Elect Barack Obama
Impeach Bush & Cheney!
"Google" your Voter Registration
Register to Vote
Vote Early-Absentee-Nov4
Visit the Democratic Party
It's Time to Expose the Piety Pimps - and the Republicans who Fund Them
As the massive GOP corruption scandal unfolds, we are discovering that every contract awarded by Republicans involves cronyism and kickbacks - whether in Iraq (Halliburton et al), Katrina (Halliburton et al), Duke Cunningham, etc.
One especially infuriating dimension of GOP contracting corruption involves contracts awarded to religious right groups, whose only claim to existence is that they serve God with greater devotion than mainstream or liberal religious groups.
But now it is clear that the religious right serves mammon, and it uses public piety simply as a scam to steal from taxpayers like you and me. These corrupt thieves deserve a name, so I will adapt a favorite enemy of the Gingrich Revolution, the poverty pimps, and christen them as the piety pimps.
Here is just the latest example, courtesy of Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News:
A faith-based Philadelphia group at the center of a flap over whether tax-exempt religious groups are aiding the re-election campaign of U.S. Sen Rick Santorum has won more than $250,000 in federal grant money pushed for by Santorum over the last three years.
The group, the Urban Family Council — founded by well-known local conservative religious activist William Devlin — also has reaped a $10,000 grant from a controversial charity founded by Santorum, the Operation Good Neighbor Foundation.
I've seen dozens of reports like this recently. It's time for taxpayers to rise up in revolt against the piety pimps - and the Republican politicians who fund them.
- Bob Fertik's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Printer-friendly version- Send to friend
Join us & contribute
Proud members of the Democratic Party
Copyright 2006 Democrats.com. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
Piety Pimps
These crooked "holy Roller" preachers TELL their congregations who to vote for and even provide buses to get their "flock" to the precincts to vote. They are basically PACS and should be taxed like anyone else.
Pimpin' the 'Hood
Remember after 911, when one of the surveillance initiatives, a plan to have security snitches in every neighborhood, was scuttled because of the backlash? Is it coming back?
This recent DHS initiative links homeland security with houses of worship and community organizations whose members live in all our neighborhoods. What "core elements" of the Department's mission will these targeted groups be advancing?
"Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on the Creation of a Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
March 8, 2006
President Bush has signed an Executive Order that directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to advance our overall mission and strengthen the department's preparedness efforts. This Center will be a part of the Preparedness Directorate and it will help to advance several core elements of the department’s mission, in particular building a culture of preparedness in every community across America.
As directed by the President, the Center will conduct a department-wide audit to identify barriers to faith-based and other community organizations’ participation in our programs and activities, and propose ways to remove these barriers and to better integrate the community into our efforts. As a result, the department will more effectively channel the unique resources and capabilities of faith-based and other community organizations in times of crisis, and on an ongoing basis, in preparing for catastrophes of all types.
Faith-based and community organizations played an instrumental role in response to Hurricane Katrina and they continue to be an essential partner in helping victims in the Gulf States region rebuild their lives and communities. I commend their service and look forward to building upon several long-standing relationships, as well as forging new ones, through the department’s new Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives."
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5472
I'm so happy that my tax
I'm so happy that my tax money is going to DHS to pray for hurricanes not to hit us. If/when hurricanes strike, maybe DSH can pray that God will send them some food and water - basically like they did during Katrina.
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security
like it's some kind of federal program."
- George W. Bush in a debate in St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000
They are black and white.
Some black ministers are as much a part of the "pimp ride" as all. Creflo Dollar, TD Jakes, and the list goes on and on. Folk in megachurches with customized $3,000.00-6,000.00 suits bother me. Women can barely pay the utility, food or mortgage, but yet will pay the tithe for the "Fat Pimp Preacher," who gets the money in his salary, yet does not pay bills, buy clothes, cars or food. The church does it for him.
Creflo Dollar has his own jet, his suits are custom, and I am sure his mansion is bigger than anything anyone in his congregation has.
I agree with you, again, expose the pimps. There are so many of them, I choose not to attend church. I can't afford it.
Changing Times
>I choose not to attend church. I can't afford it.
Who would have thought that we'd go from a poll tax to this? Maybe you'd feel more comfortable in a house church:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/03/cutting_the_c...
Well, "Faith-Based" is unconstitutional anyway.
In Madison's own words (scroll down to the second part of the page):
And the chips start to fall.
http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBB3U7ZMLE.html
The religious right in the Atlanta region are allowing much greater offenses to children than looking up a blue dress. Something is wrong in religion land.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006...
The hearings are hard to listen to on CSPAN of what is happening to these American children in the bible belt.
http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Ftoday.reuters.c...