Tag Archives: Radical Right

So Why Is DE State House Giving Official Tributes to Known Christian Dominionists?

On January 19, 2012, one C. Peter Wagner was awarded an official tribute from the Delaware House of Representatives, sponsored by Representative Daniel Short and officially signed off by Speaker Gilligan. The House awards tons of these, but this one is spectacularly different.

Why? Dr. Wagner is a leader in the Christian Dominion movement – they believe that Christians (or at least certain ones of them) should have Dominion over government, the media and business in order to be prepared for the end times. (Michelle Goldberg has a great article on this here.) Called the New Apostolic Reformation by Dr. Wagner, its front line associates are called Apostles and meant to focus on the work of taking over these institutions. You may have heard his name when Governor Perry was showily organizing his state-sponsored prayer rally, called The Response.

The great blog Right Wing Watch picked this up when they received a copy of an email that Wagner sent out to his people. In it, he replicates the text of the Tribute awarded to him from the House:

State of Delaware House of Representatives. Tribute. Be it known to all that the House of Representatives recognizes Dr. C. Peter Wagner As an Apostle For the Occasion of Commissioning Apostles in the State of Delaware. On this special day of the Commissioning Service, we honor Dr. C. Peter Wagner for his many years of faithful service to the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and the advancement of His Kingdom. ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: I know your works. See I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” Rev. 3:7.’ The House of Representatives extends its sincere congratulations and directs this tribute to be presented on this 19th day of January 2012. (Signed) Robert F. Gilligan, Speaker of the House; Richard L. Puffer, Chief Clerk of the House, Representative Daniel B. Short, Sponsor.

This is highly unusual and an abuse of what was intended for legislative tributes. The history of ‘tributes’ dates back only about 12 years or so. Before tributes, the General Assembly would wade through scores of non-controversial resolutions, Eagle Scouts congratulations, stuff like that, each resolution requiring a print run and somebody to write the empty ‘Whereas’ clauses, and a legislative body to vote on it. Plus, they didn’t exactly look like ‘keepsakes’ when received by the honorees. Richard B. Carter, Administrative Assistant for the Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus, came up with the tribute concept, a one-page document enclosed in a navy-blue binder, tribute prepared on a faux-parchment stock, and signed only by President Pro-Tem or Speaker, the Chief Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, and the sponsor of the tribute. The program has served its intended purpose and has generally worked well. The advantages are considerable: No print runs, no votes, and a genuine keepsake for the recipient. It works and works well, as long as tributes comport with the non-controversial intent of the program, and someone doesn’t try to slip something like this through. Especially since this document implies the imprimatur of the Delaware State House of Representatives on a particular type of religion. Did they really have to quote biblical scripture in the tribute? One would hope that that would have served as a red flag to someone concerned about separation of church and state. If anybody was.

An official tribute from the House (a scanned copy of the document is here), for these “apostles” in the service of making our government and institutions look more like those in Iran. Substitute Ayatollahs for Apostles and you get the drift here. Take a look at how he describes how he got this thing:

As part of the ceremony, I was officially welcomed as an apostle and authorized to help commission apostles to the state. The mayor of Seaford (a committed believer) read the Commendation from his office and presented me with the key to the city. This was followed by a Tribute complete with the seal of the Sussex County Council, a Tribute with the seal of the Senate of the State of Delaware, and a Tribute from the House of Representatives of the State of Delaware read personally by the representative of the district.

So his haul included keys to the city of Seaford and a tribute from the Sussex County Council. And this is from people who are screaming that their country is being taken from them, screaming about socialism, screaming that no one follows the constitution and yet they turn around and kiss the butt of a guy who would transform the leadership of this country into ayatollahs.

It is important to pay attention to this stuff and shine a light on it and push back on it as much as possible. This is not harmless – you can see the influence of these people around Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann. And just because you are Christian doesn’t mean you are OK with these people. He has been waging a “prayer war” against Catholics in Argentina and urging that Catholic statues be burned (scroll down). He told a group that the Emperor of Japan and the “Sun Goddess” sleep together and apparently this is the cause of Japan’s stock market troubles. And we have official government institutions in our state using our tax money to provide Tribute to this very extreme theocratic business. Aren’t you curious as to how our House of Representatives could sign on to this craziness?

(Fresh Air had Wagner on back in October and it is chilling and fascinating.)

h/t and thanks for this story to Kyle Mantyla at People For the American Way’s Right Wing Watch, a blog vigorously documenting the right wing atrocities.

Giving the Finger to Federal Employees

This has been a bad year for Federal civilian employees. We’ve been blamed for the budget deficits and have become the punching bag for teabaggers near and far. Supposedly we’re the cause of everything that is wrong in Washington.

So who would have thought that a bill to honor civilian employees who die in the line of duty would cause such an uproar with the right wing?

A seemingly innocuous piece of bipartisan legislation that would provide an inexpensive flag-draped patriotic gesture is drawing right-wing opposition because the honor would go to federal civilian employees.

The legislation would authorize the presentation of American flags at the funerals of federal workers killed in the line of duty, much like is done for members of the military. It was expected to pass easily when it was scheduled for a vote in the House last week.

“Every year federal civilian employees are killed at home and abroad doing their duty for our nation,” said Rep. Richard L. Hanna (R-N.Y.), a sponsor of the bill. “The American flag embodies the values of our nation that these individuals worked to uphold. This legislation would provide a modest, but significant, benefit in honor of these dedicated individuals who sacrificed on our behalf.”

It appeared that this bill would pass without any major opposition. But it ran into trouble when the American Legion denounced the bill. And it didn’t help that Erik Erickson from Redstate wrote an article calling it “The Flags for Bureaucrats Act.”

The Legion opposed the bill for several reasons, one of which is misleading.

“Civil service workers do not sign a pledge to defend America with their lives,” said Fang Wong, the Legion’s national commander, in a news release.

The truth is that the oath civilians and members of the military swear says they will “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Yeah, that’s right. Federal civilian employees and members of the military basically swear the same oath (the military adds in lines about obeying the orders of officers and the President).

Wong I guess forgot about the 168 victims of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City in 1996. I guess he doesn’t care about the civilians who work in war zones next to military members (see Iraq). When I was on active duty, I worked next to civilian employees on a daily basis. My secretary was a civilian.

I’m a member of the American Legion. Sadly, they are as wrong on this issue as they are on DADT.

Now We Know What Caused The Earthquake

Apparently gay marriage is responsible for yesterday’s earthquake along the East Coast. So says Rabbi Yehuda Levin.

Levin, who is involved with NOM (the anti-marriage equality group), claims that the quake, which was centered in Eric Cantor’s House district, was retribution from G-D.

“The Talmud states, ‘You have shaken your male member in a place where it doesn’t belong. I too, will shake the Earth,’” Levin says.

Now, I’ve studied the Talmud and I do not remember anything in it or any of the commentaries that even mention the words “male member” or even shaking it.

As usual, this is just some schmuck who wants to get his 15 minutes of fame. Maybe he was channeling Jerry Falwell. He has about 6 weeks to prepare to repent for his outrageous statements. Yom Kippur is just around the corner.

Night of the Long Knives and Pitchforks

Well, it didn’t take long for the O’Donnell faction of the GOP to begin the civil war. At last night’s meeting of the Sussex County GOP Committee, Don Ayotte, who is a contributor over at that other political blog (you know the one, the one run by Delusional David) demanded Tom Ross’ head.

According to Jud Bennett, a member of the committee,

With absolutely no regard for the rules, Don Ayotte, with the backing of a vociferous and determined, stacked house, demanded that a Sussex County Resolution be passed, censoring State Chairman Tom Ross for his actions concerning Christine O”donnell (sic) during the Primary campaign and after. According to the resolution, Tom Ross had said “Christine O’Donnell could not be elected to dog catcher”. He also “did not support O”donnell properly after the Primary”, according to Ayotte’s resolution– in which O’Donnell upset Mikle Castle in the wake of Tea Party support.

We all knew that this day was coming, but Ayotte, who is known for his extremist views at the other blog, couldn’t even wait a week. All of us over here at DL are socialists and Marxists and he’s the sane one. Bennett continues:

Vitriol, shouting, and a total break down of order transpired. Ron Sams tried to explain that this action would serve no productive purpose in unifying the party. Moderate Republican, Maria Evans expressed her views in opposition of this action, and denied the validity of Ayotte’s proposal. She also held up a tape recorder, saying that she was taping the whole deal, which no doubt will be played on the internet, and on all the local and national TV and radio stations.

I’m beginning to think this is why Dan Gaffney tweeted today “and people wonder why I don’t join the ‘club’.” Better to steer clear of this mess, Dan.

But wait, there’s more. Bennett “called for a point of order–suggesting that only official committee members are allowed to vote on something like this and it requires a quorum of 50 voters.” After this– Ron Sams brought those Sussex Committee members to the front to count them. Only 31 were present, making any official action not relevant or legal.” But Ayotte and his teabagging fellow travelers would have nothing to do with the rules.

They wanted blood, they wanted to punish, and they wanted it known that Tom Ross needed to go and this was to be a vote of no confidence. County Councilman Vance Phillips called for a planned vote on the resolution at the next meeting, but Ayotte and company would not hear it. Finally, Ron Sams said, “you want to vote, go ahead. The unruly crowd , in a voice vote, overwhelmingly supported the resolution, with a few squeaky nays in opposition.

Standing on the sidelines urging on this unruly mob, with their torches and pitchforks at hand, were Vance Phillips and Sam Wilson, two members of the Sussex County Council. Both of these guys make Joe McCarthy look like a moderate. According to a friend of mine who was at the meeting, both of these fine gents moved that the resolution be placed on next month’s agenda. My guess is that they will ensure that there is a quorum present to vote on the motion. This is also what Curly has been advocating since the primary – he wants Ross’ head on a pike.

In closing his email to his Coastal Conservative Network, Bennett said this:

Regardless, without compromise, with this “take no prisoners”, vitriolic attitude, the Delaware GOP will not rebuild, will not heal, and will continue to lose elections. This is not the right way in my opinion, but I’m just an old dinasaur. So be it.

Dave Burris probably saw this in his crystal ball, which is why he left the party. And if the GOP splits, their caucus in Leg Hall will continue to shrink.

h/t to Independent

Intimidation At Its Finest

What would you do if comments like this started arriving in your in-box?

As I talked to Johnson in his office, an alert flashed on one of his two giant computer monitors. An angry screed targeting him on another website concluded: “I think a visit to Mr. Johnson’s home might be warranted. Anybody got his address?”

Would you move to a gated community?  Or, laugh it off because there’s no such thing as a lone wolf?

Charles Johnson is not laughing – he’s moving, or, more accurately, has already moved into a gated community.  And…

The man who once decried vitriol spread on liberal websites now says: “The kinds of hate mail and the kinds of attacks I am getting from the right wing are way beyond anything I got when I was criticizing the left or even radical Islam.”

Read that last part again – way beyond anything I got when I was criticizing the left or even radical Islam. I think Mr. Johnson’s decision to move was a wise one.

Where Cries of Socialism Meet Racism

Christopher J. Lee, assistant professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has an interesting op-ed piece in the Christian Science Monitor looking at the racist undertones of the rightwing shouts of socialism.

Yet, as seen at various town hall meetings and the Tea Party rally in Washington Sept. 12, a deeper sign of racial tension has emerged with the reappearance of a different inflammatory expression: socialism.

In the context of American politics, socialism has seldom been about the economy or state power alone, despite its political-economic roots. Instead, it has been a slur, synonymous with the charge of communism, but with meaning extending beyond this term as well.

I’ll let you read the piece to see Lee’s examples, but for now, chew on this for a bit.

Understanding this history also informs the present. The passion surrounding the expression “socialism” has less to do with the actual meaning of the word, than its associations with foreignness, anti-Americanism, and racial difference. If its reemergence and use sound antiquated and anachronistic, the motivations for its revival become clearer when placed in a context of latent white anxiety toward a black president. The “birther” movement and its concern over Mr. Obama’s origins were but an earlier sign of these race-based, xenophobic sentiments held by some.

Name Calling

Remember when the Republican National Committe was debating on whether or not to change the name of the Democratic Party?

In that vein, we should decide what to call conservatives because we all know they are anything by conservative.

My two favorites are:

  • The Radical Right
  • Christian Theocracists

Do you have ideas?

Protack Flies Into The Future

The Community News had a piece about Mike Protack and his attempts to try and rebuild Delaware’s Republican Party through the use of web technologies.

Protack says:

I think the electorate sees the Republican Party as elitist or out of touch in a lot of ways. It’s up to us to change that, and any kind of social networking we can do to engage people is going to be a big help.

Facts would also be helpful.

GOP’s Bread and Butter

Apparently when Gov. Sebelius was running for Governor in Kansas, she accepted donations from a doctor . . . a doctor who performs abortions. You can see why the GOP must hold up Sebelius’ nomination as President Obama’s health secretary. So when you have no ideas and the public is tiring of your Policy of No, you reach back into your old bag of tricks and see if that will work.

Grandmaster Steele chimes in:

That bitch ain’t right, yo.

Okay, he really didn’t say that, but he probably wanted to. Here’s what he did say:

Significant questions remain about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ evolving relationship with a late-term abortion doctor as well as about her position on the practice of late-term abortionst. If Gov. Sebelius and the Obama administration are unwilling to answer these questions, President Obama should withdraw her nomination.

A short message to Steele, you might want to pick a fight you can win. At my count you are 0 and 2 (Limbaugh, NY-20) and getting ready to be 0 and 3.

And the GOP is also threatening a fillibuster over Dawn Johnsen‘s appointment as head for the Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice over a . . . get this . . . a footnote in a legal brief.

This is all on the heels of Gov. Sarah Palin’s admission that she thought of aborting her down-syndrom fetus. So Gov. Palin is telling us she had a choice while the GOP in Washington is trying their best to not to allow pro-choice people to serve in the government.

Time and time again The Republican Party has one set of rules for themselves and another set for you and me.

Quote of the Day

We [the Republican Party] have to be comfortable recruiting candidates who do not fit the profile of an Alabama conservative.

— Steve Schmidt, McCain Campaign’s chief strategist

24 Percent

A recent Pew Research Center poll shows that America, in general, is very happy with President Obama. Turns out that the Republican Party with their sore loser cries, tea bags and faux indignation could only muster a  top off at 24% unfavorable rating toward America’s president. Compare this to  the Worst.President.Ever had a 35% unfavorable rating well into his first year when he was busy clearing bush from his Texas ranch and denying that we were in a recession.

But let’s not dwell on the half-glass empty scenario. President Obama has a 73% favorable rating and a job approval rating for the first 100 days at 63%. The Worst.President.Ever was at 61% and 56% respectively. Suck on that Limbaugh.

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Point and Laugh for 4/24

Dana says that our enemies do worse, so torture is okay. A commenter who shows some common sense says:

When I was six years old, Dana, my mother taught me that just because someone else does it, doesn’t mean I should do it.

Congratulations, the United States is not quite as bad as the Taliban, despite, you know, torturing helpless prisoners. What a boast to make.