On Friday’s edition of "Democracy Now" on (taxpayer-funded) radical Pacifica Radio, leftist writer Max Blumenthal promoted his new book "Republican Gomorrah," complete with the bizarre theory that the Grand Old Party is a movement based on sadomasochism, that James Dobson’s book "Dare to Discipline" was essential: "By creating a belt-wielding army of milllions, Dobson created the next generation of Republican shock troops, who are more radical than before."
Under this theory, Dobson found in Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay men who were viciously abused boys who were ready for his message: "Dobson has been able to get close to and work with in the Republican Congress and in American culture who have been viciously abused as children. And he understood that by advocating violence against children, deliberate violence, he was creating this sensibility, which would produce a radical generation of political followers."
Blumenthal was interviewed by Pacifica co-host Juan Gonzalez, a columnist for the New York Daily News.
MAX BLUMENTHAL: Where did Dobson’s fortune come from? How did he erect this empire? It came mainly from one book, which I quote from extensively in my book, Republican Gomorrah—Dare to Discipline, which is essentially a manual for corporal punishment, for beating your child. In this book, he says pain is a marvelous purifier that a child should be—that pain goes a long way with a child, that pain should be dispensed sufficiently enough to make a child cry, but then the child will crumple to your breast, and you should welcome the child with warm, open arms. This is a recipe for sadomasochism. And sadomasochism, as I discovered in—
JUAN GONZALEZ: And he saw himself originally as the antithesis to Benjamin—Dr. Benjamin Spock.
BLUMENTHAL: Dr. Benjamin Spock, who tells you to basically pick your child up and cradle it. And, you know, I mean, I was—you know, for whatever it’s worth, I was raised along those guidelines. When your child’s crying, you pick up the child.
By creating a belt-wielding army of millions, Dobson created the next generation of Republican shock troops, who are more radical than before. And sadomasochism—I know this sounds a little strange—is what defines the essential character, you know, that—this is what—at least what I’ve discovered—of the Republican follower of today. They’re sadistic in that they want to lash out at deviants, at people who are weaker than them, homosexuals, immigrants, foreigners, socialists. At the same time, they’re masochistic. They are followers of a higher cause, of a strong leader, a magic helper like Dobson or George W. Bush or the macho Jesus archetype that they worship. And this is what defines this movement.
So many of the people that Dobson has been able to get close to and work with in the Republican Congress and in American culture have been viciously abused as children. And he understood that by advocating violence against children, deliberate violence, he was creating this sensibility, which would produce a radical generation of political followers.
Tom DeLay, for example, who Dobson converted from Hot Tub Tommy, a dallying, philandering, no-name legislator in Texas, you know, who lived in a house that was nicknamed "Macho Manor," Dobson converted him into this hardcore—you know, into "The Hammer," the man who whipped the Republican Congress into shape and turned it into one of the most radical congresses in history.
Ted Bundy, who I write about extensively in my book, Republican Gomorrah, who is the most notorious serial killer in American history, Dobson helped convert Ted Bundy on death row into a born-again Christian and then got the final interview before Ted Bundy was executed and sold tapes of this interview to raise a million dollars for his political empire and to generate national renown.
Is that true? Ted Bundy funded a political empire? Liberal U.S. News writer Dan Gilgoff wrote in his book "The Jesus Machine" that "Focus on the Family drew fire for selling videotapes of the interview for twenty-five dollars, prompting it to donate the proceeds to Christian antipornography groups."
Then Gonzalez pressed Blumenthal to explain how Dobson can rehabilitate misbehaving conservatives:
JUAN GONZALEZ: And Dobson has also become sort of like the counselor of choice for politicians who fall by the wayside, in certain ways, hasn’t he?
MAX BLUMENTHAL: Well, Newt Gingrich, for example, another person who was viciously abused as a child, Dobson led the coup against Gingrich that helped remove him as Speaker of House—as Speaker of the House when a lot of Republicans were concerned that his leadership was weakening when they were trying to impeach Clinton, because Gingrich was carrying on an affair with a woman twenty years younger than him who was on the congressional payroll at the same time. She’s his wife now.
When Gingrich decided to resurrect his political career, he decided—the Republican Party is controlled by the Christian right. He’s not a stupid man. "What do I do? I have to confess all of my sins by going on James Dobson’s radio show," catering to the culture of personal crisis that lurks behind the right’s politics of resentment. And so, that’s exactly what he did. He basically prostrated himself before Dobson, who has, you know, no political—supposedly has no political standing. And the next thing you know, he’s back on the national stage. He’s welcomed at the Christian right gatherings. You can see him on Fox News now. So, that shows, you know, how powerful Dobson is. But it’s not just Dobson; it’s a mentality that defines conservatism.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Only one word is needed:
September 5, 2009 - 07:31 ET by P. AaronIDIOT!
This is Obama's Version of Hitler's "The Eternal Jew."
September 6, 2009 - 19:38 ET by farstar99Make up a bunch of garbage, push it down the public throat until your followers can quote it from memory.
I read it but I still don't believe it
September 5, 2009 - 07:35 ET by richb313I read it and I don't believe that anyone would publish, print or distribute such drivel. Is this what passes for informed discourse theses days? Can anyone spout the most hate filled diatribe and thereby gain credibility? We have crossed over into the "Twilight Zone". The bad thing is that the show never ends, we don't get to hear the soothing tones of "Rod Serling" explaining how this trip to the "Twilight Zone" ends and by doing so reassures the rest of us we are now back in "Normal" zone. There does not appear to be any "Normal" zone any more and "Rod Serling" is still dead.
So by extension we can
September 5, 2009 - 07:38 ET by BDSo by extension we can assume liberals were the "Unspanked Babies?"
Not were. Are. Government
September 6, 2009 - 13:44 ET by KJ_sezNot were. Are.
Government sucks, but AT&T is worse. Really.
Tom DeLay, for example, who
September 5, 2009 - 08:19 ET by motherbeltTom DeLay, for example, who Dobson converted from Hot Tub Tommy, a
dallying, philandering, no-name legislator in Texas, you know, who
lived in a house that was nicknamed "Macho Manor," Dobson converted him
into this hardcore—you know, into "The Hammer," the man who whipped the
Republican Congress into shape and turned it into one of the most
radical congresses in history.
I notice that he ignores the fact that Delay and his wife have long worked to better the lives of children in foster care, and have even fostered several children themselves.
But I guess Tom just brought them in to abuse them....\sarc
They have spent years advocating for abused and neglected children (of conservatives, no doubt, \sarc)
And this:
He [Gingrich]basically prostrated himself before Dobson, who has, you know, no
political—supposedly has no political standing. And the next thing you
know, he’s back on the national stage.
So....this is different from Bill Clinton grovelling before Jessie Jackson to get his mojo back.......how?
Sometimes these people are just unbelievalbe. You have to wonder: do they even hear themselves when they talk?
Wow
September 5, 2009 - 08:16 ET by BondPlainBondJust...
Wow.
We're coming for you Max!
September 5, 2009 - 08:35 ET by CTAnd after Blumenthal we'll come for the deviants at kill "Democracy Now". Be afraid, be very afraid, whips and chains.<Sarc off>
This is where the 'New Left' lives, time to put some sunlight on them and watch them shrivel up.
I don't trust anyone that trusts Obama.
Skewed views.
September 5, 2009 - 08:53 ET by DarasenI certainly suppport a parent right ot use corporal punishment when appropiate and have done so myself. I guess that makes me a sadist.
I do NOT support killing babies before they are born and that makes me (according to liberals) all sorts of horrible things. Can someone tell me how this makes sense? Is there anything more sadistic and barbaric than supporting the wholesale slaughter of the unborn?
Abuse?
September 5, 2009 - 09:42 ET by merlin61This is the most ridiculous article I have read since the great Obama has been elected. This world is going completely off orbit, and Blumenthal has fallen off!!!
Who is he anyway, and who cares.
Coming soon to the Barnes &
September 5, 2009 - 09:43 ET by RR GOPComing soon to the Barnes & Noble's bargain bin near you!
Or perhaps as fibers in recycled toilet paper.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
I bet there will be
September 5, 2009 - 09:44 ET by JAJTI bet there will be a surge in people buying James Dobson book!
Obama speaks out agaisnt Rush-Rush gets more popular and more ratings.
Color of Change speaks out agaisnt Beck-Beck gets more popular and more ratings.JAJT
good grief
September 5, 2009 - 09:44 ET by sojournercan the liberals get any more stupid?
Right on, Darasen - it is beyond me how any sane person can rant against disciplining a child so they will obey and not turn into little monsters, yet be against ripping apart of innocent babies in the womb, all because people are selfish and too stupid to use birth control
"for whatever it’s worth,
September 5, 2009 - 10:21 ET by nolotrippen"for whatever it’s worth, I was raised along those guidelines. When your child’s crying, you pick up the child."
Really? What a shock.
First, just the way Blumenthal stumbles over "quoting" Dobson's book it's obvious he's never read it.
Second, there's a WORLD of difference between beating and spanking. I was spanked. A lot. And I need it. A lot. But I was never NEVER beaten.
Third, "When your child’s crying, you pick up the child": Not every time. It depends. Your child isn't a Baby-Sobs-a-Lot plastic toy. He or she is a complex little bundle of growing awareness and intelligence. Sometimes they cry just to get attention. Sometimes they cry because they hurt themselves. Sometimes they cry because they did something wrong and they've been disciplined (and yes, you should pick them up and hold them after they've been disciplined). And sometimes, you want them to toughen up a little bit (something I wish I'd gotten a little more; it would make Krav Maga a bit easier).
Let the MSNBC bookings commence
September 5, 2009 - 10:36 ET by SickofLibsI predict Olbermann, as defacto Top Terd, gets him first. And he'll be old news by the time Fat Ed and Shyster get him.
September 5, 2009 - 11:02 ET by jessieHIf they were to take the time to research the matter, they would see that BOTH parties are the same. They are both as guilty as the other. Neither party has a clue. WE need REAL people in office, not hired puppets who will sell their souls to be elected.
Oh dear sweet mana from heaven! He described me.
September 5, 2009 - 12:35 ET by JWFMy dad used to beat me with that book! Dare to Discpline. He beat me with it. I could read the words as the book came down to smack me in teh skulls.
They’re sadistic in that they want to lash out at deviants, at people who are weaker than them, homosexuals, immigrants, foreigners, socialists.
K. K. K. That is me! But wait. You have described the disease. What is the cure? Oh please, helps us with all teh cures!
Cuz I am ready to go out today. And smack some deviants, and kick teh homosexualizers, whomp on teh immigraters, punch teh forners, and lord help me stomp stomp stomp on teh socialists! Stomp on 'em. Oh, I am getting worked up now.
What is the cure Obi Wan Kenobi? Or do I just get to enjoy all teh carnages? I LOVE IT! Ewww, gots ta go, a hippie just walked by on the sidewalk. Time to make some hippie stew!
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
LOL- you are funny! i always
September 5, 2009 - 13:38 ET by JAJTLOL- you are funny! i always love reading your post!JAJT
Hypocrite, thy name is Blumenthal.
September 5, 2009 - 12:14 ET by CobraMan"Ted Bundy, who I write about extensively in my book, Republican Gomorrah, who is the most notorious serial killer in American history"
He was also a college graduate (University of Washington, Seattle) and had a degree in psychology. Using Blumenthal's reasoning, all psychologists are child abusers and potential serial killers.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
BTW, where's Gacy?
September 5, 2009 - 12:18 ET by CobraManBTW, Blumenthal, where's your references to John Wayne Gacy, another famous serial killer who preyed exclusively on homosexual boys? Oh, that's right, he was a Democrat, wasn't he?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
John Wayne Gacy had a liberal guilt complex.
September 5, 2009 - 12:49 ET by JWFNo one beat John Wayne Gacy as a child. That is why he grew up with the while liberal guilt complex.
We Republicans enjoy beating on the deviants and weaklings and homosexuals and immigrants and foreigners and socialists. We wear our sadomasochism fun on our sleeve. We are proud of it.
Democrats however, have the fun with all the deviancy, torturing their victims, then kill them out of the remorseful shameful white liberal guilt. There is a whole generation of torture/killer democrats being raised today. It is all in my new book, Democrats Suck Really Bad and Then Kill Everybody. Fer sale now.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Can it get any worse than
September 5, 2009 - 16:32 ET by equusartsCan it get any worse than this? Sadly, yes.
Absolutely pathetic.
"Hypocrisy, the lie, is the true sister of evil, intolerance, and cruelty."
So Max Blumenthal admits
September 5, 2009 - 17:18 ET by HockeyKidSo Max Blumenthal admits that his daddy, the famous Sidney Blumenthal of Clinton-era fame, picks him up and cuddles him when he cries. This deviant homosexual incest must be stopped. How dare he try to indoctrinate the people of America with his perverted agenda?! He must be stopped, for the sake of the children.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
We've seen this before
September 5, 2009 - 22:01 ET by nkviking75I hate to use a cliched comparison, but these rantings sound as irrational as the wild accusations the Nazis used against the Jews. I hope lots of people are motivated to buy or borrow Dobson's book and see what a "nut" he is. Blumenthal will never have an ounce of credibility again.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
We've seen this before
September 5, 2009 - 22:03 ET by nkviking75Ironic title for a duplicate post.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
Right wing BDSM Groups?
September 5, 2009 - 23:15 ET by ptsonNot to mention that infamous right wing group, NAMBLA. (North American Man Boy Love Association) Oops, sorry that is a different type of discipline and the group is ultra-liberal. Well every theory has its exception. Actually, ALL of the S&M groups seem to be liberal and usually don't meet in church basements. Why the right wing ACLU would have a fit. No? Not them either? They are liberal TOO? Damn, where are the conservative munch groups anyway?
~Where, indeed?
September 6, 2009 - 11:18 ET by choselife3xDissent: It's not just for liberals anymore.-kudzupolitics, USA Today
abuse
September 6, 2009 - 11:10 ET by cajun2My 8 siblings and I grew up in poverty, and physically abused by an alcoholic father. Yes, I am a conservative and I have enlisted in "the angry mob". For theraputic counseling, I have joined Newsbusters and Noel is my sheppard. For company I no longer go to harmony.com, I am in love with a veteran of 1000 psychic wars.
What Culture Is Dobson Promoting
September 6, 2009 - 20:13 ET by ChattychitoDobson is promoting what he believes to be Christian culture. But he has mixed it with Psychiatry and humanism to please the humanistic sophist public school trained person who accepts Christ later in life. Humanism, Sophism and Psychiatry have no place admixed with the Bible.
However, true Christian culture is to replace every person who believes in the shed blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sin alone's culture with that found in the King James Version of the New Testament. That way we see there is no Jew no Gentile, no woman and no man, no black no white, no slave no free but all are one in Jesus Chrsit and need to have a spiritual cultural makeover that makes them different from the world.
The real idea of the Bible is where your worldly culture disagrees with the Bible you put it off, where it agrees you keep it. while a spanking does work to help "child" develop a clear sense of what is right and what is wrong if done to excess it can provoke your child to lie in order to avoid the spanking because they did something they knew was wrong.
Study and Apply Romans through Philemon primarily to our lives. Where the KJV Old Testament agrees with these writings they are to be a doctrine for the Christians life. Where they do not agree there may be an application but are not to be the primary doctrine.
Dobson fails to rightly divide the word of truth as commanded of all teachers of Scripture, he fails to use a Bible that is whole unchanged and preserved in the English language and so in his book he uses a myriad of versions to the confusion of God's meaning for our understanding .
But for any nut like Max Blumenthal to say Dobson is behind a sadomasochistic movement is to only see Dobson's book through his rose colored glasses of Humanism and Sophism. While Dobson has his flaws and his book carries some of them. His book is not for the worldly but for the saved in Christ.
I am sure that Max Blumenthal is an affirmed atheist. So what would you expect from someone who does not believe in One Almighty Godhead to whom he will have to be accountable to at the end of his life? But to use such to write a piece of slanderous material and try and push it over on the people as truth and facts is nothing more than his personal smear campaign against those of religious and conservative values.
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
uh oh
September 6, 2009 - 22:18 ET by WesenThere was greater clarity in Dobson's book than the ideas in your post, though one can appreciate the intent.
I read it
September 7, 2009 - 07:30 ET by ChattychitoI own a copy of Dobson's book. yeah worldliness is always clear to the worldly. but God alway puts the emphasis on what is more important and permenant and spends very little time on the things that are temporary.
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
Dr. Dobson certainly has a
September 7, 2009 - 16:14 ET by HockeyKidDr. Dobson certainly has a clearer understanding of scripture than followers of the old "KJV only" deception you're pitching.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
→ Which means?
September 7, 2009 - 16:20 ET by Cool ArrowI'm not sure I understand what you're talking about.
Please explain.
We will Barry you! - Russian prophecy
The idea that the King
September 7, 2009 - 18:40 ET by HockeyKidThe idea that the King James Version of the Bible is the only true and accurate English translation is dangerous at best. It wholly misrepresents the nature of scripture as handed down through history, and opens a huge can of worms for anyone adhering to the integrity of God's word.
Most followers of the idea are merely impressed with the language, a great deal of which they don't even understand because of its archaic nature. While it's true that many passages of the Bible are beautifully rendered in the King's English of the 17th century, it's also true that very few denizens of the 21st century have a fluent grasp of that form of the language.
Most KJV-only adherents I've met would have a hard time with many of the words I've used in this post, never mind unravelling why the book of Mark states, "And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing." I've actually argued with KJVers who insist that Jesus was telling a parable about an English widow. The myopia is stunning.
At any rate, I didn't intend to carry on so. The problem is that to insist that the KJV is the only accurate English translation of the Bible is to be terribly misled (and, in turn, misleading).
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
here we go again
September 7, 2009 - 20:35 ET by ChattychitoFirst there isn't one archaic word in the KJV Bible that is not understandable by anyone today. the KJV is the only Bible that remains complete and whole that is why I support it. I have found the only ones who claim they can't understand the Archaic words are men with PhD's in Div and ThG.
Your example of the widows mite is assine at best as I have never heard anyone say Jesus was telling a parable about an English widow. I would bet my hat that even coolarrow or freestinker could read it and see it was an actual event that took place at that moment and not a parable, and it was translated into English equivalents. your right your myopia is stunning.
I don't argue over Bible versions but I know a good one when I read it. I have in my possession 25 different versions I have read them all so I am not ignorant to them. there are 235 different English versions of the Bible out there and most of them are out of print and the TNIV(from the more accurate NIV)is being translated again after saying it was the best.
I will say this the KJV employees equivalent English words that best represent the broad meaning Greek and Hebrew words as found in all copies of the original manuscripts. while the KJV comes from a majority of text all other version only come from 2% of the text and 98% of that 2% were found in a trash can in an Egyptian Monastery in Alexandria Egypt in the 1800's.
You see the biggest problem with people like hockeykid is that they all think they have the original writings and that all the translations are based on the originals. Yet he nor any of his teachers have seen an original in their life, nor has anyone since the second century. All they have are copies.
But God's word says he will preserve his word to every generation. only one English version will tower over the rest. not need for the myriad of English translations. I have in my hand an authority for my life perfect preserved and inspired. but hockykid he doesn't he has to rely on men to be his authority and in the end of the day he will say there is not perfect Bible translation for us today so again who is he going to use for his Authority? the Pope? James Dobson?
I believe that as the Living Word of God Jesus Christ was persecuted by the religious elite of his day. We need only look for the written word of God that is persecuted by the religious elite today to find the truth.
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
*sigh* Yes, you know very
September 8, 2009 - 12:08 ET by HockeyKid*sigh* Yes, you know very clearly exactly what I think.
I'm not the one that made a claim that the KJV (and only the KJV) is perfect and inerrant. If you believe that, be one your way, but don't pretend to know anything about biblical studies. If you don't take that position (I can't decide, because your second post contradicts your first as well as itself), then perhaps you do take a serious approach to study of the scriptures.
If only I were so fortunate as to never have encountered the sad interpretations I described. Perhaps if you had, you might have a different opinion.
I agree that God says He will preserve His Word to every generation. Could you please provide the chapter and verse where He states that "one English version will tower over the rest"?
As for my authority in scriptural studies, it is the Holy Spirit, without whom no interpretation is valid. That I can read and understand the writings of those who come before me means simply that I, in my fallibility, seek to learn.
What makes the scribes of King James any more reliable than the scholars of the four centuries since?
As this is not a religious board, here ends my participation in this thread.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
If anyone has to use
September 7, 2009 - 20:43 ET by Chattychitomore than one version of the Bible to teach a truth then they are saying none of their Bibles are Preserved by God, who said he would. If God can't keep his word then he is not a God worth following.
Preserved means to retain all Bible verses and words as he inspired them to be. not mans understanding But God's words. not one new translation since the KJV has done that. and if the verse still exist in the Bible it will have a footnote to say it is not found in all the trash can manuscripts.
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
Hockeykid
September 8, 2009 - 06:17 ET by ChattychitoYour as bad as any libetral can get. you changed your meaning of the original post from saying "one can appreciate the intent" to "the KJV-only deception". you make yourself a liar like most liberal Scholars. you probably a Calvinist too.
you see cool arrow as we have liberals in Government we have them in Christianity too. Hockeykid s a liberal to the bone just like his quote says.
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
You might be surprised.
September 8, 2009 - 12:21 ET by HockeyKidYou might be surprised. I'd guess that we probably agree on far more than you think.
I may have overreacted to your post, as a result of many hours spent with people hewing to the KJV as though the Bible was originally written in English (among other equally "interesting" positions). If I did, I apologize. I hope, perhaps based on your quote from Spurgeon, that we are not so far apart.
At any rate, this is not a religious board, so I don't intend to carrry on ad infinitum. I can only hope that we'll meet on that day, and say, "Hello, brother."
If I may ask but one favor, it is that you please (please!) refrain from calling me by the L-word, in matters religious or otherwise. It gives me the hives. Thanks.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me