I’d like to proof-text a portion of James Dobson’s essay responding to Kathleen Parker’s criticism of religious conservatives, whom she referred to as the ooogedy-boogedies.
“Good thing, then, we don’t need an embossed note from Ms. Parker — or anyone else — to take part in the political dialogue — of either party.”
–Parker didn’t argue that religious conservatives should be quiet but that Republicans should listen to them less.
“Our invitation to engage the process comes straight from our Founders.”
–Dobson is right. However, this reminds me of something that’s been bugging me in the aftermath of Prop 8. If religious conservatives enter the political fray — as, for example, the Church of Latter Day Saints did in supporting Prop 8 — they can’t then complain that it’s anti-religious bigotry when gays fight back.
“We will continue to stand up for the sanctity of human life, the sacredness of marriage and the right to have a say in the principles that will continue to guide this nation founded on biblical principles. Where Ms. Parker gets it most wrong is in writing that socially conservative Christians are an ‘element that used to be relegated to wooden crates on street corners.'”
—This line from Parker was one of the most offensive I’ve seen written about religious conservatives. He’s right to take umbrage and even showed restraint in his response.
“We’ve never been that marginalized in our culture and government — and won’t be anytime soon, the efforts and epithets of big media notwithstanding.”
–Huh? You’re attacked by a freelance conservative pundit and punch back agains “big media”? Has “Big Media” simply become a synonym for “anyone we don’t like”?