GOP Calls Democrat Atheist

[Diamond Cross]

Well, here is a prime example of GOP Religious bigotry:

Law.com - GOP Raises Religion in Court Race, Calling Democrat an Atheist

Excerp:

Religion has entered the political fray in a race for an appellate court bench in east Texas.

The Austin-based Republican Party of Texas played the religion card in a Sept. 21 online newsletter. As alleged in the newsletter, Texarkana solo E. Ben Franks, Democratic nominee for a seat on the 6th Court of Appeals, "is reported to be a professed atheist" and apparently believes the Bible is a "collection of myths.'"

But Franks says he has never professed to be an atheist and is not a member of any atheist organization. Franks says no one with the Republican Party ever asked him whether he professes to be an atheist. However, he says he's not surprised by the allegation.

This does bother me. I dislike smear campaigns and fell all they do is discredit the people that are running the campaign because they can not win in an honest manner. A smear campaign is always dishonest for it leaves out any relevant information to the claim. For example, a man may have been accused of being a rapist by a woman. This would go around the press and around again

BUT what gets left out is that the woman was severely drunk and was never even touched by the guy. There is never any due process in a smear campaign. Unfortunately, smear campaigns are very effective because most people don't take the time to investigate the entire situation, such as the Foley case, they almost always run along partisan lines, such as Former President Clinton. and tg\hey're never truly ethical. After all, a truly ethical campaign would be based on the candidates own capabilities and relative background, that is what was done prior to office, only.

However, should a person's core belief system be the basis of voting?

Or does it only matter what that person can do for the position?

I think it does mater to some extent because it is an indication of how they'd act when in office.

How about you?

[Kytro]

It disturbs me even more than one's religious beliefs should be the basis of a vote.

Religion has nver ever been shown to make someone more honest, or a better candidate

[imind]

from the texas GOP site...

Should Franks be elected in November, one would have to conclude that he will hold true to his out of touch “atheist” belief system and ignore the laws and Constitution of Texas. Mr. Franks is a personal injury trial lawyer practicing in Texarkana, Texas and is the Democrat nominee for the 6th Court of Appeals.

link

its also worth noting that the texas repubs, on their official site, cite the oath prescribed by Art. XVI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution, which requires appointees to office to state under oath they believe in god.

so not only are they smeariing him, but also suggesting to texas voters that he would be constitutionally disqualified. blatant dishonesty, IMO.

[lew]

Originally Posted by imind

from the texas GOP site...



its also worth noting that the texas repubs, on their official site, cite the oath prescribed by Art. XVI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution, which requires appointees to office to state under oath they believe in god.

so not only are they smeariing him, but also suggesting to texas voters that he would be constitutionally disqualified. blatant dishonesty, IMO.

If he is an atheist, he would be according to Texas law. Nothing dishonest about it at all.

[imind]

Originally Posted by lew

If he is an atheist, he would be according to Texas law. Nothing dishonest about it at all.

article six of the US constitution

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

its trumped by the US constitution.

[lew]

Originally Posted by imind

its trumped by the US constitution.

No, it's not. That phrase is very specific - under the United States - that means any federal office. It does not apply to state jobs. Otherwise, it would have said something similiar to "the several states."

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by lew

No, it's not. That phrase is very specific - under the United States - that means any federal office. It does not apply to state jobs. Otherwise, it would have said something similiar to "the several states."

14th amendment applies federal protection to the states

[7960]

Originally Posted by lew

No, it's not. That phrase is very specific - under the United States - that means any federal office. It does not apply to state jobs. Otherwise, it would have said something similiar to "the several states."

Torcaso v Watkins, 1961, said this applies to states, too.

The court ruled unanimously in Torcaso's favor. Justice Black, writing for the justices stated:

"This Maryland test for public office cannot be enforced against appellant, because it unconstitutionally invades his freedom of belief and religion guaranteed by the First Amendment and protected by the Fourteenth Amendment from infringement by the States."

This ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court presumably makes all of the religious tests for office in the various states listed above to be unconstitutional.

Religious discrimination in state constitutions

[lew]

Thogrim and 7960, you are correct.

I never stated it was unconstitutional for an atheist to hold office.

I merely was saying that strictly according to Texas law, it is illegal to hold office and be an atheist, and that article six of the Constitution does not supersede that.

But the 14th Amendment does, of course.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by lew

Thogrim and 7960, you are correct.

I never stated it was unconstitutional for an atheist to hold office.

I merely was saying that strictly according to Texas law, it is illegal to hold office and be an atheist, and that article six of the Constitution does not supersede that.

But the 14th Amendment does, of course.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Way to draw attention to the Texas Constitution's blatant unconstitutionality. I'd love to see this guy take the oath, and then these Texas GOP douchebags challenge his authority because he violated the oath being an atheist, and then this all goes up to the Supreme Court. And just when I thought modern times would make the TX constitution's unconstitutional provision a quaint vestige, these backward retards dig it back up and put it under the spot light.

[Diamond Cross]

You know, if the Texas State Constitution is unconstitutional, that means Texas can not have become a State. I believe, but am uncertain, that the creation of a state requires the creation of a state constitution that mirrors and does not violate the Constitution.

[lew]

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

You know, if the Texas State Constitution is unconstitutional, that means Texas can not have become a State. I believe, but am uncertain, that the creation of a state requires the creation of a state constitution that mirrors and does not violate the Constitution.

As far as I know, a state doesn't HAVE to have a constitution. But it's a moot point anyway. If that ever gets brought up before the Supreme Court, their constitution isn't unconstitutional, just that requirement is.

[SoFlaJDM]

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

You know, if the Texas State Constitution is unconstitutional, that means Texas can not have become a State. I believe, but am uncertain, that the creation of a state requires the creation of a state constitution that mirrors and does not violate the Constitution.

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

You know, if the Texas State Constitution is unconstitutional, that means Texas can not have become a State. I believe, but am uncertain, that the creation of a state requires the creation of a state constitution that mirrors and does not violate the Constitution.

nevermind Texas was a state before the 14th Admendment.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

You know, if the Texas State Constitution is unconstitutional, that means Texas can not have become a State.

Ya, not rly...just because one clause is unconstitutional doesn't mean the whole thing is void.

[Diamond Cross]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

nevermind Texas was a state before the 14th Admendment.

The Constituion still trumps the State Constitutions.

[Diamond Cross]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Ya, not rly...just because one clause is unconstitutional doesn't mean the whole thing is void.

I'm not trying to be faceitous or smart-alecky, but do you have a link to back that up?

After all, before Former President Clinton enacted the Line Item veto, if there was one thing in a bill the President didn't like, he couldn't just ink out that item but would have to have to veto the entire bill should he so choose.

[SICKGUY]

The Austin-based Republican Party of Texas played the religion card in a Sept. 21 online newsletter. As alleged in the newsletter, Texarkana solo E. Ben Franks, Democratic nominee for a seat on the 6th Court of Appeals, "is reported to be a professed atheist" and apparently believes the Bible is a "collection of myths.'"

is calling the bible a "book of myth's" really that far fetched? the book of genisis, come on, is this really the basis for "intelligent design"? this really is a better theory than life progressing gradually over billions of years? if christians can believe this stuff, why is it so ridiculous for anyone to NOT believe in god?

i have been reading the bible lately, and the thing that sticks out the most to me...its totally open for interpretation. i had to read some things like 4 times to figure out wtf it meant, and i still dont even think i get it.

001:001 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

001:002 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon
the face of the waters.

001:003 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

001:004 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the
light from the darkness.

001:005 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called
Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

001:006 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

001:007 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were
under the firmament from the waters which were above the
firmament: and it was so.

001:008 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the
morning were the second day.

001:009 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered
together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it
was so.

001:010 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together
of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

001:011 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb
yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his
kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

001:012 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed
after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in
itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

001:013 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

001:014 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the
heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for
signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

001:015 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to
give light upon the earth: and it was so.

001:016 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the
day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars
also.

001:017 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light
upon the earth,

001:018 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the
light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

001:019 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

001:020 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving
creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth
in the open firmament of heaven.

001:021 And God created great whales, and every living creature that
moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their
kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that
it was good.

001:022 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the
earth.

001:023 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

001:024 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature
after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the
earth after his kind: and it was so.

001:025 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle
after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth
after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

001:026 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth.

001:027 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them.

001:028 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

001:029 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing
seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree,
in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it
shall be for meat.

001:030 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air,
and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there
is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was
so.

001:031 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was
very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

002:001 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host
of them.

002:002 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he
had made.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]