FLASHBACK 1999: Federal Official Sworn In On Koran

[kpete]

FLASHBACK: Federal Official Was Sworn In On Koran Seven Years Ago
By Eric Kleefeld

Here's an interesting sidenote on the whole controversy Dennis Prager and other right-wing pundits have kicked up over Muslim Rep.-Elect Keith Ellison's plans to use a Koran for his symbolic swearing-in: It turns out this won't be the first time a federal official has used a Koran to be sworn into office.

Election Central has just spoken with Dr. Fred Beuttler, Deputy Historian for the House of Representatives, and he told us that M. Osman Siddique, the first Muslim ambassador in U.S. history, was sworn in on a Koran in 1999, when he became U.S. Ambassador to the Fiji Islands.

Dennis Prager insists that "neither I nor tens of millions of other Americans will watch in silence as the Bible is replaced with another religious text for the first time since George Washington brought a Bible to his swearing-in." But as far as the Koran is concerned, at least, Prager's complaint is really seven years too late.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/dec/06/flashback_koran_used_for_swearing_in_ambassador_seven_years_ago

[Bitwit1234]

1. What's with using a Bible

The constitution says that no person should have a test of his religion to be sworn in, or words to that effect. I don't remember them exactly. But there is a picture of Hastert swearing in by placing his hand on the desktop of the podium. WHAT RELIGIOUS BOOK IS THAT.

It is a shame that people who rant and rave the most are the MOST ILL INFORMED.

[tanyev]

2. Kick.

[librechik]

3. Gee--doesn't that undo all the swearings in since 1999?

that is my considered opinion--after all, the Koran makes NIL any influence the Bible may have, and makes all subsequent Federal swearings in illegal, since they dared to use a Koran that one time.

[NYC Liberal]

4. "first time since George Washington" BULLSHIT

Teddy Roosevelt swore on the Constitution.

Calvin Coolidge didn't swear on a Bible at all.

John Q. Adams swore on a stack of law books (including the Constitution).

Rutherford Hayes and Chester Arthur, for their private OFFICIAL swearings-in used no Bible (although they used one in the public ceremonies, but the official one had already taken place).

[hootinholler]

5. Considering they don't use the bible to swear in members...

This won't be the second time either.

-Hoot

[spoony]

6. correct

The Bibles, Korans, or copies of Ivanhoe are personal touches totally at the discretion of the person taking the oath.

[Mich Otter]

7. They put their dirty, thieving hands on a bible...

It ought to piss off true believers when the politicians put their dirty, thieving hands on any bible to take an oath that is clearly a lie passing their lips.
Oh, well, maybe it is best we don't think about the truth and let the delusion of the moment serve it's purpose of fooling the religious believers. They would cry if their image was denied them.