Tennessee GOP tries to weaponize Democratic candidate's atheism

[hurl]

If Tennessee is like my Bible Belt state, this stuff will play well among the deplorables. The "doing my part" comment was an attempt at humor (a concept alien to fundies) while officiating a same-sex wedding.

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Nashville, TN – Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden released the following statement calling on the Democratic candidates for Governor Karl Dean and Craig Fitzhugh to denounce the extremism of their party.

“Gayle Jordan, darling of the Tennessee Democratic Party and their nominee for State Senate District 14, is what she herself calls a “firebrand atheist.” She isn’t simply non-religious, but actively works to lead people away from their faith. It’s her life’s work as the Executive Director of an organization called Recovering From Religion.

-snip-

“This type of extremism is being celebrated by the Tennessee Democratic Party and it is very concerning. Today I am asking if Democratic candidates for Governor, Karl Dean and Craig Fitzhugh, support Gayle Jordan and a Democratic Party that proudly espouse extreme views; candidates that shamelessly make statements such as “doing my part to destroy the fabric of America.”

“Tennesseans deserve to know if the potential Democratic nominee for Governor supports these radical views and will work to elect anti-Christian extremists to the state legislature. This is not about being a Republican or a Democrat, rather an acknowledgement that her public attacks on Christianity and outward anger towards those that believe in God are a far cry from the views of Tennessean families across this state and in District 14.”

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2018/02/12/tennessee-republican-party-calls-karl-dean-craig-fitzhugh-reject-tennessee-democratic-party-candidates-extreme-anti-christian-platform/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Sure, once that have denounced Trump, Bannon, and Miller for starters.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Fine

Once they denounce the extreme views espoused by their candidates whom seek to re-make the country into a theocracy where one group of one particular religion gets to make laws based on their select interpretation of their holy book. FTR I'm not really into atheism but they're still allowed to have their own views as long as they don't actually try to impose them on other people- like most right-wing Republicans do.

[mreilly]

3. Yeah, screw that guy...

... I'm an atheist and I live by a moral code. I don't cheat, screw people over, steal stuff, sleep around or try to cause misery. Notable Christian idols like Trump do exactly that and they have zero problem with that.

I've been married to my wife for 18 years, have never committed adultery and have always treated her with respect. The problem isn't atheists. The problem is religious hypocrities who condemn others for alleged moral failings but ignore, excuse or "give mulligans" to their own on a constant basis.

[MineralMan]

4. Well, that race is going to test the idea of atheists running for office.

How will that play in Tennessee? I don't know, but it will be interesting to watch this race for State Senate. That the GOP is using a person's religious thinking as a criterion is an interesting twist. As an atheist, I'll be watching closely.

[struggle4progress]

5. Religious Landscape Study: Adults in Tennessee

Evangelical Protestant 52%
Mainline Protestant 13%
Historically Black Protestant 8%
Catholic 6%
Mormon 1%
Orthodox Christian < 1%
Jehovah's Witness 1%
Jewish 1%
Muslim 1%
Buddhist 1%
Hindu < 1%
Other World Religions < 1%
Other Faiths 1%
Unaffiliated (religious "nones" ) 14%
Don't know 1%
http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/tennessee/

There may not be much interesting to watch: the state, with a significant conversative bloc, has leaned R in recent years; and the GOP obviously believes that atheism is a winning issue for them there

[MineralMan]

7. It's probably a long shot, but there's a lot of anti-Trump sentiment

that hasn't been measured yet. Alabama electing a Democratic Senator was pretty amazing, even with a pedophile as the candidate for the GOP. There could be more surprises. If this atheist candidate wins, though, it will be pleasant surprise. A lot will depend on the demographics of that district, I think.

Looking at the map, it's a pretty rural district. That's a negative. However, the seat is vacant, so a great turnout of Democrats might swing it. I'll keep an eye on it, but I don't bother with state legislative campaigns outside of my own state.

[Vinca]

6. We should keep religion and non-religion out of it.