We’ve all been aware of the domestic activities of the C-Street members covering up GOP scandals and failing to practice what they preach, but outside the US, their conduct is beyond despicable.
The African nation of Uganda is weighing a bill that would impose the death penalty on HIV positive men who have committed what it calls "aggravated homosexuality."
As if that were not shocking enough, a U.S. author is claiming that a secretive group of American politicians appear to be a driving force in seeing the proposal become law.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, heavily supported by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, was first read in October, triggering a wave of condemnation. According to the gay blog Queerty, Joann Lockard, public affairs officer at the Kampala, Uganda embassy, said the law would "constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda."
She added: "We urge states to take all necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests, or detention."
While that condemnation by a U.S. official would seem reflexive, others in U.S. political circles are providing financial and political support for the bill's sponsors, according to author Jeff Sharlet.
Sharlet's book "The Family" is an investigative look at a secretive group of fundamentalist Christian lawmakers in Washington, D.C. In a recent interview with NPR's Terry Gross, he broke the news that The Family's influence in Uganda is rife.
"[The] legislator that introduced the bill, a guy named David Bahati, is a member of The Family," he said. "He appears to be a core member of The Family. He works, he organizes their Ugandan National Prayer Breakfast and oversees a African sort of student leadership program designed to create future leaders for Africa, into which The Family has poured millions of dollars working through a very convoluted chain of linkages passing the money over to Uganda."
And how did Sharlet discover the connection? "You follow [the] money," he said. You look at their archives. You do interviews where you can. It's not so invisible anymore. So that's how working with some research colleagues we discovered that David Bahati, the man behind this legislation, is really deeply, deeply involved in The Family's work in Uganda, that the ethics minister of Uganda, Museveni's kind of right-hand man, a guy named Nsaba Buturo, is also helping to organize The Family's National Prayer Breakfast. And here's a guy who has been the main force for this Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda's executive office and has been very vocal about what he's doing, in a rather extreme and hateful way. But these guys are not so much under the influence of The Family. They are, in Uganda, The Family."
Under current Ugandan law, homosexuality is a crime punishable by life in prison. The proposed law would not just condemn HIV positive gay men and "repeat offenders" to death, it would also jail for three years anyone who knows a gay man but refuses to report them to authorities. Further, anyone who defends in public the rights of gays and lesbians would be subjected to a seven year prison term.
In his NPR interview, Sharlet said the bill would "very likely" pass and become Ugandan law. He added that the nation's president, whom he called a "dictator," has long been in The Family's fold.
"The Family identified [Museveni] back in 1986 as a key man for Africa," he said. "They wanted to steer him away from neutrality or leftist sympathies and bring him into conservative American alliances, and they were able to do so. They've since promoted Uganda as this bright spot - as I say, as this bright spot for African democracy, despite the fact that under their tutelage, Museveni has slowly shifted away from any even veneer of democracy: imprisoning journalists, tampering with elections, supporting - strongly supporting this Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009."... [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Raw Story>
I was actually shocked to learn this, and I asked myself, “Why aren’t they trying to do the same thing here in the US?” The only answer I could imagine is that they do not have the power… yet. One thing is clear. People who would act in such a manner anywhere in the world have absolutely no business in the United States House or Senate, regardless of political party. Here is a list from Wikipedia.
| Sam Brownback | Sen. (R-KS) | Chair of Senate Values Action Team |
| James Inhofe | Sen. (R-OK) |
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| Jim DeMint | Sen. (R-SC) | Chairman of Steering Committee |
| Chuck Grassley | Sen. (R-IA) | Former Chairman of Finance Committee |
| John Ensign | Sen. (R-NV) | Involved in sex scandal |
| Tom Coburn | Sen. (R-OK) |
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| Mark Pryor | Sen. (D-AR) |
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| Bill Nelson | Sen. (D-FL) |
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| John Thune | Sen. (R-SD) |
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| Mike Enzi | Sen. (R-WY) |
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| Joe Pitts | Rep. (R-PA) | Chair of House Values Action Team; Member Committees on Energy & Commerce, Sec. & Coop in Europe |
| Todd Tiahrt | Rep. (R-KS) |
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| Frank Wolf | Rep. (R-VA) | Member of House Appropriations Panel |
| Zach Wamp | Rep. (R-TN) |
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| Mike McIntyre | Rep.(D-NC) |
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| Bart Stupak | Rep. (D-MI) | Author of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment for the Affordable Health Care for America Act that would ban federal funding for abortions. |
| Michael F. Doyle | Rep. (D-PA) |
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| Heath Shuler | Rep.(D-NC) |
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| Jerry Moran | Rep. (R-KS) |
|
They need to be eliminated, and lest I be confused with the teabaggers and Faux Noise pundits, I am speaking politically only. I am NOT calling for violence against them, and I oppose any such call. That’s how they work. We’re better than that. May the next time they stand for reelection be the last.
13 comments:
I wonder what "aggravated homosexuality" consists of. Presumably their pal Larry Craig would know.
I asked myself, “Why aren’t they trying to do the same thing here in the US?” The only answer I could imagine is that they do not have the power... yet.
The proponents of "Dominion theology" (also known as Reconstructionists or Theonomists), founded by Rousas Rushdoony, have been advocating the enactment of Old Testament taboos into American secular law since at least the 1980s, specifically including the Biblical death penalty for homosexuality (and for adultery, which might make Family member John Ensign a tad uncomfortable). Even within the Christian Right they are a fringe element, but they exist. It would be interesting to know if the Family has been influenced by Dominion theology.
Shocking
It's a sad time we live in Tomcat that still, people can make successful political careers out of bigotry.
And like it or not, the people on your rogues list will get more votes in their districts or states being anti gay than pro.
It sucks but I fear we're still generations away from bigotry being a big part of our culture.
That whole C-Street/Family business is a disgrace, they hide behind their beliefs to pull all sorts political tricks. The influence of C-Street goes deep into the heart of Congressional politics, they have hosted a National Prayer Breakfast which every sitting president since 1953 has attended. Dangerous people.
I think The Family and the Dominionists are exactly the sort of people Margaret Atwood had in mind when she wrote The Handmaid's Tale.
imagine something that actually makes you pine for Idi Amin
there are 19 names listed - 6% of congress - that is shocking - does that mean 6% of the population actually believes the crap that comes from the family
This is so "out there" that I'd almost believe I was getting punk'd. Then I think of Sarah Palin and realize there are no limits to the right-wing's disgusting behavior.
6% is about the percentage of the psychopaths that come to power. C street [The Family] needs to be exposed. Let us not forget these insanos also have influence over other congress-critters.
In the September 2007 Mother Jones, Sharlet and Kathryn Joyce reported that Hillary Clinton (pictured at the 2009 National Prayer Breakfast) has been active in Bible-study and prayer circles affilated with the Family. Writing in The Nation, Barbara Ehrenreich reported that Clinton described Family leader Doug Coe as "a unique presence in Washington: a genuinely loving spiritual mentor and guide to anyone, regardless of party or faith, who wants to deepen his or her relationship with God."
Autocrats + Theocrats = Hell on Earth.
Autocrats and Theocrats is also the title to one of my songs.
I need to write more about sunshine and daffodils.
It's funny how all of them are men. Hmmmm.... I wonder what you would find if you opened their closet doors.
Stranger things have happened....
Infidel, I think it's a second conviction, but perhaps it's an extra wide stance.
It is, Monique.
Truth, I agree with what you meant. Fortunately, they are a minority in most of the nation.
Holte, I would hope that some of the sitting Presidents were unaware of their extracurricular activities, which have only come to light in recent months.
Stimpson, I've never read it. Care to expand?
DC, I think it's a bit higher.
Marva, it's hard to believe, I agree. But it's the truth.
RZ, I agree with your first comment. In Clinton's defense, the truth about C Street has only come to light recently. I would hope that Clinton was unaware of their doings.
Dave, is there a place we can hear that?
Jo, that might be the case, but they see a woman's place as subservient to men, so one could not emerge into their leadership. Also, their members' scandals to date have been hetero.
I don't have that tune posted yet. I'd be happy to send you a CD.
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