Month: October 2004

Goes over to Kerry. Dan Drezner makes the case.

EMAIL OF THE DAY: “Your post concerning David Barton wrongly implies that the following views are extreme: 1) the separation of church and state is a myth, 2) America is a “Christian nation,” and 3) pastors are allowed to endorse candidates from the pulpit. The trouble is that none of these views are extreme; on the contrary, it would be hard to gainsay any one of them.
First, the Supreme Court’s decision in 1947 to apply the Establishment Clause against the states has been subjected to sustained scholarly criticism. No scholar disputes that the Establishment Clause originally protected each state’s right to establish a religion (many states in 18th and 19th centuries in fact had established churches). To incorporate the Establishment Clause into the Fourteenth Amendment therefore is incoherent, for it is impossible to protect against state infringement a right that belongs to states in the first place. The Harvard Law Review has written on this subject, as have other publications.
Second, America has always been and continues to be a Christian nation in the sense that most of its citizens are Christians. There is nothing extreme about making this rather banal observation.
Finally, not only are pastors allowed to endorse candidates from the pulpit, but their right to do so is protected by the First Amendment. To be sure, there is a question as to whether churches will lose their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates, but the only reason that the tax code potentially denies churches the power to endorse candidates is that in 1950s Lyndon Johnson managed to usher a bill to that effect through Congress in order to punish some of his political opponents. It has nothing to do with “separation of church and state” at all.” Much more feedback on the Letters Page.

Here’s the right link to the anti-gay anti-Kerry ad cited below. I’ve been on a plane for the last few hours and missed it before I left.

Here’s a revealing tale about what’s happening in the Republican party. It’s a story that needs to be followed up. Kudos to Beliefnet for breaking it. The gist:

The Republican National Committee is employing the services of a Texas-based activist who believes the United States is a ‘Christian nation’ and the separation of church and state is ‘a myth.’
David Barton, the founder of an organization called Wallbuilders, was hired by the RNC as a political consultant and has been traveling the country for a year–speaking at about 300 RNC-sponsored lunches for local evangelical pastors. During the lunches, he presents a slide show of American monuments, discusses his view of America’s Christian heritage — and tells pastors that they are allowed to endorse political candidates from the pulpit.

It gets worse. Barton is on the board of advisers for a Christian Reconstructionist group – people who believe that America should scrap its constitution and go back to Biblical law. When I have described the trend within the GOP as theocratic, I am sometimes criticized for hyperbole. But this is the reality. Barton is the vice-chair of the Texas GOP. Figures.

BIGOTS AGAINST KERRY: This has to be the most homophobic internet ad for Bush I’ve yet seen. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be jokey. But it crosses the line. The ominous music at the beginning, the images used, the appeal to homophobia are all too real. It implies Kerry and Edwards are gay; and ends with Bush holding a football with the background of a bald eagle. Really: classy. But what did I expect? This is today’s GOP. I might as well face reality.

Another eagle independent chooses the Democrat.

The cover of the latest Stern has to be seen to be believed.

CHAFETZ FOR KERRY: Another eagle takes the plunge.

SPORTS AND RELIGION: In Boston, there can sometimes seem no difference at all.

KERRY MERCHANDISE: Yes, it’s prayer cloths. Especially popular in Ohio.

An exchange on Anderson Cooper’s most excellent CNN show, about the sex habits of Americans:

CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: Men who say they always have an orgasm are 74 percent, women who say they always have an orgasm, 30 percent. Now, faking it, men who say they have faked an orgasm, 11 percent of the population, women, what do you think?

ANDERSON COOPER: I…

MCFADDEN: Faking it?

COOPER: I have no idea.

Me neither, Anderson.

Sorry, the traffic shut it down. Here’s a mirror site. Be patient. It takes a while to transfer.

THE CASE FOR CLINTON: Just for the record, here’s TNR’s editorial endorsing Clinton in 1992. I wrote it. And I feel better about it now than I did a couple of years ago.

ON THE LIBERAL HAWKS: Lawrence Kaplan lays into pro-war liberals (and some conservatives) for blaming all that has gone wrong in Iraq on the Bush administration.

At last, some positive news about the prospects for the elections. The support for Sistani is particularly encouraging. Of course, security is a huge issue; and it’s a little alarming to see that they are contemplating allowing voting in towns controlled by the insurgents. Whether the Iraqi security police can control the election sites is also dubious. But better to press on than give up. The election itself is a form of security. One reason the transition has been so rocky is the lack of legitimacy. Only elections can provide that. In equally encouraging news, we find:

Despite the current strife, about two-thirds of Iraqis do not believe civil war is imminent, the poll found. Asked if their households had been hurt by violence, injuries, death or monetary loss over the past year, only 22 percent of those questioned said yes — a figure that surprised pollsters and U.S. officials.

Desire to vote in the elections also seems very high – another good sign. Of course, the source of the electoral optimism is the U.N. So beware. And the maturation of the insurgency – both financially and in organizational terms – is worrying. There’s also the distinct possibility of religious extremist parties winning the election. What if we get a popularly elected Jihadist government, allied closely with Iran? Gulp.

BTW: If you feel as helpless as I do and still want to help, why not contribute to the Iraq Democracy Project? They need us in the fight against terrorism. And we need them.

Sort of. Here’s what he said in Southwest Michigan:

“We had inconsistent information, and we did not inform others in the community of gaps in our intelligence… The extraordinary men and women who do magnificent work in the CIA are held accountable every day for what they do, and as part of keeping our faith with the American people, we will tell you when we’re right or wrong.”

The Herald-Palladium newspaper then reports: “Tenet called the war on Iraq ‘wrong’ in a speech Wednesday night to 2,000 members of The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center. He did not elaborate.” Not sure what that means or if the reporter is misrepresenting something.

THE COMPLETE TERESA OOPS LIST: A collection of THK idiocies, gaffes and goofs. Heinzisms?

OREGON’S VOTER GUIDE: Check out the arguments for keeping gays out of marriages or legal unions. No, this isn’t a parody. It’s the real thing. Argument One:

Traditional values are under attack, and sexual perverts are attempting to strain the definition of marriage far beyond what God has ordained. The Word of the Lord must be legislated as Oregon public policy.

Yes, a local satirist invented three “conservative” groups – “Defense of Heterosexual Breeding,” “Traditional Prejudices,” and “The Beaver State Defense of Beaver” – and inserted the arguments into the guide. No one noticed. Now everyone gets to read them before they vote.

A new campaign slogan: “Vote for Daschle and Vote for SODOMY.” Unauthorized, of course. But at least it’s honest. The flyer, mailed to 1,000 churches in South Dakota, “urges recipients to vote against Daschle if he doesn’t support a marriage amendment, an act to keep ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance and legislation that would allow pastors to preach on political issues without fear of losing their church’s nonprofit status.” No, this one isn’t a parody. Daschle’s campaign is accusing the Republicans of financing or organizing the elaborate mailing. Thune denies it. (Hat tip: Josh.)

NOW, I’M JUDAS: Here’s an over-wrought attack on yours truly as the Judas of Bush-supporters. Please. Oh, and I’m also “Zarqawi’s microphone.” Actually, I’m even more important that that: “I suspect Andrew Sullivan has done more damage to the president, and more help to Kerry, than George Soros and MoveOn with all their billions.” My power, it frightens me. A simpler explanation is that I’m a blogger who tries to call things as I see them. When facts change, I try and adjust. I never believed the Iraq liberation would be this botched; and it behooves those of us who supported it to be accountable. (God knows, the Bush administration won’t take responsibility.) I’ve learned in life that error is not something to be afraid of. But fear of admitting error is. And so my mounting misgivings about this administration are simply a function of watching and thinking. I could be wrong again – especially about Iraq. (I’ve enthused about progress in Afghanistan and wherever I can find it) All I can say is: I hope to God I am wrong. And if I am, and my worries turn out to be baseless and Bush pulls this off somehow, I will not stint in giving myself multiple retroactive Von Hoffmann awards. Promise. Nothing would give me more pleasure. And if Bush wins the election, I will draw a line below all of this and do all I can to support a war I believe in. But first: accountability. And the truth, as far as I can see it.