A few weeks ago, I flagged the then-forthcoming Values Voters Summit. I can't be there -- but fortunately staffers from the progressive think tank, Political Research Associates are blogging the the weekend.
Chip Berlet writes about their plans to live-blog the event:
Three of us from PRA (Katherine Ragsdale, Tarso Ramos, and Chip Berlet) have arrived in Washington DC, and are setting up our base of operations at the Washington Hilton.
It is a busy schedule of events, but we will do our best to cover aspects of the conference that may not make headlines, but will be of interest to our readers.
(Washington, DC) Thousands of Christian Right activists from around the country will gather in Washington, DC, from Friday through Sunday, October 19th – 21st, for a national political conference. The event, dubbed The Washington Briefing, is billed by its sponsors as "the largest gathering of values voters from around the country." At a time when the Christian Right is in discord over who to support in 2008, virtually all the Republican presidential candidates will appear in person to make their cases. The results of a straw poll on these candidates will be announced before the end of the conference.
The summit is sponsored by some of the most influential Christian Right groups in the country including the political arms of Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, and American Family Association; Gary Bauer’s American Values group; and the High Impact Leadership Coalition, headed by Bishop Harry R. Jackson.
In addition to speeches from politicians, top Right Wing leaders will address a broad range of issues including abortion, "the homosexual agenda," the threats posed to national security by immigration and Islam, racial reconciliation, and voter mobilization. Confirmed speakers include Gary Bauer, Bill Bennett, Robert Bork, Ken Blackwell, James Dobson, Newt Gingrich, Bishop Harry Jackson, Richard Land, Edwin Meese, Star Parker, Tony Perkins, Robert Rector, Alan Sears, Phyllis Schlafly, and Paul Weyrich.
PRA will be filing brief reports from this Christian Right political rally. For additional background and in depth analysis, visit our website’s special section on the Christian Right.
I had written:
The religious right political group honchoed by Tony Perkins -- Family Research Council Action -- is hosting another of their Washington Briefings next month in Washington, DC. The conclave will feature a gala banquet to honor James Dobson; an all star cast of religious right leaders; GOP presidential candidates; country music legend Lee Greenwood -- and Jim Wallis.
Yes, Jim Wallis of Sojourners; author of the best-selling God's Politics: Why the Right is Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It; and advisor to the Democratic Party -- will debate religious right leader Richard Land, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention on "The role of faith in politics and the 2008 Elections."
I had much to say about all this. It will be interesting to hear how it all turns out.
They are just getting started -- but stay tuned.
[Crossposted from Talk to Action.]