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Frank Schaeffer

Frank Schaeffer

Posted: March 16, 2008 04:23 PM

Obama's Minister Committed "Treason" But When My Father Said the Same Thing He Was a Republican Hero


When Senator Obama's preacher thundered about racism and injustice Obama suffered smear-by-association. But when my late father -- Religious Right leader Francis Schaeffer -- denounced America and even called for the violent overthrow of the US government, he was invited to lunch with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr.

Every Sunday thousands of right wing white preachers (following in my father's footsteps) rail against America's sins from tens of thousands of pulpits. They tell us that America is complicit in the "murder of the unborn," has become "Sodom" by coddling gays, and that our public schools are sinful places full of evolutionists and sex educators hell-bent on corrupting children. They say, as my dad often did, that we are, "under the judgment of God." They call America evil and warn of immanent destruction. By comparison Obama's minister's shouted "controversial" comments were mild. All he said was that God should damn America for our racism and violence and that no one had ever used the N-word about Hillary Clinton.

Dad and I were amongst the founders of the Religious right. In the 1970s and 1980s, while Dad and I crisscrossed America denouncing our nation's sins instead of getting in trouble we became darlings of the Republican Party. (This was while I was my father's sidekick before I dropped out of the evangelical movement altogether.) We were rewarded for our "stand" by people such as Congressman Jack Kemp, the Fords, Reagan and the Bush family. The top Republican leadership depended on preachers and agitators like us to energize their rank and file. No one called us un-American.

Consider a few passages from my father's immensely influential America-bashing book A Christian Manifesto. It sailed under the radar of the major media who, back when it was published in 1980, were not paying particular attention to best-selling religious books. Nevertheless it sold more than a million copies.

Here's Dad writing in his chapter on civil disobedience:

If there is a legitimate reason for the use of force [against the US government]... then at a certain point force is justifiable.


And this:

In the United States the materialistic, humanistic world view is being taught exclusively in most state schools... There is an obvious parallel between this and the situation in Russia [the USSR]. And we really must not be blind to the fact that indeed in the public schools in the United States all religious influence is as forcibly forbidden as in the Soviet Union....

Then this:

There does come a time when force, even physical force, is appropriate... A true Christian in Hitler's Germany and in the occupied countries should have defied the false and counterfeit state. This brings us to a current issue that is crucial for the future of the church in the United States, the issue of abortion... It is time we consciously realize that when any office commands what is contrary to God's law it abrogates it's authority. And our loyalty to the God who gave this law then requires that we make the appropriate response in that situation...

Was any conservative political leader associated with Dad running for cover? Far from it. Dad was a frequent guest of the Kemps, had lunch with the Fords, stayed in the White House as their guest, he met with Reagan, helped Dr. C. Everett Koop become Surgeon General. (I went on the 700 Club several times to generate support for Koop).

Dad became a hero to the evangelical community and a leading political instigator. When Dad died in 1984 everyone from Reagan to Kemp to Billy Graham lamented his passing publicly as the loss of a great American. Not one Republican leader was ever asked to denounce my dad or distanced himself from Dad's statements.

Take Dad's words and put them in the mouth of Obama's preacher (or in the mouth of any black American preacher) and people would be accusing that preacher of treason. Yet when we of the white Religious Right denounced America white conservative Americans and top political leaders, called our words "godly" and "prophetic" and a "call to repentance."

We Republican agitators of the mid 1970s to the late 1980s were genuinely anti-American in the same spirit that later Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson (both followers of my father) were anti-American when they said God had removed his blessing from America on 9/11, because America accepted gays. Falwell and Robertson recanted but we never did.

My dad's books denouncing America and comparing the USA to Hitler are still best sellers in the "respectable" evangelical community and he's still hailed as a prophet by many Republican leaders. When Mike Huckabee was recently asked by Katie Couric to name one book he'd take with him to a desert island, besides the Bible, he named Dad's Whatever Happened to the Human Race? a book where Dad also compared America to Hitler's Germany.

The hypocrisy of the right denouncing Obama, because of his minister's words, is staggering. They are the same people who argue for the right to "bear arms" as "insurance" to limit government power. They are the same people that (in the early 1980s roared and cheered when I called down damnation on America as "fallen away from God" at their national meetings where I was keynote speaker, including the annual meeting of the ultraconservative Southern Baptist convention, and the religious broadcasters that I addressed.

Today we have a marriage of convenience between the right wing fundamentalists who hate Obama, and the "progressive" Clintons who are playing the race card through their own smear machine. As Jane Smiley writes in the Huffington Post "[The Clinton's] are, indeed, now part of the 'vast right wing conspiracy.' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-smiley/im-already-against-the-n_b_90628.html )

Both the far right Republicans and the stop-at-nothing Clintons are using the "scandal" of Obama's preacher to undermine the first black American candidate with a serious shot at the presidency. Funny thing is, the racist Clinton/Far Right smear machine proves that Obama's minister had a valid point. There is plenty to yell about these days.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer and 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

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

 
 
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12:54 PM on 03/27/2008
All of this talk about religion and ministers, especially the idiotic claptrap from Senator Clinton, I am reminded of the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, moderate socialist and self proclaimed agnostic, who was not sworn into office using religious mumbo-jumbo. Imagine that. A country intelligent enough to recognize a candidate's qualifications are not determined by what they say to invisible beings. But in the United States? A candidate must show he or she is ready to kill, and pray about it when they do.
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glorysong
Talk a good talk.
07:17 PM on 03/26/2008
When Bill Clinton had his love affair in the White House guest who he called upon with 99 others Black Ministers --Rev Wright for prayer. They had prayer for him there with lunch.

I am glad that Obama sit under Rev Wright for 20 years because that is where he found Jesus at that Church He could have went somewhere else and but he stayed. I seen the Sermon and he was only quoteing what someone else said. But if anyone say that their Pastor has not made a Racial remark about some race in Church or out of Church than you are telling a lie and the truth is not in you. I am pretty sure that Obama could had left the Church but he could had gone some where else a little worst. And we would be on here talking about something different.

That is where God put him. Not Man.

Obama is a strong Black man. You have throw everything at him but the Kitchen sink. And that is what
those Sermon has taught him. Now it is time for a CHANGE.

So sweep around your own back door, before you sweep around Obama. He did not preach that Sermon. He was not even there. And and another thing that Sermon is not new.
08:49 PM on 03/23/2008
I find the conversations in this thread both iluminating and troubling. I find it curious that Frank is getting rocks thrown at him by the left and the right spectrum's of thought ,for simply being honest. Speak the truth and you are pretty much going to get attacked for it.
05:43 PM on 03/23/2008
Here a links to the FULL sermons of Jeremiah Wright. When heard it context, it's neither "anti-American", "racist" nor "full of hate". Hear it for yourself.

Confusing God & Government (God Damn America)

http://odeo.com/audio/17890793/view

The day of Jerusalem’s Fall (9/11)

http://odeo.com/audio/17889043/view
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Ramirez
Taxpayer-American
11:33 AM on 03/23/2008
Obama 08.

Because his preacher is no worse than yours.
09:03 PM on 03/22/2008
Frank,
Sorry that something must have turned you off from what your father preached. His writing was often quoted decades ago. I dont know your father's personal views, but the public belief of the evangelicals is that while they are preaching God's judgment on human sins, they are also preaching the mercy and forgiveness of God who would receive the repentent persons with open arms. The end message is always a way out in reconciliation with God. What you quoted as examples of his instigation against government, I take it as his strong stance in protecting the sanctity of life against abortion.
I dont know if your analogy about the Rev. Wright's statements is quite applicable here.
I wish for healing in your life.
Obama said he could no more denounce Wright in spite of his inflammatory statements than his own grandmother who had made remarks about blacks that made him cringe.
Are you denouncing your father's preaching, or him?
though I cannot agree with your view, I respect your courage for speaking up.
I am drawn to wish you well and God's peace.
12:58 PM on 03/23/2008
Bizzaro post lacking in understanding of the philosophical roots of your own belief system.
11:27 PM on 03/24/2008
Dear Mithoughts,
06:36 PM on 03/22/2008
I don't see this author's point as anything but damning a time past and Republicans in general. And it does not compare in any way to statements by Wright today. Hint: both were broadly (without going into detail here) wrong and unnecessarily divisive, and speaking IMHO, counter to the wisdom of THEIR spiritual advisor, Jesus Christ.

Temple
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ToniChicago
11:53 AM on 03/22/2008
After 9/11, anyone who dares criticize Bush was denounced as Un American or Un Patriotic. I don't see any difference between that and what Obama's opponents are doing to him now.
10:52 AM on 03/21/2008
True that no one in America is a slave now and that you did not enslave anyone, but equally true is that the effect of the terrible past still haunts. Blacks were slaves for many years until the day came when thay were told 'you are free to go'. Go where? With what? and how should they get there? As far as WHERE - they were not welcome in certain neighborhood even today. WITH WHAT - After slaving for years - no pocket change when they were told that they could go. HOW SHOULD THEY GET THERE- this takes us bak to where? and with what?

America the beautiful MY FOOT!!!!!!!!!!!
09:21 PM on 03/23/2008
Very true! And, don't forget all the white men who "built" this country ....that is with black slaves doing all the work! All in the name of God and Christianity! Ha ha! I agree with Wright and I'm white! It doesn't matter what color you are to know that the blacks in this country have a legitimate complaint regarding the white man. And, anyone who doesn't understand this doesn't have a working brain.
12:51 AM on 03/21/2008
The issue is still Obama's judgment, not Wright's hates and biases. Obscuring the issue some more does not change that fact.

Another judgment issue: if Obama was so anti-war why did he support, endorse, campaign and fundraise for Joe Lieberman instead of the democratic candidate chosen by the democratic voters of Connecticutt?

Why didn't he take actions in the Senate to do everything possible to STOP the WAR?

Obama is not a savior. And he's not consistent. He's not the myth he portrays himself as. He's a good speaker, talks alot, but his actions do not live up to the hype.

There are reasons people are skeptical -- and it doesn't make us racist. It makes us rational and willing to see facts instead of emotion. And to see contradictions and hypocrisies and inconsistencies.

Just like the media hyped Bush and his war, they continue to be lazy, biased, incompetent and uncritical when it comes to Obama. They now do to Hillary exactly what they have been doing for 15 years, and what they did to Gore in 2000.

I don't plan to endorse or condone that crap now anymore than I did then. Remember that classic definition of insanity about repeating the same thing over and over and over?

This entire start to the 21st century is like a very bad combination of "Network Meets Orwell Meets Groundhog Day" -- this nation is suffering from a collective state of delusion and self-willed denial.

Officially crazy, nutso, insane. Pardon me if I don't want to join that psychosis.
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brantl
12:58 PM on 03/21/2008
Sorry, Hillary built her own mess, Al didn't. NOr did Obama. His reverend was right, even if his language was a bit over the top. It's time the US stopped believing their own lying PR campaigns and own to some of the horrible things we've done (and dont' get me wrong, the US population has done some great things, too) but our government has helped overthrow/assassinate inconvenient, democratically elected or benign leaders for the benefit of our multinational companies (remember that black, festering hotbed of tyranny, Hawaii?) and it's time we finally owned to it. We've been stirring up the ant hill that is the middle east for 80 years. Now the ants have bitten us. What a surprise.
06:22 PM on 03/21/2008
I brought these points up months ago. So I researched Obama's and Clinton's relationships to Lieberman. Obama did take Lieberman as a mentor, but it looks like that was because Lieberman is one of the most powerful politicians in Washington,

Lieberman FOUNDED THE DLC!

The naturally enough Obama supported his mentor in the primary. Obama did barely support Lamont for the general election, Obama sent 5000$ and a lukewarm endorsement to a few thousand people.

Hillary has been a Chairperson for the DLC and has been thick with Lieberman forever.

HRC = DLC = Lieberman = Corporatist = forever war crime profiteering.

Check out this DLC Lieberman love fest: You love Lieberman, right? You know, the guy who wrote the authorizations to go to war.

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=253901
04:30 PM on 03/19/2008
Thank you for this brave offering. I hope you will be getting the message to the mainstream media, appearing on as many shows as possible! Thanks again.
09:10 PM on 03/19/2008
I totally agree. There have been many double standards in this campaign, but this one really needs to be exposed and discussed. Please keep spreading your message!!!
04:17 PM on 03/19/2008
well i don't think your father, or rev wright should be anywhere NEAR the whitehouse ...or involved in political discourse in any other way except as a voter, like the rest of us.

wright is as crazy as any rightwing crazy, i don't care where the crazy comes from, it deserves to be held up, and be accounted for by those who wish to associate with them AND hold public office.

obama compromised 'transcending race' by becoming a follower of a RACIST religious extremist.

courageous would be attending a multi-cultuaral church and following someone less extreme.

obama appears spiritually weak, and too needy of the black community's acceptance...especially if transcendence is his goal.

i can't believe he let this guy baptize his kids.
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gladys46
Know Your Interests, Vote
02:11 PM on 03/19/2008
When Bill Clinton and most other candidates for any elected position wants your vote you WILL see them in the pulpits of YOUR church - especially if there's a substantial number of congregants!! None of these already elected officials cared what those ministers espoused past or present!! Gov. Edward Rendell hobnobed with Minister Faracan and even sat on a televised stage with him during a time when his (Gov. Rendell) "America's Fav. governor" label was at risk because of racial unrest in Philadelphia!!! Rendell didn't give a hoot about the Minister's horrific rep in the Jewish community!! He just NEEDED HELP!!

Ms. Clinton says that "a" speech discussing race should have been made -- well, well, well -- Ms. Clinton WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE IT!!?
12:44 AM on 03/21/2008
No standing.
02:04 PM on 03/19/2008
BO's Wright Problem

BO argues that Reverend Wright is like family, he couldn’t disown him like he couldn’t’ disown the black community. If BO can truly make that argument acceptable to America then he has justification for not being able to "disown him", and has achieved part of his argument to move on.

The major problem with this argument is this preacher is not his family. He CHOSE Reverend Wright. He CHOSE to look past the angry, hurtful rhetoric. He CHOSE to let their relationship grow over the years with the bubbling anger towards "white America" on the periphery. He CHOOSES now to act as if he is standing by his crazy, old uncle. Did he even address any of his speech directly towards Wright? Did he confront him about what he did and has said? Ever?

I have had made new friends over the years and am currently 31. When I meet someone new and he makes a racist comment I call him on it. When I meet someone older or a client I may not, however I do recognize it and take note. I may even become friendly with the older person but I keep a safe distance. If there was a situation like BO is in I WOULD NOT hesitate to drop them. I wouldn't let a relationship grow with such a weak person nor would I allow myself to continue an association with them. As for my closest friends they wouldn't utter a racist word/thought and are accepting of all. If I used BO as a barometer then the way I carry myself and establish relationships may not be the norm. But for BO to stand by and stick with him as he preaches anger from a pulpit, as he disseminates this to a whole church of people, is disgusting.

BO I say this to you:

You were there. You saw the signs. You let them pass. You have a major character flaw. I will happily show you how to deal with people and how to create proper relationships. With such a lapse in judgment as an adult and with your need to foster such relationships, why the hell should anyone vote for you? You are looking to be the biggest representative of this country. Of all of us.

I wonder if Oprah turned away from this preacher in the 80s as a result of his anger? Did she see the paradox that we all see now with wanting to be loving/accepting of all but then preaching hate/anger in church (of all places)?
07:51 AM on 03/20/2008
You didn't really listen to the speech or read this article, did you?
09:29 AM on 03/20/2008
So basically you're saying you only surround your self with people who act, look, and think like you so you feel good about your self or not let controversy come into your life. Life has controversy and knowing and associating with people who think different than you is the only way to understand where they are coming from. Otherwise you just isolate yourseff like everyone else in this country has done. We don't get to know how/why the other side thinks the way they do. We can't fix problems if we don't get to know them and understand them.

BO came from a totally different world than Wright. He associated with him so he could understand better the plights the AA have suffered in America so he could deal with them and not hide from them.
02:02 PM on 03/19/2008
Wow, Frank, what an odd interpretation of this situation. Wrights statements were "mild" compared to your father's? Not the statements you attribute to your father. They are based and steeped in the bible. Rev. Wright's tended not to be, they transcended religion and attacked not a select group for a religious reason (abortionists), but 80% of the country for the color of their skin, United States of the KKK. I don't agree with either person but you need to rethink why you are discounting this current situation.

The "racist Clinton Smear Machine"... I don't even know why I read this site anymore. Frank uses the typical unitelligent argument style of deflecting and ad hominem attacks. I thought one of the Huffington forum rules was no ad hominem attacks? Can't believe the writers aren't held to as high of standards as the posters. Says something...
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gladys46
Know Your Interests, Vote
03:17 PM on 03/19/2008
Guess what!! Most of Rev. Wright's sermons are directly out of the "Bible" the only differences are that names and places are changed!!-- in your spare time read Judges 4:4--