Delaware Tea Party candidate Glen Urquhart (yeah, same state as the anti-masturbation candidate Christine O’Donnell) told an audience that the phrase “separation of church and state” originated from Adolph Hitler. Surprisingly, Urquhart knew about Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists but insisted the phrase was not in the letter.

Glen Urquhart is insisting that he was taken out of context and that was not really what he meant. So, to be fair, let us look at the entire context of the statement:

Glen Urquhart: “Do you know, where does this phrase ’separation of church and state’ come from? Anybody know?”

Audience member: “From the Devil.”

History teacher: “I do.”

Glen Urquhart (Pointing to audience member and laughing): “But I told you.”

History teacher: “No. I know. But I’m the history teacher. It was a letter.”

Glen Urquhart: “That is, actually, that exact phrase is not in Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists. He was reassuring them the federal government wouldn’t trample on their religion. The exact phrase ’separation of Church and State’ came out of Adolph Hitler’s mouth. That’s where it comes from. So the next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of Church and State, ask them why they’re Nazis.”

So what does Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists say?

“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”

I suppose a person could say that Urquhart was technically accurate because Jefferson says “separation between church and state” and not “separation of church and state.” But even if we were to give him that technicality, it still does not detract from the asininity of the sentiment.

Perhaps Mr. Urquhart should go back to school and relearn his history. I bet the history teacher in the audience would be willing to tutor him.

So I have to ask… what in the world is going on in Delaware?

Links:
CBS News
Firedoglake
Chattabox
Raw Story

Want to know where this mindset comes from?
Renew America: Separation of Church and State: Straight From the Mind of Hitler

by Blair Scott

(R) Hans Zeigler, a nominee for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives, has made some rather strange comments that are getting a bit of attention from the media.

Zeigler said of the Girl Scouts, “One might wonder why the Girl Scouts have been spared the painful attacks that have been launched upon the Boy Scouts by the Left in recent years. The reasons are simple: the Girl Scouts allow homosexuals and atheists to join their ranks, and they have become a pro-abortion, feminist training corps. […] If the Girl Scouts of America can’t get back to teaching real character, perhaps it will be time to look for our cookies elsewhere.”

Zeigler’s statements were on a conservative Web Page and when the media noticed… the site removed his comments. Hmm… is someone trying to not appear as crazy as they actually are?

Zeigler’s comments are so asinine and comical that it is hard to find them offensive: because I can’t stop laughing at the nonsense of it all!

For more information see Change.org.

For a humorous spin on the antics of Zeigler and a funny “10 Signs the GSA are Pushing a Scary Feminist, Lesbian, Pro-Choice Agenda” check out The Stir.

by Blair Scott

Remember Draw Mohamed Day? The event that had thousands of participants across the globe drawing pictures of Mohamed to show Islam that we were not afraid of its threats? Pictures ranged from the benign to the intentionally derogatory and offensive.

The person responsible for planting the idea in everyone’s head was Molly Norris, a cartoonist based in Seattle, Washington. Molly created a Facebook post and put up an e-flier online to promote the idea. A couple of weeks went by and Molly retracted herself, stating that she was afraid of the repercussions and the security and safety of her family. We understood her concerns, but she was certainly proving the point.

But Draw Mohamed Day went on without her: the ball was already rolling too fast to stop.

Now we find out that the FBI has advised Molly to change her name, move to a new location, and start her life over. Basically, they’ve recommend that she go into the Witness Protection Program without the benefit of the government covering the costs.

Once again the Islamists have successfully put the fear into someone and caused them to modify their life to remain safe from their threats and violence. And once again someone will tell us, “Islam is a religion of peace.”

We with Molly the best and hope that she gets her life back from the religious nutcases that have issued a fatwa on her and made death threats against her.

For more information see the Seattle Weekly.

The threats started when Islamic terrorist supporting cleric Anwar al-Awlaki issued a fatwa.

by Blair Scott

It seems the leaders in King County, North Carolina have finally decided to follow the Constitution: but it took some prodding by the ACLU and American’s United. Officials have voted to remove the Christian Flag from the Veteran’s Memorial at Central Park.

So why did the City Council vote 3-1 to remove the flag: because it would cost an estimated $300,000 to fight any litigation. They did not remove the flag because it was unconstitutional or because they realized they were doing the wrong thing. They did not remove the flag because they realized they represented all constituents of their fair city. Nope… they got rid of it because they couldn’t afford to fight the litigation. In other words, they wanted it to stay.

Perhaps we can give the City Councilmen the benefit of the doubt and assume they used the financial excuse as a way to appease their citizens from rallying with pitchforks and torches at the next election: a way to appear to support the Christian flag without really supporting it. The cost of litigation can easily be the greatest of all excuses to not fight and uphold the constitution for our politicians.

OK, so the benefit of the doubt is not worth a grain of salt because the council voted earlier this year to keep the flag flying. So there you have it: a City Council determined to violate the constitution, but unable to do so because it is too expensive.

You can read the details of this story here:
http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-story-king-christian-flag-100916,0,3610370.story

Why do we not have Constitution Police? If you break any other law the police come after you: you get a ticket, go to jail, get a fine, etc. But if you break constitutional law: we have to sue you. And after we win the case, there’s no authority to enforce the ruling, which means we may have to sue you again, and again, and again.

This is why it is so important to support American Atheists and become a member: so that we have the funds available to sue: to be the Constitution Police.

by Blair Scott

AMERICAN ATHEISTS
DAVID SILVERMAN ELECTED NEW
PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN ATHEISTS

The Board of Directors of American Atheists is pleased to announce the election of Dave Silverman as the organization’s new president.

Silverman, 44, earned his BA from Brandeis University and his MBA from Penn State. A Massachusetts native, he moved to NJ in 1992 and has been married to magazine publisher Hildy Silverman (not an atheist) for 19 years. They have a daughter who, having been given a choice, is an out-and-proud atheist.

Silverman has been with the organization since 1996, holding positions of NJ State Director, Communications Director and Vice President. He hosts the Atheist Viewpoint TV program, blogs on the NoGodBlog, has appeared on numerous public affairs and news programs, and debated religious apologists across the country.

Silverman noted that he never met Madalyn O’Hair, founder of American Atheists and a plaintiff in the historic Supreme Court case to remove prayer and bible recitation from public schools. “I’m committed to remembering and honoring the important principles Madalyn represented. We’re re-committing American Atheists to a more visible role for nonbelievers in the fight for state-church separation and public policy.”

Silverman succeeds Dr. Ed Buckner, a resident of Atlanta, GA. who served as President for the last two years.

“My tenure as President has been filled with meeting Atheists
who are easily among the finest people I’ve ever met,”said Buckner. “I am
convinced that the future of Atheism and of this organization is
bright. Our new President, David Silverman, is the key reason for my
optimism.

” I would urge all Atheists to support him, but I’m pretty
sure all of us already do. I happen to know with certainty that the
board had a number of quite well qualified, interesting candidates,
from both inside and outside the organization–and I think that many of
those could lead us well.”

Buckner continued: “David Silverman was, despite that fierce
competition, an easy choice. His dynamic, energetic, creative,
fun-loving, intelligent approach to this organization and to Atheism
will take us far and take us there quickly.”
Dave Silverman begins his service as president next week, and is available for interviews with media.