The Christian Right is just so Wrong.

We all know their bullshit, the Democrats and liberals are immoral. The democrats and liberals have no values. But who are the nut jobs listening to all the hate radio and television - the CHRISTIAN RIGHT! These nut jobs can almost quote Rush and Hannity, including all the demeaning name calling and hate speech spewed forth that day with the same vigor. (Yes I know I am name calling, stay with me.) They then send around all these crazy emails about Obama being an anti-christ, a muslim, and a Black Liberation Theorist. Regardless of what the evangilical leaders tell them, I am certain that Jesus would not approve of this kind of behavior.

More to the point, it is all me, mine and screw you! I went back and read Luke and Mathew again and I am certain that this "screw my neighbor, he just isn't working hard enough" attitude is not what we were supposed to get out of those gospels. And WOW - do they ever worship mammon (Money - false god of riches). They have actually convinced themselves that money is a reward, and that as long as the put a little back in the plate on Sunday, its all good. As long as they have a good job and plenty of toys, they must be doing something right as far as God is concerned. Poor people, especially those of a different race, are to be scorned and chastized. No mercy, no aid, no benevolence or understanding. Theey are evil no-goods, who are the real downfall of this country. Are these the attitudes of good christians. Of course not! But good christians should pity them nontheless, as they need are help as well. I sometimes wish life was taped and I could playback the things I hear from some of these good christians during the week in mass on Sunday. Kind of like a Daily Show montage.

The email I saw today was especially disturbing. It inartfully attempted to define Black Liberation Theology, and stated that Obama was a follower of what is described as a sect. In the big picture it is really a condemnation of the black church. A form of hidden racism. It very directly goes on to point out that their interpretation of the Bible is not ours, so these are bad christians and should be feared. Its a prime example of how the christian right uses religion as a weapon. To beat down others, instead of to raise them up. You know like they say they are going to do in Mass on Sunday. Pity the Christian right and show them mercy, for they are so blinded by hate and fear that they know not what they do.

Media Matters

Messaging through the media is a key to modern political campaigns. The Republican Party loses on almost every major issue but security. But the have mastered the art of turning elections into image instead of issue based campaigns. People who say they like Sarah Palin, no nothing about her. I have asked them repeatedly to give me one of her accomplishments as governor, and I am repeatedly met with a blank stare.
She is a reformer! Okay - how?
What is her economic plan? Does she have one?
What is her position on the middle East as a whole? Does she have one?
What is her position on national security? Does she have one?
What is her position on our trade agreements? Does she have one?
How about her position on healthcare? Does she have one?
Blank stare after blank stare followed at some point by embarrassment and the inevitable off hand derogatory comment about Obama. They have know idea why they like her and don't like Obama, but she has created the impression that she is one of them. She isn't of course, but they don't know enough to realize that. They simply don't care. The reality that they may have a president who doesn't look like them has set in and they are scared to death.
The key to winning back some of these people is removing the fear. Force feeding them information that they would not otherwise have. It should start with a viewing of this speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo&feature=related

and end with a review of what Republicans have done to this country in the last 8 years. In Southwest Pennsylvania we are at a huge disavantage because the local media is so dominated by Republican talk shows and a Republican paper. So we have to resort to what we can control. Namely the conversations we have, and the internet media that we all have access to. Forward You Tube clips and articles through emails at every opportunity. It's easy and effective. It is a media we can control and make work for us.

http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

The simple mind

What the Republicans have mastered is the ability to get people who vote, but don't actually follow politics, to vote for them. My best guess is that there are still about 10% of the people casting votes that will do it just based on an image or a way of speaking. It just never occurs to them that the people they are voting for are largely responsible for the loss of their job, healthcare and pension. Some of these people have white collar jobs and college educations, but their minds are as narrow as a goat path. The problem is that these are the people that are deciding the close elections.

What the Repubs have shown to be the most effective tool is fear of foreign attack or invasion. The notion is utterly insane, 9/11 not withstanding. We will never be invaded in my lifetime, and the isolated attacks that have happened came under the watch of both Democratic and Republican presidents. They are always executed by a terrorist organization, and the sad fact is we are going to miss one every now and then, even with the best intelligence. Is this a reason to take the dumb, alcoholic politician that likes guns over the intelligent, successful politician who does not? For two straight elections tha answer has been yes. Telling people that you or your family are going to die unless you vote for a certain candidate actually works.

So is the democratic party just above this or don't they get it. I think it is the former, as most of them give people credit for being above that sort of thing. Recently I have heard Barack say that people are not going to fall for the change message offered by McCain. Well, they will when it is proceeded by a 10 minute montage of the 9/11 horrors. The Republican party is just not above anything and it works on that 10%. The democratic party is losing because they have lost this demographic of the middle class people, that they are supposed to represent. They need to figure it out before November.

Keep it simple boys: "McCain will draft your sons and send them to Iran!"
"Elect McCain and we will have another Depression!"

That's right off the top of my head. Give it a try!