prepare to Puke (poor Keith Ellison)

[brettdale]

America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on
By Dennis Prager
Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.

Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.

Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would they allow him to choose ######'s "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is elected to public office?

Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest; since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in. But for all of American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament either. Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of Congress than the Bible. Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard.

So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?

The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these

[Arkana]

1. This response just in from Keith Ellison!

"Dennis Prager can cram it in his overtight rectum. If I want to be sworn in on the Koran, I'm perfectly within my rights to do so."

[brettdale]

2. This item was posted on a country music forum

Where someone replyed.

"This country is sinking farther and farther into destruction."

[Fenris]

3. "So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to...choose his own most revered book for his oath?'

Just because something hasn't been done before doesn't mean it shouldn't be. How absurd it would be for Ellison to swear an oath of allegiance to a book he doesn't regard as that which guides his life? Since the idea of swearing on a Bible is meant to reassure the public of a political leader's commitment to uphold certain standards (which in itself is farcical), wouldn't the implication be that Ellison would have free-reign to enact immoral legislation because it isn't his book upon which he is swearing his oath? And do I need to even mention the Biblical view on swearing oaths?

Did Dennis Praeger drink the contents of his thermometer as a child? What an illogical, stupid editorial.

[jgraz]

4. OMFG -- he did NOT just compare the Koran to Mein Kampf!

Un fucking believable. Can we please send this guy somewhere where no one will hear from him ever again? He clearly has surrendered his right to live in polite society.

[calmblueocean]

5. Pathetic and stupid.

The whole point of swearing on a Bible is to display to the public that the oath-taker takes the process seriously. It would be just as pointless to have Ellison swear on a Bible he doesn't believe in as it would be to swear him in with a copy of Hop On Pop.

What is it with these right wingers and their man-on-dog liberals-sworn-in-on-NY-Times-editorials civilization collapsing fantasies?

[LSK]

6. "By Dennis Prager" - need I say anymore?

[TahitiNut]

7. "... because the act undermines American civilization"??

Where? :think:

If "American civilization" is that fragile, it doesn't deserve to exist.

[TheWraith]

8. What a retarded moron of the highest caliber.

Perhaps he should brush up on the Constitution. Inductees into office aren't obligated to swear on the Bible, or anything else--all they have to do is take the oath. Putting your hand on something is entirely optional, a tradition and/or personal gesture of your own. Bibles are most often used simply because the largest chunk of office-holders are some flavor of Christians. Perhaps it would blow his mind to know that Theodore Roosevelt wasn't sworn into office as President on a Bible: he just raised his hand and got on with business. Furthermore, the founders worded the oaths of office specifically to avoid any implication of who or what was being sworn to, so as not to limit office-holders to one particular god or religion, just as they established the first amendment to prevent religion in government.

More to the point: the Constitution explicitly forbids any kind of religious test as qualification for public office or public trust. That's article 6 if this moron cares to check out the one truly irrelplacable document of our nation. As far as government is concerned, the Bible is irrelevant.

[Initech]

9. Who the fuck cares what Dennis Prager thinks?

[spag68]

12. This is my opinion also

However, if there were no pragers or limballs or orielys, what would we have to laugh at?

[Initech]

13. Good point!

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. And isn't it fun to laugh at their stupidity?

[dicknbush]

10. Another excellent reason to keep Religion out of government...

Swear on the constitution and nothing else....No Bible, No Koran, No B aghavada Gita, No wiccan, No nothing....Swear on the grave of your grandmother if you feel you need some affirmation of your faith in yourself to serve honestly but keep God out of it. And if you feel some ned to swear on a book of religion do it in your office in front of your staff and leave well enough alone!

[jelly]

25. well put. nt

[Quixote1818]

11. Didn't Thomas Jefferson or (one of the founders) refuse to put his hand on the Bible?

When taking the oath of office? Seems I read that some place.

[Reverend_Smitty]

14. If I were elected, you know what I would choose to take my oath on?

The US Constitution. I'm not a religious woman so why fake it...besides when it comes to governing this country that's the only "book" that should be placed above all others.

[alittlelark]

15. No profile - inflammatory

funny how that happens.

[Berry Cool]

16. Praeger's an idiot, and I bet he makes Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World for this.

Actually, it reminds me of a conversation I overheard in my college dorm once.

"It's all true. Honest. I swear on a stack of Bibles."

"But you're Jewish."

"Well, OK then, I swear on a stack of Old Testaments."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. I've heard Jewish people use the term "Bible" to mean the Old Testament

After all, Bible is nothing more than Latin for "book."

[Kellyiswise]

27. Wasn't a government official in HI sworn in on the Torah? No comment from Prager.

[monkeysuncle]

18. prepare to Puke

I cannot believe that anyone coule be so incredibly stupid as to believe this nonsense, much lest post it. Mr. Prager must have intended it as satire.

NO OATH OF OFFICE requires the use of a bible. No oath of office requires the phrase "so help me god."

"no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." U.S. Constitution, Article VI

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. The bible is used for a photo op!!

Dumb ass freepers have their panties all twisted over a photo op!!

From the Yahoo article:

Moe, speaking in a telephone interview, noted that the tradition is for all members of Congress to be sworn in together on the House floor. It's in the photo-op ceremony that a Bible is used — or in Ellison's case, the Quran.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061202/ap_on_go_co/ellison_quran

What a bunch of nitwits. :rofl: :rofl:

[Quixote1818]

21. I like this response!

"I think the criticism is being flamed by the politics of division that were rejected in the '06 election cycle," said Moe, who worked for 10 years for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I would have to agree with that statement

I also think we are dealing with a bunch of morans here. I'm series!! They think this is hugh!11!!

:rofl:

[kevinbgoode]

23. I don't think Prager wants AMERICA to vote on the matter

because he'd end up with egg on his face. I don't think most people are taking too kindly to the constant American Taliban wingnut whining all over the "mainstream" media. Most people I meet are sick and tired of hearing them, and are one step away from screaming "STFU!"

[Unrepentant Fenian]

24. Stole this from a gun forum

I posted this on a firearms web site. Yes, I'm a Gun Owning Democrat. It really pisses the rednecks off when I refer to my self as a G.O.D. Hope you like this tongue in cheek reply....
I'm going to assume , for a moment, that most of you on this forum are WASP's. I say "you" and not "us", because I was born Irish Catholic. We Irish have no choice in the matter, we're born Catholic. Much like the Italians & the Spanish are also born Catholic. So it probably won't start an argument when I say that the King James bible is the real bible. That's the bible that most American's recognize & quote ad nauseam. Just ask anyone whose stolen a Motel 6 bible. It was no doubt a King James! As final proof of this, my wife and I recently found ourselves in a high end hotel room in Salt Lake City Utah, the "Vatican" of Mormonism. What do you think I found in the night stand drawer ? You guessed it, a King James Gideon's bible!!! Not the Book of Mormon, but a King James bible!
So that's why it's so important that we only elect Protestants to public office. Imagine the pandemonium if we elected an Irish Catholic President. He/she would probably insist on being sworn in using a Douay bible. I guess we could let that go in the interest of forced diversity. Now imagine if Joe Lieberman were elected to the highest office. I have it on good authority that Joe is a Jew. Those people use a thing called the Torah.It looks similar to two rolled up newspapers, and it doesn't even mention the real god. Not a word! But why should it? Those people (for some reason that evades me) don't believe that Jesus Christ is their personal savior. But if a Jew were somehow elected, we could probably get by using a King James bible with the New Testament ripped out. So it only follows that we should also rule out Mormons,Muslims, Quakers, Shakers, and Atheists.
As for myself, if I were elected President, I would handle it differently. I do believe in God, but I don't believe in religion. So what I will do when I take the oath is, I'll raise my right hand to God and have my left hand in my pocket (I'm sure my fellow Americans will be pleased to see a politician with his hand in his own pocket for a change). As for my right hand, no one will know for sure what god it is that I'm raising my hand to, or what finger is being pointed at which god

[stonecoldsober]

26. I would love all racists to take their oath on Mein Kampf

Prager's mom should have been more careful... or did the condom break?

[Quixote1818]

28. Prager is clearly prejudice against muslims. He is a bigot and should

be called on it in a big way.

[Quixote1818]

29. Gov. Linda Lingle (R-HI) takes the oath of office upon a Jewish Torah

Prager ignores when others have not used the Bible. Especially Republicans:



Gov. Linda Lingle (R-HI) takes the oath of office upon a Jewish Torah on December 2, 2002, at the Hawaii State Capitol rotunda by Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Moon.