Will Green Evangelicals Make Rove See Red?

The unholy union between the neo-cons and the religious right has been a profitable one, what with taking over all three branches of government and all, but there are some cracks developing and we on the left should help turn those cracks into gaping chasms.

There is new movement within the evangelical community toward acceptance and action on the crisis of global warming.

Suzanne Goldenberg in WashingtonThursday February 9, 2006
The Guardian

"Whether you believe the Earth began 4,000 years ago, or 4bn years ago, you are still concerned with the consequences of global warming, especially for the poor," said Leith Anderson, pastor of a "mega-church" in Minneapolis, and former president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Eighty-six influential evangelists yesterday endorsed an environmental action plan that calls on the Bush administration to impose mandatory limits on the fossil fuel emissions that scientists blame for warmer temperatures.

The initiative marks a rare challenge to President George Bush from one of his most loyal constituencies: his fellow Christians. Mr Bush, a former Texas oil man, has refused to acknowledge the dangers caused by burning fossil fuels, and his administration has repeatedly been accused of stifling scientific evidence on the issue of climate change.


Of course the big names in religious pandering are staying far away from this one. James Dobson and Pat Robertson will continue to support bad policy regardless of the consequences to people of faith or the rest of the world. I’m an atheist and I show more respect for God than either Dobson or Robertson, they are political hacks driven by greed and political ambitions, God is only the vehicle they use to get them to their pot of gold.

Perhaps there is hope yet for the sleepwalking masses and maybe, just maybe, some of them are growing tired of having their God peddled as a Bush crony. This would constitute Karl Rove’s worst nightmare and we should help facilitate any split within the ranks. If some of them are willing to stand up for the Earth now, it may not be long before they are willing to take a stand against mean spirited Conservative driven reverse Robin Hood economic policies and pre-emptive military strikes against sovereign nations that pose no threat to us.

For those who are making a move in our direction, we should throw open the door and welcome them with open arms. Evangelicals are the reason most cited for Bush’s two election wins, split that group down the middle and Republicans lose their foot soldiers and the neo-cons will have to find another bunch of dupes to help them achieve their aims. And as appealing as the neo-cons are to the average working stiff, they will have a hard time filling the Evangelicals’ shoes.