Religious right coalition against fuel standards because families need big cars.

[madfloridian]

I find it amazing that just about the time the Democrats catch up with the Republicans on "values"....they change the playing field again.

Religious Right's Ever-Expanding Definition of 'Traditional Values'

One of the most notoriously anti-gay groups on the Religious Right has taken its “traditional values” in an unusual direction – joining the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to counter a bill in Congress that would set stricter fuel-economy standards.

....."The lawmakers were joined by leaders with the United Auto Workers, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, who said families needed roomy, safe vehicles."

That would be THIS Lou Sheldon.

How a Lobbyist Stacked the Deck

Abramoff had deep roots in the conservative movement and rose to prominence by helping Republicans tap traditionally Democratic K Street lobbyists for campaign dollars. But in the eLottery fight, he employed a win-at-any-cost strategy that went so far as to launch direct-mail attacks on vulnerable House conservatives.

Abramoff quietly arranged for eLottery to pay conservative, anti-gambling activists to help in the firm's $2 million pro-gambling campaign, including Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition, and the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition. Both kept in close contact with Abramoff about the arrangement, e-mails show. Abramoff also turned to prominent anti-tax conservative Grover Norquist, arranging to route some of eLottery's money for Reed through Norquist's group, Americans for Tax Reform.

Also PFAW Right Wing Watch points out that the Fanily Research Council, among others, were campaigning against Democrats last year on the basis they would have power over pensions, Social Security, war plans, taxes, etc.

In Promoting GOP, Religious Right Expands Agenda to War, Economic Policy

In a message to the Family Research Council’s “prayer team,” Tony Perkins warns what could happen “If Democrats Win the House”:

Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will likely become House Speaker. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) boasts, "When I become chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, we will have power over the entire tax system, Social Security system, pension system, Medicare and all international trade." Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., the vociferous former Marine who derides the Iraq war, will chair the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) will become Judiciary Committee Chairman and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) chairman of the Government Reform Committee.

Looks like they don't need to be too concerned about hasty fuel efficiency standards anyway. From the AP article referred to at PFAW Watch.

Fuel Effeciency Plan

House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had told him that she supports delaying consideration of the fuel economy proposals until September as part of a comprehensive review of climate change legislation. Dingell, who pledged support for the Hill-Terry bill, said he was hopeful the House would move an energy package “free of great controversy” next week before the August recess.

But Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami said the speaker had “not ruled anything out” on the energy bill and whether it will include fuel efficiency requirements. The energy bill is expected to be considered next week.

No one appears to be in a hurry. The article was from July 24, and I don't know the status now.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. What the world needs is less big families that need big cars.

[dkofos]

2. Is that what they are telling them now. There is a sucker born every minute!!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. But I neeeeed the big SUV!

I need it to haul my big boat!

[thecrow]

4. I don't understand this at all

better fuel standards seems like it would be good for them. Any time a car or big SUV gets better mileage, I'm into that.

[madfloridian]

7. They appear to have other agendas.

If the rapture is coming soon, we need to enjoy things while we can.

:hi:

[Marrah_G]

5. These people are NUTS.

[madfloridian]

6. They even know why Libby lied.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/07/exjudge_libby_p.html

"Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore responds to the conviction of Cheney aide Scooter Libby on perjury charges by linking it to the supposed ill effects of the separation of church and state:"

We can expect more perjury by high-ranking government officials if our legal system continues to remove from its courts and its oaths the knowledge of a sovereign God who punishes evil. …

While the ACLU and other anti-Christian groups engage in a crusade to rid the courts of solemn reminders of God, they undermine the moral fiber of the legal system and its discernment of truth in the pursuit of justice.

[BlooInBloo]

8. (shrug) If they need them so badly, then they won't mind paying a bit more for them.

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Religion: It poisons everything.

These are the drones that do not give a fuck about anything simple because they have this delusion that their Jeebus is coming back. Why would anyone give such lunatics the time of day, let alone listen to what they have to say about anything? They are not even worth the 'finger' I would so enjoy giving them or the mockery I would enjoy making of them.

[orleans]

10. ugh. morans. n/t

[mykpart]

11. They can have their big cars - they just have to pay for them.

They will have to prioritize their spending so that they can pay the extra costs of a large vehicle. No one is making them illegal - just unpopular! I wonder how these people would feel if the gov. rationed gasoline as it did during WWII.