'In the name of Jesus' the religious right have become Trump apologists & bootlickers

It's not a secret that various religious groups and figures are eager for Trump to push their issues (i.e. anti-lgbtq religious liberty, conservative SCOTUS justices), but it's getting embarrassing to watch how some of these supposed purveyors of values stoop to justify Trump's failures and unethical missteps.

First, there is Franklin Graham, who out the following Facebook message encouraging Trump to not reveal his taxes:

Should President Donald J. Trump release his tax returns? A lot of liberals keep demanding it. The President hasn’t asked for my advice, but I would say—No way! Even if these were published, the average American—or the average politician, including Senator Chuck Schumer, for that matter—wouldn’t be able to understand them. President Trump is a billionaire with multiple businesses in multiple states, using our very complicated and corrupt tax code that Congress is responsible for writing—that should be scrapped. It would just be another huge distraction, and a media frenzy, which is exactly what his enemies want. We don’t need distractions. We need to let President Trump focus on what America elected him to do. We need to get on with the business of solving the problems facing our nation—Forget the tax returns! We need a simple tax code that all Americans can understand

In spite of Graham's claims of the contrary, it's more than just "liberals" who want  Trump to release his taxes. According to an April 10 edition of  Money magazine:

A  new Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll found 53% of voters say Trump should be forced to release his tax returns, and 51% say Trump’s taxes are either very or somewhat important to them. Additionally, 45% say Trump’s taxes are relevant to his job in the White House.

In addition, according to poll conducted by Global Strategy Group, 64 percent of Republicans also want Trump to release his taxes.


What Graham probably meant to say is "Don't release your taxes. There could be something there which could jeopardize you being able to pick conservative SCOTUS justices. If that happens, us "Christian" people won't be able to remake America in the image that we want it."

But Graham's  public advice to Trump to continue to hide his tax returns is nothing compared to the anti-lgbt hate group Family Research Council's attempt to throw a positive light on Trump's first 100 days as president:

The Left may not like the job President Trump is doing, but the people who hired him for it are sure happy! Despite all the hype about Trump's unpopularity, even the latest Washington Post/ABC poll shows what a convenient soundbite that is. The reality is, the White House's new occupant couldn't be more popular with the people who voted for him -- sporting a 94 percent approval rating heading into his first big milestone: 100 days in office. 

To his base, President Trump hasn't just met expectations -- he's exceeded them. Pro-lifers, in particular, have a lot to cheer after two terms of the most ruthless abortion ally in history. From reinstating the ban on overseas abortion promotion and funding to giving states the right to sever ties with Planned Parenthood, President Trump is keeping faith with his base -- not just with his commitment to fulfill his promises, but the incredible speed at which he's doing it. Mick Mulvaney, who directs the Office of Management and Budget, pushed back on the Left's criticism. "What I think folks don't realize is that we've signed more legislation into law in the first 100 days than anybody in the last 50 years. We put up more executive orders than any previous administration in the last 50 years." He's inked his name on 28 bills (the most since President Roosevelt), 24 executive orders, 22 presidential memorandums, and 20 proclamations. 

But, as the president himself pointed out on Twitter, "No matter how much I accomplish during the ridiculous standard of the first 100 days, &  it has been a lot (including the Supreme Court), media will kill!" Of course, the best way to judge Trump should be his judge -- Neil Gorsuch, a proud originalist who now sits on America's highest court for life. In that single appointment, President Trump has done more for the country -- and constitutional governance -- than some presidents will do in their entire term.

Again, just like the case of Trump's tax returns, his first 100 days is not a case of  attempted undermining by liberals. While his base  may be happy, one should remember that he was elected to represent more than simply his base. And on that score, Trump is bombing tremendously.

From the same CNN article FRC cited for the 94 percent approval rating of Trump's base:

Trump's critics argue that not only has the President failed to muster a record of significant political achievement in his first 100 days, he has tarnished his office. They say that with his claims that former President Barack Obama tapped his phones and that millions of illegal voters threw the popular vote to Hillary Clinton, he has devalued the currency of truth on which successful presidencies depend. They accuse him of insulting US allies and presiding over a White House characterized by feuds, leaks and indiscipline. "It's not me ... 65% of the American public, maybe 60%, are saying he is doing a bad job, he has got to figure out something for his second 100 days because it hasn't been very good so far," said CNN presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, on "CNN Tonight" Friday.

 . . .Unlike many new presidents, he lacks a large legislative triumph: His predecessor Barack Obama passed a huge stimulus plan and equal pay legislation in his first 100 days. The House backed George W. Bush's tax cut plan, which he eventually signed into law in June. Bill Clinton passed the Family and Medical Leave Act. Roosevelt used a banking crisis to pass the most consequential flurry of bills in decades. Lyndon Johnson picked a mourning nation off its knees after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Trump, by comparison, struggled to implement parts of his own agenda at a moment when a new president is seen as being at the apex of his political power. Mexico is not paying for the wall. His travel ban has twice been blocked by the courts. He has failed to mobilize a Republican monopoly on power in Washington and his big legislative goal -- repealing Obamacare -- crashed. An FBI investigation over alleged links between Trump campaign operatives and Russia is casting a shadow over the White House. He lost his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, over Russia questions less than a month into his term. Unlike Ronald Reagan, for instance, who used his first 100 days to turn around the nation's mood and lay the foundation for a successful presidency, Trump has exacerbated questions about his inexperience and temperament.

I don't know what's sadder - the fact that I am enjoying the view of  Franklin Graham and the rest of these hypocritical fake Christians pathetically reducing themselves to first-rate Trump bootlickers, butt kissers, and apologists, or . . .

Did I say sad?

 I obviously didn't mean it.