The GOP's Love Affair With Hate

Today's Republican Party is largely motivated by hate, thanks to the hijacking of the party by Christofascists and their thinly disguised cousins in the Tea Party. the mast majority of whom likewise identify as "conservative Christians."  And the list of those who are hated is long: gays, of course, Muslims, blacks, the foreign born, the poor, etc., etc.  This love affair with hatred towards others is daily demonstrated by the manner in which Republican elected officials pander and "kiss the ring" of hate groups.   Here in Virginia, The Family Foundation virtually dictates GOP policy and determines what legislation should be enacted.  Nationwide, groups like the American Family Association and Family Research Council are among the leading hate groups the GOP seeks to please.   A recent example is Bobby Jindal, a Hindu by birth, who was key note speaker at a AFA gathering.   Always willing to prostitute himself, Jindal, now a Christian, said to the gathered haters that "Our God wins" and drew a round of applause.  But Jindal is far from alone in his self-prostitution.  A piece in The Daily Beast looks at the larger GOP phenomenon after skewering Jindal.  Here are highlights:

“Our God wins!” Who do you think made this statement on Saturday in the hopes of rallying a group of religious fundamentalists? A. The leader of ISIS; B. A Yemeni militant commander; C. A radical Islamic cleric; or D. Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby Jindal.

The correct answer is Jindal. He made the "our God wins" statement as the keynote speaker at an event sponsored by the conservative Christian organization, the American Family Association. (AFA.) Now, Jindal’s “our God wins” is a more impressive boast than you might first realize. Jindal, who is now a Christian, was raised a Hindu, a faith that features literally millions of Gods. So for Jindal’s new God to win, he is surely fully aware that it has to beat throngs of Hindu Gods.

[F]or those unfamiliar with the AFA, here’s a primer. They are a hate group. It’s really that simple. And that’s not just my opinion, but the view of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which named the AFA a hate group for its vicious anti-gay statements over the years.

As the SPLC’s Mark Potok has noted, in recent years the AFA also added Muslim bashing to its repertoire of hate. Apparently if you ask the leaders of the AFA, “What would Jesus do?” they would respond: demonize gays and Muslims.

The AFA, however, can’t simply be ignored. . . . . it boasts 500,000-plus members and employees more than 100 people. It also operates its own popular radio network featuring Bryan Fischer, a man who is hateful as he is compelling to listen to on the radio.

Republican candidates for president have long visited Fischer's show and teamed up with AFA in the hopes of attracting its followers. And not just the likes of Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry, but also more moderate candidates like former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty who went on Fischer's radio program during his failed 2012 bid for president.

[H]ere’s a sample of the AFA’s views so you can understand what they are all about.

Gays are to blame for The Holocaust: “Homosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine and six million dead Jews.” –May 27, 2010, Fischer’s blog.
God will use ISIS to punish America for gay rights: "God will use the pagan armies of Allah to discipline the United States for our debauchery." August 22, 2014, Fischer’s radio show.
Freedom of religion is for Christians only: “I have contended for years that the First Amendment, as given by the Founders, provides religious liberty protections for Christianity only. “ August 1, 2014 article by Fischer.
The Charlie Hebdo attack was God's punishment for the magazine's blasphemy: "They made a career out of taking the name of God, the God of the Bible, the father of the Lord Jesus” which was in violation of the commandment "you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." January 9, 2015, Fischer radio show.Immigrants to the United States must convert to Christianity: Our immigration policy should be, “convert to Christianity, fully assimilate (become an authentic American, not a hyphenated American), and support yourself. If you commit to those things, you are welcome here.”  April 9, 2011, Fischer Blog.

And the list goes on and on.  Yet Jindal and other Republicans have no problem being the keynote speakers at their event and appearing on the AFA radio program.

If Republican candidates want the support of groups like the AFA, both the general public and the AFA’s followers deserve to know which issues they agree upon and which ones they don’t.  Isn’t it time that the media started asking those questions?

 What the author suggests is responsible journalism.  Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.  Sadly, most f the mainstream media NEVER asks such questions and instead merely parrots GOP talking points, giving the haters a pass.