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- bradysbeau, on 03/09/2009, -22/+140Wow he actually admitted having a hand in the 'Religious Right' You have to admire a man that admits his faults and tries to change the failed reality that he took part in. Thanks for sending.
- peter3118, on 03/08/2009, -57/+149For those that can't be bothered clicking on the link, then read the entire article below:
To watch the video clip of this author being interviewed on CNN click the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy1G1qdvIAI&eur ...
Dear Republican Leaders: The Republican Party has become the party dedicated to sabotaging the American future.
You Republicans are the arsonists who burned down our national home. You combined the failed ideologies of the Religious Right, so-called free market deregulation and the Neoconservative love of war to light a fire that has consumed America. Now you have the nerve to criticize the "architect" America just hired -- President Obama -- to rebuild from the ashes. You do nothing constructive, just try to hinder the one person willing and able to fix the mess you created.
I used to be one of you. As recently as 2000 I worked to get Senator McCain elected in that year's primary. (McCain and Gen. Tommy Franks wrote glowing endorsements regarding my book about military service, AWOL.). I have a file of handwritten thank you notes from Presidents Ford, Reagan, Bush I and II. In the 1970s and early 80s I hung out with Jack Kemp and bought into his "supply side" myth and even wrote a book he endorsed pushing his ideas.) There's more, but take it from me; my parents (evangelical leaders Francis and Edith Schaeffer) and I were about as tight with -- and useful to -- the Republican Party as anyone. We played a big part creating the Religious Right.
In the mid 1980s I left the Religious Right, after I realized just how very anti-American they are, (the theme I explore in my book Crazy For God). They wanted America to fail in order to prove they were right about America's "moral decline." Soon after McCain lost in 2000 I re-registered as an independent in disgust with W. Bush. But I still respected many Republicans. Not today.
How can anyone who loves our country support the Republicans now? Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley and Ronald Reagan defined the modern conservatism that used to be what the Republican Party I belonged to was about. Today no actual conservative can be a Republican. Reagan would despise today's wholly negative Republican Party. And can you picture the gentlemanly and always polite Ronald Reagan, endorsing a radio hate-jock slob who crudely mocked a man with Parkinson's and who now says he wants an American president to fail?!
With people like Limbaugh as the loudmouth image of the Republican Party -- you need no enemies. But something far more serious has happened than an image problem: the Republican Party has become the party of obstruction at just the time when all Americans should be pulling together for the good of our country. Instead, Republicans are today's fifth column sabotaging American renewal.
President Obama has been in office barely 45 days and the Republican Party has the nerve to blame him for the economic and military cataclysm he inherited. I say economic and military cataclysm because without the needless war in Iraq you all backed we would not be in the economic mess we're in today. If that money had been spent here at home on renovating our infrastructure, taking us toward a green economy, putting our health-care system in order we'd be a very different situation.
As the father of a Marine who served in George W. Bush's misbegotten wars let me say this: if President Obama's strategy to repair our economy, infrastructure and healthcare fails that will put our troops at far greater risk because the world will become a far more dangerous place. So for all you flag-waving Republicans who are trying to undermine the President at home -- if you succeed more of our troops will be killed abroad.
When your new leader Rush Limbaugh calls for President Obama to fail he's calling for more flag-draped coffins. Limbaugh is the new "Hanoi Jane."
For the party that created our crisis's of misbegotten war, mismanaged economy, the lack of regulation of our banking industry, handing our country to rich crooks... to obstruct the one person who is trying to repair the damage is obscene.
Just imagine where America would be today if the 14 to 20 million voters -- "the rube base" who slavishly follow the likes of Limbaugh -- had not voted as a block year after year thus empowering the Republican fiasco. We would have a regulated banking industry and would have avoided our current financial crisis; some 4000 of our killed military men and women would be alive; over to 35,000 wounded Americans would be whole; we would have been leaders in the environmental movement; we would be in the middle of a green technology boom fueling a huge expansion of our economy and stopping our dependence on foreign oil, and our health-care system would be reformed.
After Obama was elected, you Republican leaders had a unique last chance to send a patriotic message of unity to the world -- and to all Americans. You could have backed our president's economic recovery plan. Since we all know that half of our problem is one of lost confidence and perception, nothing would have done more to calm the markets and project resolve and confidence than if you had been big enough to take Obama's offered hand and had work with him -- even if you disagreed ideologically. You had the chance to put our country first. You utterly failed to rise to the occasion.
The worsening economic situation is your fault and your fault alone. The Republicans created this mess through 8 years of backing the worst president in our history and now, because you put partisan ideology ahead of the good of our country, you have blown your last chance to redeem yourselves. You deserve the banishment to the political wilderness that awaits all traitors.
Frank Schaeffer is the author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back Now in paperback. - booksnmore4you, on 03/08/2009, -21/+109If the shoe fits, wear it.
The GOP is so utterly ideologically driven they would rather see THE COUNTRY FAIL than see Obama succeed.
That IS traitorous. - jonaku, on 03/09/2009, -33/+101thank god a republican from the inner circle is coming out of the closet and telling it like it is. i'm buying his book "crazy for god" tomorrow.
- oceandead, on 03/09/2009, -11/+71I voted for Obama. Though the article brings up some good points about the duplicity of certain politicians and pundits, any valid points are totally lost with the unbelievably disgusting rhetoric about "traitors".
I made this same basic argument to the Republicans who said the same thing about those of us who objected to the war in Iraq, the Patriot Act, etc. This traitor talk has got to stop. From both sides. Democrats were not traitors when they objected to the war in Iraq, the Patriot Act and other Bush administration policies. Republicans are not traitors for objecting to the bailout packages, attempts at healthcare reform, etc. Dissent =/= treason. End of story.
Definition: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt - poopsybythebay, on 03/08/2009, -30/+89Oh sleekery can't stand to have to face being called the rube that he is. They hate having to look in a mirror and see what trash they have become and to have a man of God look at you and call you what you are must be pretty tough considering you are always claiming to be so *cough-cough* religious.
- cxret, on 03/09/2009, -29/+82FTA: the Republican Party has become the party of obstruction at just the time when all Americans should be pulling together for the good of our country. Instead, Republicans are today's fifth column sabotaging American renewal.
Dugg! - Zomgondo, on 03/09/2009, -7/+55FTA: "They wanted America to fail in order to prove they were right about America's 'moral decline.'"
I had a critical thinking teacher in college who was very much a Christian and a Republican - and he mostly used videos and pamphlet from the religious right to demonstrate the ways logic and critical thinking could be perverted to serve an agenda. This was in the early 90's and he predicted pretty much everything these asshats have pulled on us over the past decade or so. - Murdats, on 03/09/2009, -7/+48facing reality and admitting he was wrong, I am wondering if he really ever was a republican.
- drex8, on 03/09/2009, -2/+40A part of the interview in the article which was on CNN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy1G1qdvIAI
@ 5:47..
Hughley says addressing Frank Schaeffer, "In your letter, you wrote an open letter to President Obama.."
Frank: "Right.."
Hughley: "And you asked him, not to even count on Republican backing.."
Frank: "Right.."
Hughley: "'Cause you said, that they hate him"
Frank: "Right.."
Frank: "They do hate him"
Hughley: "They hate him"
Frank: "They do hate him"
Hughley: "I mean, that's pretty strong"
Frank: "Rush Limbaugh's telling the truth when he says he wants him to fail. And these people are ideological enough, that they'd rather take our whole country down and be proved right. Than be patriotic Americans, and stand up and do the thing, that every American who loves this country would do right now, which is to support the President whether you voted for him or not." - siggyfawn, on 03/09/2009, -15/+53I think he's dead on. Lots of people would love for us to go down the *****, just so they could go "I told you so". They don't care about what is best for the country, they just want to be right.
- Renian, on 03/09/2009, -6/+41Liberals are drifting the focus off of Obama?
You sure Republicans aren't drifting the focus off of their own failures? - Phylter, on 03/08/2009, -12/+46You mean like "bury the traitors"?
- seltaeb4, on 03/09/2009, -8/+35We didn't hope Bush would fail.
We KNEW he would fail. There was only lamentation for this.
Even so, we had no idea on how massive a scale he would fail, & the decades it would take to set things right. - Murdats, on 03/09/2009, -7/+34They knew he would fail because it was a war based on lies and hidden agendas, but I am sure most hoped this mess would somehow succeed and that tons of people would not die.
- Neiby, on 03/09/2009, -2/+28I picked it up from the library and read it a few months ago. It got a little slow in spots, but it was very enlightening. As a former fundamentalist Christian, I could relate a little bit to his experiences.
- drex8, on 03/09/2009, -4/+28I guess a lot of real Republicans who believes in the core issues and fundamental Republican party values, are coming out and speaking their mind about what their party has become. I just wonder, where were they during these last years? Why didn't they make their voice heard earlier? Why are they feeling alarmed now so all of a sudden? Is it because of Rush gaining prominence lately which they view as a cause for their concern?
- kingofinternet, on 03/09/2009, -12/+35When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.
- TheOmbudsman, on 03/09/2009, -2/+23No democrat stated they wanted the President to fail after 911 - to do so would surely be shameful.
No democrat stated they wanted the President to fail during Katrina - that would be equally shameful.
But as the country faces a crisis of at least equal magnitude, perhaps we'll discover even greater magnitude, many Republicans march lock-step to a chorus of failure for the current President. Can you imagine what those same Republicans would have said if the Democrats waxed as self-serving during any disaster on the Bush watch? The word 'traitor' would be bandied ad nauseam.
So why is it okay to desire the failure of the President now - what's changed? Certainly not Republican hypocrisy. - inactive, on 03/09/2009, -4/+25Maybe people don't have confidence in Obama's plan because all the ***** Republicans are on television bashing it everyday. Either way, the Republicans are part of the problem.
- fuzzybeard, on 03/09/2009, -2/+21Don't you mean "If the shoe fits, throw it" instead?
- inactive, on 03/09/2009, -7/+25@fagwell
"Not to mention that he's blaming republicans for the most recent (Post-Obama) economic downturn"
WTF your a ***** moron!!! Obama has had nothing to do with this disaster your boy got us into! stop being a *****.
grow up and own up to the crap your leader and party created. Please help us to fix your ***** mess. - DangerCollie, on 03/09/2009, -3/+21What we have now is not debate and challenge, it's hatred, racism, sneering contempt, and demagoguery. It's rigging elections, saying anything to stay in power, it's people like Rupert Murdoch and Fred Koch crap flooding the airwaves and internet with deliberate intent to foment anger and division.
That's not politics, that's subversion. We're not going to be able to make any progress until we isolate that fraction of our society and crush it. Seriously.
Spirited disagreement and debate is the foundation of any democracy. But what we have now threatens to undermine everything we've built together. The most dangerous enemies we face are within. And, don't kid yourself, they are enemies in a very real sense of the word. - trytoremember, on 03/09/2009, -11/+28Thank-you Mr. Schaeffer! This letter is exactly right and your book is a must read for all of us who make being "right" or "group-cult" membership more important than integrity, honesty, transparency and truth.
- JenniferInMO, on 03/09/2009, -4/+21He is not talking about people who oppose the President, he is referring to intentional subversive rhetoric and actions intended to cause further harm to our country all because they don't want him to fix the problems solely for political reasons. That is not the same as people who disagree or have other ideas they offer up.
- analogkid01, on 03/09/2009, -12/+29It's not even *remotely* possible that it's a good article, is it?
- Epitaph, on 03/09/2009, -3/+18Dear Sleekery,
I love this argument. It manages to take our accusations against Bush and magically apply them to Obama. Because we totally shouldn't base our judgment on actions. No, we should base our judgment on if the person in question belongs to our political party. That's definitely the way to go. I mean, that's how it works in your head; so it's completely reasonable for you to assume that that's how it works for us, too.
Oh, *****, that's right.. we're not that narrow minded. If Obama were to launch a war against Iraq in retaliation to a terrorist organization based in Afghanistan, I would vehemently protest. If Obama negatively impacted the world economy with this same ware, I would vehemently protest. If Obama enacted any of the treasonous, ignorant, and greedy acts of Bush, I would protest vehemently.
I want you to ask yourself a question. Don't intend to post the answer, as it will sway your thoughts. Here's the question: Why don't you like Obama? (look up any accusations with unbiased sources. it's important that they're unbiased)
-Tim
p.s. Calling for the impeachment of a would-be dictator is not traitorous. Calling for the stop of an immoral war against a country which doesn't pose a threat to us and which absolutely wastes money is not traitorous. Doing anything in your power to make the president fail and by association, the country fail is traitorous. I really hope that you get your way so that perhaps you can regret your words.
p.p.s. Sorry for being long-winded. I don't usually get this worked up... I just hate ignorance. - amprather, on 03/09/2009, -9/+24Oh Snap!
- JenniferInMO, on 03/09/2009, -5/+20You just don't get it, do you? It has nothing to do with the Democratic Party. They are just a better organized party right now and have a good leader who is trying to set things straight. If you read the article or even just watched the clip you would see that you are way off the mark.
But you won't read it or watch the clip because you are exactly the type of traitor he is talking about. - tharju, on 03/09/2009, -2/+16@TEssma when you say liberal you mean Democrats? if so you are wrong. This country is united behind the president when 9/11 happened and that very president ***** it up that unity thing when he invaded Iraq. Even then majority of congress supported him. Those were the days, country was in crisis and Democrats still supported the president regardless of their principle. Our country is in crisis again, how many Republicans voted for president Obama's stimulus plan? 0 in congress 3 in senate. Don't respond me why they didn't vote for it because I;ve seen enough of it. So kid...get your fact straight before you wrote otherwise you'd look like a dumbass and ppl would think all the repug boys like you are a dumbass.
ps. if you follow the what prez says about this economy...you would know this economy won;t turn around in a week or a month. - Runningflame570, on 03/09/2009, -4/+18From the very start the country was fine and Bush's policies began to make it worse and worse until we reached our present dilemma. Some of us have been saying as much dating back to the time he was sworn in that his policies would send the country to hell.
Would that we were wrong, or that is was only as bad as we feared...but that is the distinction here. Bush took a country on the right track and sent it to hell in a hand basket. Obama is attempting to clean up the mess and is having to break through ideological roadblocks every step of the way.
The facts do not support the Republican obstruction or their "alternatives" and haven't for quite some years, but they don't seem to care about the facts or the harm they've caused and continue to cause by ignoring them. Facts are food stamps pay in nearly twice as much as they cost to the government. What was one thing that was stripped to even get the more MODERATE Republican Senators to vote for the stimulus? Foodstamps.
Republicans today would rather condemn the masses to poverty than make the top 5% pay a few percentage points more in income taxes. They're bigots and ideologues and they're harming the country in ways that have yet to be fully quantified. - taco666hate, on 03/09/2009, -2/+15If the republicans would of shut the ***** up, then there would've of been confidence in the market.
- smacksaw, on 03/09/2009, -1/+14The simple thing that never gets pointed out is when things fail, people go back to basics...you know, the fundamentals. Like Fundamentalists. Fundamental Christians.
It's not news these people want the country to fail. The fact they drive around with bumper stickers on their car talking about how the vehicle will be unmanned in case of Rapture, not only do they want the country to fail, they want everything except Satan to fail. They want Satan to succeed so that Jesus will return and smite the antichrist.
These people are ridiculous, except that they are serious. - Kickinuarou, on 03/09/2009, -1/+14i saw this guy on DL Hughley breaks the news, and he was fantastic on that show
- Slesh, on 03/09/2009, -4/+17Hey, Republicans, open your eyes. It isn't about left, right, conservative, liberal. Its about truth and lies.
Your man, Bushy, he lied. ***** should be brought up on murder and treason charges. I spent 3 years of my life in hell due to that man. He was your party guy. - fuzzybeard, on 03/09/2009, -0/+13Those that don't have a party affiliation and/or are honest enough to stand up for what's right, admit when they're wrong, and then roll up their sleeves to help fix it = True Americans.
- ErrorF002, on 03/09/2009, -0/+12It's called being a man with honor. To err is human. To accept responsibility for your mistakes is honor.
- JenniferInMO, on 03/09/2009, -2/+13Read the letter and watch the video clip and you will see why Frank Schaeffer refers to the Republicans as traitors.
- BoxAdorable, on 03/09/2009, -3/+14Well and Rush isn't just saying that he hopes Obama fails because if that does happen, the entire country will be further in the *****-heap. He is saying that he hopes for the very worst for the citizens of this country. What a man of the people.
- tokkio, on 03/09/2009, -1/+12"I hope he fails" = I hope he doesn't fix things and America gets worse so I can be correct purely on ideology.
"I think this economic stimulus won't work." = Valid Patriotic Criticism.
I see subtlety is lost on most of you. - inactive, on 03/09/2009, -17/+28i wanna buy his book now... I heard him in an interview on npr the other day. and this clip really makes me want to read his book.
- bizzaroman, on 03/09/2009, -2/+13why do americans hate socialism so much? don't you realize that having government pay for katrina cleanup and having firetrucks and police is socialist? is there an american definition that specifies exactly what amounts/kinds of socialism is ok and what amounts/kinds should be hated??
- SaladCactusKing, on 03/09/2009, -19/+29Calling those who oppose Obama's policies "traitors" as just as vile as when fans of the Bush administration accused those who didn't tow the President's line as "unpatriotic"
- Renian, on 03/09/2009, -6/+15Somehow I think ruining our economy counts as giving our enemies aid.
- Neiby, on 03/09/2009, -1/+10There is a difference between obstruction based on actual principles and an honest feeling that Obama's policies are bad and the type of obstruction that results simply from political expedience. What the Republicans are doing is the latter. They're disagreeing simply because they have to disagree in order to keep their base together, and they don't care if that actually means that the country will be worse off in the long run.
- sugarazor, on 03/09/2009, -13/+22There's a difference between criticism and flat-out saying "I want you to fail." That's not dissent, that's just Republicans being selfish and continuing their own lust for power. They're treating this current situation like they always do, diving headfirst into the permanent campaign culture, tearing down their enemies, obstructing progress and making sure they look like the "winners" at the end of today's news cycle.
- DangerCollie, on 03/09/2009, -11/+20A lot of people have tried to tell the right wing extremists they were shooting themselves in the foot, but they just don't get it. They're little better than rabid dogs. Tearing and biting at anything...at everything. Relentlessly negative, poisoning the air around them like a plague.
- bizzaroman, on 03/09/2009, -4/+13Don't you think the economy is a little more compllicated than that? You really think not saving americas biggest banks will lead you to more prosperity? don't you think you owe it to yourself to read up on how the economy works before posting comments?
- woodsjransom, on 03/09/2009, -1/+10I would like to meet Frank Schaeffer first, then meet President Obama. He knows where all the skeletons are. It did not occur to me that the other evangelical families are quiet about this whole republican strategy. Could it mean that the republicans have lost their religion and are just money worshipers that they have been accused of all along?
- OrangeTide, on 03/09/2009, -6/+15"true Americans" .. shove that kind of rhetoric up your ass.
Most Americans are moderate and independent. This "true American" ***** and rah-rah party chanting as got to stop. -
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