Tea Party Bullies on Homosexuality: “No Punishment Too Severe?”

[Shallah Kali]

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/3522/tea_party_bullies_on_homosexuality%3A_%E2%80%9Cno_punishment_too_severe%E2%80%9D/

First, Jim DeMint (R-SC), whose fundraising efforts are benefiting tea party candidates across the country, returned to an issue many thought settled decades ago, saying http://www.goupstate.com/article/20101002/ARTICLES/10021004/0/ARTICLES?p=1&tc=pg gays and lesbians (and unmarried sexually active women) should not be permitted to teach in public schools. Speaking at a “Greater Freedom Rally,” DeMint reportedly said that people encouraged him in his position limiting freedom for gays and lesbians, saying he “shouldn’t back down. don’t want government purging their rights and their freedom to religion.”

As I reported http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/2808/demint_uses_christian_reconstructionist_mailing_list_to_raise_money_for_angle here months ago, DeMint has been using a Christian Reconstructionist group’s mailing list for fundraising, indicating that, at least in part, he thinks he and they are compatible.

snip

Not to be outdone, David Barton (on his radio program dedicated to “winning the culture war” on Tuesday) only half-facetiously suggested regulating http://wallbuilderslive.com/listen.asp?cs=high&mf=mp3&fileName=WBLive2010-10-05 homosexuality on the basis that we already regulate unhealthy things like smoking and trans fats. Sure, the headline is meant to grab attention, but he goes on to make the argument and then cruelly suggests that high rates of suicide among homosexuals is evidence of how unhealthy it is to be one. “Homosexual/bi-sexual individuals are seven times to contemplate or commit suicide,” he said, and then in a taunting tone, added “Oooh, that doesn’t sound very healthy.” All without a shred of empathy or recognition that the suicides are a result of how people like him treat gays and lesbians.

I’ve written about the Reconstructionist influence on Barton’s views on race http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/3078/glenn_beck%E2%80%99s_history_%E2%80%9Cprofessor%E2%80%9D_david_barton_on_racism_and_the_three-fifths_rule and slavery and his ties http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/3449/the_real_context_of_the_%22taliban_dan%22_ad to the authoritarian Bill Gothard. Barton explains the “threat” he sees in homosexuality, by reading what he said was an 1814 legal work:;

Much more info at the link including list of the tea party canidates DeMint has been donating money to with links to the source of the info Open Secrets.

good sites, imo, for tracking the doings of religious right including the tea party sorts:

Religion Dispatches http://www.religiondispatches.org/

Talk2Action http://talk2action.org

RightWingWatch from People for the American Way http://rightwingwatch.org

Theocracy Watch http://theocracywatch.org

Public Eye http://publiceye.org

[Shallah Kali]

1. DeMint Uses Christian Reconstructionist Mailing List To Raise Money For Angle

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/2808/demint_uses_christian_reconstructionist_mailing_list_to_raise_money_for_angle

American Vision is a Christian Reconstructionist organization that publishes books and newsletters, runs a discussion board, a web-based radio show, and annual conferences and engages in other activities to promote the dominionist views of its founder Gary DeMar, as well as those of one of its most well-known associates, Gary North, the son-in-law of Christian Reconstructionist founder R.J. Rushdoony, and a supporter of Ron Paul whose economic writings have also influenced Rand Paul.

The goal is to return America to its Biblical foundations “from Genesis to Revelation” (a postmillennial reading of Revelation, which holds that the Second Coming will occur after an era of Christian dominance). American Vision is a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. Like many of these groups, DeMar also has a companion organization that can raise money and promote candidates for elected office: Vision to America.

Yesterday, Vision to America sent a fundraising appeal in support of Nevada’s Republican nominee to the U.S. Senate, Sharron Angle, from South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint’s political action committee, the Senate Conservatives Fund.

Like Rand Paul in Kentucky, DeMint is bucking the Republican establishment by endorsing and raising money for candidates like Angle, whom he calls a "true conservative:"

[Lyric]

2. Why is it that these people cannot comprehend that "freedom of religion"

does NOT mean "freedom to violate other peoples' freedoms".

If your religion requires you to "kill heretics", then sorry, but you don't get THAT freedom in America...because it would violate someone ELSE'S freedom.

Similarly, if your religion requires you to hurt (mentally or physically) other people, then fuck OFF. You don't get to hurt people in the name of "religious freedom". America doesn't work that way.

[mediaman007]

3. Why does the Teabagger Party even care about GLBT?

I thought that their issue was taxation. Oh yeah, they were formerly the Christian Coalition, formerly the Moral Majority, and formerly the Silent Majority.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabasco]

5. There's no difference between the R's and the D's.

A lot of people here at DU told me so.

:sarcasm:

[Shallah Kali]

6. yep absolutly no difference. Unless you are gay. Or have a womb.

Or are disabled. Or are a 9/11 first responder. Or now can say on your 'rents insurance until 26. and a few others might notice a difference.

[and-justice-for-all]

7. Coincidently I feel the same way about stupidity...nt

[Scuba]

8. Despicable. n/t

[Shallah Kali]

9. kick

:kick: