Gingrich Cites ‘Opportunity’ To ‘Convert All Of America’ To Fundamentalism
Gingrich Cites ‘Opportunity’ To ‘Convert All Of America’ To Fundamentalism
Newt Gingrich delivered the commencement address at Liberty University this weekend, decrying what he called the “growing culture of radical secularism” and lavishing praise on the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Gingrich claimed Americans draw strength from Falwell’s “life model,” and said that Falwell, who infamously called the 9/11 attacks God’s punishment on the United States, “bore witness to the Truth” and “knew this truth in his bones.”
But perhaps Gingrich’s most controversial remarks came in an interview after his speech, in which Gingrich cited the opportunity “to convert all of America.”
Gingrich said after his speech that Falwell’s death would not slow the Christian right’s efforts.
“Anybody on the left who hopes that when people like Reverend Falwell disappear that the opportunity to convert all of America has gone with them fundamentally misunderstands why institutions like this were created,” Gingrich said.
Watch a compilation of local news reports on Gingrich’s address:
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Ha! I don’t think the public is dumb enough to put another one of these s**theads back in the preznit’s office. Keep up the good work Newt.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:47 amSorry, but I’ve forgotten already… is Liberty U the one that Rev. Foulsmell founded?
May 21st, 2007 at 10:47 amHe has totally lost it! I’ll no more “convert to fundamentalism” then I will become the Dalai Lama.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:48 amApparently, Newt Gingrich is vying for membership among:
May 21st, 2007 at 10:49 am“The American Taliban.”
Congnitive Dissonance: n. The inability to reconcile two rationally opposed concepts or beliefs.
ex. Love and Forgive thy Neighbor or Convert / Destroy the Unbelievers… what to do, what to do…?
Also known as having your cake and eating to too.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:49 amThe Grinch that stole Democracy is now a Theological expert?
WTF?
This is the guy who was having an affair while pursuing Clinton for a BJ.
Nice morals there, Grinch. Maybe you & Rudy could introduce your mistresses to each other before the next debate.
Pampered puffed up political prick = Grinch
May 21st, 2007 at 10:49 amA selection of atrocities here:
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/jerry_falwell/
Amid the vicious bile, perhaps the best example that Jerry Fatwa hated America:
“The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own countryâ€
May 21st, 2007 at 10:50 amRemind me, please: How did such religious businesses gain exemption from taxes? Was there a Supreme Court decision early on?
May 21st, 2007 at 10:51 amThese people are a plague. It appears each generation of sane citizens will be stuck having to beat them back into their caves.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:51 amWell, universities were created to transmit knowledge, further the objective study of the universe, and create educated citizens capable of thought and expression.
But “Liberty University” was, apparently, created for some other purpose.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:53 amIsn’t Newt about due to start working on wife #4?
May 21st, 2007 at 10:54 amNewt: How’d that “Contract with America” work out? Oh right, you abandoned all your promises and never passed. Coward.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:57 amGingrich is no more religious than a hyena. Truly amusing that the rubes at Liberty U. are buying the notion that he’s now one of them.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:58 amThe Right Wing Dives Under Its Rock
More than any other single influence the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 made possible the right wing’s most recent emergence in U.S. politics. Many Americans never bother to learn how their government works; what it does. They blithely accept what Fox News, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity et al, tell them. It’s easier for many people to listen to “The Limbaugh Show†than it is to make an attempt at unraveling the layers of deceit that today’s “news†comes wrapped in. Things have finally reached the point that Americans don’t bother trying to separate lies from truth, though sometimes they still manage to get a little piqued if the deceit is outrageous enough. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to provide equal time to alternate viewpoints on matters of public importance. More right wing professors are disappearing from the nations college campuses every year. Their boneheaded, cracked ideology is presented as gospel truth and usually accompanied with personal insult by the likes of Bill O’Reilly. The right wing eventually realized that to advance their whacko agenda they needed to dress it up and make it look like anything other than the repressive unamerican garbage it is. They hit upon “Think Tanks†as the solution to their problems. These “Tanks†would provide a platform giving them the appearance of intellectual credibility. They’d wear their thinking caps, and chomp their stogies while they hatched little bombs, or sound bites. These they fed to the snapping foaming at the mouth “conservative” hosts of right wing radio and T.V.
Think Tanks such as The Hoover Foundation, The Cato Institute, and The Heritage Foundation are all right-wing organizations manufacturing means to justify their ends. They share the same goals and contrive their studies to support an already determined outcome which they then present as concrete fact. ABC news, after harsh criticism from high-ranking congressional democrats, admitted that their documentary “The Path to 9/11†was largely fabricated and designed to smear the Clinton Administration. They conceded the film was a “fantasy version of history,†and reclassified the film calling it a dramatization, not a documentary. The right, while not thrilled with such retractions nonetheless consider their distortions successful. Mark Twain said, “Making baseless accusations takes a second, and exposing them takes a month.†Liberal academics don’t have the luxury of conjuring explanations to fit the facts. They are subject to peer review which keeps them honest by mercilessly examining their findings. If they wish to continue their careers they had better have a strong argument, backed by empirical evidence to back up any claims they may make. The right’s Think Tanks are comprised of like- minded “conservatives” who produce highly flawed studies that promote the wealthy interests that fund them. They have no review process, or checks and balances to keep them honest. Right wing talk show clones pretend to legitimacy. They seize upon “findings†and their cries go out over the airwaves, spreading falsities like manure in a bean field. The Heritage Foundation produced an oft-repeated claim that the U.S. has spent $5.3 trillion on welfare. The Think Tank that produced this number wasn’t thinking clearly that day. It “forgot” to mention that their quote included student loans, school lunches, job training, veterans pensions and Medicaid, much of which goes to the elderly and disabled if it isn’t “diverted”. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. has spent only $700 billion on AFCC and food stamps since 1962.
Conservatives have lied so much and so often they believe themselves, and don’t see anything wrong with presenting opinions as facts. Junior’s Iraq War was initiated from a constant repetition of the same lies, told over and over again, until a frightened public began believing them. To this day no weapons of mass destruction have ever been found in Iraq, but anyone questioning the Bush Administration’s true motives will be publicly savaged by the right wing media. Rush, his fat jowls quivering with indignity, can be counted on to skew his answers, and or questions, further embellishing the lie. Any of the right‘s frontline motor mouths will dodge the lie by saying something like, “Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and only a liberal would take the word of a murderous dictator over that of his own country!†Right wingers are good at altering the focus of a question by assigning it a completely unrelated answer; one that plays well to a certain audience. David Boylan, station manager for Fox Tampa Bay says, “We paid $3 billion for these television stations. We will decide what the news is. The news is what we tell you it is.†So-called “conservatives” are in reality dangerously anarchic and intolerant radical agitators, arrogantly proud of their “power” to lie, no matter how unamerican or destructive the consequences. Right wing radio and television requires an exceptionally ignorant audience for its success. Right wing criers will evince pseudo-outrage over the sorry state of the union, and the liberals who have made it so, thus encouraging the mentally challenged who regularly watch to believe they understand the true state of the Union. The media will obediently parrot whatever garbage the right wing is selling. Only a few years ago stations like Fox and the Limbaugh Show couldn’t exist. The irreparable harm they’ve caused the nation can be traced back to hollywood b-movie hack actor Ronald “The Gipper†Reagan, whose FCC Chairman, Mark Fowler, began to stealthily dismantle elements of the Fairness Doctrine piece by piece. In 1927, the Fairness Doctrine was an integral part of the Federal Radio Commission’s regulatory oversight. The FRC became the FCC and the Fairness Doctrine continued its regulatory role overseeing the public’s airwaves and requiring broadcasters to present a genuinely honest, equal and balanced response to issues of public importance.
In 1969 a broadcaster sued the FCC. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Fairness Doctrine under challenges that it violated the First Amendment. There have been several attempts to restore the Fairness Doctrine, but they’ve all been defeated by Republican veto. “Conservatives” enjoy saying that the Fairness Doctrine has somehow kept them from expressing their views, and has reduced their airtime by requiring alternative viewpoints. They’ve proved themselves irresponsible and reckless and they’ve had their way since Regan. Their way has divided the nation. Their way has reduced civility, responsibility, decency and accountability in government and thus in our society to its lowest level ever. Their contrived lies and clumsy distortions have brought us across another nation’s sovereign border to wage war on a population that doesn’t possess the weapons our leaders swore to lies that they did have; Iraqui’s for the most part are a people like any other who only want to live in peace. American “conservatives” have eagerly allowed the government they purport to despise unfettered access into our personal lives and private communications. The Fairness Doctrine would have forced a calm voice of reason to examine their madness, and made their lies and distortions much more difficult, if not impossible to perpetrate on otherwise intelligent Americans. This year, legislation has been introduced to restore the Fairness Doctrine. If it is restored, Rush, Fox News, Sean and Hannity, the foulmouthed Ann Coulter, as well as the plethora of radio hosts who spew their poison bilge around the clock may all be fading memories. They are not intellectually capable of intelligent debate, and any knowledgeable, credible response will rip them up. The public will hear both sides of an issue, and if the right can’t stay on track, truth, facts, history and honesty will be there to correct them. It’s criminal and treasonous for right wing broadcasters to lie with impunity about issues of such great importance and effect to the American and international public. – adapted from an article by Jon Faulkner
May 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am“Isn’t Newt about due to start working on wife #4?”
newt gingrich: converting america, one wife at a time.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:59 amIsn’t Newt about due to start working on wife #4?
Yup. I think he keeps each wife around for five years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.
It’s one of Newtie’s fundamental beliefs.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:59 amThe Right Wing Dives Under Its Rock
More than any other single influence the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 made possible the right wing’s most recent emergence in U.S. politics. Many Americans never bother to learn how their government works; what it does. They blithely accept what Fox News, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity et al, tell them. It’s easier for many people to listen to “The Limbaugh Show†than it is to make an attempt at unraveling the layers of deceit that today’s “news†comes wrapped in. Things have finally reached the point that Americans don’t bother trying to separate lies from truth, though sometimes they still manage to get a little piqued if the deceit is outrageous enough. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to provide equal time to alternate viewpoints on matters of public importance. More right wing professors are disappearing from the nations college campuses every year. Their boneheaded, cracked ideology is presented as gospel truth and usually accompanied with personal insult by the likes of Bill O’Reilly. The right wing eventually realized that to advance their whacko agenda they needed to dress it up and make it look like anything other than the repressive unamerican garbage it is. They hit upon “Think Tanks†as the solution to their problems. These “Tanks†would provide a platform giving them the appearance of intellectual credibility. They’d wear their thinking caps, and chomp their stogies while they hatched little bombs, or sound bites. These they fed to the snapping foaming at the mouth “conservative” hosts of right wing radio and T.V.
Think Tanks such as The Hoover Foundation, The Cato Institute, and The Heritage Foundation are all right-wing organizations manufacturing means to justify their ends. They share the same goals and contrive their studies to support an already determined outcome which they then present as concrete fact. ABC news, after harsh criticism from high-ranking congressional democrats, admitted that their documentary “The Path to 9/11†was largely fabricated and designed to smear the Clinton Administration. They conceded the film was a “fantasy version of history,†and reclassified the film calling it a dramatization, not a documentary. The right, while not thrilled with such retractions nonetheless consider their distortions successful. Mark Twain said, “Making baseless accusations takes a second, and exposing them takes a month.†Liberal academics don’t have the luxury of conjuring explanations to fit the facts. They are subject to peer review which keeps them honest by mercilessly examining their findings. If they wish to continue their careers they had better have a strong argument, backed by empirical evidence to back up any claims they may make. The right’s Think Tanks are comprised of like- minded “conservatives” who produce highly flawed studies that promote the wealthy interests that fund them. They have no review process, or checks and balances to keep them honest. Right wing talk show clones pretend to legitimacy. They seize upon “findings†and their cries go out over the airwaves, spreading falsities like manure in a bean field. The Heritage Foundation produced an oft-repeated claim that the U.S. has spent $5.3 trillion on welfare. The Think Tank that produced this number wasn’t thinking clearly that day. It “forgot” to mention that their quote included student loans, school lunches, job training, veterans pensions and Medicaid, much of which goes to the elderly and disabled if it isn’t “diverted”. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. has spent only $700 billion on AFCC and food stamps since 1962.
Conservatives have lied so much and so often they believe themselves, and don’t see anything wrong with presenting opinions as facts. Junior’s Iraq War was initiated from a constant repetition of the same lies, told over and over again, until a frightened public began believing them. To this day no weapons of mass destruction have ever been found in Iraq, but anyone questioning the Bush Administration’s true motives will be publicly savaged by the right wing media. Rush, his fat jowls quivering with indignity, can be counted on to skew his answers, and or questions, further embellishing the lie. Any of the right‘s frontline motor mouths will dodge the lie by saying something like, “Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and only a liberal would take the word of a murderous dictator over that of his own country!†Right wingers are good at altering the focus of a question by assigning it a completely unrelated answer; one that plays well to a certain audience. David Boylan, station manager for Fox Tampa Bay says, “We paid $3 billion for these television stations. We will decide what the news is. The news is what we tell you it is.†So-called “conservatives” are in reality dangerously anarchic and intolerant radical agitators, arrogantly proud of their “power” to lie, no matter how unamerican or destructive the consequences. Right wing radio and television requires an exceptionally ignorant audience for its success. Right wing criers will evince pseudo-outrage over the sorry state of the union, and the liberals who have made it so, thus encouraging the mentally challenged who regularly watch to believe they understand the true state of the Union. The media will obediently parrot whatever garbage the right wing is selling. Only a few years ago stations like Fox and the Limbaugh Show couldn’t exist. The irreparable harm they’ve caused the nation can be traced back to hollywood b-movie hack actor Ronald “The Gipper†Reagan, whose FCC Chairman, Mark Fowler, began to stealthily dismantle elements of the Fairness Doctrine piece by piece. In 1927, the Fairness Doctrine was an integral part of the Federal Radio Commission’s regulatory oversight. The FRC became the FCC and the Fairness Doctrine continued its regulatory role overseeing the public’s airwaves and requiring broadcasters to present a genuinely honest, equal and balanced response to issues of public importance.
In 1969 a broadcaster sued the FCC. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Fairness Doctrine under challenges that it violated the First Amendment. There have been several attempts to restore the Fairness Doctrine, but they’ve all been defeated by Republican veto. “Conservatives” enjoy saying that the Fairness Doctrine has somehow kept them from expressing their views, and has reduced their airtime by requiring alternative viewpoints. They’ve proved themselves irresponsible and reckless and they’ve had their way since Regan. Their way has divided the nation. Their way has reduced civility, responsibility, decency and accountability in government and thus in our society to its lowest level ever. Their contrived lies and clumsy distortions have brought us across another nation’s sovereign border to wage war on a population that doesn’t possess the weapons our leaders swore to lies that they did have; Iraqui’s for the most part are a people like any other who only want to live in peace. American “conservatives” have eagerly allowed the government they purport to despise unfettered access into our personal lives and private communications. The Fairness Doctrine would have forced a calm voice of reason to examine their madness, and made their lies and distortions much more difficult, if not impossible to perpetrate on otherwise intelligent Americans. This year, legislation has been introduced to restore the Fairness Doctrine. If it is restored, Rush, Fox News, Sean and Hannity, the foulmouthed Ann Coulter, as well as the plethora of radio hosts who spew their poison bilge around the clock may all be fading memories. They are not intellectually capable of intelligent debate, and any knowledgeable, credible response will rip them up. The public will hear both sides of an issue, and if the right can’t stay on track, truth, facts, history and honesty will be there to correct them. It’s criminal and treasonous for right wing broadcasters to lie with impunity about issues of such great importance and effect to the American and international public. – adapted from an article by Jon Faulkner
May 21st, 2007 at 11:00 amI nominate Zimzone for the best line in week’s with “Pampered puffed up political prick -Grinch”…Great line….Remember folk’s, Newt’s happen when 63% don’t vote and when there is no life cuard in the gene pool’s….Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 11:00 amI am happy to see the fake MSM hype of the religious right swinging the 2004 election is being taken to heart by the Republicans. They are all scrambling to tie the anchor around their necks.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:01 amAyatollah al-Newt Sistingrich.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:02 amI am guessing Newt has been test driving anything that doesn’t have the doors locked.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:02 amSorry for the error, supost to be life guard not cuard…..
May 21st, 2007 at 11:02 amThe name “Liberty University”, in and of itself, is such a huge joke.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:03 amEmbracing as it does the fundamentalist christian view of an angry god, adherance to strict dogma, intolerance of any other view, the incredible narrow mindedness of creationism… sure doesn’t sound like liberty to me.
Only a person who is so absolutely certain about all things can be this big of an idiot.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:03 amspoken like a true fornicator…
May 21st, 2007 at 11:04 ami’ll decide what i believe
May 21st, 2007 at 11:05 amI am guessing Newt has been test driving anything that doesn’t have the doors locked.
Yup . . . and I am hoping that he will get caught with his key in the ignition one of these days.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:05 amPandering lunatic speaking to a crowd of lunatics.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:06 am‘Convert All Of America’ To Fundamentalism
kicking and screaming if necessary… whether they want to or not.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:07 amWell, what a rather shameless appeal for political power. How many of the Ten Commandments has Newt broken? I shouldn’t be surprised if he had a card with them on it –like his Contract for America– and each time he’s committed adultery or bore false testimony or… he can just punch out the number of that commandment. For a former history prof, he sure know squat about America.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:08 amJerry and Newt: two enormously fat, rotten, peas in a pod. I only hope Newt follows Falwell’s recent example and keels over in a pool in his own vomit.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:12 amWow, he sucks up to the fundies better than McCain. Verbal fellatio at a college commencement now ain’t that just the sweetest thing.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:14 amThe corrupted version cross the Conservatives have tied around their necks is made of lead.
“So, Jump right in boys, the water’s fine……….and deep.”
May 21st, 2007 at 11:14 amThank you, Sharon,
Newt Grinch is someone I despise, as well as hold responsible for the last 13 years of misdirection, outright lies, corporate cronyism, and radical christian extremism.
America needs Newt like we need a resurrected Reagan.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:17 amGreat post Cutting through the matrix, thank you for adding it here…Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 11:20 am#34 Zimzone, dito, and your wecome you diserve the praise for the great line.Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 11:24 amIf Democrats were as corrupt as Republicans we would all vote for Newton in the primary. Love to see him explain away this little speech to moderate Republicans and his sex life to the base.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:25 amI see the oversight process as a grand opportunity to convert republicans to the reality based world.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:31 amAnyone else catch Gingrich’s monster gaff on “Meet the Press” Sunday? Hilarious if you know anything about history.
blog.bi30.org
I love putting these self-righteous dill-weeds in their place. :)
May 21st, 2007 at 11:31 am.
I’m all for conversion. As long as it is to Zeus or Odin or their ilk. I can’t remember the last person who killed in the name of Poseidon.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:31 amLove to see him explain away this little speech to moderate Republicans and his sex life to the base.
Comment by Shane
He’d do it by proxy, using some other formerly disgraced leader as his mouthpiece. They’re big on forgiving their own — just no one else.
“The Rev.” Ted Haggard would be perfect for the role.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:32 amFortunately, all he’s doing is preaching to the choir.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:32 amI love guys like Newt. They’re self-righteous. Like me!
I tell you I want a culture of life do to my belief in some version of God, but at the same time I start wars against the fundamentals who follow other Gods. We can’t have that.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:35 amObviously none of you understand what was said, but go ahead… continue your ill-informed rants.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:36 amConversion of all of America to fundamentalist Evangelical Christianity? Great quote for a presumptive presidential candidate! That will go well with the Jews, Catholics, Mormons, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Buddhists, Hindus, and countless other adherents of other traditions. Should make for a great wedge issue. Great message and great messenger for a presidential campaign! Is this the guy who is supposed to be some kind of political genius?
May 21st, 2007 at 11:38 amFor having a Ph.D. in Modern European History, The Newt seems to have forgotten (or perhaps revised) much of what he should have learned. Didn’t many of those who left Europe to come to our shores do so to escape the horrors of the theocracies that existed there at the time? No doubt cognizant of this, James Madison is quoted as follows, “The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.” Also, the first amendment of our consitution states, in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” If anyone reading this post can identify an enduring theocratic regime where its citizens enjoyed freedom and liberty, I would encourage them to identify that nation in a subsequent posting.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:39 amSomeone SO certain about everything deserves being taken down a peg or two. Clib72 is dead-on in #24.
“Gingrich’s Giant Gaff” on Sunday.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:41 am.
Actually Newtie, anyone with a brain knows why Liberty “University” was created and that is why the place is a freaking joke.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:42 amIt’s a sausage factory that pumps out ill equipped, ignorant ideologues.
“More right wing professors are disappearing from the nations college campuses every year. ”
Shhhhh, lefties don’t admit that they have a lock on college campuses. What are you thinking? You can’t have average Americans knowing what is being taught.
“The Heritage Foundation produced an oft-repeated claim that the U.S. has spent $5.3 trillion on welfare. The Think Tank that produced this number wasn’t thinking clearly that day. It “forgot†to mention that their quote included student loans, school lunches, job training, veterans pensions and Medicaid, much of which goes to the elderly and disabled if it isn’t “divertedâ€. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. has spent only $700 billion on AFCC and food stamps since 1962. ”
Main Entry: 1wel·fare
Function: noun
2 a : aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need b : an agency or program through which such aid is distributed
It’s wefare by definition, Mattie.
“Liberal academics don’t have the luxury of conjuring explanations to fit the facts. They are subject to peer review which keeps them honest by mercilessly examining their findings. If they wish to continue their careers they had better have a strong argument, backed by empirical evidence to back up any claims they may make.”
ROTFLMAO!!!! Talk about the fox guarding the hen house.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:43 am“The Rev.†Ted Haggard would be perfect for the role.
Comment by barfly — May 21, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Ted and Newt, now there’s two trustworthy guys.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:45 amWell, if some of the comments here are to be believed, Gingrich is right about hostility to believers. But I don’t think they’re typical. What is most alarming to me is the extent to which this serial philanderer has adopted a paranoid fantasy about the Embattled Righteous Ones. We have seen this story (in the hands of the Monica Goodlings of this country) sow the ground for undermining the Constitution in the name of the holy mission. Now he wants, not to run, he says, but to head a “movement.” What if he doesn’t get the nod and a Dem is elected. Then he’ll want to take office via military coup?
May 21st, 2007 at 11:46 amCareful Crump’s Brother, you are treading on thin ice with those references to my God Poseidon. Piss Him off and you will wish for locusts and shit, instead of the waterspout in your kid’s wading pool.
My God can kick the living shit out of your God. Grab that little Jebus guy by the long hair and make him tap out.
Ridiculous aren’t they? Let’s fight a war to see whose god is right!
May 21st, 2007 at 11:47 amConvert America? Sounds like Newt’s been hangin’ with those Taliban guys again.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:47 amNewt has “transformed” himself into a snake-oil pitchman for the American Taliban.
They will try to convert America by force.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:47 amOddly there are more than a few neo-cons, such as Christopher Hitchens, that are atheist. Neo-conservatism is secular in and of itself and could actually be labeled ‘radical secularism’ as well.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:52 amWell zxz here’s another word you should look up “semantics”. But you believe veteran’s pensions are “welfare” so maybe “insane” would be a good one to check out.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:53 am“The Rev.†Ted Haggard would be perfect for the role.
Comment by barfly
Sharpton and Jackson are good front-runners, too.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:55 amzxz, same troll, new name.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:58 amnanlichi,
It makes so much sense. It’s one of those questions, the faithful never seem to want to answer. They are so sure that their interpretation is the right one. THey forget that the ‘others’ feel the same way about their God.
STOP THE INSANITY!!!
May 21st, 2007 at 11:59 amCompTROLLER V-1,
Your right! All these religious leaders are morons!!
May 21st, 2007 at 12:02 pmWell zxz here’s another word you should look up “semanticsâ€. But you believe veteran’s pensions are “welfare†so maybe “insane†would be a good one to check out.
Comment by Shane — May 21, 2007 @ 11:53 am
May 21st, 2007 at 12:07 pmI give you that one. Veteran’s benefits are certainly not a handout. They are well earned. The others are need based. Unless you want the top 1% of earners to be able to get student loans, free school lunches, free job training, and Medicaid, these are welfare.
zxz, same troll, new name.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — May 21, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Good morning, Breezy. ;)
May 21st, 2007 at 12:08 pmI know it is just name calling, but what a HOG HEAD!
May 21st, 2007 at 12:11 pm“Well, if some of the comments here are to be believed, Gingrich is right about hostility to believers.”
Well, conversion-speak doesn’t exactly go over well with those of us that aren’t Christian and I am guessing to many of us that are Christian.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:12 pmJim M,
“Well, if some of the comments here are to be believed, Gingrich is right about hostility to believers.â€
YEP!!!
You can believe in your superstitions if you want, just keep it out of my government. And when you come to my door and try to convert me, and I politely ask you to leave, don’t bring the rest of your prayer group to my door to attempt a religious intervention. Go to your church, worship your myth, but leave the rest of to our beliefs and quit trying to grind scientific advancement to a halt in the name of the Flying Spaghetti Monster!!
May 21st, 2007 at 12:16 pmCan someone please ask this idiot what he means by “radical secularism,” and who’s expounding it? It’s like the damn war on Christmas. Candidates are falling over themselves to be more religious than their competitors and he wants us to believe we’re all about to be swamped by the secular tide. Which would mean, by the way, exactly what? That we’d be forced, forced, mind you, to make our own decisions about life, death, love, sex, and religion without the government interfering?
May 21st, 2007 at 12:17 pmWell, his point is flawed. How do I know? Because there is no way in h*ll I will ever be converted. They’ll have to kill me or ship me out to get their ‘dream’ of a Fundamental Christian America! (what’s frightening is I think they are capable of both – killing the non-converts or forcing them to flee.)
May 21st, 2007 at 12:18 pm“Well, if some of the comments here are to be believed, Gingrich is right about hostility to believers.â€
Well, conversion-speak doesn’t exactly go over well with those of us that aren’t Christian and I am guessing to many of us that are Christian.
Comment by JPark
The version of “Christianity” being sold by people like Newt and Jerry has been so stained with vicious intolerance over the last few decades that no one should be surprised by a hostile response. They’ve made it clear that their version is the only acceptable version and that they fully intend to create a state religion.
Bah.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:19 pmi’ll decide what i believe
Comment by truthfairy — May 21, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Well said, truthfairy. It’s the American way.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:22 pmConversion speach.? …LOL..And just how does the slimy little newt plan to do that.? Force maybe.? Well it won’t work for me or any one I know, christian or not….I’ll just get on my broom and fly away….Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 12:23 pmThey will try to convert America by force.
Comment by War4Sale — May 21, 2007 @ 11:47 am
They may try, but they will certainly fail.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:24 pmRun, Newt! Run!
Please run for President! Please please please pretty please?
May 21st, 2007 at 12:25 pmWas Newt honoring Fallwell’s legacy when he served divorce papers on his wife while she was in her hospital bed recovering from cancer surgery?
May 21st, 2007 at 12:28 pmRadical Secularism: The outrageous idea that a society might function on reason as opposed to magic.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:32 pmAt last, I now have a name for my belief set!”Radical secularism”! Catchy, ain’t it?
May 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pmIf I could ask these fundamentalist Christian leaders, whom I call the Christian Pharisees, just ONE question it would be: “As a follower of Christ’s example, tell me what you have personally sacrificed for the benefit of humanity?”
May 21st, 2007 at 12:34 pmHas anyone seen my glove?
May 21st, 2007 at 12:36 pmAt last, I now have a name for my belief set!â€Radical secularismâ€! Catchy, ain’t it?
Comment by SKdeA
I think it will catch on around here, SKdeA. Radical secularism is the coolest. :)
May 21st, 2007 at 12:38 pmIf I could ask these fundamentalist Christian leaders, whom I call the Christian Pharisees, just ONE question it would be: “As a follower of Christ’s example, tell me what you have personally sacrificed for the benefit of humanity?â€
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC)
Excellent question, PLC.
Maybe our “Christian” trolls could answer that question as well.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pmExcellent quote, there. Pushes forth the myth that the founders were (A) Christian (not), and (B) never wanted a separation of church and state (not). What a piece of work he was.
Oh and BTW to the trolls: There already is a “nation” with a Christian government. It’s called Vatican City. There’s your very own theocratic monarchy. Leave the USA alone. :-)
May 21st, 2007 at 12:48 pmDon’t forget Spain in 1492 and Portugal a short time later evicted all of the Jews and Muslims. There weren’t any pesky Protestants to worry about at that time. The kingdoms were then unitary in religious nature. The mountains and extensive open water effectively sealed them off from the rest of the world. We can see how effective that was in making their people better off.
Then, it turns out, that the pope has said that the peoples of what became the Americas were longing to be “Christianized.” The extermination of the various groups that were here was simply collateral damage, well worth the cost of the greater good that was given to those that survived.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:51 pmWard Churchill’s mistake was that he did not become an ordained minister before he blamed 9/11 on the people in the tower.
Who does Falwell thinks worked in the WTC besides gays pagans and abortionists?
The media treatment of Gringrich is a national tragedy.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:55 pmJust more pandering by the SOB. I hope that he tosses his hat in the ring, so that all his dirty secrets come into the light.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:57 pm“Isn’t Newt about due to start working on wife #4.”
“Yup. I think he keeps each wife around for five years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.”
Gee, I think you’re viewing Newt in a much too positive light. Let’s just say Newt changes wives around every third lube job.
I hope Newt bought the EXTENDED WARRANTY with this latest wife. I think Newt’s days as a chick magnet are about over.
May 21st, 2007 at 12:57 pmNow this is really an irrelevant asshole. Who cares what this hypocritical son of a bitch says?
May 21st, 2007 at 1:03 pmAt last, I now have a name for my belief set!â€Radical secularismâ€! Catchy, ain’t it?
Comment by SKdeA — May 21, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
There’s an interesting article in Amartya Sen’s The Argumentative Indian about secularism in India, in which he defines secularism as being not areligious, but simply recognizing all religions rather than only one. A “secular” public event in India can feature speeches by Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, and Jainist representatives. I like to think of myself as that type of radical secularist.
This is the exact opposite viewpoint of the Gingriches and the Falwells and the people who founded the Moron Magnet.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:05 pmtoasterhead, you have made a very important distinction. To me, radical secularism is areligious in the sense that it is neutral on religion, neither pro- nor anti-. Such a stance prevents religious beliefs from being the basis for policy but does not prevent religious discussion or speech in public. The fundamentalists of any stripe will not make such a distinction because it does not fit the “either you are with us or against us” mentality. There is no choice in the fundamentalist view – their God is as they say and must be acknowledged as such. I don’t see how the American Christian fundamentalists, therefore, can speak of a “personal” savior.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:23 pmThe Gingrich led conversion of America to Republicanism failed miserably…why would this pompous blowhard think that we’ll happily sign up for the religious intolerance, closemindedness, and hatred of the Christian Right? If America wanted that life experience, we would have all joined a fundementalist church without his help.
Keep preaching to the 25% that still can’t figure out your just another huckster working the God-con. Run Newt, run!
May 21st, 2007 at 1:32 pmThere is no choice in the fundamentalist view – their God is as they say and must be acknowledged as such. I don’t see how the American Christian fundamentalists, therefore, can speak of a “personal†savior.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) — May 21, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
Exactly!
The only way to resolve this dilemma is to force everyone in the country to accept the fundamentalist’s version of the personal savior, and then there will no longer be a distinction between the personal and public.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:50 pm“Anybody on the left who hopes that when people like Reverend Falwell disapper that the opportunity to convert all of America has gone with them funda M-E-N-T-A-L ly misunderstands why institutions like this were created.”
WHEN A PERSON TALKS TO GOD THAT’S CALLED PRAYING.
WHEN GOD TALKS TO A PERSON THAT’S CALLED MENTAL ILLNESS.
Funda M-E-N-T-A-L ism? Hmmmmmmm! Not only is our president mentally ill but I think Newt is, too.
Newsweek has a current article proclaiming that President George W. Bush is mentally ill. Apparently not just a little mentally ill, but FUNDAMENTALLY MENTALLY ILL?? I think so!
I came to that conclusion many years ago. I just sense that his mental state is unbalanced.
This writer mentions Bush’s denial in spite of the alarm bells ringing loud and clear. I think the constant state of denial is true but there’s a little more to story. Bush somehow believes everything is going to be okay in the end, because someone has always come to his rescue.
He failed in the business world time-after-time, and then his father’s rich friends came to his rescue. He turned $600,000 into $15,000,000. Wonderful!
He lost the 2000 presidential election, but the Supreme Court came to rescue. Wonderful!
His first term in office was a disaster, but Karl Rove came to rescue. Wonderful!
So naturally Bush is thinking that the Iraq War will eventually have a good ending. No! No! This hole just keeps getting deeper and deeper. NOT SO WONDERFUL!!!!
May 21st, 2007 at 1:56 pmUm… How is he wrong? I’m serious here. How is Newt incorrect? Just because a leader dies means that religious people will cease telling people about their religion? That makes no sense.
Shame on ThinkProgress. TP knew their audience would get excited and riled up over this post. TP is taking advantage of its audience the same way some moron Republican wants to talk about 9/11 or flag burning when they don’t want someone to pay attention to something else. This begs the question…
What is TP doing that they don’t want us to know?
May 21st, 2007 at 2:01 pmThe Secret History of Jerry Falwell
“At the same time the Rev. Jerry Falwell was accusing pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU and People For the American Way of sharing responsibility for the 9/11 attack the televangelist owed over one million dollars in unpaid loans to the owner of the terror flight school in Florida which trained Mohamed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi.”
http://www.madcowprod.com/05182007.html
May 21st, 2007 at 2:10 pmDemocratic Sycamore,
“Anybody on the left who hopes that when people like Reverend Falwell disappear that the opportunity to convert all of America has gone with them fundamentally misunderstands why institutions like this were created,†Gingrich said.
It’s not Falwell, it’s “the opportunity to convert all of America” that’s the problem.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:10 pmI have absolutely no problem with “convert”, which means “to turn together or with”, as it implies an equality in power and personal choice. What the fundamentalists are really seeking is “submission”, not to God by personal choice but to their dogma by law. This is neither good American democracy nor good Christian theology.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:43 pmZooey:
I appreciate the response. I was hoping that wouldn’t go unanswered. It still posed two more points from me (as I try to dodge my boss’ eyes here in my cube and type back).
First, do religious people (pick your poison) not desire to convert people to their religion? Do people of religion not look for opportunities to share their faith or religion? Focusing on what you’ve highlighted from the adulterer’s speech, it now seems to me that Newt was just dropping a line to stroke an audience. A line he knew they’d enjoy. Which brings me to my second point.
Clearly I don’t believe Newt’s wrong in the thought that Falwell’s death will have a major impact on religious people sharing what they believe with others. (Quite possibly it could be contrary to that as Christians may find an opportunity through Falwell’s death to share what they believe when talking about daily events/news, etc.) So, I am still under the impression that the only reason TP posted this article is because they know that the readers of this site would generally not like Newt and not enjoy the teachings and preachings of Jerry Falwell. Again I have to refer to flag burning. Admittedly I was being facetious when I asked what TP was hiding, but I am serious (and seriously disappointed) in questioning why TP posted this. It was only to feed the masses what they want to hear, but not necessarily something that is helpful.
But that’s just me.
Democratic Sycamore
May 21st, 2007 at 2:45 pmSo he is saying that we should look at these institutions as christian madrassas? These madrassas are an on going threat against Americas seperation of church and state? These madrassas should be dismantled as such?
May 21st, 2007 at 3:03 pmDemocratic Sycamore,
Hopefully now the Republican party ‘values’ voters will split into factions, and the people who want to turn America into a Christian nation will be marginalised. Just as the old generation of racist, homophobic, and anti-women Christians like Falwell will be marginalised over time. I put them in the same catagory as David Duke and other radicals.
How groups like this can hang onto their non-profit status as churches when they are actually political organizations is something that should be addressed seriously.
Separation of church and state is the foundation of American greatness. Free to practice your religion, not free to politicise your beliefs and supress others who do not believe as you do. This worked well for 200 years, so true conservatives would support this. The Christianists are radical because of this stance.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:05 pmNewt “multiple adultry & 3 marriages Gingrich is lecturing who on what?
May 21st, 2007 at 3:38 pmxtian fundamentalists are a bigger threat to our nation than islamists and there will be a civil war before we bow to their terrorism. if they want a real holy war, bring it the f*ck on.
May 21st, 2007 at 5:54 pmwell if he is correct, I hope Canada is prepared to accept 3/5ths of the US population
May 21st, 2007 at 9:16 pmBut perhaps Gingrich’s most controversial remarks came in an interview after his speech, in which Gingrich cited the opportunity “to convert all of America.â€
*********************************
All I can say to this is…OVER MY DEAD BODY, NEWT. The only way that these pseudo-Christians could ever (if you’ll pardon the pun) have a prayer of getting me to adopt their intolerant belief system is by pressing the business end of a gun to my head…and frankly, if I were forced to choose between being like them and being dead, I think I’d prefer to have them shoot me.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:39 pmThese right wing returds are hellbent on bringing back…
…the Spanish Inquisition and Dark Ages…
…kill it before it grows…
May 21st, 2007 at 9:40 pmIt was only to feed the masses what they want to hear, but not necessarily something that is helpful.
But that’s just me.
Democratic Sycamore
I think we need to know what that faction is thinking. It needs to be out in the light of day. I don’t see anything wrong with exposing these things.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:45 pmNewt Gingrinch: the new Jerry Falwell.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:54 pmThere are some simple rules to consider that will help you survive in the future, and help civilization and planet earth survive:
1. If you meet a religious person, (i.e. george bush) kill them.
May 27th, 2007 at 2:51 pm2. If you meet a greedy person, (i.e. donald trump) kill them.
3. If you meet a stupid person (non-religious) educate them (if this fails return to step 1).
4. If you meet an apathetic person, encourage them (if this fails return to step 3).
5. Band together in great human unity with all living things.
6. Repeat.