Boston Globe: Secretive Social Conservative Coalition Seeks To Reframe GOP Race

[Hissyspit]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/25/coalition_seeks_to_reframe_gop_race

Coalition seeks to reframe GOP race
Leaders of secretive group interview 2008 candidates
By Scott Helman, Globe Staff | March 25, 2007

- snip -

Over the past few months, members of the executive committee of the so-called Arlington Group have questioned several declared and potential White House hopefuls with the intention of settling on a single candidate, according to Arlington Group members and Republican operatives familiar with the discussions.

- snip -

Because the Arlington Group is made up of many nonprofit organizations and ministries -- which, by law, cannot officially advocate for political candidates -- the coalition is not expected to explicitly endorse anyone. Instead, according to members of the group and two Republicans close to it, the conservative leaders hope to coalesce around one candidate that prominent members such as James Dobson, who heads Colorado-based Focus on the Family, could endorse individually. Dobson, for example, is free to say as a private citizen that he supports a certain candidate, a personal endorsement sure to influence many of his followers.

- snip -

"It is our desire that all of us, in a united effort, could marshal our resources to the same end," said one member of the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity, because members agreed not to disclose the discussions publicly.

Leaders and members of the Arlington Group, which formed in mid-2003, were reluctant to discuss the coalition publicly -- most declined to comment or did not return calls, and the Arlington Group website was abruptly disabled earlier this month after the Globe began making inquiries.

MORE

[ladym55]

1. I read this article this morning

Now can anyone explain to me HOW folks like Dobson can get away with their "personal" opinions, when they know full well that they influence lots of folks???

These folks are really, really creepy.

[liberal N proud]

8. They are more than creepy, it is dangerous

When you have people in the position to influence all the gullible people that Dobson does, it is down right dangerous.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Yup, can't just let the average Republi-tard voter

listen to speeches and check policy and voting records on their own to make an informed decision, like Dems do. They must wait for their leaders to "coalesce" around someone and then instruct them on how to vote. What absolute idiots the Repugs are. Completely brain-dead, as a whole.

[Old and In the Way]

10. Can you imagine any group (yes, even our beloved DLC) who would

presume to talk for all Democrats like the these shepherds? It really does tell you what the state of Republican politics has devolved into...a bunch of psuedo/quasi-religious leaders telling the flock who are acceptable and who they should vote for.

[napi21]

3. It's sounding like they're going to decide on Fred Thompson.

I saw anote similar to that on NewsMax. I betcha that's their choice!

[dogfacedboy]

4. So-- now we have shadowy, subversive, ultra-righties

end-running election laws to push their candidates. Does this shock anyone? Not me.
Time to shine the bright lights on this operation.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. The problem for GOP candidates

Everyone else is sick of "Social Conservatives", and while their endorsement may help the GOP nomination, for the general public, it is becoming increasingly toxic.

[MethuenProgressive]

6. Is the Arlington Group website on www.web.archive.org?

Very useful web tool.

Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_group says the web link was http://www.thearlingtongroup.org/

But no luck...

[Solly Mack]

7. more info

The Arlington Group
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/weyrich/041203

Some members
http://www.nndb.com/org/769/000116421/

[tridim]

9. Anyone know if Haggard is/was a member of the Arlington Group?

Edit: Yep. http://www.nndb.com/org/769/000116421/

Name Occupation Birth Death Known for
Howard Ahmanson, Jr. Business 3-Feb-1950 Reclusive fundamentalist-Christian philanthropist
Gary Bauer Government 4-May-1946 Family Research Council
William Bennett Government 31-Jul-1943 Former Drug Czar and gambling man
Chuck Colson Government 16-Oct-1931 Minister, former Watergate figure
James Dobson Radio Personality 21-Apr-1936 Focus on the Family
Jerry Falwell Religion 11-Aug-1933 Television evangelist
Ted Haggard Religion 27-Jun-1956 Pastor Ted
Richard Land Religion 1947 Southern Baptist Convention
Rod Parsley Religion 13-Jan-1957 Pastor, Christian Right activist
Tony Perkins Activist 20-Mar-1963 Family Research Council president
Lou Sheldon Activist 1934 Traditional Values Coalition
Richard Viguerie Activist 1933 Conservative activist
Paul Weyrich Columnist 7-Oct-1942 Conservative activist
Don Wildmon Activist 18-Jan-1938 Moral crusader

[pnorman]

11. That Arlington Group has a very close membership overlap with the Council for National Policy

Here's the wiki on that outfit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_for_National_Policy

It's as "well connected" with the White House as the Arlington Group, but even more secretive.

pnorman
On edit: here's another source for that CNP: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_for_National_Policy

[Maat]

12. Yes, and my understanding is that their little CNP-setup began ..

to get too cumbersome. They organized it as a non-profit (501-c-3 tax status), and those orgs. are required to be open to the public, and provide educational services to the public (thus, they are not allowed to discriminate, etc.). CNP's 501-c-3 privileges were suspended, I believe, during the Clinton years for failing to cooperate with the above, in addition to their secret membership rolls and their rule that each and every member be recommended and approved. These things clashed with the spirit, rules, and policies of the 501-c-3 framework.

That's why they decided to get a little smarter - I'm going to research whether or not this 'Arlington Group' is a 501-c-3; if they're smart, it isn't.

[pnorman]

13. Thanks. I didn't know that.

LaHaye and a few others from that CNP, were early members/promoters of the John Birch Society. That's how they first got my attention.

pmorman

[Maat]

14. Yes, it all ties together, doesn't it?

Thanks for the research.

It's a little disturbing to me, because my parents were members of the John Birch Society in the 60's; I'm not sure they understood what they were into. Oh, well, they've been out of it for decades (actually, I lost my dad this past September 7th). But ... it's sort of funny how things all relate to each other (in a crazy sort of way).

[Eric J in MN]

15. Should it be legal for the leader of a 501(c) charity like "Focus on the Family"

...to make a public announcement that "as a private citizen, I endorse ___"?

The distinction between an organization's position and that of its leader is fuzzy.

[w4rma]

16. Yes it should remain legal. However, the problem I see with what these guys are doing is that

they are telling their organizations to internally endorse a candidate.