Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (multiple divorces, estranged children); former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (extra-marital affairs/divorces); and Senator John McCain (divorce) are the Republican front-runners in their party's aim for the presidency.
Is this the vaunted party of family values? Is this the best they can do? The party of Mark Foley (pedophile Republican Congressman entrusted with protecting minors) and Ted Haggard (closeted gay, gay-hating, drug-addicted Evangelical leader)?
The party of Rush Limbaugh (divorces,drug abuse, prescription abuse) and Ann Coulter (God-invoking, single, chain-smoking, party girl)?
It's only fitting that these hypocritical pagans are emerging as ringleaders to the monstrous circus of Republican debauchery that passes for "Christianity" in this country.
Christians everywhere ought to be ashamed of what their religion has come to represent thanks to right-wing exploitation of the faith.
Newt Gingrich, in his personal and greedy quest for power via the presidency, has (cue: applause) come clean; confessed the error of his ways; and stands waiting in God's holy light for favor in the 2008 elections.
To prove it, Newt wrote a book entitled "Rediscovering God in America." Isn't that touching? Gingrich, a politician who once abused his power to enrich himself, and participated in an affair while he simultaneously led a barbaric assault against Bill Clinton for adultery, is finally seeing the light.
At the young age of 63, Newt has turned his life around. You really have to applaud the Christian who postpones living by Christian values until he or she practically needs diapers again. It's one thing to change your lifestyle at 19 or 20 when no earthly gain rides on that decision, but real Christian heroes live like pagans until they reach 63 and are ready to run for the presidency. That's why Newt speaks with so much authority on the subject of God.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6)
The truth is that Evangelical leaders disgrace God simply by tying politics to religion in the first place, especially when one considers the essence of their religion: hating sexuality. This breed of Christian could care less about our young generation or those to come. "Global warming? Who cares?" they say. "I'll be dead."
This breed of Christian thrives on the vitriolic new style of hatred for Mexicans that Lou Dobbs has popularized. This breed of Christian is frightfully scared for their own earthly life, but cares little for anyone else's so long as their precious money is safe.
So long as the so-called "Values Voters" continue to support and idolize the ambitious and greedy, they will continue to do long-term damage to the legitimacy of the Christian religion.