re: #143 Gus 802

30 years would put it exactly when the religious right came to the forefront in the media by way of the televangelists. The year I usually note is 1980. Having “been there” I remember it well when these crackpots made themselves known: Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and others. It was atavistic in nature then as it is now.

I pretty much would associate it with the televangelists, probably, because of my age. I couldn’t even vote then but my first interests in politics would all be around then, and mine were associated with Operation Rescue and reproductive rights.

I think the culture war narrative would naturally have its seeds in the 70’s— ERA was still an issue in the 1980 election, somewhat (at least in so far as the ‘fringe’ candidate Anderson was the only one supporting it still). Plus the backlash against the social progress of the 70’s, naturally.