How I Destroyed the Republican Party

Okay, I had some help. But without me and lots of like minded right wing religious ideologues who put theological "principles" ahead of governing, the Republicans might be set to win again this year.

I dropped out of the Evangelical right in the mid 80s and became a movie director and then a novelist. These days I'm an avid Obama supporter. But long before that we Schaeffers were Evangelical royalty. When I was growing up in my parents' religious community it was not unusual to find myself seated across the dining room table from President Ford's children or Barbara Bush.

Mom and Dad met with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush Sr., stayed in the White House and as their nepotistic sidekick, I was along for the ride. Why?

Did Dad or I have any political, economic or military expertise? No. We had something better: the devotion of millions of right wing Evangelical voters. We had been preaching a "gospel" of making America "Christian again." So the Republican leadership wanted to connect through Dad and I (and through many other preachers) to a base of voters that only asked for "correct" theological ideology, not good governance. It was the opposite of put up or shut up. It was; just say the right things and we'll let you get away with just about anything else.

It is ironic that McCain hammered the final nail into the coffin of the Republican Party by trying to reach out to "my" religious conservatives once again. He did this through nominating Sarah Palin. The only reason he chose her was because Palin is ideologically pure on the culture war "issues" that have motivated the far right: abortion, prayer in schools, gay marriage, a concept of a "Christian America," the usual "End Times" Christian Zionism, etc., etc. And the only reason McCain thought this would work is because in the early 1970s through the mid 80s my late father (Francis Schaeffer) and I, along with many others from Dobson to C. Everett Koop to Falwell et al. preached a new religion: national salvation through religiously correct politics. For a while it "worked." Just ask Rove.

Fast forward to the uniquely miserable W. Bush. He only got elected because the "base" I helped create voted for him. They voted for him because of his theology (born-again) and because he said the correct things on the social issues too. Ability, fitness for office, willingness to govern, none of that mattered to the base.

With Palin, the Republican Party faces the full awful logic of putting theology and ideology ahead of the ability to govern. Here we have the ultimate right wing Evangelical candidate: she's so suspicious of the US Government she is even friends with Alaska's secessionists! Here we also have the Evangelical's evangelical; a member of the Assemblies of God for 20 years who are, more or less, the most fundamentalist denomination in the country.

This time the American people have had enough.

When ideology replaces policy, you get sermons instead of programs. You get people who will no longer trust actual information, preferring their own adjusted reality, devoid of anything challenging to their presuppositions. So it is that if right wing Evangelicals insist that Obama is a Muslim (or "a Arab") he must be one and damn the facts! And so it is that if government is evil, then to hell with banking regulation. And if our guy is chosen by God, then who cares if the reasons we went to war in Iraq aren't even true. God's in charge! Anyone who isn't on board is a socialist, or maybe a witch, sumthin' bad, that's for sure! Never mind the details, such as the economy, health care, or even things as mundane as mere truth.

Facts are what the elite talk about and the elite is bad! What is good isn't facts; its being right with Jesus. Facts say that the earth is hundreds of millions of years old but we know that dinosaurs and men coexisted a few thousand years ago! We also just know that America was a Christian nation. We know that God wants us in Iraq. The President said so and he's one of us...

The Republicans got away with this nonsense for the better part of thirty years. The way things worked was that some very smart people -- Rove, Cheney, the neoconservatives -- took advantage of some very sad "little peole" rubes, funny when interviewed by Borat, or caught on tape in Religulous, but not who you want governing, or rather not who you want putting one of their own (Bush or Palin) in the White House.

For a while the people the religious right wing that I helped form put in office cruised on inertia. Then the bill came due: Katrina, Iraq and the economy, our military stretched, our reputation broken...

It will be a long time before mainstream America allows a vocal minority of wingnuts (of any political party or faith) to elect someone again only because they share their ideology. Obama is winning because he exudes non-ideological competence. He has a strong moral inner compass but also seems to understand that belief is not enough. He actually seems to want to govern and to do so pragmatically. And he is smart, maybe even so smart he is one of (heavens above!) the elite! It's about time, say many Americans, that someone smarter than us calls the shots.

McCain was looking backward by picking Palin, playing the old game my father and I helped invent. Fatal mistake. Times have changed. But here's a warning: if the Democrats sweep, take it from this repentant ideologue, real results, not another form of ideological hubris better be the order of the day.

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)

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[WashingtonDCNW]

As one who has been fortunate enough to escape the dark halls of fundamentalism, I appreciate Frank's story and his recent efforts to adjust to the changing political and religious landscape.

I have read many of Frank's posts, and I think that his credibility comes from his background as a self-described "repentant ideologue."

I've heard Frank give a talk about his most recent book, "Crazy for God," which is an account of his remarkable intellectual and spiritual transformation.

These things being said, I must admit that whenever I see a new post by Frank, I roll my eyes in mild disgust. Because every single thing I've read or heard by Frank Schaeffer centers on his emphasis of his bloodline of "Evangelical royalty." Frank never misses an opportunity to brag about who he is (by luck of birth), who he's hung out with (US Presidents), and what he's accomplished ("I helped form the voting block responsible for W's electoral victories).

We get it Frank. You're very special. You remind us every time you write.

I'm as interested as anyone in the history and politics of America's religious right, so I recognize that Frank's contribution to setting the record straight is invaluable. I recognize that some voices, such as Frank's, possess credibility simply by virtue of their associations. But please, Frank, enough of the self-praise (sometimes disguised as self-loathing). It's not about you, as much as you try to make it so.

[CIgarCityGirl]

If it is assumed that a reader may only read one of his articles, standing alone, I am sure you would agree that his credentials as a "former" member of the RR adds to the weight of his arguments.

I would agree with your comment about Schaeffer's repetitive declaration of his pedigree if I were convinced that EVERY reader has read EVERY post or article ever written. Like radio advertising, it's all about reach and frequency of the message.

I appreciate Schaeffer's unique perspective based in his unique experience. I do not mind the "reminders" of where that perspective comes from.

I thank God for Frank Schaeffer. His comments here on Huffington Post have kept me sane these last few weeks. He reassures me that all is not lost and we are coming out of the wilderness once again.

[llisa]

Yes. This was the first article of Frank's that I have read, and I am glad to know where he is coming from.

Frank, I'm glad you came to your senses and I wish you luck in getting other fundamentalist Christians to come to theirs.

[luziannagirl]

Washington DCNW

If it takes a little gonzo writing and braggadocio to get the point across to all the head-in-sand Democratic Party fossils who wasted decades rolling their eyes and making giggling smug & snide jokes about all the crazy Bible-thumpers, while all those God-crazies and their Republican allies made off with the entire country, then so be it.

Democratic Party rulers certainly didn't pay attention to nobodies from the Gumbo Gallery. Glad they are finally paying attention to FS.

Way to go, FS!!!! Heard you on a public radio interview just today. You brag on yourself all you want to, because you ROCK!

[bardmusic]

I have wondered if I was the only one who cringed slightly whenever Frank inserted a paragraph about his past, which happens in practically every post. My parents had every single one of his late father's books on their shelf when I was growing up, so I can sympathize with his views. But he needs to understand that all his self-propping isn't necessary. His opinions are thoughtful enough to stand on their own merit.

[missjabez]

I don't think Frank is bragging. He talks about his background to tell us who he is and how got to where he is now.

[HeevenSteven]

I have to differ. The boiler plate establishes his expertise to write about this subject, as nobody knows a movement like a former insider, especially one a former 'elite' in the movement.

[deezerd]

And the proof is in the pudding, namely the flood of rats jumping ship in the past two weeks.

No, scratch that, it's the civilized, intelligent GOP moderates who are bailing out ... the rats are stubbornly manning the buckets and trying to plug the leaks.

In any case, when the Republican Party has drifted so badly toward the rocks that they can't keep the likes of Colin Powell, Chris Buckley, Charlie Crist, and half the Goldwater family, you'd think that'd sound an alarm. But I guess it'll take nothing less than complete generational annihilation for them to get the message.

Maybe in 30-40 years, they'll come to their senses, enough that those of us who once voted Republican regularly might find a reason to do so again. But I won't hold my breath.

[0whole1]

The abandonment of the Republican intelligensia of their own party is a bit worrisome -- because who will be left to tell the nutcases "no"?

[TimSledge]

Far-right Christians have lot's of experience in denying reality. They shout "Drill Baby Drill" to support geologists who use science that assumes the earth is millions of years old to find oil while they deny the ancient age of the earth. They assert that problems like substance addiction can be solved simply by prayer and deeper religious commitment while ignoring members of their own congreations who suffer in silence with such problems. They fight sex education while denying the level of sexual acting out by adolescents in their own religious demographic. The list goes on and on. So, it's pretty easy for them to believe that a woman with a net worth of over a million dollars and one hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of new clothes is just a hockey mom. It's easy for them to believe that Palin was cleared of ethical wrong-doing by the recent bi-partisan panel because she said she was cleared of ethical wrong-doing. Once they deem you "one of us," you can get by with a lot because ultimately it's about the idea that "we" are "good," and "they" are "bad." I agreed whole-heartedly with Frank, but let's remember, Obama hasn't won yet.

[sandpiper1]

Great article Frank, hopefully, their power is diminished and America will see the last of these fanatics.
It's ironic that these decendants' families choose America to escape the religious fanatics of Europe, only to now try to impose the same intolerance, division, hatred and demonize anyone who doesn't share their narrow, rigid beliefs. Could it be lack of education and exposure to the rest of America that's causing this ignorance and rigidity? I know there must be some brainwashing involved but to what extent is unclear. I am sure they are suffering economically as is the rest of America yet that doesn't seem ot concern them. Why? Do they think God will make it right? I was brought up in the Catholic Church and at 58, still remember my late mother's motto, "God helps those who help themselves".

[situationcritical]

Wow, that's a LOT of damage.

[rjf7r]

It's not just the republican party that has been destroyed. American Christianity has suffered a serious blow as well. There is very great polarization between left and right within the Church. Some of this has always been and always will be, but the alignment of one or both of those poles within Christianity with the polarized political world has made the division deeper and more bitter.

[Retrofuturistic]

Christianity survived Hitler's use of it, because the American people didn't know about it and therefore couldn't see the parallels, but it will not survive the Republican party's use of it.

Christianity is now rightly seen as directly responsible for the election of George W. Bush and therefore responsible for the present state of our country--- two wars, the doubling of our national debt, the severe undermining of our Constitution and the separation of powers, not to mention the destruction of our economy.

We need to regulate religion as much as we need to regulate the economy: No tax exemption for churches. Limits on how much money religious predators can accumulate.

[MsYellowDog]

Religious PREDATORS is a correct term!! They are all around me here in the Old South(Old Unreconstructed South)...I am reading Schaeffer's book right now.I can't tell you how uncomfortable it makes me,because I have been saying to anyone who could listen to me since the 60's, and the great OVER-reactions to "hippidom," that we had the most to fear from religious zealots.And everything that's happened since then has made me more and more frightened for the life of these United States...but I now have a little hope again,provided that Obama is elected.It will be very tough for him,but I feel he is up to the job.

[ohioarn]

I don't see how Christianity is responsible for W's election. There was a much greater demographic of hockey moms who were scared sh**less after 9/11. It's the fearmongers who should be tried for treason - Rove, W, Rummy, et al.

[cgr]

As one who has been confounded by the views of religious far-right conservatives, I greatly appreciate your words, which have added weight coming from one who has shared their views.

When McCain named Palin his VP choice I saw what surely was the clincher in this election: someone so far right who could never be accepted as back-up to 72 yr. old candidate with melanoma history. He went just toooo far right, and lost the middle entirely, frightened the left and the middle, and even the reasonable right, where many, many conservative Christians are.

Whatever else he did to lose this election, and there's a lot to point to, this one choice sunk him. The predictable waving or hate, fear, and us vs. them rhetoric polished off his chances.

And Obama stands straight, honest, clean-hearted for us to turn to. This is a very good year after all.