At what point did 'fundie Christian = Repub' brand naming happen?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

When Carter ran for president, it didn't seem outlandish or unusual that a devout Christian, a Baptist from the South, would be a Democrat, or would be any less likely to be a Democrat than a Republican (at least to me).

Was it Falwell and the Moral Majority in the 80's, and their alliance with the Reagan crew? Then subsequently cemented by the current mafiosi?

And was there any identification of the antiabortion zealots as Republicans prior to the 80's?

[PublicWrath]

1. somebody who worked for Goldwater's unsuccessful campaign came

up with the idea, (not for Goldwater), but the guy did a great deal to merge fundies and Repubs later on. Theocracy Watch has a lot on this subject. "The Rise of Dominionism" can be viewed on their site, and I highly recommend it. It'll scare the hell out of you.

www.theocracywatch.com

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Thanks... will check it out.

[Erika]

3. W is responsible for turning the GOP into the religious party

As noted by CNN tonight. His statement that Christ was his greatest philosopher started it. Then he has systematically ripped away at the separation between Church and State. He's gotten so extreme with his social theocracy that even the Southern Baptists are backing away from him.

His background of a spoiled frat brat, a drunken partier, and getting DUI's was attractive to the Falwell/Robertson group when he claimed to be "born again".

He has done harm. I've told the religious factions I normally donate to, that I will no longer do so since W is now taking it out of my taxes, without giving me a choice.

[American Tragedy]

7. I always found that answer by Bush very, very telling.

He said specifically that Jesus was his favorite political philosopher. Now, think about what disturbingly erroneous interpretation is implied in that statement.

Ironically, it seems to me that was at least in part how Jesus was so misperceived by the Romans and Pharisees.

[ChristianLibrul]

4. Yes

The ultracancervative denominations have always been republicans. Baptists, Church of Christ, Church of God, Nazarene and their ilk have always existed because of what they were against more than what they were-and are-for. They were always against "sinful movie stars" and blacks. They were always against letting women wear pants in public or working, for that matter. To this day, women are officially second-class citizens in their churches. They cook for Sunday and Wednesday night church suppers, teach kids in Sunday School and play piano/organ for worship services, but don't pray in church or vote on important matters. Stuff like that.

[Erika]

6. I have told at least 2 of that group that I won't donate

since W is taking it forcefully from my taxes. They react like they were in shock.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

9. I don't think your information is correct. Are you trying to say that

Baptists in the South voted Republican during the 50's and early 60's? Back when Strom Thurmond was a Democrat?

That doesn't seem to square with what I've read.

[Coastie for Truth]

12. The RW Evangelicals were always a small group

But the LW Evangelicals (yes they existed) were a major factor ("the" major factor? - maybe) in the 1960's anti-war and civil rights movements (see note 1). I think Roe v. Wade was a major re-aligning factor.

It looks to me from my isolated POV that the RW people of faith have vastly overplayed the Roe v. Wade hand with respect to stem cell research. We are seeing people of faith (not from the RW) saying that stem cell research is "pro life."

It all depends who translated your translation of Scripture, and the particular twist your community puts on the mis-translations.

_______________

Note 1. I was there. I am 65 and was a veteran of those days.

[TahitiNut]

5. "Our steeple is bigger than their steeple."

I saw it as a backlash to MLK/Jackson/Carter, becoming visible with Reagan/Bush.

[Maat]

8. There is a great piece on this:

**quote**
The fundamentalist takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention began at a meeting in Houston, Texas in 1979. From the beginning voting irregularities accompanied the takeover. (John Baugh, the Baptist layman who founded Sysco Corp., calls it "Voting Fraud" -- see his Battle for Baptist Integrity, p. 95)
The chief architect of the SBC takeover was Houston appellate court judge Paul Pressler who meticulously reviewed the Convention's Constitution and By-laws and crafted the strategy for the takeover. Yet, in 1979, Pressler himself registered and voted at the Convention's annual meeting in violation of the SBC's Constitution. Pressler registered as a messenger (delegate) from a church in which he was not a member (the ecclesial equivalent to the recent vote fraud felony Ann Coulter allegedly committed when she voted at a precinct in which she did not live).
**endquote**
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/2/17/164644/502

On the face of it, this seems like just an in-church thing, but the story is bigger than that. I believe it was Paul Weyrich, a hardrightie powerhouse for decades, that originally determined that it would be a good idea 'to go after' conservative churchgoers. He reportedly targeted Southern Baptists and members of the Assemblies of God.

Read about 'Mainstream Baptist' on the Talk-to-Action website; he is a very cool and knowledgeable person.

[PublicWrath]

11. That's him. Worked for Goldwater. I couldn't think of his name, n/t

[PassingFair]

10. Two words:

Talk Radio