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(John Rousselot of the John Birch Society - under every dashboard, at least one Communist)

Forty-Six years ago the John Birch Society was going full steam, bringing the message of impending doom and Communist domination to the bewildered ears of America. Having had first hand knowledge of this group, growing up as a kid, I can tell you without a doubt, this was one angry, hateful, paranoid bunch that was in dread fear of just about everyone and everything on the planet. And of course, did it with almost total authority.

So listening to this interview via ABC Radio's Issues And Answers on September 13, 1964 featuring former Congressman and Spokesman John Rousselot and representing the Religious Right, Rev. Billy James Hargis. I knew I heard these people a lot before:

John Rolfson (ABC News): “The John Birch Society, Mister Welch (Robert Welch) for example, in your magazine has said that now, this year (1964) the United States is 50-70% Communist controlled. Is that reported correctly?

John Rousselot (Public Relations Director: John Birch Society): “Communist influenced and controlled. Yes, this is from our Scoreboard issue which deals with the influence in Education, in Government and so forth, by experts from all over the country that write on this subject. And on the basis of this there is a great deal of Communist influence in our country today. The Communist press itself argues about it and supports that concept that they have that much influence in public affairs. And there’s no doubt about it, the record will show it.”

Rolfson: “Does this apply specifically to the government? Is there a . . .

Rousselot: “No it isn’t just the Government. It’s the influence in education. The influence in some areas of the Communication media. In many other areas, in religion sometimes. And I don’t think there’s any doubt about the effectiveness of the Communist Conspiracy in penetrating . . as J. Edgar Hoover says, it doesn’t take many people. It only takes a few Communist hands to work to get non-Communist hands to do their bidding.”

It's interesting when you realize Rousselot became part of the Reagan Administration that a lot of the dismantling of various programs could be traced to him lurking around somewhere.

Once the dreaded Evil Empire evaporated, so did the John Birch Society - or so it seemed. They're still around. Last seen handing out literature at various Tea-Party rallies. Ironically, being very low-key and non-confrontational. But it's only a matter of time before they roar up again.

It's the leopard and spots syndrome.

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(Billy James Hargis - you would think butter didn't melt - the butter had different ideas)

It's endless - the parade of hypocrites masquerading as "People of God". The Pious, the righteous, the smug - all doling out edicts under the premise of "being chosen" while ingratiating themselves in the acts they so claim to despise.

So another one shows up in the history books - maybe forgotten now, but in the 1960s railed against all the godless fornicators, the infidels, the non-believers. Billy James Hargis, bible thumping anti-communist conservative, built up a sizable congregation of followers, a daily radio show and an empire until it came crashing down, as so many others have done before and since, with widespread allegations of sexual misconduct - in his case, a very public outing via Time Magazine.

But in the late 1960s he was still going full steam, as is evidenced by this interview (supposedly debate but the debater seems hopelessly challenged) where Hargis offers a few bon mots:

Hargis: “Now look at the Jewish people, this is a prime example. I’ve never seen a hungry Jew. I’ve never seen a Jew begging. I’ve never seen a Jew without work. That religion takes care of their people. They don’t ask the state for help, they take care of their own. And we believe that Christianity is nothing more than a continuation of this Jewish concept of . . .with the gospel of Christ relating to salvation being added to that concept.”

Hargis: “I doubt very sincerely that those things (the riots in Detroit and Newark in 1968) were the results of people being mistreated. I think it was results of people maybe being treated too well by the state. They were told they didn’t have to work. They were told they didn’t have to provide for their own. They were told they could get security from the cradle to the grave and these people wanted more and more and more. We’re covetous by nature. We want more and more and more. We see someone with something we don’t have we covet it, we want it. The bible warns against covetesness. Christ told us never to covet somebody else’s. They worked for it, they were entitled to it They had a right to it.”

Hargis: “I’m telling the Negro people to quit whining. I’m telling the poor white people to quit whining. Quit whining about injustices, real or imagined. But get out and better your situation. Stand up on your own two feet. Don’t wait until someone comes along and gives you life on a silver platter.”

The arrogance, as always, is mystifying. That it comes under the guise of compassion is bizarre. That it continues in exactly the same way is astonishing.

Welcome to the Religious Right.