You just can't win with these evangelical pukes

[mtnsnake]

Before I headed out this morning, I caught the last part of this segment on CNN or one of the other morning shows about this crazy looking evangelical dipshit, Ted Haggard, who's the pastor of the New Life Church. He was bragging how he has 9000 members in his church and how each and every one of them voted for Bush. But here's what got me. He then says the Democrats could make some gains in the evangelical vote by doing the following: He suggested the Dems should start addressing the need for environmental concerns in this country. He said God created heaven and earth and we should'nt let polution ruin it....so if the Dems were to address the environment, maybe we could get some of the evangelical votes next time.

WTF??????? Like who else BESIDES the Democrats have ever given a rat's ass about the environment??

[hatrack]

1. And Bush WAS addressing environmental concerns?

Whatever this guy's been smoking, I want some.

[Not_Giving_Up]

2. Maybe he meant the SPIRITUAL Environment

I dunno, I'm guessing here

[BiggJawn]

3. Fundie Enviromental policy...

...is best desribed by a take-off on that Jay Leno Doritos comercial..

"The World? Crunch all you want. Jeebus will make a new one...."

[tk2kewl]

5. thats what i thought

so what is this? a red herring of some kind?

[BiggJawn]

11. I dunno. Maybe his idol-worship for Bush has clouded his mind.

Could be anything. Guess he hasn't heard about the Sierra Club, either...

[tk2kewl]

4. The Kool-Aid hasn't completely wreaked this guys mind.

I thought that these dudes were all dominionists who simply believed humans were put on the planet to rule everything.

I wonder if any of the mind-controlled are actually reachable on this?

[gypsy11]

6. Good Morning America

said it was more like 11,000 members of the New Life Church that voted for that little monster.
Scary. :scared:

[Swamp Rat]

7. The best thing to do is ignore these idiots if possible

If you can't, tell 'em about the lobotomy sale.

[oldcoot]

8. He is a very ignorant man

Unfortunately, we have a very real problem with people having no memory or knowledge of what happened over 20 minutes ago. We also have a problem with people who are not willing to pay attention to what is really going on in the world. It should be one's patriotic duty to be well-informed.

The Democrats also have a responsibility to inform people of all the great things we have done. Kerry should have bragged about his very good environmental record more in his ads.

[doubleplusgood]

9. global warming is due to increased hellfire and damnation

...caused by liberalism, homosexuality & godlessness. That must be the extent of fundie "concern" about the environment

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Any way to contact this fella and ask for clarification?

We have seen James Watt's view of the environment, as in his statement that when the last tree is harvested Jesus will come. But, if there are fundies that are NOT dominionists and are NOT actively trying to destroy the environment as a means to invoke the end times, then yas we should be reaching out to them. As far as Dem support for the environment is concerned, I am sure that the Prograssive veiws and the views of the DLC are rather divergent. Since the DLC has more access to the media, their views get more play.

Anyway, I think a cogent, probing and respectful conversation with this guy and a Progressive with both strong environmental and religious leanings would lend a great deal of insight into what he is saying. It might be useful to us. I am atheist, so, any takers?

[mtnsnake]

12. Unless I read him wrong, he actually sounded like he was suggesting

that the Dems could garner some of the evangelical votes, but when he suggested that the way they should do it is by taking an environmental stance, that just about floored me. I mean, what the hell does this joker think we've been doing for the last century or so?

How can you work with someone like this who tries to come off as being worried that man is polluting "heaven and earth" and in the same breath he brags about all his followers voting for the chimp? Is it really worth the bother?

I do agree with you that it might not be a bad idea for clarification.

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. Your questions are vital and need answers.

"How can you work with someone like this who tries to come off as being worried that man is polluting "heaven and earth" and in the same breath he brags about all his followers voting for the chimp? Is it really worth the bother?"

I think this guy may be asking us the same questions. How DO we communicate with these guys? How do they communicate with us? Is this him reaching out to find common ground? Is this a request for a dialog? If so, the oppotunity exists for not only a greater understanding of the common environmental intrists between us, but of other intrests as well.

Doggonnit, but we don't have a DU state department. We really DO need DU ambassadors. Like I say, I am atheist. That is, I do not have a belief in God or a need for religion, but I do not automatically resent or write off those who do. But, since I do not share the language of faith, much of what this person would have to say would escape me.

I feel strongly that some Progressives who have strong faith should try to reach out to this person and explore what he has to say. I feel that this could possibly be an invitation, and as such should not be ignored. I also thank you for making the post, it's a great topic!

[mtnsnake]

14. Ya know, you just might be right

As much as these evangelical types turn so many of us off to no end, maybe we do need to sit down once in a while WITH them and try to understand them better or at the very least, just open up some dialog that might be of some benefit to all of us down the road. It's a really hard call I guess.

Actually it might not be a bad idea to have a few atheists meet with someone like Haggard, not to incite him, but to reflect the exact same message that you just did in your post....that even though we might not have the same religious views as they do, it doesn't mean we all don't share the same values, which is peaceful co-existance and freedom to do as we please. Then again, it always seems to come full circle, where neither side will give each other the time of day because of their refusal to accept pro-choice, something nobody's gonna give in on.

And thanks, btw.

[sarahlee]

15. Relevant story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=91787&mesg_id=91787

[Danger Duck]

16. Was Jesus hung

on a cross made from old growth trees?