Though I think Moyers has a chip on his shoulder that he wishes against hope that God would try to knock off -- the God he has long since left behind in a disappointed, angry huff -- I do think that the one truth he presents in the speech is that there are a significant number of those who would consider themselves part of the vague, unorganized "Christian right" who have terribly confused theology with patriotism, civil activism for sanctification, America for Israel.

But he overstates the "religious right's" influence by combining the "christian right's" intent with the government's exploitation of same. Their is little doubt that there are those in the government who empower themselves by exploiting the wishes of the religious right. There's a huge and meaningful gap between what the politicians promise and what they intend to, or even can, deliver.

And he overstates the "religious right's" infuence by careful inclusion of those who do not believe as he says (like me) in the numbers of the hoard, the seeds of paranoia about whom he is enriching and empowering himself. He is a demagogue and, as such, has a huge following of undiscerning (who are very quick to accept his definitions and characterizations of Christinanity without question) who relish his characterization of a Christianity that they would like nothing more than to hate. He feeds 'em the red meat of hatred that he knows they want (and will enrich and empower him). He then steps back and acts "above it all".

Moyers is a schnook.