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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 2:46 PM
Subject: AANEWS for Friday, March 12, 1999
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for March 12, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
AANEWS
#539 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3/12/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
---------------------------------------------
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"For Reason and the First Amendment"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* Christian Coalition wants $21 million, 15 million voters
* "God Hates Fags" to picket Galveston gay hotel opening
* Lost Atheist history -- the trial of C.B.Reynolds
* Atheist Viewpoint now on the web!
* Resources
* About this list...
ROBERTSON UNVEILS $21 MILLION CHRISTIAN COALITION PLAN
TARGETING YEAR 2000 ELECTIONS
Can money buy everything?
Pat Robertson seems to be hoping that it can, including the kind of
political muscle and organization to deliver Christian activists a
winning hand in the 2000 national elections. At a Washington, DC
press conference yesterday, Christian Coalition founder Robertson
unveiled his organization's latest program which includes raising a
record $21 million to finance the effort.
"We are launching, effective today, the most massive effort to
mobilize the grass roots in our history," Robertson gushed to a
gathering of reporters at the Ronald Reagan Building and International
Trade Center near the White House. He described the new program as
"the largest voter education effort in the history of the
organization, and possibly in the history of grassroots politics."
The latest Christian Coalition program comes amidst reports that the
organization is reeling from a spate of resignations involving key
personnel, and a more widespread disenchantment with the political
process which is percolating through the ranks of the religious right.
When queried by reporters, the avuncular Robertson dismissed concerns
over the resignations of key Coalition officials and operatives. In
recent months, the group has lost its president, director of national
operations and press secretary. Robertson said that the turnover was
"no big deal."
"This organization will continue to be a permanent fixture on the
American scene," Robertson added.
The 2000 elections push comes within days of the latest departure of
key official from the Coalition, including national field director
Dave Welch and operations director Chuck Cunningham. In recent
months, the group has also lost chief executive Donald Hodel.
Contradicting reports that Hodel, a former cabinet member during the
Ronald Reagan administration, had left for financial reasons, the
Washington Times newspaper said that he had resigned "over ongoing
policy disputes with Mr. Robertson..."
Another interesting development concerns Ralph Reed, the polished boy-
wonder who took over the organization in 1989 at Robertson's behest
and quickly transformed it into a major player on the American
political landscape. Reed left the Coalition to form his own
political consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia, but remained on the
organization's board of directors. He was replaced by a two-man team
which consisted of Don Hodel and the Christian Coalition's present
executive director, Randy Tate. With Hodel's departure, though,
founder Robertson stepped in to fill the post of President. According
to the Times, Reed resigned last fall from the CC board.
The Times also reports that State Christian Coalition heads are
contemplating resignation or disaffiliating from the national group.
Winnie Spence, a Republican operative with years of experience in the
Delaware House and state Senate, has resigned as Delaware CC director.
"The California coalition executive director is another state leader
who has resigned," notes the Times. "Still others are contemplating
resignation..."
None of this has prevented Robertson, though, from setting an
ambitious goal for the next 21 months. It includes:
* Distribution of 75 million voters guides in the 2000 election.
That's an increase of 19 million over than the number the Coalition
pumped out in 1996. The guides which purport to show candidates'
positions on issues like school prayer, vouchers, and abortion have
come under attack from critics who say that they are simplistic, often
misrepresent a candidate's real stand, and are distributed within days
of balloting so that candidates are often unable to respond. Still,
the guides have proven to be a lethal political weapon wielded by the
Christian Coalition network of over 125,000 participating
congregations across the nation.
* Underwrite a "tenfold expansion" in the group's political field
staff, especially in key states. Robertson told reporters that his
group will put extra resources into the presidential and other races
in five swing states: New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and
Illinois.
* Train 1.5 million field volunteers "to mobilize evangelical voters,"
according to the Virginia-Pilot newspaper.
* "Energize" a political base of 15 million fundamentalist and
evangelical Christians to trek to the polls in 2000, and follow the
Coalition line in choosing candidates and referendum issues.
How is this lofty objective to be financed? Robertson proposes to
have 500,000 of the 1.9 million claimed CC members contribute $10-$20
each month until the November, 2000 elections. That should raise at
least $21 million. Executive Director Randy Tate claimed at
yesterday's press gathering that a trial mailing to 50,000 supporters
had produced gratifying results.
Still A Player
The shift inside of Christian Coalition reflects Robertson's own
determination to remain a key player inside of Republican Party
politics, even if means parting companies with other religious right
groups that have grown increasingly disenchanted with the electoral
system. Case in point: a letter circulated last month by Paul Weyrich
of the Free Congress Foundation, which calls upon social and religious
conservatives to abandon their roll of political activism in favor a
strategy of "seceding" from the wider culture. Weyrich declared that
trying to restore a sense of national morality in light of the
impeachment acquittal of President Clinton has failed. He recommended
instead a focus on building "parallel" organizations such as home
schools, religious radio outlets and more churches. A similar "death
of politics" message was made by James Dobson, head of Focus on the
Family, who in speeches to key groups like the Council for National
Policy. has expressed his disapproval with the give-and-take of the
political arena.
Robertson attempted to counter these doom-and-gloom messages, though,
saying that the 2000 elections were too important for Christian
evangelicals to dismiss. He reminded his audience that the next
president could be in a position to appoint three justices to the US
Supreme Court, and up to 180 federal judges. Robertson also predicted
that the mood of voters regarding the Clinton administration would
change. "The American people are going to turn on those (members of
Congress) who let him go scot-free." He added that outrage over
Clinton would also focus on the expected presidential candidacy of Al
Gore.
His Pick of 2000 GOP Contenders...
As for the Republican Party, the question is how much of a role
Robertson and Christian Coalition will play when the GOP huddles next
year in Philadelphia for its convention. Nearly every candidate
running is an ideological ally of Robertson, and would receive high
marks on Christian Coalition voters guides. Robertson had "kind
words," according to the Virginia-Pilot newspaper for early GOP
front-runners, including Texas Gov. George W.Bush who has annoyed
some conservatives with his remarks on abortion. Declaring that
abortion was not going to be abolished soon in the United States
because of Roe v. Wade, Bush has promoted a brand of pragmatic
conservatism that appeals to many party faithful. Hard core religious
right activists aren't as assured, though, and within the Christian
Coalition sentiment seems to favor Steve Forbes, Dan Quayle and
others. Robertson nevertheless defended the governor as "profoundly
on the pro-life side," and also praised Elizabeth Dole. Addressing
those tempted by the secessionist call of Weyrich and others,
Robertson declared, "People must understand that a party platform is
not the creedal position of a church. There has to be give and take
... We are not talking about sin and salvation here. We must be
realists."
Premature Reports of CC Demise?
Since helping the Republicans capture both ends of Capitol Hill in
1994, the "death" or implosion of the Christian Coalition has often
been anticipated. Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation
of Church and State told the Virginia-Pilot that Robertson's group was
in "a critical time," adding "The question is whether the Christian
Coalition will catch its breath or collapse. I believe they will
collapse..." Reporter Dan Balz, writing in today's edition of the
Washington Post, spoke of how "staff turnover and organizational
changes could frustrate the group's ability to meet it goals." And a
GOP strategist, noting the changes within the Coalition staff,
compared Robertson's organization to the Chicago Bulls after the
retirement of superstar Michael Jordan. Robertson's predictions were
"like the current coach of the Bulls saying we're going to repeat
again..."
We consider all of these observations flawed; they ignore the crucial
fact of Robertson's enormous wealth and ability to simply purchase
whatever political resources he requires. There are several
indications that Robertson, if he chose to, could meet the $21 million
warchest requirement -- and more -- by literally writing out a
personal check.
* Robertson's personal fortune is considerable. In 1997, he spun off
his International Family Entertainment, Inc., the company that
operated the highly successful Family Channel, in a multi-hundred
million dollar deal with Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch. We
estimated that the windfall for Robertson, his son Timothy, and
various proprietary entities he controlled (including Regent
University and Christian Broadcasting Network) to be somewhere between
$250 million and $400 million. Simply put, the sale of IFE, Inc. to
Murdoch's cash-bloated NewsCorp was a stroke of financial genius,
displaying Robertson's uncanny ability in mastering the "art of the
deal."
* Robertson has recently struck a lucrative deal with the Bank of
Scotland to establish a branchless, "virtual" banking system in the
US. Transactions would be handled by phone or the internet. Despite
his antediluvian religious ideology, Robertson has often been ahead of
the technology curve; his CBN operation is an example. In addition,
Robertson is now on the board of directors of the troubled Laura
Ashley company; his arrival coincided with a cash transfusion in the
form of stock purchase from Malayan Unified Industries, MUI. That
same company is in business with Robertson and the powerful Riady
family of Indonesia (Lippo Group) in operating China Entertainment
Broadcast Television, Inc. which pumps out "no news, no sex, no
violence" throughout Asia and even into the Peoples Republic of China.
The lesson from this is that Robertson has "deep pockets" and access
to plenty of money. Either or both of these operations can make
Robertson millions of dollars is disposable income to spend on
political organizing.
* The Coalition has become adept at exaggerating its role and painting
defeats as victories. In the 1996 election, for instance, despite
whipping Christian conservatives into the unsuccessful effort to back
Sen. Robert Dole for the White House, the Coalition announced that
because of its efforts it had prevented a "Republican meltdown."
* No significant movement within the Republican Party seems capable of
dethroning religious conservatives from their positions of influence.
Abortion rights has indeed become a litmus test for political
correctness, one which any moderates such as N.J. Governor Christine
Whitman are simply unable to pass. Yesterday, New York Gov. George
Pataki told a newspaper that the GOP should remove the antiabortion
plank from the party platform. "A plank that says we have to all
believe or act one way or the other is inappropriate... Yes, I would
take it out,"declared Pataki.
The plank in question says, "The unborn child has a fundamental
individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It calls for
passage of a Human Life Amendment to ban all abortion.
Efforts to even discuss the possibility of removing the plank, though,
have in the past elicited threats and retaliation from Christian
Coalition. We predict that the plank will remain in the GOP platform;
simply put, if it is removed, too many of the party's religious right
activists would bolt in favor of a third-party effort, one that could
be catastrophic for Republicans in the short run.
Thus, we see Pat Robertson as capable of buying whatever expertise and
other resources he needs for the 2000 election. The Christian
Coalition remains the 900-pound gorilla on the religious right, a fact
which even Paul Weyrich and James Dobson must acknowledge. Some
Christian evangelicals and fundamentalists may opt for Weyrich's
"secession" calls, but most likely will stay in the system, and active
in electoral politics. They still comprise the backbone of Republican
precinct workers. And they will still follow the person who has the
money and organization -- Pat Robertson and his Christian Coalition.
**
''GOD HATES FAGS" MINISTRY ENTERS GALVESTON FLAP
OVER GAY VACATION HOTEL
When Sherman Houck and Bob Wilkins began renovating an old Galveston,
Texas hotel last June, they probably didn't think they would be at the
center of media and cultural controversy. The men had decided to
rehabilitate the 21-room Silver Sands hotel on Seawall Boulevard, and
target an upscale homosexual cliental. Similar inns can be found on
fashionable South Padres Island and in Houston. Wilkins told the
Galveston County Daily News, "I think our target market is couples who
have been together for several years," adding "They have the same
interests as straight couples, and mortgages, and car payments ...
and pets and children in some cases." The new owners of the property
had hoped to open this month, and christened their new operation
Hollywood at Galveston.
But the hotel project has instead generated a growing firestorm of
controversy in Galveston, which could suddenly take on a national
dimension. A local Baptist preacher, Rev. Ken Barber of the
Galveston Grace Baptist Church, has been organizing protests of the
project, and describes the potential clientele as "child molesters."
In editorial and letters, Barber urges the community to "stand against
the evil tide of gays," and admonishes readers that "God made Adam and
Eve, not Adam and Steve."
"If you knew anything at all about that (homosexual) lifestyle and the
utter depravity of those who practice it, you would be utterly
appalled at the idea that anyone would even think of adopting a child
to these perverts, let alone defend it," Barber declared. He adds
that "sodomy is not only an abomination to God, but it is also against
state law," and criticizes the chief of police, city council and
others for "conspiring to break state laws..." As for a local City
Councilman named David Bowers, he's a "sodomite, self-confessed" who
is unfit to hold public offers.
Rev. Barber's tirades against gays and lesbians have prompted a
steady stream of letters-to-the-editor, most of it critical. "I would
let (City Councilman) David Bowers take care of my kids any day,"
declared one Galveston woman, "but I would not let Barber within 100
feet of them." Another described Rev. Barber's comments as
"hate-filled" and "one of the most frightening things I've ever read."
Rev. Barber has scheduled his first protest for April 9, and has
reportedly contacted ministers in Galveston looking for support. He
admits that "A lot of the preachers think I'm too radical," and a
result few appear to have even returned Barber's phone calls.
Enter Rev. Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps
But today, it was announced that Rev. Barber has found at least one
ally in his protest of the Hollywood at Galveston hotel protest. Rev.
Fred Phelps, a Kansas religious activist and head of the Westboro
Baptist Church in Topeka, says that his organization will be joining
Rev. Barber on April 9. Phelps and his "picketing ministry" have
attracted national attention, especially since the official slogan of
his church is "God Hates Fags." The involvement of the Kansas group
threatens to fuel Barber's crusade.
Phelps is so extreme that even Religion News Service noted last year
that his "God Hates Fags" ministry "has become a darling of the
secular media and an embarrassment to most Christians." Indeed,
Phelps has attracted media attention with coverage on 20/20, Eye on
America, Hard Copy and other programs. Phelps even put in an
appearance on the Jerry Springer Show..
The 70 year old Phelps preaches that homosexuality is a notion which
is universally condemned throughout scriptures. Westboro Baptist
Church's "God Hates Fags" web site (www.godhatesfags.com) abounds with
biblical quotes such as Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with
mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination." A picture of
hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard links to a page which counts the
number of days the 21 year old Shepard has supposedly burned in hell
because of his homosexuality, following his beating-death. Another
icon shows the "no" or slash sign over a silhouette of two men engaged
in anal sex with the admonition, "No male bonding" and "Repent or
Perish -- Luke 13:3. The site also includes "Matthew Shepard's
Message From Hell, and an faq section outlining why the church group
detests gays.
Phelps and his group -- usually about two-dozen followers -- have been
conducting their aggressive "ministry of public religious pickets"
since 1991. Targets have included gay rights parades and even other
churches -- most of which Phelps describes as "fag churches." In
1997, the United States Supreme Court upheld a restraining order
obtained by an Episcopal congregation against Phelps and his
"religious pickets." The "God Hates Fags" ministry had been publicly
criticized by the leadership of St. David's Episcopal Church in
Topeka, Kansas, and soon Phelps and supporters were outside picketing.
The Episcopalians countered in court arguing that the Westboro
Baptists were interfering with religious services, and obtained a
restraining order. That action was upheld by a state trial judge, the
Kansas Supreme Court and eventually the US Supreme Court.
American Atheists confronted Phelps in October, 1997 when the "God
Hates Fags" street ministry rolled into Provincetown, Mass. Phelps
was protesting an anti-bias program in the local schools which he said
promoted a homosexual lifestyle.
According to today's Galveston Daily News, Phelps was evasive in
revealing how he had learned about the controversy there surrounding
the proposed gay hotel. He admitted that he had learned of the hotel
opening "from another Baptist minister during a recent layover in
Birmingham, Ala," but did not recall the name and "did not believe it
was Ken Barber, pastor of Grace Baptist Church." A lurid press
release which included pictures of devils and a sign reading "Fag
Billy Jack in Hell" -- a reference to another homosexual murder -- was
included in today's newspaper story.
>From a literalist biblical perspective, Phelps is probably correct in
his theological contention that "god hates fags." Homosexuality is
only one of the many behaviors condemned in the "good book." While
many modernist Christians are appalled by his vitriolic rhetoric and
hate-filled agenda, Phelps justified his tactics saying that they are
intended to frighten people into avoiding sin. Phelps may also be
saying what many hard-shell religionists already believe about gay
people, but express in a less direct manner. For instance, Councilman
Bowers, writing in his own opinion column, cited the case of the Texas
legislature that is now considering a bill that would force children
into state orphanages than allow them to be adopted by qualified and
loving gays or lesbians. "This litmus test issue by the fringe groups
is intended to be a wedge issue to test how 'conservative' a
politician is going to be..." writes Bowers.
**
LOST ATHEIST HISTORY -- THE TRIAL OF C.B. REYNOLDS, AND THE
LAST "BLASPHEMY" PROSECUTION IN AMERICA
At next month's American Atheist Convention, veteran stage actor and
director William Boyd Francis will be performing Robert Ingersoll's
stirring address in one of the most significant -- and largely
forgotten -- trials in our nation's history. This was the infamous
prosecution of Atheist speaker C.B. Reynolds on a charge of
"blasphemy," the last time that anyone was taken to court on such an
accusation. The trial took place in May, 1887; Reynolds was defended
by Robert Ingersoll, "the Great Agnostic." Despite his reputation as
an orator on behalf of intellectual freedom and religious skepticism,
it was the only time in his career that Ingersoll, a trained lawyer,
became involved in a First Amendment case. His "Speech to the Jury in
the Trial of C.B. Reynolds" is considered by many to be his finest
oration.
William Boyd Francis will recreate this historic event as he
impersonates Ingersoll and delivers this inspiring talk.
The history behind the C.B. Reynolds's trial was largely forgotten,
until American Atheist Magazine ran a three part series beginning with
the October, 1986 issue. This included primary source material from
the old "Truth Seeker," which at that time was "A Journal of
Freethought and Reform" published by the American Secular Union, and
other publications such as The Beverly Banner and New York Sun.
Today, there is very little if any mention of Ingersoll, Reynolds or
the blasphemy trial in histories of the region.
We are pleased to announce that the entire three-part series on the
C.B. Reynolds trial, "BLASPHEMY!" is now available on the American
Atheists web site. Visit:
http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/
In addition to his performance as Robert Ingersoll, William Boyd
Francis will also be signing copies of a special printed compendium of
"BLASHPHEMY!" which is being printed by American Atheists Press to
commemorate this historic event, and its recreation. We are also
seeking permission at this time to have Mr. Francis's performance take
place in the actual courthouse in Morristown, New Jersey where the
Reynolds trial occurred on May 19, 1887.
For more information about the upcoming American Atheists convention,
visit http://www.atheists.org/convention99.html
**
THE ATHEIST VIEWPOINT -- NOW, SEE IT ON LINE!
"The Atheist Viewpoint," American Atheists' weekly half-hour
television program is now on the American Atheist website. Go right
to the Visitor's Center and click on the title you want. NOW PLAYING:
"Son Of Sam - Christian Role Model." Find out how a convicted,
psychopathic murderer from New York City is now Jesus' favorite
boytoy.
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
* For information about American Atheists, send mail to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include your name and postal mailing
address.
* For a free catalogue of American Atheist Press books, videos and
other products, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kindly include
your postal mailing address.
* The American Atheist Magazine is now on the web! Check out select
articles from the current or back issues, as well as special web-only
features. Visit us at http://www.americanatheists.org
* If you are a current member of American Atheists, sign up for our
e-mail discussion group, aachat. We have over 120 participants who
discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First Amendment issues and
lots more! Contact Margie Wait, the Moderator, through
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