GOP Insider: How Religion Destroyed My Party

[ndcent]

GOP Insider: How Religion Destroyed My Party

Having observed politics up close and personal for most of my adult lifetime, I have come to the conclusion that the rise of politicized religious fundamentalism may have been the key ingredient in the transformation of the Republican Party. Politicized religion provides a substrate of beliefs that rationalizes—at least in the minds of its followers—all three of the GOP’s main tenets: wealth worship, war worship, and the permanent culture war.

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Anyone else happen to read this?

Seems dead on.

 

[KidVermicious]

I haven't read it, but the courting of the religious right by the GOP is why I don't call myself Republican anymore.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Both parties have their problems but the GOP really has had a rough decade+. Unless something major happens on either side I can't see Obama losing this fall.

 

[CookieRoe]

Republican FAIL and I'm registered as one

For the record before I begin my rant. I've gone to Catholic school pretty much all of my academic career from grades 1-6. Grades 7-12, I attended a private school. Went and graduated from a Jesuit University. My family and myself are (non-practicing) Roman Catholics.

Religion: Ahhh yes, the human race's most misunderstood invention. Listen, I used to be quite religious, but have since woken up. In college actually. Amazing what one can learn taking theology for several semesters. Anyway, It's as simple as this: religion was put on this earth so we are good to each to other. It's a moral compass/guide, so to speak. It makes us feel "right" and "good". That's great I think. But you know what? My mind does the same damn thing. If you don't agree with me on this, don't bother reading the rest of this paragraph. I consider myself a good old kind of guy. You are nice to me, and I'm going to be nice to you. You help me, I'll help you and vice-versa. If you don't return the favor, that's ok. You swing at me, I get mad, but ultimately walk away. Why? Best thing to do. Be good unto others as you would like to be treated yourself. Under pressure or stress? Chill! Relax and figure things out calmly. There is ALWAYS a way out of bad situations.............................. Religious people pray to God/Jesus/Buddah/Allah/etc for guidance. When I reason something, religion doesn't even enter my mind. Praying works for some people, and as I stated, that's great. It works for them. It doesn't work for me (anymore). Religion (some of them) has been hijacked into a "militant" belief that if you don't believe in it, then you are a sinner and an outsider. F*ck you , I say. We are all human beings and are on this planet together. It amazes me that if you are of a different religious denomination, you can get killed for it in certain parts of the world. Look, If you are going to let a book, be it the King James Bible, Koran, etc, be your moral foundation in life where it dictates every detail in your life, then you have issues. If you have to instill violence to "adhere" to what some ancient book says, you have MAJOR issues. All humans, properly educated and chemically balanced have the ability to do without religion and have happy/productive lives. If you need religion to help you for that, great, we are all different. But don't you DARE ram it down my throat.

So then, couple this "religion" which is subjective (I consider it to be) with a party who is extremely friendly to big business (a sentiment not shared by the masses nowadays), small government (again, that is good, but in certain areas is required) and you have a recipe for idiocy. Big business? Yes, according to the Supreme Court, they have rights as you and I do, is that fair? Of course not, but it's the law (touching on campaign finances, which is another stupidly sad topic). So this party seems to be hellbent on keeping Health care private. Guess what? doesn't work. These companies are always going to put profit ahead of care, always. It a business. That is what they do. I pay close $800/month for cheap sh*t insurance for my wife and baby daughter. If something happens, guess what happens to my premium? Yep, goes up. Look, health care for all is a good thing. Does it look like it has be government controlled? Probably, that's the only way you are going to make sure its fair. Business and health care are oxymorons if you think about it. My father is a surgeon, and incredibly agrees with this. This will/may EAT at his profits, but ultimately is good for the nation. It's as simple as that. This is just ONE topic where I adamantly disagree with the republican party. There are many others, but I won't get into that. Again, that may explode this thread into an argument that no one will win.

Republicans: Has been a complete disappointment as of late (starting several years back). I'm not going to get into politics b/c it ALWAYS ends up a loosing topic. I personally think the whole political system is for the birds and needs to be revamped, but that will never happen. :nerd:

No, I didn't read the article, I don't need to. Whenever you try to glue religion with politics, you get absolute crap. Period.

Obama takes it this fall. Can't see Romney winning. Probably a good thing, who knows.

 

[Millerad1651]

x2 on everything you just said. Funny how learning some new ideas about the world in college makes you think about all the crap that was told to you growing up.

 

[Thai]

Both parties have their problems but the GOP really has had a rough decade+. Unless something major happens on either side I can't see Obama losing this fall.

I am not Catholic nor any religion for that matter. I was not raised up as one either.

BUT, where Obama is taking this country is wrong. So, i don't really care one way or another...just that Obama must go. Why anyone blind enough to still see the light from Obama is beyond me!

Think of it this way...at least for me, voting for Romney (a semi-liberal guy in his own right) is the lesser of two evils. That's the bottom line for me. Obama must go. Otherwise, we are royally screwed. What has Obama promised that has come true? Nobel Prize anyone? What good CHANGE have we seen since 2008?

Obama’s strategy is simple: He promises everything to everybody and then points the finger elsewhere when people are inevitably disappointed. A good summary on his recent actions by the President: (Is this the upstanding President that you guys voted for?? Honestly!)

"It’s important to remember that Barack Obama rode into Washington four years ago on a magic carpet made up of hopes and dreams and promises to make the national conversation less partisan and more civil.

It’s tempting to believe that Mr. Obama has thrown his principles out the window in order to win. But it’s becoming more and more clear that he never had the principles he sold us on. It’s becoming more and more clear that Barack Obama is just one more crummy Chicago politician who will do whatever he has to in order to win. Somebody needs to tell the president that the White House isn’t City Hall.

Mr. Obama’s tactics, of course, may work. But if he wins re-election, he will be the president of a nation more divided than when he walked into the Oval Office four years ago. With his class warfare strategy, he has managed to turn Americans against each other. With his ally’s dirty campaign ad, he has managed to make us more cynical than we were before he promised to make things better."

 

[KidVermicious]

The LDS church has ****-all to do with the GOP and the religious right, Brian. Try not to parrot everything the left puts in front of your face, will you?

He doesn't talk about it because of rags like the WaPo that will use it against him.

 

[KidVermicious]

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that,

"Not that there's anything wrong with that". Of course not, some of your best friends are Mormon, right?

The dude doesn't have to say a danged thing about his religion, and to suggest that he does shows your bigotry. It's ironic to me that the same press that so staunchly defended the idea that religion had nothing to do with politics when Kennedy was running is the main driver of this idea that a candidate must talk openly about and be accountable for their choice of religion now that Romney is a candidate.

Guess which one was the Democrat?

 

[ndcent]

I am not Catholic nor any religion for that matter. I was not raised up as one either.

BUT, where Obama is taking this country is wrong. So, i don't really care one way or another...just that Obama must go. Why anyone blind enough to still see the light from Obama is beyond me!

Think of it this way...at least for me, voting for Romney (a semi-liberal guy in his own right) is the lesser of two evils. That's the bottom line for me. Obama must go. Otherwise, we are royally screwed. What has Obama promised has come true? Nobel Prize anyone? What good CHANGE have we seen?

Obama’s strategy is simple: He promises everything to everybody and then points the finger elsewhere when people are inevitably disappointed. A good summary on his recent actions by the President: (Is this the upstanding President that you guys voted for?? Honestly!)

"It’s important to remember that Barack Obama rode into Washington four years ago on a magic carpet made up of hopes and dreams and promises to make the national conversation less partisan and more civil.

It’s tempting to believe that Mr. Obama has thrown his principles out the window in order to win. But it’s becoming more and more clear that he never had the principles he sold us on. It’s becoming more and more clear that Barack Obama is just one more crummy Chicago politician who will do whatever he has to in order to win. Somebody needs to tell the president that the White House isn’t City Hall.

Mr. Obama’s tactics, of course, may work. But if he wins re-election, he will be the president of a nation more divided than when he walked into the Oval Office four years ago. With his class warfare strategy, he has managed to turn Americans against each other. With his ally’s dirty campaign ad, he has managed to make us more cynical than we were before he promised to make things better."

Hey, I just don't want Obama to win because he's black.

:naughty:

 

[KidVermicious]

I will add that I understand why you are sensitive about this issue. There are a lot of LDS bashers out there so I totally understand why you are being defensive. But I haven't said anything negative about LDS and have "no beef" with them. I have been to UT many times and think it is a great state; I have family out there as well.

I'm not LDS.

And EVERY male Mormon above ... 14? 12 or 14, I forget which, but they're all "priests". It's not that big a deal in the LDS church to be a "priest". It's not a big deal to be Bishop of a ward, either. It's a rotating position, lots of guys get called to be Bishop for a certain period of time.

And again, he doesn't talk about his religion because there's a nation of people that think that what he believes in is a skinny hair away from Scientology*, and want to dog on him for it. So he doesn't talk about it, and won't, and it doesn't mean he's hiding anything. It means it's his business and nobody else's.

And yes, Kennedy is relevant because the mainstream press defended him and his right to religious privacy, while today in a very similiar situation it's the mainstream media that's trying desperately to make this election about "electing a Mormon". I'm not rewriting history, Brian, I'm citing it. Please don't accuse me of making up facts unless you're willing to bring your facts to refute me.

(*nevermind that the things mainstream Catholics believe are just as "out there", only 2000 years ago instead of 200.)

 

[KidVermicious]

Hey, I just don't want Obama to win because he's black.

:naughty:

Oh, well that's all right then.

 

[Thai]

Just heard Obama talked..."shared prosperity" concept....:toilet:

 

[Thai]

The problem is that if you (conservatives) are not voting for Romney, then you're basically casting a half vote for Obama! Obama voters will turn out to vote for him for sure (see 2008)...if you're not voting for Romney, then you're voting for Obama to continue 4 more years. Isn't the past 4 years enough?? The nation has gotten better the past 4 years?? Can anyone with a straight face say that?

Obama said in an ABC interview 3.5 years ago that if he cannot fix the nation by the end of his 1st term, then he will gladly step aside for someone else. Hmmm, he is a man who keeps his word...NOT!

So, yeah, GOP deserters...go ahead...wait for the perfect candidate or b!tch about religion this or that..BUT, don't come back to fukking complain that Obama won in 2012!! For me, religion or not, Obama MUST go for the sake of this country!

It's funny...the other day, my wife and I talked about how our families sacrificed so much to get away from communism and socialism...only to come here and now hear the same sh!t!

 

[Atlanta_man]

Pretty much the last chance to elect the last Republican Pres. The changing demographics of this country say they are destined to be a minority.
All those getting a government benefit or pay check and 95% of minorities will vote Dem.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Religion can be a lightening rod for some voters; I personally believe that church and state should remain clearly divided. Short of being a harden criminal, I don't care one bit what religion the president is. As long as they can lead the country in a positive direction while creating and sustaining real economic growth for the collective body of this country, he or she has my vote. There have been plenty of presidents with sordid pasts, but have led this nation with good judgement.

Congress needs to be cleaned up first. The game of lobbyists buying control of Congressional voting power, for their deep pocket clients, has to come to an end. Until the big money is kept in check in DC, Americans will keep watching the present dog and pony show that is playing out before them.

 

[ndcent]

The problem is that if you (conservatives) are not voting for Romney, then you're basically casting a half vote for Obama! Obama voters will turn out to vote for him for sure (see 2008)...if you're not voting for Romney, then you're voting for Obama to continue 4 more years. Isn't the past 4 years enough?? The nation has gotten better the past 4 years?? Can anyone with a straight face say that?

Obama said in an ABC interview 3.5 years ago that if he cannot fix the nation by the end of his 1st term, then he will gladly step aside for someone else. Hmmm, he is a man who keeps his word...NOT!

So, yeah, GOP deserters...go ahead...wait for the perfect candidate or b!tch about religion this or that..BUT, don't come back to fukking complain that Obama won in 2012!! For me, religion or not, Obama MUST go for the sake of this country!

It's funny...the other day, my wife and I talked about how our families sacrificed so much to get away from communism and socialism...only to come here and now hear the same sh!t!

Personally I think both candidates slob a fat knob.

Both just want to talk about why the other candidate is bad, not why they're good.

So fuk them both.

Interesting aside though, Obama is a lot more conservative than the right OR left want to admit.

 

[Thai]

Personally I think both candidates slob a fat knob.

Both just want to talk about why the other candidate is bad, not why they're good.

So fuk them both.

Interesting aside though, Obama is a lot more conservative than the right OR left want to admit.

While true, the problem is that Obama current policy sucks to no end. It is destroying this country. At least, now with Ryan as VP, there is a more sensible budget plan. Crap, we can't get much worst than now, right?

The problem with Obama is that he wants us to become Europe 2nd Edition, another socialist state. Well, isn't it pretty clear that Europe is now in horrible shape? Why are we trying to copy a failure state?? Why are we turning our back on our most powerful ally, Israel? (No, i am not Jewish.)

ndecent, are you going to vote for Obama? If you are, then you must be very happy with the current state of our nation, right? Are we really better now than 4 years ago? Yeah, the automatic response from Obama camp is that they inherit a bad situation...but has that situation improved at all, as Obama promised??? Hasn't that situation gone even worst in 4 years?

For those Obama voters, are we better today than 4 years ago? If the answer is no, then why are you voting for him? Note that Obama said himself that he will fix our nation in 4 years or else he will step aside. Has he made our country stronger in the world? Or has has made us weaker? Are we going to mortgage our children's children future to the Chinese??

Do we have anything else to lose by getting someone else to lead our country?? I don't think so since we are on path to total socialist state...just look at how Europe is doing and that is our future!

"Shared Prosperity"...think about that for those in school learning about different ways of life...what does that mean to you? What does that remind you of? THAT is what Obama is preaching to the welfare class, the jobless, and the poor...because that is only what he has left to offer. He is now going low to please these folks and illegals.

 

[robhurlburt]

Obama’s strategy is simple: He promises everything to everybody and then points the finger elsewhere when people are inevitably disappointed. A good summary on his recent actions by the President: (Is this the upstanding President that you guys voted for?? Honestly!)

seriously?! is this your first year following politics? EVERY, and I mean EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENT/POLITICIAN promises the world when they are up for election and never deliver. you can take your rant and put bush/clinton/regan in place of obama and its the EXACT same outcome.

been this way for years, Obama is no different than anyone else.

 

[Thai]

seriously?! is this your first year following politics? EVERY, and I mean EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENT/POLITICIAN promises the world when they are up for election and never deliver. you can take your rant and put bush/clinton/regan in place of obama and its the EXACT same outcome.

been this way for years, Obama is no different than anyone else.

I have not seen a Presidential commercial whereby it says the other candidate is a murderer....

In addition, i can't say that any of what Obama promised that came true...he did get a Nobel Prize out of it though...his policies are to make this a socialist state where handouts are given for votes.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Why will Romney be better? And I'm serious when I say that instead of just attacking Obama. It's not just about supplanting a party which is just like replacing the knife that's stabbing you in the back with a new knife.

I don't see the Republicans helping me and it just seems more of the same crap both parties push every election year. The last 12 years has been a disaster and I just see more of the same no matter who wins. The last 4 years has been a big disappointment but at least with Obama we know what we are getting whereas the Romney ticket doesn't guarantee anything and could be worse.
The Republican party still is a bit of a mess and looks out of touch more than Obama and come November we will be getting 4 more years of Obama,I can't see America voting for Romney just like I couldn't see them seriously voting in McCain and Palin 4 years ago.

and 3.....2......1.......