Republican Gomorrah: Inside The Movement That Shattered The Party (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
While right-wing evangelicals don't have the market cornered on hypocrisy, there's something particularly offensive when those who would legislate virtue and vice according to their own religious doctrines can't even seem to follow the mandates they insist for the public. In this book we find those who preach hatred for gays yet carry on covert same-sex affairs, who demand the death penalty for drug dealers and users yet abuse illegal substances, who demand "purity" but patronize prostitutes. Essential reading. I've been saying for many years that religious fundamentalism of any stripe should disturb all thinking people. In "Republican Gomorrah," reporter Max Blumenthal plumbs the depths of the Religious Right and its growing involvement in GOP politics -- and shows just how the Christian Reconstructionists have taken over the party.This well-sourced book (more than 60 pages of end-notes document every single issue Blumenthal brings to light) shows exactly how the GOP became the party that dehumanizes women, GLBT people, people of other faiths (read: non-fundamentalist Evangelical Christians) and people of color. At the center of the web, if you will, are the teachings of RJ Rushdoony and James Dobson, the latter of whom has no theological training at all. Both men are charismatic and authoritative speakers who appeal to a certain population: people who, most frequently from authoritarian backgrounds, do not want to apply critical thinking but instead are far more comfortable being told what is right and wrong and obeying without any further thought.The psychology of this personality type bears some understanding, because I never could understand how certain people could not look at facts that contradicted their position. Once a particular "truth" is arrived at, no facts will change their minds. Blumenthal examines this personality type deeply, citing sources like Erich Fromm's studies. This is the type of personality we see buying into the "birther" movement and so on; once an authority figure has told one of their followers what to believe, the follower does so unquestioningly.I did not want to put this book down. It is both a fascinating study of the GOP (which, in many cases, features "do as I say, not as I do" leaders) and its fundamentalist, doctrinaire followers. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely well worth reading.
What do You think about Republican Gomorrah: Inside The Movement That Shattered The Party (2010)?
It is a very scary book...and I'm not easily scared.
—martinm
Good so far. For the politically minded.
—GenieGirl
Know your politicians BEFORE you vote...
—dmiller116549
