What I Saw (And Heard) At The Revolution: Lessons From The `Values Voter Summit'

[Shallah Kali]

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2009/9/21/123131/452/Front_Page/What_I_Saw_And_Heard_At_The_Revolution_Lessons_From_The_Values_Voter_Summit_

* Be As Partisan As You Want To Be: I'm used to Religious Right confabs being GOP rallies, but this one was way over the top. These groups don't even pretend to be non-partisan any more - yet many of the sponsoring groups (the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation and the American Family Association) hold tax-exempt status. Are you listening, IRS?

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* God Watches Over Beauty Pageants: Carrie Prejean, the former Miss California, portrayed her inability to win the Miss USA title as something akin to the sufferings of the early Christians. But that's OK - it was all part of God's plan! Personally, I don't think God cares who Miss California is. Rarely have I heard someone so full of conceit. Get over yourself, lady.

* Capes Aren't Just For Oscar Wilde Anymore: Representatives of the group the American Society for Tradition, Family and Property were present in the exhibit hall. If I didn't know better, I'd swear they were street theater. First of all, they are monarchists who spend most of their time pining for the days when Catholic kings ruled Europe. When they're not doing that, young men in the group go to college campuses to protest same-sex marriage - while wearing red capes, sashes and brooches. I am not making this up.

* We Already Have Innovative Health-Care Solutions: At Saturday night's banquet, a woman at my table opined that there really is no heath-care crisis. After all, you can just go to a hospital emergency room, and they can't turn you away. Star Parker, an African-American conservative much beloved by the Religious Right, made the same point, telling the crowd, "It is an absolute lie that we don't have access for everyone who is sick."

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It was nutty, but don't get the wrong idea. We can't dismiss these people as mere cranks. They have the ears of some powerful people, and some folks who aspire to very high office are eager to keep them happy. These groups also have tons of money.

The mood of the country is very unsettled right now, and the Religious Right hopes to surf a rising wave of right-wing anger right into the halls of power.

They've done it before, and they can do it again.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2009/9/21/123131/452/Front_Page/What_I_Saw_And_Heard_At_The_Revolution_Lessons_From_The_Values_Voter_Summit_

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. The tax-exempt thing really gets me.

Used to be a day in this nation where NFPs were prohibited from discussing politics or they would lose their NFP status.

Is the IRS asleep at the switch or just waiting for people to show up with pitchforks and boiling tar?

[bumblebee1]

2. Losing a beauty pageant is akin to the suffering of early Christians?

Really, Carrie!! When was the last time anyone heard of losing beauty pageant contestants being rhrown to the lions.