Yes, many people have woefully abused this term as a way to tar all sorts of characters with a demagogic brush. But in some cases, it actually is fair. I refer to a fringe group known as Christian Reconstructionists, far right Christians who believe that the Constitution should be replaced by Biblical law, that women have no place in public life, that homosexuals should be executed, that non-Christians should be forcibly converted, and so on. Now, you’d think these extremists would be personae non gratae in the Taliban-fighting Bush White House, wouldn’t you? So why on earth has the administration considered nominating one Robert Brame III to the National Labor Relations Board? Until recently, Brame was on the board of American Vision, a Christian Reconstructionist body, and was an adviser to the Plymouth Rock Foundation, a group with similar views. Here’s a recent quote from an AV representative in their magazine: “We’ve been told that Christians cannot impose their religious beliefs on others. Since heaven is at stake, we have no choice. There is no hope outside of Jesus Christ.” Remind you of anyone? A June 1999 edition of the group’s magazine described democracy as “the first step toward fascism.” I’m sorry but something is seriously wrong when people associated with views such as these are deemed worthy of appointment by any administration. The president has a chance to save himself from this embarrassment. He ought to – and fast.
HOME NEWS: The good news is that Entertainment Weekly’s “Shaw Report,” which catalogues the ups and downs of pop-cultural fashion has designated andrewsullivan.com as the “in” website of the moment. We replace mcsweeneys.net (“five minutes ago”) and thedrudgereport.com (“out”). Well, if Drudge is so “out,” why does he keep giving me almost half my referrals? (Drudge, like diamonds, is forever.) But the bad news is that the other “in” things of this moment are boiled wool, shrinky dinks, and chocolate martinis. Eeewww, EW. But thanks!
The Dish 