A few years ago right wing hard liner James Dobson tried to get Richard Cizik, vice resident of the National Association of Evangelicals, fired. Cizik's "crime?" Saying global warming was a serious matter and being pro-environment. Dobson's real reason for trying to fire Cizik was that Dobson felt Cizik's stand would not be helpful to Dobson's Chosen One -- W. Bush. That time Dobson failed. Now he has won.
Cizik has just been forced to resign. Score one for the forces of reaction. Having lost the election, they are purging their own ranks. Cizik's crime this time? He made sympathetic comments about gay rights and gay marriage on Fresh Air, when asked by Terri Gross for his opinions. Worse, he said he voted for Obama!
As reported by AP on Thursday, December 11, 2008
An outspoken and polarizing voice in conservative Christian politics resigned effective Thursday from the National Association of Evangelicals after a radio interview in which he voiced support for same-sex civil unions and said he is "shifting" on gay marriage.
The Rev. Richard Cizik's comments -- made on a Dec. 2 "Fresh Air" broadcast on National Public Radio -- triggered an uproar that led to his stepping down as NAE vice president of governmental affairs.
A fixture in Washington for nearly three decades, Cizik has played a key role in bringing evangelical Christian concerns to the political table. But in recent years, he earned enemies in the movement for pushing to broaden the evangelical agenda. His strongest focus was on "creation care," arguing that evangelicals have a biblical responsibility to the environment that includes combating global warming....
The NAE is an umbrella group for tens of thousands of churches and organizations.
Anderson [NAE president] said a "combination of things" Cizik said in the interview led to his downfall, including this comment on gay marriage: "I'm shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think."
Coming off the passage last month of amendments barring gay marriage in three states, some evangelicals took that as a slap in the face, said David Neff, editor of Christianity Today magazine and a member of the NAE executive committee.
"He seemed to be abandoning the one thing where evangelical activists felt they had actually made a difference this time around," Neff said...
Still others were disappointed Cizik volunteered that he voted for Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries, Anderson said. Cizik also hinted that he voted for Obama in November...
David Neff, editor of Christianity Today magazine, represents the hard right spirit of the evangelicals. The one "accomplishment" of the last elections? Stopping someone else from doing something, say getting married.
The evangelical elite are sore losers. Cizik is their ritual sacrifice to the Obama victory.
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.