne, these 'canes sure do have a thing for the I-4 Corridor.

[Rich Hunt]

24. the hurricanes are God's punishment

God is punishing the fundies because they haven't yet slaughtered the secularist homosexual feminazi pornographer idolators, like it says in Deuteronomy 18.

[JoFerret]

48. God is smiting Bush voters in Florida

This is evil nonsense of course but here is the graphic from the site that debunks the idiocy:
www.snopes.com

[Zhade]

31. I'm pretty sure it's global warming.

I doubt any god, should she/he exist, would really have the time to focus on human politics, what with running the universe and all.

[QC]

44. How is what you're saying any different from Falwell and Robertson

claiming that God sends hurricanes to punish people?

Speaking as a Democrat who spent the night of Ivan hunkered down in the bathroom listening to debris blowing against the house, I see no difference.

Be careful not to become what you hate.

[Amigust]

51. Dems have tried to be so fair they've let the Repukes get their

hands on the key to the hen house. Maybe if more Dems had been giving it back in like or greater measure, Repukes wouldn't have as much power as they do today.

Sorry you had a bad scare from Ivan. I've had a few bad scares too, but the biggest scare of all is that the Repukes are within reach of destroying our democracy.

[QC]

59. Lots of people got more than a bad scare.

They got killed. And that is what makes this freeperish business about gloating over the misfortunes of others so grotesque.

If many of us really think that "giving it back" to the Republicans means cracking jokes about hurricanes, then it's no wonder we're in such bad shape. There's plenty of real stuff to go after them with--a disastrous war, the corporate looting of the country, people being arrested for demonstrating, etc.--that we don't need to imitate the freepers.

[KittyWampus]

61. God Sending Hurricanes To Florida Is IRONIC HUMOR.

damn.

Life isn't fair.
People die.
Tragic shit happens daily.

[QC]

62. I'll be sure to post some "IRONIC HUMOR"

next time some tragedy befalls Long Island.

After all, life isn't fair, people die, and tragic shit happens daily, right?

[hyphenate]

21. Nobody ever said

that evangelicals and fundies were sane. Regardless of any other factor, the fact that they can totally believe all the shit they read is cause enough to wonder about their own morals and their own hypocrisies.

I don't fault people for believing in whatever God or entity they choose to believe in, and I've said it before--keep it to yourself! Not everyone wants to trade their own belief system for someone else's, especially not ones as backwards and as hypocritical as the evangelists and the fundies.

Moderate Christians must get awfully mad at the Religious Right for hijacking their beliefs to serve the pukes. I know I would if I were more involved in religion.

When a group tries to convert a secular nation like the U.S. into a hypocritical, extreme religious one, they are certainly not looking out for the interests of the nation, only for their own very selfish and ignorant purposes.

[leesa]

27. Yeah right you paternalistic control freak. Are YOU gonna adopt several

hundred of those poor little babies?? Or will they end up unwanted and parked in misery in some state farm until they are 18?

[robbedvoter]

3. This is actually good news - considering that in 2000 Falwell&comp

agreed to shut up and go along with the "compassionate" thingy )as Rush was reasuring the base that "he can call himself brie - he's still our boy")
I hope Falwell keeps a high profile and articles like this one are widely read.

[juslikagrzly]

34. Totally agree

let him spout his foul mouth off and further alienate any remaining "real" republicans!

[childslibrarian]

4. Now that is freaking scary

We are becoming a theocracy...

[JuniperLea]

11. hitler's 'new christianity'

???

[DemWitch]

5. The Repuglicans do have a big tent...

It's just printed on the admission ticket that if your not white, straight, male, Xtian, upper middle class, pro-fife, keep your mouth shut and be happy with any crumbs thrown your way.

I'm glad ol Falwell said this. I think it should become the GOP Mantra. Let the old guard Republicans know what has become of their party. Let all of America know that by voting for Repuglicans, your voting for a Church run Government.

[robbedvoter]

6. Don't forget the loyalty oath to get in.

tent is quite empty, but outsiders are silenced, so who cares?

[Rose Siding]

7. And you have to sign an oath to get in!

I agree. The more Falwell the repubs have to hear, the better. I saw a recent poll here that said less than half of *fundamental* Christians view him favorably.

Wouldn't it be a hoot if the repub party splits before it happens to the dems?

[DoYouEverWonder]

28. If Bush wins the 2004 election

This is what the next GOP convention will look like.

[Cats Against Frist]

9. THIS should get national coverage

I think Falwell claiming that the Religious Right controls the GOP, is monumental news that moderate Republicans EVERYWHERE should be officially aware of.

I think that the attempt to usurp the Constitution and establish religious rule is kind of like, duh, important.

[nightperson]

35. Yes it should! This is so helpful to us!

If we can't use the Religious Right issue, where most of the country is always strongly on our side, what are we expecting to win with?

"Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who said Bush's re-election is critical because "the next president is going to appoint two, perhaps four, Supreme Court justices," making it possible to reverse the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion-rights ruling.

The Rev. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, who, in announcing a $1 million campaign to mobilize church-going voters, likened politicians who support abortion rights to people who support terrorism."

Jerry is rockin' out in public! :headbang: This (the opposite of the RNC moderate masquerade ball) is being dropped in our lap! We should show this to every undecided voter and moderate Republican! Jerry is spelling it out for people! What more do people want?

[Owlet]

13. They've got Falwell...

...we're stuck with Donna Brazile. The cringe factor is about the same for their respective party when either of these a*holes open their mouths.

The networks know this and take malicious glee in trotting these two out at every opportunity.

[question everything]

15. Agree. I always cringe when she is a "pundit" on CNN

with Bay Buchanan. None of them have any thing of value to say. There are so many good commentators, on both sides, why choose them?

And does she really think it adds to her - whatever - when she says that Newt is a good friend?

Still, the difference is that Falwell CAN bring voters to the pugs; Brazile cannot.

[calimary]

42. Donna Brazile really burns my burgers.

Let's all play nice, and not raise our voices, and let the other guy win and make his/her points and we'll wait our turn all nice and compliant-like, okay? Don't make waves! Don't shove it back in their faces! We have to remain "above it," because viewers will just automatically recognize the truth and can be trusted to make the correct decisions just based on the truth. The truth will out, isn't that what they say? So we don't REALLY have to work all that hard or make our case or fight off these people or debunk their lies - everyone realizes they're lying. Don't they?

Yeah, SURE, Donna. Donna Brazile is WORTHLESS. SHAMEFUL! A DISGRACE!!! Who decided she'd make a great campaign manager or trench fighter? I remember once, seeing her on (I think) CNN as the ONLY Democrat or liberal member of a four-person panel that also featured a republi-CON, a wrong-wing think tanker, and a conservative. Any wonder that she was almost literally gang-raped? All she did was give them a nice doormat on which to wipe their muddy, filthy, just-stepped-in-dog-poo storm trooper boots. They send out the Rottweilers. She responds with chew toys.

Maybe she's a mole...

[AlCzervik]

14. I still find it hard to believe that Falwell is taken

seriously by anyone. WTF is wrong with Christians giving this clown an audience.

[xxqqqzme]

33. it is the abdication

of personal responsibility. If they allow this charlatan the power to make their decisions 4 them, they R not responsible 4 the consequences cuz 'god told jerry'. It was pre-ordained....what god wanted all along.

i personally think it is a step down from the dog ate my homework.

[Rose Siding]

17. "Democrats are anti-Christian, anti-American space aliens"...

he said, judging not lest he be judged.

from another article on this meeting:

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Mike Pence looked into the audience of 500, already whipped into a cheering mass, and told them to pray. This will be the most important election of their lifetimes, he said. They should get on their knees and pray that the right side wins on Nov. 2.

The crowd of mostly white but otherwise diverse Christian conservatives interrupted him with their applause........
...........
Donna and Dennis Scialanca, a couple who traveled from their home in suburban Philadelphia to attend the conference, said the gathering is motivating them to work harder this year.

Donna Scialanca said she would drive other conservative voters to the polls on Nov. 2. Her husband said he was sharpening his argument to convince friends who are less impressed with President Bush. "The Democrats are anti-Christian, anti-American space aliens as far as I'm concerned," he said.
.............
Falwell predicted a wide margin of victory for the Republicans. Then he added a line that brought the audience to its feet, "I'd love to see such a landslide this time that everybody, including the Republican Party, knows that Christ did it."

http://www.ctnow.com/news/politics/hc-coalition0925.artsep25,1,2344647.story?coll=hc-headlines-politics-state

[rexcat]

18. This is good for the Democrats in the long run...

because evangelical christians comprise approx. 40% of the population in this country (this percentage has not changed much over the years) and they will drive the moderates out of the republican party. Also of that 40% about 1 in 3 don't support Bush or his policies.

The problem is in the short term because they to go out and vote and having control over a major political party is scary. They don't really care about the Constitution or the rule of law because their bible is all they care about. These people are truly un-American and non-democratic in nature.

[question everything]

47. How long is the long run?

It started with Reagan in 1980 when the Republican party changed from a "live and let live" small government everyone pull themselves by their boot straps. But then slowly the leadership of them moved from the East and West Coast (incl. Bush 1) to the south and southwest. Gingrich and Lott and DeLay and Frist and now Junior who claims that he gets his directives from god. Reagan and Bush 1 just tolerated them. Junior embraces them.

Also, the Republican party moved from supporting small government to spending like there is now tomorrow. If such a deficit were under a Democratic administration - even with a "justification" of a time of war - we would never have heard the end of this.

And we are having new generations of young people who do not remember the days of tyranny in Europe, the days of McCarthy, the days of conformity, the days before civil rights and women rights.

[hyphenate]

19. Pure, undaulterated blackmail

Isn't there a law against blackmail?

[Inland]

20. Bush isn't doing rightie christian bidding for nothing. nt

[sr_pacifica]

22. Like we didn't know this

[PROGRESSIVE1]

23. The GOP is the SLAVE of the "Christian Reich"!

:scared:

Either we get the FundiFacsists out of the Party or we MUST destroy the Republican Party. They are too big of a threat to America!

[leesa]

25. The lunatics run the asylum.

[deadparrot]

30. For the millionth time, Bush is NOT pro-life.

Nor is he pro-family, unless said family has an income of several million dolars a year.

[UCLA Dem]

32. I'm sure Bushco is going to put a muzzle on him.

"Shut up. You're going to chase away the moderates!!"

[nightperson]

40. You can't muzzle the truth!

He is just honestly explaining the current state of the GOP! Free Falwell! Let the J-dawg have his say! Let's raise funds for a 50-state speaking tour!

[kodi]

36. "does mr bush agree or not that he is controlled by the religious right"

.

[nightperson]

38. Yes! Make him talk about it in excruciating detail!

}( Whatever Bush says, it's lose-lose for him, because they're trying to really get out the fundie vote this time!

"Once and for all, no flip-flopping allowed, yes or freakin' no you shifty little simian: tell the Religious Right you would overturn Roe v. Wade if you only could... or that you've just been playing them for ignorant rubes like a busted televangelist!"

[Yuffi]

37. He is correct

the far right christians took full control of the republican party over a decade ago.

[iamjoy]

39. What About Ah-nold?

So many Republicans seem to just LOVE him, but considering Schwarzenegger is socially moderate, I guess Falwell and his sheep wouldn't support the man even if the Constitution did get amended.

[leesa]

49. He's a good Republican

The photo of him finger-f**king the girl in the group photo proves it!

[Leilani]

41. These people really do own the GOP

& you better believe if Bush wins, he will owe them BIG TIME.

They scare the hell out of me, & I am not a religion hater. I just feel very uncomfortable with people using their religion for political ends. And I think religion is a private thing....between you & your God, or belief, or whatever.

They just give me the creeps.

[indypaul]

43. And is the GOP

a political party with religious overtones or a
religion with political overtones? Regardless of
your answer it is not what this nation needs at
this time and I certainly hope voters will realize
that before November 2.

[Cha]

45. And what does fucking foulwell say

about all those hurricanes in Florida?

If Earthquakes were happening in California he would say God is punishining those Hollywood Liberals! Wanna bet?

[Amigust]

50. Falwell doesn't mind supporting Caligula

as long as Caligula gives him control over the life of every American.

[Huga Commie]

52. Baloney

Falwell is just full of himself and thinks he's important.

[Zen Democrat]

53. The Republican Church is not Christian.

I really object to calling these blood-thirsty hypocrites "Christian." They've co-opted the name of Christ for their worship of right-wing, hate-filled, intolerant, judgmental liars. Now, in my book, that just ain't Christian.

These are people against helping the poor and disadvantaged; people who deny health care to children. People who forget that Jesus overruled the "eye for an eye" theology and replaced it with "turn the other cheek." These are people who want the rich to have more and the poor to suffer. These are people that believe that the end justifies the means. This is anti-Christ.

Real Christians "know them by their fruits" and beware the "wolves in sheep's' clothing." Real Christians work and pray for Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men. Real Christians know what Christ meant when he said "those who have ears hear" and "those who have eyes see." The Republican Church has neither eyes nor ears -- just mouths to gulp the lies and distortions that make them feel justified in their sanctimonious self-congratulatory pseudo-piety.

Now ask me what I really think.

[Huga Commie]

54. U rite

Ya, we Christians turn the other cheek. If terrorists attack again, we just turn another tower or two. It's is God's place to judge them. That is what Christ taught us. He didn't fight back, he allowed them to crucify him and we Christians know we should do the same. Follow in his footsteps. Bush is creating more terrorists by fighting back and we shouldn't, should we. That's not the true Christian way.

[Zen Democrat]

55. Look Freeper -- This is why you shouldn't mix politics and religion --

Because if you think Christ is pleased with the Iraqi invasion, you're lost in the darkness.

As Americans we have to defend ourselves -- which we haven't done since 9/11 -- but the Onward Christian Soldiers thing is a bit misplaced when we attack the wrong country, friend.

If we were serious about defending ourselves, we'd go after the real enemy, The Saudis.

Everything else is diversion. The Iraqi invasion was illegal, illogical, based on lies and misconceptions and has cost the lives of THOUSANDS of American soldiers and innocent Iraqis - and the quagmire is just beginning. Just don't delude yourself into thinking that this is what Jesus would do.

[arwalden]

56. As If I Needed Any MORE Reasons To Despise Republicans...

we are presented with still MORE evidence of what corrupt and cruel monsters they all are!

They are all beneath contempt. There is NO SUCH THING as a "good Republican".

[sonicx]

57. what reasons would a conservative christian have for voting for bush?

gay marriage happened under his watch

abortion is still legal

we are in a war that's killing 10s of thousands innocent people

the # of poor people in the US is up

he's done NOTHING for them. :shrug:

[Zen Democrat]

58. Oh yeah, he's bringing the Rapture -- they're voting for Rapture --

Assuming that God will reward their hypocrisy, greed, intolerance, judgmentalism, and militarism with a quick ticket to Heaven.

They are assuming that after their side brings on war and pestilence and global warming that God will sweep them up into his arms and say, "Well done, my faithful servant."

These are sick people following evil people. Jerry Falwell is a con man, making millions from the mass ignorance of the narrow-minded.

[GoldenOldie]

60. Christians were warned of the AntiChrist

Looks like the good Falwell christians didn't pay attention to that part. Bush tells us that God speaks to him and tells him what to do. If any honest Christian believes that God told George to attack Iraq and kill thousands, pollute the earth and kill all the animals and fauna that he himself created, to deny the medicines and medical treatment that he bestowed for the benefit of all mankind, etc.

If George is doing this in God's name........I leave it to you to question have we seen the face of the AntiChrist that we were warned of.

[bogey18]

63. No surprises here

Just more of the same clap trap. These people are about as Christian as any fundamentalist kooks, Muslim or otherwise. God told me that I am right and you are wrong, therefore, I am going to (check one)
kill you
jail you
disenfranchise you
cut off your head
revile you
stone you
spit on you
in the name of God/Allah/Mohammed/Yahweh/Jehovah/Jesus
Amen

Pass the corn, mother.

[NVMojo]

64. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?

WHO WOULD JESUS GIVE TAX BREAKS TOO AND WHO WOULD JESUS BLESS?

you be da judge.