(Buy your baby) Texas Senator walks out of first Muslim prayer for Texas Senate

[IChing]

The man who has shown his compassion (not to mention his IQ) for women by offering to buy their babies from them for $500, showed his tolerance for religious freedom at the Texas Senate...by walking out on the first Muslim prayer ever held in the Texas Senate.

Yes. That's right. Dan Patrick, the reichtwing radio talk show host whose "baby buying" bill was first reported by TexasKaos' moiv and has since brought widespread condemnation of Patrick, the Texas GOP and (of course) Texas, walked out on the very first Muslim prayer held in the Senate and then had the audacity to call himself tolerant!

"I think that it's important that we are tolerant as a people of all faiths, but that doesn't mean we have to endorse all faiths, and that was my decision," he said later, "I surely believe that everyone should have the right to speak, but I didn't want my attendance on the floor to appear that I was endorsing that."

Patrick was the only Texas Senator to walk out on him.

http://www.texaskaos.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=D68FF37AAB60961882559144D4F7D1A4?diaryId=3031

[ck4829]

1. What a bigot.

But we have to all be exposed to the RW 'christian' way of life, right?

[Squatch]

2. Confused...

"I surely believe that everyone should have the right to speak, but I didn't want my attendance on the floor to appear that I was endorsing that."

Let me get this straight:

"I surely believe in X, but I don't want to endorse X."

What in the fuck does that mean?

[rpannier]

4. I believe in people's right to jump off a bridge into the river, or vote for

scrub.
But, I don't endorse either.

[Squatch]

6. But as he said it

I believe in the right to speak, but I'm not endorsing the right to speak.

Eh...I'm getting wrapped up in the asinine words of a bigot. Just ignore me.

[rpannier]

9. No...no...no

I understood what you meant.

I left off the sarcasm...My apologies.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

11. No, it makes perfect sense - it's exactly Voltaire's sentiment.

"I do not agree with what you're saying, but I support your right to say it".

This man didn't try and prevent the prayer, evne though he personally didn't agree with it. That's perfectly reasonable and acceptable behaviour; neither asinine nor bigotted.

[IChing]

17. But he never walked out of any other

The senate starts its session with a prayer from many denominations and faiths

if you can't see this hypocrisy then so be it.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

20. Supporting some principles and not others is not hypocricy.

Endorsing both Christian prayer and Muslim prayer *is* hypocricy (although, of course, not walking out on a prayer isn't "endorsing" it, in general).

I'm quite happy for both Christians and Muslims to pray (and will defend their right to do so). I won't, however, endorse in any way either lot of prayer, and I don't expect Muslims to endorse Christian prayer or vice versa.

This man didn't try to stop the prayer, he simply walked out, because he disapproved of is. That's in no way hypocritical.

[IChing]

10. I thought this guy should be in "the top ten conservative idiots" this week

the statement is typical doublespeak or doublethink


The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. ...
To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient,
and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed,
to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies—
all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink.
For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases
this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublethink

[rpannier]

3. Bet if a Muslim senator walked out of a Christian prayer

he'd have had a serious hissy-fit.
Calling that person intollerant and un-American.

on a personal note:
I don't have a problem with him refusing to stay for the prayer.
It's his right to sit and listen or not.
But this appears to be a publicity stunt to secure his standing with the American-Taliban fringe of the republikkan party.

[Maestro]

5. I'm disgusted.

When will people learn that not all Americans are Christian. We are a mosaic of different cultures!

[loudsue]

7. Which is PRECISELY why "school prayer" should not be allowed.

Imagine how many Muslim/Hindu/Athiest kids have to sit and listen to a prayer in school, and would like to walk out on THAT. People should not be forced into any specific religion.

I do NOT have a problem with quotes that build character or morals...there have been many great philosophers who have made some good points that could be shared to start off a school day or a meeting, without bringing someones diety of choice in on it.

:kick:

[Ilsa]

8. And maybe some parents don't want their children endorsing

someone else's beliefs by standing quietly through someone else's school prayers.

Patrick's behavior needs to be brought up everytime someone tries to inject and force their religious beliefs into a secular situation.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

12. I would probably have walked out to.

I think that refusing to endorse prayer in government is a sound principle.

He didn't try and prevent the prayer, he just chose not to support it. That's perfectly reasonable behaviour, and in no way intolerant.

[annarbor]

19. I have a feeling..

That if it was the "Lord's Prayer" that was being recited, He would have jumped right with a hearty, "Our father, which art in heaven...". I think what he did was terribly insensitive and intolerant.

Yet another one of Texas' finest...

Ann Arbor

[Donald Ian Rankin]

21. Yes, almost certainly.

Having a religion, and taking part in the prayers of that religion but not endorsing those of others, is not intolerant or insensitive.

If he had tried to stop the Muslims praying, or force them to remain during the Lord's prayer if they chose not to, *that* would have been insensitive and intolerant.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. I guess I'll just start walking out of group gatherings that begin with a prayer. I was taught

to just stand quietly while the 'believers' had their little prayers. Maybe now, I'll just walk off in protest.

[cgrindley]

14. I wouldn't sit still for any prayer

why should anyone?

[IChing]

18. Then he should walk out everytime it starts and he didn't

[cgrindley]

39. Why?

What if he's like checking his email or something? Or listening to the game? He shouldn't have to get up every time either.

The point is, prayer is nonsense talk. A reaction either way to it is irrational. People should just carry on as if nothing is going on. If it's time to leave, fine. If you've still got things to do, fine.

[Czolgosz]

15. Dan Patrick is a menace whose ill effects on Texas politics cannot be underestimated (or didn't you

know the politics in Texas could get worse?). Patrick is by far the craziest, most intolerant, dumbest son of a bitch ever to win such a major electoral office by such a landslide (not just beating, but CRUSHING his far-right-wing but marginally sane opponents in the Repub primary).

[valerief]

16. What an asshat. Another example of why we need separation of church and state. nt

[Donald Ian Rankin]

32. What?

You need separation of church and state to stop people walking out of prayers?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

22. Anyone who walked out of a Christian prayer in a senate would be hailed as a hero on DU.

The man did not try and stop the Muslims praying.

He did not try and force them to remain during Christian prayers.

He simply made it clear that he did not agree with their religion.

That is in no way bigotted, intolerant or any of the other epithets I've seen flying around.



This thread is one of the biggest concentrations of hypocricy I've seen for a long time.

[valerief]

23. No one's prayers belong in the political arena. Most at DU understand that. nt

[ComerPerro]

24. I would applaud someone who walks out on a Christian or Muslim prayer. But this guy

isn't rejecting religion. He is expecting his religion to be enforced by the government while trying to shut down all others. So it makes him a terrible person.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

26. No, he very, very clearly and specifically is *not* doing that.

He has made it clear that he is not trying to have his religion enforced, or to shut down others.

He made no attempt to stop the Muslim prayer, and has made it clear that he does not support such.

He simply chose to walk out while it happened.

What you say is absolutely, totally, 100% wrong.

[IChing]

28. I can't wait to buy your daughter's baby n/t

[ComerPerro]

29. yeah, becasue I am sure he is a straight shooter who means what he says

and says what he means. That's the thing about Republicans, you know? You can always trust exactly what they say, because they are just straightforward, honest, stand-up guys.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

31. Perhaps.

However, condemning him for supporting something he *hasn't* said or done, and indeed has said he opposes, is getting a little Orwellian, I think.

What he actually said was

"I think that it's important that we are tolerant as a people of all faiths, but that doesn't mean we have to endorse all faiths, and that was my decision. I surely believe that everyone should have the right to speak, but I didn't want my attendance on the floor to appear that I was endorsing that."

That's a completely unobjectionable sentiment.

There may well be (and indeed by the sound of things there are) other highly objectionable things he's said or done in the past, that justify condemning him as an individual. But the people who are condemning his behaviour in this instance, or are condemning him as an individual on account of it more than they would otherwise, are hypocrites.

[ComerPerro]

33. The objection comes in the fact that his actions show he doesn't believe it

He can say whatever he wants. He is trying to be diplomatic.

But he is just trying to score more political points with the rabid RWers by walking out.

He could just have easily remained in attendance but not participated in the prayer. That's what I do when people pray around me.

But he obviously wanted to make a statement.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

41. Yes; there's nothing wrong with that.

People praying in a senate are trying to make a statement too.

He may well be walking out to try and score points with rightwingers.

That doesn't make it an intolerant or bigotted action.

[Paladin]

34. You Don't Know Much About Dan Patrick, Do You?

As a long-time Houston resident, I can assure you that Patrick is the one of the worst sorts of bigoted, far right-wing Christo-fascists ever to disgrace the public arena, in Texas or elsewhere. Believe me, this walk-out was the latest evidence of his often-expressed hatred for all religions other than his own twisted Christianity, with the Muslim faith being a major target. His views are no secret---he spewed them for years on his radio station; they're a matter of public record. If ever there were a sure bet, it was that Patrick would become a national embarrassment as a state legislator. And the sad thing is that his constituency eats this kind of thing up.

Your expressions of sympathy for this scumbag are wildly out of place, particularly in a Democratic forum....

[Bridget Burke]

44. Didn't you hear? He's the new Voltaire!

Patrick, a conservative radio talk show host from Houston and self-professed Christian, said he wasn't the only senator to miss the invocation — in English and song — by the Imam Yusuf Kavakci of the Dallas Central Mosque.

But he was the only senator known to have passed out to other senators copies of a two-year-old newspaper editorial criticizing Kavakci for publicly praising two radical Islamists.

Patrick's political ally, Harris County Republican Chairman Jared Woodfill, had sharply criticized the fact that the Muslim prayer was scheduled during the week before Easter.

The timing was coincidental, said Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, who sponsored the cleric's appearance at the Capitol on the Texas Muslims Legislative Day.

Shapiro is Jewish, and this also is Passover, a major Jewish holiday.

www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4689405.html

Dan Patrick used his "Christianity" when he was running for the Tx Senate.

The Christian community always knows they can count on Dan Patrick to give them free air time, interviews and publicity on key faith-based moral issues facing all of us. Most recently, Dan has used his significant voice on the airways as a strong proponent of getting out the vote for Proposition 2, guaranteeing marriage in Texas would be between a man and a woman only. KSEV has been the only radio or television station in Houston that area pastors or Christian groups can count on to stand with them on the key issues.

http://danpatrickforsenate.com/FaithFoundation.aspx

Yes, you know all this stuff. But I'm trying to enlighten those lucky enough to have lived a Dan-Patrick-Free Life.

And, no, this is not the Dan Patrick on ESPN.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. You want an Islamophobic bigot to be hailed as a hero?

[ComerPerro]

25. Did this loser change his name so people would confuse him with ESPN's Dan Patrick?

[Judi Lynn]

27. Mr. Sophisitication, Dan Patrick.

Straight to you from the bowels of the Dark Ages. Here's his pig-faced likeness:



I hope he was carrying his amulet to protect him from the evil eye of the terrifying Muslim. They probably really want to steal his immortal pig soul. I'm glad he waddled out on them. Maybe that'll teach them to come to his Senate mouthing their heathen prayers, trying to deprive him of his precious bodily fluids.

[ComerPerro]

30. the "Pachyderm Club"? LMAO!!!! WTF

[Judi Lynn]

35. For more fun than you've ever had in your life, take a look at their photo gallery

http://pachyderms.org/

for Pachyderm Conference 2001. Well, now, those people really know how to live! Wooo hooooooo! :eyes:



Life in the fast lane, eh?

[TexasLawyer]

36. There are hatemongers out there really trying to play this up

This was posted on the ABC Message Board:
http://forums.go.com/abcnews/International/thread?threadID=555784

Iman allowed prayer in Texas Senate against Christians and Jews!!!

Posted: Apr 05, 2007 05:50 PM
reply

11 Posts
Registered: Mar 09, 2007 11:04 PM
For the first time ever, state lawmakers heard a Muslim prayer in the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday, it contained statements AGAINST JEWS AND CHRISTIANS!!!

A controversial Texas imam who at one point participated in a "tribute to the great Islamic visionary" Ayatollah Khomeini, has offered a prayer to open the state Senate that excluded both Christians and Jews.

Officials said a recording of the prayer was available at this link by clicking 'You can hear the opening ceremony, including the prayer, HERE: http://www.ktrh.com/pages/scottbraddock.html

Why is it acceptable to exclude Christians and Jews? Because Christians and Jews don't riot, blow stuff up, and kill people in the name of their religion? Nobody is afraid to p*ss off Christians and Jews. Where of course we see where everyone on the planet is afraid to p*ss off muslims.
I am SO SICK OF this double standard! And here we are, just paving the way for them all the way down the line! I used to hope that we (the Civilized West) would wake up in time to fight the parasitical cancer that is radical islam, but now I'm starting to think that we won't wake up in time, and it'll be our children and their children left to fight this unholy beast. And I really fear that by then, islam's tentacles will have reached too far, and we will have set up too powerful a parallel society for them, to every be able to win this battle that is truly WWIII.

If you listen to the prayer of the immam closely, and to Shapiro's introduction that follows, and are not WORRIED then you are either a Liberal feminist, a traitor, a muslim, or pretty darned stupid.
Make no mistake about this incident. It is an assult on American culture and is a declaration by Shapiro that she intends to force islam down the throats of Texans.
Expect to see similiar incidents in other state legislatures soon. And forget about praying in "Jesus name" in public forums for that bit of religous freedom will NOT be tolerated.

I urge every Texan Contact Lt Governor David Dewhurst and complain:
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015934.php

http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=65237&SecID=2 Get the full story!

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php
click above for email addresses to Texas Represenatives voice your displeasure!

[Ino]

38. Now he knows how it feels to non-Christians

to have to listen to their prayers incorporated into everything. Do away with the public praying altogether. Have a moment of silence for everyone to pray silently or daydream or whatever.

[earth mom]

40. Is this the Dan Patrick of sports radio-I think it's espn?

My dh listens to him daily and I sure the hell hope not! Although...Dh says they diss * all the time on the show so I'm thinking it's not....? :shrug:

[Bridget Burke]

45. Nope.

"Our" Dan Patrick was a sportscaster, but his career went nowhere.

More than you really want to know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Patrick_%28politics%29

[alarimer]

42. There should be no prayer at all allowed in government

facilities. No official ones before the start of business at any rate.

[SoCalDem]

43. That's why having "public prayer" is a BAD idea & it needs to GO!

The crazies are perfectly happy when the flowery prayers praise Jesus, but in a country with religious "freedom", jesus is not the ONLY religious icon worshiped..

It makes me queasy to see all these truly evil nutjobs in the senate & house, pretending to listen to a prayer every day...right before they take food stamps away from a poor person, or cut funding for sick kids.:puke:

Ban public prayer, and NO religious observance becomes "uncomfortable" to anyone in attendance :)
It's what the forefathers wanted :evilgrin: