Romney: Atheists are unconstitutional

[lwcon]

Sez Willard Mitt (emphasis added):

"I'm paraphrasing something that's been said both by John Adams and George Washington," he said. "Which is that, in their view, for a nation like ours to be great and to thrive... that our Constitution was written for a people of faith and religion. It's a very extraordinary element and foundation for our nation. I believe that's the case."

Unsatisfied, another reporter pounced. "Do you think an atheist or non-believer or non-spiritual person can't therefore be a free person?" he asked.

"Of course not," Romney responded. "That's not what I said."

"But you said 'freedom requires religion'?"

"I'm talking about the nation," Romney snapped. Next question.

The next question should be "did the rest of the nation snap, too?"

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[acmavm]

1. Where did the republicans come up with this bunch of nut cases and

horn toads?

[Deja Q]

2. Some would claim offshoring too. Doesn't democracy allow people to think what they want?

(I am not an atheist; that's their problem, but I don't agree with Romney's statement.)

Besides, I thought freedom required money?

[Union Thug]

7. Aha... That's the point! Economics, religion and "freedom"

Republicans (and others), like to equate religion and freedom. But the fact is, there can be no freedom unless economic justice is identified as one of the primary pillars supporting it. Without that, there is little chance of being able to appreciate (or take advantage of) other freedoms that we ostensibly enjoy. Frankly, who gives a damn about freedom of religious affiliation if you have to work three jobs to pay the mortgage and feed the family?

As an atheist, I was offended (and amused) by Romney's ridiculous comments on freedom requiring religion. As an American, I find it insidious and underhanded that he continues to market the cynical "What the Matter with Kansas" political strategy aimed at exploiting the spiritual sentiments of the poor and working class to sucker them into voting against their own best interests.

[Deja Q]

25. .

:yourock:

(I also want to apologize for my "problem" gag; prejudicial on my part and I've got my own work on improving that to do.)

[TheCentepedeShoes]

30. Very well put, UT

I want to add to it, but everything I type comes out somewhat lame.
Just very well put.

[melody]

3. Willard's a moron and he's misquoting Adams and Washington

He's using quotes out of context that contradict their genuine perspectives on things.

[pop goes the weasel]

4. um, don't you mean Romney? nt

[spooky3]

6. "Willard" is Romney's first name.

[pop goes the weasel]

10. ah, thanks

Just like the rat...how appropriate.

[lwcon]

11. Actually Willard is the owner.

Ben and Socrates (and a cast of thousands) are the rats.

Still creepy, though.
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[pop goes the weasel]

36. oh yeah...

Man, it's been a long time for me to not remember that. Still, yeah...Willard and his rats. Now, there's a meme for you.

[goddess40]

8. Willard is Romney's first name, Mitt is from his middle name nt

[Union Thug]

12. Willard is a Rat:

Fitting:

[lwcon]

13. Please see...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3808688&mesg_id=3808816

[Union Thug]

14. Rat Master...Even more appropriate! And accurate! :-)

[lwcon]

16. After all, the Repubs believe in an "ownership society" n/t

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[guruoo]

27. Wonder what ever happened to that 'ownership society"

They dropped that one like a hot spud, didn't they?

[liberalmuse]

5. This is why religious people give me the creeps.

Romney's speech was chilling. I'm insulted that anyone would dare compare it to Kennedy's. You couldn't get two more opposite points of view. The message I got from Romney's speech is that if you are not a Christian, you are not welcome in his America and The Constitution was not meant for you. I'm more free than he is. I'm not under the spell of some religion that dictates to me what I read, eat, wear or fuck. It was insulting to anyone who's studied civics and knows what this nation's founding fathers meant when they wrote The Constitution. I'm sick to death of narrow-minded, shallow, soulless, mean-spirited religious assholes.

[lwcon]

9. Amen, bro!

My blogmate did a nice write-up about the speech:

http://www.correntewire.com/i_remember_john_kennedy_i_campaigned_for_john_kennedy_and_mitt_is_no_john_kennedy

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[pleah]

31. Well said.

I agree.

[bunnies]

15. Romney can...

kiss my atheist ass. screw him.

[niyad]

17. practicing witch here--wonder when the inquisition starts?

[lwcon]

18. Witches are people of faith, right?

I think you're covered. For now...

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[niyad]

19. no, because we are not christians. don't forget, the current squatter in the people's house

specifically excluded wiccans from being able to participate in the "faith-bawed" initiatves hand-out.

[lwcon]

21. "First they came for the Wiccans," eh? n/t

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[Snotcicles]

20. I think his magic underpants are to tight and are cutting off oxygen to his brain. nt

[K8-EEE]

22. "Freedom Requires Religion, said CULT MEMBER!!

What a bizarre statement.

[K8-EEE]

23. John Adams was a Unitarian -- LIBERAL HUMANIST ---

Hello, we've had four Unitarian presidents and nowadays these nutbags would not consider them Xtian enough (they don't believe in the magic aspects of Jesus and are Universalist in their outlook on philosophy and religion.)

Why is he quoting someone who believed rational thought trumps religion/superstition, when he clearly is just the opposite?

[NMMNG]

24. Funny

There's no mention of God, Jesus, Christianity or religion in the Constitution. How, then, can atheists be unconstitutional?

[Bluebear]

26. That's implied. Jesus wrote the Constitution when He inspired the authors.

And everybody knows it, what's wrong with you? :silly:

[NMMNG]

28. It must be the protein deficiency

You know how it is with us vegetarians. :P

[sjdnb]

29. JA: 'US not founded on religion' and much more

From a letter to Charles Cushing (October 19, 1756):
“Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, ‘this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.’”

Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli (June 7, 1797). Article 11 states:
“The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”

Additional quotes from John Adams:
“Where do we find a precept in the Bible for Creeds, Confessions, Doctrines and Oaths, and whole carloads of trumpery that we find religion encumbered with in these days?”

“The Doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity.”

“...Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.”

Thomas Paine:
“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of….Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and of my own part, I disbelieve them all.”

James Madison:
“Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise….During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.”

Thomas Jefferson:
“The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.”

Sure, many of the founders were religious, but they were wise enough to see the potential danger of religion influencing the government and, specifically, wrote doctrine in such a way as to avoid it happening.

[Skittles]

32. I wish I could have freedom from religion

I absolutely detest religion

[lwcon]

33. But wherever would you get your morals from?

Think about it — how could you be a good person without an invisible guy setting you straight? You couldn't, silly!

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[Skittles]

34. yes

I couldn't, say, donate 25 gallons of blood products or send postcards to the troops every day or adopt a seven year old on the Christmas angel tree without believing in invisible beings - NO INDEED!!! :hi:

[lwcon]

35. Glad you've seen the light

Now, go run along to Hell like a good heathen boy.

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[frogmarch]

37. "I'm talking about the nation," Romney snapped.

Yes, he sure was. He was pushing a "let's jam as much religious dogma into the workings of our nation's government as possible" agenda.

What a poophead.