The Religious Right Wants A New Name

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_02/016873.php


THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT WANTS A NEW NAME.... Prominent fundamentalist Christian leaders with deep ties to the Republican Party have, over the years, generally rejected the notion of being "politically correct." It's ironic, then, that they've decided "religious right" doesn't sound good, and they'd prefer we stop using it.

Gary Bauer said this week, "There is an ongoing battle for the vocabulary of our debate. It amazes me how often in public discourse really pejorative phrases are used, like the 'American Taliban,' 'fundamentalists,' 'Christian fascists,' and 'extreme Religious Right.'"

A Focus on the Family official added that the "religious right" label might generate negative impressions: "Terms like 'Religious Right' have been traditionally used in a pejorative way to suggest extremism. The phrase 'socially conservative evangelicals' is not very exciting, but that's certainly the way to do it."

This is pretty silly. The religious right is an established political movement, and the phrase has been common for decades. I can appreciate the fact that people like James Dobson, Pat Robertson, and their followers would blanch at labels like "American Taliban," but "religious right" is clearly (and deliberately) bland.

If the movement's leaders believe "religious right" has become synonymous with extremism and hatred, perhaps the movement should be less extreme and hateful. As my friend Kyle explained yesterday:

If the phrase "Religious Right" has negative connotations, it probably stems primarily from the fact that the people who have traditionally represented the Religious Right have caused it to, you know, have negative connotations.

When people like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson go on television and blame the 9/11 attacks on "pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, {and} all of them who have tried to secularize America," that is the sort of thing that tends to create negative impressions about the Religious Right.

And even if they were called "socially conservative evangelicals," this type of rhetoric would still create negative impressions about the term "socially conservative evangelicals" ... and then "socially conservative evangelicals" would be telling everyone to stop calling them "socially conservative evangelicals."

Exactly. We're not talking about a branding problem here. These clowns have become publicly reviled because they embrace a radical worldview, starkly at odd with American traditions, laws, and culture.

The innocuous label isn't the problem. The dangerous and divisive agenda is.

-Steve Benen

[leftyclimber]

1. Easy-peasy.

"Religious wrong."

[azmouse]

2. Asshats.

It suits them.

[EFerrari]

38. Fakes. What actual Christian would need to trumpet that?

[BOSSHOG]

How bout ignorant constitution hating, anti american, fake patriot assholes?

Cause that's what you all are bauer. How bout a little truth in advertising, ya worthless fuck who has never done any FOR our country.

[MineralMan]

3. OK, I can live with changin their name. How about

Fundamentalcases?
Religious Reich?
Talibornagain?

or those old standbies,

Bible Bangers?
Christers?

Or something new:

Christinas?


Or something simple and expressive:

Assholes?

[JackBeck]

4. The Kooky Kracker Klub.

[Joanne98]

5. How about HERETICS. It's a good name and it describes you too!

[liberal1973]

6. Hmm..Un-American POSs

How's that. My favorite.

[IDemo]

7. Christosaurs

[BR_Parkway]

8. Just like Blackwater - once the brand name is tarnished, trade it in

for a squeaky clean one and hope no one notices

"negative impressions"? on no dear, my negatives with them go way beyond impressions.

[Happyhippychick]

9. I like "American Taliban" very much. I will now use it.

[tooeyeten]

10. because compassionate conservative was a HOAX

:bounce:

[silverweb]

11. I can't wait.

Looking forward to whatever ridiculous new moniker they decide to adopt in their attempts to deceive and mislead.

Maybe they'll take a cue from their mercenary branch and call themselves the "Religious Xe." We already know they're cut from the same cloth, so why not?

:D

[Bozita]

12. People Uniting Kristians Everywhere

aka PUKEs.

[Initech]

13. Evil fuckers with no conscience whatsoever?

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Would this group include Rick Warren?

[Batgirl]

15. Even with an official name change most sane people will still simply refer to them as whackos nt

[KittyWampus]

16. Pharasee?

[YOY]

17. I'll stick with Talibornagains.

Because they live up to it. Jesus was never a self rightous televangelist looking cretin followed by a bunch of fuck ups who found religion and their broods.

[havocmom]

21. Talibangelists? or...

White Republican Obstructionist Neurocelian Gang

AKA: WRONG

[mitchum]

18. How about...Stupid and Corrupt Skygod Nazi Motherfuckers?

works for me

[Uncle Joe]

19. How about.... "The Religious Wrong?" n/t

[Flubadubya]

20. "Religious Right" it is then...

If they don't like it and want us to stop using it, you can bet your bottom dollar that is exactly what I intend to keep calling them! :evilgrin:

[dkofos]

22. Stupid fucking fundies

[Lady Effingbroke]

23. I like to call them religiously insane brainwashed fucking idiots,

but that's just me.

[bobbolink]

24. "These clowns have become publicly reviled because they embrace a radical worldview, starkly at

odds with American traditions, laws, and culture."

And COMPLETELY at odds with their own religious heritage!

[Marr]

25. If they don't like it, then "Religious Right" must be spot on.

I think I'll just stick to that one, and reject their request for a new brand name.

[HillWilliam]

26. I've called them Talibabdists for years and see no reason to change

since they haven't changed a bit either. They're just as hateful and vile as they ever were.

[ColbertWatcher]

27. I've always liked American Taliban.

American Theocracy would also be acceptable.

[kestrel91316]

28. We could label them the Religious Wrong. It would be just as appropriate.

My personal preference is Christofascists.

[ieoeja]

29. Which do they consider extreme: "Religious" or "Right"?

And did the leader of the Christian Coalition really just say that "fundamentalists" is a really pejorative phrase? I thought fundamentalists called themselves "fundamentalists" in which case their leader just insulted them.

[librechik]

30. God Awful Warriors

[liskddksil]

31. Nutjobs Anonymous

[sarge43]

32. Ah Bauer you can call a turd a bran muffin, but

it will still stink and draw maggots.

[AndrewP]

33. I don't call them the religious right. I just call them fucking nuts.

[ck4829]

34. I vote for "The Permanently Out of Power Religious Right"

[cherish44]

35. Why are they worrying about it? They're going to be raptured soon anyway

:crazy:

[havocmom]

36. psssst, it's already happened. They didn't make the cut either

:evilgrin:

[Fireweed247]

37. Backwash works for me

n/t

[eShirl]

39. PHARISEES