Bono in a sports jersey: More powerful than the modern religious right?

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08/08/2011

by Jeremy Hooper

Some interesting perspective from conservative writer, researcher, and professor Warren Throckmorton, who compared this weekend's much-ballyhooed "The Response" rally to other, more well-attended events held in the same location:

I did take a quick look for events that have sold out Reliant Stadium as points of reference and found that the following filled up the place:

U2

The semi-finals of the CONCACAF (soccer) Gold Cup

2010 ML Baseball All-Star Game

Selena

2011 NCAA Final Four

The Houston Texans every week

One could see in this comparison a decline in religion, and perhaps there would be some truth in that. However, I wonder if the histrionics of the AFA and their new apostolic partners are wearing thin.
Who drew more people than The Response? [Throckmorton]

Some tallies put the attendance for the American Family Association/Gov. Rick Perry joint production at a high of around 30,000, which is less than half of Reliant Stadium's 71,000 capacity. Certainly not a sneezable number, if the 30k high is to be believed. But considering the amount of press, the size of the state, the fervor of social conservatives in this Obama era, and the religious makeup of the surrounding areas, it does seem a little odd that they were unable to turn out a capacity crowd.

Was it the AFA's ever-coarsening rhetoric that turned folks away? Is the aforementioned fervor trumped up beyond what it truly is? Or is it just that sporting events truly are the insurmountable godly idols that beer commercials, fantasy leagues, and Super Bowl Sunday's multi-hour coverage would lead one to believe?