Christian Coalition Going Belly Up?

[Dan Mc Intyre]

It sure doesn't look good for them. From their peak 1996 reported revenue of $26M, the Christian Coalition's reported revenue dropped to $1.3M with reported expenses of $1.5M in 2004.

This article details the decline of the Christian Coalition. And it is rather ugly. There are unpaid bills all over the place and at least one dozen collection actions have been filed. Even their lawyers are bailing on them for non-payment. A former CC bookkeeper stated in an affidavit that CC President Roberta Combs often told her not to pay bills because the vendor wouldn't sue them. And I'm being generous here. The article I reference is much more scathing.

All this brought to you by the same people that brought us "The Smirking Chimp." You know, the ones that carry on loudly and endlessly about Christian morals and family values.

There seems to be a pattern developing for the Republican Party lately. Let's all hope this latest news symbolizes the Republican Party in general and we can break the strangle hold they have on executive and legislative branches next go round. I guess it's too late for the judicial branch. It looks like we're going to have to live with W's choices for a long time. And that's a real shame.

Dan

[bryanthompson]

I knew there'd be a problem when they started hiring Air America's accountants.

[Dan Mc Intyre]

Good one, bryan.

[Jeff Higgins]

The Christian Coalition may fail due to missmanagement, corruption, greed, and whatever else. Christianity won't. Before all the left wing pagans start dancing on the grave of Christianity, they better understand that quite clearly.

I would love to see this interpreted by the left as some indication of a general weakening of Christian principles in this country. I would love to see them assume that Christians will abandon their beliefs and moral convictions over something like this. I would love to see them come further out of the closet, go further down the road of moral decline. All because they see this as an opportune time, like the tide is finally turning their way. I would just love to see that kind of gross misscalculation.

They vastly underestimate the Christian / moral base of this country as it is, to their detriment. They think it is all rather silly and wish very badly it would just go away so they could carry on unfettered by the bounds of morality and good taste. They just don't get it. Assuming this is any indication that they are gaining any ground whatsoever would be foolish, but then again, that defines the breed. If this emboldens them to further expose their true nature, that would be great. It just might prove in the end to be another nail in THEIR coffin. The steady-Eddie, clear-thinking, moral and Christian base of this country will survive this too. If they are not carefull, the radical left might not.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
They just don't get it.

No, we do get it. We just don't like it. We would very much like for the Christian Taliban to sod off and leave us the **** alone.

Thank you.

Oh, here, you can have these tracts back, too.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Before all the left wing pagans start dancing on the grave of Christianity

All the good and deeply spiritual and religious people I know are pretty much against organized religion or at least corrupt big religion.

Maybe American's are waking up to the fact that politics and religion should respect each other's boundaries.

The Christian Coalition was/is a political entity, best we remember that.

[kach22i]

From 1999

http://www.rickross.com/reference/fundamentalists/fund24.html

Ruling Hits Christian Coalition, IRS Forces Powerhouse to Pay Taxes
Associated Press/June 10, 1999

Washington -- There's a dramatic shake-up in the works at the Christian Coalition following the bombshell revelation that the IRS has denied the organization its tax-exempt status.

Officials told the Associated Press that the coalition was first denied tax-exempt status last year, when the IRS ruled that certain Christian Coalition activities were too partisan for the group to enjoy tax-exempt status. But the ruling was kept under wraps pending an appeal.

Apparently, the Christian Coalition was notified in recent weeks that it would lose that appeal.

Now, the former political powerhouse is expected to split into two groups. Officials say the changes will leave the coalition "dramatically reshaped," with the main contingent focusing on non-profit voter education.

Goals Remain Same
Despite structural changes, though, officials say the coalition's goals will be the same - to recruit "pro-family" activists, draw people to the polls for elections and educate people on the issues that affect families.

"The new Christian Coalition International will operate much like a for-profit corporation, allowed to engage in partisan activity, endorse candidates, give candidate contributions," said Mike Russell, spokesman for the organization.

He said the new entity could form a political action committee, and would open chapters overseas.

The IRS decision is a major blow to a lobbying group already waning in influence and experiencing dips in fund-raising. Other religion-focused groups, such as the Family Research Council, hope to emerge as the next powerhouse of the Republican right wing.

Barry Lynn, a longtime critic of the coalition, said the political implications are enormous.

"The Christian Coalition is a hardball political machine that is masquerading as a religious group. The evidence is overwhelming that this organization has been operating as virtually an arm of the Republican Party," said Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by kach22i
All the good and deeply spiritual and religious people I know are pretty much against organized religion or at least corrupt big religion.

Maybe American's are waking up to the fact that politics and religion should respect each other's boundaries.

The Christian Coalition was/is a political entity, best we remember that.

Absolutely; I could not agree more. When I was a young man I rather shocked the extended family (Irish Catholic) when I ran away screaming from the Catholic church. Most of them still do not understand that while I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, I simply do not believe in the church. They see it as all being lumped together. Big organized churches and their politics are of man, not of God.

And, believe it or not, I actually agree with you too, Thom. The Christian Taliban has no place in this country or any other. I wish they would leave me alone, too. Faith is up to every individual. Their ceaseless browbeating will never change your mind, and it embarasses me. The information is out there if YOU want to go find it; their approach ensures you will never want to.

All of that said, the quietly faithfull, those with strong moral convictions, will not change. We will not cram our beliefs down your throats like the big attention-getting organizations or individuals will. We believe in living and letting live. But, and this is a big "but", we will never support many of the radical ideas espoused by the left. And we vote. A lot. So the left would be wise to understand this, that these organizations do not represent the quiet majority. We do not support them any more than you do. Just because they come and go does not mean that we do. While we will not get in your faces about it like these quasi-religious political types will, we cannot and will not support much of the left's agenda. That's the part the left just does not get. And, once again, we vote. Early and often.

[gaijindabe]

Well stated Jeff.

[hunter914]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
The Christian Coalition may fail due to missmanagement, corruption, greed, and whatever else. Christianity won't. Before all the left wing pagans start dancing on the grave of Christianity, they better understand that quite clearly.

I would love to see this interpreted by the left as some indication of a general weakening of Christian principles in this country. I would love to see them assume that Christians will abandon their beliefs and moral convictions over something like this. I would love to see them come further out of the closet, go further down the road of moral decline. All because they see this as an opportune time, like the tide is finally turning their way. I would just love to see that kind of gross misscalculation.

They vastly underestimate the Christian / moral base of this country as it is, to their detriment. They think it is all rather silly and wish very badly it would just go away so they could carry on unfettered by the bounds of morality and good taste. They just don't get it. Assuming this is any indication that they are gaining any ground whatsoever would be foolish, but then again, that defines the breed. If this emboldens them to further expose their true nature, that would be great. It just might prove in the end to be another nail in THEIR coffin. The steady-Eddie, clear-thinking, moral and Christian base of this country will survive this too. If they are not carefull, the radical left might not.

Why is the vast majority of porn sold in the Bible Belt? Porn is a $10 billion per year business. 61% of it is sold from Arkansas to Georgia.

that's Christian morality?

[cowtown]

It's because the coasties have Internet access....

[hunter914]

Originally posted by cowtown
It's because the coasties have Internet access....

and running water...

[MichiganMat]

Originally posted by hunter914
Why is the vast majority of porn sold in the Bible Belt? Porn is a $10 billion per year business. 61% of it is sold from Arkansas to Georgia.

that's Christian morality?

Its all that family shame and those repressed urges boiling over and acting out. You're shamed into not scratching your nuts, being kind to children, and dutifully going to church on Sunday.... a guy needs some release, and Nascar can only do so much.

Its like I always say: Theres not a doubt in my mind that without the shame of his church, Rick Santorum would be dancing in a g-string at the BlueOyster 5 nights a week.

[Jeff Higgins]

It always amuses me to see non-Christians' views on Christianity. They see it as a life lived in shame, feeling guilty about every little thing that may bring pleasure. They see it as a life of self-deprecation and self-denial. Manly looking nuns rapping kids accross the knuckles with rulers. Stern priests chastising foks for any sin, real, perceived, or suspected. All I can say is that such folks watch too much T.V. and lack the intellect, and often the desire, to seperate fact from fiction. They have their stereotypes of Christians and will not be swayed from them.

I find that a bit odd coming from a class of people, the left, that generally prides itself in open mindedness and all inclusiveness. Christianity is clearly not on their "prefered list", and is therefore open for uninformed derision and outright ridicule. They continue to say things about Christians (and rednecks for that matter) that would be completely unnacceptable to say about gays, blacks, Jews, single mothers, transvestites, Muslims, illegal immigrants, welfare recipients, etc....

[Dan Mc Intyre]

Look, there is more than enough scandal to go around. For example, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker, Catholic Priests and pedophilia, etc. And now we have the CC intentionally withholding payments and defrauding people out of money.

The point is these are the people leading the charge calling for Christian values and morals. Yet, they have none themselves.

It is the same way with the Republican Party. They preach family and Christianity, but it's "do as I say, not as I do" with them. And I don't mean it's limited to religious convictions. It's scattered all across the board. The Republican Party is a shell. Nice and pretty on the outside, but rotten to the core inside with lies and deceit.

You know, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you!" Yea...right.

Dan

[hunter914]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
It always amuses me to see non-Christians' views on Christianity. They see it as a life lived in shame, feeling guilty about every little thing that may bring pleasure. They see it as a life of self-deprecation and self-denial. Manly looking nuns rapping kids accross the knuckles with rulers. Stern priests chastising foks for any sin, real, perceived, or suspected. All I can say is that such folks watch too much T.V. and lack the intellect, and often the desire, to seperate fact from fiction. They have their stereotypes of Christians and will not be swayed from them.

I find that a bit odd coming from a class of people, the left, that generally prides itself in open mindedness and all inclusiveness. Christianity is clearly not on their "prefered list", and is therefore open for uninformed derision and outright ridicule. They continue to say things about Christians (and rednecks for that matter) that would be completely unnacceptable to say about gays, blacks, Jews, single mothers, transvestites, Muslims, illegal immigrants, welfare recipients, etc....

My view of Christians is one of hypocrisy. it is of Catholic priets raping boys all covered up by bishops, the pope. My view is that Christians hate anyone "too" different from them, whether it be gays or scientists. My view is that Christians base their beleifs in the darkness of status quo ignorance, rather than the light of information. My view is one of Falwell giving a sermon and I quote, "God blesses the tither" and of Pat Robertson who thinks we should kill other world leaders because it's cheaper than war.

Modern day Christianity is an abomination, it is evil, and yet you all wrap yourselves in God and blame the rest of the world for your problems when indeed Christians are the cause.

[MichiganMat]

Take it easy kids.

There are few more happy than I to see the CC going down, but I know they don't represent many of the good Christians I know. I have many Christian friends who can laugh at themselves, keep their faith a private matter, and generally obey the rules of politeness and decency.

Unfortunately, they are a rare breed.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
They see it as a life lived in shame, feeling guilty about every little thing that may bring pleasure.

OK, so show me examples to the contrary.

Manly looking nuns rapping kids accross the knuckles with rulers.

Yeah, I must have just imagined that during my years in Catholic school.

Stern priests chastising foks for any sin, real, perceived, or suspected.

I've suffered through this crap, too.

They have their stereotypes of Christians and will not be swayed from them.

Likewise xtians have stereotypes of non-xtians as wild, hedonistic pagans.

I find that a bit odd coming from a class of people, the left, that generally prides itself in open mindedness and all inclusiveness.

The Left's problem with xitanity isn't xtianity itself; it's your puritanical zeal to quell and suppress - thorugh the political process when possible - whatever you happen to currently find objectionable. You know, gay rights, geocentricism, stuff like that. If left unchecked (pun intended), the xtian socio-political machine would completely obliterate the left in the name of 'moral cleansing'.[/B]

[Mulhollanddose]

Originally posted by widebody911
No, we do get it. We just don't like it. We would very much like for the Christian Taliban to sod off and leave us the **** alone.

Think about that statement next time you vote to raise my taxes. Think about that statement next time you vote for politicians who support special interests that are trying to export abortion to people who do not want it.

[Mulhollanddose]