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DEL.ICIO.USA rebuilding year for Christian conservatives
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One cold morning last week, 10 religious conservative groups gathered at the front steps of the state Capitol to list what they wanted from the 236 lawmakers inside.
Restrictions on fertility clinics. Defeat of a bill to permit Sunday sales of beer and wine in grocery stores. Say no to casinos. Provide help to young girls forced into prostitution.
No organization’s agenda was the same, and attendance was far from complete. The Georgia Family Council was missing. So was the Catholic Archdiocese.
Sadie Fields, head of the Georgia Christian Alliance, had chosen to do her lobbying a day earlier, testifying in favor of school vouchers and against academics who explore topics such as oral sex and male prostitution.
But two close friends of Fields, activists Kay Godwin and Pat Tippett from south Georgia, were at the morning event. They’re forming yet another group: Georgia Conservatives in Action.
Five years past the height of their power, when they persuaded two-thirds of the state Legislature to endorse a constitutional ban on gay marriage, conservative Christian groups find themselves splintered and their clout much diminished.
Certainly, they still matter. Once Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss decided to vote against the stimulus package in Washington, the senators arranged Saturday morning calls to Fields for her approval.
But internal dissent, a confrontation last year with state lawmakers, and Barack Obama’s election — not to mention a spiraling economy that shifts attention away from social issues — all have taken their toll.
Last year, Georgia Right to Life pushed hard for H.R. 536, a proposed constitutional amendment to declare fertilized eggs to be human beings. The archdiocese declined to support it. Other groups declared themselves neutral. Hardball tactics offended lawmakers. The measure died.
“Last year was a huge learning curve for us. Maybe we overplayed our hand with the human life amendment,” said Tim Echols, one of those who organized last week’s gathering. “We got such a push-back from the General Assembly. We were all marginalized as a result.”
But Echols said the results of the 2008 presidential race, which shattered hopes of a U.S. Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade, has also caused disarray.
“The Obama election was sobering for us, because it’s almost like the death of a vision. Losing this election meant losing that thing at the very top of our wish list,” said Echols, who sits on the board of the Georgia Christian Coalition. “Now what do we want? That means everybody comes back to the table. Now, we’ve got to hash it out.”
Though he recognizes that not all conservative Christian groups oppose it, Echols puts great stock in the defeat of S.B. 16 as a way to restore the movement’s stature in the Capitol. The bill would permit Sunday sales of beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores.
“We’re itching for a win,” he said.
Echols is the founder of TeenPact, an organization that introduces kids — often home-schooled — to the workings of government. A day earlier, he’d led 40 teenagers inside to pack a Senate committee meeting on the Sunday sales bill.
But reassessments are never one-sided. And there are those who question the very nature of the working relationship that many conservative Christians seek to rebuild with politicians.
Jenny Hodges is a 33-year-old mother of six from Acworth, the type of true believer who makes appointments with abortion clinics to check their compliance with regulations — sonograms and such — imposed by Republican lawmakers at the behest of conservative Christian groups.
The regulations are mostly window-dressing, Hodges has decided.
“I came to the conclusion that Republicans in Georgia were not really pro-life,” she said. “That they were using [the issue] to get votes, and that the pro-life groups are letting them get away with it by being satisfied with incremental legislation that does not actually impact abortion numbers, but is effective for fund-raising.”
Hodges now wears her own lobbying badge. And she has founded her own group, called Pro-Life Unity.
Comments
By Steve
February 22, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this
Almost all of us considered part of the conservative social movement can agree on a pro-life agenda,opposing homosexual marriage or civil unions, restoring parental rights, etc. However, there is great disagreement on two issues: Casino gambling and Sunday sales of alcohol. If alcohol is going to be legal in this state then from a personal liberty standpoint there should be no restriction on when it is sold. Some Christians keep Sunday as their sabbath, others keep Saturday along with Jews, other faiths celebrate Friday. The religious argument for restricting sales based upon holy days is antiguated and not worth fighting for. As for video gambling machines being operated by the Georgia Lottery? That is already being done with the Keno video games located in 100’s of nightclubs and restaurants across the state. We as a state have already decided to fund education with the lottery. Opposing an Underground Atlanta video gambling operation is hard to justify unless you are also in favor of disolving the entire lottery operation, which I doubt many of you want to do.
By Steve
February 22, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this
For years, we’ve been told that Christian conservatives have limited clout. I believe that the media is speaking more to what they hope than to what is actually true. In the South, in particular, Christian conservatism still have massive clout. Let’s pray that we get more back soon!
By SickoftheTyranny
February 22, 2009 6:16 PM | Link to this
I hope the Christian Right continues to be marginalized—to the point where they feel compelled to form a third party. They can continue to feel righteous while the rest of us get on with business of being grown-ups and having national politics that can move beyond the conservative Christian obsession with looking up of everyone’s skirts!
By fultonrighty
February 22, 2009 6:43 PM | Link to this
Christian conservatives are far more unified on issues than this story presents--the supporters of every group mentioned are against abortion on demand, against redefinitions of marriage, against sexual exploitation of children and women, against legalization of drugs, and for the preservation of the family, etc. There is unity of direction, though not always of strategy. (Do you really think the Archdiocese favors the status quo in abortion law?) Each of the organizations has its own focus, priorities and strategy. But the CONSTITUENTS they represent are very much overlapping in their goals and purposes. Members of the legislature are astute enough to know that. After all, we are the grassroots who elected the majority of them.By patrick
February 22, 2009 9:59 PM | Link to this
yawn…crazy bible thumpers trying to legislate morality. Go find an island somewhere.
By Keith Harris
February 23, 2009 1:53 AM | Link to this
I am happy to have moved far, far away from the “Christian” south. Christian conservatives are SO concerned about how everyone but themselves live, what others do in the bedroom and try to impose their values on the rest of us all while they, the Christian nutcases, lurk behind the bushes, cruise for sex in public airport toilets, think Larry Craig & Ted Haggard, in various vulgar sex acts, rape minors, look up skirts then vie for the front pew of Sunday morning.
The way I see it, the loudest most outspoken Christian conservatives are self serving sexual deviants.
By WelfarefortheRich
February 23, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this
Keith Harris you are 100% on point with your comment.
It is always interesting to see “Christian Conservatives” talk about government in people’s business; however they always want government to tell you what to do with your “vagna” (Pro-lifers). They are so concern with what goes on in someone elses bedroom that they don’t watch their own bedroom. Stay out of peoples “vagna” you heathens!
By Love Wisdom
February 23, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
I find it interesting how many people choose to attack the different groups rather than the issues.
The question that everyone on here needs to ask themselves are will these issues make Georgia a better place to live? Regardless, of who is introducing them that is the key.
I think tougher crimes on people that are sexually exploiting women is good for Georgia.
There are too many women on the streets right now in Atlanta who are being exploited for other’s gain, and yes this is a private bedroom issue, but at the point that the welfare of these young women is being exploited people in Georgia need to do something about it.
Regulating, our fertility clinics is a good thing seeeing as how now the procedures favor the doctor’s success rather than what is healthiest for the woman’s body.
So the moment that someone wants to start talking the issues let’s do it.
But if all you want to do is attack the charachter of these people, then you are missing the point.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
February 23, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this
And on the 9th day, God said, “Hey. Don’t drink alcohol on Sunday. Seriously. Any other day is fine, but on that day, if you truly love me, you will spend your time getting your political leaders to not vote for that.
Don’t bother with health care for children. I know I said I care about children, but you don’t worry about that, you just focus on beer sales on sunday.
Don’t bother with funding the defense of the homeless or the innocent. I know what I said about the poor and defenseless, but you don’t worry about that. Just focus on beer sales on Sunday.
For I so love the world that I sent mine only begotten son to die for Lower Taxes.”
Gee, I don’t think that sounded like God either.
By SickoftheTyranny
February 23, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
Love Wisdom,
Has it ever occurred to you that, if there were more well-paying jobs in this state, fewer women would resort to prostitution? As far as women are concerned, Georgia’s wages are among the lowest in the nation. Furthermore this state graduates among the fewest female high school students in the country.
Perhaps Georgians should focus on providing their daughters with good educations which will enable them to realize ambitions higher than popping babies and validating the bad choices of so many of their mothers and grandmothers. It’s time for a little less moralizing and a little more reality, LoveWisdom. The rest of us are sick of seeing Georgia’s women live in poverty while the likes of you criticize them for lifestyles that don’t quite up to your standards of “goodness.”
By Copyleft
February 23, 2009 3:03 PM | Link to this
Here’s hoping the Christian Right stays marginalized for many years to come. America deserves better than their hateful, thoroughly UN-Christian ignorance.
By Gary Vause
February 23, 2009 8:34 PM | Link to this
The Governor is trying to locate his brain.
By Gary Vause
February 23, 2009 8:49 PM | Link to this
The Governor is trying to locate his brain.