Scary News from Washington

ferdville

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On the front page of LA Times today was frankly something I consider to be very scary. While I can't necessarily say I am surprised, it looks like a trend that will raise some eyebrows.

Headline - Grooming Politicians for Christ

Tag - Evangelical programs on Capitol Hill seek to mold a new generation of leaders who will not answer to voters, but to God

I guess there goes our democratic republic. I will try to go online and post the whole story.
 

ferdville

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August 23, 2005 latimes.com : National News Single page Print E-mail story

COLUMN ONE
Grooming Politicians for Christ
Evangelical programs on Capitol Hill seek to mold a new generation of leaders who will answer not to voters, but to God.

By Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON ? In the blue and gold elegance of the House speaker's private dining room, Jeremy Bouma bowed his head before eight young men and women who hope to one day lead the nation. He prayed that they might find wisdom in the Bible ? and govern by its word.

"Holy Father, we thank you for providing us with guidance," said Bouma, who works for an influential televangelist. "Thank you, Lord, for these students. Build them up as your warriors and your ambassadors on Capitol Hill."

"Amen," the students murmured. Then they picked up their pens expectantly.

Nearly every Monday for six months, as many as a dozen congressional aides ? many of them aspiring politicians ? have gathered over takeout dinners to mine the Bible for ancient wisdom on modern policy debates about tax rates, foreign aid, education, cloning and the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

Through seminars taught by conservative college professors and devout members of Congress, the students learn that serving country means first and always serving Christ.

They learn to view every vote as a religious duty, and to consider compromise a sin.

That puts them at the vanguard of a bold effort by evangelical conservatives to mold a new generation of leaders who will answer not to voters, but to God.

"We help them understand God's purpose for society," said Bouma, who coordinates the program, known as the Statesmanship Institute, for the Rev. D. James Kennedy.

At least 3.5 million Americans tune in to Kennedy's sermons, broadcast from Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Since 1995, the unabashedly political televangelist has also reached out to the Beltway elite with his Center for Christian Statesmanship in Washington.

The center sponsors Bible studies, prayer meetings and free "Politics and Principle" lunches for members of Congress and their staffs, often drawing crowds in the hundreds.

The Statesmanship Institute, founded two years ago, offers more in-depth training for $345.

It's one of half a dozen evangelical leadership programs making steady inroads into Washington.

The most prominent is Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., an hour's drive from the capital. The college was founded five years ago with the goal of turning out "Christian men and women who will lead our nation with timeless biblical values." Nearly every graduate works in government or with a conservative advocacy group.

The Witherspoon Fellowship has had similar success, placing its graduates in the White House, Congress, the State Department and legislatures nationwide. The fellowship brings 42 college students to Washington each year to study theology and politics ? and to work at the conservative Family Research Council, which lobbies on such social issues as abortion and same-sex marriage.

Such programs share a commitment to developing leaders who read the Bible as a blueprint.

As Kennedy put it: "If we leave it to man to decide what's good and evil, there will be chaos."


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"I'm sure there are people who won't appreciate the fact that this class goes on here in the Capitol," Myal Greene said one recent evening.

He glanced around the stately dining room, reserved for the institute by a member of Congress. (House regulations allow private groups to hold events in the Capitol as long as they are noncommercial, nonpolitical and do not discriminate based on race, creed, color or national origin.)

To Greene, there could hardly be a more appropriate location. He considers his private faith and his public duty inseparable.

Greene, the deputy press secretary for a Republican congressman from Florida, signed up for the Statesmanship Institute in part because he felt his Christian ethics were under constant assault ? from lobbyists offering him free steak dinners, from friends urging him to network over beers.
 

djv

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Ya like Pat Robinson speaking out for assassination of a countries leader. I wonder if god came to him and said heres a good idea.
This is same Pat that wanted to be president ran as a reb?
 

smurphy

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I was in a bible youth group in 1988 when Pat Robertson was running for prez. I remember a group prayer when someone actually thanked God for basically "one of our own" running for president - without specifically mentioning Robertson's name.

After the meeting, I sarcastically asked the guy if he was talking about Jesse Jackson (he ran that year too - and is of course a reverand - fellow Christian of equal faith, etc.)

I don't remember being particularly trusted in that group after that. It always made me think though - why did they consider Robertson more christian than Jackson?
 

dawgball

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Evangelical programs on Capitol Hill seek to mold a new generation of leaders who will answer not to voters, but to God.

I don't believe in tax dollars paying for the advancement of Chiristianity (which I think everyone here knows where I stand), but this line and headline are complete bullshit. To lead with Christian values does not mean to turn away from voters. There is ZERO correlation. This article is simply left wing propaganda with a goal of enciting anger in people. Something where people can point to and say "See I told you all Republicans are bible thumpers" or some shit like that.

Are there right wing nut jobs out there? Yes, but I think we have gone over that one before.

I, personally, would like to see our government officials act more Chrisitian than the crooks that most of them are. You can substitute any word you would like in there for Christianity as long as they are values that, at their core, stand for the betterment of mankind.

But that's just my wacky right wing Christian opinion.
 

smurphy

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Dawgball, do you feel Bush and Cheney embodies your Christian beliefs? (serious question - not leading or anything - interested in your view on that)
 

dawgball

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smurphy--You have now been inducted into the MJs Hall of Fame for Stupid questions at this point. ;)

Someone that would come to mind to have good "Christian" convictions is someone like McCain. He is not perfect, but he does stand strongly for the betterment of our country and the world.

Of course, it is easy to find something on ANYONE in the public sector that you don't like.
 

dawgball

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But I think the fact that this post exists is a victory for the author of this article. IMO, his major goal was to yet again push the left agenda of summing up the Republican party as right wing christians.
 

Nosigar

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djv said:
Ya like Pat Robinson speaking out for assassination of a countries leader. I wonder if god came to him and said heres a good idea.
This is same Pat that wanted to be president ran as a reb?

Damn, possibly one of your worst statements. And that is something.

I happen to agree with Pat on the entire context of his statement. But some here will bash saying they don't give a chit about foreign affairs, only Iraq and our poor boys being duped and dragged into an lilegal war. There is more out there than meets the eye.
 

smurphy

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dawgball said:
smurphy--You have now been inducted into the MJs Hall of Fame for Stupid questions at this point. ;)

Someone that would come to mind to have good "Christian" convictions is someone like McCain. He is not perfect, but he does stand strongly for the betterment of our country and the world.

Of course, it is easy to find something on ANYONE in the public sector that you don't like.
I'm honored to be inducted. I must be really stupid though because I can't even see what was stupid about the question.

So I guess you do not feel Bush and Cheney are Christian-like? Among Christians I know I get varying answers. Whichever the side the answer may be, it's certainly not consistent among believers.

Yes, Kosar - I was once a bible thumper. I missed out on an awful lot of trouble that I should have been getting into in my late teen years. ...Talk about regret ...Man! :cursin:
 

ocelot

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No difference between the philosophy of Christians politicians "only answering to God" and Taliban politicians "only answering to Allah".

None at all. This type of attitude WILL destroy democracy. But you can also be sure it won't succeed in THIS country.
 

DOGS THAT BARK

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You have to all bear in mind--The ACLU---LA Times---Liberal element consider anyone that doesn't think
>gay marriage
>Protection of child porn by 1st amendment
>no prayer in schools but every terrorist religious rights protected while incarcerated
>Christmas--bah humbug
Gays in parks--boyscouts out
ECT ECT ECT

is what are forefathers intended with constitution HAS to be a right wing extremist :)

so if you want to be :scared consider the alternative--and if you need proof take a look at crime/aids/ect stats in liberal strongholds across U.S.

Don't know about about anyone else but I have always been able to ignore religious fanatics by changing channels--slamming door ect much easier than fending car jackers--gangs--pedophiles ect ;)
 
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DOGS THAT BARK

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JC They have been forced to abate the ole employment/economy drumbeat--so have to find new waters to lead the lemmings.

---and speaking of economy just how strong is it to withstand highest oil prices of all time. It will effect it eventially if it doesn'tcome down.
Never in the history of America has home ownership been more affordable and at all time highs.
 

dr. freeze

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ocelot said:
No difference between the philosophy of Christians politicians "only answering to God" and Taliban politicians "only answering to Allah".

None at all. This type of attitude WILL destroy democracy. But you can also be sure it won't succeed in THIS country.

nah only muslims answering to Allah believe on killing, tortuing, raping, and pillaging if it means advancing their religion

the founders of our country were nearly all Christian politicians...."they WILL destroy democracy".... :mj07: :mj07: :mj07:
 

Marco

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"as Kennedy put it: If we leave it to man to decide what's good and evil, there will be chaos.."

As if religion had a monopoly on peace.. :mj07:

Once religion is entered into the picture, you now have men with absolute conviction of thier position, because god and religion is used like a trump card over any reasonable thought....

How many people on this planet have strapped a bomb on themselves and killed themselves along with a group of total strangers to meet "72 virgins in some afterlife?"

I wish I had a dollar for every person on this planet who died as a result of some religious based violence or activity...

Give me a planet where each individual lives within the boundaries of his own rights and determines his actions based on the premise of not harming someone else or someone else's property, and I'll be living in a whole lot more peaceful world than a planet with a bunch of delusional people basing thier actions merely from religion and that "God told me to do it."
 

djv

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Nosigar ok your right. Pat's got the right idea lets start going around and knock off afew country leaders. And that way we wont waist 250 billion dollars on a dumb war. Pat has a way with strange saying has for along time. Like time he said womans rights lead to divorce and lesbians. Stand up guy.
 

ferdville

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Believe it or not, probably not, there has been a slight shift in their editorial policies. Not much, but a little.
 
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