Posted on 10/26/2005 6:29:55 PM PDT by jern
Danforth Criticizes Christian Sway in GOP Oct 26 8:51 PM US/Eastern Email this story
By DANIEL CONNOLLY Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK
The influence of evangelical Christians in the Republican Party hurts the organization and divides the country, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth said during a visit to the Bill Clinton School of Public Service on Wednesday.
Danforth, a former Republican senator from Missouri and an Episcopal priest, met with students during a seminar and held a luncheon talk at the graduate school.
"I think that the Republican Party fairly recently has been taken over by the Christian conservatives, by the Christian right," he said in an interview after his talks. "I don't think that this is a permanent condition but I think this has happened, and that it's divisive for the country."
He also said the evangelical Christian influence would be bad for the party in the long run.
Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracy Schmitt declined comment.
Danforth, who recently served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, made similar criticism of the party in an opinion article published by the New York Times in June. In that article, he called for religious moderates to take part in public life.
People of faith have an obligation to be in politics, he said.
"I think the question arises when a political party becomes identified with one particular sectarian position and when religious people believe that they have the one answer, that they understand God's truth and they embody it politically," he said.
"Nothing is more dangerous than religion in politics and government when it becomes divisive," he said. "I'll give you examples: Iraq. Northern Ireland. Palestine."
Danforth, considered a conservative on social issues, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976 and served three terms. In his final term he played a key role in defending Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas against claims of sexual harassment during bitter confirmation hearings. Thomas eventually was confirmed.
Under Democratic President Bill Clinton, Danforth was appointed special counsel in an investigation of the deadly 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas.
The current President Bush appointed Danforth as special peace envoy to Sudan and later as ambassador to the United Nations.
Danforth was sworn in as ambassador in July 2004 and resigned in January. Wednesday, Danforth cited his age _ now 69 _ and his desire to move back to his St. Louis home as his reasons for leaving.
He most recently has worked for the Bryan Cave law firm in St. Louis. Former U.S. Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark. and dean of the Clinton School for Public Service, invited him to visit the school.
The school, housed in a remodeled red brick train station on the grounds of the Clinton presidential library, opened in August and currently has 16 students enrolled in its two-year master's degree program. It is a branch of the University of Arkansas.
"I thought that the students were bright and highly motivated and it was encouraging to have the opportunity to spend some time with them," Danforth said. "I thought the physical facilities were wonderful."
The school plays an important role, he said.
"I think it's important to encourage and inspire people who have an interest in public service and to equip them for public service," he said. "But in my view more important than any particular curriculum item is to be encouraged and strengthened as somebody who wants to participate in public service."
Here's a headline we'll never see:
"Democratic Party Criticized for Atheistic Bias"
"Danforth,... an Episcopal priest..."
So, what does that tell you? The only denomination that marries homosexuals in the church has a priest who doesn't like true Christians. Imagine that.
The Republican Party as we once knew it is now imploding. If Danforth thinks the conservative Christians are a drag on the party, wait until the GOP loses everything when the "Religious Right" pulls out of the party and sits on their hands like they used to do. That was when the Democrats ran the show for 40 or more years. Hey Danforth -- shut up!
They make up about a third of Republican voters, and u want to write them off? Who would you substitute for them? Volvo driving liberals from the northeast?
"Under Democratic President Bill Clinton, Danforth was appointed special counsel in an investigation of the deadly 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas."
And whitewashed the murder of innocent children and infants finding no complicity involving our illustrious fbi when they set fire to the branch david church.
This guy is at the least contemptuous toward Christianity and possibly just downright evil.
If he wasn't such a born elitist, Danforth would have joined his philosophical Democrats years ago. But the folks at One Checkerboard Square kept him in the GOP.
Yes, the days of the unelected President Ford, unelected Vice President Rockefeller, Senator Scott of PA (with his perpetual pipe), and House "gentleman" Bob Michel
Well,I like the way you think. I doubt we could take over a state. But we could certainly move to certain areas, and exert and influence there. You can bet church attendence would be way above the norm in those areas!
I don't think the popular Danforth is evil, but I suspect that he is sometimes unable to distinguish "evil" from "good," and vice versa. It's in the Bible. I remember his being a vociferous opponent of school prayer in the 1984 Senate vote.
I'm no particular fan of evangelicals but I am a Christian conservative and I do think Danforth is off the meds.
Danforth is nothing but a hypocrite. He would have been voted out of the U.S. Senate after one term if the religious right hadn't rallied for him at the last minute. In 1982, Danforth was running for re-election and his opponent was Democrat Harriet Woods. Woods was a far leftist, but was (as usual) positioning herself as a "moderate". She had a big campaign warchest and strong media backing. Danforth trailed in the polls, mainly because his brand of wimpish Republicanism wasn't clicking. In desperation, with only about ten days to go before the election, Danforth blitzed the state of Missouri with ads noting that he had a pro-life voting record and noting that Woods was backed by NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and the abortion industry. The ads saved Danforth's butt. They rallied the religious right and Danforth survived in a very close race.
His friend Clarence Thomas also survived in part because of the religious right. The "moderate" country club Republicans would have cut and run the moment the phony sexual misconduct allegations were spewed forth against him. But thanks to Thomas' courage and determination, and the unwavering support of the religious right, Thomas stood his ground and was confirmed.
Danforth should be ashamed. He's no better than clowns like Turban Durbin who use pro-lifers and other religious conservatives to launch their political careers and then dump them when they want to move to the cocktail party circuit.
I think Danforth is also a favorite of Nancy Reagan. Didn't he have a leading role at the Reagan funeral?
You're agreeing with a democrat. Maybe it's time for you to leave.
"former U.S. Sen. John Danforth"
Says it all.
You agree with this? It's frightening. Unbelievably so! Let me write your name down so I know who to beware of.
Um, have you heard of Ronald Reagan?
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