Inside the Beltway
This is an article I wrote after attending the Christian Coalition "Road to Victory: 2004" conference in DC
Washington, DC-
“John Kerry for President.”
“I voted for Kerry before I voted against him.”
“BUSH ’04: 4 more wars!”
“Bush/Cheney ’04.”
“Re-defeat Bush.”
“Kerry is scary.”
Bumper stickers, hundreds of them. They marked the backs of a quarter or a third of the cars driving into DC Friday morning. The District’s political saturation has come to a boiling point with the impending election. With all the shapes, sizes, and tones, the stickers fell into two distinct categories: Bush or Kerry. The highway was shared by two camps, two opposing teams awaiting the final show down.
This morning a part of the city played host to the conference of the Christian Coalition which attracted several prominent figures of the far right. Each speaker brought a different perspective and championed a different issue. All in all they spread out the fabric of American conservatism going into the election.
The Road to Victory 2004 conference featured training seminars instructing attendees in methods of grassroots political activism, strategy sessions focusing on the most pressing current issues and pending legislation, a Friday night gala dinner at the Washington Renaissance Hotel, and a session all day Friday in the Dirksen Senate Office Building were several elected officials and political activists spoke.
“Instead of having elected officials come to us as we have in the past, we decided to come to them, to come to their house,” said Robert Combs, President of the Christian Coalition.
In 1979 Rev. Jerry Falwell formed the Moral Majority, a grassroots political action group that rose out of the conservative evangelical community. For decades before this, fundamentalist Christians shied away from politics. The reversal of momentum was powerful; the group is largely credited with both of Ronald Reagan’s victories and must have contributed to the election of George Bush in 1988. The group was dissolved in 1989 and its mission was carried on by the Christian Coalition, its largest offspring founded that same year. The Coalition’s stated goal is to promote a “pro-family agenda.”
“It’s worth the fight to save the foundations of the American family,” said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) who spoke Friday. The primary legislative thrust of the pro-family agenda is currently the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), which would add to the Constitution the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The FMA went before the House on Thursday
“John Kerry for President.”
“I voted for Kerry before I voted against him.”
“BUSH ’04: 4 more wars!”
“Bush/Cheney ’04.”
“Re-defeat Bush.”
“Kerry is scary.”
Bumper stickers, hundreds of them. They marked the backs of a quarter or a third of the cars driving into DC Friday morning. The District’s political saturation has come to a boiling point with the impending election. With all the shapes, sizes, and tones, the stickers fell into two distinct categories: Bush or Kerry. The highway was shared by two camps, two opposing teams awaiting the final show down.
This morning a part of the city played host to the conference of the Christian Coalition which attracted several prominent figures of the far right. Each speaker brought a different perspective and championed a different issue. All in all they spread out the fabric of American conservatism going into the election.
The Road to Victory 2004 conference featured training seminars instructing attendees in methods of grassroots political activism, strategy sessions focusing on the most pressing current issues and pending legislation, a Friday night gala dinner at the Washington Renaissance Hotel, and a session all day Friday in the Dirksen Senate Office Building were several elected officials and political activists spoke.
“Instead of having elected officials come to us as we have in the past, we decided to come to them, to come to their house,” said Robert Combs, President of the Christian Coalition.
In 1979 Rev. Jerry Falwell formed the Moral Majority, a grassroots political action group that rose out of the conservative evangelical community. For decades before this, fundamentalist Christians shied away from politics. The reversal of momentum was powerful; the group is largely credited with both of Ronald Reagan’s victories and must have contributed to the election of George Bush in 1988. The group was dissolved in 1989 and its mission was carried on by the Christian Coalition, its largest offspring founded that same year. The Coalition’s stated goal is to promote a “pro-family agenda.”
“It’s worth the fight to save the foundations of the American family,” said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) who spoke Friday. The primary legislative thrust of the pro-family agenda is currently the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), which would add to the Constitution the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The FMA went before the House on Thursday
“There is a very distinctive role for a man and a woman in the life of a child,” said Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), sponsor of the FMA. The main reason for FMA is the attempts of several states and courts to legalize same-sex marriage, specifically Massachusetts, California, and Oregon. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender groups have called the bill an attack on their basic human rights.
“We are attacking no one, we are defending the basics institution of marriage,” said Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who described the importance of tradition marriage to our national wellbeing. “It is the glue that holds this society together.”
Several speakers criticized the courts for forcing the need for a constitutional amendment and accused judges of trying to rewrite the law.
“There is only one branch of government supposed to be making law, the legislature,” said Rep. Musgrave.
“Aside from terrorism, one of the greatest threats to our country in activist judges,” said Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act of 2004 which excludes federal courts from ruling on the “under God” clause.
“Judicial activism destroys the people’s right to govern themselves,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Judges are changing the laws that the people and their representatives have chosen,” said Sen. Hatch who denounced the Democrat’s blocking of confirmation proceeding on current judicial nominee and their use of Roe vs. Wade as a litmus test.
“A candidate’s position on Roe vs. Wade is a candidate’s position on what kind of government we have,”” said Father Pavone, head the Catholic pro-life group of Priests for Life, who called abortion a horrible crime that undermines our system of government.
“It’s an illusion to think that a politician who cannot respect the life of a little baby can respect yours or mine,” said Father Pavone. “A holder of public office who turns his back to an entire segment of the population who is being destroyed does not deserve to hold public office.”
“We can elect a pro-family, pro-life president or we can elect a man who voted against the partial birth abortion ban,” said Speaker Hastert. The differences between George Bush and John Kerry were a common thread throughout the day. The election loomed large over each issue.
“This is a year of big stakes,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). “You know there is a war in Iraq, well there is a war going on here too.”
“We hear all the time ‘this is the most important election in American history.’ Well this one is,” said Sen. Hatch.
The speakers demonstrated overwhelming support for President Bush, who has maintained a close relationship with the religious right and has been widely described as a man of faith.
“I’ve met President Bush on many occasions,” said Armstrong Williams. “Bush is a decent man. It’s not because he’s Republican or Democrat. Let’s not kid ourselves. It is what you believe in.”
“I’m going to predict for you: we will be at the polls like never before. I have never been so optimistic about this country,” said Rev. Jerry Falwell, whose “get out the vote” efforts spawned the Christian Coalition and like organizations. “There is a spiritual awakening; I cannot tell you how explosive it is.”
Rev. Falwell did, however, warn that the support of the religious right was contingent upon the Republican Party continuing to uphold conservative values.
“We don’t tell people to vote Republican or Democrat; we tell them to vote Christian. Christian is simple, it’s a buzz word. It means pro-life, pro-family, pro-morals, and a strong national defense,” warned Rev. Falwell. “The Republican Party does not have the head count to elect a president without the religious right.”
But Rev. Falwell placed his support behind the campaign of President Bush and pledged the efforts of his grassroots activists.
“We’re going to win in a landslide in November, but let’s play the game like we’re a point down. Let’s not get cocky,” Rev. Falwell said.
“I am encouraged by the grassroots efforts of people across the country,” said Dr. Michael Ferris, veteran political activist and President of Patrick Henry College. Dr. Ferris spoke on the need for conservatives to focus on education.
“People who receive an elite education disproportionately become the leaders of the nation,” said Dr. Ferris, decrying the liberal hold on education. He described the need for conservative interest in education and called for the creation of a “Christian Ivy League,” which he believes his college is at the heart of.
At 4 o’clock the session adjourned and the attendees headed back to the Renaissance Hotel for the “Faith and Freedom Gala.”
“I don’t care what your background is, there are families everywhere who’d want their children to be able to start the school day out with a prayer,” said Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), the keynote speaker. “What we have in common is the family. We’ve got some brothers and sister in the Islamic world who want the same thing for their families as you want for yours.”
Sen. Graham was followed by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) who spoke on the role of faith in government and John Fund, an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal, who spoke on the need to eliminate voter fraud and warned that “Election Day could turn into Election Month again.”
Mr. Fund concluded his remarks and a praise chorus took the stage. Some people left while others clapped and cheered as the ballroom became more like a prayer meeting than a political gala. To those who remained, Roberta Combs gave these concluding remarks:
“It’s a continuous fight and it’s a continuous sacrifice to move forward.”
“We are attacking no one, we are defending the basics institution of marriage,” said Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who described the importance of tradition marriage to our national wellbeing. “It is the glue that holds this society together.”
Several speakers criticized the courts for forcing the need for a constitutional amendment and accused judges of trying to rewrite the law.
“There is only one branch of government supposed to be making law, the legislature,” said Rep. Musgrave.
“Aside from terrorism, one of the greatest threats to our country in activist judges,” said Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act of 2004 which excludes federal courts from ruling on the “under God” clause.
“Judicial activism destroys the people’s right to govern themselves,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Judges are changing the laws that the people and their representatives have chosen,” said Sen. Hatch who denounced the Democrat’s blocking of confirmation proceeding on current judicial nominee and their use of Roe vs. Wade as a litmus test.
“A candidate’s position on Roe vs. Wade is a candidate’s position on what kind of government we have,”” said Father Pavone, head the Catholic pro-life group of Priests for Life, who called abortion a horrible crime that undermines our system of government.
“It’s an illusion to think that a politician who cannot respect the life of a little baby can respect yours or mine,” said Father Pavone. “A holder of public office who turns his back to an entire segment of the population who is being destroyed does not deserve to hold public office.”
“We can elect a pro-family, pro-life president or we can elect a man who voted against the partial birth abortion ban,” said Speaker Hastert. The differences between George Bush and John Kerry were a common thread throughout the day. The election loomed large over each issue.
“This is a year of big stakes,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). “You know there is a war in Iraq, well there is a war going on here too.”
“We hear all the time ‘this is the most important election in American history.’ Well this one is,” said Sen. Hatch.
The speakers demonstrated overwhelming support for President Bush, who has maintained a close relationship with the religious right and has been widely described as a man of faith.
“I’ve met President Bush on many occasions,” said Armstrong Williams. “Bush is a decent man. It’s not because he’s Republican or Democrat. Let’s not kid ourselves. It is what you believe in.”
“I’m going to predict for you: we will be at the polls like never before. I have never been so optimistic about this country,” said Rev. Jerry Falwell, whose “get out the vote” efforts spawned the Christian Coalition and like organizations. “There is a spiritual awakening; I cannot tell you how explosive it is.”
Rev. Falwell did, however, warn that the support of the religious right was contingent upon the Republican Party continuing to uphold conservative values.
“We don’t tell people to vote Republican or Democrat; we tell them to vote Christian. Christian is simple, it’s a buzz word. It means pro-life, pro-family, pro-morals, and a strong national defense,” warned Rev. Falwell. “The Republican Party does not have the head count to elect a president without the religious right.”
But Rev. Falwell placed his support behind the campaign of President Bush and pledged the efforts of his grassroots activists.
“We’re going to win in a landslide in November, but let’s play the game like we’re a point down. Let’s not get cocky,” Rev. Falwell said.
“I am encouraged by the grassroots efforts of people across the country,” said Dr. Michael Ferris, veteran political activist and President of Patrick Henry College. Dr. Ferris spoke on the need for conservatives to focus on education.
“People who receive an elite education disproportionately become the leaders of the nation,” said Dr. Ferris, decrying the liberal hold on education. He described the need for conservative interest in education and called for the creation of a “Christian Ivy League,” which he believes his college is at the heart of.
At 4 o’clock the session adjourned and the attendees headed back to the Renaissance Hotel for the “Faith and Freedom Gala.”
“I don’t care what your background is, there are families everywhere who’d want their children to be able to start the school day out with a prayer,” said Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), the keynote speaker. “What we have in common is the family. We’ve got some brothers and sister in the Islamic world who want the same thing for their families as you want for yours.”
Sen. Graham was followed by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) who spoke on the role of faith in government and John Fund, an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal, who spoke on the need to eliminate voter fraud and warned that “Election Day could turn into Election Month again.”
Mr. Fund concluded his remarks and a praise chorus took the stage. Some people left while others clapped and cheered as the ballroom became more like a prayer meeting than a political gala. To those who remained, Roberta Combs gave these concluding remarks:
“It’s a continuous fight and it’s a continuous sacrifice to move forward.”
posted by Tim Hoskins | 12:17 PM
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