Washington (CNN) - At the Faith and Freedom Conference and Strategy Briefing, social conservatives filed into the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC to hear from a who's who of conservative voices.
The group says on its website the goal of the conference was to "mobilize and train people of faith to be effective citizens" and "to speak out in the public arena and in the media on behalf of common-sense values." The event was put together by former head of the Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed.
Tucker Carlson was the first speaker of the day. The editor of the online Daily Caller began the day by lambasting, what he called, the liberal media and encouraging the members of the audience to stop complaining and start acting. Carlson, a former CNN commentator, was introduced as such and the very mention of CNN drew boos from the crowd.
Many of the speakers quoted from the Bible to make their political points. Ken Blackwell, the former mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio and current chairman of the Ohio Faith and Freedom Coalition, paraphrased the Gospel and John and told the audience they needed to stand up for what they believed , "It is time for you to put your candle on a candle stick and not stick it under a bushel, raise it high and say our God lives," he said.
Tony Perkins the president of the Family Research Council said to be pro-life and pro-family wins elections. "To suggest as some have that abortion should be sideline as part of the conservative agenda is not only morally wrong but also economically wrong." Perkins, a former Marine, told the crowd that, "Christians must not be seduced by the sirens who would tell them to put aside their moral convictions." That he said would be a form of "idolatry."
On the speaker's docket for the rest of the day: former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Republican Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell.
From CNN Politics
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Seperation of church and state. No place for this in politics.
These people are in the minority and are just like the idiot in Florida who wants to burn the Koran. Ignorant fools.
God forbid they quote the bible at a Faith and Family conference – scandalous.
So I guess this crowd thinks there is only a single place the American public should get information....must be Fox News. All media carries slants; Fox news just carries a lot more.
I am a Christian but I am not stupid.
Social Conservatives... or as most of the world refers to them, "idiots." These are flat-earthers ruled by superstition, and they're holding civilization back. How can they say they're for freedom when they're so obsessed with controlling everything everyone does? "Yes, freedom is wonderful, now here's a list of what you're allowed to do."
I'll think for myself, thanks.
I would say they were dinosaurs, but dinosaurs had the decency to disappear when their time was over.
These idiots are why the liberals are in power. Those who wish to make policy based on ideology or religion either misunderstand our simply do not care about our Constitution and the freedoms this republic was built to enshrine. Make your argument on cold hard facts and not your religous ideals as they have no place in politics. I am a christian by the way, but as a strict constitutionalist I know I can exercise my rights but must be careful to never infringe on anothers to believe as they would like. Wake up America and see the common sense ideas and principals in our Constitution and embrace them.
What's with these coalitions? Why don't the just back Jesus for Presdient and every congressional position up for reelection this year?
what happened to the separation of church and state?
The American Taliban hard at work
Shouldn't they be getting prepared for a book burning tomorrow?
Guess that a little to high profile for them, but i bet there are quietly 100% behind it!
Stay out of my life or I promise you'll regret it!
These people symbolize exactly what is wrong with this country; religion, organized religion to be exact. Organized religion has caused more wars and death than any other impetus. These religious goofballs are tearing this country in two. They love and embrace the constitution and all of its ammendments only when it suits them, but want to change it when it does not. They say the current administration wants to control all aspects of our lives when in truth it is they that want to control us. There nothing but a bunch of racist, pro-life, homophobic, xenophobic bible bangers that want to dictate how you live your life.
If you think for one minute that these morons are doing what's in the best interest in this country I have a pastor and a bunch of Quran's down in Gainesville I'd like to sell you.
In my opinion, the Religous Right has stepped too far into politics and needs go back to it place on churchs' and and among it's flock.
Keep religion out of politics. If you want to know why, just check out almost any country or society in the Middle East.
Oh, and please Nwet, why don't you confess your sins to the gathering. Your sins of commission surely outway your sins of omission.
There is no common sense in religion. It is all based on faith, not proof. How can anyone believe these zealots?
Folks, please don't be fooled - Republicans are desperately trying to use their "Faith" message to manipulate the political election in November - a tactic very similar to the "fear" one they so often use. I'm a Christian - make no mistake about it - and I'm voting NO to the Party of NO in November and hope you'll do the same.
And on more things your guys are one of the main reasons I am not a republican anymore
the most ignorant of the ignorant, and, there are plenty of them
These folks have an idea about freedom that is akin to what they used to say about the Model T Ford. You can have any color you want, as long as it's black.
Freedom to them means no access to abortion, no sex between unmarried people (heaven forbid gay sex!), no sex education, saying prayers in school and at all public events (but, only prayers to their version of God), tax exemption for churches, subsidies for their church schools (paid for by all of us).
I'm staying faithful to the constitutional separation of church and state, thank you very much.
"Many of the speakers quoted from the Bible to make their political points.'
LOL! What a joke! These people are all frauds. They can take their so-called morals and so-called values and shove it where the sun don't shine as far as I'm concerned.
"Iran has a religious government. Good for them."
-Frank Zappa
Have a nice day!
What scares me as a Christian is if these folks get power, what church will be the excepted church in their new world? I don't think it will me my church. If your a non-Christian, your life will be pure hell.
Did,t Ralph Reed swindle a lot people out of a large amount of money? How can he possibly hold himself up aws some kind of christian?
But you can't have "faith" and freedom together. Religion enforces an fundamentally and unchangeable top down command structure that is totally the opposite of democracy.
"common sense values" according to Christians SHOULD include feeding the poor and healing the sick. Yet, time after time, it is these un-American, fake Christians who scream in rage against anything "welfare".
Jesus was a socialist liberal!!!!
Freedom??? There is little freedom in their agenda. They want the governemnt to force women to continue unwanted pregnancies against their will, prevent some persons from marrying the one they love, prohibit religious practices with which they disagree, spy on Amercians, persecute immigrants and their children, indoctrinate children with creatianism, etc. They basically advocate government tyranny.