GOP congressman says Democrats "demonize" Christians

[quaoar]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican congressman accused Democrats on Monday of “denigrating and demonizing Christians” by concluding there was religious intolerance at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

During debate on a proposal by Democrats that would put Congress on record against “coercive and abusive religious proselytizing” at the academy, Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., criticized Reps. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., and David Obey, D-Wis.

“Like a moth to a flame, Democrats can’t help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians,” Hostettler said.

Democrats leapt to their feet and demanded Hostettler be censured for his remarks. After a half-hour’s worth of wrangling, Hostettler retracted his comments.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/20/AR2005062000993.html

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Link?

[quaoar]

5. Here's one

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/20/AR2005062000993.html

[AlGore-08.com]

2. What?? A wingnut Congresscreep retracted his bigotted comments??

I thought I felt the earth come to a screaching halt today.

[wryter2000]

3. Most Democrats are Christian, idiots!

Of our elected officials, I don't believe a single one is an athiest or agnostic. We have a few members of other religions, but the overwhelming majority of Democrats ARE Christians, moran.

[edbermac]

4. We don't demonize real Christians...

Just members of the 'Religious Reich' and deservedly so...

[madeline_con]

18. hear hear!

What you said.

[u2spirit]

6. It seems to me

That these "Christians" demonize Democrats. Not the other way around.

[aresef]

11. Not just Dems

They demonize everybody who doesn't subscribe to their wacko, bigoted ideals.

[CAcyclist]

7. Finally, the Democrats are Fighting Back !nt

[Guaranteed]

8. I am so sick of this GOP hate speech.

They are SO hateful to non-Christians.

We're all Americans, here, Republicans. Let's try and act like it.

[gratuitous]

9. Think any Republicans on the talk shows will have to answer for this?

Think any of them will be buttonholed and forced to either agree with or denounce Hostettler's bigoted and outrageous comments? Unlike Dick Durbin's quotations from FBI reports on Guantanamo, Hostettler's comments don't have to be twisted or spun to make them outrageous and worthy of censure, but will any Republicans be forced to speak ill of a colleague?

I have a shiny nickel for any of the screaming chuckleheads who pin down a Republican guest in the next week and demand either support or censure for Hostettler's comments. And claiming the issue is moot just because Hostettler was forced to retract the comments doesn't wash. He wouldn't have retracted what he said unless he was forced to, and he'll say the same thing again, guaranteed, when it's less likely that someone will object.

C'mon Tweety -- Shiny nickel!

[quaoar]

15. Don't hold your breath

[acmejack]

10. We may be a little harsh on Dominionists!

But I am fairly sure they merit it...

[flaminbats]

12. "like a moth to a flame"..Republicans only demonize Jesus

demonize - http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.sh?WORD=demonize

[DemBones DemBones]

13. It would be nice if some Democrats

who post at DU would stop railing against religion in general and Christianity in particular. It contributes to our party's reputation of being against religion, a reputation that does not help any of us.

Kindly consider this one more plea for restraint. O8)

[madeline_con]

19. The problem, as I see it..

is that many can't see he difference between hating fundies and hating Christians in general.

Like "support our troops" has to be coupled with a "W" sticker. So many people don't get the distinction. The fundies like to say we attack Christian values, like they think they HAVE them or something!

[LittleClarkie]

14. Okay, I just sent Obey an email

That was a first.

Here's what I said:

Thank you, Congressman, for standing up to Rep. John Hostettler. His statement, "Like a moth to a flame, Democrats can’t help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians," was absurd in the extreme.

Do NOT let these folks get away with that bunk. Several of us ARE Christians, and I for one will not allow certain Republicans to "own" God.

Keep up the good work, sir. This ELCA Lutheran is right behind you all the way.

[tenshi816]

16. Democrats don't demonize Christians -

Christians (of the right-wing fundamentalist variety) manage to do that all by themselves.

[madeline_con]

17. Again, as promised in the scriptures...

the poor put upon Christians have to endure this terrible persecution. PUH leeze.

[snowbear]

20. Someone actually rated this story up?

:puke:

WHY?

[Barking Spider]

21. How? By calling them Republicans? NM

[Poiuyt]

22. Will Hostettler apologize?

Or are only Democrats forced to apologize?