“Values Voters” Speak.
19 09 2009Well, it’s been scarcely a week since the 9/12 anti-Obama rally drew between 40,000 and 2 bazillion people to our nation’s capital to protest…well…everything.
And now, this weekend it’s the “Values Voters” summit. Tolerance? Helping the least among us? Working together for a sustainable planet? No, not those values, Silly. Have a look at the titles of some of the sessions being held. They’re talking about these values.
“Silencing the Christians,” “Obamacare: Rationing Your Life Away,” “Thugocracy: Fighting the Vast Left-wing Conspiracy,” “Global Warming Hysteria,” “How Redefining Marriage Threatens Religious Liberty”, “Countering the Homosexual Agenda in Public Schools,” and let’s not forget “The New Masculinity,” where you will be told that “feminism has wreaked havoc on marriage, women, children and men.”
Doesn’t all that sound like fun?
The atmosphere of triumphalism that infused the Summit in past years was replaced this year by a sense of isolation and being under siege. [Mike] Pence spoke of “taking this country back” in 2012, not just the White House. [snip]
And yet the threat of a Democratic administration isn’t mobilizing religious conservatives the way you might think. This year’s turnout–while a healthy couple of thousand strong–doesn’t hold a candle to 2007, when religious conservatives packed the international ballroom at the Washington Hilton.
This year’s group of Christian conservatives carried on with their tradition of taking a straw poll of likely presidential candidates for 2012. And who is most wanted to lead this bunch? Drum roll, please…
1. Mike Huckabee with 28%
2. Mitt Romney with 12.4%
3. Tim Pawlenty with 12.3%
4. Sarah Palin with 12.06%
5. Mike Pence with 11.89%
And while Sarah Palin cancelled to welcome her son Track home from Iraq, Carrie Prejean was able to attend. Maybe she’ll make the list next year.
And before we think all is lost, here are some interesting statistics.
Many younger evangelicals — the type quite likely to be seen tea-partying or at this weekend’s conservative summit — apparently have a noticeably different set of values than their elders. For example, 44 percent favor a larger government offering more services — nearly twice the percentage of older evangelicals. They’re also more likely — 52 percent to 34 percent — to approve of same-sex marriage and civil unions.
Go figure.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Welcome home, Track. Thank you for your Service in Iraq. Try not to let your mom use you for Political gain. She has been very naughtly.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:27 PM
sorry, naughty
September 19th, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Sounded funnier with “naughtly.”
September 19th, 2009 at 3:40 PM
A number of the younger set truly are of the kinder, gentler type… or, as we call them here in pennsyltucky, rhinos (republican in name only).
But some of the younger set have been fully indoctrinated into the politics of extreme hate.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:52 PM
“But some of the younger set have been fully indoctrinated into the politics of extreme hate.” Anyone seen ‘Jesus Camp’? Holy moly, that’s some scary stuff!
September 19th, 2009 at 4:02 PM
A comment I’ve been meaning to say for some time: I see a lot of new names in the comments section from even a few months ago. Welcome to this progressive oasis in a desert of right-wing craziness! And know that if there is left-wing nuttiness going on, we won’t hesitate to call them out too. I think I speak for most all Mudpups when I say that we are against corruption, hypocrisy, and short-sightedness is government, no matter which side it comes from.
Also, thanks to all of you (AKM, Celtic Diva, Gryphen, etc.) and commenters for reminding me, day after day, that the crazies are NOT unanimous and that they NOT!!! going to take over my country without a fight. Cheers! *raises glass* Keep up the good work!
September 19th, 2009 at 4:32 PM
I thought Track came back a week ago?
September 19th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Crabby Patty—-what is all this “jesus Camp” all about? Is this something to do with the wacko Palin church? Is it as scary as that video on their web site? Or the voo doo preacher?
Just curious
September 19th, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Lacy Lady
You can check out Jesus Camp here — and yeah, it’s a scary scene …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACyLTsH4ac
September 19th, 2009 at 6:47 PM
The new masculinity
Don’t much care for it, myself.
Sanford, Beck, and Ensign would do us all a favor if they stopped sobbing-like degenerate pansies- at every conceivable opportunity.
Gingrich, Rove, and Limbaugh might consider a gym membership.
Graham and Lieberman should stop pretending to be warriors.
McConnell and Cantor? Born girlie men-not much hope for them! (They should at least try to limit their public appearances).
September 19th, 2009 at 7:19 PM
“…countering the homosexual agenda in public schools…”??? Bwaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaa!!! As if teachers had time to put that into the curriculum with the high stakes testing and jazillion other things we are supposed to teach. Sure. I’m going to take up class time promoting a homosexual agenda, whatever that is. What a bunch of idiots.
September 19th, 2009 at 7:26 PM
“Silencing the Christians” indeed. The Christians who keep love in their hearts and serve their communities are already quiet folks by nature. And when they choose to speak, people listen. As for the orthodox, fundamentalist, and evangelical sects of any religion, be it Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or other, they need to be kept away from political power and far away from weapons.
September 19th, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Big Pete: let’s form a drumming circle, eat some peyote, you can tell me how you feel then.
September 19th, 2009 at 7:32 PM
I bet I know why Sarah Palin didn’t attend. There was another beauty queen there, of higher rank, and Palin could not be upstaged!
September 19th, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Well, thank you, values voters. The homosexual agenda actually would have worked in your favor, because we were trying to save you all from unflattering clothing silhouettes and synthetic textiles, but you had to go and embrace the dark side, so I’m afraid your future is one of three-inch roots, orthopedic waffle-wedges and Fingerhut fashions. You earned it, bitches.
September 19th, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Higher rank, and younger, beauty queen. Isn’t it interesting how Palin always manages to use her children as convenient excuses? Best wishes to Track, though, and many thanks to him for serving our country.
Values Voters, indeed. Someone should send them a good dictionary. I don’t think they really know what the word value means.
September 20th, 2009 at 5:51 AM
Around here..I watch..and periodically am in conversation with a few of the VVs. It is always a puzzlement to them..why me n mine, and..the extended clan..live a life of quiet community-centered service..from outside, a religion. They clutch their assorted necklace symbols..in wonderment. I touch a rock..and consider it..energy-gone-still, the earth and the cosmic energy..course through us all. I have..values..just that they spring from a cosmos that feeds a hungery mind so well..that we do not try corraling/belittling..those who walk a diff. path.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:23 AM
Actually, Pat in WA, while I agree with your overall sentiment about Values Voters, I think that they are using a different connotation than you or I would, rather than a completely wrong definition.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/value
Note definitions 10 &11:
“10. values, Sociology. the ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard. These values may be positive, as cleanliness, freedom, or education, or negative, as cruelty, crime, or blasphemy.
11. Ethics. any object or quality desirable as a means or as an end in itself.” (emphasis mine)
See, their values are negative, while ours are positive, and their means and ends are to deny civil rights to people who do not think/worship just like them.
In their twisted world view, I’m intolerant because I would stop them from interfering in the personal contract between two consenting adults, but they are not intolerant because “their God” said so in some book (but let’s not acknowledge the other stuff about shellfish, pork and loving your neighbors).
September 20th, 2009 at 6:29 AM
WakeUpAmerica-
I feel your pain re: “homsexual agenda.” As a teacher, by the time i prepare kids for testing, make sure they have breakfast/lunch, prevent bullying, differentiate instruction, write reports to probation officer/therapist/child welfare/gifted coordinator, say no to drugs, encourage girls in math/science, advocate for arts education, put lesson plans/announcements/grades online, and reply to helicopter parent emails (”Johnny is feeling a bit stressed today, please try to give him some encouragement throughout the day and don’t expect much of him. My cell # is —- if you need to reach me, but I’ll email you again in an hour just to see if he’s perked up. He was up late playing his X-Box and just didn’t feel like school was for him….yadayada), I have NO TIME for the homosexual agenda.
This reminds me of a few years ago, when PA attempted to institute “Outcomes Based Education,” and the rightwingvaluevotersevengelicalchristian “militia” heard from some preacher, in a video that was distributed to the churches, that Outcomes Education was a “plot” by the Communist/Homosexual teachers to promote an agenda. In their interpretation, teaching critical thinking skills was a way to have kids question their parents and their values, science education that mentioned unsustainable resources was a way of encouraging single sex marriage, birth control and abortion (apparently, they hadn’t thought of death panels, or that would’ve been there, too also), and teaching “women’s studies” was a way to devalue the family and teach against the Bible. (There was also some nonsense about 35 MPH speed signs being a “secret code” for the NATO Army to take over, once the Communist/homosexual teachers fully brainwashed the kids, but we won’t even go there) Anyway, there was such a bruh-ha-ha, that the Dept. of Ed. was “forced” to rename the “Outcomes” to “Standards” (honestly, had basically the same goals just different title) and quicker that you can say “Emily Litella,” (sp?) the VVs said “Never mind.”
Ok enough, going back to seeing how I can insinuate couture, fabulous decorating, the Golden Girls and Judy Garland into my homosexual agenda lesson plans. Shhhhhh, don’t let on.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:35 AM
What a surprise ! Sarah Palin cancelled a scheduled appearance at an event – first time that’s EVER happened, right ??
What WERE the odds……..
September 20th, 2009 at 6:58 AM
Despite the attention this little hatefest gets, it had 2000 paid attendees- about the same as a small high school football game. There were about 60,000 tea baggers last weekend, about the same as the average Division One college football game (much smaller than say, Michigan)
Overall, these idiots represent a very small percentage of the population outside of the South, maybe 5%. Since they are incapable of reason, we just simply need to ignore them and move forward.
On Frozen Alaska, there is a hilarious ten minute video of the clueless idiots at the Fox News 9/12 rally, none of whom had any idea what they were talking about.
What amazed me is how these morons actually found their way to DC, which involves reading a map, buying a bus or plane ticket, actions that require an IQ over say 40, which was a rarity on teabagger day.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Anyone remember Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” from about 25 years ago? This very frightening story of a near-future dystopia sounds like just the kind of world the Values Voters want.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Values? They don’t need no stinkin’ values!! Just hate in the name of Jesus and white people – because Jesus was white, dontcha know – you betcha!
September 20th, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Bystander Says:
September 20th, 2009 at 6:58 AM
“What amazed me is how these morons actually found their way to DC, which involves reading a map, buying a bus or plane ticket, actions that require an IQ over say 40, which was a rarity on teabagger day.”
—————-
Just imagine how few there would have been had so many not been bussed in.
September 20th, 2009 at 5:49 PM
10 BigPete Says:
September 19th, 2009 at 6:47 PM
The new masculinity
Don’t much care for it, myself.
Sanford, Beck, and Ensign would do us all a favor if they stopped sobbing-like degenerate pansies- at every conceivable opportunity.
Gingrich, Rove, and Limbaugh might consider a gym membership.
Graham and Lieberman should stop pretending to be warriors.
McConnell and Cantor? Born girlie men-not much hope for them! (They should at least try to limit their public appearances).
——————————————-
Hahahaha….. “sobbing like degenerate pansies at every conceivable opportunity.”
“The New Masculinity” is now….”The New Emasculated Ninnies.”
Don’t get me wrong. Men can cry and still be masculine but when it’s driven by hypocrisy as in those three nincompoops, it’s a little hard to take.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:50 PM
My daughter was recently asked, as a 9th grade English assignment, to analyse an excerpt from Genesis as a literary work. The excerpt was one one of the many examples of creation myths featured in their textbook.
The parents of one of the students is actually suing our school district over it! They never did bother, mind you, to send the teacher a polite email asking their daughter be assigned a different essay theme due to religious beliefs, which I am quite sure the teacher would have gladly done.
So when the Religious Right talks about “taking back this country in 2012″, they actually mean taking the USA back to the Middle Ages where it never belonged, having been born out of the Age of Enlightenment.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:45 PM
YEOWWW… the link to “Jesus Camp” post 9, gave me the heebie Jeebies. I could NOT watch the whole thing. Perhaps that sort of camp is a plot by an association of therapists to ensure a good supply of future clients??!!
har har arrrrgh….. I missed pirate’s day.