Tony Perkins

Religious Right groups have argued for a long time that a president has to do more than oversee the economy, direct international relations and run the Executive branch. He or she is also expected to set a moral example. During the presidencies of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Religious Right groups frequently complained – unfairly, in the view of many Americans – that these two men had failed in that regard.

A few months ago, when news broke that President Donald J. Trump had given classified information to the Russians, I asked why Religious Right groups were remaining silent. They surely would have spoken up if a Democratic president had done that.

Today I have to ask that question again, in light of two recent incidents – Anthony Scaramucci’s profanity-laced rant to The New Yorker and Trump’s completely inappropriate speech to the Boy Scouts.

Let’s engage in a thought experiment: Pretend that it’s May of 2009, and Barack Obama, who has been president for a few months, has just shared some highly classified intelligence with the Russians. Let’s say this material has damaged America’s standing with our allies, exposed sources to possible retaliation and jeopardized the war on terror.

What do you think the leaders of Religious Right groups would be saying? My guess is they’d be calling for his impeachment, if not outright imprisonment.

It hasn’t been a secret what members of the Religious Right sought under their Christmas trees this year, and voters playing the role of Santa Claus delivered: Donald Trump for president.

The Religious Right tends to dial up its gloom-and-doom predictions every election season in an attempt to scare its base into voting for candidates who will supposedly uphold “biblical values” (or, more likely, the far right’s narrow view of theology). This year is no different, but some religious zealots are taking scare tactics to a new level by suggesting that this could be the last presidential election ever in the United States.

On Saturday, AU’s Director of Communications Rob Boston wrote a blog post detailing the Religious Right’s reaction to videotape that exposed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump bragging about how he can commit sexual assault and harassment and get away with it because he’s famous.

In case you need a reminder:

A tape has surfaced of Donald Trump saying things about women that are so lewd and crude that I can’t repeat them on this blog.

Over the weekend, Americans United joined thousands of people here in Washington, D.C., at Capital Pride. We had an informational booth there and were pleased to meet with many people who support our mission.

Inevitably, the tragic murders of 49 people and the wounding of dozens more at a gay club in Orlando early Sunday morning weighed on the minds of many. But the horrific attack didn’t deter people from attending D.C.’s event. AU was pleased to be there and considered it an opportunity to show our support for the LGBTQ community at this difficult time.