Do You Feel That Sinking Feeling?

The once mighty Christian coalition, the Christian power brokers of the 90's lead by Ralph Reed and Pat Roberston is treading water these days . Treading water in the coastal areas off Chairman Roberta Combs' patio in South Carolina. Gone are the days of spacious K street offices, gone are the days of Ralph Reed raising millions and gone are the days of affiliation with the organizations in Ohio, Iowa and Alabama. Operating from South Carolina, with a reported $1 million debt, the once mighty giant is being taken a part piece by piece.

Three state affiliates, the most vocal and the largest, have given the national leadership their notice of separation in the past few months, with the most recent coming just this week. Complaining of lack of leadership and lack of focus on core issues, one Iowa leader who led the breakaway said that, "The sooner the organization goes away, the better, they're a total disgrace." Iowa and Ohio and had previously departed and just this week, Alabama bid farewell with their leader Jim Giles saying, "it's a very liberating day, (they) are not even a blip on the radar screen."

There are a host of swirling rumors regarding the fallen giant right now. I have been told a new "executive director" is coming on board and many are concerned with his liberal undertones. The organization's financial status is a complete disaster, though that did not stop them from sending a recent mailing for Operation Strike Back. There is the ongoing issue of how to run a political organization without a Washington office, the continuing questions of back door deals made between family and friends and the the absolute lack of attention the group receives on Capitol Hill. In addition, I have been told that other state affiliates are looking to exit within coming months simply having had enough.

That sinking feeling you feel is Coalition going into deeper debt, loosing more affiliates and chasing an odd agenda these days of environment and internet equality. Maybe if they got together with Al Gore, you know, the guy who "invented the internet" they could join causes.