The Rachel Maddow Show (see below) had quite a field day with the news that AFA spokesperson Bryan Fischer has been released from his position as Director of Issues Analysis (whatever that means) from the American Family Association.
It came down to this: the RNC's upcoming junket to Israel is being bankrolled by the American Family Association, a listed hate group according to the Southern Poverty Law Center primarily because of its distorted views on gays. Debra Nussbaum Cohen of HAARETZ broke the story.
Then all hell broke loose - in Israel.
Evangelical political operative planned 9-day freebie trip for national committee members, on behalf of the conservative Christian AFA group which blasts Muslims, gays. SPLC rights group staffer: Our issue is not with the trip, but with the 'heinous beliefs' of those sponsoring it.The problem, as the AFA knew it however, was Bryan Fischer and his statements about America being such a Christian nation that no other religion had any rights at all:
Crooks & Liars:
On his radio show last Monday, right-wing embarrassment to humanity Bryan Fischer offered complete, definitive proof that America is a Christian nation: Delicious bacon, which he claims would not be sold in America if it was not a Christian nation.
But the reason given for Mr. Fischer's demise in that position?
Maddow quoted AFA President Tim Wildmon as dismissing Fischer as “just a talk show host” who is no longer associated with the AFA. When asked specifically what bothered him about Fischer, he cited “the soundbite quotes, you know, the Hitler and the homosexuality one… we reject that.”
Rejoicing On The Left AND The Right
John Amato (C&L) had it right: Bryan Fischer has long been an embarrassment to humanity and also to the Right, the more centered, legitimate Right. Although politicos like Rick Santorum have appeared on his show before, his presence at the 2012 Values Voter Summit was highly criticized. So much so that he was never asked to speak again. He has excoriated Native Americans, Muslims (of course), and African Americans. He has been the strident voice of pseudo-historian David Barton whose Seven Mountains theology is as political as it gets and comes dangerously close to theocracy: America must not simply be a Christian nation but a Christian ONLY nation. Fischer has appeared in the writings of this author numerous times, notably HERE, HERE, and HERE. He has been dissed by The New Yorker and has told gays to fund "their own disease (AIDS)" for research.
Yes, he has talked against gays, it seems, from his first moment of life - even more than abortion, that other darling of demonizing Christofascists. If the reason for the SPLC hate designation is the AFA's rhetoric against gays, Bryan Fischer has spouted 99% of that rhetoric.
Fischer is a hate group in himself.
His rhetoric, in fact, has been so toxic that the Left might breath a sigh of relief than shout "hallelujah". Being pummeled by Fischer ad infinitum makes one numb. Oh, the pundits will say "finally!" and "thank God!" but many will miss following his name with the odd title of Director of Issues Analysis.
John Amato (C&L) had it right: Bryan Fischer has long been an embarrassment to humanity and also to the Right, the more centered, legitimate Right. Although politicos like Rick Santorum have appeared on his show before, his presence at the 2012 Values Voter Summit was highly criticized. So much so that he was never asked to speak again. He has excoriated Native Americans, Muslims (of course), and African Americans. He has been the strident voice of pseudo-historian David Barton whose Seven Mountains theology is as political as it gets and comes dangerously close to theocracy: America must not simply be a Christian nation but a Christian ONLY nation. Fischer has appeared in the writings of this author numerous times, notably HERE, HERE, and HERE. He has been dissed by The New Yorker and has told gays to fund "their own disease (AIDS)" for research.
Yes, he has talked against gays, it seems, from his first moment of life - even more than abortion, that other darling of demonizing Christofascists. If the reason for the SPLC hate designation is the AFA's rhetoric against gays, Bryan Fischer has spouted 99% of that rhetoric.
Fischer is a hate group in himself.
His rhetoric, in fact, has been so toxic that the Left might breath a sigh of relief than shout "hallelujah". Being pummeled by Fischer ad infinitum makes one numb. Oh, the pundits will say "finally!" and "thank God!" but many will miss following his name with the odd title of Director of Issues Analysis.
"Just A Talk Show Host"
For years, the AFA has been fending off criticisms of Fischer, treating them as trifling whimpers from a disgruntled Left. For years, Fischer has been depicting gays as "terrorists "nazis" "fascists" and pawns of Satan. So why has the AFA suddenly "rejected" his years of hate speech? It is obvious that Tim Wildman (president and founder) can countenance anti-gay speech but not anti-Semitism, especially when that anti-Semitism is broadcast before a very expensive gift to the GOP.
It is also obvious that the AFA just can't bring itself to tell the truth: it "fired" Bryan Fischer, but it didn't silence him. It still needs him and he realizes that. Fischer has been their mouthpiece of hate. He just can't be their OFFICIAL mouthpiece of hate.
So Bryan Fischer will still be with us on the airwaves spewing venom for all the people he deems not Christian enough for him to praise (or just leave alone). He will still be offending a majority of America. He will still be the odd specter of Fred Phelps.
Now if Fischer ever loses his show on the AFA's channel ...
So Bryan Fischer will still be with us on the airwaves spewing venom for all the people he deems not Christian enough for him to praise (or just leave alone). He will still be offending a majority of America. He will still be the odd specter of Fred Phelps.
Now if Fischer ever loses his show on the AFA's channel ...
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