they're at it again...

from truthdig:

The convener of a "War on Christians" conference held in the nation'’s capital outrageously depicted [Tom Delay] the former House majority leader'’s political plight as the unwarranted crucifixion of a Christ-like leader by God-haters. And, with his trademark gall, the infamously ethically challenged DeLay eagerly embraced this explanation when it was his turn to speak to the adoring crowd.

"We have been chosen to live as Christians at a time when our culture is being poisoned and our world is being threatened," thundered the Texan pest-control entrepreneur who rose to become one of AmericaÂ’s most powerful politicians. "The enemies of virtue may be on the march, but they have not won."

Let'’s leave aside for a moment the absurdity of right-wing Christians' persecution complex at a time when their adherents effectively control all three branches of the federal government. What's even more confusing is how so many enemies of virtue seem to have had a field day operating under poor DeLay's auspices...

To be fair to DeLay, it should be noted that as absurd as his religious posturing may appear, it comes at a time when he has been denied the services of his onetime spiritual adviser and former chief of staff. Edwin Buckham, an evangelical minister who turned lobbyist after leaving DeLay's staff, is himself now mired in potential legal problems stemming from Rudy's plea bargain. A devastating article by R. Jeffrey Smith in the Washington Post last week reported that Buckham and his wife received a total of nearly a million bucks from the "nonprofit" U.S. Family Network, which he created as a front group largely funded by clients of Abramoff.

This is a great piece of reporting that uncovers the lies of Abramoff and his ilk (see also Ralph Reed), and exposes his faith-posturing as nothing more than a charade. One of my favorite biblical quotes is Jesus' admonition to "be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Delay got it backwards, choosing to be innocent as a serpent, instead.

Actually, the entire passage in which that line is located further implicates Delay. Here, in the tenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus has selected the twelve disciples and now gives them directions for going out to proclaim the good news. In contrast to Tom "the Martyr" Delay, the disciples are told, "You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food." Not only did Delay and his staff (including his spiritual advisor - it's in the article!) receive money, free travel, vacations, and more, they actively sought these things as the price of their service. Funny, I thought serving as an elected official was in itself a privilege, and the only reward one should expect was re-election for a job well done.

The disciples are also warned, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Delay not only mixed up the serpents and doves part, but also the sheep and wolves. Before making his meteoric rise (and, let's hope, fall) from public, um, bilking, Delay was a taxidermist. The phrase that seems better to fit Delay is "wolf in sheep's clothing," and who better to dress himself in sheep's clothing than a taxidermist?

In all seriousness, Delay and his staff make a mockery of the Christian faith by their deeds and, worse, help create the alleged "war on Christians" with their words. They create such a "war," and the associated cultural divisions, and then act as war-profiteers, scamming well meaning faithful in the ensuing chaos.