THE MORAL MAJORITY – SCENE II
RELIGION AND OHIO
I’ll never forget when the Rev. Jerry Falwell and his patriotic team of singers and organizers stepped onto the steps of the Salem, Oregon capitol, cir. 1980. I had just moved up to Coos Bay, Oregon. Being an evangelical, I was mystified how a hard-shell Baptist, like Falwell—and coming from a religious tradition that was “separatist” and apolitical (so I thought)—could get so politically involved in this Moral Majority cause (1979-1987).
Patriotic songs were sung, and, of course, hecklers were in abundance decrying Falwell’s view of America and morality—but he sure drew the media and the crowds to his nationwide tour of State Capitols. I followed Falwell’s entourage to the Portland, Oregon International Airport Holiday Inn for a “strategy session” – I really wanted to know what made this guy tick. The guest room was packed with local-area proponents, as well as roving team members.
The Reverend took us down for lunch—he had a whooper of a burger (kind of reminded me of Bill Clinton—you know, that “good ‘ole boy” image; and, I really mean that—he connected). “We’ve got the conservative Catholics, Mormons, Orthodox Jews and scores of fundamental Christians and others, who are willing and ready to man the barricades on behalf of traditional family values—it’s hard work, but we’re out of the closet and soon, issues like creationism, school prayer, opposition to abortion on demand, and, opposition to gay rights, will be on the front burner of every campaign. We’ve got to stop the secularists from taking over America—and we will. Now, I don’t agree with a lot of the doctrine of the Catholics, the Mormons, and some others—but we agree on the basics; so, if we don’t all hang together, we’ll most likely hang separately!”
Now, you’ll have to take my words on that quote—but it’s pretty accurate; and, I don’t think brother Falwell would renounce it: ESPECIALLY NOW! Why? Because he’s just launched Morality Majority II. Wouldn’t you know it—Michael Moore’s “Jesus Land” has resurfaced in all its fullness—thank you Michael Moore!
Falwell will serve as its national chairman and Tim LaHaye (of the “Left Behind” series) its board chairman. It’ll be the “21st Century resurrection of the Moral Majority!” The Agenda: Anti-abortion legislation (including embryonic stem cell funding by the government); support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage; galvanizing conservatives to back Supreme Court and lower court appointments to Falwell’s liking; and, of course, aiming high for 2008 and the election of another “George Bush-type” conservative.
Falwell claims that some 30 million evangelicals went to the polls and voted for Bush (man, that’s 50% of every vote Bush got!). Falwell claims they also voted to ban same-sex marriages in 11 ballot initiatives throughout the nation—including Ohio. He says that the Massachusetts’ Supreme Court did the trick in galvanizing evangelicals to join the “evangelical revolution” and that Gavin Newsom (the rising star of Left Coast politics and Mayor of San Francisco) blew it wide open!
To concentrate his four-year effort, as he taps out in 2008, Falwell will leave his two sons (Jerry Jr., 42, and Jonathan, 38) in charge of things at the ranch (Thomas Road Baptist Church), while he, as the Moral Majority II’s Executive Director will concentrate efforts for the cause. And, while he’s at it—he can add the Hispanic vote to his entourage. So, in case you’re wondering what really came down in Ohio—Falwell’s Moral Majority folks are claiming they’re at the root of the victory for Bush.
COMMERCE AND OHIO -
Now, not to be outdone by the evangelicals—here come the entrepreneurs! It’s amazing who’s claiming Ohio; but, I’ve got NEWS for you: RELIGION and COMMERCE are claiming JOINT-HONORS!
According to Greg Gordon (Sacramento Bee Washington Bureau—and we give him full credit for this information/analysis)—the “business community” (some two years ago) targeted Ohio for a massive “turn-out-the-vote” effort (especially effective since the McCain-Feingold restrictions on direct cash support—and incredibly more “cost effective” in getting more “bang for the buck”).
“More than 50,000 companies in the Buckeye State (quoting from Gordon’s article) urged employees to vote, while gently coaxing them in e-mails to look at customized internal Web sites rating politicians’ votes on business issues.”
This “below the radar” NATIONAL effort by businesses resulted (according to Greg Casey, former U.S. Senate sergeant-at-arms who headed the effort) in “30 million electronic contacts with workers, about 700,000 the day before the election—some 812,000 workers downloaded voter registration forms from the Web sites” (Gordon again in quotes.). In Ohio alone, businesses made (according to Casey) some 1.265 million employee contacts—more than nine times Bush’s 136,483-vote victory margin in the state of Ohio.
So—let’s give this business effort its own name (actually, they gave themselves this name): PROSPERITY PROJECT! Seeds of the “Prosperity Project” (again, according to Gordon) we’re planted back in 1999 when Casey, president of the Business and Industry Political Action Committee that coordinates the project, said enthusiasm grew after a survey in 2000 showed labor unions were reaching 17 percent of workers on voting issues, compared with businesses’ 7 percent.
And, that little statistic did it—it wasn’t long before NAM (the National Association of Manufacturers), the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other associations ramped up the new campaign. It’s amazing how the military-industrialized complex swings into innovative action when it has to—and, seemingly, doing so where it counts the most: In “Jesus Land!”
RELIGION + COMMERCE = POLITICAL VICTORY!
There you have it folks—religion and the glue of commerce, working hand in hand, to assure political victory. Think about it: PROSPERITY GOSPEL + PROSPERITY PROJECT = PROSPERITY BUSH—can’t get any better than that, now, can it? Hey, and before you believe Larry O’Donnell of the McLaughlin Group (PBS) secessionist remarks (prompted by “Red States produce huge federal welfare rolls”) have a chance at success—you better check out these penny-pinching Blue State statistics: The Generosity Index (Note: Red States, per capita of income, FAR OUT-GIVE TO CHARITY than what Blue States give!)
Meanwhile, the Radical Liberals (“the ‘Zell’ with conservatives in the Democrat Party”)—fresh from political “Harry-Kerry” (whoops, misspelled something here)—are determined to do two things: Redefine what the real meaning of the word “moral” is (Clinton’s leading this charge); and, who’s messin’ with them voting machines? Now, “Blue State” groupies are convinced—Kerry and Hillary should lead the charge for 2008—man, the NASCAR-Country Music-Tough-on-Terrorism-Go Family-“Jesus Land” crowd can’t wait for that one!
Listen, brothers and sisters—and anyone else out there within the range of my e-mail voice—I TOLD YOU SO!
My last blog put it like this: Increasing solidification of the truly Religious with the Ultra-Political (aided by the glue of Commerce cementing the relationship)—that’s what the Bible predicts and that’s what’s happening. “The Woman (Mother of Harlots—the Apostate Church) Rides the Beast” (the dominant Political System of the planet).
I asked one of the leading human interest writers of Charisma Magazine what he thought about Jesus’ words in the Olivet Discourse where Jesus says: “For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Interesting reply from the Charisma writer: “I don’t like to contemplate what that means—it doesn’t sound good and it bothers me a lot!”
Listen; if the very elect could be deceived—or maneuvered toward a full-blown deception—then it better be a whopper (get my drift?). The Democrats don’t get it (How the West was lost?) and the Republicans do—don’t get mad at me for telling you the truth. Yeah, I know—YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH! I may be, as Jackie A., once said, “My critics say I’m a fly on a cow’s butt” in so far as impact goes—but, you’d be surprised how bothersome that little fly can be—and that’s no bull.
doug@the-tribulation-network.com