It's like Christmas for Liberals and anyone with common sense: Dobson admits defeat in culture wars

[Phokus]

Washington Monthly

April 12, 2009

DOBSON POINTS TO CULTURE WAR DEFEAT.... James Dobson delivered a farewell speech to the Focus on the Family staff, and conceded that the culture war he helped start hasn't turned out well for the agents of intolerance. Indeed, Dobson almost sounded resigned to defeat.

James Dobson, 72, who resigned recently as head of Focus on the Family -- one of the largest Christian groups in the country -- and once denounced the Harry Potter books as witchcraft, acknowledged the dramatic reverse for the religious Right in a farewell speech to staff.

"We tried to defend the unborn child, the dignity of the family, but it was a holding action," he said.

"We are awash in evil and the battle is still to be waged. We are right now in the most discouraging period of that long conflict. Humanly speaking, we can say we have lost all those battles."

Now, in fairness, this report omitted some context. As my friend Kyle reported, Dobson actually emphasized his desire to keep the fight going, despite the religious right movement's setbacks: "Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right? ... I have been assured by the board and by many of you that we're not going to cow, we're not going to be discouraged."

That said, whether Dobson and his cohorts give up now or not, his assessment about their lack of success is nevertheless accurate. The culture war is all but over, and far-right evangelicals have precious little to show for their efforts. After about three decades of fighting, the culture warriors are hard pressed to point to any progress at all.

Anti-gay animus is not only waning, four states now allow gay marriage. Abortion is still legal and a majority of Americans are still pro-choice. School prayer isn't even on the political world's radar screen anymore. Pornography is not only a multi-billion industry; it's more accessible than ever. The single fastest growing segment of the American spiritual landscape is non-believers and those with no religious identification.

In 1998, President Clinton's approval rating went up after getting caught in a sex scandal, and in 2008, the first admitted adulterer to ever run for president sought and won the Republican Party's presidential nomination.

Not only does the Republican Party establishment largely ignore its theocratic wing, but there are growing fissures in evangelical Christian communities, with a growing number of evangelicals, especially younger ones, rejecting the Dobson agenda and political worldview.

Dobson isn't giving up, and I suspect the religious right movement will keep pushing its misguided agenda. But humanly speaking, this crowd has not only lost all their battles, they should probably stop trying to win.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...ual/2009_04/017709.php

Hah, OWNED B*TCH. The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant. Your bigoted ways never stood a chance at surviving. This is going to be the death knell for the GOP and i predict a split in the next decade or two until the evangelical wing of the party becomes completely irrelevant (it's on a slow downward spiral currently).

Now we just need to get rid of the neo-con and supply side fundamentalists and the GOP might be a decent party to vote for.

 

[Genx87]

The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

 

[brencat]

We (speaking as a Republican voter) need to get refocused on economics and stop with all the social conservative B.S. I am a moderate when it comes to social issues and really only care about wallet issues at the end of the day, as do most Repub friends/family in my immediate circle.

 

[First]

Social conservatives are dying and have been for a long time. In fact, they always do, every generation since essentially forever has become more socially progressive in this country. And really, you can easily argue gov't intervention too. And none of it will stop until people are unhappy and/or standards of living stagnate/decline. All perfectly logical outcomes to complicated but ultimately simple politics.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: Genx87

The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

:laugh:

 

[StageLeft]

Anti-gay animus is not only waning, four states now allow gay marriage. Abortion is still legal and a majority of Americans are still pro-choice. School prayer isn't even on the political world's radar screen anymore. Pornography is not only a multi-billion industry; it's more accessible than ever. The single fastest growing segment of the American spiritual landscape is non-believers and those with no religious identification.

Nothing to be proud of, IMO. Disagree with their methods or not, these people have real convictions of meaning and hold themselves above a nihilistic and hedonistic life. I agree with them on some issues and disagree on others, but they see an American culture that's going down the toilet and they are of course very correct about that.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

Not to mention although generally true, there can be multiple steps backward, as history has shown the rise of various intolerant cultures, far worse than their predecessors.

 

[microbial]

Not an us against them society. The only ones that benefit from that kind of thinking are the people who have taken this country into the porcelain fixture-as they profit (or profited, past tense).
The sooner we learn that lesson, the better off we will be.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Anti-gay animus is not only waning, four states now allow gay marriage. Abortion is still legal and a majority of Americans are still pro-choice. School prayer isn't even on the political world's radar screen anymore. Pornography is not only a multi-billion industry; it's more accessible than ever. The single fastest growing segment of the American spiritual landscape is non-believers and those with no religious identification.

Nothing to be proud of, IMO. Disagree with their methods or not, these people have real convictions of meaning and hold themselves above a nihilistic and hedonistic life. I agree with them on some issues and disagree on others, but they see an American culture that's going down the toilet and they are of course very correct about that.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

Not to mention although generally true, there can be multiple steps backward, as history has shown the rise of various intolerant cultures, far worse than their predecessors.

I somewhat agree. However, they're going down that same toilet, just not with Porn or the other things they rail against. They're just as caught up in Materialism as the rest.

 

[lupi]

Oh look, another self pawning OP. I didn't realize that is was common sense to want post birth abortion or destruction of the national culture.

But please continue and toss around big phrases like bigots while condemning everything your shallow existence doesn't believe in.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

/facepalm

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: Genx87

The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

:laugh:

Ironic, huh??

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: Genx87

The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

:laugh:

Ironic, huh??

Yeah, it's not like i post tongue in cheek comments or anything

Put all republicans in a meat grinder and feed their remains to the poor

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: lupi
Oh look, another self pawning OP. I didn't realize that is was common sense to want post birth abortion or destruction of the national culture.

But please continue and toss around big phrases like bigots while condemning everything your shallow existence doesn't believe in.

hahah awesome. bigot it such a big and demeaning word you know. it essentially applies to everyone but "you" (meaning whoever claims someone else is one)

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: Genx87

The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

:laugh:

Ironic, huh??

Yeah, it's not like i post tongue in cheek comments or anything

Put all republicans in a meat grinder and feed their remains to the poor

Nothing tongue in cheek about you being a closet bigot masking himself in the robes of liberalism.

Lynched any darkies lately?

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: brencat
We (speaking as a Republican voter) need to get refocused on economics and stop with all the social conservative B.S. I am a moderate when it comes to social issues and really only care about wallet issues at the end of the day, as do most Repub friends/family in my immediate circle.

Agreed. the reps are in trouble until they purge this social conservative nonsense from their party... Fiscal conservatism has some great merits, and will likely win national elections once the social crap is purged. Social conservatives are done in govt in America. Now its their turn to go into the closet =)

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: Genx87

The younger generation ALWAYS becomes more and more tolerant.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

Someone has to cancel out Winnar11, Projohn and Fear No evil's equal but opposite right wing nutjob posts. =)

While Phokus himself might be a left wing nutjob - the article posted and the fact that James Dobson stepped down brings up an interesting point dont you think?

 

[TheSlamma]

Originally posted by: brencat
We (speaking as a Republican voter) need to get refocused on economics and stop with all the social conservative B.S. I am a moderate when it comes to social issues and really only care about wallet issues at the end of the day, as do most Repub friends/family in my immediate circle.

I have to wonder, if there was a breakup of the GOP how would this work?

You get one side the evangelicals, then you get the fiscal conservative side.. now when the question comes up, "What is your stance on gay marriage" and "what is your stance on abortion" how does the fiscal conservative side answer to these questions? If they say they are conservative and don't support either they might as well just continue to lose as 1 party.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: retrospooty
Someone has to cancel out Winnar11

Winnar11 was recently banned because proof was discovered that he was a returning permabanned member under a new name that lived to troll. His goal was to throw gas onto fires, since this forum is mostly liberal, it is of little surprise that he chose to masquerade as an ultra conservative to rattle the most cages.

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: TheSlamma

Originally posted by: brencat
We (speaking as a Republican voter) need to get refocused on economics and stop with all the social conservative B.S. I am a moderate when it comes to social issues and really only care about wallet issues at the end of the day, as do most Repub friends/family in my immediate circle.

I have to wonder, if there was a breakup of the GOP how would this work?

You get one side the evangelicals, then you get the fiscal conservative side.. now when the question comes up, "What is your stance on gay marriage" and "what is your stance on abortion" how does the fiscal conservative side answer to these questions? If they say they are conservative and don't support either they might as well just continue to lose as 1 party.

Or... what I think is a more realistic occurance. They watch Obama's budgets and play to their strength's - fiscal conservatism. If Obama keeps spending like he is, and it seems his plan continues... It wont be too tough. They will get independants and alot of middle of the road dems like me - If there were a fiscal conservative candidate that promised to "reduce the budget, reign in govt. spending and reduce govt size and keep govt. out of people's lives" (all great traditional republican concepts that the modern rep. party left in the dust), and get rid of all the social agenda crap, I would vote for them in a heartbeat. So would millions of others, including alot of gays, atheists, and other non-christians. it would be an easy win, once the George Dubbya religious nutsacks are off the ticket.

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: retrospooty
Someone has to cancel out Winnar11

Winnar11 was recently banned because proof was discovered that he was a returning permabanned member under a new name that lived to troll. His goal was to throw gas onto fires, since this forum is mostly liberal, it is of little surprise that he chose to masquerade as an ultra conservative to rattle the most cages.

LOL... wow, I knew he was a troll. Glad to know he was banned. I wonder what his new name will be =)

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: retrospooty
Someone has to cancel out Winnar11

Winnar11 was recently banned because proof was discovered that he was a returning permabanned member under a new name that lived to troll. His goal was to throw gas onto fires, since this forum is mostly liberal, it is of little surprise that he chose to masquerade as an ultra conservative to rattle the most cages.

Meanwhile...Phokus continues to post his incendiary, bigoted garbage...there is no justice.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: retrospooty

Originally posted by: TheSlamma
I have to wonder, if there was a breakup of the GOP how would this work?

You get one side the evangelicals, then you get the fiscal conservative side.. now when the question comes up, "What is your stance on gay marriage" and "what is your stance on abortion" how does the fiscal conservative side answer to these questions? If they say they are conservative and don't support either they might as well just continue to lose as 1 party.

Or... what I think is a more realistic occurance. They watch Obama's budgets and play to their strength's - fiscal conservatism. If Obama keeps spending like he is, and it seems his plan continues... It wont be too tough. They will get independants and alot of middle of the road dems like me - If there were a fiscal conservative candidate that promised to "reduce the budget, reign in govt. spending and reduce govt size and keep govt. out of people's lives" (all great traditional republican concepts that the modern rep. party left in the dust), and get rid of all the social agenda crap, I would vote for them in a heartbeat. So would millions of others, including alot of gays, atheists, and other non-christians. it would be an easy win, once the George Dubbya religious nutsacks are off the ticket.

Can answer both posts here. @Slamma -- The difference is that economic conservatives like me would be willing to trade off the social stuff in a bargain for sole focus on the economic issues, like what retrospooty mentioned. Whereas the hard core right wing would take an all-or-nothing approach...and lose on both.

 

[MagicConch]

US citizens won't elect a president who believes in a return to fiscal responsibility via low-spending, low-taxing, or high-spending, high-taxing. Really there is only one electable fiscal agenda for both parties, with two different tweaks to give people the illusion they have a choice between fiscal conservatism and fiscal liberalism imo.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: brencat
We (speaking as a Republican voter) need to get refocused on economics and stop with all the social conservative B.S. I am a moderate when it comes to social issues and really only care about wallet issues at the end of the day, as do most Repub friends/family in my immediate circle.

1 of 2 done - now, when you just get educated enoiugh on economic to understand that liberals are right there, you will be set.

What, exactly, about Republican economic policies as they actually exist in the last century do you think is correct?

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Anti-gay animus is not only waning, four states now allow gay marriage. Abortion is still legal and a majority of Americans are still pro-choice. School prayer isn't even on the political world's radar screen anymore. Pornography is not only a multi-billion industry; it's more accessible than ever. The single fastest growing segment of the American spiritual landscape is non-believers and those with no religious identification.

Nothing to be proud of, IMO. Disagree with their methods or not, these people have real convictions of meaning and hold themselves above a nihilistic and hedonistic life. I agree with them on some issues and disagree on others, but they see an American culture that's going down the toilet and they are of course very correct about that.

This coming from somebody who suggests purging GOP members from the gene pool? Clearly another parody thread from Phokus.

Not to mention although generally true, there can be multiple steps backward, as history has shown the rise of various intolerant cultures, far worse than their predecessors.

It's not so much the positive parts fo their agenda, as their authoritarian approach, their corrupt selling out to ally with the sorts who gave us Wall Street Deregulation, their intolerance for others to hold different views, their ignorance about others typical of religious fundamentalists, the fact that they allied so well with the Repulbicans and were so happy to destroy all the good the progressive Democrats wanted to do, and so on.

When he says they're surrounded by evil, he was more right than he realized.