Blogs

• PFAW: People For the American Way Congratulates Dolores Huerta on Attacks from Glenn Beck.
• Evan Hurst @ Truth Wins Out: Christian Polling Company: Millenials Strongly Support Marriage Equality.
• Chris Rodda @ Talk To Action: Beck Goes After HuffPost By Showing Off Rally Attendee's Fake Washington Quote T-Shirt.
• Stephanie Mencimer @ Mother Jones: Beck Admits to Lie About Archives Visit.
• Media Matters: Beck has plans for "traveling stage show" based on "Glenn Beck's Divine Destiny" event.
• Finally, the New York Times profiles Christwire, the satire site so good it even fools the Religious Right.

It's a holiday weekend and I am pretty much at my wit's end dealing with right-wing nonsense, so I'm calling it a day a bit early:

• No surprise here, Tony Perkins will be speaking at The Call.
• Speaking of which, apparently Lou Engle emailed Sarah Palin before her debate with Joe Biden to tell her "this is an Esther moment in your life."
• AZ Gov. Jan Brewer has decided she has had it with debates after her terrible performance in the first one.
• Chuck Colson in not overly thrilled with the fact that Glenn Beck has become a religious leader.
• Finally, I am getting really, really tired of Bryan Fischer.  The same can be said for Cliff Kincaid.

Ever since Barack Obama started running for the White House, we've seen occasional pieces wondering if he was the Antichrist. In December 2008, Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel said he did not think that Obama was, in fact, the Antichrist but that it was entirely understandable that people were worried that he was:

No wonder, then, that Obama triggers such fear in the hearts of America's millennialist Christians. Mat Staver, dean of Liberty University's law school, says he does not believe Obama is the Antichrist, but he can see how others might. Obama's own use of religious rhetoric belies his liberal positions on abortion and traditional marriage, Staver says, positions that "religious conservatives believe will threaten their freedom." The people who believe Obama is the Antichrist are perhaps jumping to conclusions, but they're not nuts: "They are expressing a concern and a fear that is widely shared," Staver says.

I wonder if Staver's views have changed since then because it sure sounds like he's convinced that Obama is out to make himself some sort of global dictator because today he and Matt Barber, LC's Director of Cultural Affairs, dedicated their radio program to explaining how Obama, from the very beginning, has been focused on systemically weakening America so that he could ultimately position himself to take over the entire world:

Staver: When President Barack Obama was running for president, when we became president, I've long since stated that his end game has and is not President of the United States of America; that he has a broader worldwide agenda. And that's why he's to go to places around the world and down the United States of America, because he thinks that's going to gain him popularity in some of the other foreign areas. And that's really where I think his eyes are focused, not on [being] President of the United States.

Barber: Now here's the scary thing, I believe that that is true, but in order to have a post-American world, you have to have a post-America. And that's why his policies are pushing us into a post-American world. He is destroying American exceptionalism and is trying to do away with our free market system here in the United States. He's trying to create the climate where we have a post-American world.

Staver: Well, because America is always going to be, or at least it has been up until now, world player. And for him to be on the world scene, he's going to have to bring America down to the level of some of the European and some other countries with regards to commonality. And America always had the exceptionalism and you can't really have worldwide influence if you've got the America exceptional nation because you're going to have to have them all basically on the same level.

So for him to go into this national, or global, leadership - which he wants to do - it's no wonder why he wants to make America's economy like the European economy; it's no wonder why he wants to downplay Christianity so he can up-play Islam.

This man does not respect America. He never has.

Liberty Counsel is, of course, on of the main co-sponsors of the upcoming Values Voter Summit at which Staver is confirmed as a speaker, along with Rep. Michele Bachmann, Gov. Bob McDonnell, and Mike Huckabee (and it should be noted that Huck and Staver have a close personal relationship that goes back years.)

The American Spectator’s David Bass claims that by expanding the freedom to marry to same-sex couples, government is actually becoming more invasive and society less free. Responding to Glenn Beck’s statement that same-sex marriage isn’t a serious threat and won’t be responsible for “burning down” the country; Bass asserts (without any evidence, of course) that gay marriage will lead to economic hardships and a more intrusive government:

Politics aside, the reasons for conservatives and Republicans to continue standing for traditional marriage are legion. Glenn Beck doesn't get it when he claims freedom-loving Americans have "bigger fish to fry" than traditional marriage and abortion.

"You can argue about abortion or gay marriage or whatever all you want, the country is burning down," Beck said in early August.

That sentiment fails to recognize the inseparable connection between America's social and economic ills -- as if the fiscal sphere were solely responsible for the decline of America. It's not. The fall of the traditional family has long been linked to economic instability, the rise of the welfare state, and an electorate that doesn't understand, nor want to defend, freedom, liberty, and tradition.

Bass’s article is part of a growing right-wing chorus attacking Beck for not seeing how the freedom to marry will lead to the downfall of freedom.

Last week we noted on Glenn Beck's Mormon faith was becoming a real scandal for some conservative Christian activists, with Brannon Howse of WorldView Weekend leading the charge against Religious Right leaders who have been linking arms with him.

Howse has been on a crusade about this for a week now and now it has come full circle as he dedicated his program yesterday to exposing how Mormonism is just like Islam:

"Mormonism, America's Islam" is a book written in 1912. What do Mormons and Muslims have in common? Similarities of Muhammad and Joseph Smith: - Visited by an angel. - Given visions. - Told that no true religion existed on the earth. - Was sent to restore the long lost faith as the one true religion. - A book produced from their teachings claimed to be “inspired by God.” - Each claimed to be illiterate or uneducated and used this as proof the book was inspired. - Each claimed the Bible was lost, altered, corrupted and unreliable. - Each claimed his new holy book was the most correct and perfect book on earth. - Each claimed to be a final prophet of God. - Each claimed he was persecuted because of his pure faith. - Was a polygamist who had many wives. - Immediately after his death a fight broke out from among the “faithful converts” as to who would succeed him. - Both religions have those who follow the “original doctrine” of the founding leaders and like these founding leaders, have been violent, polygamists, and have revelations justifying their evil actions. - Each has progressive revelation. (“New” revelation always replaces older revelation that became inconvenient to the prophet.) This list was compiled by Erick Barger. Here is the list compiled Ed Decker after his study of the two religions: Both belief systems teach that they have the only true and complete religion on face of the earth. Both reject Christianity as corrupted. Both taught the plurality of wives, both on earth and in here-after. Both teach that the Bible is corrupt and mistranslated. Both revealed God’s true scripture. Both reject original sin and the doctrine of the trinity. Both teach a salvation by good works. Both use a lay clergy. Both founded by a holy uneducated prophet. Both founding prophets had angelic visitations that they were to restore Adamic religion. Both prophets' words were above scripture or earlier prophets. Both teach a theocratic form of government. Both teach a here-after with graded rewards for works. Both claim to be the world’s fastest growing religion. Glenn Beck, a Mormon was able to get Christians to lock arms with Muslims in a spiritual endeavor that was looking to "one god".

September 11, 1857, Mormons slaughter 120 men, women and children in the name of God and then years later the Mormons worked to build a Mormon memorial on the ground of the Mountain Meadow Massacre against the wishes of family members of the slain. On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists murdered American citizens in the name of God and now seek to build a memorial to their religion in the form of a Mosque only a stone throw from where the Twin Towers once stood.

Biblically committed Christians must understand the spiritual deception of these last days and how Satan will move among false religions and cults to deceive Christians as well as non-Christians as he seeks to build his one-world religion. Satan is seeking to destroy Biblical Christianity for a humanistic Christianity. Satan wants to embarrass and compromise Christian pastors and leaders. Satan is seeking to infiltrate Bible based churches with false teaching and turn them toward his goal of pluralism in the name of tolerance and a social gospel. Satan will use that which has a form of godliness but denies the God of the Bible. Do not be shocked when most "Christians" do not see this and ridicule you.

That's right: Glenn Beck is now coming under attack for being part of a violent religious cult that is being used by Satan to destroy Christianity. 

I am choking on the irony.

Earlier this week I was marveling at how different groups just keep announcing redundant pre-election efforts, so that there are now at least four separate groups launching prayer efforts heading into the mid-term elections: Pray and ACT, Cindy Jacobs and Generals International, the National Religious Broadcasters, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

But you know what was missing?  An election-targeted prayer effort that is being orchestrated by a university.  But fortunately, the University of Mobile has stepped in to fill that void:

A Christian university in Alabama is calling people to join together in prayer for a nationwide spiritual and cultural transformation as the mid-term elections approach.

The University of Mobile recently founded the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) to help leaders fulfill their responsibility to God as American citizens. Director Dr. Joe Savage tells OneNewsNow the first action the group is taking is launching The twelve23 Prayer Movement for America. The initiative is based on John 12:23, which says, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."

"Beginning October 1 through November 2, each day at 12:23 we're asking Christians to simply humble themselves and pray -- just for a moment," Savage explains. "Can you imagine if Christians across this land, at restaurants across this country, if people would stop for a moment and bow their heads and pray right there at the 12:23 hour?"

The twelve23 website makes the connection to the elections quite clear:

Beginning October 1, 2010 and concluding Tuesday, November 2, 2010, we are asking Christians around the world to pray for the United States and their own faithfulness every day at 12:23 p.m. and/or 12:23 a.m.

America’s mid-term elections are Tuesday, November 2, 2010. On this day, millions of Americans will exercise their constitutional freedom by voting for the candidate of their choice. This is a wonderful privilege! Knowing this is an extremely important election and knowing that our nation needs God more than ever, we invite you to commit to praying and to get others committed to participating as well!

And the accompanying twelve23 Contract lays out exactly how the godless liberals have been destroying this country:

Godless arrogance, at large among political leadership, has resulted in continued disintegration of effective and healthy state and national policies. Decline of religious instruction in homes and churches has led to clouded understanding of God and the embracing of Christian and pagan thought with equal standing.

A liberal political philosophy, historically weak in the face of evil, continues its influence at a time when we most desperately need protection from evil from within and beyond our borders.

Concepts of responsibility to God, responsibility to others, and self-sacrifice are lost in a national sea of greed and self-entitlement.

We believe these conditions constitute a spiritual and cultural attack upon the health and welfare of our nation.

• Sarah Posner @ Religion Dispatches: No Hen-Pecked Men Here: The Black Robed Regiment Before Beck.
• Good As You: Shockingly Misrepresented starring Cornerstone Policy Research (i.e. NOM by another name).
• Wayne Besen @ Truth Wins Out: Molotov Mitchell Hints At Support For Overthrow of Obama.
• Joe.My.God: Focus On The Family Defends Their Fight Against Anti-Bullying Programs.
• Towleroad: Sally Kern Says Gays Worse Than Terrorists...Again.
• Bartholomew’s Notes on Religion: Creation House Scrubs Terry Jones “Islam is of the Devil” Book.
• Julie Ingersoll @ Religion Dispatches: Kirk Cameron Joins the Anti-Mormon Chorus (Sort Of).

• The effort by the Pacific Justice Institute to force California to defend Prop 8 has been rejected.
• Chinese students will now be learning about abstinence from Focus on the Family.
• Gary Bauer blames the Discovery Channel hostage situation on the Left.
• This may be one of the dumbest WorldNetDaily articles I have never seen, and that is saying something.
• Speaking of WND, this first person tale from Glenn Beck's rally written by Victoria Jackson absolutely has to be read.
• AZ Gov. Jan Brewer did not get off to a good start in her debate last night.
• This NRA ad is actually rather funny, though the main character seems to be a pretty obvious rip-off of Danny McBride in "The Fist Foot Way."
• The battle of the century: Ray Comfort vs. Stephen Hawking.
• Finally the quote of the day from a column in the Baptist Press: "How should we as Baptists regard the growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)? Simply put, we should hate it."

I will admit that I am utterly fascinated by the Family Research Council's "Prayer Team" and how it merges its political agenda with specific prayer recommendations.

The latest installment, in addition to asking participants to pray that God will grace the Values Voter Summit and use attendees to make a difference in the election, also seeks prayer to fight off the administration's embrace of Islam: 

May God continue to expose Obama's favoritism toward Islam and disfavor toward Biblical Christianity! May Christians arise to resist this religious invasion through prayer and by communicating truth!

But most interesting is the fact that FRC takes issue with the Obama administration for submitting a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council that covered both what the administration considered America's success and failures in the human rights arena. 

Of course, recognizing, or even perceiving, any sort of failure in anything America does is a monumental outrage:

May Americans learn of this egregious act to diminish American power and prestige, exalt the U.N. over us, and aggrandize the liberal Obama agenda. May voters grill candidates for office, and elect pro-American candidates this fall!

As I noted a few months ago, it is remarkable how FRC slowly seems to be transitioning from a political group with a religious agenda to a religious group with a political agenda.

The Republican strategy of painting President Obama as an arrogant politician with a messiah-complex dates back to the 2008 campaign, but conservative author David Limbaugh has intensified the use of discredited smears in order to vilify Obama as an evil narcissist. While promoting his new book Crimes Against Liberty (Regnery Publishing) in an interview with blogger John Hawkins of RightWingNews, Limbaugh claims that the “Marxist” Obama and members of his Administration “are tyrannical, dictatorial Stalinists” and that he is “systematically abusing his authority to contravene the rule of law and the Constitution to the detriment of our liberty.”

Limbaugh goes on to delve straight into Birther conspiracy theories:

I'll tell you the Framers, when they inserted that provision in the Constitution that you couldn't have an alien be President -- they did it because they didn't believe a foreigner would have the loyalties to our country. I will just say this and this is kind of irrespective of the rule of law in the legal question, I think Obama has the kind of visceral disloyalty and contempt for America that the Framers were trying to avoid.

I honestly don't know factually whether he was born in Hawaii, but I do know there's a lot of suspicious activity and he's done a lot to suppress his records. He's gone around and asked Harvard student classmates of his not to talk about him. We don't even know if he went to Columbia. Maybe we'll find out later, but this guy's mysterious and his background is so suspect and so negative after being raised by all these America-hating, racist, card-carry communists. ....And what was the question again?

But Limbaugh doesn’t stop there. After recently saying that Obama “truly believes he is god with a small g,” he goes on to say that Obama isn’t just a solipsistic tyrant, but also a secret Muslim:

Barack, while he very well may be a Christian, I'll issue that disclaimer; I have my serious doubts for a bunch of reasons.

We don't have time to go into them all, but he was born a Muslim. I think he has an affinity and an affection for that religion and that culture. You see it in his body language. You see it in his expressed statements. You see him writing in his book that the sweetest sound he ever heard was the Muslim call to prayer. I find that very odd that a Christian, an authentic Christian could say that.

I find it very curious that he could go to a church spewing a black liberation theology, which is more race centered and Marxist centered, than it is Christ centered.

Ralph Reed may have seen his political aspirations go up in flames thanks to his years of exploiting his Religious Right cronies for the benefit of corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff but, as we noted last week, that hasn't stopped a slew of right-wing leaders from signing on to participate in his upcoming Faith and Freedom Conference.

And Reed, whose ego and penchant for hyperbole have been the one constant throughout his career, is here to tell you, the ACLJ's Jordan Sekulow, and anyone who will listen that they had better plan on attending his awesome conference because it is not only going to change America, but it will change the lives of all those in attendance:

As you know, I was at the Christian Coalition in the 90s and I worked on the Bush campaign in 2000 and '04 and I decided to take that knowledge and that experience and, for lack of a better term, create a 21st Century Christian Coalition meets MoveOn.org with a smattering of the NRA.

So the Faith and Freedom Coalition is a grassroots permanent public policy organization that combines pro-family activists with what we might call the Tea Party activists uniting on the economic agenda as well as the pro-family agenda. We now have 400,000 people involved in the organization; we have state organizations in 23 states and as you mentioned, we're having our meeting, national gathering in DC September 10-11.

We're going to have over 60 of the leading conservative and pro-family activist leaders and organizers in the nation and I urge you to be here. It's going to change the life of our nation and it will change your life if you are able to be there. 

David Barton and Newt Gingrich have been working together for years now, but today was the first time Gingrich had ever appeared on Barton's "Wallbuilders Live" radio program.

Gingrich came on to discuss his recent column opposing the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" and did so did so with typical Gingrichian belligerence, but eventually the topic turned toward how to actually prevent it from being built and Gingrich's preferred solution is for Congress to declare Ground Zero to be a national battlefield memorial:

Well, there are a lot of places. I think the Congress has the ability to declare the area a national battlefield memorial because I think we should think of the World Trade Center as a battlefield site; this is a war.

The Attorney General of New York, Andrew Cuomo, could intervene because frankly he has the ability to slow it down for decades if he wants to.

I am surprised that Mayor Bloomberg said it was okay and I think that if he reconsiders it, he'll decide its not.

There are a number of different steps that could be taken. There's no reason this has to occur and whether it's city, state, or federal there are plenty of ways for America to stop it.

Elsewhere, Barton gushes over Gingrich's amazing genius and notes that he has been utterly forgiven by the Religious Right for his previous multiple marital failings:

And finally, Rick Green asked Gingrich if he was planning on running for president in 2012, to which Gingrich replied that if he does decide to do so, Barton and Wallbuilders will be asked to play a key role in the campaign:

Green: Mr. Speaker, my wife and I were really wanting to be able to vote for you for president two years ago. Are we going to get to do that in 2012?

Gingrich: All I can tell you is that sometime in February or March, Calista and I and our family will be making this decision. As you know, I'm a great admirer of your work and of all you've done to teach Americans about their history and the roots of American freedom. And I can assure you that if we do decide to run next year, we're promptly going to call you and say "we need your help, and we need your advice, and we need your counsel." It's more than a voting matter. If we decide to run, David, we're going to need you.

The Liberty Counsel is "totally APPALLED that certain conservative leaders are backing down in their defense of marriage while making major concessions to the views of the pro-homosexual community."

Obviously, "certain conservative leaders" means "Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, and others who waffle to take a strong public stand for the protection of marriage," which is why LC has started a petition demanding that conservatives: 

1. Express support for a Federal Marriage Amendment that defines marriage as being "a union between one man and one woman."

2. Demand that conservative party chairmen - and other conservative congressional, gubernatorial, and party leaders - make the protection of marriage a key part of their policy positions.

LC's goal is to get 100,000 signatures over the next 30 days "so that we can present these petitions directly to nationally recognized leaders, especially those who are caving in to pressure from pro-homosexual activists."

Here is the petition:

As an American who recognizes the crucial importance of the sanctity of marriage to the welfare of any culture, I am appalled by conservative leaders who are waffling in support of the definition of marriage as being "a union between one man and one woman." I am also outraged by President Obama's outspoken intent to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and by activist judges disregarding the clearly expressed will of the majority of the people by striking down states' pro-marriage initiatives. I am deeply concerned that pro-homosexual activism is undermining the very foundations of our culture.

I believe that events in California, Massachusetts, and other states have signaled the beginning of an avalanche of judicial challenges against marriage in our country, and I am therefore asking you to actively protect the sanctity of marriage by:

1. Making the protection of marriage a key issue in your party's policy statements and official platform.
2. Publicly supporting a Federal Marriage Amendment stating that "marriage is a union between one man and one woman."
3. Working to preserve the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Marriage is vital to the social well-being of any nation. I urge you to use your influence to make the defense of marriage a bedrock issue in your party's platform and campaigns. My position on the definition of marriage being "between one man and one woman" is completely non-negotiable!

Rick Joyner of Morning Star Ministries and The Oak Initiative just cannot decide if President Obama is a Christian or a Muslim.  On the one hand, Joyner says, Obama has a dog and hosts barbeques at the White House which are "things that no devout Muslim would do."  But then, on the other hand, maybe Obama is just following the "teachings in the Koran that allow for any Muslim to break the laws of Islam in order to deceive their enemies until they have gained an advantage over them."

So you can see why Joyner is just so confused ... and especially concerned that Obama the Muslim just might be engaging in treason:

I am about 55 percent persuaded that Obama is a Christian and 45 percent that he is possibly a Muslim, and at times I have been more persuaded that he is a Muslim. This ratio began for me believing that he was a Christian at about 95 percent, so I fully understand why so many are beginning to believe he is a Muslim, and I think it’s possible that soon the percentage will be rising.

One fact that should be very clear to any thinking, unbiased observer is that from the beginning of Obama’s Administration, we cannot trust what he says, but we have to observe what he actually does, which is to judge him by his fruit. Even a casual observer would see that Obama has demonstrated a great deal of hostility toward Christians and Jews and has demonstrated a basic affinity for Islam and Muslims.

...

In judging Obama’s faith, many are simply using the basic reasoning that “if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck—it’s a duck!” No doubt President Obama is acting more like a Muslim, and doing far more to promote Islam, while at the same time demonstrating disdain or hostility toward Christians and Christianity. The fruit of his actions bears strong evidence that Obama is indeed a Muslim, or at the very least has far more affinity for Islam than Christianity.

So why am I not persuaded that he’s a Muslim? I would believe this except for one thing—I inquired of the Lord about this and feel that I have been shown something else—that deep in his heart he wants to know the real Jesus, just as many Muslims do. He has had a hard time finding Jesus in His people. He has had bad influences to shape his life and bad counselors now. I’m praying for the Lord to raise up a Joseph or Daniel to help him.

Even so, presently we are no doubt in a very grave situation in our nation with a President who has, at the very least, shaped by some bad influences. If Obama is a Muslim, this could mean that the things being done that are eroding the core strength of America could be intentional, not just done out of ignorance. That would make it treason of the highest order.

Earlier this year, Bob Vander Plaats made a run for the GOP nomination for Governor in Iowa. He did not win and so he has now turned his attention toward "convincing Iowans the three Iowa Supreme Court Justices up for a retention vote on the Nov. 2 ballot should be kicked off the bench."

To that end, he recently showed up on Bryan Fischer's radio program where they two discussed the supreme importance of this effort and Fischer revealed that the American Family Association has already dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign:

Fischer: Well, I'm pleased and honored to bring with us on our Newsmaker line from the great state of Iowa, Bob Vander Plaats. Bob, a former candidate for Governor in the Hawkeye State and founding president of MVP Leadership, Bob welcome to Focal Point with Bryan Fischer.

Vander Plaats: Well, Bryan it's a thrill to be on your program. Thank you for everything that you do with AFA.

Fischer: Well Bob, I got to tell you, there are a lot of important elections that are coming up November 2; we are talking about an effort to change the leadership of this entire country by sending better people back to Washington that are going to care about fiscal restraint, who care about the Constitution. But for my money I think that it's possible that the single most important election this November 2 is going to take place in the state of Iowa. This is huge, it's important, you're leading the charge on this particular campaign, so tell us what's important about November 2 in the state of Iowa.

Vander Plaats: Well, first of all Bryan I couldn't agree with you more. I do believe the most important election will be happening right here in Iowa. What happened Bryan, just to give your listeners a little bit of background; on April 3, 2009 we had a Supreme Court that completely stepped outside of their jurisdiction, they made law from the bench, they governed from the bench, they attempted to amend the Constitution from the bench all in an effort to redefine the institution of marriage from one man-one woman, which we've been for 161 years to say "no, now we will be a same-sex marriage state." And I'm leading the effort to vote three of these Supreme Court justices off the bench - we have a retention process in Iowa - but we want to vote these three Supreme Court justices off the bench to hold them in check.

Fischer: Through our political arm, AFA Action, we are heavily invested in this campaign. I want our listeners to know that we are involved in this campaign, we want to see this thing go forward, we have put a couple of hundred thousand dollars into this campaign to stand for natural marriage and Bob Vander Plaats leading the cause there in Iowa.

Fischer and the AFA have long been among the most vigilant and vicious and anti-gay activists operating today, so it is no surprise to seem them get deeply involved in the Iowa fight, to such an extent that they appear to be essentially running the entire Iowa For Freedom operation:

I wonder if the people of Iowa realize that this campaign is being financed by a group that believes that gays should be banned from serving in public office, claims that gays are no different from murderers, liars, thieves, and slave traders, claims that gay sex is a form of "domestic terrorism" and that homosexuality ought to be criminalized, and that Hitler filled the Nazi ranks with gay soldiers because gays have no limits to their savagery and brutality?