Christian Right: Tea-Baggers Too Libertarian, Not Conservative Enough

[Andy9o8 2]

Trouble in Paradise?


http://hamptonroads.com/2010/03/libertarian-streak-tea-parties-worries-some-evangelicals

***'Libertarian streak' in tea parties worries some evangelicals

Politico
© March 12, 2010

By Ben Smith

The rise of a new conservative grass-roots fueled by a secular revulsion at government spending is stirring fears among leaders of the old conservative grass-roots, the evangelical Christian right.

A reeling economy and the Obama administration’s massive bank bailout and stimulus plan were the triggers for a resurgence in support for the Republican Party and the rise of the tea party movement. But they’ve also banished the social issues that are the focus of many evangelical Christians to the background.

And while health care legislation has brought social and economic conservatives together to fight government funding of abortion, some social conservative leaders have begun to express concern that tea party leaders don’t care about their issues, while others object to the personal vitriol against President Barack Obama, whose personal conduct many conservative Christians applaud.

“There’s a libertarian streak in the tea party movement that concerns me as a cultural conservative,” said Bryan Fischer, director of Issue Analysis for Government and Public Policy at the American Family Association. “The tea party movement needs to insist that candidates believe in the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage.”

“As far as I can tell [the tea party movement] has a politics that’s irreligious. I can’t see how some of my fellow conservatives identify with it,” said Richard Cizik, who broke with a major evangelical group over his support for government action on climate change, but who remains largely in line with the Christian right on social issues. “The younger Evangelicals who I interact with are largely turned off by the tea party movement — by the incivility, the name-calling, the pathos of politics.”***

[justinb138 0]

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Trouble in Paradise?

Depends on whose version of paradise you're speaking of. Certainly no trouble in mine.

[RonD1120 62]

I'm part of that trouble I suppose. Right now, I am far more Conservative Libertarian than Conservative Christian Right.

I subscribe to an evangelical social service newsletter, the "ePistle." I find that I disagree with most of the publishing authors.

In the words of Red Green, "I'm a man. I can change, if I have to, I guess."

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[chutem 0]

So some conservatives think that some conservatives are not conservative and/or religious enough. I can agree with that.

James

[RonD1120 62]

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So some conservatives think that some conservatives are not conservative and/or religious enough. I can agree with that.

James

There exists a Christian Left also. They don't get much recognition. I guess that Left and Liberal is just Left and Liberal.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Andy9o8 2]

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So some conservatives think that some conservatives are not conservative and/or religious enough. I can agree with that.

James

There exists a Christian Left also. They don't get much recognition. I guess that Left and Liberal is just Left and Liberal.

Don't forget the Atheist Right.
Here's one of their recent conventions.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6450996/2/istockphoto_6450996-empty-convention-center.jpg

[Rookie120 0]

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Trouble in Paradise?

I am conservative but not a christian. So no problem with me.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[SpeedRacer 1]

Maybe the Religious Right could fuck off & start their own party.

Speed Racer
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[quade 4]

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Maybe the Religious Right could fuck off & start their own party.

Which of course would be the end of the Republican Party as we currently know it, which would be awesome since they could actually get back to their fiscal roots rather than their social engineering crap.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[redlegphi 0]

I think the problem is that the "leaderless" Tea Party movement doesn't have a very solid party. The only thing they all seem to have in common is that they're angry and they don't like government spending. However, like most libertarians I've run into, the problem comes when you start asking them what programs should be cut. Everybody seems to think that all programs should be cut except the ones they think are important. So you'll have some Tea Partiers for decreasing military spending and some who aghast at the thought, some who want to cut back on Medicaid/Medicare and some who would cut you for even bringing that up, etc.
Until somebody steps up (Palin?) and sets up some kind of rudimentary platform, they're going to continue as an angry, amorphous blob. Of course, as soon as they set that platform, a bunch of Tea Partiers aren't gonna be happy with the Tea Party anymore and will either head back to their major party or will head off to whatever micro-party fits their specialty interests.