"The more invisible you can make your organization the more influence it will have."
--Jeff Sharlet author of "The Family" quoting the organization
The "men of God" that comprise the C Street Christian organization known as "The Fellowship" or "The Family" is an organization of public men who would rather keep what they do very private. That would be much more acceptable if what they do had some serious accountability considering their "activities" have such strong influence on legislation all of us have to live under.
Fanaticism in any form, does not generally result in good law. Particularly when those laws are pushed by men who are devoid of responsible behavior and conduct their nefarious activities in "the ultimate smoke filled back room" of C Street.
Senator Ensigns inability to "put on your pants and go home" has spotlighted the decades old group and their bizarre and anything but Christian ideals.
The Family, or the Fellowship, is in its own words an "invisible" association, though it has always been organized around public men."I wish I could say more about it," Ronald Reagan publicly demurred back in 1985, "but it's working precisely because it is private."
"We desire to see a leadership led by God," reads a confidential mission statement. "Leaders of all levels of society who direct projects as they are led by the spirit." Another principle expanded upon is stealthiness; members are instructed to pursue political jujitsu by making use of secular leaders "in the work of advancing His kingdom," and to avoid whenever possible the label Christian itself, lest they alert enemies to that advance. Regular prayer groups, or "cells" as they're often called, have met in the Pentagon and at the Department of Defense, and the Family has traditionally fostered strong ties with businessmen in the oil and aerospace industries.
The Rachel Maddow Show explains the sordid affair of Senator Ensign from a recently released preliminary report by the Senate Ethics Committee on the ongoing investigation into the affair, and possible actionable criminal activities, of Senator Ensign.
Author interview (mp3 sound file) Jeff Sharlet-- The Secret Political Reach of 'The Family'
Preliminary Inquiry Into the Matter of Sen Ensign
Update 5/14--We've officially suggested the new GOP motto (penned by TRMS who was quoting one of "The Family" leaders Tim Coe) on a Huffington Post comment forum and are enjoying watching it tear through Twitter!
They wrote their own 2012 motto. Gotta love it.
"Put on your pants and go home"They wrote their own 2012 motto. Gotta love it.
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When we hear about these sordid activities in the media keep in mind that these are just the ones that have been discovered.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of like the tip of the iceberg, what you see above the water line is only a fraction of the largess of the object.
The religious right is proving itself over and over again to be nothing but charlatans, scoundrels and manipulators of Christianity and its believers.
The faithful followers will continue on with their ostrich in the sand postures and refuse to open their eyes to the grand scheme that continues to be perpetrated upon them. The power brokers are puppet-masters, concerned with only their select group of influence and don't give a damn who they destroy in the process.
This reminds me of a quote I once read:
ReplyDeleteChildren love secret club houses. They love secrecy even when there's no need for secrecy.
A lack of impulse control is generally ascribed to children is it not?
What say you Senator Ensign?
Excuse me, I forgot, "I can't I love her."
Is that why you enslaved her financially to continue to be the receptacle for your overheated loins?
I hear they updated the definition of 'illicit' in all the dictionaries last night to read "See John Ensign and the republican party."
ReplyDeleteThe Las Vegas Sun has done an amazing job on this investigation into Ensign.
ReplyDeleteKudos!
I can think of a lot of media outlets who should, but probably won't, take a page from their book on how to keep the heat on a whale of a story.
<a http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/13/six-things-revealed-about-john-ensign/href=">Six Things Revealed About John Ensign</a>
That same heat, and maybe a lot more, should apply to "The Family."
Max, I saw your comment on HuffPo referencing Weigel from Slate.com and the additional involvement of Rick Santorum in this brouhaha. I find it interesting and a painfully obvious attempt to protect a potential 2012 presidential candidate.
His name is in very few follow up stories on this. Let us hope the media will follow through on his involvement and the others who were complicit in this.
Stuff like this makes me want to spray my screen liberally with Lysol.
ReplyDeleteThese guys need wheelbarrows to carry them around in. What unmitigated gall!
Santorum is a pig who needs to burn just as hot as the rest of them for this.
ReplyDeleteI love this pious attitude of we are the moral compass party who know so much better than the rest of you what Godly men are.
Lead by example seems to have bitten them right in the arse!
Ensign is quoted as saying he prefers "the company of alpha males."
ReplyDeleteThe Achilles heel is predictable in these types:
"If it's not money, it's sex. We've observed that many leaders who fit the dysfunctional alpha male typology become womanizers who use conquest and control to assert their dominance. Add to that the tendency for alphas to think they should get whatever they want and you have a perfect set-up for dramas that can ruin careers and families, weaken mighty leaders and throw organizations into turmoil."
I'd say that fits Ensign to a T.
From what I read in the report Santorum forwarded an email from Doug Hampton as a warning to Ensign to get while the getting was good.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not against a law per say, but similar to showing the bank robber the quickest way out of the joint as the sirens grow louder on approach.
Insidious. Vile. Disgusting. Contemptible. Shady. Crooks and Liars. Inside baseball. Collusion. Sick F's. Horn dogs. Men without pants.
ReplyDeleteThat about covers it I think.
You forgot sanctimonious a-holes.
ReplyDeleteThe mafia called themselves the family too didn't they?
ReplyDeleteWhat's next for Ensign?
Maybe getting into the men's ready to wear garment industry? Trousers maybe?
How about a nice promo for casual sex, er uh SLACKS, like: "Zippers by Ensign"