July 23, 2018: The Christian Wrong, Another 'Back Channel', Laugh Too Soon

“Let us have no more talk about collusion. Let us speak frankly now and call it what it is: sedition or treason”.

               ----from "The Quotations of Chairman Joe"

What is it with the Christian Wrong and the Rooskies? “Does it seem strange”, writes Katherine Stewart in last Thursday's New York Times, “that a Russian woman stands accused of 'acting as an agent of a foreign government' in part because she hoped 'to establish a back channel of communication' with American politicians at the National Prayer Breakfast?

“It shouldn't”. (1)

Citing author Jeff Sharlet, Stewart points out that the Breakfast “has long offered 'a backdoor to American power.' And America's home-grown Christian nationalists have evinced an admiration for Russia's authoritarian leader that appears to have grown apace with his brutality...

“the National Prayer Breakfast was initiated in 1953 by a Methodist minister, Abraham Vereide. The annual breakfast now attracts close to 4,000 participants and is hosted by members of congress. But the real force behind the event remains Mr. Vereide's Fellowship Foundation, also known as 'The Family,' whose fundamental mission is to create a ruling consortium of Christ-centered political and community leaders.” (2)

The Family, as it calls itself, treats the National Prayer Breakfast as a “recruiting device”. “Mr. Sharlet, who has published two books about the group...explained further:'It's not just the breakfast—The Family organizes a week of de facto lobbying events”. (3)

“The bond between America's Christian nationalists and the Russian government goes back a long way, long before anyone conceived of the possibility of a Trump administration.

“Paul Weyrich was a central figure in the founding of numerous conservative organizations, including the Heritage Foundation, ALEC, the Moral Majority and the Council for National Policy. In the 1970's Mr. Weyrich was one of the strategists who first conceived of outreach to evangelical churches in order to recruit activists to socially conservative causes. He was also among the first to grasp the potential for an alliance with religious conservatives in Russia and Eastern Europe. By the time of his death in 2008, Mr. Weyrich was writing and speaking frequently in defense of Russia and facilitating visits between American conservatives and Russian political leaders.” (4)

Then there are figures such as Brian Brown, of the National Organization for Marriage, who “testified before the Duma, Russia's lower house of Parliament, in support of legislation opposing adoption by gay couples.

“In the run-up to the 2016 election, the passion for Russian values among America's religious extremists grew still more ardent. In 2013, Bryan Fischer, then a spokesman for the American Family Association, called Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, a 'lion of Christianity.' In 2014 Franklin Graham, the influential evangelist and vocal Trump supporter, defended Mr. Putin for his efforts 'to protect his nation's children from the damaging effects of any gay or lesbian agenda,' even as he lamented that Americans have 'abdicated our moral leadership.”' (5) Ms. Stewart then cited a 45 minute private meeting between Graham and Putin in December 2015.

“Although the religious right's affection for Mr. Putin appears to center on a shared disgust with 'the homosexual agenda' and other so-called family issues,” continues Stewart, “it is impossible to overlook the attraction that the Russian leader's authoritarian style has for his American admirers. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Mike Pence hailed Mr. Putin as 'a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country.

“The attraction appears to be mutual—even if it is almost certainly not symmetrical. More than 50 Russians attended this year's prayer breakfast, in February.” (6)

This last Tuesday, a Russian national, Maria Butina, was indicted “on charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Russian Federation”. (7) She apparently not only twice attended the Prayer Breakfast but was working with, among other organizations, the National Rifle Association, in her efforts to influence American public opinion as well as establish a 'back channel of communication.'

What is clear here is that first the Russians have been at this for some time with the Religious Wrong having long developed connections with and affinity for Russian national interests. All this pre-dates the arrival of Caesar Disgustus upon the national scene.

Secondly, it appears to be more than coincidence that Franklin Graham—one of the most vocal and vociferous of Disgustus supporters would be meeting with Putin in the winter leading up to the 2016 campaign. The meeting of scum for nefarious purpose has now become painfully obvious as the vulchers have come home to roost.

When I was young, I was sent to a primary school operating under the auspices of an evangelical church. I am all-too-familiar with the basest of religious rationalizations as well as the pretzel logic and the intellectual and moral rat-holes into which such rationalizations can lead. That the Russian dictator could be seen as a 'lion of Christianity', or that a 'Prayer Breakfast' should become a rat's nest of sedition and treason, comes as no surprise to one familiar with the intellectual and moral levitation that characterized 'the movement'. One can only stand agape at such shameless dexterity.

In any case, the net widens as the cast of characters continues to grow, now including key elements of the Religious wrong and the National Rifle Association. Next up, as principals or accessories in the art of sedition, the House and Senate leadership, the House Intelligence Committee, and the Rescumlican National Committee.

Meanwhile Ms. Butina remains behind bars as Federal prosecutors move to prevent her from fleeing the country.

Perhaps Br'er Putin has overplayed his hand. Perhaps Br'er Putin's idiot is not so useful after all. Perhaps Br'er Putin, he laugh too soon; perhaps he not laughing now.

Impeach and Imprison.

_____________________

1. Stewart, Katherine. “When the Christian Right Met Russia” The New York Times. Thursday, July 19, 2018. Page A21.
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
6. Ibid
7. Ibid.