In an article praising Michael Weinstein for his recent public relations victories,\u00a0a supporter paints an interesting, if unintentional,\u00a0portrait of the man and his organization.\u00a0 From the supporter’s blog:\u00a0 <\/p>\n
“These fundamentalist [expletive<\/em>] give the same talking points to all their people and they all just vomit them to me over email,” [Weinstein said.]\u00a0 The message is rife with misspellings, poor grammar, and accusations of misuse of taxpayer dollars, despite the MRFF\u2019s total funding through private donors. The facts never seem to constrain Weinstein’s critics.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Lost on most people is Weinstein’s unilateral declaration<\/a> of the religious beliefs of those who oppose him.\u00a0 As with the author of the email the two are mocking, most people don’t describe their religious beliefs to Weinstein;\u00a0still, Weinstein and his ilk simply decide to tell them<\/em> what they believe.\u00a0(For example, his organization has said James Dobson is a “dominionist,” despite the fact Dobson himself has never espoused such a theology.\u00a0 Of course, for perspective, consider that MRFF representatives also said Dobson was part of a shadow government led by Dick Cheney…)<\/p>\n
The phrasing in the blog is also careful.\u00a0 The MRFF does declare that its funding comes from private donations.\u00a0 However, when speaking at government functions Weinstein has apparently received a fee<\/a>, which would presumably, though not necessarily, have come from government funds.\u00a0 Though he is the “president” of the MRFF, he previously said\u00a0he “donated” his speaking fees to his own organization.\u00a0 In a very careful arrangement, then,\u00a0the MRFF’s donations are, indeed, private, though whether\u00a0the MRFF’s president<\/em> has received “taxpayer dollars” remains a legitimate question.<\/p>\n
The author also belittles “military Christians” who oppose Weinstein:<\/p>\n
Some Christian military personnel scoff at Weinstein\u2019s efforts. They think he is simply waging a one man war on Christianity, not knowing that 96% of Weinstein\u2019s clients have been Christians (just not the \u201cright kind\u201d of Christian).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In an apparent blind hypocrisy, Weinstein and this author fail to realize that they, too, are judging people for not being the “right kind” of Christian.\u00a0 They both did\u00a0precisely that to Franklin Graham<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The MRFF\u00a0frequently demonstrates internal-contradiction<\/a>, and this blog is no exception.\u00a0 The author quotes an ‘esteemed speaker’ at an MRFF event who\u00a0gave an “insightful” speech on a topic particularly relevant to Weinstein’s MRFF:<\/p>\n
Particularly insightful was his warning of the “religion of Americanism,” which inspires a zealous citizenry to blindly support all actions of the US government, regardless of the cost to others. His warning echoes Orwell\u2019s warnings on the dangers of nationalism.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Without apparent irony,\u00a0it is Weinstein who says those who join the US military have<\/p>\n
one religious symbol: the American flag, one religious scripture: the American Consitution…one religious faith: American patriotism.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Weinstein seems to be advocating the very nationalistic patriotism, cloaked in terms of religious fervor, his supporter eschewed.<\/p>\n