Sticking To The Lecherous Mad Guard Dog: Christian Leaders Want Protection And Revenge - Not Morals

The Lecherous Mad Guard Dog has never mentioned God in the debates, but no matter. 

For Trump, the second Presidential Debate with Hillary Clinton was really no better than the first: fidgeting, interrupting and sniffling, Trump piled on falsehood after falsehood (see Associated Press' running critique of the debates) and "throwing as many attacks against Clinton as possible." He even wrangled with debate monitors Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper, implying that they were partial to Hillary Clinton. Throughout the debate, his morality was questioned, not only with the scandal of leaked tapes and his mysogenist views, but with his handling of the debate. For example:

- Was it moral to dig up Bill Clinton's past even before the debate? And in such as seemingly vicious way?

Associated Press:

Donald Trump unexpectedly appeared live on his Facebook page with women who have accused former President Bill Clinton of rape and unwanted advances. They didn't take questions but repeated some of the claims they made against Clinton years ago.

- Was it moral to lie as much as Trump did during the debate? He lies so badly that it seems as if he's mocking fact-checkers with lies that have been exposed months ago (see above).

- Was it moral to be so vengeful?

The Atlantic:

"If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation,” adding that if he were in charge, “you would be in jail.” While the campaign has seen numerous incidents of Trump aides suggesting the sort of political retribution more common in banana republics, the specter of one candidate promising the prosecution of the other was unprecedented.

If We Don't Care, You Shouldn't Either
With the Christian Right and today's politics, morals take a back seat to agenda: it goes deeper than the hypocrisy of demonizing Bill Clinton for his affairs.  By supporting Trump, the Christian Right has laid bare it's real agenda. 

And it's not to save souls.

Donald Trump has attacked everything the Christian Right wants to be destroyed and they see him as the snake oil salesman of their dreams: with a cult-like following of proud "deplorables" he can manipulate, they can transform his "movement" into a model of David Barton's Seven Mountains theology.

They look back upon his campaign as a necessary inconvenience, with promises like "I will protect gays" as hopefully disingenuous as his promise to be "presidential" when the time comes.


Tony Perkins (Family Research Council)

"We don't share the same type of values. We don't see the world the same way, although we do have some shared concerns," Perkins said.
He explained that Hillary Clinton has made it clear she would appoint liberal, pro-choice Supreme Court justices if she's elected president.
Perkins said that Trump, although he has his share of issues, will be a better president for people who are concerned about religious liberty.

Ralph Reed

In an email to the Washington Post, Reed — head of Trump’s advisory board and the Faith and Freedom Coalition — the comments were “inappropriate,” but pivoted to attacking Clinton.

"I think a 10-year-old tape of a private conversation with a TV talk show host ranks pretty low on their hierarchy of their concerns,” he said.

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann dismissed Trump’s comments as “bad boy talk.” She has not rescinded her support.

Robert Jeffress

While the comments are lewd, offensive, and indefensible … they are not enough to make me vote for Hillary Clinton,” he said, adding he would “not necessarily choose Donald Trump to be a Sunday School teacher” but he still supports him.

The list goes on: James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Jr., "Bishop" Harry Jackson, Pastor Mark Burns - plus a plethora of known Christian Right leaders, whose silence on the matter is deafening. Even Trump's own spiritual advisor, prosperity gospel preacher Paula White is mum.

Charisma News

Since Trump's initial comments, he has rededicated his life to Christ. Prominent Christians like James Dobson and Jentezen Franklin stand behind the candidate, as do dozens more as part of his Faith Advisory Board.

Dr. Ben Carson, who has been serving as a top surrogate for Trump since ending his own presidential campaign, told Yahoo News that Trump prayed with James Robison, a televangelist and founder of the Christian relief organization LIFE Outreach International.

Onward Christian Guard Dog
So it seems that Trump's following among the Christian Right is quite unshakable; if they can manipulate him (rather a fantasy of theirs), they can win and Seven Mountains Theology will emerge triumphant.

They will continue their dream until November 8.

***

On A Lighter Note:

Donald Trump's "locker room banter" gave the euphemistic term "p*ssy" new life: there was a time when the term "p**sy was looked upon as a light, almost frivolous euphemism. The English comedy Are you Being Served played fast and loose with Mrs Slocum's "pussy".

FRC Strategy 2014: To Continue Battling The Evil Homosexual Activist Empire!

FRC Action's Strategy For Victory: Harp On The "Religious Liberty" Theme ad infinitum. 

Dear Dan,

     I come to you today with a very straightforward -- and very serious -- request: Please renew your support for FRC Action for this New Year of 2014.
The House of Representatives is where we have the greatest potential to make the greatest impact -- to secure your religious liberties ... and keep America from descending into a quagmire of self-destructive socialism.
      This is urgently important because President Obama and his allies in Congress appear to be on a search-and-destroy mission when it comes to religious liberty. This administration has expressed its hostility to religious freedom at every turn: in the workplace, in the military, everywhere.
     It's critically important because of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a dangerous bill that would destroy the religious liberties of Christian employers and employees.
     I ask boldly for two crucial reasons: the past, and the future.
The past is our rock-solid track record of highly effective work on Capitol Hill and across the nation representing your values, fighting for faith, family, and freedom.

In a nutshell: Socialist (read: Pinko/Nazi/Anti-Christ) Obama wants to destroy religious liberty by advancing the "homosexual agenda." And homosexual activists (the scourge of the universe) will be able to get their way by having every truly faithful Christian thrown in jail for saying the name of "Jesus" and the word "homosexual" in the same sentence.

Or something like that.

The money-beg focuses on the mid-term elections, and while it doesn't mention revenge on those putrid politicians who dared to cast a tolerant eye on "teh gays", it leaves no doubt that heads will roll. 

Perkins' "rock-solid track record" includes Republican Party members who are devolving into Tea Partiers in suits, headed by Ted Cruz and the ne'er-do-well Rick Perry. Wielding his  media people at FOX News (principally Sean Hannity and Mike Huckabee), he hopes to counteract the Christian Right's embarrassingly bizarre defeat in Virginia of Cucinelli and E.W. Jackson. He also hopes to garner support for the CR's main export (homophobia) in Russia, Uganda and all countries willing to go against the Declaration of Human Rights. 

All of these things under the umbrella of "religious freedom." 

To win 'em over, just make 'em paranoid. 

The Screams You Hear Are Not God's: Christian Right Enraged That SCOTUS Acquiesced To The Creator, Allowing Gays To Marry.

DOMA is down. Prop 8 is caputt. God is pleased. America is relieved.

And the cult of Tony Perkins is pissed. No, not pissed - ENRAGED! And there is great gnashing of teeth, wailing, and rending of garments at organizations like NOM (National Organization for Marriage), FRC (Family Research Council/Tony Perkins) and the AFA (American Family Association). "Bishop" Harry Jackson, Lou Engle, Linda Harvey, Pat Robertson, Bryan Fischer, James Dobson, Mike Huckabee (and most of FOX News except maybe for Shep Smith) are simultaneously weeping while foaming at the mouth.

It is a theater, a circus, not to be missed.

It is easy to see the progress of righteous indignation: the circus parade will commence with the terms "activist judges" and "powerful homosexual lobby." They will then move agonizingly on to "a nation without God's protection", through "Obama will enslave Christians" then to "the end of civilization as we know it."* They will juggle "it's a choice" with "reparative therapy" and the newest ex-gay ministry (anyone who denounced the demise of Exodus, International). The march of lions (Evangelical Elmer Gantrys), tigers (Catholic bishops) and elephants (Republican panderers) will be long and colorful, the ensuing weeks filling FOX News with Coulters and Malkins and Rushes. Moral acrobats will chant "but we really love them!"




Jesus Wept, Obama Rejoiced

The predictable reactions:






"Today, marriage, children, and the rule of law all suffer." Randy Thomassen, Save California

"The Supreme Court has just abandoned 7 million voters, giving us no justice and no access to the courts. Maggie Ghallagher, NOM. 

In a miscarriage of justice the US Supreme Court has refused to consider the decision of a single federal court judge to overturn the perfectly legal action of over 7 million California voters who passed Proposition 8 defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Brain Brown, NOM.



Friends, today is a shameful day in American history. - Gordon Kingenschmitt, In Jesus Name Project

How long before federal agents haul pastors out of the pulpit? - Todd Starnes, Fox News

Amidst all the protesting hoopla, the Christian Right will miss the possibility that the Creator is actually pleased: God surely approves of anything that progresses to brotherly love. And His Son, Jesus, might actually rejoice along with mortals like President Obama. Such thoughts are heresy, of course, since they go against strict interpretations of a Bible written to instruct sinners, and not to confirm the love of the Creator towards His creation. They will eschew the possibility that SCOTUS believes it as well: denying people the right to confirm their love and form a recognized commitment is not only against the Constitution, but against divinely created humanity. They will certainly dismiss opinions (posts like this) as "absurd," thereby continuing their circus of the absurd.

Yes, the coming months will be very, very entertaining.

The Gifts That Will Keep On Giving

It is no coincidence that the rulings fall on the 10-year anniversary of another landmark ruling, Lawrence vs. Texas (6/26/03) which struck down Texas' sodomy law. The timing of both were planned as gifts to the LGBT community. True, both rulings were 5-4, but those opinions were arrived at months ago. And by a court that realizes it must reflect most of the country:

USA Today:

WASHINGTON — The nation's rapidly changing attitudes toward homosexuality have been reflected in dramatic changes in the views of presidents, the rules for military service and the policies defining families.

And now, in the Supreme Court.

Can A Circus Provoke A War?

One week ago, a coalition of Christian Right ministries and organizations - the ironically named Freedom Federation - vowed to oppose any court rulings with outright non-compliance:


" ...make no mistake about our resolve. While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the true common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross."


There will be a rash of ministers refusing to performs marriages in the coming years, but the impact of such a stance may be moot: fighting a war that has already been lost is futile and will unnecessarily cause casualties - bloody casualties - in the name of God, Family and Marriage.

The Winds Of Love: Portman's Change Of Heart Latest Blast To Republican DOMA Diehards

When Republican Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) came out of the same-sex marriage closet to state that his view on the subject had, like President Obama's, "evolved", the Right (especially the Christian Right) returned a volley of wailing, gnashing of teeth, and rending of Brooks Brothers suits. Portman hit home particularly hard: 

      "The overriding message of love and compassion that I take from the Bible, and certainly the Golden Rule, and the fact that I believe we are all created by our maker, that has all influenced me in terms of my change on this issue," Portman said, adding that he feels that "in a way, this strengthens the institution of marriage."

Citing the Bible to bible-thumpers, has no positive effect: in fact, it created a very negative effect, giving people like Tony Perkins of Family Research Council the sadz:

       "Our unconditional love for our children should not override the historical and social science evidence which makes abundantly clear what is best for all children and for society - being raised by a married mother and father."

It would seem, however, that Portman is riding a wave of support from Republicans, since even Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, when asked about the issue of marriage equality said that there was "no doubt" young conservatives considered it basic and not "a disqualifying issue."




Walker's comment followed only a week after it was reported that 78 prominent Republicans signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the DOMA case. 

Hurt hardest with the news of defecting Republicans is Speaker John Boehner, who spearheaded an effort to defend DOMA in the courts and capped out last year with $1.5 million in lawsuits. He was, of course, the most prominent politicians to weigh in against Portman's decision by bolstering his own position:

John Boehner:

       "Rob [Portman] is a great friend and a long-time ally. And I appreciate that he’s decided to change his views on this.I believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. It’s what I grew up with. It’s what I believe. It’s what my church teaches me. And I can’t imagine that position would ever change." - House Speaker John Boehner, appearing yesterday on ABC's This Week.

Boehner's base is eroding: if Republican changes of heart aren't enough, some evangelicals are switching as well. Former megachurch pastor Rob Bell: “I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it’s a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man.”

Justice Roberts' Second-Best Option

The leader of a prominent anti-gay organization called Supreme Court Chief John Roberts' decision to adopt children the "second-best option," the AP reports.

Desperate times seem to call for desperate rhetoric from anti-marriage equality groups, and the most inept of late, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) held a panel at CPAC to an almost empty house. That's when NOM's chairman, John Eastman, made the now-infamous remark about Justice John Roberts' family. The back-peddling, of course, described adoptive parents as  "heroes" but the damage was done. In response, one ten-year-old adopted boy with two dads has fashioned a YouTube "letter" to Justice Roberts that has gotten wide attention (see below)

The Winds Of Love and Change

       Support for gay marriage reached a new high in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, marking a dramatic change in public attitudes on the subject across the past decade. Fifty-eight percent of Americans now say it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to wed.

The poll also brought another significant number: only 24 percent of Americans think that being gay "is a choice." The Supreme Court may have to weigh in on the immutability of homosexuality on the grounds of discrimination.

A ton of amicus briefs from members of Congress, corporations, notable politicians and celebrities. Reversal of opposition by prominent Republicans. A poll showing a dramatic shift in the national psyche.

John Boehner and his supporters are crying again.