ok -- so when is a media personality going to say it:

[xchrom]

THE WHOLE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS A PASTOR PROBLEM!

jerry falwell{may he rot in hell}

pat robertson -- assasination any one?

ted haggert -- oy.

conservative bishops protecting child molestors

hagee -- could there be more hate in a man of god?

how about all the pastors at AFA?

a more radical -- hate spewing crew you couldn't invent.

please feel free to add your own.

[MercutioATC]

1. So do we...unless you realize that it's a created issue and doesn't mean anything.

Republicans don't have a "pastor problem".

The "problem" is the media creating an issue where none exists...for both Dems and Repubs.

[xchrom]

4. no i have to disagree -- these pastors have

been whipping up several several million voters for years now with incredibly radical ideas.

they have conducted a very public war against lgbtiq people -- and it's dangerous.

[MercutioATC]

7. I don't disagree, but it means nothing to the election.

"lgbtig"?

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, ???, ???...


I'm obviously not up on the acronyms. Can you enlighten me?

[xchrom]

10. these guys motivate millions of voters

to get to the ballot box -- and republicans line up to get blessings from these guys and have for years.

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed{born hermaphrodite}, queer and questing.

both queer and questing can hold a variety of people including straights who have melded rather seamlessly into gay culture.
or people who haven't had sex but question whether they might be straight.

[MercutioATC]

13. Thanks for the definition...I wasn't familiar with the acronym for the last two.

I agree that religious leaders have power. However, that fact will continue to plague both parties until the voters realize that the statements of a given religious leader do not necessarily coincide with the beliefs or goals of a given candidate.

...and, actually, this primary season has helped that a lot. Politicians (in both parties) are becoming more reluctant to seek the endorsement of religious figures.

[xchrom]

15. well my issue is really two prong:

william f buckley jr really started this bussiness with conservative religious leaders in the 70s -- and his whole conservative catholic business -- it's integral to the republican revolution.

second is that the agenda of the religious right is radical and has never been tackled as such by the 'media' -- with the obvious exception of bill moyers.

they have an effect on american life -- they have an agenda they won't get off of easily -- unless of course a light begins to shine in their dark little corners.

but essentially you're right -- the voters have to fall off -- but right now they belong to a rather sizeable hate club -- and they've been encouraged.

[MercutioATC]

17. Agreed...but the only way I see to solve the problem is to work to make it a non-issue.

We're never going to get everybody on the same page, but saying "Repubs are having pastor problems" just feeds the problem.

I believe the solution is to encourage people to live their faith, but vote their reality.

[xchrom]

18. well i'm gonna see this a tad different since my peeps are often

at the center of the republican/religious hate machine.

our history is less well known than say african american or other minority groups but we have sufferd at the hands of the majority and these peole in recent years especially.

stating that these pastors are radical and destructive is only telling the truth and exposing an agenda that ultimately is unamercan.

[MercutioATC]

19. I can understand where you're coming from.

We're fighting the same fight...from different angles.

Fight on! :)

[xchrom]

20. indeed.

and so shall we both.

[liberal N proud]

2. They are too busy trying to find a pastor to pin to Obama

[angrycarpenter]

3. Anyone who listens to TV preachers for guidance is stupid

They are just trying to guide money into their pockets and power into their hands.

A man who preaches politics from the pulpit is not to be trusted.

[Booster]

5. Ya got an AMEN from this corner.

[xchrom]

8. stupid they might be --

but they are regularly encouraged to work out their homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, etc at the ballot box.

and they do -- and republican politicians line up to get their blessings.

[supernova]

6. If we taught Elmer Gantry in school as much as The Scarlet Letter

The Jerry Falwells of the world wouldn't have much of a chance to take hold.

I like the think that anyway.

[xchrom]

9. supernova!!! sweetness and light -- how are you?

i miss you guys -- with any luck i'm coming to visit at the end of june.

[supernova]

11. Happy Happy Joy Joy!

:bounce:

:hug:

Been overwhelmed w/ my new job and a class I'm taking the past couple of months...but I can maybe see the end of the tunnel back to balance again off in the distance.

[xchrom]

12. oh i'm so glad for you --

i'm sure you're working yourself to the bone.

take care of yourself.

we have to hook up for lunch.

say hi to dick steele and the others for me please.

[supernova]

14. Oh absolutely!

We all miss you.

[xchrom]

16. oh good! -- i can't wait.

:yourock: