Evangelicals Never Stop Spreading the "Good News"

Joel Osteen offers God a scathing critique!

Re: "homosexuality," Osteen unequivocally states, "It's not God's best work."

Evangelicals on Homosexuality / Hypocrisy

The Osteens's prayer: "God, I hope he's not gay?"

Listen as Joel describes homosexuality as, among other things, "not God's best." Even though he admits he "doesn't have all the answers," somehow he knows enough to classify homosexuality as "not God's best;" and compared to what? Joel does not say.

When pressed about what counsel he'd give members of his 'flock' about "gay marriage," Joel continues, "I would never encourage it, because...you know...I didn't make the rules, but if you go back to the Scripture, it talks about, you know; it's all...seen throughout the whole Bible that marriage is between a man and woman; so I just wouldn't encourage it. I couldn't, in good faith--you know, lettin' the Bible be my guide, encourage them in that."

Gosh, the way Joel squirms is enough to make you wonder why he's so squimish.

John Bolton US Ambassador to the UN: A Tribute

Another fitting tribute from the G(ay) O(le) P(arty) to one of its own!

Geo. W's Primary Trading Cards: Queens

Over the course of the next few months, at least, "We the People" will see a parade of exchange pairs entering and exiting the White House complex. Some will proceed with a great deal of fanfare; such was the dance between Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. Others will be expected to go more quietly into that sweet, dark "good night;" such will be the send off (read: "kiss off") John Bolton can expect to receive as the door hits him on the way out.

As out-going U. S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton was Dubya's 'warm and cuddly' bull terrier, no doubt--a gift from the real grand daddy of the current administration; the vice president. And I, for one, would love to know which nickname Dubya selected for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations!

All along, it seems, Bolton (along with so many others in the Bush whitehouse) was really Dick Cheney's man. Hm-m. Now wazzup with that?!?

Limbaugh, a good C'gar, and Viagra!

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

The ABCs of the GOP's Log Cabin

Just Another G(ay) O(le) P(arty)?

In this 'post 9.11' world, it's not always easy to tell who is "for us" and who is "against us;" however Us might be defined at any given point in time. This is especially true for Americans who experience themselves as multi-faceted characters, even if only on the local scene.

And yes, some of us are about more than "God and country," alone. There is, after all, an entire world to get to know; if for no other reason than "We the People" have to come to grips with it.

Some of us nevertheless look out at the world, see difference, and want to pound every repository of difference until it concedes to our fundamental, even if unspoken, demand--i.e., be like Us or be erased. Some of us look out at the world, see difference, and recognize there just might be some value, however, in seeing how the world looks from the perspective of others.

After all, seeing does not mean we have to agree with whatever insights might be gained; but it at least gives us some basis for drawing inferences, asking follow-up questions, arriving at meaningful conclusions, and yes, determining the best course to follow in any given situation. For if there is one thing "We the People" believe, it is that each of us is accountable for his or her actions. Right?

Then again, perhaps I'm wrong.... 'Cause when you think about it, the list of womanizers (and pederasts too, apparently) who have haunted the White House and the halls of Congress is likely a long one.

In fact, until Bill 'Bubba' Clinton crossed that threshold, the call for accountability simply did not grow urgent enough, apparently, to warrant a multi-million dollar investigation, congressional hearings, and impeachment proceedings. And all of it spearheaded by one Tom DeLay, then Speaker of the House.

On this basis, "We the People" might have reasonably expected the White House and the halls of Congress would be, thereafter, 'jiggy'-free. Since Geo. W. Bush rode into office, however--promising to cleanse the White House of everything 'Bubba'-like, I might add--the nation has borne witness to more 'worldliness' than the media (mass or otherwise) can expose, and the G(ay?) O(ld) P(arty) can 'whitewash' (if not cover-up).

Setting aside the scandalous exploits of which the Abramoff-Reed-Norquist cabal remains the best exemplar, the questionable White House leaks, and other abuses of power under solid Republican rule, the sex scandals emerging from this "family values" administration have a distinctly homo-erotic, if not homosexual, flavor.

Let's recall the story of James Dale Guckert aka "Jeff Gannon," a White House 'reporter' for Bobby Eberle's Talon News--"the primary news provider for GOPUSA," according to minutes of the Senate's Standing Committee of Correspondents. After the Senate refused to issue "Gannon" press credentials (typically a prerequisite to gaining a White House press pass), Guckert was nevertheless given 'back-door' access to White House press briefings between 2003 and 2005.

And, in case you missed it, Ken Mehlman--current Chair of the Republican National Committee--was a card-carrying member of the Log Cabin Republicans long before Bill Maher 'outted' him (supposedly) on Larry King Live several weeks ago.

Rumor has it, in fact, that the RNC Chair beat a path into Massachusetts to acquire a (gay) marriage license during the 2004 election heat--while he was proving his bona fides to the RNC, that is, by pushing ballot initiatives to foreclose that 'window of opportunity' for lesbians and gays elsewhere.

Recall that Ken Mehlman was the campaign manager for Bush/Cheney 2004--a gay man, leading a campaign predicated largely on a fear and dread of 'the gay agenda,' in general, and of gay marriage, in particular.

Apparently the Log Cabin Republicans have their work cut out for them given their tag line--"inclusion wins." Their message is either not getting through to the GOP, or the 'slap on the back' and 'pat on the head' that comes from 'a job well done' (however 'job' might be defined at any given point in time) is enough to satisfy them. Who knows?

Of course the irony does not stop there: the Human Rights Campaign, for example, is sponsoring the 2006 convention of the Log Cabin Republicans. Under the circumstances, it is not at all clear how a convention of 'Log Cabiners' fulfills the HRC's stated mission--i.e., "working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights."

Q: Would someone enlighten me, please?

(More likely than not, the membership lists of the HRC and Log Cabin Republicans overlap quite a bit; so the rest of us had better beware.)

In sum, then, while the Log Cabin Republicans work to "chart the future direction of the Republican Party" with one hand, they're "working for...equal rights," ostensibly, with the other. Now that's a conundrum!

Or is it?

Let's review the 2006 election heat, shall we?

The G(ay) O(le) P(arty) spearheaded campaigns to ban gay marriage in eight states during the midterm elections:

• Amendment 43 (Colorado), 56-48;
• HJR 2 (Idaho) 63-37;
• Amendment 1 (S. Carolina) 78-22;
• Amendment C (S. Dakota) 52-48;
• Amendment 1 (Tennessee) 83-17;
• Question 1 (Virginia) 57-43;
• Amendment (Wisconsin) 59-41; and
• Amendment (Alabama) 81-19.

Although these initiatives all run counter to "working for...equal rights," gay Republicans issued a press release immediately after the election stating, "Log Cabin is more committed that ever to helping bring our Party back to power in Congress" ("Log Cabin Republicans Blast Social Conservatives for Causing Defeat in House," November 7, 2006; emphases added).

"What a world! What a world!"

For years, Mark Foley was one of the 'golden boys' of the GOP (and the Log Cabin, no doubt), until his IMs to Senate pages leaked out for all to see. The same can be said for Pastor Ted Haggard, whose story likewise overflowed the banks of the GOP's 'damage control' machine.

Never short on irony, however, the G(ay?) O(ld) P(arty) is long on dollars--always leveraged through tax breaks, already cloistered behind tax shelters; and with that elephantine memory, it will keep pulling, apparently, to overrun us all.

Soulforce's Haggard Tale of Woe

Amid allegations of a three year affair with a male escort, Rev. Ted Haggard abruptly resigned from his position as president of the 30 million member strong National Association of Evangelicals.

Is this the most hypocritical scandal in the religious right's Hall of Hypocrisy? Probably not. But the religious right has built an empire of its own on hatred and fear; most notably exploiting anti-gay sentiment to raise money, enroll members, and ultimately gain the incredible political influence they enjoy today.

And the revelations involving yet another good reverend are the epitome of the hypocrisy that has come to define the religious right today.

Yet Soulforce.org, an Austin-based organization, which purports to seek "freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious & political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance," responded immediately to Haggard's tale of woe. So immediately, in fact, that the juiciest tidbits had not even hit the tabloids before Soulforce.org issued its first press release urging "compassion for Haggard and accountability for the National Association of Evangelicals."

Suddenly an organization that I'd hoped would hold its own kind--namely, evangelicals--accountable with respect to "freedom ... from religious & political oppression" was directing its energies instead, toward providing cover for some, while holding only selected others to account. Within a week's time, Soulforce.org had mobilized to facilitate a letter-writing campaign, I suppose, to remind Haggard that he is not alone.

So stunned, was I, that I hammered out this fiery reply:

Unfortunately, I STRONGLY DISAGREE with your organization's position with respect to Rev. Ted Haggard's closeted existence. He was not "victimized," as your editorial suggests, by "religion-based bigotry."

If anything, Reverend Haggard was complicit in his own oppression: a WILLING participant--a victimizer, in fact, quite willing to trade living an authentic life for worldly power, wealth, and fame; and worse, quite WILLING, apparently, to sell his LGBT brothers and sisters 'down the river' in order to facilitate GOP efforts to mobilize its 'base" against the most basic of human rights--the right to love, in peace.

Put differently, instead of following Jesus' example, Haggard chose 'the path of least resistance'--preferring worldly influence over 'the way of light.'

Therefore, while the National Assn. of Evangelicals should be called to account for its failure to pursue the Christian warrant to "love thy neighbor as thy self," it is not at all apparent to me why Haggard (who presided over its operations, after all) should be immune from this reckoning. Why? Because he was "taught by the church to hate himself?"

While it is certainly true that "lives are destroyed by the lies about gay and lesbian people perpetuated by the NAE, the Religious Right, and the Protestant and Roman Catholic Church," would Soulforce really have us believe Haggard bears no responsibility for his CHOICE to profit from those lies, instead of challenging his colleagues to follow the example of Jesus?

Even now, having been exposed, Haggard has continued to prefer the way of lies (dissembling, obfuscation, etc.) as opposed to 'coming clean' in the light of TRUTH and authenticity.

Accordingly, the compassion for Haggard Soulforce.org now urges seems profoundly unwarranted, ill-conceived, and misplaced.

What about compassion for those of us who have truly been hurt by the vicious attacks on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people, while Haggard personally participated in strategy sessions and conference calls with the Bush White House as it organized to mobilize evangelicals in campaigns built, not around love, but rather, around hate?

Why should "compassion for Haggard" be the first order or business, especially when he has yet to demonstrate any contrition or understanding of the harm his choices have caused?

While I can, perhaps, empathize for his plight; I cannot sympathize. Doing so, would put me at odds with my own interests. And the fact that Soulforce.org has issued this urgent call for compassion for Haggard's use of God's word is troubling indeed.