will Christian Right make GOP pay a price for Specter?

[Cocoa]

the republicans unanimously approved Specter, after the Christian Right whipped their followers up into a frenzy against him.

So these frenzied values voters, will they exact revenge on republicans for this betrayal?

And do they see this pretty reserved statement by James Dobson as him selling out? His statements about Specter were pretty extreme a couple of weeks ago, how come he doesn't hold the republicans accountable for this?

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=%5CPolitics%5Carchive%5C200411%5CPOL20041119b.html

<snip>

Dr. James C. Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, said he is disappointed that Sen. Specter will become the Judiciary Committee chairman, and he said Specter will assume the position "on a very short leash."

Dobson said Specter will be held to his word: "As the outcry of the past two weeks demonstrates, neither the Republican Party nor the American people will tolerate obstructionist politics when it comes to the confirmation of judicial nominees."

Dobson noted that Specter has promised to be an advocate for the president's nominees. "The Republican Senate leaders have signed off on Arlen Specter assuming this important position," Dobson said. "We put our trust in their judgment and in their diligence in holding him accountable.

"We will be watching Sen. Specter closely, and reporting on him fully."

[sangh0]

1. Old saying "Kill your chickens in front of the monkeys...

and then, the monkeys will stop bothering you"

Specter was used as an example. He deviated from the party line, and has now been disciplined for it, and he has been returned to the fold.

[Cocoa]

5. but he got the chairmanship

the CR fraud leaders told their followers Specter was pure evil, how can they claim to have disciplined him in any real way, when they can see with their own eyes that he got the job?

[sangh0]

12. Of course he got the chairmanship

He's been punished, he's repented, and now he is safely back in their embrace, and suitably chastened.

the CR fraud leaders told their followers Specter was pure evil

It was political theatre, directed at repuke moderates.

how can they claim to have disciplined him in any real way

Because the evidence is self-evident (ie. Specter gave a speech renouncing his earlier statements)

when they can see with their own eyes that he got the job?

They can also see, with their own eyes, that the repuke leadership was able to force him to do what they wanted him to do, apologize. He may be a rat in their eyes, but by making him recant, they showed the TheoCons that what Specter thinks counts for nothing because he still has to submit to a higher authority, the RNC.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. These are vicious people...

In the midst of trying to consolodate power for power's sake. They are truly the wolves, albeit in sheep's clothing, that were featured so promenantly in the election.

They must be stood up to at every opportunity. They mean no good for you, yours, their followers or the country.

[w4rma]

3. This is the first step in either ousting Spector, pacifying Spector,

blaming Spector (which also results in outsting Spector) or turning Spector. Spector is an idiot for taking this job and I bet he doesn't even see what's coming down the pike for him.

[Mandate My Ass]

4. He's been assimilated

He's part of the borg now.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Let the GOP and the "Christian right" tear each other to pieces. . .

Praise the Lord and pass the popcorn.

:evilgrin:

[Cocoa]

8. but they're not

that's my point, look at how weak that statement by Dobson was, compared to his fire and brimstone just a short time ago. All he expresses is "disappointment" after the Antichrist was just unanimously voted as Chairman.

[DinahMoeHum]

14. This is just the prologue. . .

stay tuned.

:evilgrin:

[Chef]

7. Profile in Courage

Spector just won reelection and hadn't switched from the "obey the constituent" mode to the "obey the party" mode quickly enough. Six more years and he can retire after carrying the water for party.

[yellowcanine]

9. Dobson and CWA need to just shut up now. They made their point.

Who the hell elected them anyway?

[Cocoa]

10. in my opinion, they ARE shutting up

"values voters" supposedly have all this grassroots power, but then their leaders just roll over after not a single senator votes against Specter.

[Still_Loves_John]

11. Is is just me or is Dobson politically idiotic?

This is just from reading this little article and watching that clip from "This Week," but he talks like some kind of movie villain. He's given to this really overdramatic language like "He is a problem and he must be destroyed," and "keep him on a short leash," that probably freaks out anyone that isn't already 100% behind him.

Most of the Christian right use code words to tone down their language so that lots of more moderate Christians think they agree with them, but Dobson sounds like the evil preacher from a movie.

[Booster]

13. Just heard on cable that there are 100 million Christian

fundamentalists. Can that possibly be right? If it is right, we don't have a chance of getting our ducks in a row to beat them at anything; we'll just have to wait until they beat themselves.