Associated Press
Why is this man smiling?
By most measures, Republicans shouldn't even want to be in the same room as Ralph Reed. As Dave Weigel noted a while back, "Reed was supposed to be dead, dead, dead. His 2006 defeat was covered as the effective end of a 45-year-old political strategist who was forever tainted by scandal."
Now, Reed is a major player at the Conservative Political Action Conference, and articles about him don't even include Jack Abramoff's name.
Ralph Reed, the powerful head of the socially conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition, said that Mitt Romney had made some inroads with evangelical Christians and other social conservatives since the start of the GOP campaign, but that the race was "wide open."
"I think it's a highly competitive race, very fluid, very topsy-turvy, and I don't think we've seen our last roller coaster ride yet," he said.
How, exactly, did Reed transform from the disgraced lobbyist caught up in the Abramoff scandal to right-wing GOP powerhouse? Well, it's a funny story.
Reed waited. That's it. He simply allowed time to elapse, confident that Republican officials, conservative activists, and the media would simply forget about his scandals and remember his organizing successes.
This worked remarkably well, but there's still value in remembering his sleazy misdeeds.
Remember this one, from June 2006?
Yet another delightful characterization of Ralph Reed, courtesy of today's McCain report on the Abramoff scandal. This one comes courtesy of Jack Abramoff himself, via his discussion with Marc Schwartz, a public relations representative for the Tigua tribe in Texas.
Let's pick up the report on page 148. Schwartz was evaluating whether the tribe should hire Abramoff as its lobbyist: To Schwartz, Abramoff appeared to have the right credentials. Abramoff claimed to be a close friend of Congressman Tom DeLay. He also discussed his friendship with Reed, recounting some of their history together at College Republicans. When Schwartz observed that Reed was an ideologue, Schwartz recalled that Abramoff laughingly replied "as far as the cash goes."
Or, how about this one?
Ralph Reed, email to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, 1998: "Hey, now that I'm done with the electoral politics, I need to start humping in corporate accounts! I'm counting on you to help me with some contacts."
E-mails and testimony before McCain's panel showed that Reed, who once branded gambling a "cancer" on society, reaped millions of dollars in tribal casino proceeds that Abramoff secretly routed to him through various non-profit front groups. Abramoff, a lobbyist for the tribes, paid Reed to whip up "grassroots" Christian opposition to prevent rival tribes from opening casinos.
All of this, apparently, is now considered little more than water under the bridge.
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Is this surprising in the age of politics where the public forgets what happened a month ago, let alone 6 years ago? I think not.
Whether the public forgets what happened a month ago is a question mark. On the other hand, as far as the traditional media goes, infamy is no vice.
Reed wed the Pro-Sociopath wing of the GOP with the Tea Party and the "religious right" and then helped them supplant the teachings of Jesus with the worship of the Jesus -hating atheist, Ayn Rand. Now if that's not DEVILISHLY brilliant I don't know what is.
Check out my article on this phenomenon when you can.
"Crusader Christianity, Tea Party Cult, & The Left"
http://open.salon.com/blog/ronrobinson/2011/08/02/crusader_christianity_tea_party_cult_the_left_wip
About a generation ago, I picked up a book by Bertrand Gross, and read it. The book cover could have easily sported a picture of Ralph Reed, as his persona is represented throughout the book's pages. Of course, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Dick Army, Mitch McConnell and the Koch Bros. could also have been on the same book cover. The title of the book?
Why, its title was, Friendly Fascism! -Kevo
i think you're confused. this is not about principle. we're talking right wing politics and religious fundamentalism here.
Will his rehabilitation include appearing on Dancing with the Stars??
Good one!
...with Ollie North and Gordon Liddy.
I suggest everyone go re-read the recent Canadian study that shows that "conservative" beliefs are closely correlated to low intelligence. At this point, all the reports of the current Nuremburg Party Rally, er, I mean CPAC conference, where the head of VDARE and the head of World Nut Daily are welcome as leading speakers, demonstrate this, with the rehabilitation of one of the slimiest little con artists on the Right being merely the cherry on top of the whipped cream. Not to leave out Tony Perkins, the man who bought David Duke's mailing list to send out more "Christmas cards."
Today's Nuremburg Party Rally, er, I mean CPAC conference, demonstrates the truth of Upton Sinclair's prediction that "when fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."
Apparently, not only are conservatives less bright than liberals (based on a recently-published academic study) but they have shorter memories, as well.
If Republicans had longer memories, Romney wouldn't have had to spend any money on ads about Gingrich in Iowa or Florida.
Hmm, maybe ol' Ralph has visited C Street and been washed white as snow...
Just to be clear, is Reed rehabilitated as a Republican or as a human being? Because you can't be both.
Good Lord...not him again. You can't even say his name in the same context with God without fear of a lightening strike
What a self-serving power-hungry weasel. I wouldn't leave him in the same room with my kids piggy bank.
There is nothing either conservative or christian about the Conservative Christians.
Nothing!
Get me off the planet! How is it that garbage like this gets recycled? How short are people's memories really? I am ready to fly out of my skin! Maybe I should just read Conservatives Without Conscience again... Just finished Winner Take All Politics and I highly recommend that too.
I guess the Repubs embrace acceptance and forgiveness only if you have an R by your name.
Oh, this just makes me weary.
Can anybody think of a liberal rehabilitation story that is at all comparable? Can we expect to see a John Edwards comeback or something?
Sadly, the average American has no idea who this man is or what he did...
It is quite evident that hypocrisy has become fashionable for the right. Hypocrisy is now "cool" for these folks, as is the closely related "accusing the other side of what you yourself are guilty of". Oh, and shame has also been embraced as a crowning jewel amongst their riches.
Reminds me of that nude woman in the bath in the movie "The Shining", all pretty and sexy on one side, but a real horror show on the other.
Sliminess! Oh God the Sliminess! I've hated him since he was Pat Robertson's right hand tug boy and the genius behind the Christian Coalitions. >.< Gah! D :
Wait! Eureka! Maybe what this all means is...the recycling of right-wing hypocrites ala Ralph Reed, Newt Gingrich means that they're not reproducing anymore of them? Hey. A girl can have hope! Oh but that can't work...they're all against contraception. Ah, well, it was a nice thought while it lasted. Next stop on the Rehabilitation Bus...Tom DeLay! (So, has he been for a prayer session at C-street yet for his absolution?)
I don't care how much time goes by! I will never have truck with this desecrator of the Father's House! I will always see his smile as an evil smile and I will always think of these lines from Psalm 55 in connection with this demoniac creature: 'His speech is as smooth as butter; yet war is in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil; yet they are drawn swords.' He should take note of another line in that psalm: 'Bloodthirsty and DECEITFUL men will not live out HALF their days.'!!!
Ralph Reed ranks right up there with other such "Moral Majority" snollygosters who use demagoguery, parisology, and hypocrisy to gull the ignorant, but trusting, right wing religious zealots, hellbent on turning the U.S. into a theocracy! And they say they fear Sharia Law? HA!
Here's a quote I respect a great deal, applicable here.
"They honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me"
Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Matthew 15:7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
Mark 7:6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Ralph Reed is the epitome of success to the right wing looney tunes, he made a mint from religion, then a mint from selling out religion. He made a mint as a political organizer, he will soon make another mint selling out his political masters. Reed is what modern conservatism is about, $$$$$. Modern conservatives have no political or moral value they will not change for the right price. As long as a modern conservative espouse hateful rhetoric they are forgiven and raised up to leadership. Hell of an object lesson for the children of modern conservatives.