Posted on 10/26/2005 6:29:55 PM PDT by jern
Danforth Criticizes Christian Sway in GOP Oct 26 8:51 PM US/Eastern Email this story
By DANIEL CONNOLLY Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK
The influence of evangelical Christians in the Republican Party hurts the organization and divides the country, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth said during a visit to the Bill Clinton School of Public Service on Wednesday.
Danforth, a former Republican senator from Missouri and an Episcopal priest, met with students during a seminar and held a luncheon talk at the graduate school.
"I think that the Republican Party fairly recently has been taken over by the Christian conservatives, by the Christian right," he said in an interview after his talks. "I don't think that this is a permanent condition but I think this has happened, and that it's divisive for the country."
He also said the evangelical Christian influence would be bad for the party in the long run.
Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracy Schmitt declined comment.
Danforth, who recently served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, made similar criticism of the party in an opinion article published by the New York Times in June. In that article, he called for religious moderates to take part in public life.
People of faith have an obligation to be in politics, he said.
"I think the question arises when a political party becomes identified with one particular sectarian position and when religious people believe that they have the one answer, that they understand God's truth and they embody it politically," he said.
"Nothing is more dangerous than religion in politics and government when it becomes divisive," he said. "I'll give you examples: Iraq. Northern Ireland. Palestine."
Danforth, considered a conservative on social issues, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976 and served three terms. In his final term he played a key role in defending Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas against claims of sexual harassment during bitter confirmation hearings. Thomas eventually was confirmed.
Under Democratic President Bill Clinton, Danforth was appointed special counsel in an investigation of the deadly 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas.
The current President Bush appointed Danforth as special peace envoy to Sudan and later as ambassador to the United Nations.
Danforth was sworn in as ambassador in July 2004 and resigned in January. Wednesday, Danforth cited his age _ now 69 _ and his desire to move back to his St. Louis home as his reasons for leaving.
He most recently has worked for the Bryan Cave law firm in St. Louis. Former U.S. Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark. and dean of the Clinton School for Public Service, invited him to visit the school.
The school, housed in a remodeled red brick train station on the grounds of the Clinton presidential library, opened in August and currently has 16 students enrolled in its two-year master's degree program. It is a branch of the University of Arkansas.
"I thought that the students were bright and highly motivated and it was encouraging to have the opportunity to spend some time with them," Danforth said. "I thought the physical facilities were wonderful."
The school plays an important role, he said.
"I think it's important to encourage and inspire people who have an interest in public service and to equip them for public service," he said. "But in my view more important than any particular curriculum item is to be encouraged and strengthened as somebody who wants to participate in public service."
He's an Episcopalian. Explains everything. Social liberals eventually morph into fiscal liberals too, and then what's the difference between them and leftist Democrats?
Hint: Nothing.
Well good luck in 2006 and 2008 then. Whole lotta people gonna sit back and watch the squishy moderates elect "their" kind of people. Good luck with that! Hello Dem majority and hello Hillary.
I didnt have the correct link on that post.
Well move over, buddy:')
How about just taking over the party and kicking them out and keeping the name:')
I think he wants us all gone, so the GOP can go back into permanent minority status, and he can get invited to more Democrat parties.
Yes, lets get the country clubber RINOS back into power and back into the minority in Washington. There used to having the Dems walk all over them. They have been a tremendous help in the Senate lately.
If they want to see a repeat of 1992 and 1996, they can keep it up. "Leaving" is not necessary.
We'll just stay home on election day like we did for 41 and for "It's my turn" Dole.
"Ronaldus" is no Magnus OR Reagan, from what I see on this thread.
I think a few people would disagree with Mr. D. Oh, and this is just a small sample.
John Adams: “ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
Benjamin Franklin: “God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787
Alexander Hamilton: "For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests." [1787 after the Constitutional Convention]
Thomas Jefferson:
“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.”
“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.”
"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."
James Madison: “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” [1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia]
how many elections would your Jesus party win?
Do you have any examples to support your claim of embarassment?
Being an ordained minister does not a conservative make. Barry Lynn would be one of the most obvious examples.
It's not so bad, compared to the DNC which has been taken over by devils (Dean ,Moveon.org, Soros and Moore.)
Maybe but then again if it ever came to that it sure would tick them off to usurp the name.
Simple, everyday folk are America's strength. They are no abashment to me, a mathematician among other interests. I think some pseudo-intellectual bullies might be swayed by this subtle wedgework.
No wonder the Clintonistas used him to cover up Waco.
Do tell... His recent lurches to the anti-American left are seemingly inexplicable... maybe Hillary's FBI files have something to do with it.
I wonder why the president ever nominated him to anything???
If it were not for the religious segment, conservatives would not win elections. Try winning an election without us.
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