Who Are the Religious Right "Kingmakers" in the GOP?
Frederick Clarkson printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 03:29:29 PM EST
Religion News Service has published a list of ten "religious conservatives" described as "kingmakers" in the GOP.  The article is interesting for at least two reasons: One is that it underscores the ongoing importance of the religious right in the Republican Party; and the other is that their list is at least as interesting for who is left out, as who is included. RNS can say that they merely "spotlighted" ten influential leaders without saying that these are necessarily the most influential, but there is also an implicit heirarchy when choices are made in this way.  For example, ten influential religious right leaders who are not on the list are Pat Robertson, John Hagee, Sun Myung Moon, Lou Sheldon,  Beverly LaHaye, Roy Moore, Frank Pavone, D. James Kennedy, Rick Scarborough, and Jerry Falwell.    

Check out the RNS list, and their reasoning, on the flip:

Broadcaster and psychologist James Dobson, whose Focus on the Family radio show attracts some 220 million listeners who tune in for his views on the merits - and failings - of various candidates.

· Michael Farris, founder and chairman of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, who one observer said had "a network of home-schoolers that will do anything for him."

· Richard Land, the go-to political guru for the nation's 16 million Southern Baptists, who has been outspoken in declaring what is acceptable (Mormonism) and what is not (infidelity).

· Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network, and a mother of four who set up a network of pastors and organizers in each of the state's 67 counties.

· Rod Parsley, pastor of the 14,000-member World Harvest Church in the battleground state of Ohio, who can use his network of pastors to help a candidate fine-tune his message to reach conservatives.

· Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, the most powerful Christian lobbying group in Washington whose e-mail alerts reach 200,000 people each day.

· Steve Scheffler, head of the 4,000-member Iowa Christian Alliance, the most active - and credible - religious group in the Hawkeye State.

· Tamara Scott, Iowa leader of Concerned Women for America, who has talked with nearly every GOP candidate and is willing to back a candidate who's "truly conservative," even if he's a longshot.

· Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice and national radio host, whose blessing on Mitt Romney's campaign was a huge stamp of approval for the Mormon candidate.

· Don Wildmon, chairman of the influential Arlington Group and head of the American Family Association, pontificates about politics and society on the 185 radio stations that his group owns across 36 states.




Display:
Fred, why not compile your own ?

And, isn't 10 a bit slim ? Why not 20 ?

by Bruce Wilson on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 03:37:10 PM EST

I claim no special expertise on which religious right leaders can deliver the votes in key primary and caucus states, these days, which is what the RNS article seems to be using as their criteria.  

For now, I am content to just put this out for people to consider. I am not arguing with their list. Just making note of who they put in and who they didn't.

The religigious right is regrouping in the wake of the 06 elections; the dramatic decline of the Christian Coalition and the debacle of Ralph Reed in the Abramoff affair; as well as the aging of the founding generation of leaders. D James Kennedy has recently been in the hospital for example. I have not heard an update on his condition.

I think the RNS list is one indicator of the changes going on.

by Frederick Clarkson on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:31:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

John Hagee is busy building an organizational machine to effect electoral outcomes : he's said so openly.

by Bruce Wilson on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 05:06:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]



to show the importance of state groups. Maybe we should pay more attention to state leaders. I was more familiar with your list of who was left out than the actual list.

by Carlos on Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 04:59:33 PM EST
I don't know if GOP presidential candidates have been wooing Parsley, but they have been courting Hagee. There's clout and then there's perception of clout, but perception seems to be that Hagee's influential. So much so that McCain ate some crow to court Hagee, and Roy Blunt flew to Texas specifically to meet with the good pastor.

Dobson and Perkins dominated the FRC's "Voter Values Conference" last September pre-election pep rally ; there's no doubt they belong on the list.

But I wonder about the inclusion of Farris :  by that logic, why not put Pat Robertson on the list for his 150 Regent University graduates working in the Bush Administration ?  Farris may well deserve to be on the list, but he's far from the only leader on the Christian right who fields cadres of dedicated political operatives.

by Bruce Wilson on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 05:19:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]



<<whose Focus on the Family radio show attracts some 220 million listeners>>

I've long been skeptical at best of the fantastical numbers of "Evangelical Christians" and "subscribers" and "listeners" fathomed up, seems to me, by the Wingers.  Particularly by those with ridiculous "media" platforms.

Anybody can quote any number of subscribers, etc. if not audited by independent sources such as the BPA for trade publication/media or SDRS or even Nielsen in order to determine advertising rates.

I'm amazed that advertising support for the likes of James Dobson even exists.

by Marcus on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 12:10:49 AM EST

Without minimizing the work religious conservatives have done to build up dedicated media networks, what basis is there for such claims of vast listenership ? Are any organizations scrutinizing such claims to try and reach empirical estimates ?

by Bruce Wilson on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 05:10:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]


Fred,

I think the influence of Scarborough is being underestimated.  Scarborough is the angry face while Richard Land is the smiling face of Southern Baptist fundamentalism.

Scarborough is the most influential Dominionist organizer in Texas.  He's very popular and influential within the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.  Baptists are a sizeable group in Texas and Texas exerts disproportional influence on national politics.

Moderate, Mainstream Baptists like myself may lead the larger Baptist General Convention of Texas, but Scarborough still has a lot of fans in our churches and Land still exerts considerable influence.  

Scarborough wins by default when it comes to political influence.  Moderate Baptists are not organizing pastors to get-out-the-vote in secular political elections.  Land and Scarborough win by our conscientious adherence to the Baptist tradition of separation of church and state.

by Mainstream Baptist on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 09:17:37 AM EST

Scarborough is building an on-the-ground electoral network, as well as being active in the SBC, and although apparently not big in early GOP caucus and primary states, which seems to be the emphasis of the RNS article, is likely to be formidable in other areas.

by Frederick Clarkson on Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 12:47:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]



WWW Talk To Action


Netanyahu and Hagee, Serial Obstructionists
Last week I wrote about Prime Minister Netanyahu's participation at John Hagee's CUFI rally held in Jerusalem on the evening of Joe Biden's arrival......
By Rachel Tabachnick (0 comments)
Bill Donohue: Defender of Glenn Beck.
Glenn Beck's recent admonition that people who attend a church that teaches social justice should leave -- was anti-Catholicism. This was obvious from a......
By Frank Cocozzelli (4 comments)
Blog Against Theocracy!
It's that time of year again.  It's time for the annual Blog Against Theocracy, April 2-4, 2010.   The prime mover of this blogtacular......
By Frederick Clarkson (1 comment)
Creeping Religious Rightism in the Democratic Party, Cont.
  Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has an op-ed today at AOL News discussing how, campaign......
By Frederick Clarkson (6 comments)
Invoking Intolerance: Religious Right Throws Fit Over Islamic Prayer In Virginia
Today an imam delivered the opening prayer before the Virginia House of Delegates - and once again the Religious Right is having kittens. Three......
By Rob Boston (1 comment)
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and John Hagee Share Stage as Biden Arrives in Israel
Yesterday (Monday) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to hundreds of Christian Zionists in Jerusalem at an event organized by John Hagee and Christians......
By Rachel Tabachnick (6 comments)
When the Truth Is Shown to Be Lies
It's been a year since President Obama lifted the Bush administration's restrictions on the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.  Nevertheless, religious opponents......
By Frank Cocozzelli (7 comments)
Repent Amarillo's Spiritual Mapping and Vigilantism
Repent Amarillo, a Texas ministry which refers to itself as an "Army of God,"  is making news for its spiritual warfare and vigilante tactics.......
By Rachel Tabachnick (17 comments)
Whale Tale: AFA Staffer Says Bible Mandates Death For SeaWorld Orca
On Feb. 24, a tragedy occurred at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. A six-ton killer whale known as Tillikum pulled trainer Dawn Brancheau underwater to......
By Rob Boston (5 comments)
A Call to Censor the Religion Blogosphere
Some time ago, I filled out a survey from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) in connection with an academic study they were doing......
By Frederick Clarkson (8 comments)
Prayer Warriors of the New Apostolic Reformation Getting Some Exposure
Yesterday Alternet published an article by Bill Berkowitz including an interview with me about the New Apostolic Reformation, or the "largest religious movement you......
By Rachel Tabachnick (8 comments)
Role Models of Remonstrance
I recently called for mainstream Catholics to offer remonstrance -- an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance against the reactionaries now fomenting......
By Frank Cocozzelli (8 comments)
Ken Starr and Baylor
A few years back I received a letter from Baylor University stating it decided to discontinue its "unclothed anatomical figurine drawing class".  It was......
By wilkyjr (2 comments)
Albert Mohler Is Worried. And He Should Be.
Yesterday, I published a commentary at Women's eNews titled: U.S. Religions Quietly Launch a Sexual Revolution. Its about how the Religious Institute, a progressive......
By Frederick Clarkson (1 comment)
Street Fight: Ohio Clergy Seeks End Of Tax Exemption For D.C. Structure Owned By `The Family'
The infamous "C Street house" is back in the news. A group of clergy in Ohio, aided by a tax lawyer, has written to......
By Rob Boston (3 comments)

School Board, State and school prayer
Now both the Polk County School Board and the state of Florida are trying to push prayers in the schools! ......
ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
City in trouble for sectarian prayers
The city of Lakeland, Florida has been challenged by Atheists of Florida and the local synagogue for having sectarian prayers before public meetings. ......
ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
The Blind Side's Blind Spot
The hit movie, The Blind Side, is all about the Christian values of being your "brother's keeper." Or is it? ......
John Sheirer (3 comments)
When Christianity is Un-American
Just thought readers might be interested in linking to this article at The Yurica Report: http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/Murray_WhenChristianityIs UnAmerican.html ......
TMurray (1 comment)
Violence increasing
I think people should read this article- and realize that the dominionists are becoming more and more violent.  If something isn't done to counter their hate, this country is in deep trouble! ......
ArchaeoBob (3 comments)
His "Freedom" Means Denying Yours - With Your Own Taxes
Referring to recent political skirmishes over the rights of gays and lesbians to marry, Cardinal Francis George called five rocks thrown at empty buildings and the theft of a few lawn signs "quasi-fascism."  He......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
Rome has spoken....Man the lifeboats!
When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, it was widely reported that he preferred a smaller, more obedient flock in his Church. Once again, he is proving those reports to......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
Your children will be forced to shower with gays! (says the AFA)
I've just received the following American Family Association email, which claims that the Obama administration has a nefarious plan to force gays and straights in the US military to shower together ! Donald Wildmon......
Bruce Wilson (3 comments)
Pope John Paul II's Penitential Practices: The Opus Dei Connection
We are pleased to once again welcome theologian William Lindsey as a guest front pager. This piece is crossposted from the new progressive Catholic group blog, The Open Tabernacle: Here Comes Everybody. -- FC......
William Lindsey (0 comments)
WallBuilders, Inc., Promoting a dominionist "Christian Nation"
Cherry Hill Seminary Supports Patrick McCollum in 9th Circuit Case Against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation http://snipurl.com/u8kcj ......
Dragonzmajick (2 comments)
Roeder verdict sparks fears of more anti-abortion violence
cross-posted at dKos Scott Roeder is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of George Tiller.  At the very least, he'll by 75 years old before he can......
Christian Dem in NC (0 comments)
The dark underside of the Latter Rain--a walkaway's view
cross-posted at dKos I read Bruce Wilson's posts on dKos and Talk To Action regarding the "Pray For Newark" initiative with particular alarm.  While Pray for Newark appears to espouse an admirable goal--community empowerment--it's......
Christian Dem in NC (2 comments)
Bishops as Provocateurs
In a thinly-veiled reference to the campaign of President Barack Obama, Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, charged that Americans are "embracing a totalitarianism which masks itself as the 'hope,' the 'future' of......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
The Vatican v. Children
Yesterday was not a good day for children seeking justice from the Roman Catholic Church. The internet brought the following news: ......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
Religious bigots control supermarket chain
Well, they've won again.  The religious bigots have forced Publix Supermarkets into bowing to their wishes. ......
ArchaeoBob (11 comments)
Manhattan Declaration is to Theology what Fox is to Journalism
The December 20, 2009, New York Times ran a lengthy article by David D. Kirkpatrick about Robert P. George, "The Conservative-Christian Big Thinker." The occasion was release of George's "Manhattan Declaration" signed by the......
bettyclermont (2 comments)
Merry Freakin' Christmas: I'm Taking Your Stuff, and you Can't Stop Me!
A humorous look at the larger implications of a seemingly harmless holiday tradition. ......
John Sheirer (1 comment)
Lou Engle, September 25, 2007, Los Angeles: "Holywood"
[This is a partial transcription of a sermon/speech Lou Engle, Founder of TheCall gave on September 25, 2007, in Los Angeles. The full sermon is slightly over 63 minutes. This partial transcript is of......
Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Tweet complains my videos of his "Hitler/Lenin/Mao" speech are unfair
It's gratifying to know "America's most powerful pastor" seems to have taken notice of my videos, showcasing Rick Warren's 2005 speech at California's Anaheim Angels Stadium, during which Warren outlined a "stealth" program to......
Bruce Wilson (4 comments)
Blurring Reproductive Rights and the Religious Right
The principle of the Hyde Amendment, which restricted federal funds from paying for abortion back in 1976 -- is now seen as an acceptable, "abortion neutral" position for the prochoice Democratic Party. How did......
Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Calls on Followers To Be Dedicated as Followers of Lenin and Mao
[note: for more recent news on Rick Warren, see Rick Warren's Dissertation Advisor Leads Network Promoting Uganda Anti-Gay Bill] Video, below contains audio recording, photos, and transcript from Rick Warren's April 17, 2005 speech......
Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
Julius Oyet Touts The College of Prayer
A new Talk To Action story identifies Apostle and bishop Julius Oyet as a major player in the recent effort in the Ugandan parliament to pass a draconian anti-gay bill. In this video [transcript......
Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Mark Silk on the Hagee / Rodriguez Entente
Mark Silk, at Spiritual Politics has picked up on my notice of the Hagee-Rodriguez embrace and zeroes in on what's certainly one of the most notable aspects: "The key thing to understand about the......
Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Inscribing Christian Values in our Children Before Birth?
Following the evolution of evangelical discourse as it re-defines homosexuality as evidence of "fallen creation", Terri Murray looks at how the Christian right have shifted their rhetoric to adapt to empirical research showing that......
TMurray (0 comments)
US News & World Report Showcases Creationist Ray Comfort
US News and World Report's Dan Gilgoff has charitably provided evangelist Ray Comfort a media platform in the form of a US News & World "exclusive" through which Comfort defends his efforts to distribute,......
Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Atheist billboard in Central Florida
The organization "Atheists of Florida" sponsored a billboard promoting atheism in Lakeland, Florida.  I, however, have some concerns. ......
ArchaeoBob (4 comments)
Transcript: Billy Graham and Richard Nixon, February 21, 1973
The following is my own transcript of a 20 minute phone conversation between Richard Nixon and Billy Graham, on February 23, 1973. As far as I am aware this is the only publicly available,......
Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Rifqa Bary being sent back to Ohio now
Well, there's a change in this case.  After the judge gets immigration documents and so on from the parents, he will send her back. ......
ArchaeoBob (2 comments)
The War on The War on Christmas Goes To Pot
The first day of Fall could be considered the official launch date for the annual war on the war on Christmas, which represents a significant part of the the American Family Association business model......
Bruce Wilson (1 comment)

More Diaries...




All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments, posts, stories, and all other content are owned by the authors. Everything else © 2005 Talk to Action, LLC. Powered by Scoop