Right-Wing, Religiousand a Danger for Obama

There seems to be no end to the crowd of people; it is one of the largest demonstrations in Washington in years. Tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, are drawn on this Saturday to the foot of the iconic Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. The mood varies between a national revival meeting and an anti-Obama protest. Perhaps in no other Western country would such a fusion of politics, patriotism and religion still be possible.

“Something beyond imagination is happening,” exclaims Glenn Beck, 56, radical TV host and organizer of the event. The crowd erupts. “America today begins to turn back to God.” Once again, a huge wave of applause.

When Beck stands before the camera at the conservative Fox News, he pulls out all the stops against Barack Obama: sometimes declaring that the government is socialist, other times accusing the black president of being a “racist with a deep-seated hatred of white people.” But on this Saturday his speech is more like a sermon. “For too long this country has wandered in darkness.” Not once does he mention Obama. Several times it appears that Beck is fighting back tears.

Politics, patriotism and religion: an All-American mixture in “God’s own country.” But it is also an explosive combination — especially today. To non-Americans, this event — the motto of which is “Restoring Honor” — seems strange and at times even bizarre. The purpose is to support the U.S. troops and bring traditional American values and belief in God back to the forefront, says Beck.

Civil rights activists had complained that these right-wing groups were assembling in front of the monument to President Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) — and on the very date when the black civil rights leader Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech 47 years ago. They called it an “appropriation of King,” a “provocation” by the right. “They may have the Mall, but we have the message,” said one angry civil rights activist at a counter-demonstration.

When Sarah Palin, the Republican populist and former vice presidential candidate, launches into her speech, the crowd chants “USA, USA, USA.” “We must restore America and restore her honor,” demands Palin. She addresses the people as “patriots.” In recent months, Palin has emerged as the leader of the “tea party” movement and is mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate. But she says she is speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial not as a politician, but rather as the mother of a soldier. For this, too, there is warm applause.

Right-wing and religious, deeply patriotic and strictly conservative — above all, it was Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, who understood how to use the voters of the “religious right.” Experts maintain that his 2004 election bid would have failed without the support of the religious right.

For Obama, as well, there is a great deal at risk. The tea party movement has been gaining strength for months and is positioning itself for the midterm elections in two months. Obama faces an uphill challenge in the midterms: a weak economy, high unemployment and a rapidly growing national debt play to the advantage of his opponents. Obama is a spendthrift of taxpayers’ money and a representative of “big government” — this is the constant mantra of the tea party.

Obama’s once great popularity has dramatically diminished. According to polls, only 45 percent are satisfied with his performance. With the elections on November 2, Obama could lose his majority in Congress. But at the same time some strategists in the Obama camp welcome the shrill tones coming from the tea party camp. Obama’s people calculate that ultra-conservative candidates could scare away the more moderate independent voters — and drive them into the Democrats’ camp. Still, even Republicans warned against making too radical noises at the demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial.