Books & Culture on "Crunchy Cons"

Bubba,

But what justifies Rod's particular bashing of conservatives, painting mainstream conservatives as godless materialists and the GOP base as homophobes?

While I wouldn't necessarily agree with Rod's rhetorical choices, the answer could be because they demonstrate the qualities listed. (I generally stay away from calling anyone "godless", even when they espouse agnostic or atheistic positions, or reject anthropomorphism as I do. I dislike the connotations of the word.)

I suggest you browse Michael Lerner's The Left Hand of God. He has some interesting observations of the religious/political right to offer, and he makes a very strong effort to avoid name calling.

Oh, and homophobia is a very reasonable conclusion to such rhetoric as defense of marriage and "...they are going to destroy the institution." Fear is a avery apt description. We had little difficulty calling them racists when "negro" was substituted for homosexual. One thing history teaches us, is that there is very little new under the sun when it comes to whipping up the masses against the scapegoat du jour.>

Rod, I think you have found an unimpeachable example of your constituency... who can't seem to get a direct and informative response from Kathleen Reilly.

I'm sure I'll survive without it, but dialogue is the spice of life.>