rightwingwatch--2020-12-08--Right-Wing Religious and Political Activists Trying to Overturn Biden Victory Will Converge on Washi

Right-Wing Religious and Political Activists Trying to Overturn Biden Victory Will Converge on Washington Dec. 12

A motley collection of Trump die-hards , “ stop the steal ” activists , elected officials , right-wing religious leaders , and anti-choice , anti-LGBTQ , and anti-Muslim activists are planning to gather in Washington , D.C. , Saturday , Dec. 12—just two days before the casting of Electoral College votes—for a set of marches and a rally meant to “ amplify a unifying message for the nation that blends the political and spiritual aspects of the fight for election integrity.
” According to a press release from Jericho March , Stop the Steal , and Phyllis Schlafly Eagles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is being called “ Let the Church ROAR !
” The press release states : On the morning of December 12th , Jericho Marchers will simultaneously march around the U.S. Capitol , Supreme Court , and Department of Justice seven times praying for the walls of corruption and election fraud to fall down , just as Joshua and the Israelites walked around the walls of corrupt Jericho .
Following the marches , patriots and people of faith will converge on the National Mall for the “ Let the Church ROAR !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until approximately 4 PM , a partnership sponsored by Jericho March and Stop the Steal that amplifies a unifying message for the nation that blends the political and spiritual aspects of the fight for election integrity .
Leaders of the event have not been amplifying particularly “ unifying ” messages , but rather conspiracy theories and false claims from President Donald Trump and his supporters that Trump actually won the election , despite Joe Biden ’ s win in November with 306 to 232 electoral votes and a popular vote margin of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has encouraged people to rally every day outside their state capitols .
A three-minute video promoting the national Dec. 12 gathering and regional gatherings being held that day in swing states lost by Trump begins with the assertion , “ America is under attack.
” The video continues : Our voices rang out on Nov. 3 , but the most corrupt forces in America and abroad and their conspirators in the media and Big Tech have tried to silence our voices and our vote .
This is a defining moment in history , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at a crossroads .
One path leads to a return to our founding Judeo-Christian principles : love of God , life , liberty , justice , law and order .
The other path leads to socialism , globalism , destruction , a dismantling of our great nation as we know it .
But the voices of patriots and people of faith will not be silenced .
America is a gift entrusted to us by our creator and a republic secured by our Founding Fathers and those who sacrificed to keep us free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save our republic and protect our freedoms from the corrupt and destructive forces at work .
The world is watching .
Jericho was a city of false gods and corruption .
On God ’ s command , Joshua and the army of Israel marched around the city seven times and let out a loud shout , and God brought down the walls of the city and exposed the darkness .
Our Jericho March was born of a vision from God .
We the people peacefully march , pray , and protest for election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the walls of this Jericho crumble down .
We pray , march , and protest to preserve free and fair elections in our great republic for the sake of our generation and generations to come .
We are calling on all American patriots and people of faith to join us on our Jericho marches every day at noon at their state capitols .
These marches will culminate on Dec. 12 at a “ Let the Church ROAR !
” national march on Washington , D.C. , and regional marches in all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubled by the fraud and corruption in this election and want to protect the future of a free America , then come and join us .
Stand for truth and justice .
This is our battle of Jericho for people of faith and patriots from all across America .
Join us Dec. 12 in Washington , D.C. ; Atlanta , Georgia ; Carson City , Nevada ; Harrisburg , Pennsylvania ; Lansing , Michigan ; Madison , Wisconsin ; and Phoenix , Arizona .
We believe in a great and powerful God who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and restore justice .
We believe in a God of miracles .
Join this movement .
Share , march , pray , donate , hold the line , and expect a miracle .
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and state Rep. Vernon Jones of Georgia are scheduled to speak Dec. 12 , along with leaders of the sponsoring groups : Ali Alexander of Stop the Steal , Ed Martin of Phyllis Schlafly ’ s Eagles , and Rob Weaver and Arina Grossu of Jericho March .
Other right-wing activists include MyPillow founder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Metaxas , Tea Party Patriots ’ Jenny Beth Martin , anti-choice activist Abby Johnson , and representatives of Trump campaign groups like Women for Trump , Bikers for Trump , and Cowboys for Trump .
Catholic Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler , Texas , is one of the religious leaders confirmed as speaking by video .
Strickland is a vocal critic of Pope Francis , and before the election in which Joe Biden was elected to become the nation ’ s second Catholic president , Strickland endorsed claims that it is impossible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier this year , Strickland signed a manifesto claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a pretext to undermine freedom and create a “ world government beyond all control.
” The dominionist Pentecostal wing of Trump ’ s amen corner is also represented by “ prophet ” Cindy Jacobs , a leader of the New Apostolic Reformation , who will also provide a message by video .
Jacobs , whose Generals International seeks to “ disciple nations ” to its biblical worldview , is a member of the leadership council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has participated in some of the many online events praying for God to intervene and keep Trump in the White House for a second term .
For some reason , anti-Muslim activist Frank Gaffney is listed in the press release as a religious leader .
Gaffney is identified with one of his projects , Save the Persecuted Christians , which he promoted at this year ’ s National Religious Broadcasters convention while trashing another convention speaker as a “ Sharia supremacist.
” Also identified as a religious leader is Kevin Jessip , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” rally in Washington , D.C. , which promoted Trump ’ s reelection and a Christian nationalist vision of America .
The full speakers ’ list , according to the press release , follows : • Greg Bramlage , Missionaries of the New Evangelization • Dede Byrne , POSC , Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts ( video ) • Abby Johnson , And Then There Were None Ed Martin and Stop the Steal have also been promoting a noon rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday , Dec. 8 .
Stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and march in Washington that brought thousands of conspiracy theorists , members of hate groups and militia groups , and Trump loyalists to the city .
Update : Jericho March ’ s Arina Grossu announced on Kenneth Copeland ’ s show Tuesday that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn , who has called on Trump to declare martial law rather than admit his defeat , will be speaking on Dec. 12 .

A motley collection of Trump die-hards, “stop the steal” activists, elected officials, right-wing religious leaders, and anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-Muslim activists are planning to gather in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Dec. 12—just two days before the casting of Electoral College votes—for a set of marches and a rally meant to “amplify a unifying message for the nation that blends the political and spiritual aspects of the fight for election integrity.”
According to a press release from Jericho March, Stop the Steal, and Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, the Dec. 12 “national prayer rally” is being called “Let the Church ROAR!” The press release states:
On the morning of December 12th, Jericho Marchers will simultaneously march around the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, and Department of Justice seven times praying for the walls of corruption and election fraud to fall down, just as Joshua and the Israelites walked around the walls of corrupt Jericho. Following the marches, patriots and people of faith will converge on the National Mall for the “Let the Church ROAR!” Prayer Rally taking place from late morning until approximately 4 PM, a partnership sponsored by Jericho March and Stop the Steal that amplifies a unifying message for the nation that blends the political and spiritual aspects of the fight for election integrity.
Leaders of the event have not been amplifying particularly “unifying” messages, but rather conspiracy theories and false claims from President Donald Trump and his supporters that Trump actually won the election, despite Joe Biden’s win in November with 306 to 232 electoral votes and a popular vote margin of more than 7 million votes.
Jericho March has encouraged people to rally every day outside their state capitols. A three-minute video promoting the national Dec. 12 gathering and regional gatherings being held that day in swing states lost by Trump begins with the assertion, “America is under attack.” The video continues:
Our voices rang out on Nov. 3, but the most corrupt forces in America and abroad and their conspirators in the media and Big Tech have tried to silence our voices and our vote. This is a defining moment in history, and our country needs us—now. We are at a crossroads. One path leads to a return to our founding Judeo-Christian principles: love of God, life, liberty, justice, law and order. The other path leads to socialism, globalism, destruction, a dismantling of our great nation as we know it. But the voices of patriots and people of faith will not be silenced. America is a gift entrusted to us by our creator and a republic secured by our Founding Fathers and those who sacrificed to keep us free. Now it is our moment to save our republic and protect our freedoms from the corrupt and destructive forces at work. The world is watching. Jericho was a city of false gods and corruption. On God’s command, Joshua and the army of Israel marched around the city seven times and let out a loud shout, and God brought down the walls of the city and exposed the darkness. Our Jericho March was born of a vision from God. We the people peacefully march, pray, and protest for election integrity, transparency, and reform, until the walls of this Jericho crumble down. We pray, march, and protest to preserve free and fair elections in our great republic for the sake of our generation and generations to come. We are calling on all American patriots and people of faith to join us on our Jericho marches every day at noon at their state capitols. These marches will culminate on Dec. 12 at a “Let the Church ROAR!” national march on Washington, D.C., and regional marches in all the swing states. If you are deeply troubled by the fraud and corruption in this election and want to protect the future of a free America, then come and join us. Stand for truth and justice. This is our battle of Jericho for people of faith and patriots from all across America. Join us Dec. 12 in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia; Carson City, Nevada; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Lansing, Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; and Phoenix, Arizona. We believe in a great and powerful God who can move mountains, expose corruption, and restore justice. We believe in a God of miracles. Join this movement. Share, march, pray, donate, hold the line, and expect a miracle.
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and state Rep. Vernon Jones of Georgia are scheduled to speak Dec. 12, along with leaders of the sponsoring groups: Ali Alexander of Stop the Steal, Ed Martin of Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagles, and Rob Weaver and Arina Grossu of Jericho March. Other right-wing activists include MyPillow founder and right-wing funder Mike Lindell, pundit Eric Metaxas, Tea Party Patriots’ Jenny Beth Martin, anti-choice activist Abby Johnson, and representatives of Trump campaign groups like Women for Trump, Bikers for Trump, and Cowboys for Trump.
Catholic Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, is one of the religious leaders confirmed as speaking by video. Strickland is a vocal critic of Pope Francis, and before the election in which Joe Biden was elected to become the nation’s second Catholic president, Strickland endorsed claims that it is impossible for someone to be Catholic and a Democrat. Earlier this year, Strickland signed a manifesto claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a pretext to undermine freedom and create a “world government beyond all control.”
The dominionist Pentecostal wing of Trump’s amen corner is also represented by “prophet” Cindy Jacobs, a leader of the New Apostolic Reformation, who will also provide a message by video. Jacobs, whose Generals International seeks to “disciple nations” to its biblical worldview, is a member of the leadership council of the pro-Trump POTUS Shield. She has participated in some of the many online events praying for God to intervene and keep Trump in the White House for a second term.
For some reason, anti-Muslim activist Frank Gaffney is listed in the press release as a religious leader. Gaffney is identified with one of his projects, Save the Persecuted Christians, which he promoted at this year’s National Religious Broadcasters convention while trashing another convention speaker as a “Sharia supremacist.”
Also identified as a religious leader is Kevin Jessip, who organized the Sept. 26 “The Return” rally in Washington, D.C., which promoted Trump’s reelection and a Christian nationalist vision of America.
The full speakers’ list, according to the press release, follows:
Faith Leaders:
Bishop Garlington
Bishop Strickland, Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Texas (video)
Cindy Jacobs, Generals International (video)
Dede Laugesen, SavethePersecutedChristians.org
Taylor Marshall, Catholic Author and Commentator (video)
Greg Bramlage, Missionaries of the New Evangelization
Hans Jacobse, American Orthodox Institute
Frank Gaffney and Kevin Freeman, The Persecuted Church
Gail Sheppard and George Michalopulos, Orthodox Leaders with Monomakhos
Kevin Jessip, The Return, Global Strategic Alliance
Rob Weaver and Arina Grossu, Jericho March
Dede Byrne, POSC, Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts (video)
Political Leaders, Business Leaders, and Activists:
Abby Johnson, And Then There Were None
Ali Alexander, Stop the Steal
Bernadette and R.C., Bikers for Trump
CJ Pearson and Daniel Bostic, Stop the Steal Georgia
Congressman Paul Gosar, Arizona
Courtney Holland and Megan Barth, Stop the Steal Nevada
Cowboys for Trump
Ed Martin, Eagle Forum
Eric Metaxas, Author
Gene Ho, White House Photographer, Author, and Candidate
Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots
Jason Jones, Hollywood Producer, Author, and Activist
Kimberly Fletcher, Moms for America
Michael Coudrey, American Entrepreneur, Investor, and Speaker
Mike Lindell, My Pillow
Rose Tennent, Women for Trump
State Rep. Vernon Jones, Georgia
Yvonne Florczak-Seeman, POWER- Protection of Women’s Equal Rights
Ed Martin and Stop the Steal have also been promoting a noon rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, Dec. 8. Stop the Steal activists organized the Nov. 14 rally and march in Washington that brought thousands of conspiracy theorists, members of hate groups and militia groups, and Trump loyalists to the city.
Update: Jericho March’s Arina Grossu announced on Kenneth Copeland’s show Tuesday that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who has called on Trump to declare martial law rather than admit his defeat, will be speaking on Dec. 12.


rightwingwatch--2020-12-08--‘My Vote Was Stolen!’: Michele Bachmann Will Never Be a ‘Chump’ Who Accepts Biden’s Win

David Barton , Tim Barton , and Rick Green of the religious-right organization WallBuilders held a series of “ Barnstorm Georgia ” rallies over the weekend that were aimed at mobilizing conservative Christian voters in the state to vote for Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the upcoming runoff election that will determine which party will control the U.S. Senate next term .
Among the guests who participated in person or via video in one or more of the various rallies were Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia , right-wing activists Charlie Kirk , Dinesh D ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former congresswoman Michele Bachmann .
During a Friday night rally at Salem Baptist Church in Dalton , Georgia , Bachmann declared that she would never be a “ chump ” who accepts that Joe Biden won the election , screaming that Satan is destroying our election and that “ my vote was stolen !
” “ From the political point of view , from the legal point of view , from the moral point of view , America is not on board with Joe Biden as the next president of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not there .
And the reason why we ’ re not there is because we ’ re not that dumb in the United States because we know , without a shadow of a doubt , this man did not get the votes on election night .
It didn ’ t happen .
Donald Trump got the votes on election night .
So , why would we be like drones , chumps , and fools to go along with this ?
” Bachmann said that election night was “ when Satan was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consent of the governed.
” “ In other words , [ Satan was ] stealing from us our right to vote , ” she proclaimed .
“ I am highly offended , insulted , angry , and I ’ m not going to stand for the fact that my vote was stolen !
”

David Barton, Tim Barton, and Rick Green of the religious-right organization WallBuilders held a series of “Barnstorm Georgia” rallies over the weekend that were aimed at mobilizing conservative Christian voters in the state to vote for Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the upcoming runoff election that will determine which party will control the U.S. Senate next term.
Among the guests who participated in person or via video in one or more of the various rallies were Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, right-wing activists Charlie Kirk, Dinesh D’Souza, and Kirk Cameron, and former congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
During a Friday night rally at Salem Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia, Bachmann declared that she would never be a “chump” who accepts that Joe Biden won the election, screaming that Satan is destroying our election and that “my vote was stolen!”
“From the political point of view, from the legal point of view, from the moral point of view, America is not on board with Joe Biden as the next president of the United States,” Bachmann said. “We’re not there. And the reason why we’re not there is because we’re not that dumb in the United States because we know, without a shadow of a doubt, this man did not get the votes on election night. It didn’t happen. Donald Trump got the votes on election night. So, why would we be like drones, chumps, and fools to go along with this?”
Bachmann said that election night was “when Satan was snatching away from America rule by the consent of the governed.”
“In other words, [Satan was] stealing from us our right to vote,” she proclaimed. “I am highly offended, insulted, angry, and I’m not going to stand for the fact that my vote was stolen!”


rightwingwatch--2020-12-08--Right-Wing Pastor Takes Off Tie in Pulpit Strip Tease, Urges Congregation To ‘Take Off the Masks’

Rob McCoy , a California pastor-politician closely aligned with Christian nationalist David Lane and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk , performed a bit of tame strip tease on the pulpit just before Thanksgiving .
McCoy was jokingly taking up an idea floated by pundit Mike Huckabee on Fox News—McCoy showed the clip—that churches should declare themselves strip clubs after a San Diego judge temporarily ordered county officials to allow strip clubs to remain open .
McCoy was clearly having some fun while strutting his stuff to the well-known tune “ The Stripper , ” taking off his necktie and throwing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the congregation cheered and held up dollar bills .
But his opposition to public health restrictions on large gatherings is deadly serious .
Earlier this year , McCoy resigned from his position on the Thousand Oaks City Council so that he could more freely lead his church in defying public health restrictions .
During the sermon that followed his performance , he told people it is a sin not to take a stand against the “ tyranny ” of public health restrictions on churches and businesses .
Immediately after his strip tease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed a video showing local small businesses that have been shuttered in the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic , telling his congregation that it should make them “ sick to your stomach ” and motivated to “ push back.
” And McCoy pointedly challenged members of his own congregation who were cheering him on .
“ Don ’ t sit here and yell and say stuff because you feel brave here , ” he said .
“ Bravery is when you go out there alone , and you have character , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it ’ s the right thing to do.
” McCoy referred to a local pizza shop that was defying regulations requiring people to wear masks .
He continued : And people are counting on you .
Don ’ t wait for someone else to do it .
You do it .
And the bravery of folks is amazing to me .
The only reason why we ’ re still standing is because men and women have a spine .
And they ’ ve stood , and they continue to push back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re gon na have to explain this to generations to come .
While on our watch , we surrendered the greatest nation on the face of the earth to tyranny .
And it ’ s not going to happen .
If you were a believer , and you profess Christ as your Savior , he ’ s come to set the captives free .
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there ’ s liberty .
The apostle Paul from prison said , “ Stand fast therefore for the liberty for which Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our calling .
This is our responsibility .
“ Oh , we don ’ t do politics.
” Well , then , get out of the church !
Because upon this rock , I will build my ekklesia , which is public square .
It ’ s all about politics .
You ’ re contending for the welfare and the concerns and the livelihood of your neighbors .
McCoy said it was “ moronic ” and “ stupid ” to believe that public health restrictions are grounded in science : “ What science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s moronic and stupid .
And we know better .
And every doctor that speaks according to science is stifled and shuttered .
And they lose their livelihood.
” McCoy said that he doesn ’ t “ dismiss ” the people who have died from COVID-19 in the county where his church is located , but he attributed nearly all of those deaths to “ co-morbidities.
” He said that his church has provided livestream and FM broadcast in the parking lot for people who are particularly vulnerable .
But he challenged local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of asymptomatic people , suggesting that “ the only way they can keep this charade going is to say , ‘ Did you see how many new cases ?
’ ” We attend churches that just avoid the tough questions and educate our children in those churches .
When they have tough questions in the church and the pastors say , “ We don ’ t do politics .
We ’ re not going to talk about gender .
We ’ re not going to talk about abortion .
We ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not going to talk ” —none of those things .
We no longer worry , we just kind of farm our children off to an education system not for education but indoctrination .
And we wake up , and we wonder what happened .
McCoy preached about the “ ekklesia , ” a term used by dominionists to refer to the church as a legislative governing body to bring about God ’ s will on Earth .
And he complained that public schools no longer teach about “ God ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founding .
“ We ’ re in the middle right now of a bloodless civil war , ” he said .
“ Half of America is not gon na put up with what just took place .
They ’ re upset .
”

Rob McCoy, a California pastor-politician closely aligned with Christian nationalist David Lane and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, performed a bit of tame striptease on the pulpit just before Thanksgiving. McCoy was jokingly taking up an idea floated by pundit Mike Huckabee on Fox News—McCoy showed the clip—that churches should declare themselves strip clubs after a San Diego judge temporarily ordered county officials to allow strip clubs to remain open.
McCoy was clearly having some fun while strutting his stuff to the well-known tune “The Stripper,” taking off his necktie and throwing it into the audience while some members of the congregation cheered and held up dollar bills. But his opposition to public health restrictions on large gatherings is deadly serious.
Earlier this year, McCoy resigned from his position on the Thousand Oaks City Council so that he could more freely lead his church in defying public health restrictions. During the sermon that followed his performance, he told people it is a sin not to take a stand against the “tyranny” of public health restrictions on churches and businesses.
Immediately after his striptease-light performance, he delivered his political message:
Cannot America see the hypocrisy and the stupidity of all this? You’re being lied to. And we are finished with your tyranny. And we are going to enjoy Thanksgiving, and we’re going to worship God. Open your churches! Go back to church! Open businesses! Take off the masks!
McCoy showed a video showing local small businesses that have been shuttered in the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, telling his congregation that it should make them “sick to your stomach” and motivated to “push back.”
And McCoy pointedly challenged members of his own congregation who were cheering him on. “Don’t sit here and yell and say stuff because you feel brave here,” he said. “Bravery is when you go out there alone, and you have character, and you stand no matter what the cost because it’s the right thing to do.”
McCoy referred to a local pizza shop that was defying regulations requiring people to wear masks. He continued:
And people are counting on you. Don’t wait for someone else to do it. You do it. And the bravery of folks is amazing to me. The only reason why we’re still standing is because men and women have a spine. And they’ve stood, and they continue to push back. But if we fold, we’re gonna have to explain this to generations to come. While on our watch, we surrendered the greatest nation on the face of the earth to tyranny. And it’s not going to happen. If you were a believer, and you profess Christ as your Savior, he’s come to set the captives free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there’s liberty. The apostle Paul from prison said, “Stand fast therefore for the liberty for which Christ has set you free.” This is our calling. This is our responsibility. “Oh, we don’t do politics.” Well, then, get out of the church! Because upon this rock, I will build my ekklesia, which is public square. It’s all about politics. You’re contending for the welfare and the concerns and the livelihood of your neighbors.
McCoy said it was “moronic” and “stupid” to believe that public health restrictions are grounded in science: “What science are you talking about? That’s moronic and stupid. And we know better. And every doctor that speaks according to science is stifled and shuttered. And they lose their livelihood.”
McCoy said that he doesn’t “dismiss” the people who have died from COVID-19 in the county where his church is located, but he attributed nearly all of those deaths to “co-morbidities.” He said that his church has provided livestream and FM broadcast in the parking lot for people who are particularly vulnerable. But he challenged local health officials’ call for greater testing of asymptomatic people, suggesting that “the only way they can keep this charade going is to say, ‘Did you see how many new cases?’”
McCoy slammed pastors and churches that don’t aggressively promote anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ political positions:
We attend churches that just avoid the tough questions and educate our children in those churches. When they have tough questions in the church and the pastors say, “We don’t do politics. We’re not going to talk about gender. We’re not going to talk about abortion. We’re not going to talk about marriage. We’re not going to talk”—none of those things. We no longer worry, we just kind of farm our children off to an education system not for education but indoctrination. And we wake up, and we wonder what happened.
McCoy preached about the “ekklesia,” a term used by dominionists to refer to the church as a legislative governing body to bring about God’s will on Earth. And he complained that public schools no longer teach about “God’s hand” in the nation’s founding.
“We’re in the middle right now of a bloodless civil war,” he said. “Half of America is not gonna put up with what just took place. They’re upset.”


rightwingwatch--2020-12-08--Right-Wing Pastor Takes Off Tie in Pulpit Striptease, Urges Congregation To ‘Take Off the Masks’

Rob McCoy , a California pastor-politician closely aligned with Christian nationalist David Lane and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk , performed a bit of tame striptease on the pulpit just before Thanksgiving .
McCoy was jokingly taking up an idea floated by pundit Mike Huckabee on Fox News—McCoy showed the clip—that churches should declare themselves strip clubs after a San Diego judge temporarily ordered county officials to allow strip clubs to remain open .
McCoy was clearly having some fun while strutting his stuff to the well-known tune “ The Stripper , ” taking off his necktie and throwing it into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregation cheered and held up dollar bills .
But his opposition to public health restrictions on large gatherings is deadly serious .
Earlier this year , McCoy resigned from his position on the Thousand Oaks City Council so that he could more freely lead his church in defying public health restrictions .
During the sermon that followed his performance , he told people it is a sin not to take a stand against the “ tyranny ” of public health restrictions on churches and businesses .
Immediately after his striptease-light performance , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video showing local small businesses that have been shuttered in the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic , telling his congregation that it should make them “ sick to your stomach ” and motivated to “ push back.
” And McCoy pointedly challenged members of his own congregation who were cheering him on .
“ Don ’ t sit here and yell and say stuff because you feel brave here , ” he said .
“ Bravery is when you go out there alone , and you have character , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s the right thing to do.
” McCoy referred to a local pizza shop that was defying regulations requiring people to wear masks .
He continued : And people are counting on you .
Don ’ t wait for someone else to do it .
You do it .
And the bravery of folks is amazing to me .
The only reason why we ’ re still standing is because men and women have a spine .
And they ’ ve stood , and they continue to push back .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na have to explain this to generations to come .
While on our watch , we surrendered the greatest nation on the face of the earth to tyranny .
And it ’ s not going to happen .
If you were a believer , and you profess Christ as your Savior , he ’ s come to set the captives free .
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there ’ s liberty .
The apostle Paul from prison said , “ Stand fast therefore for the liberty for which Christ has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling .
This is our responsibility .
“ Oh , we don ’ t do politics.
” Well , then , get out of the church !
Because upon this rock , I will build my ekklesia , which is public square .
It ’ s all about politics .
You ’ re contending for the welfare and the concerns and the livelihood of your neighbors .
McCoy said it was “ moronic ” and “ stupid ” to believe that public health restrictions are grounded in science : “ What science are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moronic and stupid .
And we know better .
And every doctor that speaks according to science is stifled and shuttered .
And they lose their livelihood.
” McCoy said that he doesn ’ t “ dismiss ” the people who have died from COVID-19 in the county where his church is located , but he attributed nearly all of those deaths to “ co-morbidities.
” He said that his church has provided livestream and FM broadcast in the parking lot for people who are particularly vulnerable .
But he challenged local health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic people , suggesting that “ the only way they can keep this charade going is to say , ‘ Did you see how many new cases ?
’ ” We attend churches that just avoid the tough questions and educate our children in those churches .
When they have tough questions in the church and the pastors say , “ We don ’ t do politics .
We ’ re not going to talk about gender .
We ’ re not going to talk about abortion .
We ’ re not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not going to talk ” —none of those things .
We no longer worry , we just kind of farm our children off to an education system not for education but indoctrination .
And we wake up , and we wonder what happened .
McCoy preached about the “ ekklesia , ” a term used by dominionists to refer to the church as a legislative governing body to bring about God ’ s will on Earth .
And he complained that public schools no longer teach about “ God ’ s hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re in the middle right now of a bloodless civil war , ” he said .
“ Half of America is not gon na put up with what just took place .
They ’ re upset .
”


rightwingwatch--2020-12-09--Right Wing Round-Up: Madness

Right Wing Round-Up: Madness

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rightwingwatch--2020-12-09--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Be Prepared

Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Be Prepared


rightwingwatch--2020-12-09--Kyle Rittenhouse, Kenosha, and the New Far-Right Battleground

DELTA PARK WAS once home to a forgotten city .
Nestled along the Columbia River in Portland ’ s northern edge , the historic park was built on the remains of Vanport , formerly the second largest city in Oregon .
The city had been constructed in under a year and housed thousands of war-time shipbuilders in poorly constructed homes .
The city had its own post office , nine schools , a hospital , a library , playgrounds , cafeterias , and a police station .
Known as the ‘ Miracle City ’ due to the speed with which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembered for the speed with which it was destroyed .
On Sunday , May 30 , 1948 , rising flood water crashed into the city , wiping out all of homes and leaving the town of nearly 40,000 people destitute .
Now 72 years removed from the tragic flood , the lost city—home to a significant portion of Portland ’ s Black population—has been reduced to a public municipal park complex where a number of far-right groups converged on Saturday , Sep. 26 .
Organized by the Proud Boys , a far-right extremist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the event brought together several hundred people .
They sang the national anthem , prayed , and cheered as speakers , including Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio , stood against the backdrop of an oversized American flag and took aim at leftists and local officials like Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler .
“ F*** Ted Wheeler , ” one of the Proud Boys onstage chanted to the crowd , which responded with cheers before reciting the insult .
While many in attendance were clad in bulletproof vests , camouflage attire , and armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wore T-shirts celebrating Kyle Rittenhouse , the 17-year-old who was charged in the fatal shootings of two people during a protest in Kenosha , Wisconsin , earlier this year .
One of the more popular shirts was printed by a company called Right Wing Death Squads emblazoned with the phrase , “ Kyle Did Nothing Wrong ” ( based on the alt-right meme “ Hitler Did Nothing Wrong ” ) .
The back of the shirt featured a picture of Rittenhouse and read , “ The Tree of Liberty Must Be Refreshed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commies.
” These shirts , along with slogans like “ Kyle ’ s Life Matters , ” have become popular among conservatives and the far-right , many of whom support Rittenhouse despite his having been caught on video shooting dead two protesters and seriously wounding another .
Some have gone so far as to hail him as an American hero defending American businesses from supposed rioters and looters while exercising his Second Amendment right to bear arms .
The debate over Rittenhouse ’ s case—heroism or homicide , patriotism or plague—has become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as white supremacists around the world .
To them , Rittenhouse is not an accused murderer but a victim of the villanization of American values .
The propaganda surrounding Rittenhouse , which has since been amplified by mainstream conservative commentators as well as President Donald Trump , has helped rehabilitate the teen ’ s image ahead of his trial .
ON AUGUST 25 , 2020 , 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse arrived at Kenosha , Wisconsin , where he shot three demonstrators during a third night of protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounded by a police officer who fired seven shots into his back .
Three of Blake ’ s sons were in the backseat of his car at the time .
Rittenhouse , an Illinois native who was responding to a militia group ’ s Facebook call for “ patriots willing to take up arms and defend ” the city , was armed with a military-style semi-automatic rifle , which he used to open fire on demonstrators who confronted him at two separate locations .
The incident , captured on video from several angles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Rittenhouse and several protesters , which led to the teen fatally shooting two protesters—one in the head and another in the chest—and injuring a third .
Rittenhouse was not arrested that night in Kenosha ( video footage shows police cars drove past him despite Rittenhouse walking with his hands up towards them ) but was later arrested at his home in Antioch , Illinois .
After being extradited back to Wisconsin , the teen appeared in a Kenosha County court that Monday and was charged with multiple counts of homicide ( including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful possession of a firearm .
The court also set a $ 2 million bail due to the severity of the charges .
“ There is a certainty that if the defendant is convicted , he will be sent to prison and a strong likelihood that he will serve most , if not the remainder of his life , in prison if he is convicted of these charges , ” Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said at the time , referring to Rittenhouse as a potential flight-risk .
Rittenhouse ’ s case became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its conservative commentators .
“ I want him as my president , ” Ann Coulter , a far-right media pundit tweeted in August , while Tucker Carlson , one of the most influential hosts on Fox News , said Rittenhouse was a well-meaning teenager attempting to “ maintain order when no one else would.
” “ If federal prosecutors had treated the organizers of BLM and antifa the way they treated Roger Stone , our cities wouldn ’ t look like Kosovo tonight , ” Carlson said on Fox News .
Among Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself , who claimed that the teen would have “ probably been killed ” had he not defended himself .
“ You saw the same tape as I saw , ” Trump said during a White House press conference days after the shooting .
“ And he was trying to get away from them , I guess it looks like .
And he fell , and then they very violently attacked him .
And it was something that we ’ re looking at right now , and it ’ s under investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He would have probably been killed.
” By September , several crowdfunding pages had been set up for Rittenhouse ’ s bail bond and legal defense .
A # FightBack fundraiser raised $ 2.1 million for the 17-year-old , while GiveSendGo—a Christian crowdfunding site—raised more than $ 500,000 from more than 12,000 donors .
“ God is on your side , ” said one of the donors .
“ Thanks for being a patriot and defending the American way of life from those who want to destroy it.
” The anonymous donor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrative among conservatives that Rittenhouse was wrongly charged with homicide and should be celebrated as a defender of American values .
This dynamic played out across mainstream media , social media platforms , and even within schools .
For example , a teacher in Dallas , Texas , asked students to write an English essay about a modern-day “ hero ” with Rittenhouse listed among the options .
Ironically , George Floyd and Malcom X were also among the options .
As for Republicans , much of their rhetoric shifted from a simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-throated commendation .
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky stated that Rittenhouse showed “ incredible restraint and presence and situational awareness ” because he “ didn ’ t empty a magazine ” on the protesters .
Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini wrote “ KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS ” in a tweet that had some demanding his resignation .
However , while Republican politicians and conservative commentators continue to celebrate Rittenhouse ’ s fatal shooting of two protesters with glee and amusement , few anticipated that the teen ’ s case would become a cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-right .
ON NOV. 20 , Kyle Rittenhouse posted the $ 2 million bail and was released from custody .
Shortly thereafter , one of Rittenhouse ’ s attorneys , L. Lin Wood Jr. , posted a photograph of Rittenhouse standing alongside attorney John Pierce and actor Ricky Schroder , who donated $ 150,000 to the teen ’ s bail fund .
Rittenhouse , who posed with a big smile on his face , was wearing a Black Rifle Coffee Co. T-shirt , a veteran-owned coffee company that panders to the far-right through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear the Utah-based coffee company ’ s shirt led to a widespread backlash from those who assumed that the teen was sponsored by the brand .
This message was amplified when Elijah Schaffer , host of a Blaze Media podcast that Black Rifle sponsors , tweeted a discount code for the coffee along with the photo .
“ Kyle Rittenhouse drinks the best coffee in America , ” Schaffer wrote in a since-deleted tweet .
Black Rifle has since vehemently denied any connection to Rittenhouse .
Co-founder Evan Hafer said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support legal advocacy efforts , ” nor does it “ have a relationship with the 17-year-old facing charges in Kenosha , WI.
” Black Rifle ’ s statement angered far-right groups , including the Proud Boys .
At first , chairman Enrique Tarrio claimed that Black Rifle ’ s statements were “ taken out of context ” and that he would “ reserve judgement ” until addressing the matter with Hafer .
Soon thereafter , the Proud Boys began calling the company “ cucks ” for not defending Rittenhouse and labeled them “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rittenhouse is a kid who ’ s been railroaded by the left in this country , ” reads a statement issued by the Proud Boys on one of its channels on Telegram .
“ He did nothing wrong when he defended himself that night … everyone is innocent until proven guilty in this country .
“ It ’ s simple , ” the statement continued .
“ You ’ re either fighting for Kyle ’ s life like the rest of us or you ’ re not.
” The rapid escalation did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by countless far-right agitators who now considered them grifters targeting so-called patriots for their business .
The comments sections accompanying several Black Rifle videos feature an endless array of spam and negative comments from Rittenhouse supporters , some of whom posted anti-Semitic comments targeting the owners for being Jewish .
“ The company is not run by patriots .
Their allegiance lies with Israel – a foreign government dead-set on destroying America and white western civilization .
They engaged in treason , ” one comment read .
The speed with which the Proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rifle emphasizes what happens when companies pander to the far-right .
Black Rifle marketed its products to “ people who love America , ” which attracted Second Amendment defenders and so-called patriots .
They have also long pandered to the far-right through their advertisements on Gab , a social network filled with extremists .
Most recently , the company ’ s website profiled Oleksii Kacho , who fought for the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in Ukraine—a Ukrainian National Guard regiment and far-right militia with connections to neo-Nazism .
In the aftermath of the Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives have learned : When you pander to the far-right but refuse to entertain their every whim and fabricated conspiracy , they turn against you .
And yet , this is not the only example of infighting among conservatives .
Lin Wood , one of Rittenhouse ’ s attorneys , has spread baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election , many of which are linked to the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory .
He appeared at a rally in Atlanta , Georgia last Wednesday alongside infamous “ Kraken ” lawyer Sidney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on in-depth here ) and told those in attendance not to vote in the Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia .
Instead , he demanded that Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler pressure Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp to call a special session of the legislature to name pro-Trump electors .
“ They have not earned your vote , ” Wood said at the rally .
“ Don ’ t you give it to them.
” Wood , who had previously called for Trump to declare martial law and use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and told Steve Bannon that people need to be prepared for “ another 1776 , ” faced backlash from Republicans for telling attendees not to vote in the Senate runoff .
In an attempt to discredit Wood , who seems to have gone too far for even Trump , the president ’ s campaign suggested that the Atlanta-based lawyer is actually a Democrat planted to sow discontent within the Republican Party .
While the American right continues to be embroiled in a game of one-upmanship over how best to support Rittenhouse , white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embraced the teenager as a propaganda tool for their ideology .
To them , Rittenhouse is no longer just a kid forced to defend himself but a warrior who killed two demonstrators at a protest for Black lives while defending the Americans who matter most .
THE FRASER RIVER is the longest river within British Columbia , Canada .
It rises near Fraser Path in the Rocky Mountains and flows for more than 620 miles in the Strait of Georgia within the city of Vancouver .
Along its journey , the river crosses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a short walking distance from the Provincial Court of British Columbia .
Outside the large , gray building is a statue of Lady Justice—blindfolded and holding a scale and sword—towering over arriving mortals .
Yet beneath this personification of justice , there was a large sticker of a young man armed with an AR-15 style rifle , a pair of rubber gloves , and a magnifying reflector in his left eye .
Beneath it is a caption that reads : “ Kyle was Right.
” The sticker was part of an international propaganda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the International Conservative Community .
The group , which includes entities across Europe and North America , fashions themselves as a modernized network of neo-Nazis capable of “ building bridges across countries and even continents.
” Founded by American neo-Nazi Robert Rundo ( who also founded the white supremacist fight club Rise Above Movement ) , the group specializes in spreading white supremacist propaganda through targeted campaigns , a recent example of which is Kyle Rittenhouse .
Over the past few weeks , the group has planted stickers , large-scale graffiti work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe and North America .
In Serbia , where Rundo is currently based , the group painted a picture of an armed Rittenhouse standing proud with a Schwarze Sonne or Black Sun as his backdrop .
The Black Sun ( also known as the sonnerad ) is synonymous with far-right groups that traffic in neo-Nazi ideologies .
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center , the symbol is based on the ancient sun wheel artifacts that were used by Norse and Germanic tribes as symbols of pagan beliefs .
Those ancient symbols resemble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sun , which was coopted by Heinrich Himmler , the main architect of the Holocaust .
The painting in Serbia was featured alongside a Confederate flag , and a picture of a deranged Homer Simpson aiming a gun with the caption “ KILL YOUR LOCAL ANTIFA SCUM.
” A sticker featuring an image of Rittenhouse—similar to the one posted at the Law Courts in British Columbia—was spotted in St. Petersburg , Russia , alongside other stickers showing pictures of sonnerads , swastikas , Himmler , and Adolf Hitler himself .
Others have since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Poland , Scotland , Germany , and Sweden .
Others appeared in New Zealand , proudly displayed by known hate groups like Action Zealandia , and in Greece , where they were promoted by the likes of neo-Nazi group Pro Patria .
The sheer proliferation of Rittenhouse-related propaganda among white supremacists spotlights how the 17-year-old is being lionized by neo-Nazis for his actions .
Where most people see a teenager on trial for killing two protesters , white supremacists see a hero who he took matters into his own hands and went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society as a whole .
“ This falls right in the same pattern as the extreme and far right identifying “ martyrs ” and “ saints ” that they exalt and want others to emulate , ” said Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss , Director of Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab ( PERIL ) at American University and award-winning author of six books , including “ Hate in the Homeland : The New Global Far Right.
” “ They are positioning Rittenhouse as a heroic figure who sacrificed himself in defense of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the far right playbook strategically , but also allows them to identify aspirational qualities that “ good nationalists ” should aspire to.
” When Rittenhouse first picked up his rifle and left his home in Antioch for Kenosha , he could not have imagined he would become a symbol for American conservatives and international white supremacists alike .
His case is no longer a matter of justice but of degenerative politics , cultural warfare , and societal upheaval—a battleground for the cesspool of far-right operatives delighted to have a new face for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killer is a martyr for their cause—a saint among sinners and an example to be emulated .

DELTA PARK WAS once home to a forgotten city.
Nestled along the Columbia River in Portland’s northern edge, the historic park was built on the remains of Vanport, formerly the second largest city in Oregon. The city had been constructed in under a year and housed thousands of war-time shipbuilders in poorly constructed homes. The city had its own post office, nine schools, a hospital, a library, playgrounds, cafeterias, and a police station.
Known as the ‘Miracle City’ due to the speed with which it was built, Vanport is now remembered for the speed with which it was destroyed. On Sunday, May 30, 1948, rising flood water crashed into the city, wiping out all of homes and leaving the town of nearly 40,000 people destitute.
Now 72 years removed from the tragic flood, the lost city—home to a significant portion of Portland’s Black population—has been reduced to a public municipal park complex where a number of far-right groups converged on Saturday, Sep. 26.
Organized by the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group of self-proclaimed “Western Chauvinists,” the event brought together several hundred people. They sang the national anthem, prayed, and cheered as speakers, including Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, stood against the backdrop of an oversized American flag and took aim at leftists and local officials like Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
“F*** Ted Wheeler,” one of the Proud Boys onstage chanted to the crowd, which responded with cheers before reciting the insult.
While many in attendance were clad in bulletproof vests, camouflage attire, and armed with guns and shields, several others wore T-shirts celebrating Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who was charged in the fatal shootings of two people during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, earlier this year. One of the more popular shirts was printed by a company called Right Wing Death Squads emblazoned with the phrase, “Kyle Did Nothing Wrong” (based on the alt-right meme “Hitler Did Nothing Wrong”). The back of the shirt featured a picture of Rittenhouse and read, “The Tree of Liberty Must Be Refreshed from Time to Time with the Blood of Commies.”
These shirts, along with slogans like “Kyle’s Life Matters,” have become popular among conservatives and the far-right, many of whom support Rittenhouse despite his having been caught on video shooting dead two protesters and seriously wounding another. Some have gone so far as to hail him as an American hero defending American businesses from supposed rioters and looters while exercising his Second Amendment right to bear arms.
The debate over Rittenhouse’s case—heroism or homicide, patriotism or plague—has become the new battleground for the American far-right as well as white supremacists around the world. To them, Rittenhouse is not an accused murderer but a victim of the villanization of American values. The propaganda surrounding Rittenhouse, which has since been amplified by mainstream conservative commentators as well as President Donald Trump, has helped rehabilitate the teen’s image ahead of his trial.
“Kyle Rittenhouse for Congress”
ON AUGUST 25, 2020, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse arrived at Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he shot three demonstrators during a third night of protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black father who was critically wounded by a police officer who fired seven shots into his back. Three of Blake’s sons were in the backseat of his car at the time.
Rittenhouse, an Illinois native who was responding to a militia group’s Facebook call for “patriots willing to take up arms and defend” the city, was armed with a military-style semi-automatic rifle, which he used to open fire on demonstrators who confronted him at two separate locations. The incident, captured on video from several angles, shows multiple chases and physical confrontations between Rittenhouse and several protesters, which led to the teen fatally shooting two protesters—one in the head and another in the chest—and injuring a third.
Rittenhouse was not arrested that night in Kenosha (video footage shows police cars drove past him despite Rittenhouse walking with his hands up towards them) but was later arrested at his home in Antioch, Illinois. After being extradited back to Wisconsin, the teen appeared in a Kenosha County court that Monday and was charged with multiple counts of homicide (including two counts of first-degree murder) and unlawful possession of a firearm. The court also set a $2 million bail due to the severity of the charges.
“There is a certainty that if the defendant is convicted, he will be sent to prison and a strong likelihood that he will serve most, if not the remainder of his life, in prison if he is convicted of these charges,” Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said at the time, referring to Rittenhouse as a potential flight-risk.
Rittenhouse’s case became a cause célèbre for the right and its conservative commentators. “I want him as my president,” Ann Coulter, a far-right media pundit tweeted in August, while Tucker Carlson, one of the most influential hosts on Fox News, said Rittenhouse was a well-meaning teenager attempting to “maintain order when no one else would.”
“If federal prosecutors had treated the organizers of BLM and antifa the way they treated Roger Stone, our cities wouldn’t look like Kosovo tonight,” Carlson said on Fox News.
Among Rittenhouse’s most prominent defenders was Trump himself, who claimed that the teen would have “probably been killed” had he not defended himself.
“You saw the same tape as I saw,” Trump said during a White House press conference days after the shooting. “And he was trying to get away from them, I guess it looks like. And he fell, and then they very violently attacked him. And it was something that we’re looking at right now, and it’s under investigation. He was in very big trouble. He would have probably been killed.”
By September, several crowdfunding pages had been set up for Rittenhouse’s bail bond and legal defense. A #FightBack fundraiser raised $2.1 million for the 17-year-old, while GiveSendGo—a Christian crowdfunding site—raised more than $500,000 from more than 12,000 donors. “God is on your side,” said one of the donors. “Thanks for being a patriot and defending the American way of life from those who want to destroy it.”
The anonymous donor’s comment is indicative of a dominant narrative among conservatives that Rittenhouse was wrongly charged with homicide and should be celebrated as a defender of American values. This dynamic played out across mainstream media, social media platforms, and even within schools. For example, a teacher in Dallas, Texas, asked students to write an English essay about a modern-day “hero” with Rittenhouse listed among the options. Ironically, George Floyd and Malcom X were also among the options.
As for Republicans, much of their rhetoric shifted from a simple defense of Rittenhouse’s actions to full-throated commendation. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky stated that Rittenhouse showed “incredible restraint and presence and situational awareness” because he “didn’t empty a magazine” on the protesters. Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini wrote “KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS” in a tweet that had some demanding his resignation.
KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR CONGRESS — Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) November 21, 2020
However, while Republican politicians and conservative commentators continue to celebrate Rittenhouse’s fatal shooting of two protesters with glee and amusement, few anticipated that the teen’s case would become a cause for infighting between the right and the far-right.
Proud Boys vs. Black Rifle Coffee Co.
ON NOV. 20, Kyle Rittenhouse posted the $2 million bail and was released from custody. Shortly thereafter, one of Rittenhouse’s attorneys, L. Lin Wood Jr., posted a photograph of Rittenhouse standing alongside attorney John Pierce and actor Ricky Schroder, who donated $150,000 to the teen’s bail fund. Rittenhouse, who posed with a big smile on his face, was wearing a Black Rifle Coffee Co. T-shirt, a veteran-owned coffee company that panders to the far-right through gun-toting patriotism.
Rittenhouse’s decision to wear the Utah-based coffee company’s shirt led to a widespread backlash from those who assumed that the teen was sponsored by the brand. This message was amplified when Elijah Schaffer, host of a Blaze Media podcast that Black Rifle sponsors, tweeted a discount code for the coffee along with the photo.
“Kyle Rittenhouse drinks the best coffee in America,” Schaffer wrote in a since-deleted tweet.
Black Rifle has since vehemently denied any connection to Rittenhouse. Co-founder Evan Hafer said in a statement that his company does not “support legal advocacy efforts,” nor does it “have a relationship with the 17-year-old facing charges in Kenosha, WI.”
Black Rifle’s statement angered far-right groups, including the Proud Boys. At first, chairman Enrique Tarrio claimed that Black Rifle’s statements were “taken out of context” and that he would “reserve judgement” until addressing the matter with Hafer. Soon thereafter, the Proud Boys began calling the company “cucks” for not defending Rittenhouse and labeled them “Black Lives Matter Coffee.”
“Kyle Rittenhouse is a kid who’s been railroaded by the left in this country,” reads a statement issued by the Proud Boys on one of its channels on Telegram. “He did nothing wrong when he defended himself that night … everyone is innocent until proven guilty in this country.
“It’s simple,” the statement continued. “You’re either fighting for Kyle’s life like the rest of us or you’re not.”
The rapid escalation did not stop there. Black Rifle was criticized by countless far-right agitators who now considered them grifters targeting so-called patriots for their business. The comments sections accompanying several Black Rifle videos feature an endless array of spam and negative comments from Rittenhouse supporters, some of whom posted anti-Semitic comments targeting the owners for being Jewish. “The company is not run by patriots. Their allegiance lies with Israel – a foreign government dead-set on destroying America and white western civilization. They engaged in treason,” one comment read.
The speed with which the Proud Boys and their supporters turned on Black Rifle emphasizes what happens when companies pander to the far-right. Black Rifle marketed its products to “people who love America,” which attracted Second Amendment defenders and so-called patriots. They have also long pandered to the far-right through their advertisements on Gab, a social network filled with extremists. Most recently, the company’s website profiled Oleksii Kacho, who fought for the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in Ukraine—a Ukrainian National Guard regiment and far-right militia with connections to neo-Nazism.
In the aftermath of the Rittenhouse scandal, Black Rifle discovered what many conservatives have learned: When you pander to the far-right but refuse to entertain their every whim and fabricated conspiracy, they turn against you.
And yet, this is not the only example of infighting among conservatives. Lin Wood, one of Rittenhouse’s attorneys, has spread baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, many of which are linked to the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory. He appeared at a rally in Atlanta, Georgia last Wednesday alongside infamous “Kraken” lawyer Sidney Powell (whom Right Wing Watch reported on in-depth here) and told those in attendance not to vote in the Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia. Instead, he demanded that Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler pressure Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special session of the legislature to name pro-Trump electors.
“They have not earned your vote,” Wood said at the rally. “Don’t you give it to them.”
Wood, who had previously called for Trump to declare martial law and use the military to oversee a new election and told Steve Bannon that people need to be prepared for “another 1776,” faced backlash from Republicans for telling attendees not to vote in the Senate runoff. In an attempt to discredit Wood, who seems to have gone too far for even Trump, the president’s campaign suggested that the Atlanta-based lawyer is actually a Democrat planted to sow discontent within the Republican Party.
While the American right continues to be embroiled in a game of one-upmanship over how best to support Rittenhouse, white supremacists and neo-Nazis around the world have embraced the teenager as a propaganda tool for their ideology. To them, Rittenhouse is no longer just a kid forced to defend himself but a warrior who killed two demonstrators at a protest for Black lives while defending the Americans who matter most.
“Kyle was Right”
THE FRASER RIVER is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada. It rises near Fraser Path in the Rocky Mountains and flows for more than 620 miles in the Strait of Georgia within the city of Vancouver. Along its journey, the river crosses through New Westminster, where it is a short walking distance from the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Outside the large, gray building is a statue of Lady Justice—blindfolded and holding a scale and sword—towering over arriving mortals.
Yet beneath this personification of justice, there was a large sticker of a young man armed with an AR-15 style rifle, a pair of rubber gloves, and a magnifying reflector in his left eye. Beneath it is a caption that reads: “Kyle was Right.”
The sticker was part of an international propaganda campaign by a white supremacist group known as the International Conservative Community. The group, which includes entities across Europe and North America, fashions themselves as a modernized network of neo-Nazis capable of “building bridges across countries and even continents.” Founded by American neo-Nazi Robert Rundo (who also founded the white supremacist fight club Rise Above Movement), the group specializes in spreading white supremacist propaganda through targeted campaigns, a recent example of which is Kyle Rittenhouse.
Over the past few weeks, the group has planted stickers, large-scale graffiti work, and banners of Kyle Rittenhouse across Europe and North America. In Serbia, where Rundo is currently based, the group painted a picture of an armed Rittenhouse standing proud with a Schwarze Sonne or Black Sun as his backdrop. The Black Sun (also known as the sonnerad) is synonymous with far-right groups that traffic in neo-Nazi ideologies. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the symbol is based on the ancient sun wheel artifacts that were used by Norse and Germanic tribes as symbols of pagan beliefs. Those ancient symbols resemble the complex symbol of the contemporary Black Sun, which was coopted by Heinrich Himmler, the main architect of the Holocaust.
The painting in Serbia was featured alongside a Confederate flag, and a picture of a deranged Homer Simpson aiming a gun with the caption “KILL YOUR LOCAL ANTIFA SCUM.”
A sticker featuring an image of Rittenhouse—similar to the one posted at the Law Courts in British Columbia—was spotted in St. Petersburg, Russia, alongside other stickers showing pictures of sonnerads, swastikas, Himmler, and Adolf Hitler himself. Others have since appeared in the United States, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Germany, and Sweden. Others appeared in New Zealand, proudly displayed by known hate groups like Action Zealandia, and in Greece, where they were promoted by the likes of neo-Nazi group Pro Patria.
The sheer proliferation of Rittenhouse-related propaganda among white supremacists spotlights how the 17-year-old is being lionized by neo-Nazis for his actions. Where most people see a teenager on trial for killing two protesters, white supremacists see a hero who he took matters into his own hands and went after cultural forces they believe are threatening society as a whole.
“This falls right in the same pattern as the extreme and far right identifying “martyrs” and “saints” that they exalt and want others to emulate,” said Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Director of Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University and award-winning author of six books, including “Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right.” “They are positioning Rittenhouse as a heroic figure who sacrificed himself in defense of his community- it’s right out of the far right playbook strategically, but also allows them to identify aspirational qualities that “good nationalists” should aspire to.”
***
WHEN RITTENHOUSE first picked up his rifle and left his home in Antioch for Kenosha, he could not have imagined he would become a symbol for American conservatives and international white supremacists alike. His case is no longer a matter of justice but of degenerative politics, cultural warfare, and societal upheaval—a battleground for the cesspool of far-right operatives delighted to have a new face for their cause.
To them, the accused killer is a martyr for their cause—a saint among sinners and an example to be emulated.


rightwingwatch--2020-12-09--Eric Metaxas Will Emcee National Right-Wing Prayer Rally to Overturn Presidential Election

Right-wing author and pundit Eric Metaxas announced on his radio show Tuesday that he will emcee “ Let the Church ROAR , ” the Dec. 12 prayer rally on the National Mall that is bringing together religious-right leaders , “ Stop the Steal ” activists , and right-wing public officials .
Metaxas is an author who postures as a public intellectual ; he has gone fully down the right-wing conspiracy theory rabbit hole this year .
Metaxas made news in August when he punched a protester after attending an RNC event at the White House .
Metaxas has taken part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held by religious-right activists since the election to ask God to intervene to give President Donald Trump a second term .
Rob Weaver , a Pentecostal organizer of the so-called Jericho Marches that have been taking place at state capitols , was a guest on Metaxas ’ show along with his organizing partner Arina Grossu , who is Catholic .
Weaver described himself as someone who ran small businesses before joining the Trump administration earlier this year .
Grossu vaguely described herself as on leave from her job ; Grossu has served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Department of Health and Human Services , ground zero for the religious right ’ s use of the executive branch to turn its agenda into federal policy .
Weaver told Metaxas that God communicated with him a few days after the election via an “ open vision ” of Christians praying and marching in the contested states .
“ It ’ s not over , ” he said God told him .
He said Jericho marches are “ about truth and election integrity and for the walls of corruption to fall in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Grossu said she had also had a vision of people praying in the streets and that the two of them were put in touch with each other by a mutual contact from the Trump campaign .
“ God brought us together , ” she said .
“ We ’ re going to have nuns in habits .
We ’ re going to have crazy Pentecostals blowing shofar .
This is my kind of event , ” said Metaxas , who identified himself as a Pentecostal Christian .
Also joining the conversation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist who is organizing a “ One Nation Under God ” event at the Supreme Court at 10 a.m. Saturday ; the larger rally on the National Mall starts at noon .
She said that former Rep. Bob McEwen , executive director of the secretive and influential right-wing Council for National Policy , will be speaking at the Supreme Court event .
According to Butler-Short and Metaxas , former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who has called on Trump to declare martial law rather than admit defeat , will be speaking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being heavily promoted by religious-right media , including Kenneth Copeland Ministries , which hosted Arina Grossu this week , and the Christian Broadcasting Network , which reported that organizers are also getting help from “ planners of The Return ” —a pro-Trump rally held on the National Mall Sept. 26— “ Jim Garlow and Michelle Bachmann ’ s Well Versed World ministry and groups like Eagle Forum.
” Phyllis Schlafly Eagles , a group led by Ed Martin , is one of the sponsors included on a press release promoting the Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the marches are meant to appeal to the courts of Heaven as well as the court of public opinion .
Grossu added that Jericho March is asking people to contact state officials to “ demand full audits , that any and all fraudulent and illegal activities are exposed , and that only legal votes are counted to reveal what the true will of the American people is in this election .
”

Right-wing author and pundit Eric Metaxas announced on his radio show Tuesday that he will emcee “Let the Church ROAR,” the Dec. 12 prayer rally on the National Mall that is bringing together religious-right leaders, “Stop the Steal” activists, and right-wing public officials.
Metaxas is an author who postures as a public intellectual; he has gone fully down the right-wing conspiracy theory rabbit hole this year. Metaxas made news in August when he punched a protester after attending an RNC event at the White House. Metaxas has taken part in some of the many prayer calls held by religious-right activists since the election to ask God to intervene to give President Donald Trump a second term.
Rob Weaver, a Pentecostal organizer of the so-called Jericho Marches that have been taking place at state capitols, was a guest on Metaxas’ show along with his organizing partner Arina Grossu, who is Catholic. Weaver described himself as someone who ran small businesses before joining the Trump administration earlier this year. Grossu vaguely described herself as on leave from her job; Grossu has served as “outreach advisor” in Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services, ground zero for the religious right’s use of the executive branch to turn its agenda into federal policy.
Weaver told Metaxas that God communicated with him a few days after the election via an “open vision” of Christians praying and marching in the contested states. “It’s not over,” he said God told him. He said Jericho marches are “about truth and election integrity and for the walls of corruption to fall in Washington, D.C. and the contested states.”
Grossu said she had also had a vision of people praying in the streets and that the two of them were put in touch with each other by a mutual contact from the Trump campaign. “God brought us together,” she said.
“This is real,” Metaxas agreed. “This is God.”
“We’re going to have nuns in habits. We’re going to have crazy Pentecostals blowing shofar. This is my kind of event,” said Metaxas, who identified himself as a Pentecostal Christian.
Also joining the conversation was Alice Butler-Short, a Women for Trump activist who is organizing a “One Nation Under God” event at the Supreme Court at 10 a.m. Saturday; the larger rally on the National Mall starts at noon. She said that former Rep. Bob McEwen, executive director of the secretive and influential right-wing Council for National Policy, will be speaking at the Supreme Court event.
According to Butler-Short and Metaxas, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who has called on Trump to declare martial law rather than admit defeat, will be speaking at both events.
Saturday’s events are being heavily promoted by religious-right media, including Kenneth Copeland Ministries, which hosted Arina Grossu this week, and the Christian Broadcasting Network, which reported that organizers are also getting help from “planners of The Return”—a pro-Trump rally held on the National Mall Sept. 26—“Jim Garlow and Michelle Bachmann’s Well Versed World ministry and groups like Eagle Forum.” Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, a group led by Ed Martin, is one of the sponsors included on a press release promoting the Dec. 12 rally.
Weaver told CBN that the marches are meant to appeal to the courts of Heaven as well as the court of public opinion. Grossu added that Jericho March is asking people to contact state officials to “demand full audits, that any and all fraudulent and illegal activities are exposed, and that only legal votes are counted to reveal what the true will of the American people is in this election.”


rightwingwatch--2020-12-09--Rep. Barry Loudermilk Wants David Barton to Chair Trump’s 1776 Commission

In November , President Donald Trump issued an executive order creating a “ 1776 Commission ” for the purpose of “ promoting patriotic education.
” Alleging that liberals have hijacked the teaching of history by presenting “ one-sided and divisive accounts [ that ] too often ignore or fail to properly honor and recollect the great legacy of the American national experience , ” Trump ’ s commission aims to “ provide America ’ s young people access to what is genuinely inspiring and unifying in our history , as well as to the lessons imparted by the American experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is exactly the sort of nonsense argument long made by prominent right-wing pseudo-historian David Barton of WallBuilders , whose entire enterprise is built on the false notion that the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation .
As such , it was no surprise to learn that Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia is circulating a letter to his fellow members of Congress urging Trump to name Barton as the chairman of the 1776 Commission .
Loudermilk , a longtime acolyte of Barton and his warped presentation of American history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Roopville Road Baptist Church in Georgia Sunday .
“ I have put a letter together trying to get as many members of Congress to sign on to this recommending David Barton to chair that national commission , ” Loudermilk said .
“ So , I hope you join with me in praying that we can get that done because I think that would be huge.
” Barton is a right-wing activist and Christian nationalist who masquerades as a historian despite possessing no academic credentials , exaggerates about his past , and whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publisher was forced to pull one of his books off the market .
Among the outlandish claims Barton has made is his repeated assertion that God is preventing researchers from finding a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS because it is a divine “ penalty ” for gay people ’ s “ shameful sexual acts.
” Barton has called homosexuality “ absolutely reprehensible and disgusting ” and proposed that it be regulated .
He has blamed gay people for high health care costs and said that marriage equality means we “ are going down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that America can never enact laws that legalize things like abortion or gay marriage because they contradict the moral law established by God , claimed that the demons control parts of Capitol Hill , and asserted that the Founding Fathers , Pilgrims , Puritans and the Bible all opposed Net Neutrality .
Barton is a Second Amendment extremist who has repeatedly argued that private citizens have the right to own tanks or any other weapon of war .
He has asserted that evolution , secular humanism and atheism are all religions that should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that public schools will force students “ to be homosexual.
” He falsely claims that multiple clauses in Constitution were based “ almost verbatim ” on passages from the Bible and asserted that the absence of any mention of God in the Constitution is proof that it is not a secular document .
He also insists that as a Christian , he is entitled to “ more protection ” under the Constitution than others and he thinks that Christians should not have to pay taxes .
Barton routinely misrepresents the Bible in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming , among other things , the Jesus opposes the minimum wage , government bailouts , and income tax .
He also incessantly promotes false and misleading claims about American history as well as current events .
Barton is little more than a right-wing operative who intentionally spreads disinformation about the Bible , the Constitution , the nation ’ s history , and contemporary news in order to promote his radical political agenda .
As such , he has no business serving on the 1776 Commission , much less chairing it .

In November, President Donald Trump issued an executive order creating a “1776 Commission” for the purpose of “promoting patriotic education.” Alleging that liberals have hijacked the teaching of history by presenting “one-sided and divisive accounts [that] too often ignore or fail to properly honor and recollect the great legacy of the American national experience,” Trump’s commission aims to “provide America’s young people access to what is genuinely inspiring and unifying in our history, as well as to the lessons imparted by the American experience of overcoming great national challenges.”
This is exactly the sort of nonsense argument long made by prominent right-wing pseudo-historian David Barton of WallBuilders, whose entire enterprise is built on the false notion that the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation. As such, it was no surprise to learn that Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia is circulating a letter to his fellow members of Congress urging Trump to name Barton as the chairman of the 1776 Commission.
Loudermilk, a longtime acolyte of Barton and his warped presentation of American history, announced the effort while introducing Barton at Roopville Road Baptist Church in Georgia Sunday.
“I have put a letter together trying to get as many members of Congress to sign on to this recommending David Barton to chair that national commission,” Loudermilk said. “So, I hope you join with me in praying that we can get that done because I think that would be huge.”
Barton is a right-wing activist and Christian nationalist who masquerades as a historian despite possessing no academic credentials, exaggerates about his past, and whose work is so unreliable that his own publisher was forced to pull one of his books off the market.
Among the outlandish claims Barton has made is his repeated assertion that God is preventing researchers from finding a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS because it is a divine “penalty” for gay people’s “shameful sexual acts.”
Barton has called homosexuality “absolutely reprehensible and disgusting” and proposed that it be regulated. He has blamed gay people for high health care costs and said that marriage equality means we “are going down as a nation.”
He has insisted that America can never enact laws that legalize things like abortion or gay marriage because they contradict the moral law established by God, claimed that the demons control parts of Capitol Hill, and asserted that the Founding Fathers, Pilgrims, Puritans and the Bible all opposed Net Neutrality.
Barton is a Second Amendment extremist who has repeatedly argued that private citizens have the right to own tanks or any other weapon of war.
He has asserted that evolution, secular humanism and atheism are all religions that should be banned in public school and warned that public schools will force students “to be homosexual.”
He falsely claims that multiple clauses in Constitution were based “almost verbatim” on passages from the Bible and asserted that the absence of any mention of God in the Constitution is proof that it is not a secular document. He also insists that as a Christian, he is entitled to “more protection” under the Constitution than others and he thinks that Christians should not have to pay taxes.
Barton routinely misrepresents the Bible in order to promote his right-wing political agenda by claiming, among other things, the Jesus opposes the minimum wage, government bailouts, and income tax. He also incessantly promotes false and misleading claims about American history as well as current events.
Barton is little more than a right-wing operative who intentionally spreads disinformation about the Bible, the Constitution, the nation’s history, and contemporary news in order to promote his radical political agenda. As such, he has no business serving on the 1776 Commission, much less chairing it.


rightwingwatch--2020-12-10--Right Wing Round-Up: To the Last Drop of Blood


rightwingwatch--2020-12-10--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Emotionally Devastating

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rightwingwatch--2020-12-10--The Sordid Record of John Eastman, the Latest Right-Wing Lawyer on Trump’s Legal Team

This week , President Donald Trump sought to join—in his personal capacity as a presidential candidate—a request made by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Texas to sue Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin in an effort to overturn the results of the presidential election by disenfranchising those states ’ voters .
Many legal observers consider the Texas filing to be , in the words of election law expert Richard Hasen , “ utter garbage.
” But that hasn ’ t stopped more than a dozen Republican attorneys general from seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in his request to join the Texas effort is John Eastman , a law professor who has long advanced positions on the far-right fringe of the legal community on issues ranging from immigration to LGBTQ equality to separation of church and state .
Eastman appeared on Laura Ingraham ’ s Fox News show this week to talk about the Supreme Court ’ s “ original and exclusive ” jurisdiction over disputes between states .
He noted that the Court has asked defendant states to respond to Texas ’ s motion asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
“ My gut ’ s they ’ re going to take it and look at it on the merits , ” he said .
Eastman , a former law clerk for the hard-right Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas , directs the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Claremont Institute , which former Right Wing Watch investigative reporter Jared Holt called “ an increasingly white nationalist think tank ” in 2019 .
That year , Claremont made “ Pizzagate ” conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec a Jack Roth Charitable Foundation Lincoln Fellow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Newsweek questioning whether Sen. Kamala Harris , who was born in Oakland , California , to immigrant parents , was qualified to be vice president .
Eastman ’ s Birtherism 2.0 was widely mocked , and Newsweek eventually apologized after an outcry from staff , but it got Trump ’ s attention .
As the Daily Beast noted , Trump called Eastman “ brilliant ” after his bogus attack on Harris ’ eligibility .
Eastman has been one of the most vocal advocates for eliminating the 14th Amendment ’ s protection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would not take a constitutional amendment , just a court decision or act of Congress to change what he believes to be an erroneous interpretation of the 14th Amendment .
These ideas put him on the fringes of the right-wing legal movement .
Eastman is also a zealous opponent of legal equality for LGBTQ people .
In 2000 , Eastman called homosexuality an indicator of “ barbarism.
” A longtime chairman of the anti-LGBTQ National Organization for Marriage , he called the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s 2003 ruling overturning state laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and warned that marriage equality for same-sex couples would have “ catastrophic consequences for civil society.
” In a speech to the Family Research Council in 2015 , Eastman defended Uganda ’ s notorious Anti-Homosexuality Act and said he hoped the country ’ s supreme court would reconsider its decision to throw out the law on a technicality .
Eastman was one of the signers of the “ Cape Town Declaration , ” a global declaration of war on marriage equality issued as part of NOM ’ s launch of its International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has participated in World Congress of Families gatherings of anti-LGBTQ activists .
In 2016 , Eastman was a vocal supporter of Republican senators ’ refusal to even consider President Barack Obama ’ s nominee to fill the vacancy created by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia .
Tea Party activist Sharron Angle , who unsuccessfully challenged then-Sen. Harry Reid in 2010 , said at the time that Eastman would make the “ perfect ” Supreme Court justice .
As Right Wing Watch has noted : Eastman ’ s support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision—which ushered in an era in which the court rejected economic and labor regulations—puts him in opposition to the late Antonin Scalia , who opposed the Lochner ruling .
Eastman has also taken a fringe position—one taken by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas , for whom Eastman clerked—that the First Amendment ’ s ban on the establishment of religion does not apply to the states , and has argued that a state taxing people to support an official church , as some states did early in the nation ’ s history , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find more detail about Eastman ’ s record in a 2016 Right Wing Watch profile .
Eastman has tried his hand at electoral politics a couple of times .
In 1990 , he was the Republican nominee for Congress from the 34th District in California .
And in 2010 , he ran for California Attorney General .
While Eastman was defeated in the Republican primary , the ultimate winner of that race was Kamala Harris .

This week, President Donald Trump sought to join—in his personal capacity as a presidential candidate—a request made by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Texas to sue Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in an effort to overturn the results of the presidential election by disenfranchising those states’ voters. Many legal observers consider the Texas filing to be, in the words of election law expert Richard Hasen, “utter garbage.” But that hasn’t stopped more than a dozen Republican attorneys general from seeking to join the effort.
The lawyer representing Trump in his request to join the Texas effort is John Eastman, a law professor who has long advanced positions on the far-right fringe of the legal community on issues ranging from immigration to LGBTQ equality to separation of church and state. Eastman appeared on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show this week to talk about the Supreme Court’s “original and exclusive” jurisdiction over disputes between states. He noted that the Court has asked defendant states to respond to Texas’s motion asking for Supreme Court permission to sue the four states. “My gut’s they’re going to take it and look at it on the merits,” he said.
Eastman, a former law clerk for the hard-right Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, directs the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Claremont Institute, which former Right Wing Watch investigative reporter Jared Holt called “an increasingly white nationalist think tank” in 2019. That year, Claremont made “Pizzagate” conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec a Jack Roth Charitable Foundation Lincoln Fellow.
In August, Eastman published a column in Newsweek questioning whether Sen. Kamala Harris, who was born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents, was qualified to be vice president. Eastman’s Birtherism 2.0 was widely mocked, and Newsweek eventually apologized after an outcry from staff, but it got Trump’s attention. As the Daily Beast noted, Trump called Eastman “brilliant” after his bogus attack on Harris’ eligibility.
As RWW noted in August:
Eastman has been one of the most vocal advocates for eliminating the 14th Amendment’s protection of birthright citizenship. He has argued that it would not take a constitutional amendment, just a court decision or act of Congress to change what he believes to be an erroneous interpretation of the 14th Amendment. These ideas put him on the fringes of the right-wing legal movement.
Eastman is also a zealous opponent of legal equality for LGBTQ people. In 2000, Eastman called homosexuality an indicator of “barbarism.” A longtime chairman of the anti-LGBTQ National Organization for Marriage, he called the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2003 ruling overturning state laws that criminalized consensual gay sex “despotic” and warned that marriage equality for same-sex couples would have “catastrophic consequences for civil society.”
In a speech to the Family Research Council in 2015, Eastman defended Uganda’s notorious Anti-Homosexuality Act and said he hoped the country’s supreme court would reconsider its decision to throw out the law on a technicality. Eastman was one of the signers of the “Cape Town Declaration,” a global declaration of war on marriage equality issued as part of NOM’s launch of its International Organization for the Family, and he has participated in World Congress of Families gatherings of anti-LGBTQ activists.
In 2016, Eastman was a vocal supporter of Republican senators’ refusal to even consider President Barack Obama’s nominee to fill the vacancy created by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Tea Party activist Sharron Angle, who unsuccessfully challenged then-Sen. Harry Reid in 2010, said at the time that Eastman would make the “perfect” Supreme Court justice.
As Right Wing Watch has noted:
Eastman’s support for the Supreme Court’s infamous 1905 Lochner decision—which ushered in an era in which the court rejected economic and labor regulations—puts him in opposition to the late Antonin Scalia, who opposed the Lochner ruling. Eastman has also taken a fringe position—one taken by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, for whom Eastman clerked—that the First Amendment’s ban on the establishment of religion does not apply to the states, and has argued that a state taxing people to support an official church, as some states did early in the nation’s history, was not all that coercive.
You can find more detail about Eastman’s record in a 2016 Right Wing Watch profile.
Eastman has tried his hand at electoral politics a couple of times. In 1990, he was the Republican nominee for Congress from the 34th District in California. And in 2010, he ran for California Attorney General. While Eastman was defeated in the Republican primary, the ultimate winner of that race was Kamala Harris.


rightwingwatch--2020-12-10--DeAnna Lorraine Will Not Take the COVID-19 Vaccine Even ‘If Jesus Takes It’

QAnon conspiracy theorist DeAnna Lorraine criticized President Donald Trump on Tuesday ’ s edition of her Infowars program for promoting the soon-to-be available vaccine for the COVID-19 virus , declaring that she will never accept the vaccine even “ if Jesus takes it.
” Lorraine , a full-blown Trump cultist who translated a failed congressional campaign into a career spreading wild conspiracy theories as a right-wing commentator , has been a COVID-19 denier since the early days of the pandemic and has frequently taken issue with Trump whenever he ’ s done anything to suggest that the virus might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump just said he ’ s willing to take the vaccine also live on TV , ” Lorraine complained .
“ I don ’ t like this .
You know , Trump , probably 80 percent of your base does not want that vaccine .
They are not willing to take a foreign , rushed substance and jab it into our arms .
I don ’ t care who takes it .
I don ’ t care if Jesus takes it , I ’ m not taking the vaccine.
” “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me feel uncomfortable that President Trump is jumping on the bandwagon with [ Barack ] Obama and the Clintons and Bill Gates and now [ Anthony ] Fauci and [ Gov .
Andrew ] Cuomo , saying they ’ re going to take this live on TV , ” she continued .
“ We don ’ t care .
In fact , you know , the more you guys do this weird , desperate attempt to try to convince us that the vaccine is safe that was rushed at warp speed , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , President Trump , if you ’ re smart , if you don ’ t want to lose your base of support , please don ’ t keep jumping on this vaccine bandwagon and saying you ’ re gon na join these clowns and take the vaccine live on TV .
”

QAnon conspiracy theorist DeAnna Lorraine criticized President Donald Trump on Tuesday’s edition of her Infowars program for promoting the soon-to-be available vaccine for the COVID-19 virus, declaring that she will never accept the vaccine even “if Jesus takes it.”
Lorraine, a full-blown Trump cultist who translated a failed congressional campaign into a career spreading wild conspiracy theories as a right-wing commentator, has been a COVID-19 denier since the early days of the pandemic and has frequently taken issue with Trump whenever he’s done anything to suggest that the virus might be real or potentially dangerous.
“Apparently Donald Trump just said he’s willing to take the vaccine also live on TV,” Lorraine complained. “I don’t like this. You know, Trump, probably 80 percent of your base does not want that vaccine. They are not willing to take a foreign, rushed substance and jab it into our arms. I don’t care who takes it. I don’t care if Jesus takes it, I’m not taking the vaccine.”
“It’s weird, and it makes me feel uncomfortable that President Trump is jumping on the bandwagon with [Barack] Obama and the Clintons and Bill Gates and now [Anthony] Fauci and [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo, saying they’re going to take this live on TV,” she continued. “We don’t care. In fact, you know, the more you guys do this weird, desperate attempt to try to convince us that the vaccine is safe that was rushed at warp speed, the more uneasy I feel with the vaccine. So, President Trump, if you’re smart, if you don’t want to lose your base of support, please don’t keep jumping on this vaccine bandwagon and saying you’re gonna join these clowns and take the vaccine live on TV.”