Today we had a pleasant surprise: A parcel arrived, and it contained a book which instantly proved to be a real "page-turner": Max Blumenthal's bestseller "Republican Gomorrah" - subtitle: "Inside the movement that shattered the party".
In this book, Max Blumenthal "is excavating secrets about the nation’s ultra-conservatives. Showing us their text messages, exposing the psychology behind their actions, and getting behind the curtain to show us who holds the strings", according to the LA Times (Q & A with Max Blumenthal).
Just like Frank Schaeffer's "Crazy for God", which also proved to be a truly gripping read, Max Blumenthal's observations and his fearless analysis are invaluable in order to understand the history and the background of the ultra right-wing, evangelical movement which exerts such an "unholy influence" on the GOP today.
Sarah Palin certainly has to be seen as a part of this "unholy" group. Although she never seemed to be very keen to talk about her religion after having been thrown in the spotlight in August 2008, she had been a member of the Pentecostal Wasilla Assembly of God for about 25 years, after having been re-baptised there with her whole family at the age of 12. We can safely assume that this radical church, to which Sarah Palin still keeps contact, played in important part in shaping her religious views.
Max Blumenthal made a very revealing video about the Wasilla Assembly of God in 2008, including secretly filmed footage during an appearance of "witchhunter" Thomas Muthee - who in 2005 prayed over Sarah Palin explicitly in order to give her spiritual support for her aim to become Governor. As I had shown in my compilation titled "Sarah Palin: Witchcraft and War", Sarah Palin made it clear in a later appearance at the Wasilla Assembly of God that she believed that the prayers of Thomas Muthee secured her the governorship.
It is necessary to learn more about the background of this right-wing movement with their core issues such as abortion and homosexuality. There can be no doubt that Sarah Palin's nomination as the Republican VP-candidate for example with her extremely strict views on abortion rights pleased this group.
Max Blumenthal writes in "Republican Gomorrah" (pp. 285, 286):
"During a June radio broadcast, James Dobson presented McCain with a stark decision: Pick an anti-abortion politician or lose movement support as Bob Dole had in 1996. 'I am not endorsing Senator Mccain today,' Dobson said . ' I don't know who his vice presidential candidate would be. He might even chose a pro-abortion candidate, and it would not be unlike him to do that because he seems to enjoy frustrating conservatives on that account. ... While I'm not endorsing John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.'
Once again, the maverick buckled. McCain's choices were reduced to Mitt Romney, a favourite of the Bush family, and Karl Rove whom he personally disliked; Florida governor Charlie Crist, an uncharistmatic lifelong bachelor who suddenly became engaged to a woman after his name appeared on McCain's VP shortlist; Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a competent establishment dullard; and the glamorous Sarah Palin. In the end, McCain and his advisors made what they believed to be the 'maverick' decision, selecting the woman. But their haphazard vetting of the Alaska Governor failed to cover her large family, which turned out to contain enough intrigue for a season's worth of Jerry Springer Show episodes."
Max Blumenthal goes on to remark that McCain's choice of running mate prompted James Dobson to endorse his campaign - and the reason was a baby born with Down Syndrome:
He explains that James Dobson wrote Sarah Palin a letter congratulating her for having what he called "that little Downs Syndrome baby." "What a way to emphasise your pro-life leanings there," Dobson declared on a September 2 radio broadcast. Finally, Dobson announced that he was reversing his vow to oppose McCain. Max Blumenthal states:
"McCain had suffered torture in a North Vietnamese prison camp and given over thirty years of his life to public service, but he earned James Dobson's vote only for selecting a running mate who decided not to abort her disabled child." (p. 287)
In fact, the truth is likely to be even worse. We believe that what Max Blumenthal has missed in his book is the fact that Sarah Palin claimed that the child was her own in order to boost her pro-life credentials.
Confirmation for this impression can be found in an interview which James Dobson conducted with Sarah Palin on October 22, 2008. Sarah Palin said in her classic "holier-than-thou" fashion:
"I've always had near and dear to my heart the mission of protecting the sanctity of life and being pro-life, a hardcore pro-lifer, but I think this opportunity for me to really be walking the walk and not just talking the talk. There's purpose in this also for a greater good to be met. I feel so privileged and blessed to have been, I guess, chosen to have Trig enter our lives because I do want it to help us in our cause here in allowing America to be a more welcoming nation for all of our children."
Therefore I hope that you will take the time to listen to this excellent speech by Max Blumenthal, in which he also talks about Sarah Palin and his experiences in the Wasilla Assembly of God:
Alternatively, another speech by Max Blumenthal about "Republican Gomorrah" can be viewed on flora.tv here.
Please click on the title of the blogpost or CLICK HERE before using the toolbar below for sharing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)