LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY vanar_en_daeor)

Federal programs direct at least $157 million to conservative groups

((Excerpt))

For years, conservatives have complained about what they saw as the liberal tilt of federal grant money. Taxpayer funds went to abortion rights groups such as Planned Parenthood to promote birth control, and groups closely aligned with the AFL-CIO got Labor Department grants to run worker-training programs.

In the Bush administration, conservatives are discovering that turnabout is fair play: Millions of dollars in taxpayer funds have flowed to groups that support President Bush's agenda on abortion and other social issues.

Continue reading here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11951695

This is where the money's goin'.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jehovahsfitness)

Yeah, because having all three branches of government filled almost entirely by Christians isn't enough.
That statement from the Daily Kos article on Mike Huckabee in response to his claim that that Christianity is not represented "nearly enough" in Washington makes me wonder who in the three branches isn't Christian. I know Paul Wolfowitz, Rep. Bernie Sanders, and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are of Jewish background. I guess you could count the Catholics too, if you wanted, because everyone knows they're not real Christians. Actually, because of the popularity that kind of rhetoric, I was really surprised that the Protestant Harriet Miers was opposed by the Right while the Catholic Roberts and Alito had smooth sailing. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent. Any other non-Christians in the Executive or Legislative branches that come to mind?

Addendum: This site may come in handy, if you're interested enough, or in the future for research on the wiki.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

I just updated the DC Wiki to add a section about 'bad laws'. If your state is proposing, or has passed a law, resolution, or amendment to the constitution which advances the agenda of the Religious Right (anti-gay, marriage, abortion, declaring Christianity the state religion, kicking out activist judges, etc,) please post a link to it in the wiki.

Here's the main page of the new section where you can see what has already been constructed. Please follow the editing protocols set up. And make a note as to whether this law is proposed, or already passed. And make sure to differentiate between a bill, a resolution, or a constitutional amendment.

Remember, knowledge is power, and like a writer at Talk to Action has said, many states like to pass 'me too' laws echoing bad laws in other states.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

This AlterNet article by Esther Kaplan talks about how religious morality is killing people.

Since George W. Bush's first day in office, Republicans in Washington have come up with creative ways to attach puritanical restrictions to U.S. foreign aid, often at a tremendous cost to public health.

First came Bush's revival of Reagan's Mexico City Policy, which canceled funds for any family planning organization that advocates for abortion rights, a measure that pulled tens of millions of dollars from International Planned Parenthood and others on the far right's enemies list. Then came a State Department missive to USAID missions that all funded programs, publications, even websites had to fall in line with Bush's social conservative worldview on everything from abortion to drug use. Then Congress used the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, to set aside $1 billion for abstinence-only education, which bars discussion of condoms and safer sex. Most recently, Republican congressmen introduced a series of anti-prostitution loyalty oaths, requiring any organization receiving U.S. funds to combat AIDS or human trafficking to condemn prostitution in word and in deed.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ns_kumiho)

But when some local leaders learned last summer about a curriculum package produced by the Bible Literacy Project out of Fairfax, Va., the problem seemed to be solved. The course presents the Bible in a historical and cultural context—giving students a better understanding of biblical allusions in art, literature, and music. More important, it has been vetted by conservative and liberal legal experts to withstand constitutional challenge.

One of the leading advocates of the Bible course, Dr. Randy Brinson, met me at the entrance to the state house. Brinson, a tall, sandy-haired physician from Montgomery who speaks with a twang and the earnest enthusiasm of a youth-group leader, is a lifelong Republican and founder of Redeem the Vote, a national voter-registration organization that targets evangelicals. Since discovering the Bible literacy course, he has successfully lobbied politicians in Florida, Georgia, and Missouri to introduce bills that would set up similar classes. But it is here at home that he's encountered the most resistance. “You should see who's against this thing,” he told me, shaking his head.

Indeed, when Brinson and the other supporters—including several Pentecostal ministers, some Methodists, and a member of the state board of education—entered the state house chamber to make their case, they faced off against representatives from the Christian Coalition, Concerned Women of America, and the Eagle Forum. These denizens of the Christian Right denounced the effort, calling it “extreme” and “frivolous” and charging that it would encourage that most dangerous of activities, “critical thinking.” The real stakes of the fight, though, were made clear by Republican Rep. Scott Beason, when he took his turn at the lectern. “This is more than about God,” he reminded his colleagues. “This is about politics.”

...

"That," he says, "was my first inkling that I wasn't one of them." If being a player in this world meant calling for the heads of moderate Republicans and ginning up fake controversies like a supposed "war on Christmas," Brinson wasn't terribly interested.

...

Randy Brinson chuckled as he reported this to me, saying, "This is smokin' them out. Now we see what they really care about. It's not religion; they care about power."

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/187/story_18742.html

Intresting article on the switching of liberal and moderate Evangelical Christians to the Democrats.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY vanar_en_daeor)

Is there dissention in the ranks?

In election year, GOP wary of following Bush
‘He has no political capital,’ GOP pollster says of Bush amid ports fallout
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11758157/

Poll: Bush at low point, GOP support weakens
Concerns by some party loyalists could impact congressional elections
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11759590/

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY idragosani)

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49135

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY eiredrake)

Can someone explain the significance of swearing in when testifying before the senate? I realize that doesn't precisely fit into the realm of Dark_christian but this group contains a lot of well educated folks and I figure someone knows. I've been doing net searches but coming up with nothing definitive.

There reason I ask is that the Senate comittee heads that are investigating seem to be tossing that aside quite often lately. For example when the oil execs were hauled before the senate the chairmen refused to swear in the guys.

Are they trying to use this as a tactic to protect them somehow?

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

When Would Jesus Bolt?

Long, but interesting article.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kalibex)

Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to help the Federal Government coordinate a national effort to expand opportunities for faith-based and other community organizations and to strengthen their capacity to better meet America's social and community needs, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment of a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Department of Homeland Security.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kalibex)

A Dominionist candidate for Texas Governor (Caution: may trigger - explicit campaign site)

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY dulcinbradbury)

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 13

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

4572L.02I

Whereas, our forefathers of this great nation of the United States recognized a Christian God and used the principles afforded to us by Him as the founding principles of our nation; and

Whereas, as citizens of this great nation, we the majority also wish to exercise our constitutional right to acknowledge our Creator and give thanks for the many gifts provided by Him; and

Whereas, as elected officials we should protect the majority's right to express their religious beliefs while showing respect for those who object; and

Whereas, we wish to continue the wisdom imparted in the Constitution of the United States of America by the founding fathers; and

Whereas, we as elected officials recognize that a Greater Power exists above and beyond the institutions of mankind:

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, that we stand with the majority of our constituents and exercise the common sense that voluntary prayer in public schools and religious displays on public property are not a coalition of church and state, but rather the justified recognition of the positive role that Christianity has played in this great nation of ours, the United States of America.

http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/intro/HCR0013I.htm

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ellid)

The nullification of the Constitution, that is.

http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/030206ccklrKmovreligionbill.7d361c3f.html

I don't even know how to begin.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jargon_john)

[Department of Health and Human Services] Removes Gay Advice Section

Pro-family groups are asking why it was there in the first place.

Its not there anymore but for a time the Department of Health and Human Services website included what many considered homosexual propaganda. Peter Sprigg with the Family Research Council complains that good information on the site was minimal while the web page instead focused on celebrating homosexuality.

“There were links to outside organizations as information sources as resources that people could go to and virtually all of those links were to pro-homosexual activist organizations. There was no balance.”

Regina Griggs with PFOX wants balance too but she goes a step further. She thinks organizations that claim homosexuals can’t change should not be allowed to advertise on a government website dedicated to health.

“I think if you’re not a medical association, if you’re not providing fact-based, replicated studies and information you ought to not be listed. We ought to be concerned about the AIDS infection rate, drug use, sex outside of marriage.”

Now that the pro-gay page is gone, Jody Huckaby with the activist group PFLAG is complaining.

“The problem for us is that taking the information off the website will not make the issues go away. These issues have to be dealt with; it’s complete lack of equal treatment. There was very good information on those websites.”

Others beg to differ. The Department of Health and Human Services has not indicated when or if they will update the information on their site.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY amethyst_hunter)

From Pandagon comes this:

Peter LaBarbara of the Illinois Family Institute thinks GOP candidate Judy Baar Topinka is part of O NOES Teh Gay Agenda.

An excerpt:

Enter our friend Peter LaBarbara, of the Illinois Family Institute. He’s started up an anti-Topinka web site, aptly titled StopTopinka.com, which goes full-out in proclaiming that she is a shining beacon of the “Homosexual AgendaTM. From winger Matt Barber’s commentary in the Post-Chronicle. :

StopTopinka.com provides must-see video of Judy Baar Topinka’s annual participation in the Chicago “gay-pride” parade. By virtue of her active participation in the parade, one can only conclude that Topinka endorses its cause and message. This parade features nudity and lewd public displays - even though young children march in the parade and attend as observers. Additionally, it provides facts relative to Topinka’s pro-homosexual activism, and her diversion as state treasurer, of $10 million in state taxpayer dollars to build a “gay” community center in Chicago.

Oh, did I tell you that that her opponent Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis is trying to stay under the radar on this, but J. Matt Barber works for the Oberweis campaign?

It should be noted that Judy Baar Topinka has a reputation as one of those endangered species, the moderate, sensible Republicans. If I had to pick a Republican that I could tolerate replacing current governor Rod Blagojevich, it would be Topinka (Though I still hope Blagojevich stays on as governor).

On the other side, Jim Oberweis - famous for the Oberweis Dairy business, which sells ice cream, among other things - has a record of sucking up to the right-wing hardliners if not trying to appease them, for past screwups. (Oberweis attempted Senate runs in 2002 and 2004) Said screwups include an ad campaign that was perceived by many as racist and anti-immigrant, pissing off the zealot base by making a comment about likening adamant pro-lifers to the Taliban (to cover for this he pledged to support a state constitutional amendment concerning marriage), and signing a Renew Illinois pledge that defines Republican stands on taxes and homosexuality (No prize for guessing how those swing). With the latter, the pledge includes these nuggets of non-joy:

- supporting parental notification and consent for minors (Note: This is something I would ordinarily not have a problem with, except that it's a damn sure bet zealots will misuse this and deny even those females who are pregnant as a result of rape/incest - as we've just witnessed, several states have declared all-out war on female reproductive rights and while Illinois is at the moment better off than those places, the GOP attack squad is on the march to take over and instill their agenda what with the 2006 gubernatorial elections at hand)

- pledging to work to repeal taxpayer-funded abortions

- opposing government funding of embyronic stem cell research

- pledging to promote abstinence in public health education

- opposing mandatory health insurance coverage of morning after pills

Mark my words - watch Illinois this year. It will be a key battlefield.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kalibex)

The idea of paying for only the cable channels they want might have strong appeal for consumers, but to religious programmers, the prospect seems just short of apocalyptic

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY nebris)

~Religious fanaticism in American foreign policy

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kalibex)

The War on Christians and the values voter in 2006
March 27 -28, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC

Confirmed Speakers Include:

Senator Sam Brownback
Senator John Cornyn
Congressman Tom DeLay
Congressman Todd Akin
Congressman Louis Gohmert

Rick Scarborough
Phyllis Schlafly
Alan Keyes
Gary Bauer
Janet Parshall

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY prismatic_jewel)

This is my first post here. A friend told me to check out this community so I did... and I thought that something I just posted in my lj would do well in this place.


( Rant Here )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY mizliz)

National Council Of Churches Denounces Iraq War, Accuses Bush Admin. Of "Raining Down Terror"...

Whatever our personal beliefs (person of faith, agnostic, or atheist), we have to support voices like these. Most of humanity is affiliated in some way with a faith tradition, and if we don't help change the face of the false Christianity that American Dominionists are showing to the world, it's going to get uglier and uglier.