Triple Threat?

The U.S. Congressman for the district just south of us, Rep. Richard Pombo (R), is being maligned in the local media lately. . . most notably for his record of "voting 100% with the radical religious right" during his time in office so far.

The "radical religious right." Hmmm. What exactly is that, anyway?

Not being exactly sure, I decided to look these terms up.

Radical:
–adjective
1. of or going to the root or origin; fundamental: "a radical difference."
2. thoroughgoing or extreme, esp. as regards change from accepted or traditional forms: a radical change in the policy of a company.
3. favoring drastic political, economic, or social reforms: radical ideas; radical ideologues.

Religious:
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with religion: "a religious holiday. "
2. imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly: a religious man.
3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious: religious care.
4. pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.
5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.

–noun
6. a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun.
7. the religious, devout or religious persons: "Each year, thousands of the religious make pilgrimages to the shrine."

Right:
–noun
1. a just claim or title, whether legal, prescriptive, or moral: "You have a right to say what you please."
2. adherence or obedience to moral and legal principles and authority.
3. that which is morally, legally, or ethically proper: to know right from wrong.
4. a moral, ethical, or legal principle considered as an underlying cause of truth, justice, morality, or ethics.
5. that which is in accord with fact, reason, propriety, the correct way of thinking, etc.
6. the state or quality or an instance of being correct.
7. "the Right", the complex of individuals or organized groups opposing change in a liberal direction and usually advocating maintenance of the established social, political, or economic order, sometimes by authoritarian means.


So back in the 80s, when I was a *very* (ahem) little kid, the word "radical" meant "cool." Now, it's not used the same way, but I can't tell that it means anything negative. And the definitions about favoring drastic change and stuff don't really jive with the definition of "the Right" which supposedly opposes change. But I digress.

Basically, the "radical religious right" is a complex of devout, godly, scrupulous and/or conscientious individuals who favor drastic political or social reforms, just not in a liberal direction.

Doesn't sound so bad to me. Why are we supposed to hate Rep. Pombo again?