Posted on 08/26/2005 5:27:21 PM PDT by lunarbicep
ST. LOUIS - Retired Republican Sen. John Danforth expressed concern Thursday that his party is too closely aligned with the religious right.
Danforth, 68, who represented Missouri for three terms in the Senate and resigned earlier this year as U.N. ambassador, spoke during a lunch sponsored by the St. Louis chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, a national gay Republican group.
Also an ordained Episcopal minister, Danforth told the group that he believes marriage is only between a man and a woman.
"On the question of civil unions, I believe that we should attempt to work out some kind of method of honoring, respecting and realizing the rights of committed people without calling it marriage," he said.
Danforth said concerns of conservative Christians, like the high divorce rate and family disintegration, deserve attention, but added, "There is something about a political party adopting a particular religious agenda, a sectarian religious agenda, as its own, that is divisive.
"The purpose of American government, the purpose of our Constitution, is to hold together all kinds of diverse interests in one country," Danforth said.
Danforth's comments echoed those he has made in recent op-ed pieces. He said he has heard back from people, including many Democrats, who share similar concerns.
Danforth said he remains a committed Republican and believes the Democrats are "floundering right now.
"The only thing that holds them together is that they hate George Bush. That's the only thing they're for," he said.
Danforth said the issue of same-sex relationships should not be locked into the Constitution because it is "a matter of community values and social values and needs to be worked out in society."
Images of dozens of same-sex couples racing down courthouse steps in front of television cameras looked wrong, because "it didn't look like anything is being honored," he said.
After Danforth's remarks, several Republicans said they agreed with his point of view.
"The Republican party needs this particular voice heard," said Log Cabin member Bill Jenkins, 45, of Kirkwood.
Gail Elble, 55, of St. Louis, a Democrat who has been in a committed relationship for more than two decades, spoke about how she would like her partner to be able to receive her benefits if Elble should die. She found his speech bigoted against any marriage that didn't fit his own mold of what it should be.
"I don't believe he offered any solutions," said Elble, president of the Gateway Stonewall Democrats, the local branch of a gay Democratic organization.
Danforth left the Senate in 1994. He acted as special counsel leading the 1999 investigation into the 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas.
President Bush also appointed Danforth as special envoy to Sudan to mediate peace in the civil war. He was named ambassador to the U.N. in 2004.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Excuse me? I was not aware that any political party ran its agenda past any particulat religous group. I, as a Christian, have a right and even an obligation to do what I can to sway my government to making proper laws. Yes, proper by my definition. I hope that my definition of what is proper is also Biblical. Just because the RATS are finding that Christians aren't becoming integrated in their party is no reason that Christians can't be active in any other party.
I'm glad Danforth is retired. With statements like this, I suspect he's a RINO.
Is this the same John Danforth who whitewashed Waco? Fortunately, Missouri has two senators of whom they can be proud now.
So, Mr. Danforth, what difference does it make?
My list of media whores gets longer by the hour.
This does not sound like the Senator Danforth many of us Missourians knew and respected for years - and helped get Thomas confirmed to the SCOTUS.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Yes, that's him. My thoughts exactly, and immediately. He disgraced himself by being a submissive lapdog for Clinton-Reno at a time when we really needed him.
They act like they don't need us or want us. We should sit out a couple of elections of voting for their lesser of two evils.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
The senate (and many ex-senators) are as corrupt as the day is long.
He's retired and doesn't count anymore. We need to make our presence felt even more and totally shut people like him up!
That's OK....The left is too closely associated with the "Church of Hillary".
Dear Dan,
Bite me.
Yours Truly,
Religious Right
Or form another independent party and marginalize yourselves even further.
Karl Rove figured out that a motive base of conservative Christians is one of the keys to Republican majority. The GOP can continue following that advice and keep winning elections or listen to a RINO like Danforth, whose ideas helped the Republicans to a minority status in Congress.
Danforth is an ordained Episcopal priest. Naturally, he wouldn't understand committed Christians whose faith actually impacts their lives and votes.
Yes, he is the WACO Danforth. He wants to "honor" these marriages or unions........."honor"???????????"Honor????????What to the hell is he thinking about. He is supposed to be a minister of the gospel in addition to being a liberal republican......Honor.....that is the word the chose.
How about a scheme to get the benefits of married people without the sacrifice.
.........."he chose". mispelled. sorry.
The Danforths were the founders of Ralston Purina Company of St.Louis.
Good riddance to this sap.
There is a method, Senator. It's called "legal contract."
If two people want to share ownership of a house, leave their estates to each other in their wills, or share ownership of a car or a yacht under the laws, all they have to do is get a lawyer to write it up for them.
They can, if they choose, even decide to incorporate, and own their house or other property as a corporation.
All the rest of this nonsense about gay marriage or civil unions is nothing but a subversive effort to undermine our society and impose leftist values on everyone in the name of "tolerance."
There is a method, Senator. It's called "legal contract."
If two people want to share ownership of a house, leave their estates to each other in their wills, or share ownership of a car or a yacht under the laws, all they have to do is get a lawyer to write it up for them.
They can, if they choose, even decide to incorporate, and own their house or other property as a corporation.
All the rest of this nonsense about gay marriage or civil unions is nothing but a subversive effort to undermine our society and impose leftist values on everyone in the name of "tolerance."
BS.. It is to fleece protect the flock and act pious sincerely as one does it.
Wrong man for the wrong time for the wrong job.
And in case anyone has not noticed, John McCain is also on Whiman's board of directors of her PAC
That would be a better title for this article.
How about concern that the left (a.k.a. Democraps) are always aligned with the enemy.
No, he's an Episcopalian minister.
Isa 59:19
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
"I, as a Christian, have a right and even an obligation to do what I can to sway my government to making proper laws. Yes, proper by my definition. I hope that my definition of what is proper is also Biblical."
Republicans have won three consecutive elections under circumstances that didn't guarantee victory. What's the problem?
man in that given context and your comment, thats downright scary....
Hey Danforth:
In the immortal words of Neal Boortz:
Bite Me!
Republicans concerned that Danforth is to closely tied to the lunatic fringe of the democrat's extreme left.
OK, we heard him. Now let's hear him shut up and crawl back under his rock.
The left is pulling out all the tricks in it's bag to pry the GOP away from the religious right. Is that because the leftists think they're serving a noble cause by trying to separate government from religion? Don't be silly, they know that if the religious right ever breaks with the GOP the Democrats will take all the marbles in the following election, and then neither the GOP nor the religious right will be able to derail their collectivist/humanist agenda.
Those of us on the religious right need the GOP, but the GOP needs us even more. We won't shrivel up and die if the GOP turns it's back on us, but the GOP will never gain enough "moderate" votes by turning against us to even come close to replacing the millions of votes it would lose by alienating us. I just wish that more Republicans in Congress and the administration understood that well enough that they wouldn't ever allow it to happen.
John Danforth has never been comfortable with the 'Religious Right'. I believe he's an Episcopal minister, and those folks just aren't that preachy about morality. They are more into 'Social Justice'.
If the Republicans feel they should distance themselves from the "religious right," I need to go shopping for a party I can support. BTW, does religious right mean someone who believes in God and the ten commandments, tries hard to maintain high morals and teach them to the children, works hard, is law abiding and wishes to be a good neighbor? Because that's what religiouis right people do that I know. It's a shame Republicans find that threatening.
Sounds like Danforth's long term and his short term memory are failing him. Without the religious right, AKA. religious conservatives, Reagan wouldn't have won election and reelection. Ditto for Bush43 in 2000 and 2004.
That would be Article VIII, Holding Together Diverse Interests.
INTREP
Danforth keeps acting odder and odder all the time. Did his wife just die recently ? Fortunately he is no longer holding office so that he can embarrass himself a la McCain/Hagel, et al.
Many of us despised moderates (who voted Republican before the takeover) are also concerned that our great party is too closely aligned with the religious right.
Well, there's another party where your pro-death crowd fits in very well. Go join them. They need you.
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