those who...speak w/authority of Scripture may find themselves under oath

[TheGunslinger]

Abramoff's Evangelical Soldiers

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060220/blumenthal

Gambling might not rank as high as homosexuality or abortion on the list of social evils monitored by Focus on the Family found er James Dobson, but its growth has provided many occasions for his jeremiads. The indictment of Indian casino lobbyist and influential GOP activist Jack Abramoff was one such occasion. In a January 6 press release issued three days after Abramoff's indictment, Dobson declared, "If the nation's politicians don't fix this national disaster, then the oceans of gambling money with which Jack Abramoff tried to buy influence on Capitol Hill will only be the beginning of the corruption we'll see." He concluded with a denunciation of vice: "Gambling--all types of gambling--is driven by greed and subsists on greed."

What Dobson neglected to mention--and has yet to discuss publicly--is his own pivotal role in one of Abramoff's schemes. In 2002 Dobson joined a coterie of Christian-right activists, including Tony Perkins, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, to spearhead Abramoff's campaigns against the establishment of several Louisiana casinos that infringed on the turf of Abramoff's tribal clients. Dobson and his allies recorded messages for phone banking, lobbied high-level Bush Administration officials and took to the airwaves. Whether they knew it or not, these Christian soldiers' crusade to protect families in the "Sportsmen's Paradise" from the side effects of chronic slot-pulling and dice-rolling was funded by the gambling industry and planned by the lobbyist known even to his friends as "Casino Jack."

The only Christian-right activist confirmed to be completely aware of Abramoff's rip-off was Ralph Reed. He and Abramoff have a long and storied history together. When Abramoff chaired the College Republican National Committee in the early 1980s, Reed served as the organization's executive director. They reunited in 1989, when Abramoff helped Reed organize the remains of Pat Robertson's failed 1988 presidential bid into the Christian Coalition. In 1997, with the Christian Coalition under IRS investigation and Reed facing accusations of cronyism from the group's chief financial officer, he left to start his own consulting firm, Century Strategies. Reed contacted Abramoff right away. "I need to start humping in corporate accounts," Reed told him in 1998. "I'm counting on you to help me with some contacts."

[Warpy]

1. Yeppers, they're all in this up to their fake clerical collars

and I've been wondering how long it's going to take the major media in this country to admit it and pick up on what is going to be a particularly delicious part of this scandal. That The Nation has done it now is a great sign. Once it's in print somewhere, it tends to take root and grow.

Nobody likes common scolds, which is what these men have been for decades. I think a lot of people will enjoy seeing them get a little part of what they so richly deserve.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. THANKS for leaving this spot open

I WANT TO CLEARLY POINT OUT IT WASN'T TRIBES OR NATIVES WHO ARE TO BLAME HERE. IN FACT, THE VERY SAME OPERATORS WHO FINANCED LAS VEGAS, ATLANTIC CITY AND BILOXI GULF-PORT MADE THESE DECISIONS ABOUT "INVESTING" TRIBAL GAMBLING MONEY. IN MOST CASES TRIBES ARE FAR TO POOR TO OPEN CASINOS. THE ONES AT THE ROOT OF THIS ISSUE ARE THAT TOP 3% OF WAGE EARNERS WHO RECEIVED BUSH TAX CUTS. IF TRIBES WERE TO BLAME THEY'D BE SUING RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF LETTING REPUKES GIVE THE MONEY TO THEIR "FAVORITE CHARITIES" WHICH ARE OTHER REPUKE CAMPAIGNS.

[Strong Atheist]

2. Sanctimonious self-righteous hypocrites! Hope they get

what they deserve.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. they will... Christ said...

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

[Strong Atheist]

12. I meant, here in the man made world, since I

don't believe in the other, obviously ....

[Jeffersons Ghost]

14. while we believe differently

I whole-heartedly BELIEVE in your RIGHT to free expression. I will vigorously defend YOUR right to NOT worship as quickly as I intend to protect the rights of others to hold their views on Divinity... I go to church with several Atheists and Pagans... Can you guess the name of that Church?

[Strong Atheist]

16. Unitarian Universalist? The only one I can think of that

has varying views in it ...

[Jeffersons Ghost]

17. Nice shot atheist

It seems that the only thing we MOSTLY agree on at UU is unseating a tyrant... We don't have a large congregation here in Alabama and Southern Baptists hate us... Hate is such a fine CASHtain approach. I wonder what a leftist rabble rouser I've read about in the New Testament will tell them when they seek His ultimate Kingdom... That Kingdom of God idea is another thing these whorish CASHtains distort. It's not physical, according to Christ. Humans lack the integrity to even attempt to create a physical Kingdom of God on Earth, so CASHtains settle for creating Hell on Earth... Have you ever heard the expression; WAR IS HELL?

BTW, EVERYONE CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!

THIS WAS MY 1,000 POST!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

18. OOOPS

Not quite yet but Id like to reply to an athiest I respect for my 1,000.

[Strong Atheist]

19. Congrats on 1000. We went to a UU church for several

years when I was a teen... they are too wishy washy for me. Pick your belief, and start advocating it I say (which explains the STRONG - I argue with some of the weak atheist on this issue), but whatever you are comfortable with is fine ...

[Jeffersons Ghost]

20. OKAY, HERE IT GOES!!!!

MY FINAL COUNTED POST... Thanks for your answer Athiest... Time for the ghost to hit the big leagues!

[Strong Atheist]

22. Congrats again! I am more partial to

Patrick Henry, btw. ( a very under-rated founder, imo).

[xchrom]

3. the talibornagains caught with their tail

in the door.

[sendero]

4. If greed were really considered a sin...

.... by all the "Christians" who support the likes of Falwell, Robertson, Tilton, etc - there would be no Falwell, Robertson, Tilton, etc.

[Roland99]

6. These pseudoChristians are being led around by the neocons

and used for the sole purpose of GOTV.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. thanks for your tact and wisdom roland

I appreciate you calling them PSEUDO-Christians, instead of Christians like some of the fools posting at DU. To call them Christians would be like calling a freeper spy at DU a true blue democrat, simply because they try passing themselves off as one.

They want us to call the CHRISTIANS. It's an honor to them. Will you other DUers honor them in print? I call them CASHtains but pseudo-christians is just as good.

[Roland99]

13. My sister and my mother and aunts are Christians.

These other people are charlatans. They are the modern-day Sadducees.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

15. are you on a roll today roland?

You keep posting concise, VERY Democratic ideas! I'm honored to be supporting the same party as you... Let's kick some godless cash-worshiping Repuke ass in Nov.

[Roland99]

21. Not sure if I'm on a roll...just what I've been saying for months (years?)

The "holy-roller" mentality of the "Moral Majority" is about as far from the teachings of Jesus as one can get.

I, an atheist, probably follow the teachings of Jesus better then those charlatans. The Golden Rule is all one really needs to live by. Drop the feigned indignation, the greed, the prejudice and the quickness to judge, and the egos and the world would be a much better place.

[No Exit]

5. "Elmer Gantry was drunk."

The other day I saw a list of "best first lines from fiction" somewhere, and I remember that was one of the first lines listed.

[Benfea]

7. Why is anyone surprised by this?

Religion itslef is the oldest and largest scam their is.

Once you can convince people "Give me money, or the Magical Sky Fairy will torture you for all eternity after you die!" stuff like this isn't much of a stretch.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. While not necessarily a "scam"

Religion, especially when viewed on a world-wide basis is not a scam overall. Religion is very old though. Recent genetic studies trace the earliest direct ancestor of modern humans to about fifty-thousand years ago, coinciding with definitive archeological evidence dating religion to around the same time. They didn't pass the plate back then, as early humans cowered in caves to hide from a spooky moon goddess that ruled the night sky.