From the Wingnut Front Lines - The Family Research Council

You may have heard the ultra-Right Christian wingnuts are losing ground, losing influence, losing touch with their base.

Not so, says Tony Perkins, prez of the Family Research Council. In fact,Tony along with Bishop Harry Jackson has written a new book called "Personal Faith, Public Policy," which argues the Christian Right is not losing anything, but "is growing and rejuvenated."

At a National Press Club gathering, Perkins boasted that "The range of issues on which its [Christian Right] leaders are willing to take a stand is expanding, and we are building new coalitions as we seek to lead the way with biblically-based solutions to the nation's problems. In the book [Personal Faith, Public Policy], we lay out a comprehensive strategy to bring people together across racial and denominational lines to address the most urgent issues, including life, defending marriage, religious freedom, immigration, poverty, racial reconciliation, and the environment."

Aren't you excited that they're seeking "biblically-based solutions" to our country's problems? That could mean that if things got too bad, Tony and his ilk would seek out the most righteous person and he/she would build an ark and take two of every kind into the ark, and then blow up all the dams around the country to flood the country and kill the rest of the people who, because of their failure to live up to God's biblical laws, deserve to be put to death.

That's how God did it; a "biblically-based" solution!

But I want to be on the ark!

Let's look at these issues more closely from the viewpoint of the FRC. "Life," of course, means no abortions. "Defending marriage," is code for no gay marriage. "Religious freedom" refers to the Right's desire to pray in public schools, post the Ten Commandments in courthouses, etc. "Immigration," well, can't have all those illegals getting all those government benefits, right? "Poverty" should be the dealt with by churches and other non-taxable entities, not the government. "Racial reconciliation" - frankly, I'm not sure where they mean by that. The "Environment," is not really a problem as liberal scientists can't be believed and the world will end shortly anyhow.

Two issues deserve a bit more discussion here. Homosexuality and gay marriage drive Tony and his Christian Right compadres straight up the wall! Tony likes to promote what he calls "family values," but, unfortunately, his "family values" leave some families - like gay families - out in the cold.

Pam Spaulding tells a story in an Alternet post of Tony and the FRC pissing around in the northeast. Seems a gay couple got married in Massachusetts. They are now in Rhode Island and want a divorce. The problem is that Rhode Island doesn't recognize their marriage. It's up to the courts to determine if the marriage can be dissolved in Rhode Island.

Tony and his FRC got in the act by filing a brief which argued that Rhode Island cannot recognize the marriage (in spite of the fact that Rhode Island has no law forbidding same-sex marriage).

Here's FRC's reasoning (or non-reasoning):

"Following the logic of the applellants and their supporters, man/animal marriage and man/deceased woman marriage must be permitted under Rhode Island law simply because the General Assembly has not expressly prohibited it."

Pam, incredulous, asks this question: "Tony and Co., when you are able to explain how animals and corpses can grant consent to enter a union of any kind, please let us know."

[She also notes that this so-called "family values" organizaton paid $82,000 to "David DuKKKe for his mailing list."]

But there's more. These wingnuts really do have many loose screws!

Jonathan Merrit is studying for his master's degree at Southeastern Seminary, a Southern Baptist school in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is "called," he says, to some form of Christian ministry.

Jonathan is concerned about the environment, specifically the impact of global warming.

Jonathan was "rebuked" by Tony Perkins who believes that the "environmentalist movement promotes abortion and homosexuality." What?

Perkins more or less admits to the realilty of global warming but thinks nothing should be done to halt it as that would delay the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Mugsy, from Brave New Films, says Perkins says "you should be prepared to be Raptured, not 'throw away the keys to your SUV and jump on the Al Gore bandwagon.'"

I knew that! But I guess I'd rather ride the Al Gore bandwagon than the Wingnut Express!