EVANGELICALISM REDEFINED?

Some influential Christians are trying to redefine the agenda of the evangelicals. But they face stiff opposition from the usual suspects, activists James Dobson of Focus On the Family, Don Wildmon of the American Family Assn. and Paul Weyrich of American Values.

A new generation of pastors has expanded the definition of moral issues to include not only global warming, but an array of causes. Quoting Scripture and invoking Jesus, they're calling for citizenship for illegal immigrants, universal healthcare and caps on carbon emissions.
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In religious terms, an evangelical is a Christian who has been born again, seeks a personal relationship with Christ, and considers the Bible the word of God, to be faithfully obeyed.

But Dobson and his fellow letter-writers suggested that evangelical should also signify "conservative views on politics, economics and biblical morality."

The letter took particular aim at the Rev. Richard Cizik, a prominent evangelical lobbyist who has promoted environmental protection as a moral imperative. Citing the creation story in the Book of Genesis, he has called the fight against global warming a directive "straight from the word of God … no doubt about it."

The letter accused Cizik of "dividing and demoralizing" Christians by pushing this agenda and called on his employer, the National Assn. of Evangelicals, to silence him or to demand his resignation.

The Association refused to do so.

NY FIREFIGHTERS ON GIULIANI

Wow. Despite Rudy Giuliani's reputation as "America's Mayor," awarded to him for his supposedly heroic and leaderly actions on the day of 9/11 and afterwards, New York City firefighters have blasted him for "a disgraceful lack of respect." Seems Rudy violated his pledge that he was committed to "the recovery of those [firefighters] lost 'right down to the last brick," and opted in November (after the gold, silver and other assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia had been recovered) to a "scoop and dump" operation.

This is so typically Republican, and so Bush-like. Promise, in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, to honor ordinary folks (in this case, undisputed HEROES), but then after the news cameras disappear to renege on the promise.

Shades of Katrina?

HOW TO OUT A CIA AGENT

Great summary of the Valerie Plame outing and subsequent events, by Robert Parry.

NEWTIE WAS HAVING AFFAIR DURING CLINTON IMPEACHMENT

So Newt Gingrich had another affair, this time even while he was pushing for Bill Clinton's impeachment.

Newtie admitted this in an interview with conservative Christian leader Dr. James Dobson. How does he explain the hypocrisy of his actions?

"I drew a line in my mind that said, 'Even though I run the risk of being deeply embarrassed, and even though at a purely personal level I am not rendering judgment on another human being, as a leader of the government trying to uphold the rule of law, I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept ... perjury in your highest officials."

Well now, I assume from that that he won't be advocating a pardon for Scooter Libby. But we'll see. Hyperpartisan conservatives have a way of justifying the actions of their cohorts while trying to destroy the opposition for the same. A case in point is the efforts of the likes of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Hugh Hewitt and Michael Medved, all of whom are extremely anti-abortion, excusing Rudy Giuliani's opposite stand on the grounds that he'll appoint pro-life judges. See, Democrats are baby killers, but Rudy's just confused.