Kevin Phillips: "REPUBLICAN PARTY FIRST RELIGIOUS PARTY IN U.S. HISTORY"

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: How the GOP Became God's Own Party
By Kevin Phillips
Sunday, April 2, 2006; Page B03

Now that the GOP has been transformed by the rise of the South, the trauma of terrorism and George W. Bush's conviction that God wanted him to be president, a deeper conclusion can be drawn: The Republican Party has become the first religious party in U.S. history.

We have had small-scale theocracies in North America before -- in Puritan New England and later in Mormon Utah. Today, a leading power such as the United States approaches theocracy when it meets the conditions currently on display: an elected leader who believes himself to speak for the Almighty, a ruling political party that represents religious true believers, the certainty of many Republican voters that government should be guided by religion and, on top of it all, a White House that adopts agendas seemingly animated by biblical worldviews.

Indeed, there is a potent change taking place in this country's domestic and foreign policy, driven by religion's new political prowess and its role in projecting military power in the Mideast.

The United States has organized much of its military posture since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks around the protection of oil fields, pipelines and sea lanes. But U.S. preoccupation with the Middle East has another dimension. In addition to its concerns with oil and terrorism, the White House is courting end-times theologians and electorates for whom the Holy Lands are a battleground of Christian destiny. Both pursuits -- oil and biblical expectations -- require a dissimulation in Washington that undercuts the U.S. tradition of commitment to the role of an informed electorate.

The political corollary -- fascinating but appalling -- is the recent transformation of the Republican presidential coalition. Since the election of 2000 and especially that of 2004, three pillars have become central: the oil-national security complex, with its pervasive interests; the religious right, with its doctrinal imperatives and massive electorate; and the debt-driven financial sector, which extends far beyond the old symbolism of Wall Street....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/01/AR2006040100004.html?nav=most_emailed

[Erika]

1. Theocracy in action

Southern old time religion dictating our government.

Bring back the confederate flag and slavery as they tell us how to worship God.

[Solon]

2. Not historically accurate...

Look up the American Party, actually look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know-Nothing_movement

They were proud to be white and Protestant.

[DRoseDARs]

4. And not just them; several groups just in the past century. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Do you think he means to confine this to "a ruling political party"? nt

[Solon]

9. He didn't say it, so I don't make assumptions...

There are also current parties that are overtly religious, Christian Fangalists, etc. or even the Knights party, I guess could be considered religious, though, to be honest, it is just a political front for the KKK.

[DRoseDARs]

10. Could be; might've just been sloppy with his wording...

...but I still believe the notion to be wrong. My feeling is most of the Republican politicians (and for the sake of arguement the Democrats too) would much prefer to remain publically secular or only moderately religious, keeping their truer convictions private for the sake of their next election - exception made for those representing very religious presincts/districts - to appeal to the moderates as well. Further, I feel most non-politician Republicans really are just moderate in their beliefs except when directly confronted. If the majority of them really were as overtly religious as we've seen with the vocal minority (Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson et al.) then we wouldn't be having this discussion. We'd be discussing how much we all love Jesus (or else...).

There's still time to push back against the bible-thumping barbarians at the gate. Most people in the US like not having their private lives interfered with. Lord knows religion and its unholy mixing/union with politics does exactly that: Interferes with private lives.

[DRoseDARs]

3. Jeez, three seconds on Google and I've already popped Kevin's bubble...

http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm

Listed are a few parties that are either overtly religious or their principles are religiously-based. There are more than enough secular Republicans to negate the notion that the GOP is the "first religious party in US history" instead of simply having been co-opted by the religious right in recent years/election cycles.

Bloody hell, how hard is it for journalists to do even a cursory bit of research these days? :eyes:

[DeepModem Mom]

6. See post 5? nt

[Erika]

8. Falwell, Robertson & the South

declared W as the appointed religious leader to install theocracy in government. Face it, Rove's genius was to develop a data base of the far right religious fringe to
get a turn out. He did it.

This is the first time in American history that the religious right is trying to establish a theocracy. Enabled by Karl Rove.

[alfredo]

7. His book, "American Theocracy" is a

must read. It appears that was taken from his preface.

[enough]

14. I agree -- it is a MUST READ.

Even if you think you're pretty well informed, this book will open your eyes.

[alfredo]

18. it gives a historical perspective.

I'm still reading about oil.

I can see that Texas has way too much control on our government.

[ChristianLibrul]

11. If by "religious"...

...you mean infested with liars, bullies, criminals, warmongers and abominations.

[shenmue]

12. True

More's the pity.

:grr:

[DanCa]

13. But what god do they worship?

It's not the Jesus i know. The Jesus who loves straights as much as he loves gays, who stands up for the rights of women, who doesn't want his image to be used in vain, and who favors the poor and sick. I don't know what God the republicans worship but it isn't mine.

[mmonk]

15. Just bought his book

American Theocracy.

[KittyWampus]

16. The Religious Right Is First and Foremost A POLITICAL Movement

indeed, once you get that point, things make a lot more sense... and you realise how and why the Far Right version of Christianity is so warped. Their goal has NOTHING to do with Spiritiuality, Spiritual Growth or Spiritiual Communion.

[merbex]

17. Run, don't walk- run- and buy this book

He is a gifted writer and pulls everything together

I plan on buying another copy - one to fill with highlights- the other to save if I ever meet him so he can sign it