Newt Gingrich: A Whale of a Candidate for the Religious Right?
Bill Berkowitz printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Sun Dec 04, 2011 at 02:40:29 PM EST
Champion the Vote, a project of United In Purpose, a Silicon Valley-based conservative group dedicated to registering millions of Christian voters in time for the 2012 elections, has produced a new video that features a number of religious right notables, but only one Republican Party presidential hopeful: Newt Gingrich.

Is Gingrich on his way to getting the Christian conservative stamp of approval?

"While conventional wisdom holds that Texas Governor Rick Perry is the candidate of choice for the hard evangelical right and the increasingly influential but poorly understood New Apostolic Reformation, some new evidence indicates otherwise," Talk2Action co-founder Bruce Wilson recently told me in an email. In fact, says Wilson, evangelicals may be lining up behind Gingrich, who has risen rapidly and is now number one or two in most polls.

To chart Perry's fall and Gingrich's rise, one needs to go back to last summer and the Religio-palooza called The Response. Initiated by Perry and staged by a number of Religious Right organizations including the American Family Association, The Response was apparently such a success that it is hitting the road, with a first stop scheduled for Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on December 6.

According to The Response website, "America's issues are not primarily financial, political or moral. Neither does America's hope lie in one leader or institution. Our hope is found in the One who desires for us to turn to Him with all our hearts. This is our response -- to call on Jesus on behalf of America, that He might hear our cry and that we would see a revolution of righteousness in this country."

To create this "revolution of righteousness," The Response plans to hold "state-wide assemblies to gather people from all ages, denominations and backgrounds in prayer and fasting on behalf of our nation." The first stop on The Response Tour is set for Iowa, a month or so prior to that state's presidential caucuses. Other Response events are set for South Carolina, Florida and Arizona.

The Response website clearly points out that these will not be Rick Perry-support meetings: "Though Governor Rick Perry initiated The Response in Houston," the website notes, "these upcoming state-wide gatherings will not be affiliated with any particular presidential candidates. The Response is committed to prayer above politics, to seeing the church moved to stand for righteousness and to pray for God's mercy for America."

Although these Response events may not be Perry-centric, the participation of Donald Wildmon's American Family Association appears to be critical. Religion Dispatches' Sarah Posner recently reported that "The mailing list from the August Response is being used by the AFA to send voters information about Champion the Vote, a project of the non-profit group United in Purpose," which, according to the L.A. Times, "is using sophisticated data-mining techniques to compile a database of every unregistered born-again and evangelical Christian and conservative Catholic in the country."

"If you're passionate about America and about God's Word, if you long to see our nation return to the timeless truth of a Biblical worldview, if you're willing to be on the frontlines and speak out to mobilize others to act -- if you have as little as one hour a week to volunteer -- become a Champion!", Champions for Life spells out to its website visitors. Champion issues include: "Right to life, Religious freedom, Traditional marriage, God and government, Morality and ethics, Voter registration, and Prayer in the public arena."

As reported in late September, United in Purpose was founded by Silicon Valley venture capitalists Bill Dallas and Reid Rutherford. It aims to register many millions of conservative Christian voters in time for the 2012 elections.

United in Purpose has a Facebook page. An entry, dated September 15, touts the November 12 premiere of a video titled "One Nation Under God" at house parties across the nation. According to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch, the video features David Barton, Newt Gingrich, James Dobson, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Lila Rose, and others "talking about the importance of keeping America 'one nation under God'."

While there aren't any reports on UIP's Facebook page regarding how the house parties went, a website called American Decency, an organization which appears to be in relationship with the American Family Association and has a mailing address of Fremont, Michigan, reported that its "One Nation, Under God" event "was a huge success." (American Decency is offering the video for free: "All we ask for is the cost of shipping and handling of a modest $3.00.")

At ReligiousLiberty.TV, Jason Hines provided a review of "One Nation Under God":

"There were several speakers on the DVD, and each of them had two responsibilities. First, to make sure that they established the idea that America is a Christian nation and that Judeo-Christian principles are to be inculcated into government. Second, the goal was to convince Christians that they should be politically involved, vote their values and encourage other Christians that they should do the same."

Talk2Action co-founder Bruce Wilson believes that the United in Purpose video is geared towards promoting the candidacy of Newt Gingrich.

"The only 2012 presidential candidate featured in the 'One Nation, Under God' video is Newt Gingrich," Wilson pointed out. "This suggests that power centers and leaders on the evangelical right may be aligning behind Gingrich."

The video "features interviews with some of the same key figures listed as honorary co-chairs of Rick Perry's The Response prayer rally last August - notably James Dobson and Samuel Rodriguez - but now Gingrich seems to be the favored candidate. The video also includes former Republican congressman Bob McEwen reminiscing on how Newt Gingrich led the 1994 Republican takeover of the US House and Senate, and it could be interpreted almost as an infomercial for Gingrich's presidential bid."

Wilson noted that while Gingrich "raised eyebrows with his challenge to the Republican Party's increasingly severe immigration policies, his rhetoric aligns nicely with a strategy... by conservative evangelicals to aggressively reach out to African-American, Hispanic and other minority evangelical groups. Gingrich's new stance may be controversial within the GOP but it positions Gingrich well for the general election."

In fact, says Wilson, "Gingrich may offer the best hope for anti-Mormon conservative evangelicals to [stop Romney and] put up [their own] candidate against Barack Obama in the 2012 election."




Display:
"In fact, says Wilson, "Gingrich may offer the best hope for anti-Mormon conservative evangelicals to [stop Romney and] put up [their own] candidate against Barack Obama in the 2012 election.""
Except if they do that they will probably lose. Oh who am I kidding if the republican party keeps this up they will lose no matter what happens.

There is one interesting thing, why has no one has really pressed Newt Gingrich on his first shut down the government in the 1990's? Is it some bizarre badge of pride in the Republican party?  

by Hirador on Mon Dec 05, 2011 at 02:46:59 PM EST

So, "The Response" is going on the road; seems that in these times people/groups can cash in on just the reputation of being something, rather than actually having any substance. "Hey! Look at me!! I might run for president!" Perry might have actually turned out to be a horrible presidential candidate, but he apparently was good enough for the Dominionists to create a new political vehicle. David Barton, Newt Gingrich, James Dobson - I know these guys... Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Lila Rose - I got some learnings to be done, can't say these names strike fear into me, but I gather I should treat them with caution... The Newt's stance on long term undocumented's fits in with Perry's "heartless" comment so many debate cycles ago - at least there is a shred of decency straining to get noticed in their internal policy tempests. But I am not swayed that there is a wellspring of good intentions where that comes from. It's obviously a cynical calculation regarding the changing demographics in the country. It's hard to fathom that the evangelicals could line up behing Newt, but I suppose "anything is possible"? Hirador said "why has no one has really pressed Newt Gingrich on his first shut down the government in the 1990's? Is it some bizarre badge of pride in the Republican party?" -> I'd say the quick answer is "yes"; digging a little deeper brings us to the "portray defeat as if it was a victory" syndrome...

by Edski on Tue Dec 06, 2011 at 06:50:12 PM EST
Parent



WWW Talk To Action


Cognitive Dissonance & Dominionism Denial
There is new research on why people are averse to hearing or learning about the views of ideological opponents. Based on evaluation of five......
By Frederick Clarkson (374 comments)
Will the Air Force Do Anything To Rein In Its Dynamic Duo of Gay-Bashing, Misogynistic Bloggers?
"I always get nervous when I see female pastors/chaplains. Here is why everyone should as well: "First, women are not called to be pastors,......
By Chris Rodda (195 comments)
The Legacy of Big Oil
The media is ablaze with the upcoming publication of David Grann's book, Killers of the Flower Moon. The shocking non fiction account of the......
By wilkyjr (110 comments)
Gimme That Old Time Dominionism Denial
Over the years, I have written a great deal here and in other venues about the explicitly theocratic movement called dominionism -- which has......
By Frederick Clarkson (101 comments)
History Advisor to Members of Congress Completely Twists Jefferson's Words to Support Muslim Ban
Pseudo-historian David Barton, best known for his misquoting of our country's founders to promote the notion that America was founded as a Christian nation,......
By Chris Rodda (113 comments)
"Christian Fighter Pilot" Calls First Lesbian Air Force Academy Commandant a Liar
In a new post on his "Christian Fighter Pilot" blog titled "BGen Kristin Goodwin and the USAFA Honor Code," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan......
By Chris Rodda (144 comments)
Catholic Right Leader Unapologetic about Call for 'Death to Liberal Professors' -- UPDATED
Today, Donald Trump appointed C-FAM Executive Vice President Lisa Correnti to the US Delegation To UN Commission On Status Of Women. (C-FAM is a......
By Frederick Clarkson (126 comments)
Controlling Information
     Yesterday I listened to Russ Limbaugh.  Rush advised listeners it would be best that they not listen to CNN,MSNBC, ABC, CBS and......
By wilkyjr (118 comments)
Is Bannon Fifth-Columning the Pope?
In December 2016 I wrote about how White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who likes to flash his Catholic credentials when it comes to......
By Frank Cocozzelli (250 comments)
Ross Douthat's Hackery on the Seemingly Incongruous Alliance of Bannon & Burke
Conservative Catholic writer Ross Douthat has dissembled again. This time, in a February 15, 2017 New York Times op-ed titled The Trump Era's Catholic......
By Frank Cocozzelli (64 comments)
`So-Called Patriots' Attack The Rule Of Law
Every so often, right-wing commentator Pat Buchanan lurches out of the far-right fever swamp where he has resided for the past 50 years to......
By Rob Boston (161 comments)
Bad Faith from Focus on the Family
Here is one from the archives, Feb 12, 2011, that serves as a reminder of how deeply disingenuous people can be. Appeals to seek......
By Frederick Clarkson (176 comments)
The Legacy of George Wallace
"One need not accept any of those views to agree that they had appealed to real concerns of real people, not to mindless, unreasoning......
By wilkyjr (70 comments)
Betsy DeVos's Mudsill View of Public Education
My Talk to Action colleague Rachel Tabachnick has been doing yeoman's work in explaining Betsy DeVos's long-term strategy for decimating universal public education. If......
By Frank Cocozzelli (80 comments)
Prince and DeVos Families at Intersection of Radical Free Market Privatizers and Religious Right
This post from 2011 surfaces important information about President-Elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. -- FC Erik Prince, Brother of Betsy......
By Rachel Tabachnick (218 comments)

Respect for Others? or Political Correctness?
The term "political correctness" as used by Conservatives and Republicans has often puzzled me: what exactly do they mean by it? After reading Chip Berlin's piece here-- http://www.talk2action.org/story/2016/7/21/04356/9417 I thought about what he explained......
MTOLincoln (253 comments)
Fear
What I'm feeling now is fear.  I swear that it seems my nightmares are coming true with this new "president".  I'm also frustrated because so many people are not connecting all the dots! I've......
ArchaeoBob (107 comments)
"America - love it or LEAVE!"
I've been hearing that and similar sentiments fairly frequently in the last few days - far FAR more often than ever before.  Hearing about "consequences for burning the flag (actions) from Trump is chilling!......
ArchaeoBob (211 comments)
"Faked!" Meme
Keep your eyes and ears open for a possible move to try to discredit the people openly opposing Trump and the bigots, especially people who have experienced terrorism from the "Right"  (Christian Terrorism is......
ArchaeoBob (165 comments)
More aggressive proselytizing
My wife told me today of an experience she had this last week, where she was proselytized by a McDonald's employee while in the store. ......
ArchaeoBob (163 comments)
See if you recognize names on this list
This comes from the local newspaper, which was conservative before and took a hard right turn after it was sold. Hint: Sarah Palin's name is on it!  (It's also connected to Trump.) ......
ArchaeoBob (169 comments)
Unions: A Labor Day Discussion
This is a revision of an article which I posted on my personal board and also on Dailykos. I had an interesting discussion on a discussion board concerning Unions. I tried to piece it......
Xulon (156 comments)
Extremely obnoxious protesters at WitchsFest NYC: connected to NAR?
In July of this year, some extremely loud, obnoxious Christian-identified protesters showed up at WitchsFest, an annual Pagan street fair here in NYC.  Here's an account of the protest by Pagan writer Heather Greene......
Diane Vera (130 comments)
Capitalism and the Attack on the Imago Dei
I joined this site today, having been linked here by Crooksandliars' Blog Roundup. I thought I'd put up something I put up previously on my Wordpress blog and also at the DailyKos. As will......
Xulon (330 comments)
History of attitudes towards poverty and the churches.
Jesus is said to have stated that "The Poor will always be with you" and some Christians have used that to refuse to try to help the poor, because "they will always be with......
ArchaeoBob (148 comments)
Alternate economy medical treatment
Dogemperor wrote several times about the alternate economy structure that dominionists have built.  Well, it's actually made the news.  Pretty good article, although it doesn't get into how bad people could be (have been)......
ArchaeoBob (90 comments)
Evidence violence is more common than believed
Think I've been making things up about experiencing Christian Terrorism or exaggerating, or that it was an isolated incident?  I suggest you read this article (linked below in body), which is about our great......
ArchaeoBob (214 comments)

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.