An "Undersea Nuclear Christian Warrior" on Wheel of Fortune

[Are_grits_groceries]

It's "Heroes Week" on Wheel of Fortune, a week honoring the military by having military personnel as contestants on the show, and it seems that one of those contestants decided to seize the opportunity on Thursday's episode to proclaim his religious devotion to millions of TV viewers, outrageously introducing himself as an "undersea nuclear Christian warrior."
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF): http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/

Almost immediately after the show aired, Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) president Mikey Weinstein received this email from the mother of a cadet at one of the U.S. military academies:

"I happened to be 'channel surfing' and landed on Wheel of Fortune as they are doing a tribute to military 'heroes.' As the host was interviewing the contestants he came to one and asked the gentleman what he did. The officer answered, 'I am an undersea nuclear CHRISTIAN WARRIOR' and a submarine commander. I was so astonished and outraged I had to rewind the program to make sure I had heard it correctly; unfortunately I had. The quote is a direct quote. I even wrote down his name I was so angry; Steve Sincata (I don't know if the spelling of his last name is correct but that is how it sounds.) My first thought was, my terrible sadness for the poor crew that is under this Christian supremacist's complete command. My second thought was to immediately contact you and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to ask for help.

"Mikey, this man was in FULL U.S. Navy uniform and on national television in front of untold millions of viewers! I support you and your organization 100% and it is my strongest hope something can be done about this insensitive, imperious and wholly unconstitutional military commander who just disgraced his oath to the Constitution. It makes me feel better knowing there is someone like you and an organization like MRFF out there that will carefully listen and respond swiftly. ..."

Posts on message boards and Twitter confirm that the writer of this email heard correctly. As unbelievable as it sounds, Cmdr. Steve Cincotta, a submarine commander stationed at Navy Mine Anti-Submarine Warfare Command in San Diego, did, in fact, embarrass himself and the entire U.S. Navy by identifying himself on national TV as an "undersea nuclear Christian warrior," and MRFF certainly will be responding swiftly!

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2009/12/18/54853/419/Front_Page/An_quot_Undersea_Nuclear_Christian_Warrior_quot_on_Wheel_of_Fortune

He needs to be relieved of his command before he hears Gawd telling him what to do.

[Echo In Light]

1. More creepy fuckin shit from the right

[iceman66]

2. Isn't "Christian Warrior" an oxymoron?

If it isn't, it should be.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Only for the right-leaning evangelistic types. I wouldn't apply it to Quakers, for example.

[Echo In Light]

17. Yes. And what's more, "warrior" in this context cozies right up to "terrorist."

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Gak! I can't stand the way our military has had religion come to the forefront like this, and

I know it's not been by accident either.

[T Wolf]

4. It may very well be one of these crazy fundies who sets off WW3 in hopes of triggering

the rapture.

They should not be let anywhere near any military hardware, especially nuclear weapons.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I have long worried about that too.

[kestrel91316]

6. Betcha he's a Dominionist. He needs to be removed from command.

Dominionists have as their primary goal an end to rule by Constitutional law and a "restoration" of pure literal biblical law in the US and around the world. They are as great a threat to us now as communism ever was. Perhaps far worse.

[dgibby]

10. I'll bet your right.

Scary bastards!

[Arctic Dave]

8. "True Believers" and "Glory Seekers" are not the exception in the military unfortunetly.

One of the main reasons why I do not miss it. Many of the top people are religiously insane just like the guy in Iran.

[dgibby]

9. I had a CO like that.

He was a total douche. Always touting what a "good" Christian he was, while treating everyone in the command like shit.

[mike_c]

11. so we have a guy whose life centers around his supposed relationship...

...with an invisible person who lives in the sky, and this dude has his finger on nuclear weapons.

That's comforting. I'll sleep SO much better tonight.

[invictus]

22. +1

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. Pat Sajak is a right wing tool

Let's not forget that he chose none other than Mush Limpdick as the guest host on his short lived late night talk show (CBS' first attempt at the market before they hired Letterman) and Sajak also had a failed show on FAUX noise a while back. I don't watch Wheel of Fortune much (never did) but it seems like ever since 9-11-01, Sajak has made sure he's had at least one blatant right wing tool on his damndable show every time I've had the occasion to see it.

There's only so much right wing douchebaggery one can get away with on a game show, but Sajak is trying to squeeze in all he can.

[SidDithers]

19. Sajak is also on the Board of Directors of Eagle Publishing...

owners of Regnery Publishing, where all ignorant dumbfuck right-wingers go to publish their dumbass drivel.

http://www.regnery.com/eagle_manage.html

Sid

[gratuitous]

13. Who would Jesus target with a nuclear missile?

Would Jesus warn his victim ahead of time? Would Jesus use a nuclear weapon against someone who didn't have a nuclear weapon? Would Jesus send a nuclear missile at a target that likely had civilian non-combatants around it? Would Jesus bomb people without warning, who had no means to defend themselves and couldn't get away?

What, exactly, qualifies this man as a "hero"?

[PufPuf23]

46. What exactly is terrorism?

Delusional POS not "hero".

[Canuckistanian]

14. Scary

What if this guy suddenly decides that the rapture is about to happen? Can you imagine what kind of damage he could do with a nuclear submarine?

We might have to call on the Russians to do a "reverse Red October".

[Uncle Joe]

15. I agree he should be discharged for failing to uphold his oath to defend the Constitution

of the United States.

My own point of view is, if a person can so cavalierly betray their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, I question their religious commitment as well. Is it all for show, shouldn't he be "praying in a closet"?

Thanks for the thread, Are_grits_groceries.

[hughee99]

20. Discharged for what?

Other than identifying himself like a jackass, I'm not clear on which oath he betrayed. I didn't see anything in the article about his inability to do his job.

[Uncle Joe]

25. By De Facto violation of the First Amendment as a creation of Congress.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

The Powers of Congress Section 8 Article I of Congress #13 "To provide and maintain a navy."

This man is the commander; of a submarine, as such when his vessel is at sea, his word is law to those serving under him, by declaring him self as an "Undersea Nuclear Christian Warrior," he De Facto brought religion in to the context of waging war against whom, enemies of the United States or perceived enemies of Christianity?

[hughee99]

29. So the fact that a person has identified himself as a Christian

means that congress has made a law respecting the establishment of a religion? I'm pretty sure Obama has identified himself as a christian (though not in such a jackass way) while serving in his official capacity, as have Clinton and * as well. Have they also violated their oaths for this?

Of course, what he said leaves open to interpretation all sorts of things, and people can read into this what the like about what his belief system may be, and about where his loyalties lie (to his god or his country), but that's all just speculation.

[Uncle Joe]

31. Congress doesn't have the power to create the Presidency.

They do have the power to create the military, in addition to that, the people serving in the armed forces don't have the leeway of not obeying orders given to them by their superior officers that citizenry at large do. The military is much more autocratic, this officer holds tremendous sway over those serving under him.

[hughee99]

33. I wasn't aware that this clown had any history of not obeying orders?

Or giving orders not based on military policy but on religious doctrine. Does the military have a "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy for religion?

[Uncle Joe]

35. It makes no difference what their religion is, which is precisely why a commanding officer of all

people shouldn't have labeled him self as a warrior representing a particular religion. If he's a warrior by his oath, he's a warrior for the United States, not Christianity, if he can't tell the difference, he should be relieved of command.

Even in the civilian world, bosses can be held liable for work place sexual intimidation or harassment because of their power, this power is magnified in the military and the same dynamic presents it self in regards to religious pressure.

[hughee99]

36. Is there any evidence, other than what could be considered

a "poorly worded self-identification"? Perhaps this may be cause for someone to investigate his command to see if he can tell the difference between being a "warrior for the United States" and a "warrior for Christianity" but I don't see how the statement, without any further evidence, is sufficient to discharge him for failing to uphold the Constitution.

[Uncle Joe]

37. I consider this a major red flag, maybe further investigation would be warranted, one thing is for

certain if it happens again, he should be relieved of command.

[hughee99]

41. If he's told not to do it, and he does it anyway,

then I'd agree. I suspect that they Navy would lose a lawsuit for dismissing him over this if there aren't any other issues.

[alfredo]

44. His comment can be used as "proof" that we are crusaders.

He may have handed our opponents in the Mideast a propaganda tool.

[Rhythm]

16. I did a double-take when i heard that last night, too...

I don't normally watch that show, but had been watching Jeopardy, and just sort of left it on. Saw that the contestants were all military personnel, so i paid a little more attention. Hearing that dingbat (apologies to Robb) say that during the introduction made my stomach turn.

I offer my greatest sympathies to his crew, especially those who don't share in his Talibangelical cultural views.

[Tailormyst]

18. Holy crap!

This man does not need to be in command of nukes. Not sure what good it would do, but I'm sending a link to this to my brother who is a Navy Capt. This sort of crap is scary.

[Ikonoklast]

21. "We must preserve the purity and essence of our bodily fluids."

[shadowknows69]

24. No doubt. Fluoride in the water yo.

[shadowknows69]

23. That's about the most disturbing thing I've ever read.

Who would call themselves that?

[StarfarerBill]

26. Boy, wouldn't he be fun to be bottled up with in a tin can for months on end?

And what do you want to bet that he tries to proselytize his trapped crewmembers?

:puke:

[Mari333]

27. its making the rounds its on Huffpo now

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/an-undersea-nuclear-chris_b_396767.html

[Warren DeMontague]

28. I'm picturing Aqua-Man with a cross and a reactor strapped to his back. nt

[jmowreader]

30. Submarines are Christian Warrior-proofed

It takes two people to fire nuclear missiles from a sub, Assuming the Christian Warrior is on an SSBN instead of a fast-attack, what will happen is the CW will tell his XO that Jesus told him to attack (fill in whatever target the CW is in an uproar about this week). The Chief of Boat will then fire the CW out of the first available torpedo tube.

[walldude]

32. Great another Zelot confirming that we are in a religious war

with Islam. Fucking brilliant. I know, why don't we start calling them "infidels" and "the great Satan" and then there will be no way to tell the difference between our religious lunatics and their religious lunatics.

[malaise]

34. What a pity Jebus decided he was not worthy enough

to win the bonus round.

[ThatsMyBarack]

38. I stopped watching WoF years ago....

Because too many of the contestants were rightwing/fundie nutjobs like Steve Cincotta! :puke:

[Orsino]

39. Who Would Jesus Nuke?

And how many of his crew of different faiths would he take a public dump on?

[boss12]

40. Warrior

[niyad]

42. welcome to DU

[niyad]

43. my first thought was, since the damned thing is taped, WHY was that particular moment aired? then I

read downthread about dear old pat--didn't know, have never watched the program--and certainly never would now.

I am so glad that woman alerted MRFF--this bs in the military has got to be stopped. it was bad 20 years ago when I was dealing with it, and has only gotten worse.

[Edweird]

45. I dunno.. I'm thinking "bottom of the sea" + "christian warriors"...

Sounds like a plan to me.

[dflprincess]

47. But not everyone on the sub may be "Christian" warriors.

What is wrong with these people?

[Edweird]

49. Who said anything about submarines?

:evilgrin:

[dflprincess]

50. Oh snap! (n/t)

[arcadian]

48. Does God warrior know about this?

Dark-sided!