News-Record.com

I don't personally know any evangelical Christians that I would classify as "simpletons." Some may prefer not to have nuanced views of politics, but that's not the same thing, I don't believe.

But I do agree that the media are not doing what they should to present their consumers with varied inputs. It's very possible that this is where all the strawmen we encounter on a daily basis are born. I'd prefer to see real information presented, along with varied analysis. Not to mention a set of analysts who are more willing to compromise in their statements than the current raft of absolutists.

I mean, while I'm asking for the impossible, I might as well go the whole 9 yards, eh?

Thanks, Nancy; something a LITTLE MORE sensible regarding the broader Christian conservative community. The article is quite correct in noting the very narrow field of sources tapped by the major media in seeking to portray (or create) the “religious right.”
As a committed conservative Christian, I wince every time they parade Pat and Jerry across the screen for THE conservative position on leading issues. Not that I disagree with these guys on many central theological issues – some definitely – but not all. It’s just that they tend to mouth predictable talking points rather than have any sound orthodox statements on issues. This is partly because they represent the fundamental, dispensational (Jerry) or the charismatic branches of the Church (Pat); both of which I have problems with; but both of which positions have far more able, nuanced, and intellectually gifted persons in their ranks, who could give a much more sophisticated treatment of the issues under consideration.

I truly believe, also, that the major networks very much ENJOY having such commentators on, because they perpetuate and enable their efforts to portray and caricature conservative Christians as “simpletons.” And, of course, its part of the concerted Democratic strategy to mute the activist Christian block since the 2004 debacle.

Some of what Pat and Jerry et al. say is actually sound, from a biblical point of view, but the follow-up on the part of the media is always designed to make them look like narrow, prejudiced ideologues. For example, when Pat and Jerry stated on air that the 9/11 attacks could be God’s judgment for the nation’s promotion of abortion and perverted sexual practices, they were on solid prophetic ground - and correct, in my estimation. But our national sins extend far beyond these symptom issues, which is an example of the superficiality of conservative commentary allowed in the major media. Actually, anyone who takes a non-PC position on the hot button social issues today is lampooned by the liberal media pundits; whereas, the Bible says that “the fool (simpleton) has said in this heart that there is no God.”

The media doesn’t want someone on who could state the biblical and orthodox positions with skill, eloquence and nuance. So, it’s not that Jerry and company are merely the path of least resistance for the media masters, it’s that they suit the propagandizing purposes of the liberal media wonks to a T. They wouldn’t give much exposure to a R. K. Chesterton, R. C. Sproul, C. S. Lewis, R. J. Rushdoony, Francis Schaeffer or Gary Demar et al. – some of whom are deceased now, and represent a varied pallet of conservative opinion.

Even though I lament the narrow spectrum of issues that Christians focus on in the political arena, it pretty much comes with the American political territory – the Left wing also having its narrow spectrum of hot issues they trumpet at election time. At any rate, the abortion and sexual issues are not peripheral in the least, but hit at the very core of any culture’s spiritual health and survival. But I also agree with the writer that the Republican Party takes their Christian constituency for granted, and uses them during elections, and abuses them between elections. And also that the concerns of Christians range far beyond the hot button issues to the ones he mentioned. There ARE widely varying conservative opinions on the war, for example. And most would oppose any attempt to forcibly “redistribute” wealth by Big Gov. as Marxist – which it most definitely IS. Has never worked in the long run – never will.