# The "Republicans are too far to the right" notion **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 1, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460 "2012-03-01T16:21:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/61 "2012-03-05T17:49:03Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Read LBJ’s biography to see how he conquered his racist upbringing in order to do this. I suppose JFK was more liberal, but on this issue LBJ had further to come and merits almost more applause. Read also [_Made in Texas,_](http://www.amazon.com/Made-Texas-Southern-Takeover-American/dp/0465041213) by Michael Lind, who shows that, in addition to the racist, conservative, antibiggumint, and extractive-economy thinking that we all associate with Texas, there is and always has been (like, from the Indian-Wars days) a more liberal, tolerant, and modern-minded strain in Texas politics, and that definitely influenced LBJ. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/62 "2012-03-11T23:19:12Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Well, duh. You don’t really think Dobson, Huckabee, etc. give a crap about the religious freedom of anyone else, do you? Maybe Judaism but only as it fits in with their end of days scenarios. They could care less about Muslims, Hindus or anyone else having freedom of religion. And Catholics aren’t really what they consider Christian either. Rick Warren has no problem speaking to and working with Muslims. And practically every Evangelical except Jack Chick has no problem with Catholics or Orthodox. Dobson, Huckabee, etc. are not theocrats and if they can think logically they’ll know that you can’t convert someone by persecuting and persecution is not in the spirit of Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/63 "2012-03-11T23:28:27Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Dobson, Huckabee, etc. are not theocrats and if they can think logically they’ll know that you can’t convert someone by persecuting and persecution is not in the spirit of Christ. Huckabee is the very definition of a theocrat, because he wants to [amend the Constitution to incorporate god’s law](http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=ce270d38103a630c3181db372a25a052&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fshowthread.php%3Fp%3D14828716%26highlight%3Dhuckabee%2Bconstitution%23post14828716&v=1&libid=1331508449614&out=http%3A%2F%2Fnewsbusters.org%2Fblogs%2Fmark-finkelstein%2F2008%2F01%2F15%2Fgeist-take-away-charm-huckabees-crackpot&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fsearch.php%3Fsearchid%3D7782276&title=The%20%22Republicans%20are%20too%20far%20to%20the%20right%22%20notion%20-%20Straight%20Dope%20Message%20Board&txt=%3CFONT%20color%3D%2322229c%3Edangerous%20ideas%20about%20the%20%3CSPAN%20class%3Dhighlight%3EConstitution%3C%2FSPAN%3E%3C%2FFONT%3E&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13315084540691). ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/64 "2012-03-11T23:37:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Huckabee is the very definition of a theocrat, because he wants to [amend the Constitution to incorporate god’s law](http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=ce270d38103a630c3181db372a25a052&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fshowthread.php%3Fp%3D14828716%26highlight%3Dhuckabee%2Bconstitution%23post14828716&v=1&libid=1331508449614&out=http%3A%2F%2Fnewsbusters.org%2Fblogs%2Fmark-finkelstein%2F2008%2F01%2F15%2Fgeist-take-away-charm-huckabees-crackpot&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fboards.straightdope.com%2Fsdmb%2Fsearch.php%3Fsearchid%3D7782276&title=The%20%22Republicans%20are%20too%20far%20to%20the%20right%22%20notion%20-%20Straight%20Dope%20Message%20Board&txt=%3CFONT%20color%3D%2322229c%3Edangerous%20ideas%20about%20the%20%3CSPAN%20class%3Dhighlight%3EConstitution%3C%2FSPAN%3E%3C%2FFONT%3E&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13315084540691). As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Huckabee means banning gay marriage and abortion not in persecuting everybody not believing in the One True Faith. Arguing to incorporate some religious principles into law is different from rule by clergy or having laws completely in accordance with religious doctrines which faith is-unless 1950s America was a theocracy. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/65 "2012-03-11T23:57:22Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Huckabee means banning gay marriage and abortion not in persecuting everybody not believing in the One True Faith. Arguing to incorporate some religious principles into law is different from rule by clergy or having laws completely in accordance with religious doctrines which faith is-unless 1950s America was a theocracy. And how do you _know_ this? By “know”, I don’t mean your spin on what Huckabee is directly quoted as saying. Just how am I supposed to trust that it’s not going to go from “banning gay marriage and abortion” (which I am not in favor, for the record) to “re-education camps” so those heathens not believing in the “One True Faith” may be set back on the path of righteousness? It may start with gay marriage. I may not end there. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/66 "2012-03-12T00:02:00Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Huckabee means banning gay marriage and abortion not in persecuting everybody not believing in the One True Faith. If Huckabee wants these banned on religious grounds, then Huckabee endorses a theocracy. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/67 "2012-03-12T00:06:03Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > And how do you _know_ this? By “know”, I don’t mean your spin on what Huckabee is directly quoted as saying. Just how am I supposed to trust that it’s not going to go from “banning gay marriage and abortion” (which I am not in favor, for the record) to “re-education camps” so those heathens not believing in the “One True Faith” may be set back on the path of righteousness? > > It may start with gay marriage. I may not end there. > [@](#): > > MIKE HUCKABEE: I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that’s what we need to do, to amend the Constitution so it’s in God standards rather than try to **change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family**. Talk about family and etc. generally imply gay marriage. He didn’t say “how we treat heathens” or “how we treat heretics”. > [@The\_Tooth](#): > > If Huckabee wants these banned on religious grounds, then Huckabee endorses a theocracy. Nineteenth Century American laws had “anti-sodomy” statuates largely based on biblical law which weren’t completely got rid of until Lawrence vs. Texas but that doesn’t mean America was a theocracy until 2003. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/68 "2012-03-12T00:10:57Z")
Wanting to amend your constitution so it is more in line with religious dogma is the very definition of a theocrat. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/69 "2012-03-12T00:22:47Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Nineteenth Century American laws had “anti-sodomy” statuates largely based on biblical law which weren’t completely got rid of until Lawrence vs. Texas but that doesn’t mean America was a theocracy until 2003. And those laws were removed because they were deemed unconstitutional. Enshrine anti-gay religious dogma into the Constitution, and those laws stay on the books, because you now have a theocracy. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/70 "2012-03-12T04:53:35Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Rick Warren has no problem speaking to and working with Muslims. Maybe yesterday, but today he is backpedaling really fast from the idea. The only situation where Warren, etc. will be friendly toward members of other faiths is when they are trying to convert them. [Full story here.](http://www.christianpost.com/news/exclusive-rick-warren-flat-out-wrong-that-muslims-christians-view-god-the-same-70767/) > [@](#): > > Influential evangelist Pastor Rick Warren has labeled as “flat out wrong” a local newspaper’s assertion that he believes Muslims and Christians worship the same God, has partnered with Southern California mosques and has agreed not to evangelize Muslims. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > And practically every Evangelical except Jack Chick has no problem with Catholics or Orthodox. This is purely a function of the abortion issue making Catholics and Evangelicals allies. If you went back to pre-Roe days it wouldn’t be anything like that. I suspect those feelings are just below the surface these days. I personally know plenty of evangelicals who think Catholics are going to hell and the Pope is the Antichrist. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Dobson, Huckabee, etc. are not theocrats and if they can think logically they’ll know that you can’t convert someone by persecuting and persecution is not in the spirit of Christ. I’ve never had anyone give me a quote that so perfectly backs up the point I was making. Nice work kiddo! > [@](#): > > MIKE HUCKABEE: I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that’s what we need to do, to amend the Constitution so it’s in God standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/71 "2012-03-12T14:20:03Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > It’s my conclusion that such social/religious issues are taking the forefront because the right simply can’t BEAT Obama on the economy or foreign policy (not running on the SAME platform of policies that drove the nation off a cliff). ;)😉 You’ve reached an incorrect conclusion. The Obama campaign, and those that support it, know that running on the economy is a losing proposition. They learned that lesson from Bill “it’s the economy, stupid,” Clinton. The social issues were never in the limelight until G. Stephanopolous, a former Clinton cabinet member, asked Romney, completely out of the blue, if he supported the right of a state to ban contraception. Romney was completely taken aback by the question because it was so completely out of left field during the debate. That question, whether it was intended by Stephanopolous or not, was used by the Obama campaign as the first volley to intentionally mis-direct the focus from the economy to social issues. Watching carefully, it’s easy to see the coordinated direction of certain actions by Democrat politicians to shift that focus. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/72 "2012-03-12T14:43:07Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > You’ve reached an incorrect conclusion. The Obama campaign, and those that support it, know that running on the economy is a losing proposition. They learned that lesson from Bill “it’s the economy, stupid,” Clinton. 😕 But, that was a **winning** proposition for Clinton. And the slogan meant, “focus attention on the economy,” not “find something else to draw attention away from the economy.” And the economy is now, in 2012, improving. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/73 "2012-03-12T15:42:35Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > That question, whether it was intended by Stephanopolous or not, was used by the Obama campaign as the first volley to intentionally mis-direct the focus from the economy to social issues. Watching carefully, it’s easy to see the coordinated direction of certain actions by Democrat politicians to shift that focus. You’re saying that it’s wrong for Democrats to attempt to make the electorate aware of the Republican candidate’s stances on social issues? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/74 "2012-03-12T15:53:44Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > The Obama campaign, and those that support it, know that running on the economy is a losing proposition. Why should it be? The economy is growing, government revenues are up, the deficit is shrinking, General Motors is alive and binLaden is dead. Looks like a good hand to be playing. The Republicans’ revisiting contraception was their idea. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/75 "2012-03-12T16:29:24Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > You’ve reached an incorrect conclusion. The Obama campaign, and those that support it, know that running on the economy is a losing proposition. They learned that lesson from Bill “it’s the economy, stupid,” Clinton. The social issues were never in the limelight until G. Stephanopolous, a former Clinton cabinet member, asked Romney, completely out of the blue, if he supported the right of a state to ban contraception. Romney was completely taken aback by the question because it was so completely out of left field during the debate. That question, whether it was intended by Stephanopolous or not, was used by the Obama campaign as the first volley to intentionally mis-direct the focus from the economy to social issues. Watching carefully, it’s easy to see the coordinated direction of certain actions by Democrat politicians to shift that focus. Don’t rule out the economy as a campaign issue yet. If Romney wins the nomination, you can be sure the phrase “15 percent” will be widely discussed. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/76 "2012-03-12T17:31:01Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Why should it be? The economy is growing, government revenues are up, the deficit is shrinking, General Motors is alive and binLaden is dead. Looks like a good hand to be playing. The Republicans’ revisiting contraception was their idea. This economy is moving in fits and starts…as few as 8 weeks ago, the economic news was much more grim, and talking about the economy was NOT a winning issue for Obama. Also, one must be very, very careful in taking everything fed by the media as gospel, but I say that not from some conspiratorial perspective, but merely from critical analysis. The news media works in sound-bites, and “UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 8%!” plays better than the more detailed analysis of unemployed applying for first-time benefits vs. total unemployed. Also, that headline reads much differently than, “UNEMPLOYMENT STILL NOT BELOW 8%.” Guess which headline we’re seeing? I also don’t think it’s wrong for the Democrats to point out the social differences, but they are disengenuous about it, and their reasons for doing so are not to point out the differences, but at least at the time, to distract from the focus the debates had taken, which was the economy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/77 "2012-03-12T18:01:34Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > I also don’t think it’s wrong for the Democrats to point out the social differences, but they are disengenuous about it, and their reasons for doing so are not to point out the differences, but at least at the time, to distract from the focus the debates had taken, which was the economy. 1. You have absolutely no reason to believe any of that. 2. You’re imputing to the Dems an awful lot of power over the Pubs’ intramural debate-agendas. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/78 "2012-03-12T20:00:26Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 1. You have absolutely no reason to believe any of that. > > 2. You’re imputing to the Dems an awful lot of power over the Pubs’ intramural debate-agendas. The Reps don’t set the agenda or the questions in the debates…the moderators do. Were this not the case, then Stephanopolous’ question wouldn’t have surprised Romney. I agree the Dems don’t directly ask the questions…but I have a great deal of doubt about Mr. Stephanopolous’ motives, and rightly so, just as I do about Dana Perino as a news-type person on Fox (although she tends to be pretty open about them). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/79 "2012-03-12T21:26:45Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > The Reps don’t set the agenda or the questions in the debates…the moderators do. Were this not the case, then Stephanopolous’ question wouldn’t have surprised Romney. I agree the Dems don’t directly ask the questions…but I have a great deal of doubt about Mr. Stephanopolous’ motives, and rightly so, just as I do about Dana Perino as a news-type person on Fox (although she tends to be pretty open about them). But, you have absolutely no reason to believe that the Dems are being disingenuous here, nor that they are trying to draw attention away from the economy for electoral-strategic purposes. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460/80 "2012-03-12T21:54:08Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > The social issues were never in the limelight until G. Stephanopolous, a former Clinton cabinet member, asked Romney, completely out of the blue, if he supported the right of a state to ban contraception. Romney was completely taken aback by the question because it was so completely out of left field during the debate. The question wasn’t out of the blue. Romney said he supported a proposed “Personhood Amendment” that would ban hormonal contraception. And Republicans have proposed anti-contraception bills in a number of states. It was a perfectly relevant question and Romney’s aloofness is his own damn fault. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republicans-are-too-far-to-the-right-notion/614460.md?page=5)