On a Mission From God: Examining Sarah Palin’s ties to the Christian Right

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from In These Times:



Features > October 27, 2008
On a Mission From God
Examining Sarah Palin’s ties to the Christian Right

By Chip Berlet and Esther Kaplan (WASHINGTON, D.C.)


Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was the star of the Christian Right’s 2008 Values Voter Summit in mid-September, even though she was a last minute no-show. The Republican vice presidential candidate’s name was tossed around frequently to euphoric applause at the event in Washington, D.C., while the few mentions of presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) drew only polite claps.

Topping the list of concerns at the conference were abortion and same-sex marriage, while other presentations sounded the alarm on the threats to God and country posed by stem cell research, immigration from Mexico, Islamic terrorists, secular public schools, sex education and liberals, in general.

Attendees knew the stakes for this election are high. The next president will appoint Supreme Court justices who will shape legal matters for decades, a point that was made repeatedly from the stage.

While some speakers outlined the political battles ahead in practical terms, others implied that this election reflected a culture war between godly Christians and the forces of Satan — embodied, of course, by Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and the Democratic Party.

One thing was clear: Many in the Christian Right now view electing Palin as a task ordained by God. The unanswered question for the rest of us is: How does Palin see herself? Is she someone who merely asks God for guidance — a fairly common practice for religious people in public office? Or does she see herself as carrying out God’s will on the political stage? ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3970/on_a_mission_from_god