Ever since emerging from their four year hibernation in 2004 (just in time to reelect President George W. Bush), the Religious Right has returned to its extended state of unconsciousness. Oh, that's right, they did roll out of bed long enough to lobby for Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Alito. (No doubt, they were given a wake up call by the White House along with an invitation to dinner.) When it comes to numerous volatile issues, however, the Religious Right is once again proving its utter worthlessness!
Of course, the main reason the Religious Right is snoozing through the Bush administration is because the president is the point man for a variety of dangerous and unconstitutional policies. And the one thing the Religious Right will never do is criticize G. W. Bush.
For example, America's illegal immigration problem is a time bomb with a lit fuse! And the fuse is getting short!
Did you know that of the more than 12 million (This is a very conservative estimate. The actual number is well over 20 million.) illegal aliens that currently reside in this country, almost half of them arrived here since G.W. Bush became president in 2000? The reported figure is 40%. (Source: The Washington Times)
Does anyone think that the dramatic increase of illegal aliens to America during the Bush administration is a coincidence? Only an imbecile could believe that! The reason that there are nearly 50% more illegal aliens in America (most of them crossing our southern border since Bush became president) is directly because of the policies and speeches President Bush has made that have created a climate extremely favorable to illegal aliens. Most of the millions of illegal aliens that have poured across our southern border during the last 5 years have done so with the expectation (clearly created by Bush) of receiving legal amnesty in this country.
How can any rational person take Bush seriously about his "war on terrorism," when he treats the problem of illegal immigration with such a cavalier attitude? Beyond that, how can they accept his continued encroachments upon the liberties of the American citizenry with such indifference? Do they not realize that President Bush is punishing law-abiding Americans while opening the door of potential terrorism even wider? Have the American people (and especially the Religious Right) lost their minds?
Another example of how the Religious Right is sleeping through the Bush administration is their reaction (or lack of reaction) to the news that President Bush has placed our troops in Afghanistan under foreign commanders. (Source: AP newswire) When President Bill Clinton did this, the Religious Right screamed and hollered their indignation. When President Bush does it, they barely raise an eyebrow. What hypocrisy!
Do you need more examples? Consider the fact that President Bush has increased major government social programs to greater levels than any president since Lyndon B. Johnson! (Source: USA Today) Does the Religious Right realize that Bush has pushed domestic spending to amounts accounting for more than half of all federal spending? Of course, they know; they just don't care!
The next time I hear someone say, "It would be worse if John Kerry had been elected," I think I will scream! No, it would not be worse! With Republicans in charge of the entire federal government, spending has skyrocketed to levels that Democrats could not even dream about.
Do you really believe the Religious Right would sit silently by while a Democratic president tried to explode federal spending the way Bush has done? Do you really believe they would sit back sheepishly while a Democratic president placed American troops under foreign commanders? Do you really believe, that during a time of terrorist activity, the Religious Right would drift off into unconsciousness while a Democratic administration facilitated the biggest growth of illegal immigration ever seen in this country? You know the answer.
However, because President Bush is a Republican and claims to be a Christian, the Religious Right is willing to give him a pass. They should be ashamed of themselves!
Christians, especially preachers, should be watchmen. They should quit trying to be politicians. Instead, they should "lift up their voices like a trumpet" and call America back to its senses!
Sadly, however, foolish loyalty to partisan politics, the desire to ingratiate themselves before the powers that be, and the love of invitations to sit at the king's table have made the Religious Right impotent, and even worse, complicit to America's demise.
As important as it is, there is more to a presidential administration than anti-abortion rhetoric! At the end of Bush's second term (and it can't come too soon), abortion will still be lawful, but the havoc wreaked upon the U.S. Constitution and personal liberties will haunt us for decades! Think about the potential bloodshed and tumult associated with Bush's Draconian foreign policy. Consider the economic catastrophe resulting from Bush's penchant for spending federal dollars like a drunken sailor. Meditate for a moment on the gargantuan problems created by Bush's endorsement of massive illegal immigration. Frightening contemplations, indeed!
To repeat a statement I made in an earlier column, America's greatest problem is a preacher problem! For the most part, the Religious Right has spent the last 5 years in hiding. I suppose we can expect the next "great awakening" during the 2008 presidential election season, when the prospect of a Democratic victory brings the Religious Right back from the dead.
If all the Religious Right can do is campaign for Republican presidential candidates with no regard as to how elected Republican presidents govern, it cannot honestly be regarded as either "Religious" or "Right." Therefore, it might actually be better if the Religious Right stayed in hiding!
© 2006 Chuck Baldwin - All Rights Reserved
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