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Let the Finger Pointing Begin

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 10/31/2008 12:01 pm

John McCain and Sarah Palin haven't even lost yet, but it looks like the blame game has already started, with Gary Bauer blaming the campaign for failing to make more of Barack Obama's multitude of nefarious ties to America-haters and terrorists. That's right, Bauer is mad they didn't make it more of a focus in their campaign:

American Values president and McCain supporter Gary Bauer agrees with Palin that the McCain campaign should have made a concerted effort in the general election to highlight the Democratic nominee's ties to his longtime mentor. Bauer says the McCain camp missed some opportunities while zeroing in on Obama's associations with Wright and former domestic terrorist Bill Ayers.

"These associations would have explained to us the economic philosophy we're now hearing from Senator Obama," Bauer explains. "That is, William Ayers is a socialist. Pastor Wright is a black supremacist, but also a socialist.

"And so the fact that Barack Obama was comfortable spending time and being allies with those individuals makes a lot of sense when we realize now -- from Barack Obama's own words -- that he believes in socialism."

Bauer contends that the country is on the cusp of electing "the most radical candidate for president in American history."

Considering that the Right is already plotting how to grab the reins of the GOP and make the "culture war" the centerpiece of their agenda moving forward, this sort of myopic focus suggests that we could be in for a long four years if Obama wins next week.

David Barton's Biased History

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 10/31/2008 10:17 am

I mentioned yesterday that David Barton was out on the campaign trail, speaking at official McCain/Palin campaign events along with Fred Thompson, actor Robert Davi, and Republican National Committee Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli and so it seemed like a good time to dust off this video we put together to accompany our 2006 report on Barton and his pseudo-history.

The focus of the report was on Barton's "Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black and White" DVD, in which he examines the Democratic Party's historical hostility to African Americans and insinuates that similarly racist views are still held by the party today. Barton runs through a litany of Democratic sins - ranging from slavery to Jim Crow to segregation to the Ku Klux Klan - while praising the Republican Party as the party of abolition and civil rights ... until his history lesson suddenly ends after the Civil Rights Act of 1965, after which Barton makes absolutely no mention of the political transformation that overtook the country in its wake or the rise of the Republican Party’s “Southern Strategy.”

The video concludes with Barton telling his audience that African Americans cannot be bound blindly to one party or the other, but must cast their votes based on the “standard of biblical righteousness … the principles of Christianity … and an awareness that voters will answer to God for their vote."

Apparently, the McCain camp thought it would benefit from potential voters hearing this sort of biased and fraudulent message from Barton himself during the final days of their campaign.

Obama Will Let Your Baby Get Run Over By a Train

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 10/31/2008 8:53 am

At least that seems to be the message of this mailer, posted by Jonathan Martin, being sent out by the Susan B. Anthony List:

So a word of warning to all of those intending to abandon their babies on the railroad tracks with the expectation that Barack Obama will come along and save it: don't do that.

A valuable parenting tip from the good folks at SBA.

[You can see the PDF of the mailer here.]

Prop 8’s Call to Extremism

Submitted by Peter Montgomery on Thursday, 10/30/2008 7:52 pm

As we’ve noted, the organizers of a massive stadium rally pushing the anti-gay initiative in California have snagged for the stage the biggest name in the Religious Right universe. No, not Sarah Palin, but James Dobson of Focus on the Family. One benefit might be to draw media attention from the event’s organizer, Lou Engle. He’s far less well-known than Dobson, and organizers might prefer to keep it that way.

Engle is an unabashed “dominionist” – someone who thinks the church, under the leadership of modern-day apostles like him, should rule over government and other institutions of society. He thinks of himself as a John the Baptist who badgers Christian teens to adopt a radical lifestyle of fasting and prayer that will bring God’s intercession against gays, liberal judges, and the like. And his style – screaming at the top of his lungs and rapidly rocking back and forth – is a sharp contrast with Dobson’s polished media-star demeanor.

A new report by People For the American Way Foundation documents some of his other charms, which include:

  • praying for God to “terrorize” judges until they fall like stars from the sky>
  • believing that the appearance of the goddess Minerva on California’s state seal is a sign of demonic domination over the state by the “Jezebel spirit”
  • suggesting that marriage equality is Satanic and legal abortion spells America’s doom>

Though, given Prop. 8 leaders’ tendency to describe their campaign in apocalyptic terms, and the increasingly shrill and panicky proclamations of doom from the Right over the prospect of an Obama presidency, Dobson and Engle are likely to feel right at home in each other’s company.

I Wonder What An Enthusiastic Dobson Would Look Like

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/30/2008 6:13 pm

You know, for a guy who, not too long ago, was planning on sitting out this election, James Dobson and his organization sure have gotten active in the last week:

And not to pat ourselves on the back or anything, but last year when Dobson first started pretending that he was going to sit on the sidelines, we called his bluff and noted that issuing empty threats was becoming a pattern for him but that, when it came down to it, he always fell back in line. And, once again, Dobson has not disappointed us.

Dobson Chokes Up Explaining God Wants Him in California to Save Marriage

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/30/2008 4:48 pm

James Dobson dedicated his radio program today to explaining his sudden decision, which we mentioned earlier, to go to California this weekend to join Lou Engel, Tony Perkins and others for a massive "The Call" rally of prayer and fasting in the name of saving "traditional marriage."

In the clip below, Dobson has just explained that he received a letter from Rev. Jim Garlow, one of the leading organizers of the "yes on 8" movement pleading with Dobson to attend and, after reading it, felt God's hand on his back telling him to attend "The Call."  Dobson chokes up explaining that despite having been on the go for weeks and being exhausted, he knew God wanted him there.  Dobson had to call his son to tell him he couldn't babysit for his grandson this weekend as planned and his son Ryan then confirmed that God wanted him in California instead.  Dobson could barely keep it together when he explained that "the Lord must be involved in this" and then hands over the program to Garlow, who also gets choked up and speaks of their level of spiritual desperation and their constant "crying out to God" to save California because they are "watching the destruction of Western civilization."

Vote McCain Or God Will Destory America

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/30/2008 3:21 pm

Last week Gary Bauer warned that at some point down the line, God will "take his hand of protection off of America" if the country doesn't get its act together and stop coddling gays, finally outlaw abortion, and elect John McCain.

And it looks as if that GOTV strategy is being picked up by others on the Right, judging by Jane Chastain's latest column in WorldNetDaily.

Chastain admits that many Christian voters might be confused about things like the economy, healthcare, or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and so they should just get "back to basics"

Examine the stands of these two candidates —and more important, their records – on the moral issues, and vote accordingly. Then, you can rest assured that this country will be in good hands.

The Ten Commandments given to Moses are not suggestions. They represent God's moral law – and it has never changed. The first commandments are about honoring God and your earthly parents. Next comes God's law against murder. God leaves us no wiggle room when it comes to the shedding of the innocent blood of another human being.

It is no accident that abortion is the most divisive moral issue in America today. God's law may be inconvenient at times, but it is still God's law.

But just in case they are still confused over how to vote, Chastian concludes with a pretty straight-forward argument that God will destory America if Obama is elected:

If you call yourself a Christian and you are still flirting with abortion, or flirting with voting for a candidate who condones the taking of an innocent life, no matter how small, sick or vulnerable, you are only fooling yourself about your Christian commitment – but you will not fool God!

...

If 9/11 wasn't a wake-up call for America, then the financial meltdown of 2008 should be. How many more warnings will God give us before he lifts his hand of protection that has been over this country for more than 200 years? He did not spare the children of Israel. He will not spare the United States of America!

Staver, Scarborough Sign on to Chaps' Rally

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/30/2008 1:57 pm

We wrote about Gordon Klingenschmitt's latest crusade to save Virginia police chaplains and his threats to hold a pre-election rally on their behalf earlier this month. Klingenschmitt is holding Gov. Tim Kaine presonally responsible for the decision made by State Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty, despite Kaine's repeated explanations that Klingenschmitt's crusade is misguided and misleading and that nobody "has lost their jobs or positions because of this."

Of course, Klingenschmitt is not backing down and has now announced that a rally is planned for this weekend

News media are invited to cover the big crowds expected on Saturday November 1st, at the "Virginia, Stand Up For Jesus!" State-wide Prayer Rally outside the Governor's mansion, at the Capital Square Bell Tower (900 Bank St) from 10-11am (arrive 9:30), honoring the six Virginia State Police Chaplains forced to resign for praying "in Jesus name."

All pastors and news media are also invited to a PRE-RALLY PRESS CONFERENCE on FRIDAY, October 31st at 10am, at the same outdoor location, where event organizer Chaplain Klingenschmitt (and some pastors) will address the media one full day before the event.

...

The free, non-partisan Virginia rally will include pastors, policymakers, political, civic, and church leaders, a praise band, and a time of prayer for the chaplains, our nation and our government.

According to a separate press release, he will be joined by the likes of Mat Staver and Rick Scarborough, as well as a bunch of people we've never heard of:

All reporters and media are invited to cover the big crowds expected at the Saturday rally. Event speakers include Mat Staver, Rick Scarborough, Gerald Glenn, Darryl Husband, Bill Carrico, Victor Torres, Jeff Ginn, Council Nedd, and several state-trooper chaplains.

Barton Stumps for McCain

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/30/2008 12:17 pm

We knew that David Barton was out there doing his part to help elect Republicans, raising money for Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, explaining to Christian audiences the importance of the Supreme Court and how the GOP and God both share the same agenda. 

We also knew that he was supporting John McCain but we had no idea that he was actually out there on the trail on behalf of the McCain-Palin campaign: 

Fred Thompson, former U.S. senator from Tennessee, told a local crowd Wednesday that the chance to talk about guns and God is his kind of event.

But though the title of the rally was "Guns & Religion," the politician/actor spent more time talking about the economy.

...

Thompson, actor Robert Davi, Republican National Committee Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli and David Barton, president of the religious-based organization WallBuilders, spoke at the Wednesday afternoon rally at McCain/Palin headquarters in Springettsbury Township.

"I love the guns-and-God mantra, because both are God-given rights," Barton said, telling the crowd to encourage others to vote. "Get people of faith back in the polls."

Dawn Balcom of Springettsbury Township said it was nice to hear religion addressed.

"It was good to hear that these politicians are thinking God is important," she said. "When we get away from God . . . the whole country goes down."

Why is the McCain campaign associating itself with a right-wing pseudo-historian who believes that Christians should "start breaking fingers" of those who don't vote Republican and warns them they'll have to answer to God for their failure to vote properly. 

Did they not learn anything from their Hagee/Parsely debacle?

Defeating Prop 8 Like Not Defeating Hitler

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/30/2008 11:13 am

Via OpenLeft we get this video of Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute telling a rally of Prop 8 supporters that failure to pass Prop 8 is akin to failing to stop Hitler:

There was another time in history when people, when the bell tolled. And the question was whether or not they were going to hear it. The time was during Nazi Germany with Adolf Hitler. You see he brought crowds of clergy together to assure them that he was going to look after the church. And one of the members, bold and courageous, Reverend Niemoller made his way to the front and boldly said "Hitler, we are not concerned about the church. Jesus Christ will take care of the church. We are concerned about the soul of Germany." Embarrassed and chagrined, his peers quickly shuffled him to the back. And as they did Adolf Hitler said, "The soul of Germany, you can leave that to me." And they did, and because they did bombs did not only fall upon the nation of Germany, but also upon the church and their testimony to this very day. Let us not make that mistake folks. Let us hear the bell! Vote on Proposition 8!