Former State Representative and Newspaperman Calls Republican Leadership “The New McCarthyism”
Based on that headline, it is fitting that the Jackson Free Press had Jere Nash write this book review for Scribes Among Pharisees, a new book by Bill Miles, a former newspaper reporter, state legislator, and political consultant.
From Nash:
Perhaps most interesting in Miles’ book are his observations about how the Legislature has changed with the growth of the Republican Party and its collaboration with conservative religious organizations. Miles writes: “The new Republican leadership usually benefited from this tightly knit, well orchestrated grouping. When an issue remotely appeared to have religious significance surfaced, this ‘new McCarthyism’ showed itself. A targeted legislator would be besieged by emails, letters, and phone calls. … This happened on such ridiculous issues as same sex marriage, gay adoptions, and allowing casinos on land. I do not recall any of these ‘evangelicals’ ever calling me to support public education, develop programs for children’s health care or any number of other issues my Bible quotes Christ as advocating for his disciples.”
Conservative Republicans are proposing a 10-point checklist gauging proper adherence to core principles of the party. This approach reminds me of Moody’s Fundamentals of Christianity, which began the fundamentalist movement. For more, I recommend http://euandus3.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/the-fundamentals-of-the-gop/
I am one of the grand-daughters of the outlaw J.W. Riley. He was mentioned in the book by Bill Miles, Scribes Among Pharisees. I would like to know where I can get a copy of this book. I have done several different searches on the internet, but can not find any one that has a copy. I never got to meet my grandfather and I would like to read about what he did to get shot down like he did. Thank you for your time.
Heather Riley Kelly