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."
Yeah, they could call it the "Christian Belt"! Or maybe something a little bit snappier .... hmmm....
####I think Danforth is also a favorite of Nancy Reagan. Didn't he have a leading role at the Reagan funeral?####
Yes. He's no longer associated much with the heartland state of Missouri. He seems to want to be liked on the fashionable coasts. Ronald Reagan would no longer recognize the man if he could see him today.
Hey, how about we share? LOL!
I think Danforth's critism is in response to the recent reaction of the Christian, pro-life wing of the Republican Party to GWB's nomination of Miers for the SCOTUS. Christians that are insisting on payback from GWB & the Republicans for getting GWB elected. Instead the RINO Party is trying to get away with another backstabbing of pro-life Christian Republicans.
Danforth has to come to terms with the fact that what is truly devisive is insisting that we have to tolerate & live in peace with 25,000 dead shredded aborted babies per week.
If it turns out GWB and the RINO Party has stuck it to pro-life Republicans again with this Miers nomination I hope the RINO Party dies.
No comments from the koolaid drinkers, please.
Notice how Danforth says people of faith have an obligation to participate in politics, but only if they share his version of faith (which quite frankly is no faith at all, but whatever).
We ARE the Conservative movement. You moderates are the embarassment.
Yes, how dare anyone actually be a traditional Christian believer and involve themselves in politics. You, sir or mam, are a bigot, just like the Rev. Danforth.
Isn't that gay ?
Nope
It preceded the nomination. Find out his position on homosexuals in the Episcopalian churches.
I think he is more than that. Perhaps it was a midlife crisis of sorts for him.
Yep! There's a group of people in this country who want their taxes to be low, but don't want to be bothered with creating the type of society necessary for taxes to be low. They also want the faddish liberal-secularist media and cultural establishment to like them. The media calls these people "mainstream Republicans".
We see them here at FreeRepublic quite often. They'll say something like this: "I don't care about abortion or gay marriage or gun rights or school prayer or Nativity scenes or protecting the borders. None of those things affect me personally. What I wanna know is when's someone gonna cut my taxes?"
As if a society awash in abortion, uncloseted homosexuality, secularism, and multi-culturalism EVER could have low taxes.
They think a society can be both culturally Marxist and fiscally conservative. Of course, such a society is impossible.
He's really gone over the edge!
Sellers made a movie, Being There.
Danforth can make a movie, Being Gay.
What ? Did he really think he had to become a liberal Episcopal priest to support homosexuality ?
Rather, it was become of some life event that he chose to become the liberal priest.
The sociopathic liar Barry Lynn, is a leftist and an ordained minister, that means he hates the Bible as much as the traitors from the ACLU.
Most of the ordained ministers on the left are Bible rejecting bigots who worship an oligarchy that reinvents the Constitution while they pound the propaganda drums in praise of the illegal reinvention.
These Bible rejecting frauds who call themselves ministers - only do so in order to undermine the authority of the Bible. They hate the Bible and anyone who practices Biblical Christianity.
On this issue Danforth is proving he has been trained by the left to try to convince people that those who reflect over 200 years of American good are really evil.
If evangelical Christians are influencing the Republican party, I haven't noticed it. If they are, in fact, influencing the party, then the party is not influencing the administration. Bush is very ecumenical, he'll suck up to anyone who is not his friend.
Yup, we've been so hurtful providing the GOP with the presidency, both branches, and a gubernatorial majority. Not to mention boatloads of money and an army of volunteers.
It's been hell on the Pubbies to actually have to try to govern as conservatives, rather than talk like them and hen blame the 'Rats.
Maybe, just maybe, if they continue to treat us as the 'Rats treat the blacks, you'll get your wish sooner than you think.
Its sad to see my Church in such a crappy state.
"They're out early and they are out in force..."
They...meaning our enemies?
>>>In my opinion, the hard-core religious right is an embarassment to the conservative movement.<<<
In my opinion, hard-core moderates pretending to be conservatives are an embarassment to the conservative movement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.