Christian Right Wants A Secondary Virgin
James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Grover Norquist, Paul Weyrich, Tim LaHaye, Edwin Feulner, Wayne LaPierre, and Gary Bauer. These are the men who want to run the country from behind the scenes. Currently, they are searching for a suitable figurehead. Success eludes them.
At a resort on Amelia Island, FL this month these ultra-conservative religious figures and their supporters gathered to decide on who to for the presidential nomination. The group is known as the Council for National Policy, and is relatively unknown outside the conservative movement. They are secretive and exclusive, but their influence is far-reaching; especially so in these past years when their standard-bearer, George W. Bush, has been in office. Bush has deferred to them on many issues, and keeps in constant touch through public officials.
There is less joy in Bibletown these days, however, since none of the top-tier Republican candidates are considered holy enough to be endorsed.
Rudy Giuliani is totally unacceptable to most members of the group due to his liberal take on social issues, and these guys are nothing if not socially repressive. John McCain lost much support when he denounced them as “agents of intolerance,” although he has tried to cozy up to them since then. And Mitt Romney is viewed with suspicion as a “flip-flopper” and a political opportunist. His Mormon religious beliefs are also held against him.
Some of the lesser-known candidates–Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, and Sam Brownback–have more support, but are seen as unlikely to emerge victorious.
Norquist, who still has an open mind on his preference, remarked that any of them could grab the endorsement by renouncing attitudes that the council finds unpalatable, likening this change of heart to high-schoolers who take abstinence pledges after having sex.
“It’s called secondary virginity. It is a big movement in high school and also available for politicians,” he said.
Political virginity–what a concept.
