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."
Seriously, I'm not sure where you are on this issue or where you think I stand.
You gotta be careful! You might wind up with...
Christian
Republican
American
Party
The press would love to abbreviate that!
Sincerely
That is some real conviction he has there.
I do not need advice or commentary from anyone who is mentally and morally blind enough to consider becoming a democrat.
Danforth thinks the entire legal, moral and social history of the United States is far right wing extremism until Earl Warren, Hollywood and the ACLU moved it to the center.
He is clearly a liberal who thinks the far left is actually the center.
Danforth (and you, apparently) wish the Republican Party would return to the glory days of permanent minority status.
Precisely.
Danforth still thinks like a Democrat and I have not heard him comment on how extremely far left and radical the democrat party has become. The Marxist Hillary Clinton is their frontrunner for pete's sake.
My apologies but it sounded like you were wanting christians to leave the republican party.
I'm just speaking for myself but not necessarily. They will get my vote only if they nominate a candidate I can support. My husband is a Republican. I am an Independent. I got a questionnaire this week from the Republican party. As I answered them he was teasing me saying I was a Republican. I laughed and said "maybe so" because they had evidently decided I was too because I seemed to have been registered without asking". Anyway, I plan to make a copy of this article and send it back without checking that contribution box at the bottom. I also plan to make some phone calls asking if this guy really is their spokesman and to explain his comments.
Oh ok. I meant that I don't want to be anywhere I'm not wanted. Later I came back and said maybe the E Christian haters are the ones that need to take a hike.
got it, we are on the same page.
Pentecostals are probably in there at 15 to 20%, and the rest are Country Club Republicans (business community, coupon clippers).
I don't see how you can count yourself among a small minority in the Republican party and still be a Christian.
Did you ever try to hang wallpaper together?
How about "The Valley Forge Republicans?"
That's like trying to get valid information about God from someone that has rejected Jesus Christ and is gonna burn in hell for eternity.
They need to shut up and listen and be taught.
"Nothing is more dangerous than religion in politics and government when it becomes divisive," he said
Ironic, isn't it? He, and his fellow Christian-bashers, are the divisive ones. Also, the majority of Americans favor most conservative Christian positions, e.g., no "gay" marriage, "God" in the pledge of allegiance, limits on abortion...He's just a Beltway elitist.
I'm not saying she didn't change her position, but you are again wrong. She signed it well after her second term began.
I like that.
"Led by God for His glory."
We'll be bickering in no time. 8~)
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