Katherine Harris plays the ‘God card’ with some unsavory characters

March 20, 2006

Rep. Katherine Harris’ (R-Fla.) Senate campaign is clearly facing serious trouble — down in the polls, lagging fundraising, zero institutional support, a scandal or two hanging overhead — but like too many Republican candidates, she has one tactic to fall back on: the God card.

More than 800 conservative Christians were attending a two-day annual conference called Reclaiming America for Christ at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. Harris received a standing ovation when she arrived at the pulpit.

She told the crowd that she studied under Francis Schaeffer in Geneva, Switzerland. Schaeffer is considered a founder of the modern evangelical movement, which encourages advocating Christian beliefs in public life. Schaeffer, in his book A Christian Manifesto, called for Christian activists to demand “biblical morality” in government affairs.

Harris, a Presbyterian, said she “redirected my life to the Lord when I was only in the third grade.” She said she was “blessed to be raised in a godly family.”

Harris also said that she never would have entered politics if she did not believe that God wanted her to make public service part of her life. She added, “Everything is possible with God.”

I suppose the obvious concern would be Harris’ shameless pandering to the GOP’s theocratic wing, but I have a slightly different question: Why isn’t Harris’ attendance at this conference a scandal in and of itself?

The Reclaiming America for Christ conference, hosted annually at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, is a chance for the Taliban-wing of the conservative movement to talk about, literally, “reclaiming” the country and making it a “Christian nation.” The host of the event, Coral Ridge’s Rev. D. James Kennedy, is a fairly important figure in religious right circles. He’s also someone who’s offered gems such as:

* “This is our land. This is our world. This is our heritage, and with God’s help, we shall reclaim this nation for Jesus Christ. And no power on earth can stop us.”

* “How much more forcefully can I say it? The time has come, and it is long overdue, when Christians and conservatives and all men and women who believe in the birthright of freedom must rise up and reclaim America for Jesus Christ.”

* “Christians did not start the culture war but…we are going to end it. That is a fact, and the Bible assures us of victory.”

Republicans whine incessantly if a Dem officeholder or candidate takes out an ad at Daily Kos or, perish the through, cooperates with MoveOn.org in some way, but Katherine Harris appears alongside a radical preacher like D. James Kennedy and this is kosher? Michael Moore is to be kept at arm’s length, but GOP Senate candidates should hobnob with theocrats at the annual “Reclaiming America for Christ” conference?

The mind reels.

Did she strut and show off her plastic titties? That’ll get the God crowd everytime.

  • The only surprising part is that Dems hold themselves to rules the GOP machine cooks up but don’t themselves follow.

    ATTENTION DEMS: stop listening to the GOP like they’re on your side. They are not. They are on their own side, and on credit-card companies’ loansharks’ side, and on the side of big spending, wasteful, crippling deficits, theocratic Washington, and finally, most importantly, on the side of the immoral rich.

    If a person gets tricked by another and hurt therefrom, I blame the one who committed the fraud. If they let the same exact thing happen again, I wonder who’s to blame. If they keep coming back for more like a drunk to listerine, I know we’re dealing with a Democrat.

  • eadie, i agree. the answer to CB’s question of why the Rethugs can appear somewhere like this without controversy, while Dems are pilloried for associating with MoveOn, is simple: because we let it happen. The demonization of MoveOn didn’t happen like a form of spontaneous combustion. The Rethugs aggressively lashed out at MoveOn and those who associated with it. The Rs get away with hugging dangerous theocrats because the Dems dont say a thing, don’t make an issue, for fear of looking “anti-religion.” We’ve fallen completely into the R trap where we have come to believe that defending ourselves, or criticizing them, will have more consequences than it is worth. That is a sure-fire strategy for weakness and loss.

  • I wonder why it is more important to evangelicals that their party politicians talk the talk and say you are a Christian and study or at least say you studied/knew certain people, but not important to actually walk the walk? When will evangelicals hold their politicians up to the same standards that they hold opposing party politicians?

    Moliere would have a field day the modern GOP.

    Don Juan: “These days, hypocrisy is the most fashionable vice of all.”

  • Hi CB,

    Do you have any quotes about what these dangerous Theocrats are going to do when they take over America?

    Shut down Hollywood?

    Take everybodies sex toys (ala Georgia)?

    Outlaw non-Christian sects, such as the Mormans, Roman Catholics, Episcapalians, etc.?

    You haven’t really given us anything to fear but fear itself.

  • She told the crowd that she studied under Francis Schaeffer in Geneva, Switzerland. Schaeffer is considered a founder of the modern evangelical movement, which encourages advocating Christian beliefs in public life. Schaeffer, in his book A Christian Manifesto, called for Christian activists to demand “biblical morality” in government affairs.

    Wow. I’m just imagining the field day that Rush and the gang would have if John Kerry or some democrat started talking about getting their ideas from studying in Europe with someone who proposes alien ideas that are radically out of step with American history. We’re having foreigners with no appreciation of the very American separation of church and state dictating how we should conduct our politics. If this was a democrat spouting this stuff, talk radio would go nuts.

  • Has anybody seen V for Vendetta yet? You should, hopefully it will never get that bad, but think of how many tyrants use religon. What happens if you don’t believe in god in any of these peoples schemes? People will not react to this insanity until its too late though. I know I repeated this time and time again, but people will not take drastic solutions, until there is a drastic problem, but by then it hurts a lot worse.

  • The neo-cons are discredited as their foolish feel good ideas become hard unworkable reality, the overreaching biblical taliban will suffer the same fate in making abortion and birth control illegal.
    Some promises work best when left unkept.

  • I get WSBK as part of my satellite package and I’ve seen the Coral Ridge Hour (only because I’m waiting for Larry Curly and Moe which follows afterwards.) From what little I’ve seen, I know this guy is hardcore in terms of his fundamentalism with little room for anything but his brand of people.

    He definately has very strong ideas of what his version of ‘merica is.

    If guys like him didn’t have the ear of the administration or attract pols then I’d think that the eye poking antics of LC&M weren’t the funniest thing on Sunday morning TV.

    BTW, what would he think of Harris’ use of her only two remaining assets (TDS named Moxie and Spunk) to sell herself?

  • How did Christians become the “persecuted” class in this country? Just because Target wouldn’t let the Salvation Army in front of their stores? Or a school didn’t allow a Christian prayer at a football game?

    “Let us pray for peace on earth and good will towards man.
    Now go out there and tear that goddamn quarterback’s head off!!!!”

  • Let’s be clear who D. James Kennedy is – he is the founder “Dominionist” Christianity. These are the people who pledge allegiance to Christ, coming to take America back. Dominionism is the “mainstream” theology at most mega-churches. These folks really are the “American Taliban” – the ones who would like to see the death penalty extended to “unchaste women” (and likely to little boyswith “hair on their palms”).

  • Kathleen Harris should be in prison for fixing the Florida election in 2000…not a member of the US House! If there is a God in Heaven, Kathleen Harris will burn in Hell. Imagine what that will do to her plastic titties!

  • Anyone who preaches hate is not one with god and should be dismissed immediately as a false prophet.

    Of course, with Cruela DeHarris there, there are enough “falsies” to go around.

  • I’m just hoping that Ms. Harris can keep her spunky campaign going until November. If she crashes and burns early, there’s always the chance that the Florida GOP could find a competitive candidate to challenge Nelson.

  • I’m wondering if she will have her hyman restored, to match her plastic titties, and then claim she is the re-incarnation of the Virgin Mary

  • “That is a fact, and the Bible assures us of victory.” – D. James Kennedy

    If that is true, why have they been losing since forever.

    Damnit, Thomas Jefferson collected pornography.

    These guys have been losing because they are just WRONG about almost everything, and the things they are right about they are too lazy to preach for themselves. They insist that the Government do all their work for them, so they can sit back deflowering virgins or whatever sick “reward” they imagine they deserve for being so “Good”.

  • I find the ability for the Dems in Congress to take crap from the GOP mind-numbingly fascinating. To me it’s like watching the dynamics from high school play out on a much larger field. And in this analog, the Dems, sadly, are the nerds who so desperately want to be liked, or at least accepted, by the jocks. They’re the passive girlfriend who will put up with a tremendous amount of abuse for some semblance of a “happy” relationship. And the Republicans are the asshole jocks (ironic, considering how many pasty white heart-attacks-waiting-to-happen comprise the GOP side of the Denate) who will keep telling the losers what they need to do to be accepted, all the while knowing they will never fully accept, let alone embrace, those losers.

    Lieberman? He’s the nerd willing to help the jocks with their homework.

    Pelosi? The valedictorian who knows she was invited to a party only because the defensive end plan on trying to gang-bang her, but she still seriously considers going, because, you know, maybe she’ll develop some alliances that will helpful in the future. Feingold is the guy who would be on the football team, but told off the coach and refused to sign the Dazed and Confused-esque “I promise not to do anything to rock the boat and keep the team on track” pledge.

    It’s been said before, but Dems, nothing you can say or do is going to make the diehard Republicans like you, or agree with your policies, or vote for your bills. Sure, there are few independent minded Repubs out there, but most of them hate. They LIKE to hate you. They feel that they need an enemy and you are it. You can either keep trying to curry their favor, extend that olive branch and hope for de’tente. OR, you can take your cases to the people and keep at it until they all start to listen. In fact, they’re looking fomr someone to listen to now. You just need to have something to say.

  • Why when you say you are one of these christians you expect everyone to kowtow to you. Since I was little I have always been taught that real Christians do for the poor, the hungry and the needy. That in my estimation is a true Christian.

    Look at the bush administration. Filled with so called christians. They give to the rich and take from the poor. They give huge tax credits and benefits to the corporations. They cut food programs, health care, social security benefits and medicare and medicaid benefits. WHAT IS SO CHRISTIAN ABOUT THAT.

    I would rather see a person like Jimmy Carter who goes about his giving to the poor with his Habitat for Humanity than the so called christians like fartwell, robertson and dobson who take the hard earned money of their parishioners and spend it on themselves. They should be ashamed of theirselves.

  • the Daily Show had a “special report” about her last week.
    It ended with “she does have spunk and moxie”
    “that’s we she calls her breasts”

    Another Daily Show beauty from last week talking about “Bush Fatigue” setting in
    “he works 24 hours a week, 7 months a year”

  • Do you have any quotes about what these dangerous Theocrats are going to do when they take over America?

    Shut down Hollywood?

    Take everybodies sex toys (ala Georgia)?

    Outlaw non-Christian sects, such as the Mormans, Roman Catholics, Episcapalians, etc.?

    You haven’t really given us anything to fear but fear itself.

    I would guess nothing that dramatic. However, you can be assured that they would like to:

    1. Completely outlaw abortion, for any reason
    2. Outlaw or severely limit access to birth control
    3. Eliminate sex education in public schools
    4. Institute prayer in public schools (CHRISTIAN prayer btw, too bad if you’re Muslim/Hindu/Jewish/Atheist/etc.)
    5. Post the Ten Commandments in government buildings, as well as ensuring that our courts operate from a “Christian tradition” (i.e., they don’t mind “activist judges” as long as those judges are Christian activists)
    6. Censor our movies, television, music and video games to make them “family-friendly”
    7. Outlaw pornography
    8. Outlaw gay adoption, eliminate gay civil rights (such as they are), shut down gay establishments, etc.

    We can probably think of many more, some dramatic, some mundane. But the overall picture is “Christian America,” and if you don’t fit into that picture, you’d best be moving to Canada.

    Cruella Harris, heh.

  • I keep believing in hell, just so I know that all of these folks are going to pay a big price somewhere.

    Or maybe reincarnation, and they will come back as what they most despise.

    What I like best about Catholicism is purgatory – so that all these celebs who drink and drug and whore and then find Jesus and feel compeled to lecture the rest of us (who have been working hard to be good people, and NOT blowing all our $$) do get redemption, but have to pay some price.

  • we, democrats, allow the republicans to define us.
    no republican in public will denounce pat robertson but will flip if michael moore is mentioned.
    why should we accept the labels and the put downs?
    after what the republicans have offered the US for the past 5 years, I can’tt believe that the democrats help but improve and save our nation.

  • I keep believing in hell, just so I know that all of these folks are going to pay a big price somewhere.

    Or maybe reincarnation, and they will come back as what they most despise.

    I didn’t know someone could be reincarnated as a used condom.

    Seems appropriate though.

  • RagingGurrl, that was unbelievable, especially the second guy (dunce?).

    It reminds me of this interview (realmedia) with anti-abortion protestors; is religion the only thing that’s being substituted for self-reflection in these people?

  • If God is really telling Katherine Harris to run for the Senate, we can be sure that He wants America to go down, and go down fast. (this can be corroborated by the fact that He is also supposedly telling George Bush what to do).

    However, it’s possible that God isn’t talking to either of them. They may just be forgetting to take their medication.

  • I accidentally ran across the Coral Ridge Hour on cable one day and watched in sick fascination as James Kennedy rewrote early American history to be the story of the godly Christian fathers of our country setting up America as a religious state. That and his warnings about the Satanic ‘libruls’ and the ACLU.

  • (post didn’t go through, here it is again)
    Calvin –

    Yes, he’s not the brightest bulb…which is somehow, not surprising.
    I think their predesposition to religious fanaticism draws them to politicians like Bush – a “don’t question, just follow” mentality that fits well in their psyche, and brings the comfort and ability to abandon responsibility for their actions. Because, after all, God tells them they’re right.

  • The Jesus Jumpers are all repressing something to the point of white knuckeling. Many are latent queers, some worry beyond controll, Child molesters, sex addicts, drunks dopers, insanely jealous, controll freaks ect ect. They are scared to death that they will lose controll of themselves and all believe that Jesus is the only thing that keeps them in control. Thats why they believe that mankind is basicly evil. Some are just plain stupid. They have been controlled by their repression, and used for political purposes for 3000 years. We need to find a way to help them lighten up. Maybe Gulags that only feed the prisoners organic pot brownies are in order.

  • only one thought came to my mind after reading this…

    HOLY SHIT!

    I apologize for cursing but in this case the expletive is needed. The way things have been going I’d be broke if I had to give a quarter every time I felt a @#$% moment hit me.

  • Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Those who give up their democratic rights deserve no rights. We will see this Nov. how many have been fooled and how many have seen the light and the truth. Why should this nation go back to the days of wealthy land owners and slave keepers? All one has to do to see the wealthy getting richer and the poor becoming poorer, and the middle class drooping seriously is to ask themselve, “How are you doing now compared to 5, or 10, or 20 years ago? How is the world doing? If all those, “Holier than thou critics,” were living by their so-called beliefs than why are the so hypocritical? They are religious zealots who have taken on a self-ordained power in the name of their God to make themselves feel better and more important.

  • They all make me sick, this woman should be taken care of like Joan of arc, and what makes them so so so sure their is a GOD, and if their is a God, he would never claim these fools, just like the fanatics in the middle east, there all heading straight to hell.

  • I make t-shirts and bookbags with this list I wrote, but if it will help thump these right wing zealots on the head and remind them what a Christian is supposed to be I am happy to share:

    Ten Ways to Spot a
    Liberal Christian

    1.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Love one another”
    2.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Love your enemies”
    3.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Turn the other cheek”
    4.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Do unto others as you would have them do unto You”
    5.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Care for the poor and Hungry”
    6.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Care for the sick”
    7.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Visit the imprisoned”
    8.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Clothe the naked”
    9.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “It is easier for a Camel to fit through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter heaven”
    10.We believe Jesus meant it when he said “Forgive”

    • Comments are closed.