And the Declaration is not even the New Testament
Steve Benen offers this recollection. I’d already forgotten:
In 2017, on the 4th of July, NPR published a series of tweets with the text of the Declaration of Independence. It seemed like a simple, patriotic gesture to help celebrate our Independence Day. A surprising number of Republicans didn’t quite see it that way.
The more NPR published portions of the Declaration of Independence, the more rank-and-file conservatives — who apparently didn’t recognize the words of the document — assumed that the media outlet was publishing anti-Trump “propaganda.”
“A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people,” one tweet read, sparking particular outrage from the right, who assumed the missive was directed at the then-Republican president.
It was an early reminder, just six months into Donald Trump’s term, that many of his followers, when confronted with core American principles, would simply assume they were anti-Trump criticisms.
Republicans reacted similarly to Joe Biden’s remarks at the 80th D-Day anniversary:
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida called the remarks “disgusting.” A Fox Business host also accused the Democrat of “taking veiled shots” at Trump. As New York magazine’s Jon Chait noted, some other prominent voices from conservative media had similar reactions.
That’s because no matter how much red, white and blue merch they own, Cult of Trump supplicants do not believe in core American principles. In spirit, they are royalists not colonists. If not outright idolaters.
Perhaps this clip from the chair of the Nevada Republican Party is poor phrasing. Perhaps it is a Freudian slip. But call a political rally worship?
Rep. Marge Greene of Georgia goes a step further. She likens her worship of Jesus to her fealty to Donald Trump.
I was raised Catholic. A criticism Protestant fundamentalists always raise is that with all of Catholics’ statues and saints, the line between “venerating” saints (as the catechism would have it) and worshipping them and their images is uncomfortingly fine (Mrs. O’Donnell joke).
Naturally, Trump cultists seem to have no such uneasiness about their own affections toward their orange-caked savior.
It is clear from what transpired on Jan. 6, 2021; and from the actions of GOP-controlled legislatures across the country to ignore the will of the people; and from MAGA Republican efforts to place Trump above the laws of men; and from the shameless declarations of Christian nationalists to transform the U.S. into a theocracy; and from anti-abortion activists’ intentions to reduce women to birthing vessels; that they have, in biblical terms, sold their American birthright for a mess of Trumpage.
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