Christians: Black sheep of the GOP: Jerry Falwell on the homosexualization of Republican politics

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Saturday, June 7, 2003 | Jerry Falwell

[JohnHuang2]

In the latest edition of my National Liberty Journal newspaper, we printed an article titled "Christian Leaders Threaten to Abandon GOP in 2004." In that article, we highlighted the grievance of several national evangelical leaders who have complained that Republican Party officials have recently extolled the virtues of homosexual-rights organizers.

Since the publication of that issue, I have been on Fox News and other news venues discussing the issue.

Here's a brief rundown of the situation:

Republican National Committee Chairman Marc Racicot had a furtive meeting with the Human Rights Campaign, a prominent homosexual-rights organization. Following that meeting, Racicot rightly met with several evangelical leaders who addressed their concerns that the party remains committed to the protection of traditional marriage and other social issues that concern Christians.

But after that meeting, Racicot suggested that conservative Christians oppose the homosexual political agenda out of a sense of fear and ignorance.

"They probably don't know gay people," he said. "[They have] their own fear and lots of misinformation and disinformation, which some do for political expediency."

My chief concern with this statement is that Racicot – after meeting with homosexual leaders and Christian leaders – chose to target the Christians for their beliefs. As usual, it is the conservative Christians who become the easy targets of criticism.

This reminds me of when the Washington Post referred to Christians as uneducated and easily led several years ago. (The Post later issued a reluctant apology; Racicot has not.)

I sometimes think the GOP looks at conservative Christians as the black sheep of the party. Sure, they desperately want our votes because there are multiple millions of us (unlike the handful of homosexuals who vote Republican). But some party leaders don't want to be identified with us because Hollywood, the mainstream press and chic politicians who have values that change with every social/sexual wind have made an art form of inventing us as malevolent ogres straight out of 17th century Salem.

I explained to Bill O'Reilly on his "O'Reilly Factor" broadcast earlier this week that in recent years I have traditionally voted with the Republicans because, for the most part, the party has adhered to a platform of traditional values. I also greatly respect and admire President Bush and continue to believe he is leading this nation in the tradition of Ronald Reagan.

However, as an evangelical leader, I assume the responsibility of ensuring that pastors across this nation encourage their congregations to be intelligent voters. So when Racicot makes such a wholesale implication that conservative Christians are somewhat less sophisticated than the rest of the party brethren, it makes my job difficult to encourage support of the GOP. He may think we are somewhat obtuse, but evangelical pastors and their constituencies are very politically aware and savvy.

I fully understand that the GOP is not a religious organization and that party leaders must reach out to people of somewhat conflicting points of view. But if we can't all live together without the religious conservatives being rendered as the slightly embarrassing party abnormalities, this will be an enduring problem.

In the meantime, it's important to remember that Christians are to pray for people who are in power, as defined in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. …"

Racicot may not understand us, or have a desire to do so. That's fine. But we are nevertheless commanded to pray for him and all those who serve as our leaders.

[JohnHuang2]

Saturday, June 7, 2003

Quote of the Day by TheBigB

[happygrl]

Marc Racicot, former Governor of Montana, has always been willing to bend a principle or two to play the political game. Not a man of honor like President Bush. He was on the edge of some shakey stuff up their in Montana, as Wesley Pruden and others wrote about during his term.

[Drew68]

(unlike the handful of homosexuals who vote Republican).

Those "handful of homosexuals who voted Republican" were enough to swing the election over to Bush.

The least this administration can do is acknowledge them. He does not have to accomodate their agenda --and by all accounts, he has not.

[longtermmemmory]

The handfull of >>>insert any group here<<<< who vote republican won the election for Bush.

Those handful of homosexuals who voted republican were going to vote for bush no matter what. It was the swing voters who really mattered. Those swing voters of flyover country do not support same sex marriage and do not want their children taught it ok to experiment with homosexual sex. Those are the voters who will decide the next electionl. The democrat party is trying to unify their base which is in collapse, there is no reason for the republican party to ditch morality for a proven looser affiliation. Leftitst regressive homosexuals will never vote republican. So called centrist homosexuals will never vote republican. Ecconomically conservative republicans would vote republican anyways. Its a black and white issue.

[Drew68]

Those swing voters of flyover country do not support same sex marriage and do not want their children taught it ok to experiment with homosexual sex.

And when did the Bush Administration come out in support of same-sex marriage and children being taught to experiment with homosexual sex?

[American in Israel]

I will see your less than one percent vote, and raise you 50% of the vote. Besides the Homosexual block voted democrat anyway as the demos pander to the least common denomonator.

It amazes me that every little splinter group is claiming that they elected Bush now, even though they campained against him in the election. Honesty does not seem to be a strong suit here.

[Drew68]

Besides the Homosexual block voted democrat anyway as the demos pander to the least common denomonator.

Bush received roughly 25% of the gay vote (compared to 8% of the black vote).

What amazes me is that there are folks here who are actually *pissed* that Bush received gay votes. It is almost as though they would have preferred a Gore victory to a few gay votes for Bush. And Bush did not --nor has not made any accomodations toward gays whatsoever!

I, like most Americans, am tolerant of gays provided they don't overly prosthelytize their chosen lifestyle. Christian fundies, on the other hand, who spend all their time and energy pontificating to others, I have no room for.

If the Republicans really want to scare away the swing-voters, all they need to do is join hands with the bible-thumpers and jump on the "ERADICATE THE QUEER MENACE NOW!" bandwagon.

If Falwell's flock wants to sit out the next election, let them. I have a feeling they'll be more miserable with the results than I will.

[Elsie]

I, like most(?) Americans, am tolerant of gays provided they don't overly prosthelytize their chosen lifestyle. Christian fundies, on the other hand, who spend all their time and energy pontificating to others, I have no room for.

 

Whaa..  I guess you don't LIKE me!

 

 

(Not my problem)

 

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Genesis 13:12-13
 12.  Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.
 13.  Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

 

Genesis 19:1-7
 1.  The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
 2.  "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning."   "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."
 3.  But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.
 4.  Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. 
 5.  They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
 6.  Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
 7.  and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

 

Genesis 19:12-14
 12.  The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here--sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here,
 13.  because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."
 14.  So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry  his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

 

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Evidently many still do because,  Like Lot - "...and pitched his tents near Sodom...." - they have snuggled up close as well.

[tkathy]

I agree. Tolerance is the only way to treat this issue. There are many of us (myself included) who have much loved family members who are gay.

[Amelia]

If the Republicans really want to scare away the swing-voters, all they need to do is join hands with the bible-thumpers and jump on the "ERADICATE THE QUEER MENACE NOW!" bandwagon.

Drew68, I think you could have expressed this a bit more diplomatically but I agree with the sentiment. Too many people now think Republicans are mean-spirted, narrow-minded, and bigoted. (Not that some aren't.) The problem is, there are some who would never consider voting for a Republican because of that.

Cathryn, interesting article & illustrative of my earlier point.

[jatfla]

Though I do think Falwell is correct with his description of Evangelicals as the "black sheep" of the Republican Party, I wish we had different spokesmen to represent us in the political arena. He and Pat Robertson have attained an aura of self-righteousness and condemnation. Christians shouldn't expect the "World" to follow Biblical principles; they are not their mandate, but ours. I would prefer someone like Franklin Graham speaking for me. And there's no way I would not vote again for President Bush...unless he suddenly appeared as the Antichrist.

[Pietro]

"Christian fundies, on the other hand, who spend all their time and energy pontificating to others, I have no room for."

Apparently people w/ principles is upsetting to you. How dare those nasty christians take a stand. Don't they understand POLITICS?

Afterall, what's more important; tax cuts or morality?

Here's a clue my friend, w/o those bible-thumpers and true believers there would be no Repubilcans in office--none. So if you want your tax cuts it would be politic to show tolerance for someone else's point of view. That tolerance thing cuts both ways and Christians are under no mandate to vote GOP if the GOP treats them like step children.

[RJCogburn]

He may think we are somewhat obtuse,

You are, Jerry....if your idiotic 9/11 comments are an indication.

[GrandMoM]

I, like most Americans, am tolerant of gays provided they don't overly prosthelytize their chosen lifestyle.....been out of the loop for awhile, huh.

....let's talk about this again when your older and have a couple of kids!

[Elsie]

 

 Psalms 14:1
 The fool  says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

 

Psalms 94:1-11
 1.  O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth.
 2.  Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
 3.  How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?
 4.  They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
 5.  They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance.
 6.  They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless.
 7.  They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed."
 8.  Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
 9.  Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?
 10.  Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
 11.  The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

 

Psalms 107:17
  Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

 

Proverbs 1:7
 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools  despise wisdom and discipline.

 

Proverbs 10:21
 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

 

Proverbs 10:23
  A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

 

Proverbs 12:15
  The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

 

Proverbs 13:19
  A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

 

Proverbs 14:7
 Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

 

Proverbs 14:33-34
 33.  Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.
 34.  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

 

Proverbs 17:28
  Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

 

[Elsie]

There are many of us (myself included) who have much loved family members who are gay.

Thank God they're not POLITICIANS: then we'd be asked to tolerate THEM!!!

[TLBSHOW]

BUMP

[tallhappy]

All you miss the point.

Groups like "Human Rights Campaign" and the like have much much more money to dole out than salt of the Earth conservative funded groups whose donors or those sharing their views are busy raising families etc...

These affluent groups are overtly political. With money and with agenda, they will of course be more active.

The major problem is that these groups are inherently non-conservative, so no matter what superficial agreements there may be at any given time, it will not last.

Identity based groups are always anti-conservative, no matter what secondary issues may be ostensibly conservative, such as particular positions on economic issues may be considered conservative.

These groups have big money. This is the lure for "conservatives". The amount of huge money cannot be overemphasized.

[No Dems 2004]

"Those "handful of homosexuals who voted Republican" were enough to swing the election over to Bush."

In an election that was as close as the 2000 one, you can say that any group helped get Bush elected. You could say that the Hispanics who voted for him made him win, or the tiny percentage of blacks. Those homosexuals are not responsible for his being elected whatsoever. Exit polling showed that Bush received 25% of the homosexual vote, compared to the 23% that Bob Dole received (while losing by nearly 9 percentage points nationwide). And Gore received a higher percentage of the homo vote than Clinton did, because most Perot-supporting homos went to Gore and Nader (the liberals actually did better with the homos in 2000 than they did in 1996). In other words, GW Bush won by doing better with other groups, while he remained totally static with homosexuals.

Don't kid yourself, homosexuals aren't of any help to the GOP.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Bump.

Falwell is one of the few voices even permitted to speak the truth. For this, he's villified.

The goal of androgeny is founded in centuries-old occultic ravings. But the Divine Oneness is blasphemy.

God will not be mocked, no matter how loud the chuckles from "Will and Grace" and "Friends" and "Six Feet Under" and "American Beauty."

We need to teach our children to resist the hard-sell of homosexuality. It is relentless and wrong.