On the Anti-Christ, Obama, and How NOT to Solicit My Vote

My accountant of some fifteen years is a staunch Republican and devout Catholic. From time to time he emails his clients his perspective on politics.

Now, I normally just ignore it. He’s a very good accountant and I didn’t want to unnecessarily inject my politics and views on religion into our professional relationship. But his latest mailing included a letter from a third source entitled “Worth Reading” that was a litany of prejudicial, radical, far right fear mongering predicting the doom of this country if Obama is elected.

The following is my letter in response. It also went to thirty+ of his clients who were on the same distro as me. I suspect I’ll be looking for a new accountant next year.


Dear Larry,
Very revealing letter. Unfortunately, it revealed more about the fear mongering right wing religionists that stoop to slander when their grasp on power is endangered, than any truthful observations about Obama. But, this little piece of intellect really clinched it for me:

“According to The Book of Revelations: The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything. Is it OBAMA??”

That's exactly the kind of mindless “Party of Jesus" crap that drove me from the Republican Party three years ago after almost 40 years. In deed, let’s make a decision as to who is disqualified to be President based on the insane ranting of a pre-scientific superstitious cultist from 1,800 years ago.

Thanks, but if the alternative to Obama is four more years of theocratic, right wing, millennialism philosophy that demands more American lives in a war that never should have been; that will ensure more young men sacrificed on the alter of some utopian concept that is dedicated to forcing OUR version of democracy onto a 5000+ year old culture that neither understands it, could sustain it, nor wants it … then I'll go with Obama.

Yes, I anxiously await four more years of spreading our military resources so thin that the progress made in Afghanistan is failing, while we lack a force to stand against any unforeseen aggressor. Where once the tragedy of 9/11 gathered our friends to us, and evoked the sympathy of the civilized world, now we watch our allies distance themselves from us as our international prestige declines.

Oh yes, four more years of refusing to sit with our enemies, instead rattling our sabers, elevating international tension, and watching our armed services decimated as reenlistment declines, and enlistment standards are lowered.

Four more years of neglecting our environment because to an administration with a superstition mindset that embraces, indeed welcomes, biblical Armageddon, preserving the Earth for future generations isn’t a worthwhile investment.

Four more years of deficit spending and bigger government than we have ever had. Of a mentality that says oil company's still need tax breaks; that Intelligent Design should be taught in schools; that my tax money should go to "faith based' organizations and support their proselytizing efforts via the back door, instead of going to stem cell research which is denounced as "the work of Satan!!".

Now I don't want to be all negative. I mean on the bright side there is the recession. We now openly suborn torture. My health insurance has only increased 85% over the past 8 years. And the Republican influence on the OPEC nations' to increase oil production had been … Oh, wait ... never mind.

Look, Larry, you’ve known me a long time. I ain't no damn Liberal. I hate gun control, I hate giveaways, I demand a strong army and want small government. I also want to see us invest in protecting our ports and borders by developing technology that improves border controls, airport safety and container ship security. I don't want to piss away our resources and soldiers’ lives by Nation Building for some perverse religiously driven concept of a New World Order.

After what I've seen from the Republicans in general, and Bush in particular over the past 8 years, and watching McCain’s transformation from a strong minded independent "nobody's butt boy" to just another waffling zombie in lockstep with Bush and the Christian right, I've had enough. I'm ready to give a Dem., even a Liberal Dem, a shot at it.

By the way, exactly what is McCain's position on illegal immigration, the Bush tax cuts, the US Constitution making us a "Christian Nation", and Al Qaeda being supported by Iran? I mean, what’s his position THIS WEEK??

So, Larry, do me a favor. Spare me this kind of whacked out far right religious hyperbole in the future. I’m a Free Thinker, and this idiocy just pisses me off, and pushes me further to the left. I hate it on the left.