Values Voter Summit: First impressions...

Guest Post from the Public Eye The “Washington Briefing: 2006 Values Voter Summit” has launched a new offensive in the ongoing Christian Right Culture War, with gay marriage and the "homosexual agenda" as the primary target, and a goal to mobilize "values voters” to the polls in November. This new coalition seeks to replace the work of the Christian Coalition. There were about 1,000 people at the opening sessions, and total participation may reach between 1,500 to 2000 by the end of the weekend (perhaps slightly higher). Not as big as the biggest Christian Coalition meetings, but not shabby. The exhibit hall is much smaller, however. Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) quoted scholar David Landes on the centrality of culture. According to Romney, every child has a right to have a mother and father. Liberals, he said, support democracy only when they think that the outcome is a foregone conclusion that favors their views. Romney urged support for the Federal Marriage Amendment. I think the warm reception for Romney is significant. The man next to me leaned over and said: “That’s our next President.” Dr. James Dobson told the audience that he was not satisfied with the Republicans progress on family values issues, but that it was important to be politically active. It was clear to the audience that Dobson meant they should go to the polls and vote for candidates that support their issues—who are not likely to include many Democrats. Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) said politics is too polarized, and told the audience that Christian with open hearts should be willing to consider working with: feminists against pornography; supporters of gay marriage against the spread of AIDS; and organized labor for safer working conditions and better wages. A clear theme was that it is all for the children…whether it is pro-life issues, opposition to gay marriage, or restoring morality to America. The American Civil Liberties Union came under vigorous attack, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State was slammed.