“American Taliban”: Markos Moulitsas joins Courage Campaign Conversation conference call on Thursday night

By Eden James

I don’t usually post Courage Campaign emails in full, but I’m running out the door and wanted you all to see this, in case you’re interested in joining us on the call, with Rick Jacobs moderating.

The subject of this new book by Markos Moulitsas dovetails directly with the mission of this web site — to cover the Prop 8 trial as it develops and hold the right-wing accountable across the spectrum of the LGBT rights movement.

If you can join us on Thursday night, we’d love to have you:

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With the religious right continuing to use marriage equality as a wedge issue as the November election looms, we thought it would be a good time for a “Courage Campaign Conversation” with Markos Moulitsas, founder of Daily Kos, one of America’s largest online political communities. Markos has a written a new book called “American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right” and we’ve invited him to talk about it with you on a nationwide conference call this Thursday, Sept. 16, at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. Please read his message below and then RSVP for the call ASAP: http://www.couragecampaign.org/MarkosCall Rick Jacobs Chair, Courage Campaign

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Dear Friend–

Right-wingers say a lot of ridiculous things. But few were more ridiculous than the repeated claims that progressives were in league with Islamic terrorists.

Why would progressives make common cause with terrorists? After all, the values and tactics that make Jihadists so despicable are the same values and tactics embraced by our own homegrown fundamentalists — the American Taliban.

That’s why I wrote the book “American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right.” In the book, I show how the modern conservative movement has taken on the  same attitudes and tactics of the Taliban, from their fetishization of violence and guns to their elevation of brute masculinity, love of theocracy, hatred of women and gays, fear of scientific progress and education, and disdain for popular culture.

Think about it. Both movements are dedicated to the unbridled pursuit of power at all costs, have little tolerance for the trappings of democracy, and quickly resort to violence when challenged… hardly the principles for which America stands.

I want to talk with you about “American Taliban” and American politics on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST.  Space is limited for this special “Courage Campaign Conversation,” so please click here to RSVP now. If you contribute $50 or more to the Courage Campaign, I’ll sign my book and send it to you (but you don’t need to buy a book to RSVP for the call):

http://www.couragecampaign.org/MarkosCall

When I typed my first words on Daily Kos in 2002, Democrats were cowering to the bullying of the Bush Administration, instead of standing strong against the opposition. We’ve made some progress since then. But we’ve still got a lot of work to do.

That’s why I wrote “American Taliban” — to establish what we’re up against and what it will take to fight it this November and in the coming years. I’ve got to say, I think this is my best book yet.

I’m looking foward to talking with you on Thursday — but space is limited on the call, so please hurry before lines run out. Just click here to RSVP for this “Courage Campaign Conversation” this Thursday (and consider making an optional $50 contribution to receive a signed copy of my book):

http://www.couragecampaign.org/MarkosCall

This should be a very open discussion. If you know any friends who would like to join us, please forward this message to them.

Thank you for all you do to make this a better country.

Markos Moulitsas
Founder, Daily Kos