The Religious Right is Wrong

It is a truism that Christians are trusting to a fault. I must acknowledge my own vulnerability to this weakness. The money I have lost and pain I have suffered at the hands of people I trusted are inestimable. When it comes to politicians, however, one would hope for more discernment. Alas, such is not the case. It could even be argued that modern Christians put more trust in their politicians than they do their preachers.

A recent Washington Post article boldly states that President Bush is the "de facto leader" of the Religious Right. It states, "Christian publications, radio and television shower Bush with praise, while preachers from the pulpit treat his leadership as an act of providence." Former Republican presidential hopeful, Gary Bauer, even declared, "A man of God is in the White House."

Another recent report said, "Conservative Christians say their support for President Bush remains strong, although it's based more on the president's religious beliefs than any of his stands or policies on their top social issues." In other words, it does not make any difference what Bush does; he gives them the talk they want to hear.

Given this foolish infatuation with religious rhetoric, it would appear that conservative Christians owe Jimmy Carter an apology. Remember that Carter won the presidency on the strength of his Christian profession. By the end of his first term, however, conservative Christians enthusiastically supported his opponent, Ronald Reagan. Why? Carter betrayed conservatives on things like gay rights and big government spending. In those days, conservative Christians were more interested in a politician's walk than in his talk. No more.

Today, the president can embrace gay rights, big government spending, and even pagan religion without consternation or criticism. He can ignore the U.S. Constitution and trample the bedrock principles of self-government without even so much as a whimper. He can support embryonic stem cell research, promote unconstitutional trade deals, and call for the creation of a "hemispheric family" and "international order" with Canada and Mexico without the slightest opposition. He can ignore abortion (even partial birth abortion) and even participate in the cover-up of Clinton and Reno's criminal conduct without a peep of protest. As long as he "talks the talk," he remains the darling of the Religious Right.

However, the Religious Right is wrong! Blind loyalty to Bush is causing the Religious Right to lose both its credibility and its clout. It has become just another bought and paid for lackey for the entrenched political establishment. Like the old prophets who had sold their souls to the corrupt kings of Israel, conservative Christians today have sold their souls to the gods and generals of the Republican Party.

The Religious Right was a powerful force when it stood foursquare on the principles of morality, honesty, and constitutional government. Today it demonstrates none of that. "Where are the Jeremiahs and Ezekiels?" you ask. They are inside the palace lying on the soft bed of compromise. They wanted a seat at the table so badly they were willing to eat the leeks and garlic of political Egypt to get it. As a result, the Religious Right is as weak as a shaven Samson.

One at a time:

- The President has not embraced gay rights, he tolerates competent gays in his Administration. Should he castrate them instead?

- Military tribunals, presumably the subject of Mr. Baldwin's "trample the Constitution" complaint, have precedent and only apply to non-citizens. GMAFB.

- Although you can argue that he should not have allowed any ESCR, he limited it to existing SCs, and prohibited it on new ones. Not ideal, but surely not full-fledged "support." It will not be long until adult stem cells are shown to be as effective or moreso than ESCs anyway.

- NAFTA and the expansion of international trade should have the support of religious people. Free trade between two nations that are market economies makes each nation better off (bracing for rants to the contrary).

- Just what would you have Mr. Bush DO about abortion and PBA? The House and Senate need to pass the legislation again, which Daschle will not permit. The SC will probably throw it out if it does pass. The only answer is new Supremes, which has to wait until someone retires.

- The refusal to let anything from the previous administration get into the front-page headlines is clearly a conscious decision by the administration. It's obvious that W thinks he can do more for the country without the distractions, while many of us wish to see justice done. I'm not thrilled, but I understand his logic.

What Baldwin has fallen into is the acceptance of the WaPo's premise that W is the titular head of the Religious Right (RR). The only reason the WaPo did this is because they have been tipped off to the Democratic strategy of trying to equate the RR with the Taliban, and published this article to set the stage. His column helps advance the Dems' claim that the RR is out of touch.

Lucky for us, W is smarter than Chuck Baldwin. W's strategy of highlighting the poor treatment of women in Afghanistan and his tolerance of a "pagan" religion (I assume Chuckie is referring to Islam) make him, his administration, and (hopefully) his party, immune to the "Talibanism" charge.

Christians were more interested in a politician's walk than in his talk. No more.

This is not exclusive to Christians. It has pervaded all of society. Once a particular offense has been used against a politician, the next offense won't be treated harshly at all. It used to be a politician couldn't have used drugs. Now they could have "tried" to and would "try" to again, and it's ok. They couldn't have been caught with another woman (Gary Hart), but now it's personal, private business so it doesn't matter. They couldn't say or write anything about a woman (Clarance Thomas, Bob Packwood) but now you can sexually harass them and have sex with interns.

Or, maybe it's just the old Democrat-GOP double standard again.

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