My Comments to Quotes from the Column entitled: "The Lowest Ignorance Takes Charge": by Sidney Blumenthal

The column can be found at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1348261,00.html

In his column, Mr. Blumenthal makes the following statements. I have followed each of his quotes with my comments, in appropriate red type of course.


"The 2004 election marks the rise of a quasi-clerical party for the first time in the United States."
This of course, was accompanied by the fall of the not-so quasi-evil party.

"Ecclesiastical organization has become the sinew and muscle of the Republican party essential in George Bush's re-election."
Red state translation: Decent people helped re-elect President Bush. (notice throughout how Sid just can't bring himself to say PRESIDENT Bush)

"His narrow margins in the key states of Florida, Iowa and Ohio, and elsewhere, were dependent on the direct imposition of the churches."
And they darn near won him victories in a bunch of other key blue states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon and New Hampshire. All of which are very, very pale blue.

"For years, (President) Bush has schooled himself in the machinations of the religious right."
And again, he might just be a deeply religious man. Religious faith is not something easily faked during a campaign.

"Perhaps the most influential figure of all (to mobilize the faithful) was the Rev. James Dobson..."
First of all, Sid, Dr. Dobson is NOT a pastor, preacher, minister, priest or reverend: Minimal research reveals he is a psychologist, a family counselor, and a former professor of pediatrics.
OK?
Secondly, I'm wondering why it is so wrong for decent religious people to be politically motivated while it apparently OK for democrats to pay junkies and other misfits to be hauled to the polls to pull the big democrat lever on election day. hmmm?

"The American church is in crisis."
Not as much as the American Democrat party.

"The religious right is not a majority, but it was indispensable to (President) Bush's victory."
I couldn't agree more.

"When moderate Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, chairman of the judiciary committee, said he would oppose any nominee to the supreme court who would seek to outlaw abortion........the Rev. (sic) Dobson said of Specter: "He is a problem and he must be derailed." Almost instantly, Specter clarified his position, announcing that he meant no such thing and that he had approved many judges who were against abortion."
1) Ah, power!
2) However, Dr. Dobson was far from being alone in speaking out against Sen. Specter, or didn't you notice?
3) Tell me again what's wrong with us voicing our opinions?

"History," Thomas Jefferson wrote, "furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes." But we're not all Jeffersonian now."
Jefferson also wrote: "Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. It's evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: If it has been honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one."
I might also add that when speaking of the lowest grade of ignorance, Jefferson had not encountered the current Democrat party.

So in summary, Sid, how's about just shutting up about our religion? Religious freedom still exists in this glorious country. We ARE religious, we are motivated, we express our political opinion, and we vote. Live with it.