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| Mike Pence, White House photo |
The Coalition’s annual "Road to the Majority" gathering brings together a collection of conservative politicians, leaders of the Christian Right, and deranged conspiracy theorists. They say that their goal is to bring Christianity into the government.
Christianity Becomes a Weapon
Yet, Trump aside, I would have thought that the Coalition would like the things that Pence spoke about so passionately. Indeed, near the end, he called the United States to “reject Critical Race Theory in all its forms.” That should appeal to even the most bigoted conservatives. He said we would not let “Nancy Pelosi nationalize our elections.” He opposed “religious persecution masquerading as a quest for equal rights.” The Coalition’s purpose is to turn the Christian faith into a weapon that advances political conservatism. Many of the Christian Right’s policy ideas, including oppressing immigrants, flatly contradict biblical morality. The Christian Right doesn't care about mercy to immgrants. That isn’t their point.
So, it is not really the Coalition’s purpose to spread Christian morality. Pence apparently didn’t fully understand this. Indeed, at the speech’s outset, Pence missed the point when he said:
“It is great to be back with so many patriots.”
That got some cheers. But he next said that:
“I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.”
As he uttered those words, which were, one would think, exactly what the Coalition should want to hear, the crowd shouted “traitor” and booed him. For a time, it became difficult to hear Pence speak. The crowd booed Pence because Donald Trump is the Christian Right’s champion.
So, in his policies, ideas, and words, Mike Pence is exactly what the Christian Right pretends to support. Unfortunately, he failed in the one test that mattered: absolute loyalty to Trump.
Conservatives Are Cancelling Their Own People
And, so conservatives once again employed (or tried to employ) cancel culture against their own people! Pence had failed to bow to Trump. America’s conservative movement has degenerated to personal loyalty to a most unworthy man. That many members of the Faith and Freedom Coalition demand absolute loyalty to a person, rather than to God, should warn us about their intentions.
That is why the hecklers could not abide Pence. Why they did not even want him to speak. Pence had, unforgivably, accurately counted the Electoral College vote for President on January 6. Donald Trump had famously urged Pence not to count the votes as part of his corrupt Stop the Steal campaign to void the election. At the time, Trump had falsely said that Pence could “decertify the results or send them back to the states for change and certification.”
The Coalition’s reaction to Pence was extremely ironic. Conservatives often complain about what they call cancel culture. They think it’s awful when conservatives are not allowed to speak. Conservatives complained bitterly, and rightly, when libertarian scholar Charles Murray was heckled off a college stage. Today, they turned around and heckled one of their own. This really does need to stop.
Cancel Culture Gone Amok: Governor Brian Kemp Was Shouted Down by His Own People
It wasn’t just the heckling. The Christian Right’s entire function is to stop reasoned speech in its tracks. When they heckled Mike Pence, members of the Faith and Freedom Coalition made it clear that they wanted to stop him from speaking. Even more, however, the Christian Right’s purpose is to shut down reasoned debate. We can debate about any element of American domestic and foreign policy. But when one side claims – falsely, in my opinion – that they represent true religion, how do we argue with that? The Christian Right’s entire ethos is to pretend that they are serving God. Can we argue with Mike Pence? Certainly. But who wants to argue with God? And so, by pretending to speak for God, the Christian Right employs the ultimate conversation stopper.
Paula White Prayed against Trump's Enemies and Gave a Lesson in How to Shut Down Reasoned Debate
Conclusion
Pence angered some members of the Coalition enough that they wanted him heckled off the stage. Did Pence foolishly think that these people pursued Christian ideals? The crowd’s hostile reaction to Pence shows that they sought political power, not religious perfection. Does the Christian Right think that faith requires loyalty to God? Or to Trump? For Trump is not God. Let us remember, however, that the Christian Right can only define God if other Christians allow them to do so.
Yes, the conservative movement shrinks daily. But as its followers become more fanatical, its baneful power grows.
How to Heckle in a Tasteful and Witty Manner
P.S. Security at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference escorted some of the worst hecklers out of the room. Many of them, however, were apparently allowed to remain. Pence was able to complete his speech, although, to my ears, he sounded just a bit subdued or chagrined. He got a few cheers here and there.
It wasn’t just the heckling. The Christian Right’s entire function is to stop reasoned speech in its tracks. When they heckled Mike Pence, members of the Faith and Freedom Coalition made it clear that they wanted to stop him from speaking. Even more, however, the Christian Right’s purpose is to shut down reasoned debate. We can debate about any element of American domestic and foreign policy. But when one side claims – falsely, in my opinion – that they represent true religion, how do we argue with that? The Christian Right’s entire ethos is to pretend that they are serving God. Can we argue with Mike Pence? Certainly. But who wants to argue with God? And so, by pretending to speak for God, the Christian Right employs the ultimate conversation stopper.
Paula White Prayed against Trump's Enemies and Gave a Lesson in How to Shut Down Reasoned Debate
Conclusion
Pence angered some members of the Coalition enough that they wanted him heckled off the stage. Did Pence foolishly think that these people pursued Christian ideals? The crowd’s hostile reaction to Pence shows that they sought political power, not religious perfection. Does the Christian Right think that faith requires loyalty to God? Or to Trump? For Trump is not God. Let us remember, however, that the Christian Right can only define God if other Christians allow them to do so.
Yes, the conservative movement shrinks daily. But as its followers become more fanatical, its baneful power grows.
How to Heckle in a Tasteful and Witty Manner
P.S. Security at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference escorted some of the worst hecklers out of the room. Many of them, however, were apparently allowed to remain. Pence was able to complete his speech, although, to my ears, he sounded just a bit subdued or chagrined. He got a few cheers here and there.
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