While gathering some facts for my upcoming Moyer’s Fisk, I figured I’d warm up with a few pitches as that vaunted U.S. media ally, the Guardian Unlimited. Today’s anti-American offering, “Powell attacks Christian right“, is from that New York based paragon of unbiased reporting, Oliver Burkeman.

Arguably best known to us sacred cows for his reporting on Christopher Reeves’ misguided screeds, Oliver once again takes an apparent pleasure in side-swiping the Church. Perhaps being steered wrong by Madison Avenue jingoism, marketing under the auspice of Baptists, Ollie levels his most recent shot at the left’s favorite straw-man, the “Religious Right.” Only this time he misses terribly.

In an effort to paint all Christians as white-sheeted, gun-toting, knuckle-dragging neanderthals, the Burk-e-man makes his point by invoking the names of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart. In the case of the Reverend Falwell, Mr. Burkeman even goes as far as to credit the pastor as being “the country’s leading rightwing Baptist.” Really? I didn’t even know such a category existed. If so, who came in second place? Does this title cover all Baptists, or is this honor limited to the ABWE, SBC, BBFI, BIMI, or perhaps them pesky ‘Independent‘ type Baptists?

It’s just a guess, but I suspect Oliver’s omniscient omissions are due to an avenue of ‘journalism’ best expressed by the following passage from page 183 of Ann Coulter’s best seller ‘Slander: Liberal Lies About the American…’

“The imaginary threat of the “religious right” is important because it allows liberals to complain about their victimization by religious zealots. It is not sufficient compensation to be applauded wildly on Politically Incorrect and other late-night TV shows, profiled in fawning articles in the New York Times, photographed for People magazine, showered with awards, Pulitizer Prizes, and other sundry tributes.

Liberals insist that they also be admired for their bravery in standing up to Christians.”

Then again, I’m fond of this one from page 194,

“Liberals hate religion because politics is a religion substitute for liberals and they can’t stand the competition.”

Oliver, this just in from Get-a-stinking-clue.com - Powell wasn’t attacking the religious right - not after their strong base of support in this past election. He is merely hushing those who use religion to build little fiefdoms by ginning up fear and hatred at the expense of throwing fuel on an already white-hot fire. The same way some on the radical extreme left use the issue of animal abuse to stuff their coffers. The likes of Robertson speak no more for the majority of those of us in the Church, than do other famous ‘Baptist’ leaders, such as Jesse Jackson Sr.