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The Christian Party
Another problem is that not all religious Americans agree with the core Republican positions. John Danforth, former senator from Missouri and now an Episcopal minister, spoke out in favor of embryonic stem cell research in 2006. Missouri voters agreed with him, passing the relevant constitutional proposition and defeating incumbent Sen. James Talent, who opposed stem cell research.
As Lincoln said about the North and South in his Second Inaugural Address, “Both read the same Bible and worship the same God, and invoke His aid against the other.”
And the policy preferences of the religious right do not command anything like majority support. Majorities among voters and in Congress support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, oppose the repeal of Roe.vs. Wade,and opposed congressional intervention in the Terri Schiavo case.
In David Brooks’ New York Times column of November 11, “Darkness at Dusk” he addressed the fact that in the fight over the future of conservatism, one side was urging tax cuts, restricted immigration and were rallying behind Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and Sarah Palin. Brooks urged “reformers” to “pay attention to the way the country has changed. Conservatives have to appeal more to Hispanics, independents, and younger voters. They cannot continue to insult the sensibilities of the educated class and the entire East and West Coasts.”
Brooks predicted that Palinism, enforcing doctrinal purity, will win “in the short term.” He doesn’t need to add that the victory of Palinism among Republicans will fail to lead to electoral success. To win elections, Republicans will need to distance themselves from “social conservatism” and the religious right.
But putting clear blue water between moderate Republicanism and the religious right would undoubtedly give rise to a third party, a breakaway Christian Party. Such parties are familiar in American history, most recently in 1968 with George Wallace’s American Independent Party, and going back through Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996, Strom Thurmond and Henry Wallace in 1948.
Our Third Evangelical Awakening, which has lodged itself in the Republican party, will eventually begin to fall asleep, as did the two previous Awakenings, only more rapidly this time because of the spread of education and accelerated methods of communication.
But if the return of common sense and the spirit of Eisenhower is accompanied by a breakaway third party, that does not mean the Republicans would automatically suffer. In 1948, Harry Truman survived challenges from a third party (Wallace) and a fourth party (Thurmond). Common sense Republicans should be courageous and fight against the fanatics if they are to win again.
Jeffrey Hart is professor emeritus of English at Dartmouth College. He wrote for the National Review for more than three decades, where he was senior editor. He wrote speeches for Ronald Reagan, when governor of California, and for Richard Nixon.
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Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Jeff Madrick is a contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former economics columnist for the New York Times. He is editor of Challenge Magazine, visiting professor of humanities at Cooper Union, and senior fellow at the New School's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. He is the author of Taking America, The End of Affluence (Random House) and The Case for Big Government.
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Jeffrey Hart is professor emeritus of English at Dartmouth College. He wrote for the National Review for more than three decades, where he was senior editor. He wrote speeches for Ronald Reagan while he was governor of California, and for Richard Nixon.
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Jeffrey Hart is professor emeritus of English at Dartmouth College. He wrote for the National Review for more than three decades, where he was senior editor. He wrote speeches for Ronald Reagan while he was governor of California, and for Richard Nixon.
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Jeffrey Hart is professor emeritus of English at Dartmouth College. He wrote for the National Review for more than three decades, where he was senior editor. He wrote speeches for Ronald Reagan while he was governor of California, and for Richard Nixon.
Perhaps the most unnerving aspect of Christian conservatism is their absolute conviction to their righteous crusades. Pious inflexibility, especially as a system of governance, worries most people.
"What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents."
-Robert F. Kennedy-
By the way, Daily Beast...edit, edit, edit.
Phrase that needs to be banned: common sense. There is no such thing. Exactly what is this "sense" that is "common" among us?
John McCain made a huge mistake, in terms of the future of the Republican party, by unleashing a Sarah Palin on the nation.
"Palinism" indeed. It's enough to ensure a rosy future for Democrats and moderates for many years to come.
If I was a Republican I'd be furious. But since I'm not, I couldn't be more pleased. The Republicans brought this on themselves and they can't seem to stop it.
I think once the 'educated' in this country actually pick up a book and Read, then I would agree with you. Let's see....the list of 'good acts' by the brightest, even those from Amos Tuck Business School have plopped us in the middle of a DEPRESSION. Nice job Dartmouth. You have CAUSED the harm that has befallen the Nation by miseducating students. Now ... anyone there ever heard of the Ontological Proof of the Existence of God, written by perhaps St. Thomas Moore? What about Moore's Treaties "On Faith and Reason"? Bring on the eggheads that have CRASHED Western Civilization, ruined the Court System in the Country, Bankrupted Wall St., and every FAMILY in the country. Enough is enough with pseudo-intellectuals with Dartmouth Degrees that cause havoc for the country.....and the world. May 'something' have mercy on your soul.
A little enlightenment for you magicman: greed and an intolerance for education has been the cause of ruin.
"The so-called Christian nations are the most enlightened and progressive ... but in spite of their religion, not because of it. The Church has opposed every innovation and discovery from the day of Galileo down to our own time, when the use of anesthetic in childbirth was regarded as a sin because it avoided the biblical curse pronounced against Eve. And every step in astronomy and geology ever taken has been opposed by bigotry and superstition. The Greeks surpassed us in artistic culture and in architecture five hundred years before Christian religion was born." Mark Twain
Only an ignorant person would call the republican party, the "Christian Party", which makes his whole article ridiculously stupid. Believing in the Christian Bible isn't the problem of either party. The republicans problem is their callous, selfish greed!!! If they actually did what Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them done unto you", then they would be the party in control of everything. The republicans' main problem are on economic issues, not social issues. The belligerent foreign policy is only a reflection of their economic beliefs.
For Donatello:
Would that be the very same Mark Twain who also said:
"Nothing beats the cool confidence of a Christian with four aces."
There is nothing better than an egghead contradiction, now is there. Twain was from what State??? I think it's a Mosee State isn't it? Maybe you could go look that one up in a book or something....you know, those paper things, wrapped in cardboard covers, found usually in places known as LIBRARIES???
I agree with magicman...we should all read more books. Then we would know that St. Thomas More (spelled with one o) was a protestant burning nut job. As far as the mystifying ontological theory of the existence of god, well it's actually a ridiculous argument that asserts if we can conceive of a god then said god must exist. Brilliantly conceived by the medieval philosopher Avicenna (not More) and widely believed in a time when even kings were illiterate and the majority of people thought the universe revolved around the earth. I may not have a fancy degree either, but instead of blaming those that do for the latest tragedies, I blame greed. The oldest and most common of all human downfalls.
The problem with many religious fanatics is they're full of evil.
Also for Donatello:
Your presumption at being 'educated', as you so tightly cling to for support, is officially in question. A missing piece, a 'magic' act if you will , not seen by your eyes, is in fact occurring and you are completely oblivious to it. That is not 'educated'. Additionally, there are certain facts about the organization of our Society that I know that you are completely unaware; the facts of which would instantly change your mind about what has occurred here. That also is not 'educated'. I do love Twain, but he was a deeply conflicted man. Bad example for these times. There is nothing the least bit 'conflicting' about the causes of this 'economic crisis'...in fact, the true shock is that it has even been trotted out in public.
To Donatello:
Read George Soro's article in today's Cheat Sheet. Isn't he also saying that the 'financial engineering' of derivatives and credit default swaps, invented by Ivy Leaguers, who know nothing about markets, who have been trained in equilibrium theory, are intrinsically incorrect because their Educators led them astray? Isn't being led astray intrinsically evil? As in ....say....a deceit or a lie from the mouth of Satan himself? Your holier than thou attitude somehow pales in the face of our current financial meltdown....doesn't it? Or is the proof no longer in the pudding?
Jeffrey, you are spot on in all your comments. Center right conservatives are being chased out of the GOP by Paliolitihic fundamentalists. Its time to take our party back. If we don't, we leave America's fate to the likes of Pelosi and Reid. Even Frank Rich acknowledges we need two viable parties, but he also rightly points out that is difficult to do when you are brain dead. The hard right must be consigned to the proverbial "dust bin of history". Thanks for your great work.
I think that the current notion that Palin and the religious right lost this election for the GOP is fundamentally flawed. While the hard right's attacks on Obama certainly did not help, and Palin's close and inelegant support for it clearly hurt, the fact is the GOP is in shambles because of its free market fundamentalism. The only other key reason for them looking like a party completely without ideas has been its constant degrading of governance itself. The party of 'conservatism' became of the party of radical governmental disfunction. Where they loved government inference, in abortion, in gay lifestyles, in security and eavesdropping, has come to seem (finally) as not doing much to advance the lives and livelihoods of average Americans. All they (and McCain) were left with was to say how they would cut our taxes. But who really benefits from their notion of tax cuts? That has been answered clearly over these last eight years.
Bush was the messiah of so many in GOP in 2000 and 2004. One can only say careful what you wish for. He brought about nearly everything the Republicans had been dreaming of, and look where we are. And had he accomplished those other things regarding abortion, a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and privatizing Social Security, would we be able to say the country has any better lived up to its promise? The GOP shot off its load with Bush and now the barrel's empty. There is a lot of backpedaling and misdirection on the causes of this whole mess, but American's see and so does frankly the GOP. And it looks like one dark alley.
Now is the time. Own your failure.
I think that the current notion that Palin and the religious right lost this election for the GOP is fundamentally flawed. While the hard right's attacks on Obama certainly did not help, and Palin's close and inelegant support for it clearly hurt, the fact is the GOP is in shambles because of its free market fundamentalism. The only other key reason for them looking like a party completely without ideas has been its constant degrading of governance itself. The party of 'conservatism' became of the party of radical governmental disfunction. Where they loved government inference, in abortion, in gay lifestyles, in security and eavesdropping, has come to seem (finally) as not doing much to advance the lives and livelihoods of average Americans. All they (and McCain) were left with was to say how they would cut our taxes. But who really benefits from their notion of tax cuts? That has been answered clearly over these last eight years.%u2028%u2028Bush was the messiah of so many in GOP in 2000 and 2004. One can only say careful what you wish for. He brought about nearly everything the Republicans had been dreaming of, and look where we are. And had he accomplished those other things regarding abortion, a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and privatizing Social Security, would we be able to say the country has any better lived up to its promise? The GOP shot off its load with Bush and now the barrel's empty. There is a lot of backpedaling and misdirection on the causes of this whole mess, but American's see and so does frankly the GOP. And it looks like one dark alley. %u2028%u2028Now is the time. Own your failure.
I like how people who call themselves the Intelligensa are always the least truly educated or intelligent. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, the light, and NO man shall come unto the Father except through me." The problem with people not seeing God work in America or anywhere else, for that matter, is because they are too far away from the work. We are too busy involving themselves in self effecting, self absorbing pursuits.
I truly hope for a return to Christianity in America because I can find more truth and better outcomes in it than I can in this so-called freedom everyone longs for.
1. Stem cell research or its' methodologies isn't even needed.
It's a lie. The same results can be found in recovering cells
placenta's. It simply evades my reasoning that people who
are so anti-war and killing are adamantly approving of killing
babies. Seals before babies?
2. Abortion. The lie here is to use the rape, incest, danger
argument. The truth is all of those things are evil but
abortion is more-so. The real truth is that the majority of
abortions are convenience due to lack of planning and
a poor life-style choice of free sex.
3. Homosexuality. Abomination, pure and simple. Think about
it. What part of it is "natural" and "wholesome".
Look, you may sound bold, fresh, and brave by saying that religion is short-sided and hateful, but it takes faith to believe, to want to make things better, to live a wholesome life and walk a straight path and frankly too many of my fellow citizens are too lazy, too self absorbed, and too distracted by the enemy to listen to the true small voice. It's not too late. Seek and ye shall find. You will find it in those who truly live it, every day, believe it every day, and have hope in a better tomorrow. Through Christ, all things are possible.
The term Christian means Christ-like Right?? To walk the earth as one with Christ. I find myself having theological discussions with "Christians" (the ones that listen to the Rush type talk radio are my "favorite") And I find my attitude towards my fellow man is much more Christian than the Christians !! The True Christians never talk about, it they live it. The Godless Bush-Cheney dog and pony show that preached "Pro-Life" then Killed 100,000 innocent women and children is now responsible for a global recession that will starve 100,000 more. The Anti-Christ ? or maybe the Anti-Christian ! The smart and true evangelicals now know they were conned . I will Pray for You
To magicman:
Why so defensive? Donatello shows you the other side of the argument and you feel like you need an entire page to debunk a single well placed point. Education is not a negative thing. And how true is Mark Twain's observation about Christian Nations? Or do you not understand it?
It is a civic necessity that fundamentalists be isolated and marginalized in our democracy.
Twin premises of democracy are reason and employment of reason. Liberal (in the 18th century use of the term) democracy, and indeed the rule of law, are expressions of faith in the human race's God given capacity to reason.
A correlating faith is that through a reasoned debate of policy,the best policy will be found and selected. When selected, the policy will enjoy greater public support because of the open marketplace of ideas approach to finding the policy. These precepts have served the nation, and indeed the West, well for a score of decades.
Re-enter the fundamentalist. His mode of governance has a much longer history than democracy. He does not seek policy determination through democratic debate because he has the right choice directly revealed to him by God. Participation in the give and take of policy discussion, for the fundamentalist, is toleration of apostasy: He might pretend to do it as a necessity, but he never does it with any good faith respect for others involved--sinners all.
In the mind of the fundamentalist, only adoption of God's will as coercive law, applicable to all--believers and non-believers, vindicates God's plan for worldly governance.
The fundamentalist cannot also be a democrat. The practices of democracy are alien to his outlook. If you enter a discussion knowing God's will, accepting deviation from God's will is a sinful yielding to devilish temptation.
Truth and policy guidance is to be interpreted from ancient authoritative texts or received personally in direct godly revelations: social sciences, political theory and even the instructions of human experience itself are all temptations to sin rather than potential bases for wisdom.
So saith the Lord.
There's a reason the democratic platform had to move toward the center.
Christian-bashing is just that.
Extremism of any kind is the cause of everything that is wrong with the world today -- just as it always has been.
And the man's name was St. Thomas More, not Moore.
I am weary of Jeffrey Hart's crusade against orthodox Christianity. I voted for Obama with him. But I, as a creationist anti-abortion and rather pedestrian reactionary, cannot abide the Republican Party's simpering capitalism. I think Hart is slumming in the Democrat party for much more temporary and histrionic reasons than mine. I do not care at all for Palin's eschatology, or for her commercialized and very Republican form of Christianity. And for that Stepford wife sort of obeisance toward capitalism I left the Republicans with a light heart. But Jeffrey left the Republicans simply because he is pissed off at the simpletons on the Christian Right. He did not embrace the Democrats' denunciation of "trickle-down voodoo economics," whose only voodoo-doll is the poor. The true Conservative is small, distributist and agrarian. He is neither bourgeois or socialist. He is, and must be, Christian in an orthodox manner. And he is certainly not Jeffrey Hart.
God did the american people a favor by not electing Palin as VP. Now god needs to make sure that any door she wants to go through is nailed shut tight that can't be pride openned. God help us all for her kind of thinking makes it to the highest office. Eeeeek, eeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkk
The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. Albert Einstein
And here is the evil in UTAH we ALL need to do something about:
http://www.bankingonheaven.com/
All this is good advice for the GOP. Fortunately, for the Democrats, it will be ignored by the Christofascists who are currently in change of the Republican Party and are likely to remain so after this election debacle.
Whether a breach of the party is by the evangelical right or the "old school" moderates seems ripe. The questions comes--post schism--will the BlueDogs and the Old Schools merge and become a force to be watched closely?
One small correction to the article. John Danforth--heir to the Ralston-Purina fortune--is not "now" an Episcopal priest. Senator Danforth has been a member of clergy prior to, during, and after serving as a US Senator.
Thank you.
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