To the casual observer, the American Values Network (AVN) seems like a conservative Christian (some like to say “Christianists”) group. It’s currently involved in a campaign to attack the late novelist Ayn Rand as an “anti-Christian” atheist. That’s notable because, in addition to being an atheist, Rand was a leading proponent of free-market capitalism and limited government, and many of today’s leading conservatives, such as Rep. Paul Ryan, have cited her influence on their thought.
According to a press release from AVN:
Rand not only rejected Christ, but she condemned all those who believed in him and said his teachings were evil,” said Eric Sapp, Executive Director, American Values Network. “People of faith need to know what Ayn Rand believed and who her acolytes are in Washington so they can see how her teachings are being applied in government. Ayn Rand’s America is not one that good and decent people would want for their children.”
It notes that a memo from AVN provides:
a collection of Ayn Rand’s own teaching and statements about what the goals and purpose of her morality and thinking were—goals that stand in absolute contrast to Judeo-Christian morality and explicitly condemn the teachings of Christ. It also includes numerous quotes by Republican leaders and conservative pundits praising her, as well as Scripture references for the Bible’s teaching on the various subjects she addresses.
So, an internecine battle on the right? Not exactly. It turns out that the American Values Network is a Democratic front group. The head of AVN is a former Hillary/Pelosi staffer. Its National Advisory Committee includes Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and other Democrats. It’s their attempt to sow dissension “on the right” by setting the GOP’s socially conservative base against the limited government libertarians. And in doing so, they’re taking the side of “Judeo-Christian morality.” Nice work, eh.
16 Comments for “Front Group”
posted by esurience on
They aren’t taking the side of social conservatives, they’re pointing out that the teaching of Jesus aren’t consistent with the way that many Republicans want our economic system and safety net to operate.
posted by another steve on
They’ll be the only Christian political group that Americans United for the Separation of Church and State won’t condemn!
As the blogger and others have often said, a more libertarian GOP is the liberal activists’ worst nightmare.
posted by Houndentenor on
LOL. Why didn’t *I* think of this?
I have often wondered how long it would take the religious right to figure out what Ayn Rand really stood for and want nothing to do with those who follow her philosophy. Sadly, that hasn’t happened (because the religious right haven’t actually read the whole Bible, much less the whole of Atlas Shrugged an The Fountainhead.
But here’s the real question…does the website distort or misrepresent Ayn Rand’s philosophy? Are there inaccuracies?
And honestly, a truly libertarian GOP (as opposed to one that talks libertarian but provides a prescription plan for medicare recipients) couldn’t get anywhere near a majority of voters and the GOP leadership knows this. Why do you think they leap over themselves to pander to social conservatives at every turn?
posted by Jorge on
This site skipped the coverage of Osama’s death for this?
What does this have to do with “forging a gay mainstream”?
posted by another steve on
It has all to do with the politics of promoting Judeo-Christian morality in order to acheive a political purpose, which of course impacts us.
By the way, speaking of front groups run by Democratic party operatives on the surface to advance one agenda, but really to serve the party, AVN sounds alot like HRC (and the Victory Fund).
posted by Tom on
To the casual observer, the American Values Network (AVN) seems like a conservative Christian (some like to say “Christianists”) group.
I try to stay out of internal Christian arguments, but this statement strikes me as bizarre. You’d have to be a very casual observer to come to that conclusion, it seems to me.
AVN clearly represents the social gospel tradition in American Christianity — “The American Values Network is speaking out and organizing on behalf of the left out and left behind.” — and so much as a cursory glance at the group’s “About Us” page demonstrates that, assuming that you know any of the people, know of them, or can understand the word “Democrat”.
I think that this post demonstrates the extent to which conservative Christian groups have dominated the voice of American Christianity in recent years. The reason that AVN “seems like a conservative Christian group” — the only reason that I can see, reading their website — is that the group has the temerity to quote scripture in support of the social gospel.
I often hear the mantra of Christian friends and acquaintances that “not all Christians are like that …”, the that being narrow-minded moralists obsessed with homosexuality.
I have no reason to believe that, given the dominance of conservative Christians in politics and the media.
It looks like a group of Christians who are “not like that …” is actually speaking out, using the language of Christianity.
posted by Houndentenor on
Obviously Mr Miller believes that only conservatives can be Americans or have Values.
posted by Tom on
That is pretty clear from this bit of Stephen’s snark:
Stephen’s “everything the left does is motivated solely by politics” filter is so strong, apparently, that he can’t even imagine the possibility that social gospel Christians might have a religious, faith-based motive for opposing the Republican agenda.
If I were one of the ministers listed on AVN’s “About Us” page, I might want to have a “Come to Jesus …” talk with Stephen right about now.
posted by Jerry on
I’m shocked. Democrats using Repugnican tactics?
posted by Alex on
Tom got it spot on. Social Conservatives have successfully tied the emotional meaning of “Christian” to their political ideology. A quick glance at the webpage easily dispels the notion that it is a Right Wing Front Group with article touting positions like “Progressives cannot continue to allow this hypocrisy to go unchallenged.” on the budget.
“Casual observer” would have to mean: I only looked only at the name of the group. Is this article author buying into the bad assumption that only Conservatives vote their values?
posted by Tom on
I think you are right, Alex.
The hard right acts as if the words “American”, “values”, “patriot” and “Christian”, among others, are their copyright. It isn’t so, but you’d never know it from the way they wrap themselves in the flag and flaunt the cross, denouncing anyone who disagrees with them as “un-American” and “anti-Christian”.
I’m not a Christian — I was born to the Covenant, not adopted — but even I know that the Gospel of Luke, in particular, stands in stark contravention to the hard-right’s political ideology.
I don’t care much about what Christians believe or don’t, so long as they don’t try to impose their religion on me or on our country, but I’m glad to see a group of Christians who believe that Christianity goes beyond the narrow-minded, hollow yapping of the Religious Right standing up and speaking out, for once, and doing so in starkly Christian terms.
posted by John Howard on
This is great, another milestone on the path to a new alignment, where the Libertarians on one side and Socially Responsible people on the other side. This is what my blog PurpleMassGroup.com is intended to foster: a place where Republicans and Democrats can come together to form a socially responsible consensus, by telling the Libertarians to get out, they’ve got their own party to entertain them.
posted by another steve on
Republicans and Democrats can come together to form a socially responsible consensus, by telling the Libertarians to get out…
Gee, John Howard, and just what would that “consensus” be. Oh, I know — bigger government, higher taxes, more centralization and regulation — yes, in your libertarian-free world, big government Dems and GOPs would inflict their ever-growing authoritarianism on us all, God forbid!
posted by John from NM on
Seriously, they have “climate change” right on their side bar… and if you check it out, they’re not telling you how much it’s a lie.
This group isn’t pretending to be a right-wing group. At all. They’re for social justice, they believe in climate change, they have a bit about defending the stimulus… there is no deception here, no shenanigans, no attempts to deceive. It’s just a left-wing religious group.
posted by Carl on
King and Spalding talk about how Clements signed the DOMA defense agreement without their knowledge.
http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2011/05/king-spalding-offers-new-details-on-marriage-mess.html
More GOP attempts to roll back DADT repeal.
http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/sldn-denounces-votes-in-house-armed-services-committee-to-undermine-dont-as/
posted by volpi on
is there any”limited government conservative” in minnesota senate? they voted to ban same-sex marriage this week.