Frank Bruni, NY Times on GOP and Netanyahu Speech

[edhopper]

"Christians Loving Jews"

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-benjamin-netanyahu-john-boehner-and-americas-evangelicals.html?_r=0

Yes, Boehner’s invitation to Netanyahu, rendered independently of the White House, was a way to get under President Obama’s skin and in President Obama’s way. And, yes, that provocation was manna to the most conservative House Republicans, who sometimes chafe under Boehner’s leadership.

But they loved what Boehner did for an additional reason: It catered to the evangelical Christians who are an integral part of the party’s base, especially for lawmakers from the reddest states or districts. In fact, as Ashley Parker reported in The Times, Boehner’s caucus gave him a standing ovation last week even though he was bucking them by linking arms with Nancy Pelosi to pass a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

I posted this in GD and surprisingly got almost no feed back.
Thought it would be of interest here. I've meet many people who are unaware of the Evangelical's obsession with Israel.

[cbayer]

1. Really good analysis of this very strange relationship.

The Evangelical Zionists are not new, but the way it is feeding anti-Islamic sentiment is enlightening.

[edhopper]

4. That has become a big part of it as well.

[okasha]

8. They're happily using each other.

James Hagee and his ilk require a Jewish state--preferably a theocracy-- for the "prophecies" in Revelation to be fulfilled. Israel needs American political support and weapons.

Bibi needs to go, and his damned wall needs to come crashing down.

[cbayer]

9. They really are.

It's very strange bedfellows, but I agree about Bibi.

[trotsky]

2. Obsession in that Israel must exist in order to be obliterated in their Armageddon fantasies!

Just repulsive.

[edhopper]

3. I believe

the term religious wack jobs is apropos.

[safeinOhio]

5. Unintended consequences

when Bibi is thrown out in the elections and the American religious right and the repubs get blamed for it.

[edhopper]

6. one can only hope.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Israel is key to the evangelical desire for god to come back and kill everyone.

It's a disturbing idea.