The resurrection of a con man in a choir-boy face
Three years ago this week, Ralph Reed took a surprisingly bad whooping here on his home turf in Georgia, in a Republican primary in which his ties to the religious right were supposed to carry him to victory.
In a race for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor — his first attempt at elective office — Reed drew just 44 percent of the vote against Casey Cagle. That performance raised a question: How could a nationally known figure such as Reed, a man who had also served as state party chair, lose by a double-digit margin to a state senator making his first bid for statewide office?
“The moderate wing of the Republican Party showed up, but the pro-Ralph side of the party went to the beach,” former state GOP chairman Rusty Paul said afterward. “It had an impact all up and down the ticket,” with social conservatives losing primaries that year to moderates.
Conservative Christian voters are known for loyalty, but in this case they had good reason to be disillusioned with the one-time Golden Boy of the Christian Coalition. Earlier that year, Reed’s close friend and business associate, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, had pleaded guilty to defrauding Indian gaming operations of millions of dollars, some of which ended up in Reed’s pockets.
Abramoff is now serving time in federal prison. And while Reed was never charged in the scam, in moral and ethical terms his behavior was reprehensible. Using millions of dollars in gambling money laundered through false fronts, Reed was paid to gin up a “grassroots coalition” to try to close casinos that competed with casinos linked to Abramoff.
In effect, Reed’s job was to run those competing casinos out of business by leveraging his credibility with religious conservatives. In Texas, for example, he was paid $4 million to “rile up our pastors” — those are Reed’s words, taken from an email subpoenaed in the case — against a casino being run by the Tigua tribe in El Paso.
In another email, Abramoff’s partner, Michael Scanlon, described how the process worked:
“Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them, “ Scanlon wrote. “The wackos get their information [from] the Christian right, Christian radio, e-mail, the Internet and telephone trees,” all tools that Reed excelled at deploying.
As the case broke, Reed tried to deny wrongdoing, but over time the evidence that he had manipulated and sold out the very people who had believed most in his “Christian leadership” became too great to deny. His defeat on Election Day made it clear that even here in his home state, he had forfeited any claim to a leadership role.
However, in modern American culture, fame is a self-perpetuating force — once you’ve got it, it never goes away, no matter how much you might deserve obscurity. In Reed’s case, he began to appear again on national television last fall, again cashing in on his reputation as spokesman for the very people he had defrauded.
It didn’t seem to matter that he had been publicly rejected — if some elements of the media found it useful to resurrect Reed as the leader of something or other, then a leader he must be.
But something was missing. Reed needed a title, something impressive-sounding that the cable news folks could flash on the screen beneath his name to establish his credentials.
So this spring, Reed announced creation of “The Faith and Freedom Coalition,” with himself as executive director. He markets it as the “Christian Coalition 2.0,” an updated, 21st century version of the group that made his reputation.
“This is kind of like Steve Jobs returning to Apple,” the ever humble Reed told the AJC’s Aaron Gould Sheinin.
For now, the Faith and Freedom Coalition consists of the “Steve Jobs” figure at its head, one employee and a website. But perhaps from that tiny mustard seed a mighty tree will grow. The coalition website, for example, solicits members with a touching paen to its founder:
“Dear Ralph,” it begins.
“Thank you for starting a much-needed coalition for those of us who want to stand and protect our faith and freedom. With radical liberals now in firm control of the White House and Congress, we need to join together to fight for our values in the halls of government. You can count me as the newest member of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. Please process my Membership Contribution that I’m making right now.”
Personally, I have no doubt whatsoever that Reed will rush to honor that request, should any come his way.
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371 comments Add your comment
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 16th, 2009
7:01 am
He’s a Jesus Freak, ew!
~~~~~
All of those senators are likely to feel serious heat if their constituents know that Judge Sotomayor has written twice the right to bear arms is not a “fundamental right.” They should get knock-kneed if their constituents grow concerned about her extremist position in favor of “eminent domain” seizures of private property. Obviously they already are under a little pressure because of her “wise Latina” remarks replete with talk about “inherent physiological differences,” the “facts I choose to see,” and the repudiation of “objectivity,” “impartiality,” and “neutrality.” And they should be already running for cover, any cover, as far away as possible, from Sotomayor’s bizarre opinion that currently incarcerated murderers and rapists have a constitutional right to vote while behind bars.-AmSpec
Come on y’all, we are the Party of No, let’s get to work.
No to the racist.
Doggone/GA
July 16th, 2009
7:04 am
If he gets any new “followers” it’s going to give a whole new definition to “conned”
FinnMcCool
July 16th, 2009
7:04 am
I even changed my affiliation to Repuiblican so I could vote against this snake in the grass.
This guy is pure evil.
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
7:10 am
“No to the racist.”
hey!!! the GOP is finally gonna say NO to Pete Sessions!! huzzah! and a hearty congratulations.
as for Ralph Reed, it just goes to show that you really can fool some of the people all of the time.
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
7:11 am
morning, all
FinnMcCool
July 16th, 2009
7:11 am
Send your money to Ralph right now or…
…you will meet the fire and the brimstone!
ByteMe
July 16th, 2009
7:14 am
The religious tried to get political and the flock got fleeced. Go figure.
Reed is just like Saxby, except his fake piousness is tuned to a higher level. Yeah, that might be a pun.
Redneck Convert
July 16th, 2009
7:15 am
Well, good Christians just can’t catch a break. I was so low I would need a stepladder to touch a snake’s belly when they put the godly Pat Swindall in prison. The libruls never stopped till they got him.
Now they’re after Ralph Reed. He got beat like a rented mule because Christians that should know better went on vacation at election time. This Casey Cagle couldn’t of held a candle to him.
I keep thinking of that half-page ad that use to show up in the AJC about 30 years ago. It was called Why Do the Heathen Rage? It blasted libruls and people that turned away from the Bible. Well, I reckon the heathens are still raging. They almost won in GA last election. And Bookman is raging too.
If Ralph Reed runs for anything he’s got my vote and the vote of real Christians in GA. All you got to do to get the redneck vote in this state is talk about Faith and Taxes and Welfare and Socialists and Those People. We’ll come out of our trailers in droves.
Have a good day everybody.
Normal
July 16th, 2009
7:20 am
Good Morning Jay, Good morning all…If Mr Reed is sucussful with his
Christian Voalition.2 then I suspect the NeoCons will become the NeoConned…This guy is so beyond belief, so it should be interesting to see who gets conned. Got Saxby?
Normal
July 16th, 2009
7:21 am
Sorry hit the “v” insyead of the “c”, but when you look at it Christian Violation isn’t bad either…
DB, Gwinnettian
July 16th, 2009
7:26 am
“Reed’s job was to run those competing casinos out of business by leveraging his credibility with religious conservatives.”
In a just world, this sentence runs in a big-type disclaimer any time that vile man’s face appears on my TeeVee.
DB, Gwinnettian
July 16th, 2009
7:28 am
He’s a Jesus Freak, ew!
No, Andy. I knew some self-ID’d Jesus Freaks back in the day when the expression wasn’t a joke. I was ok with them. Made fun of them, sure, but I knew their heart and soul belonged to a certifiably Good Guy, I wished them the best on their journey to enlightenment.
This guy is a mobbed-up sack of crap. Why can’t you disown him?
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
7:30 am
Gwinecian –
“In a just world, this sentence runs in a big-type disclaimer any time that vile man’s face appears on my TeeVee.”
please. in a just world, everytime Pete Sessions came on TV during the hearings, you’d have “DEFEATED FOR JUDIARY APPOINTMENT BECAUSE HE’S AN EFFING RACIST” or Newtie would have “HAS SCREWED AROUND ON 3 WIVES” scrolling along the bottom of the screen …
sadly, though, down the memory hole it all goes …
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
7:31 am
Gwinecian –
“Why can’t you disown him?”
there’s an R after his name
this has been an early edition of “simple answers for simple questions”
Paul
July 16th, 2009
7:32 am
So discredited has-beens see the vacuum of leadership and message in the Republican Party and they make their bid.
Good. Pretty soon we’ll recycle through them and we might, just might, have an interesting sight to watch, given the public now gives the nod (Rasmussen) to Republicans over Democrats on abortion, national security, Social Security, the economy (!) and…. ethics and corruption!
That last one’s a real ’say, what?!!?’ item.
So the Reps need a leader to package the message and capitalize on the public’s increasing shift. Reed’s just another in a diminishing pool of retreads of a blown-out ideology.
Trust me
July 16th, 2009
7:39 am
Well, he is clearly looking to resurrect his role as leader of the “Get out the Whack job Vote Coalition”. He just needs to start healing those old wounds by first asking Jesus for forgiveness. Perhaps a public display of his sorry-ness on a cable TV channel would help. Also, some air time with some notable favorites in the field. What’s that guy’s name that has been attacking Sotomayor. He’ll do for openers. Now, won’t you whack jobs open up your hearts and your purses to this re-formed man of faith. Besides, if he can deliver those much needed whack job votes, how could the party of the desperate say no.
Scooter
July 16th, 2009
7:41 am
I don’t think Reed will get very many followers. ??? Me? I wouldn’t trust him in an outhouse with a muzzle on!
Doggone/GA
July 16th, 2009
7:43 am
“Reed’s just another in a diminishing pool of retreads of a blown-out ideology”
It’s really getting to be funny how they can’t find any “new and fresh” leaders, isn’t it? They just keep recycling the same old, tired people …and ideas.
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
7:44 am
“So discredited has-beens see the vacuum of leadership and message in the Republican Party and they make their bid.”
here’s what’s so surprising to me … as anyone who was involved in politics in the 1990s remembers, the reason they did SO well at SO many levels was because the GOP really emphasized getting involved in all levels and fostering people at the lowest levels of gummint (school boards, city councils, etc). they looked at it as a farm team and a chance to really build a legacy of a strong party for years to come.
Not only did I work in politics and saw all this firsthand, I also dated a Republican who was in the middle of it all (our joke – he isn’t just A republican, he’s THE republican)
S0, what happened to their infrastructure??? what happened to the House that Newt (and Ralph, for that matter) built??
and this is a serious question, I’m actually not being snarky about it. I’d really be interested in hearing from someone in the GOP who may have some insight.
GOP is gone
July 16th, 2009
7:45 am
I am just wondering what Ralphy does to pay his bills when he is not soliciting money from or stirring up the “wackos”? Maybe he tightened his belt and has been cruising on the 4 million. Reed reeks of Haggard to me. Someone should follow him around and see if he hangs out with male prostitutes
Doggone/GA
July 16th, 2009
7:46 am
“S0, what happened to their infrastructure??? what happened to the House that Newt (and Ralph, for that matter) built??”
Apparently they couldn’t even follow the injunction in the Bible…to build their house on rock. Instead, they built it on the shifting sands of expediency. And it collapsed on them.
Joey
July 16th, 2009
7:47 am
Jay;
What you do not know about Conservatives and Republicans would fill volumes. Probably true for your knowledge of the Christian Right as well.
Consult with your peer, Bob Barr.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
July 16th, 2009
7:50 am
I know Ralph, personally, and he is a fine man. Sure he made a mistake. Was it any worse than having a convicted felon’s wife buy the vacant buildable lot next to your home at FMV and then transfer just enough so the lot becomes unbuildable at a fraction of the true market value, absolutely not. Or was it any worse than having one’s political career launched at the home of an admitted and unrepentant terrorist, absolutely not. Or was it any worse than sitting in a Black Liberation theology church where “GD America” was the mantra, absolutely not. It seemes the liberals can forgive Obumbler his sins (not to mention his staggering ioncompetence), but not Ralph. Well, I forgive Ralph his sins, as I am surce he forgives mine and believe that his has paid the price and repented and, thus, is ready and able to assume his leadership role.
Palin/Jindahl in 2012 – change that will save us.
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
7:50 am
Joey –
“What you do not know about Conservatives and Republicans would fill volumes. Probably true for your knowledge of the Christian Right as well.”
so, enlighten us. don’t just cast aspersions – prove your point.
Normal
July 16th, 2009
7:50 am
USinUk, You asked what happened to their house and I submit the usual…greed, arrogance, the “I’m untouchable” syndrone. The very same things that will happen to the Democrats if they are not very careful. You can already see it start to manifest in Ms. Nancy…just supposin’
Trust me
July 16th, 2009
7:56 am
Ralph awaits proof of your belief in him, Wyld Byll. Small denominations, debit cards, platinum or better credit cards, cashier’s checks. Whatever floats your boat.
Doggone/GA
July 16th, 2009
7:57 am
“Was it any worse than having a convicted felon’s wife buy the vacant buildable lot next to your home at FMV and then transfer just enough so the lot becomes unbuildable at a fraction of the true market value, absolutely not”
Never let a good lie die. I’m not a bit surprised that you would defend Ralphie boy.
ByteMe
July 16th, 2009
7:58 am
USinUK: the farm team they built in the ’90’s came to fruition in the early 2000’s. And then the voting public got to see how “talented” (read: not!) that team really was, and voted them out. The problem wasn’t the team so much as the failed ideology.
Meanwhile, Howard Dean had the same idea in 2004 and made it happen for the Democrats, who have a differing ideology that people are more excited about now.
kitty
July 16th, 2009
8:01 am
If the religious right allow Reed to get back into the game again, the religious right are bigger fools than I thought. Forgiveness does not mean you have to trust a hypocrite like Reed who used the religious right “whackos” as it was put to accomplish their hypocrisy. I doubt the leopard changes his spots. It isnt’ like he has spent his recent time off working to help the poor has he? Just finding another racket to fleece the faithful.
USinUK
July 16th, 2009
8:02 am
Normal and ByteMe –
“You asked what happened to their house and I submit the usual…greed, arrogance, the “I’m untouchable” syndrone” and “The problem wasn’t the team so much as the failed ideology.”
I agree with both – and I wonder if it was exacerbated by the change to Karl Rove leading the team. He has never impressed me as a long-range planner but one who looks at the here and now.
And, Normal, I agree with you – the Dems will eventually blow themselves up (let’s face it, they created the circular firing squad, so it is only a matter of time). I think Pelosi and Reid are HORRIBLE leaders. what they lack in spine they more than make up for in ego.
kitty
July 16th, 2009
8:03 am
Poor wyld bill…apparently you are one of those “whackos” huh? Hope you enjoy getting fleeced again…because you will.
Mrs. Godzilla
July 16th, 2009
8:03 am
I scrape better than Ralph Reed off my shoes regularly.
But there are still folks who will fall for that same old……
Normal
July 16th, 2009
8:04 am
This is off subject but maybe someone will take the time to explain it to me. My Happy Meal seems to be short a few fries on this.
The Defense Bill. President Obama said he would veto the the Bill if funding for the F-22 was included. The Hate Crime Bill. I think this is a wonderful piece of legislation, but why attach it to the Defense Bill? Is it because the Democrats who still want the F-22 put the Hate Bill in to prevent the Presidents veto? I really don’t understand the inner workings of Congress and I REALLY don’t understand their definition of “comprimise”. Someone help me out, please.
FinnMcCool
July 16th, 2009
8:05 am
Wyld Byll, remember, you can say all the purty things you want to about Ralph, but money talks, my friend, and that smoke up Ralph’s legs walks.
Jay gives the name of the new Coalition so it should not be hard to find his web site.
Send your money now!
FinnMcCool
July 16th, 2009
8:06 am
Nice health care graphic!
Here’s a link to a Washington Post diagram that shows what health care changes will mean to you
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/package/health-care-reform09/what-it-means-for-you/health-care-reform-2009.html
Mrs. Godzilla
July 16th, 2009
8:08 am
Hate crimes bill was blocked at every turn by the GOP, so the Dems added it to the defense spending bill assuming that would pass without a problem. Then up pops the F22…..
Joe Matarotz
July 16th, 2009
8:09 am
I have met Ralph Reed. He’s so slimy, I’m surprised he hasn’t converted to the Democraps. I wish he would, though.
Joey
July 16th, 2009
8:12 am
USinUK:
I made a comment about one person, Jay. Not your “us”. If you identify yourself there, that is on you.
Recall our exchange a few days ago where I suggested that you make a better effort to read and comprehend.
But I will add to my comment.
What ever happened to Mark Taylor, Cathy Cox or Jim Martin. I know where Pierre Howard is, but his name could justifiably be added to the list of missing Democrat candidates of Lt. Governor and Governor.
Brad Steel
July 16th, 2009
8:15 am
he looks a lot different than he did when he was on the Brady Bunch
Normal
July 16th, 2009
8:16 am
So, Mrs. G, If the F-22 stays in, do you think he will veto it?
DB, Gwinnettian
July 16th, 2009
8:17 am
I know Ralph, personally, and he is a fine man.
Yet another nail in the the creep’s coffin. Thanks, Wyld!
Doggone/GA
July 16th, 2009
8:17 am
“He’s so slimy, I’m surprised he hasn’t converted to the Democraps. I wish he would, though”
He’s all yours, bud. Be proud of him…he’s the “new” face of the “reconned”
Bosch
July 16th, 2009
8:17 am
FinnMcCool,
I was watching Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares last night and they were helping a restaurant called “Finn McCool’s” – what’s the deal with your name? Just curious.
As I said a couple days ago [and again in Kamchak style]
(choke) Ralph Reed (choke)
What a joke. Hey I made a rhyme.
And as I said a couple days ago, Reed doesn’t seem to know that he is one of the main reasons the GOP is dead right now. His branding of the GOP as somehow “Men and Women of God” and his pull to votes by the Christian Coalitionists is why the GOP has spiraled downward. People are tired to being told how to live by these freaks, and their attempts at making their religion the law of the land.
The GOP is reviving Newt (choke) and Reed, and yes, even Palin I guess, shows how they are not connected with reality or the American peeps.
FinnMcCool
July 16th, 2009
8:19 am
I think Finn McCool is an Irish legend about a giant. Haven’t really looked into it – I just like the name.
Gandalf, the White! (!)
July 16th, 2009
8:19 am
Hate Crime laws are silly! A crime is a crime. If you beat someone up for thier sexual orientation, is that worst than because your just a bully? Not really. Enforce the laws we have. Oh, and send ALL illegals home, including Barry Obama, who may not be a citizen at all.
DB, Gwinnettian
July 16th, 2009
8:19 am
there’s an R after his name
Eh, our Whiner finds it easy enough to disown some Rs if they’re disloyal to (say) Bible Spice. Kathleen Parker and Peggy Noonan come to mind.
But a guy who helped the Mob cheat Indian tribes? He’s a-ok in Whiner’s book.
Mrs. Godzilla
July 16th, 2009
8:21 am
Yes, I think Obama will veto the bill if the F22 remains in the bill.
George American
July 16th, 2009
8:21 am
“Let he without sin cast the 1st stone.” – God
Christians will forgive Mr. Reed who was seduced away from the righteous path by Abramoff, which doesn’t sound like a very Christian name. Christians should not get involved with his type or similar con-men like Madoff, who also was not a Christian.
Christians will forgive and come to Reed’s movement for morals, freedom, and liberty. Mr. Reed will be a big help in fighting the GODLESS RADICALS that have stolen the power from the righteous.
DB, Gwinnettian
July 16th, 2009
8:22 am
I’m surprised he hasn’t converted to the Democraps. I wish he would, though.
Joe, I’m with you there. I’d love for him to show up at a local meeting. I’d really enjoy explaining things to him.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
July 16th, 2009
8:22 am
This guy is a mobbed-up sack of crap. Why can’t you disown him?
Let he who is with out sin cast the first stone.
If only this blog topic were about corruption then perhaps I would address the corruption issue, but it has nothing to do with corruption because if it did, then we could very easily put Jack “Filthy Mouth” Murtha, Chris Dodd and a whole other slew of democrats in the docket sitting right beside Reed.
“The wackos get their information [from] the Christian right, Christian radio, e-mail, the Internet and telephone trees,” all tools that Reed excelled at deploying.
This is all about hating on the faithful, nothing more, nothing less.
For some, there is no acceptance, there is no tolerance, there is only bigotry.
I rule.