"House debate on a bill to protect the Pledge of Allegiance from legal challenges because of the 'under God' phrase erupted in heated rhetoric Wednesday with lawmakers from both parties using religious references to support their side.
"'This is a joke,' said Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., 'that this majority would talk about God and yet not even work to raise the wages of the very people that are taking care of the children of God.
'The bill's sponsor, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said America was a nation of God-given inalienable rights and that's why the country is in a war against 'radical Islamists.' Democrats wouldn't want to 'cut and run' in Iraq, he said, 'if they understood the importance of those basic principles and that inalienable rights are impossible without a recognition of God and that's why the pledge bill is important and not irrelevant or trivial.'"
I am so tired of this crap. Clearly, conservatives missed the entire idol worship part of the OT, but hey, if you want to say the Pledge, knock yourself out. I beginning to think that we should change courses and start adding to the Pledge AND suggesting it be protected by a constitutional amendment. You know, not only should it say, "Under God" but also should add something about the non-believers lacking rights under the law.
I especially like how the Missouri Repub connected the Pledge to a strained defense of the war in Iraq. What a dweeb.
And of course, I object to infusing our political system with religious rhetoric. Nothing wrong with faith, but why are we passing laws based on some particular fundamentalist view of the bible? Witness this dialogue in the house about the failed gay marriage ban the other day:
"'It's part of God's plan for the future of mankind,' explained Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.).
Rep. Bob Beauprez (R- Colo.) also found 'the very hand of God' at work. 'We best not be messing with His plan.'
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) agreed that 'it wasn't our idea, it was God's.
''I think God has spoken very clearly on this issue,' said Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), a mustachioed gynecologist who served as one of the floor leaders yesterday. When somebody quarreled with this notion, Gingrey replied: 'I refer the gentleman to the Holy Scriptures.'"
Sigh.
3 comments:
"Best not be messin'" I think is the second clause of the 11th Commandment, otherwise known as the "Establishment Clause-my ass!" Clause.
Streak, did you actually call that guy a dweeb?? I haven't heard that word since high school! :)
Seriously, I couldn't agree more with Rep. Kennedy (assuming he was sober at the time :) ). This bill is pandering at its worst, and a complete waste of our government's time. Spend time debating the real issues like defending the poor and elderly and not fleecing the poor and middle class at the benefit of the rich.
And reading the Washington Post exercise really got my blood boiling. Rep. Moran said it best: "We have a conflagration in the Middle East, we have raised the debt ceiling four times to $9 trillion, and this is how the Republican congressional leadership chooses to spend its time?" Especially considering the cynical comments made by many of the Republicans voting for the bill, this amounts to nothing more that posturing to a miniscule part of their voting base. As far as I can tell, Repubs are screwed in November. I would be very surprised if Dems didn't take over at least one house of Congress, and Texas had an independent governor for the first time since Sam Houston. People are fed up with politics as usual. We need a thrid party or more independents running for office.
It never ceases to amaze me how much people know about "God". Seriously, does nobody have any respect for genre or textual and historical criticism anymore.
I heard somone on "The Daily Show" the other night say that our politicians are rich people with lots of time on their hands. All of the smart people are too busy to get involved in this shit storm.
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