Political Pullback for the Christian Right?

[WilliamPitt]

Is the Christian right finished as a political entity? Or, more to the point, are principled Christians finished with politics?

These questions have been getting fresh air lately as frustrated conservative Christians question the pragmatism -- defined as the compromising of principles -- of the old guard. One might gently call the current debate a generational rift.

The older generation, represented by such icons as James Dobson, who recently retired as head of Focus on the Family, has compromised too much, according to a growing phalanx of disillusioned Christians. Pragmatically speaking, the Christian coalition of cultural crusaders didn't work.

For proof, one need look no further than Dobson himself, who was captured on tape recently saying that the big cultural battles have all been lost.

Shortly thereafter, in late March, Christian radio host Steve Deace of WHO Radio in Iowa aggressively interviewed Tom Minnery, head of the political arm of Focus on the Family. Minnery, whom Deace described as "the Karl Rove of the religious right," accused Deace during the interview of ambushing him when he had expected a chat about Dobson's legacy.

Indeed, Deace was loaded for bear -- or Pontius Pilate. It wasn't exactly a Limbaugh-Obama matchup, but it was confrontational, and corners of America's heartland and Bible Belt have been buzzing ever since.

The rest: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040303026.html?nav=hcmodule

[ixion]

1. fundamentalist xians have done incredible damage to the US

lobbying for a wide range of moral-legislation that has resulted in millions of people having their lives ruined.

The so-called 'war' on drugs is a case in point. It was fueled by fundamentalists decrying moral decay. The results have been catastrophic. Drug prohibition failed miserably, and caused more death and destruction than drug cartels ever have.

Xians have driven efforts to dumb-down schools, pushing pseudo-science concepts like "Intelligent Design"

And right now, they're chomping at the bit to consolidate these draconian ideas into a theocratic police state.

I think they're on the wane, at the moment, but they're certainly not down for the count.

[MineralMan]

2. The attempt by the fundamentalcases to impose their

particular morality on the entire nation has caused enormous division. People of good intentions but with different opinions on issues like abortion, GLBT rights, religious freedom, and others were maligned without ceasing. Quite naturally, they eventually lost patience with such nonsense and simply rejected the single-issue fools.

That does not mean that they gave up their conservative political viewpoints. They simply rejected the attempt by the fundamentalist Christians to usurp the Constitution in favor of their cherry-picked biblical rules.

So, now we're left with some minority of voters who still embrace fundamentalist politics. Maybe it's 20%. Maybe it's only 10%. But, that group will not again be able to dictate to the entire GOP. Indeed, I believe they have pushed past the point of being tolerated.

For progressives, that's a great thing. The division on the right means that the right will continue to be marginalized for some time to come. It is our opportunity to shine.

[EFerrari]

3. They're down but they're not out.

America is sick of these idiots but they have so much media access, it's very hard to believe they won't come back.

[AllentownJake]

4. A movement only survives if the next generation accepts it

There is evidence that their kids aren't buying into their garbage.

[kentuck]

5. No, I don't think they are finished...

they are a like a permanent fixture within the Republican Party. They will always maintain a huge influence on the Party's platform, in my opinion. They will have times when they have more influence than others. The challenge of the Democratic Party is to keep their sometimes radical ideas to a minority in the Republican Party.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. The Corporate Media will continue to flog the myth of the all-powerful "values voter" as long as

they can.

But the truth is, there were never as many of these folks as we were led to believe.

[krabigirl]

7. Good article. I agee with it, to a point. I think the dynamics depend on the extent of the recession

In dire times, people could do two very different things, at the same time. It just depends on who the media wants to talk about. If the depression gets worse, I could see more and more people seeking something spiritual to help them get through bad times, and more being led by their preachers to think "the Rapture" was near. The religious right could become very popular again, very quickly, because of the media's interest in them.

Or, like the author says, people are getting tired of this holier-than-thou crap and they will fade into uselessness. That could also happen as times get worse. I guess it just depends on who the media wants to talk about.

[denem]

8. Fav: "the GOP may be losing its bailout money. God apparently has his own stimulus plan.

[Demeter]

9. We Couldn't Be That Lucky

It's that Resurrection thing.....