# Who are the scariest prominent conservatives who are not household names? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 15, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686 "2009-11-15T20:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/41 "2009-11-16T03:00:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > You mean [The Fellowship, a/k/a The Family?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_(Christian_political_organization)) Odd group, that. Their interpretation of Christianity is power-worship: Whoever rules is manifestly chosen by God. (Wonder if they apply that to Obama . . .) Journalist Jeff Sharlet put out a [book](http://www.amazon.com/Family-Secret-Fundamentalism-Heart-American/dp/0060559799) about them this year. Yep ,he is the guy who inherited the mantle from his dad. Maybe he will get some publicity now, but few know what their organization is and how powerful it is. I have to go to the Library and pick that book up. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/42 "2009-11-16T03:03:59Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > That book is a couple years old at this point. When I clicked that link it told me I ordered it May 2008. > > The idea that the people in power are manifestly chosen by God is not an uncommon providential viewpoint. Well, it’s a not uncommonly discussed point of theology, but not necessarily widely held by people, particularly since many people subscribe to the ‘fallen world’ view and see the Government as being at worst run by the actual devil, and at best a necessary evil. This is probably a reason why religious conservatism and the belief that the Government can do no right so often go hand in hand. In that sense the Family’s view on it is uncommon in America. I agree they are odd. They believe that politicians were chosen by god and are special people that do not have to adhere to the little peoples moralities and values. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/43 "2009-11-16T03:09:43Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Who are these people? Why are they bad? Dark and evil men, so powerful and so shadowy, you can’t even find anything about them on the web! Don’t even try, won’t do any good. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/44 "2009-11-16T03:18:29Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > That book is a couple years old at this point. When I clicked that link it told me I ordered it May 2008. Well, Sharlet was pimping the book on talk shows in August 2009. See [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=527949&) thread. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/45 "2009-11-16T03:39:56Z")
Hitler! ---
**Author:** ![Mekhazzio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@Mekhazzio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mekhazzio)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/46 "2009-11-16T12:42:22Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Nevertheless, his actions show him as firmly “con” on premarital sex. You have to admit, that his form of abstinence education is the only one to actually get results in reducing unwed childbirth. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/47 "2009-11-16T13:47:17Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > The OP’s attempt to draw distinctions between “prominent” vs. “household name” or “C list” vs. “B list” figures seems pretty unworkable to me, but putting the likes of Gary North in the “conservative” category seems reasonable. What if you think about it in terms of a nationally prominent figure vs. a prominent figure among conservatives who is not well known by the general public? I think that resolves the problem of wasting time arguing about the definition of the word prominent. And it applies well to anything - there are undoubtedly many people who fans of swimming would consider prominent swimmers but I could not personally name a single one except for Michael Phelps. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/48 "2009-11-16T14:49:04Z")
> [@Fuzzy Dunlop](#): > > What if you think about it in terms of a nationally prominent figure vs. a prominent figure among conservatives who is not well known by the general public? Okeydoke. Then what makes an individual in the latter category “scary”? Amount of power wielded in conservative circles, bizarre radicalism of opinions, or some combination of the above? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/49 "2009-11-16T15:58:44Z")
> [@Mekhazzio](#): > > You have to admit, that his form of abstinence education is the only one to actually get results in reducing unwed childbirth. Yes, his style is rather disarming. And disemboweling. And decapitating. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/50 "2009-11-16T16:09:33Z")
Sun Myung Moon may not be unknown, but he doesn’t get a lot of notice, at least around here, though his cult is at least as wacky as that SDMB bugbear, Scientology. Say what you will about Scientologists, but they only seem to get involved in politics when it directly affects them, and their influence in US government is minimal. Neither is true of Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/51 "2009-11-16T16:11:58Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Okeydoke. Then what makes an individual in the latter category “scary”? Amount of power wielded in conservative circles, bizarre radicalism of opinions, or some combination of the above? Personally I was disappointed to see people that are so extreme that almost anybody would find them scary. I was hoping to learn about some increasingly influential conservatives I might not be aware of - maybe bloggers like Erik Erikson at redstate or, you know, I don’t know who else. I mean, in a lot of respects I’m as liberal as they come and I can’t even stand reading the highly liberal blogs because they’re so biased, so regularly reading the far-right conservative blogs or radio or papers is just too much for me. I’d need a xanax before starting. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/52 "2009-11-16T16:13:57Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Who are these people? Why are they bad? Charles and David Koch are owners of Koch Industries, which is an oil/natural gas company. Charles has given money to a bunch of libertarian organizations, and was one of the founders of the Cato Institute. David Koch was one of the founders of Citizens for a Sound Economy, and ran for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket in 1980. He also gives a lot of money to the theater, to Nova, and just gave a lot of money to the Smithsonian for a new exhibit about evolution, and he does a lot to fight cancer. Richard Mellon Scaife has donated a lot of money to conservative causes and to set up conservative lobbying groups. Marco Rubio is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and was, until this year, the Speaker of the House. He’s planning on running for the US Senate in 2010, and is facing a pretty tough primary against Charlie Crist. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/53 "2009-11-16T17:02:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Dark and evil men, so powerful and so shadowy, you can’t even find anything about them on the web! Don’t even try, won’t do any good. Yeah, lazy drive-by poster meet lazy drive-by reader. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/54 "2009-11-16T17:08:28Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Charles and David Koch are owners of Koch Industries, which is an oil/natural gas company. Charles has given money to a bunch of libertarian organizations, and was one of the founders of the Cato Institute. David Koch was one of the founders of Citizens for a Sound Economy, and ran for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket in 1980. He also gives a lot of money to the theater, to Nova, and just gave a lot of money to the Smithsonian for a new exhibit about evolution, and he does a lot to fight cancer. Hmm, that’s not so scary. They sound like kind of normal blokes who are involved in politics. Being prominent libertarians doesn’t make someone particularly scary to me. Gives money to theater, Nova, the Smithsonian and the Cancer fight. Those are all things I approve of. > [@](#): > > Richard Mellon Scaife has donated a lot of money to conservative causes and to set up conservative lobbying groups. Like what? > [@](#): > > Marco Rubio is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and was, until this year, the Speaker of the House. He’s planning on running for the US Senate in 2010, and is facing a pretty tough primary against Charlie Crist. Ahh. What’s scary about him? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/55 "2009-11-16T17:15:19Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Ahh. What’s scary about him? Duh, he wants to be the anti-Crist! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/56 "2009-11-16T17:22:37Z")
Mr. Scaife, I’m sure you will recall, was central to the justly famed Arkansas Project\*, which uncovered such scandals as Clinton’s secret cocaine-smuggling airstrips and was crucial in revealing the scandal of Whitewater. Well, sorta scandal. Kinda. Men like Mr. Scaife and the aforecursed Koch brothers are welcome to thier views, as deranged as they may be. What I most resent is the extra special bonus premium civil rights rich men such as they enjoy in our “system”. And will continue to enjoy, for the foreseeable future. \*Central in the sense that, had it not been for his money, it would never have happened. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/57 "2009-11-16T17:29:05Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Hmm, that’s not so scary. They sound like kind of normal blokes who are involved in politics. Being prominent libertarians doesn’t make someone particularly scary to me. Gives money to theater, Nova, the Smithsonian and the Cancer fight. Those are all things I approve of. > > Like what? > > Ahh. What’s scary about him? Crist was outed in “Outrage”. I wonder what impact that will have? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/58 "2009-11-16T17:39:20Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > mswas. > > What he said. Kinda. IMV, not well played, but disingenuous at best, juvenile at worst. > > Can we expect a similar thread that lists NAMBLA as liberals, among others? No need. Hannity has [already done this](http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200910070024) ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/59 "2009-11-16T17:51:43Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686/60 "2009-11-16T18:16:46Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Mr. Scaife, I’m sure you will recall, was central to the justly famed Arkansas Project\*, which uncovered such scandals as Clinton’s secret cocaine-smuggling airstrips and was crucial in revealing the scandal of Whitewater. Well, sorta scandal. Kinda. > > Men like Mr. Scaife and the aforecursed Koch brothers are welcome to thier views, as deranged as they may be. What I most resent is the extra special bonus premium civil rights rich men such as they enjoy in our “system”. And will continue to enjoy, for the foreseeable future. > > \*Central in the sense that, had it not been for his money, it would never have happened. I am having trouble imagining a world in which the powerful elite will not have more privilege than those who have less power than them. In every system the powerful have privileges that the average person doesn’t have. When Giuliani was shutting down clubs and parties left and right, I don’t recall a whole lot of them being shut down on the Upper East Side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-scariest-prominent-conservatives-who-are-not-household-names/517686.md?page=4)