Gingrich On Prop 8 Protests: "Gay And Secular Fascism ... Prepared To Use Violence"

Media Matters reports on a Fox News discussion between Bil O'Reilly and Newt Gingrich on protests against the California gay marriage ban:

O'REILLY: OK, now, the culture war. I know you've been flying around the country, and you're doing stuff. In the last three or four days, this is really nasty stuff. I mean, you know, hyper -- we're gonna show you some of the video. A woman getting a cross smashed out of her hand. We had a church in Michigan invaded by gay activists. We're gonna show you the video on Monday of that -- we have exclusively. We had a guy in Sacramento fired from his job. We had boycotts called on restaurants.

I mean, it is getting out of control, very few days after the election. How do you assess that?

GINGRICH: Look, I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment. I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it. I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in traditional religion. And I think if you believe in historic Christianity, you have to confront the fact. And, frank -- for that matter, if you believe in the historic version of Islam or the historic version of Judaism, you have to confront the reality that these secular extremists are determined to impose on you acceptance of a series of values that are antithetical, they're the opposite, of what you're taught in Sunday school.

For a dose of reality, here is video of some of the protests:

Comments

[MakesYouThink]

"Alongside my own deep personal faith, I am a follower, as well, of our civic religion. I am a big believer in the separation of church and state in our constitutional structure...I am a great admirer of our founding charter, and its resolve to prevent theocracies from forming, and its resolve to prevent disruptive strains of fundamentalism from taking root in this country." - Senator Barack Obama, March 27, 2004
Our President-Elect has it correct and, in fact, Mr. Gingrich is mistaken in his belief that protecting the rights of everyone is a threat to traditional religion. By protecting the rights of one group, we are protecting the rights of all.
I think the difficulty for people like Mr. Gingrich is that they look to everyone else to tell them what their values actually are; so they do "feel threatened" by the idea of having to stand as a group of one amidst a secular society if necessary. When not surrounded by like minded people they are truly challenged to live their Christian faith. He reveals his flaw in thinking when saying "secular extremists are determined to impose on you an acceptance of a series of values that are antithetical,...of what you are taught in Sunday school." He has it backward again, misunderstanding his own projection. He is the one who is trying to impose acceptance of values, not anyone who supports gay marriage.

[sfsilver]

I wasn't aware that the idea of Equal protection under the law was a fringe philosophy that warrants being categorized as secular fascism. Of course religious folks imposing THEIR will on public policy is ok I guess. Right wing lead boycotts of corporations who offer domestic partnership benefits or nondiscrimination clauses in their employment policies are acceptable too.

These people will be looked upon as fools and bigots by history.

[Morpheus Dreamer]

Absolutely shocking, incendiary, nonsensical rhetoric! Gingrich, along with the neoCON State run propaganda machine in FAUX NEWS and Reichwing talk radio want to rekindle the complete failure that was the "Culture War" of the 1992 political season. What a shameful and cynical attempt to fuel hatred and fear of one minority group.This kind of lying, hateful rhetoric is a call to violence against the GLBTQ community and we may never know how many of our own will end up beaten to death or lynched on the back roads of America because of it! It is absolutely no different than the language designed by Goebbels and used by Hitler to gin up fear and loathing of the J e w s in Germany in the 1930s. How long before it has the desired affect of inciting the majority to call for the rounding up and internment of gay people? Through their words, Newt Gingrich and his ilk have declared war on the gay community. If he thinks our protests to date over PROP 8 have been militant, he aint seen nothin' yet!!

[Morpheus Dreamer]

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist; And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist; And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew; And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up. . . "

"First they came…" is a poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

[jnah]

your trying to strip people of their rights what are you expecting.

[ObjectiveRealist]

As long as the federal tax code recognizes "marriage" in any way, then the First Amendment prohibits any preference for any "establishment of religion" in the definition of marriage.

Would you prefer to extend marriage benefits to committed homosexuals, or take those benefits away from heterosexuals? The Constitution allows no other courses of action.

[JimGroom]

Welcome to the dust bin of history pal. F_ _ _ him and good bye!

[JDJase]

I think we should put to a public vote a measure to castrate New Gingrich. I bet that would pass easily

[ohmetoo]

LOL that's an idea! Seriously the Radical Republicans are longing to bring back the crusades, as church attendance in small churches dwindle and only the mega monopoly churches are flourishing. They have killed organized religion for me and won't miss me, but they are missing the younger generations attendance to fill the pews in the future.

Tax church properties and tithing's, or get out of politics and campaigning for issues, to secure their tax free statice.

[Stagehnd1]

Or at least permanently sew his mouth shut!!

[kroenung58]

I doubt that you'd find anything there.

[ccortezz]

Phil Bronstein the editor of SFChronicle is also ranting about the harsh tactics. I think he forgot the court room battle he and Sharon had. Loser

[FightingTheRight]

Since the word "Liberal" has been demonized by Republicans and all Democrats are referred to as "Liberals", lets start referrng to all the Republican Party members as the "Radical Right" and all Republicans as "Radicals".

[ccortezz]

Nazis is a better term

[FightingTheRight]

I would agree, but I'm serious.

Why should we let them keep labeling and defining the Democratic party in their terms?

I believe the gloves should come off and we should be giving some of their own back to them!

[kikomnipotent]

On matters involving religion, how about "Nutzis"? Fits a little better. All Religion Out of Politics!!! The rational people want people in charge who seek advice from qualified scientist & scholars, not storybook characters.

[jamieken21]

I agree

[OldKnute]

I agree

Newt Gengrich, Jame Dobson, Rush Limbaugh, Rupert Murdock, Bill O`Reilly, Elizabeth Hassebeck, Pat Robertson, Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, George Bush, and Dick Cheney should watch this movie before they talk their Brownshirt Propagandas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY6Cn2Qs0tM

We just witnessed the MOST total and completely Non-Violent, REVOLUTION in all of American history and the largest POST Election rise in the sales of GUNS among Neo-Con McCail/Palin supporters and now Newt would accuse our children of seeking Violence?

WRONG NEWT!

YOU encourage Violence!
YOU fan the fires of HATE!
YOU feed radical FEARS.

NOT OUR CHILDREN!

You can easily determine allegiances by which they HATE.

Jews, Gays, Jehovah’s Witness, Conscientious Objectors. Gypsies, Muslims, Blacks, Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, Quakers, Mennonites, the French, the Spanish? ALL have found their way into YOUR speeches of FEAR and HATE!

Who is left Newt?

The rest of you white “Supermen”?

Dear Newt,,, read the papers,,,, things are not going well,,, you “Supermen” lost.

All the best

Knute

[castleberry]

Goodbye, Republicans! Seems every day they take another step toward complete annihilation.

[TLV]

There are actually religious wackos who stuck signs of protest in the yard of my church a few years ago because we invited a FEMALE minister to preach! My church was the first to ordain a woman...in 1853!

Why are they so desperate to spread their doctrine of hate?

[Questioner In Chief]

Violence is usually the least productive way to prevail in an argument - especially in a democracy(ask any lobbyist). However there is, in this "fascism" rhetoric about "the gay", a very real and dangerous clarion call that should not go unmentioned because it is the true message here.

When people like Mr. Gingrich, one of the not-so-very-religious right, put out such messages, there is at its core, an insidious hope. A hope born of the knowledge that amongst the "faithful" are those who would resort to great violence if properly incited.

There are very dangerous messages being put out, consciously or unconsciously, in the hope that they will "activate" the sleeping "religious warriors" waiting for their marching orders to save the day - though any "nut-job" will do. Most are playing with this fire to boil the blood of their audience for ratings and financial gain, but there are others who know exactly what they are doing. Neo-talibanism?

For some "democracy" is good, just as long as they are imposing it on others and not having to living within it. Whether it's race, religion, geography, economic status, or sexual orientation that's being used to divide, it smells very un-American.

And also to point out, that it's all about serving the democracy in the real America, should we be so honored to lose this election and continue to live in this great country. ;)

[Grousefeather]

Just because Newt holds the world record for the most lies told in a single speech doesn't mean he'll continue to be a credible leader for the republican right.

[FightingTheRight]

Hey Newt, lets read what the old testimont says about divorce.

Then we will all form a circle around you with stones in hand.

You will be the center of attention, just like you want.

At least for a short time.

Depending on peoples accurracy.

[Babysnake]

Very funny comment! ROFL.

[HHarvey]

You can bet there will be gay protests and secular fascism but it's going to come in the form of monetary hurt. Those who bankrolled big money to support Prop 8 are going to feel it in their pocket books if I and my family and friends have anything to say about it. Protests are great, but they are not as effective. Newt G can take his bloated carcass and stuff it!