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[Kathleen Parker] "religion is killing the Republican Party"

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by mc mark, Nov 20, 2008.

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  1. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    It's about time someone said it...okay, it's about time a conservative said it...

    -----------

    Giving Up on God

    By Kathleen Parker
    Wednesday, November 19, 2008; 12:00 AM

    As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.

    Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.

    I'm bathing in holy water as I type.

    To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh.

    Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth -- as long as we're setting ourselves free -- is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that.

    The choir has become absurdly off-key, and many Republicans know it.

    But they need those votes!

    So it has been for the Grand Old Party since the 1980s or so, as it has become increasingly beholden to an element that used to be relegated to wooden crates on street corners.

    Short break as writer ties blindfold and smokes her last cigarette.

    Which is to say, the GOP has surrendered its high ground to its lowest brows. In the process, the party has alienated its non-base constituents, including other people of faith (those who prefer a more private approach to worship), as well as secularists and conservative-leaning Democrats who otherwise might be tempted to cross the aisle.

    Here's the deal, 'pubbies: Howard Dean was right.

    It isn't that culture doesn't matter. It does. But preaching to the choir produces no converts. And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party -- and conservatism with it -- eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart where it belongs.

    Religious conservatives become defensive at any suggestion that they've had something to do with the GOP's erosion. And, though the recent Democratic sweep can be attributed in large part to a referendum on Bush and the failing economy, three long-term trends identified by Emory University's Alan Abramowitz have been devastating to the Republican Party: increasing racial diversity, declining marriage rates and changes in religious beliefs.

    Suffice it to say, the Republican Party is largely comprised of white, married Christians. Anyone watching the two conventions last summer can't have missed the stark differences: One party was brimming with energy, youth and diversity; the other felt like an annual Depends sales meeting.

    With the exception of Miss Alaska, of course.

    Even Sarah Palin has blamed Bush policies for the GOP loss. She's not entirely wrong, but she's also part of the problem. Her recent conjecture about whether to run for president in 2012 (does anyone really doubt she will?) speaks for itself:

    "I'm like, okay, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is.... And if there is an open door in (20)12 or four years later, and if it's something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I'll plow through that door."

    Let's do pray that God shows Alaska's governor the door.

    Meanwhile, it isn't necessary to evict the Creator from the public square, surrender Judeo-Christian values or diminish the value of faith in America. Belief in something greater than oneself has much to recommend it, including most of the world's architectural treasures, our universities and even our founding documents.

    But, like it or not, we are a diverse nation, no longer predominantly white and Christian. The change Barack Obama promised has already occurred, which is why he won.

    Among Jewish voters, 78 percent went for Obama. Sixty-six percent of under-30 voters did likewise. Forty-five percent of voters ages 18-29 are Democrats compared to just 26 percent Republican; in 2000, party affiliation was split almost evenly.

    The young will get older, of course. Most eventually will marry, and some will become their parents. But nonwhites won't get whiter. And the nonreligious won't get religion through external conversion. It doesn't work that way.

    Given those facts, the future of the GOP looks dim and dimmer if it stays the present course. Either the Republican Party needs a new base -- or the nation may need a new party.

    Kathleen Parker's e-mail address is kparker@kparker.com.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111802886.html
     
    #1 mc mark, Nov 20, 2008
  2. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Religion should be a private matter........it is indeed hurting the GOP that they make it so public.

    DD
     
    #2 DaDakota, Nov 20, 2008
  3. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member

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    The GOP used to be able to live on the evangelical vote... now they will die from it. It giveth, and it taketh... double edged sword, etc.

    I will say this though, did anyone notice how secular our society was becoming until 9/11? It seems like that event rekindled a revival among religion in society/politics. Kind of ironic, but fundamentalists breed more fundamentalists in that way I guess. Nothin' like a holy war to boost recruitment.
     
    #3 DonnyMost, Nov 20, 2008
  4. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    I can't believe she wrote that. Let the machine-gunning begin. She is going to be swiss cheese.
     
    #4 A_3PO, Nov 20, 2008
  5. conquistador#11

    conquistador#11 Member

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    Agreed!
    If the right wing wants to protect national intere$t, sorry, to promote democracy, then they should do it. Just don't hide behind god and the bible. At least I would have more respect for them.

    Also, Promoting democracy is a serious business, and if it's going to take you the entire armed forces to counter 14.000, one shouldn't be in the business of promoting democracy.
     
    #5 conquistador#11, Nov 20, 2008
  6. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    Barry Goldwater, the father of Conservatism, said it in the early 80s. How prophetic he was, and how right Kathleen Parker is.

    Besides, after coddling the Religious Right for votes from the Reagan era onwards, what have Republicans in power actually done for the Religious Right?

    Nothing, that's what.

    Feel used?
     
    #6 RocketMan Tex, Nov 20, 2008
  7. Lynus302

    Lynus302 Member

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    Were it not for that "evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP," I'd be a lot more likely to vote Republican.

    Lol-ing at "oogedy-boogedy."
     
    #7 Lynus302, Nov 20, 2008
  8. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    The hope of overturning Roe v. Wade is the crack that has addicted the Religious Right to the GOP. Ever since Reagan made the hollow promise in the 1980 campaign to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion, the RR has married itself to the Republicans. There has been no progress at all. Gay marriage? Which party had the presidency and both houses of congress while gay marriage and legal recognition of gay unions was gaining momentum throughout the country? RR leaders are some of the nuttiest, scariest bunch of kooks out there. Kathleen Parker is about to feel some of the nastiest hate people can muster.
     
    #8 A_3PO, Nov 20, 2008
  9. DonkeyMagic

    DonkeyMagic Member
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    you're all going to hell
     
    #9 DonkeyMagic, Nov 20, 2008
  10. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    its funny because on rachel maddow's show the other day they were talking about newt gearing up for 2012 with some anti gay comments, saying he's going to try to rally the religious right

    edit newt on bill o's show


    GINGRICH: Look, I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment. I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it. I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in traditional religion. And I think if you believe in historic Christianity, you have to confront the fact. And, frank -- for that matter, if you believe in the historic version of Islam or the historic version of Judaism, you have to confront the reality that these secular extremists are determined to impose on you acceptance of a series of values that are antithetical, they're the opposite, of what you're taught in Sunday school.
     
    #10 pgabriel, Nov 20, 2008
  11. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

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    I'm so sick of religious loonies.
     
    #11 rhadamanthus, Nov 20, 2008
  12. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

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    There is nothing more awesome than a two time divorcee disgraced after eighty-four ethic violations in congress lecturing the american public on "traditional religion and values" on a show run by a man accused of sexual harrassment with known penchant for bigotry and intolerance.

    Jesus would vomit.
     
    #12 rhadamanthus, Nov 20, 2008
  13. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    I think a better way of putting it is that social/religious conservatives and economic conservatives should part ways. The religious conservatives still get to vote and they are a pretty big bloc. They'll find representation somewhere.

    But, I don't see how the Republicans give up those votes. If they shun the religious side, I think they'd lose more votes than they'd gain.
     
    #13 JuanValdez, Nov 20, 2008
  14. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

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    Probably accurate. It may be more effective for the author of the article to advocate that fiscal conservatives leave the GOP and form an alternative for the non-psycho faction of the republicans. Lord knows they've been more used than the religious right given the now-typical reagan inspired spending lunacy of the so-called right.
     
    #14 rhadamanthus, Nov 20, 2008
  15. bingsha10

    bingsha10 Member

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    What have republicans done for the religious right?
    Terri Schivo.
    or they tried anyway.
     
    #15 bingsha10, Nov 20, 2008
  16. thegary

    thegary Member

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    so newt is setting up the ultimate showdown between the "religious" and the secular. nice one, freak.
     
    #16 thegary, Nov 20, 2008
  17. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    That makes sense. I never can really tell the difference between an areligious Republican and a Libertarian anyway. If it wasn't for the tyranny of the 2-party system, I think the swiitch would already be done, but they can't give up the name "Republican" without risking lose their seat at the table. The problem is, religious conservatives don't want to give it up either, so they're probably stuck with each other.
     
    #17 JuanValdez, Nov 20, 2008
  18. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

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    Agreed. Poor bastards. They're finally starting to detract from each other. And I don't foresee it getting better.
     
    #18 rhadamanthus, Nov 20, 2008
  19. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    an unholy union
     
    #19 pgabriel, Nov 20, 2008
  20. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    Gingrich: "... a gay and secular fascism ..."

    Can he really say that with a straight face? (rimshot)

    Seriously, he is too smart to believe that, so like Rush et al. he is willing to keep fanning the fires of paranoid nuttery to further his political agenda.

    Gay and secular fascism? Just wow. He may as well talk about a zombie attack, given that statement's relevance to reality.
     
    #20 B-Bob, Nov 20, 2008
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