An Open Letter to President Obama About the Republicans (From a Former Republican)
Dear President Obama: I know that from time to time you read Huffington Post because you've written for it. As a Huffington Post reader you'll know that no one on this web site has more faithfully supported your candidacy and now your presidency than me. As a former lifelong Republican, son of a co-founder of the Religious Right; my late evangelical leader father, Francis Schaeffer, I'm in a unique position to tell you a few things about the Republicans from inside perspective. (As you know I left that movement in the mid 1980s.)
The lack of cooperation you're getting from the Republican Party will continue. You were right to indulge in a little bit of tokenism when you had to Pastor Rick Warren pray at your inauguration. But if you think that the Republicans in Congress and the Senate are going to do more than their utmost to obstruct everything you are and what you stand for you're dreaming.
As someone who appeared numerous times on the 700 Club with Pat Robertson, as someone for whom Jerry Falwell used to send his private jet to bring me to speak at his college, as an author who had James Dobson giveaway 150,000 copies of my one of my fundamentalist "books" allow me to explain something: the Republican Party is controlled by two ideological groups. First, is the Religious Right. Second, are the neoconservatives. Both groups share one thing in common: they are driven by fear and paranoia. Between them there is no Republican "center" for you to appeal to, just two versions of hate-filled extremes.
The Religious Right supply the kind of people who at McCain and Palin rallies were yelling things such as "kill him" about you. That's the constituency to which your hand was extended when looking for compromise on your financial bailout bill.
There's only one thing that makes sense for you now. Mr. President, you need to forget a bipartisan approach and get on with the business of governing by winning each battle. You will never be able to work with the Republicans because they hate you. Believe me, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are the norm not the exception. James Dobson and the rest are praying for you to fail. The neoconservatives are gnashing their teeth and waiting for you to "sell out Israel" or "show weakness" in Afghanistan, whatever, so they can declare you a traitor.
The problem is that when you deal with the Republican Party you're talking to the polished characters in Washington. I wish you could see the hate e-mail's that I have received over the last two years because I supported you, letters calling for God to kill me, telling me that I hate God because I supported you and that I am "an abortionist" and worse a "fag lover" because I've written that I believe that you will be a great president.
What those senators and congressmen are telling you is not what their rabid core constituents are telling them. Their loyalty is to a fundamentalist Christian ideology on the one hand and American exceptionalism of perpetual warfare and hatred and fear of the "other" on the other hand. Between the neoconservatives and evangelical Religious Right Republicans you have no friends.
The good news is that most Americans support you. And if you will just get in the face of the Republican Party and call their bluff you'll be surprised how many individual ordinary Republicans will support you, not to mention the rest of us. America is sick of the Republicans.
The Democratic Party won for a reason: the Republicans failed and have taken us all down with them! You're doing your presidency and America no favor by extending an open hand to the perpetually knotted fist of what has become the embittered lunatic fringe of our country. They would rather go down in flames than "compromise" their ideology.
As you showed us again at your press conference of Feb 9, you are a brilliant, articulate and decent man. Your Republican opponents are not decent people but ideologues bent on destroying you. To quote the biblical adage sir, don't cast your pearls before swine.
Frank Schaeffer is the author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back. Now in paperback.
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Dear Mr. Schaeffer, it is refreshing to read about a person who has the intelligence to accurately acertain the current state of affairs and put aside political partisanship for the overall good of the Nation. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up and face the mob rule mentality of the party who lost the recent election. Obama has more skills than any Pres in modern history. I am a big Jefferson fan but he was a miserable speaker and detested during his time in office. That is the reason it was considered in bad taste to name a child Thomas at that time. People thought he was in alliance with the devil because he didn't go to church on Sundays. He fought valiantly to separate church and state."It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my soul whatever you believe...believe as you wish but keep it out of politics"..Very much like the Repubs today...Ha Ha....probably not too many Baracks for first names in that crew.I will go and buy your book today!
My most humble and heart felt thanks goes out to D. L. Hughgley who is rapidly making a name for himself for advancing the truth by cutting through the crap. I am honored by the bravery of Frank Shaeffer for the intestinal fortitude that he displayed in laying before us and inside view of the Religious Right and the Neoconservatives. This is not new to most of us, we were living under a dictatorship which silenced a lot of decent people who were right to worry about their safty as well as their families.
All of this makes sense now that we have seen the foaming at the mouth of the supporters of fhe Republican Party and the infiltration of GOP bloggers on Huffington Post who talk about buying more guns and lots of bullets.
The only thing that is keeping us safe from the Republican wrath is legislation.
Mr. Shaeffer we owe you and your family a debt of gratitude, your life will not be made easy
for your inside view of the Republican Party.
All of us who know how to pray are praying for your strength and safety. You have enriched our gold mine and provided information that is valuable moving forward.
God Bless you and your family
Peace and Love
I too have just watched Frank on D L Hugley and what a refreshing public statement on the state of the Republican party and the religous right. If is very disturbing to realize that our country is not the first concern of the Republicans, but believe that as more people such as Frank Schaeffer speak out publicly.
OMG, I love this man!! I just saw him DL Hughley's show, and he's even more adorable!!
Go on with yo' former Repub self!!!!
Thanks for pointing out how fear based the republican party really is. I've just never seen such willful ignorance and outright lying by politicians. I do believe the message is seeping in slowly, that republicans are an flaming shipwreck when it comes to common sense and decency towards the diversity that is this country. The facade is crumbling faster than I'd ever hoped--"those people" are actually getting the message, and abandoning that mess in droves.
All politicians talk about being bipartisan, but we all know that is just political speak. Whoever is in the White House must move forward with whatever policy they deem necessary. In the end result, the electorate will be the final judge. In Obama's case, the mid term elections will determine whether the public feels that he is taking the country in the right direction.
I am going to email the three "R" senators who voted for the bill...I am also emailing the NY Post for that cartoon ...Rupert Murdoch owns that paper and Foxnews...he is a dangerous person as are his minions ...o'reilly, hannity coulter etc...this article by schaefer is what i've been saying all along...the President is wasting his time with the Republicans in the House...I don't like Pelosi but I can see what she is up against....as for the Senators maybe some are OK...not Judd Gregg tho...two faced...why bother with him again ???
Frank Schaeffer, I appreciate your efforts. I always wonder if you have ever read my profile and if you have any idea how important your work really is. Our news networks and lawmakers and politicians go to the glaring frauds for commentary and endorsement, giving them credibility for more fleecing and bilking and manipulation in spite of their ridiculous rants and outrageous claims. Pat Robertson prophesied God would send tornadoes, hurricanes, and perhaps a meteor to Florida after Disney welcomed gays. John Hagee said Katrina was sent to New Orleans by his vengeful God who was angered over a gay parade. Ann Coulter suggested that invading other countries, killing their leaders and converting the people to Christianity was a good idea. The Religious Right has done more harm to the face of Christianity than any Democrat or liberal ever could. I do not recognize their religion but I know it is not Christian. It is very frustrating the way the Religious Right has misused scripture for political maneuvering. Focusing on Law and ignoring the Bible for its heart for the needy, for the suffering, and even for sinners is called Legalism and is the same thing the pious were doing during the life of Christ.
I hope President Obama will continue building bridges but I hope and pray he does not ever pander to the Religious Right bullies whose only cause is to meddle, stir up strife, cause division, preach hate and bigotry, sell books, and pad their own pockets.
Frank Schaeffer has great insights on the Republicans.He knows exactly what is on their feeble minds.Just keep on reporting about those hardcore Republicans until they sink into their pits.
In the great foot steps of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King should our amalgamated President Obama walk.
This is a very delicate instance of dismantle that should and only be undertaken with the delicate surgical gloves of our President Obama and his convictions.
If you are an organization with clout, the worst disservice you can do to the final package is to advocate division.
From my angry and extreme correspondences/verbal retaliations exists the eternal light of peace and joy that can only flourish with the inevitable shameful path chosen by the guilty and evil hearts.
Please forward this message to the Obamacan world……. “YES WE CAN”
Thank you Mr. Schaeffer! At times I feel sorry for my conservative friends who are absolutely disgusted with the party.
Sir,
I take offense at your letter. I am a very conservative, right winged, Christian, republican and I do not wish any ill will on President Obama, in fact I pray daily for President Obama. I am concerned regarding his positions on abortion and marriage. I do not understand how as a professing Chrisitan one could vote for him. Now having him in office I will faithfully pray for him and pray that he seeks out the one true God in all he attempts to do. My prayer for him is Proverbs 21:1.
It is heartbreaking to me when the "left" or "right" spread hatred.
Thank you, Brenda Lester. It is very nice to meet you here.
There are many professing Christians who are Democrats concerned about the needy and the helpless among us, who understand what Christ meant in saying "let the one without sin cast the first stone" and who are in support of President Obama's plan to reduce the number of unborn deaths in our country and provide more assistance to mothers and their children.
I pray for our leaders too. I am very hopeful. I am excited about an end to this costly and painful war, a national healthcare plan, creative and new solutions to our economic and energy problems, and a more compassionate and thoughtful White House.
That is the view of a true Christian.
I just love reading your articles but I don't think President Obama is going to stop reaching out. He is keeping his promise that he will reach but he never said that they would shake his hand. At least he kept his end of the bargin. He's a lot nicer, patient and tolerant than I am.
I wouldn't reach my hand out without wearing rubber gloves.
Part II
“America is sick of the Republicans.”
Oh really? How to explain, then, the continued existence of Republican Congresspeople, Senators, etc.? This is one of the most revealing statement of the entire essay.
What is Mr. Schaeffer really angry about? That loudmouths have loud mouths? Or that the Republicans in Congress have the nerve to question the contents of this so-called stimulus bill?
Mr. Schaeffer is certainly impassioned, but why is it necessary to disparage the passion of those he disagrees with by painting them all with such a broad stroke?
Republicans are questioning this “stimulus” bill which is not only their right, but their responsibility. Would Mr. Scheaffer want a one party system? Asking for bipartisanship is nice, but should that mean that no disagreements are to be tolerated?
Commentators: Why not let this be a civil discussion? If we can restrain ourselves from the personal attacks, perhaps we can discover common ground and come up with some real bipartisanship. Whaddya say?
Regards.
Republicans are in no position to whin about spending as they almost doubled the national debt over the last 8 years.
The Republican Party isn't really a political party anymore.They are the obstructionists with no new ideas and lots of anger and hatred towards a large part of the American population and our elected president.This can not stand.We witnessed this under Hitler.Turning one group of people against another for political gain is not good government.Its a recipe for a civil war.
This is not good for America.
Great column. This should be emailed to everyone!. I hope President Obama will take note.
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