Democracy Now video (11 min 24 sec) of interview with Pulitzer Prize winning author Chris Hedges's new book examines how Christian dominionists are seeking absolute power and a Christian state. According to Hedges, the movement bears a strong resemblance to the young fascist movements in Italy and Germany in the 1920s and '30s. Hedges is the former New York Times Middle East bureau chief and author of "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning." Chris Hedges has spoken at Bataan Hall in Taos.
Amy Goodman: "We're talking with Chris Hedges. He's written a book 'American Fascists'. How does this fit into the race for president in 2008." Chris Hedges: "Certainly this movement has tremendous reach within the Republican party. I mean I think we can argue that it all but controls the Republican party at this point. We see it with John McCain who in 2000 called Falwell and Robertson 'agents of intolerence' and is now sort of falling all over himself to court this movement.
"I think it's a mistake to think that George Bush somehow embodies the movement. I think there's a great of frustration with Bush." Remember on the issue of immigration - and there is a tension an uneasy alliance between these corporate interests and this radical movement. And I think we should also say as Robert Paxton points out in his book, 'Anatomy of Fascism', that fascist movements always build alliances with conservative or industrial interests and often these alliances are not seamless.
"On the issue of immigration, Bush sided with the corporations. who want illegal immigrants for cheap labor. There is a huge 'nativist' element', a huge hostility toward immigrants within the movement and that angered the Christian Right. I think they are going to go searching for another candidate, maybe Brownback, I don't know... It boils down to the fact that they don't think Bush was radical enough and they are going to go searching for a candidate..."
