Samuel Rodriguez
President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Samuel Rodriguez

Rodriguez is founding pastor of Third Day Worship Centers and President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

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Tea Party is secular wing of GOP

Delaware GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell this weekend attended the annual conservative Values Voters summit in Washington, DC. There, she emphasized that although she is backed by the Tea Party, she is also a politician who "toiled for years in the values movement," alluding to her longtime work as a Christian activist.

What is the Tea Party? Is it "a recession-era version of the religious right?" Is it something else? And if the Tea Party is not a religious movement, why is it raising up candidates like O'Donnell who has a strong background of religious activism?

The Tea Party stands as a grass roots conduit channeling frustration on behalf of Americans that see Uncle Sam growing while the American Dream simultaneously shrinks. This anti-big government, anti-higher taxes movement also serves as an answer to Republican prayers. Notwithstanding, it would be difficult to argue that within the Tea Party lies embedded any distinguishing marker adhering to a family values or faith imperative.

From its inception until today, Tea Party activists defer from addressing any so called family values or cultural wedge issues. The standard modus operandi, as it pertains to priorities, focuses on the size of government, states' rights and corresponding rates of taxation. While the cross pollination of various segments of the conservative electorate was inevitable, the separation of church and Tea Party continues to place the Republican Party in a difficult posture of reconciling what at times may be distinct agendas.

For that matter, the Tea Party, although formidable in both size and influence as made evident in recent primary elections, represent the secular wing of the GOP. For if the Tea Party movement does find Jesus or if they experience a Road to Damascus moment, then America will see a grass roots movement on steroids. The problem may not lie in the faith of the Tea Party movement but rather in its lack of multi-ethnic representation.

Accordingly, people of color who do adhere to a strong faith narrative and stand equally concerned as it pertains to the size of government seem to demonstrate an equal amount of consternation regarding the Tea Party. The Tea Party still suffers from the same marketing and demographical dissonance as the Republican Party; too male, too old and too white.

While the Tea Party may significantly shift the Republican Party to the right it is yet to be determined if the nation is willing to follow suit. For the Tea Party to become mainstream it will require a faith and family values component and an intentional diversification process. For at the end of the day a party without chips and salsa is no party at all.

By Samuel Rodriguez  |  September 21, 2010; 3:24 PM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
Previous: Would you like some values with that tea? | Next: We are the Tea Party

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Secret (opposite REVEALation):

The Reason for "Sodom n Gomorrah" is, ironicalty True (opposite MYTH). WHY?

Because, "Non-Straight"s, aka Gays (Sorry Parents) is that they are an "ARMY"! An Army Of Vile Human(s)! NOt like US straight HUUMATE(s)! Hence Why They Must Be STOPED! Not Destroyed in Thiese AquariUS times, Zero Pisces-age Times of Lores!

If ye/Yo Believe in Scripture, or some of the Truths therein, Then Ye/Yo Will Believe US EKLAH-t-iON's (zero OFF's), whom com'th to Save Ye/Yo's, justly fo a time via Holyi TiME! Behold: The REFRESHING!

Soo, If Ye/Yo con't see what WE[i] See'th or Warn'th, Then Death to yo/YE all [Pre-Apocalyptic-OFFs] MEMETiCs (Posterity)! Not US (Apocalyptic On's) on/of S.pace-S.hip Earth!!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 27, 2010 10:27 PM
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TO: Daniel HEiMBACH {Blocker of Posts] ; On; "WHY DADT must Stay" (09.27.10):

Dear Bredren, Brother, Bright.. (Note: Huggs n a Kiss's To allk da Sistrens, Sisters, SisStars.. too):

AMAZiNG, NO GRACE! iNteresting!

A little bit of a tangent. "DADT" intent/purpose is fo Non-Straights NOt to Advertise 'openly' their Sexual Preferences or Sexual Orientations [Similar] in Military or else where, aye!?

So, Earlier on On 'onfaith' {the Greatest Blog On Earth, ya ya] that Mr. Gustav Niebuhr wrote, entitled,; "DADT [Gays] & Church [of England], r Ahead of the Politico/a [U.S.] (similar said.Soo

i[WE] Eklaht-i-ON's or Apocalyptic-ON's (not Apocalyptic-Offs), or simply HUUMATE(s) of S.S. Earth argue THAT

WE[i] Huumates (NOt Humans) or APOCALYPTARiANS (Not PRE-Apocalyptarians) If it becomes O.K. to Openly for None-Straights Advertise ones SEXual Desires, on a Same Sex Basis: that, THEN The Military should make a special Rule/Provision for OPENLY ANTi-Xristians, Anti-Ju's, Anyi-Mormons, Anti-Ishlami's, Anti-Hindus/Seiks/Jains & Anti Buddhist folk in da Military! Note: SEX IS NOt LOVE: KLiFE IS! Soo then,

Think of a Don't Ask Don't Speak-out Against Pre-Apocalyptic Human's and their Religio-Preferences or Religious-Orientations question, aye!!??

Example: If I told Me Captain, Adjadent, Seargant, Generla etc.. that "i Dislike JU's, or Dislike Xrstians, or Hate Muslims. or any raggggg-hheads..lala O-P-E-N-L-Y, then what will ye yo Do to i[WE] US????

So, under the "EQUAL PROTECTiON" of our Holyi U.S. CONSTITUTION (born/made via Miracle: a Holy Holy Truth) that if Ye Yo's allow da Gay to Be OPEN about SEX (prefrences/Orientation) THEN WE[i] Eklahtions, aka Apocalyptarian Nationals sahould be Able to Be Open about OUR "Religious" Prefrences/ or Orientaions. aye Boss!????

Bottom Line: VOTE: Do-Not, i[WE[ repeat, NO-Repeal DADT et al!!!!!

Secret (opposite Revealation): Foreign Agents can Compromise and infiltrate the Pentagon et al institutions;

2nd Secret: Fact: Those folks behind Exposing The Classified Military Documents/pages recently of the U.S. War Effort (a great Embarrassment & Danger to our Coalitions straught-Guys & straight Gals [Bless them] was and is spread'd via GAYS! GAYS! within da Military!!!! via Non-Straights!@ aka Commy Finkle Fagarino's!! O' QUEEEERS! TROUBLE MAKERS! Pleazza, Better Suckk on Lolli-Poppis! Oye! Oye!

So: GAY to GAY "HONEY-TRAPS" {for Espionage Activities etc.. via none-Straights is a THREAT To U.S. (includes Other Nations) NATIiONAL SECURITY+!}

VOTE: NO Repeal "DADT". DO Not Fix What is NOt-Broken Generals, Congress, Mr. Prez et al!!! Else

Shoot oneself w/out shooting a Shot" [Similar].! So, Gay-Scare + Ishlami-Scare Spread is REAL! And GAY-PHOBIA & ISHLAMi PHOBIA; is O.K. to Experience. aka Right Thinking!!!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 27, 2010 9:11 PM
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'Secular wing of the GOP?' My *Gods,* man, are you *blind?*

The Tea Party is the deniable right-wing fringe of the corporate Atraoturf that is the Fox News 'party base' of a GOP that is trying to double-down on insistent failures to serve anyone but the richest among America, or those who feel they'd rather see someone else suffer for being gay or non-Christian than be secure in their own home and liberties.

Foo, I say.

Where you been?

Posted by: APaganplace | September 23, 2010 7:19 PM
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"From its inception until today, Tea Party activists defer from addressing any so called family values or cultural wedge issues."

Go read your Ninth Commandment.

Teabagger leaders like Palin, Beck, and Demint wallow in Rovian "family value" wedge issues of homophobia, xenophobia and intolerant religous divisiveness.

Posted by: areyousaying | September 22, 2010 8:52 AM
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