“When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” Socrates

Last week, the annual Right Wing Fringe Clown group known as the “Values Voters Summit” met again. As to be expected, the speakers at the event provided enough insane, inane and comical sound bites to keep political pundits and comedians thankful to the God they may or may not believe in. Conservative so called Christians flock to this event, those who proclaim their “Christianity” uber alles yet do very little that Jesus Christ advocated for from his teachings in the Bible. This group is filled with those who truly believe in Creationism over Evolution, the universe is only 6,000 years old and man lived with Dinosaurs.

They also go so far as to place this somewhat unenlightened spin of the faith to conflate it with our nation’s founding and the intent of our founders. They misinterpret, misrepresent and simply miss the entire point of the separation clause of our Constitution. Despite the true historic facts and documentation of the era, they proclaim that we were founded as a “Christian Nation”. This led me to have some fun and post this pic on my Twitter Time Line with the caption, .Jesus Rides Into DC to Write the Constitution (Thanks for the Retweets)

Now this group who’s straw poll named Ted Cruz as their nominee for President in 2016 (forget the foreign born irony on this straw vote) had of course, Sarah Palin speak to them. The half term governor of Alaska gave a word salad talk to the gang filled with gaffes that will keep Comedy Central, SNL and late night comics busy for weeks. In addition to moving the White House to 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue, Sarah decided to invoke some prop humor reminiscent of Carrot Top by making her version of the “latte Salute” to our President to the delight of the crowd.

So in the spirit of those who participated in the Values Voters Summit and in keeping with the humor demonstrated by Sarah, I posted this pic on my Twitter Time Line with the caption, Jesus has a Salute for Sarah Palin. (again, thanks for the retweets)

I soon received an @ mention on my Time Line from Dan Gainor that proclaimed me to be:

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 26

Anti-Christian bigot>>> @azmoderate

I had no idea who this guy was. Apparently last July he trolled my account on something another, but I never responded back because I found his reasoning and facts to be, shall we say, groundless and not worth my time.

However, to immediately make an allegation like this prompted me to respond. While doing so I also decided to research this guy on Google.

What I found is that he is the Vice President of Business and Culture at the Media Research Center, a right wing conservative group dedicated to use “sound scientific methods” to prove there is a liberal bias in media that undermines American values. Among it’s financial supporters, ExxonMobile. This group also runs NewsBusters. Throughout it’s existence, MRC has been thoroughly debunked and called out for their lack of true journalistic standards and lack of “sound scientific methods.”

I also found that Mr. Gainor is a regular media guest on FOX and the corporate owned “liberal Media”. I read a transcript of an interview he had with Thom Hartmann where he had his ass handed to him. I also see his name prominently displayed and written about on Right Wing Watch where his assertions are always clearly debunked using “sound scientific method.”

I found he is adamently opposed to gay rights based on his flawed interpretation of the Bible (keeping in mind nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus say anything about homosexuality). I also viewed his time line on Twitter and his interactions with others. I was astounded to see he regularly attacks others on Twitter with no true provocation, something known as “trolling”.

Also I noted that few if any other twitter accounts, even those on the right come in to defend or support him. Also, for a right wing media star who’s been on Twitter since 2008, he has relatively few followers of his own, around 6,100. I delighted in that although I’m strictly amateur, have no media coverage or platform, have only been on twitter since 2010 and regularly block followers; I have nearly 10,000 followers (I have more quantity and quality of followers than Mr. Gainor) But I digress.

So I responded to him in the only way I knew, snark. I advised him:

Eclectic John ‏@azmoderate  Sep 26

@dangainor You got it wrong my friend, I’m the Anti-Christ to all those who call themselves “Conservative Christians” which is an oxymoron

So he responded back to me and decided to add in two more accounts that weren’t even involved in the thread, @Karoli and @LibertyCara

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 26

@cando161 I hate bigots. Which applies here. @azmoderate @Karoli @LibertyCara

Others began to join in the thread, @cando161, @BarrieLouise, @KatEdmiston, @upayr, @franco91hou, @MarieMemePayne, @Kuku_Sabzi, @JuliaWolfe @FroschHaus and @Ronc99. All confronted Mr. Gainor with his positions and asked him questions to back up his claims. He provided few answers and when those he did provide were debunked with evidence, he went on with the slander.

When confronted with the Beatitudes and other teachings of Christ, he would deflect. He would projects that “liberals” are telling others how to practice their religion while he actually demands how true Christians must pray. I then found a Huffington Post link where Mr. Gainor offered to pay someone to beat up Congressman Alan Grayson, so I posted:

Eclectic John ‏@azmoderate  Sep 26

@dangainor @cando161 @Karoli Curious Danny, you gonna offer money to someone to assault me? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/20/dan-gainor-right-wing-med_n_653252.html …

To which he responded:

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 26

@azmoderate Nope. clearly you can’t take a joke. Typical for libs. @cando161 @Karoli

Now that was funny. Considering this whole thread began because of my joke regarding Sarah Palin.

The argument continued to the next day. We tried to remind Mr. Gainor of the Separation Clause. He insists that it merely says that Government cannot interfere with religion but doesn’t restrict “Christianity” from interfering with government. He refused to accept that the wall was established to protect both religion and government from each other. He also refused to accept that under the First Amendment, all religions are equal to one another, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoist, etc. even Atheism.

No faith or lack of faith trumps the other in this nation per our constitution. Further as per our founders, we are a “Secular” government, not a Christian Government. Apparently, Mr. Gainor is a fellow at the David Barton Historical School of made up Jefferson Quotes.

Mr. Gainor is of the belief that the founders established this nation as a Christian Nation, he doesn’t accept the wording in the Treaty of Tripoli that was ratified by Unanimous Consent in the Senate (a Senate comprised of our founding fathers) and signed by Conservative John Adams that stated clearly “As the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian Religion…” (November 4, 1796).

Again, we asked Mr. Gainor to point out anything in the Bible or Constitution to back up any of his claims. He continued to avoid, dismiss and insult. Then I asked him:

Eclectic John ‏@azmoderate  Sep 27

@dangainor @kimoco @freedom2marry @holybullies Where is “God” mentioned in the Constitution?

Mr. Gainor’s only reference to that question was:

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 27

@kimoco We are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights… @azmoderate @freedom2marry @holybullies

Well, that is from the Declaration on Independence, which although a stirring document listing our grievances to the King and stating why we were absolving all allegiance to his Crown, it was not then or now a governing document for the Colonies, the Confederation, or the United States. The Constitution is our governing document and nowhere in it does it mention God or Supreme being or Creator. Mr. Gainor, we are a secular government.

Mr. Gainor then decided to block me. Wonder why?

You are free to worship as you wish, you are not free to use the government of the United States under force of law or denial of rights to compel others to follow your particular brand of religion. All faiths and lack of faith have the same equal protections and the same rights. This is final, this is right, this is Constitutional. To believe otherwise is delusional.

One final note regarding the thread. Mr. Gainor decided to paraphrase my idol, Barry M. Goldwater when he stated that extremism in the Christian faith is good, sounding back to Goldwater’s “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.” Well Mr. Gainor, Conservative Arizona United States Senator Barry M. Goldwater was very clear on what he felt about conflating religion with governing this nation:

To impose a conservative view of religion upon an entire nation regardless of what their beliefs may or may not be is not conservative, in fact its’ radical. We are a nation of equal rights, privileges, opportunities and responsibilities. To not accept that is as un-American and Unchristian as you can get Mr. Gainor.

Just for Kicks and Giggles

The midterms are fast approaching and the more people we can get to the polls, the better the outcome will be for all Americans. It’s a matter of registering, studying the candidates and propositions and voting the entire ballot. So here are some links that can help you. Please send this to your family and friends and do all you can do to get them motivated to register and vote.

Here are links to use to find out how to register to vote in your area:

http://www.rockthevote.com/register-to-vote/?source=googlevr9&gclid=CM75rJK55MACFYdlfgodT34AYw

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting/Register.shtml

Now don’t be so sure you are still registered. In many red states, they can and have removed people from the registered voters’ lists to suppress the votes. Use this site to see if you are still registered. If not, use the above links to reregister to vote:

http://www.canivote.org/

Do you need voter ID where you have to vote? These sites can help you in that regard:

http://www.headcount.org/voter-id-requirements/?gclid=CI-727-65MACFYqBfgodYyAA0w

http://www.demos.org/publication/got-id-helping-americans-get-voter-identification

Do you know your candidates? Here’s a site for those running for Congress. Research these people:

http://ballotpedia.org/List_of_candidates_running_in_U.S._Congress_elections,_2014

Here’s a site for those running for the US Senate:

http://www.senateconservatives.com/site/races

Here’s a site for those running for Governor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_gubernatorial_elections,_2014

In addition to the above, check all the propositions up for consideration. Especially check to see who’s financially sponsoring these propositions. If they’re sponsored by anyone associated with the Koch Brothers like Americans for prosperity, The Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Express, ALEC, you know the proposition isn’t in your best interests.

Finally, when you show up at the polls, you may encounter groups like “True the Vote” who may be inclined to challenge your right to vote for anyone running for federal office. That is illegal. Keep this handy:

18 U.S. Code § 594

“Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, at any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing such candidate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”

If encountered by anyone from such a group, contact the FBI, not local law enforcement. Also, take their pictures, film them in action. They are breaking federal law and should be held to account.

It’s no secret that those on the extreme right want to suppress the votes in all elections; it’s the only way their candidates and their propositions can win. The only way to get a government working for the interests of the majority of Americans is to get the majority of Americans to vote. Midterms are notorious for low voter turnout. Let’s make 2014 the exception and possibly a start of a new trend, high voter turnout for a higher quality government.

Paul Weyrich, Right Wing Conservative Strategist and one of the founders of ALEC tells it like it is:

Get registered, get out there, do your research and vote.