Nebraska Mayor Violating First Amendment Tells Atheist ‘Take Me to F*cking Court – I Don’t Care’

[TexasTowelie]

When it comes to religion and government in this country, it should be pretty simple – don’t mix the two. The separation of church and state shouldn’t be a complicated issue. Yet we still continually see politicians, especially conservative ones, try to mix religion in with government policies or events.

And by doing so they’re in direct violation of the First Amendment.

Well, in Nebraska, an individual from the group Omaha Atheists expressed concerns over a Memorial Day event titled “Faith and Family” that was sponsored by the city of La Vista.

Group member and La Vista resident Robert Fuller approached La Vista Mayor Douglas Kindig with his business card requesting to discuss his concerns about the event. Sadly, Kindig apparently wasn’t at all interested in anything Mr. Fuller had to say.

According to Fuller, Mayor Kindig allegedly told him, “Take me to f*cking court because I don’t care.” Aren’t those some fantastic “Christian values” being put on display from La Vista’s mayor?

- See more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/ne-mayor-violating-first-amendment-tells-atheist-take-fcking-court-dont-care/#sthash.LFUKu33r.dpuf

[leftyohiolib]

1. hopefully someone will take him up on his offer

[shenmue]

2. What a swell guy.

[FBaggins]

3. The problem with that is that it doesn't appear to be true.

The event appears doesn't appear to have been sponsored by the city of La Vista.

It's perfectly appropriate for a public figure to attend whatever events (s)he likes... and for a local government to promote community events on their website.

You don't have to think that the recent SCOTUS ruling (on prayer at government meetings) was correct in order to think that the OP's understanding of 1A is overly expansive.

[toddwv]

4. As per the article,

the event was sponsored by the city of La Vista, the religious service was sponsored by the churches of La Vista.


Sounds like some shady distinctions being used.

[FBaggins]

5. I don't see that distinction made in the article

It says that the "Faith and Family" event was sponsored by the city... but the event was actually called "Faith and Freedom" and explicitly listed other sponsors.

[toddwv]

8. Sorry, I tend to follow the link back articles and read them.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/26/ne-mayor-challenges-atheists-over-faith-based-event-take-me-to-f-cking-court-i-dont-care/

The distinction is made there.

[kelliekat44]

6. These RW bigots don't give a damn about the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.

They believe it only works for them and has no power or relevance outside of their own personal circle of fellow idiots.

[obxhead]

12. They read the Constitution much like the Bible.

The only parts they care about are the areas that apply to their personal mindset. The rest is to be ignored completely.

[Indydem]

7. So what law establishing a religion was made here?

Perhaps one was made prohibiting the free exercise thereof?

[Jim Lane]

9. On the facts in the linked article, there was an Establishment Clause violation.

Some replies have questioned the accuracy of the linked article. Assuming for the sake of the argument that it's correct as to what happened, then the First Amendment was violated.

The Establishment Clause means that government may not favor one religion over another, may not favor religion over nonreligion, and may not favor nonreligion over religion. A municipal "Faith and Family" event, even if it didn't relate to any one specific denomination, would be aiding all religions and would therefore be a violation.

[Bigmack]

10. Wait until the town has to pick up the legal costs. nt

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. What I wish...

is that in cases like this, the court could award punitive damages, so that the next asshat mayor or city council is looking at a seven-figure fine for wasting the court's time on a patently unwinnable case.

[blkmusclmachine]

11. ,

,