Southern California-Based Atheist Group Joins Inauguration Suit

[defendandprotect]

PRESS RELEASE

Southern California-Based Atheist Group Joins Inauguration Suit



Contact:

Brian Parra

Director of Communications and Membership

[e-mail]

http://atheistsunited.org



Atheists United of Los Angeles has become the first Southern California organization to join the lawsuit, Newdow v. Roberts, asking to prohibit prayers at President-elect Obama’s inauguration. “If ever there was a person who demonstrated the wisdom of our founders in keeping the divisiveness of religion out of our united government, it is the Reverend Rick Warren,” AU President Bobbie Kirkhart said. The suit also asks that Chief Justice John Roberts administer the oath as written in the Constitution, and not add “So help me God,” as recent Chief Justices have done.



The customary prayers were begun in 1937 and have been Christian in nature. “We managed to get through almost 150 years of inaugurations without asking heavenly guidance for our presidents. If George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt could govern without this invocation, I’m betting that Barack Obama will do just fine, even if he keeps his pleas for divine guidance to his more private moments.” Kirkhart commented.



The plaintiffs include 29 local and national groups, as well as some individuals.



Atheists United is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to a three part mission:



· To promote atheism through education and outreach;

· To promote the First Amendment and the separation of government and religion; and

· To create and support a vibrant atheist community.



Established in 1982, AU is one of the largest freethought organizations in the nation and the largest in the Southern California area. As an affiliate of Atheists Alliance International and the Los Angeles Freethought Federation, AU is committed to consolidating the collective efforts of its members to affect change on a local, national and international level to advance the cause of an atheist community, secular government and religious tolerance.

[ColbertWatcher]

1. "prayers were begun in 1937 and have been Christian in nature"

It needs to end now.

No more superstitions in the 21st century.

[defendandprotect]

7. Like the request to Roberts. . . "just administer oath as in Constitution" ---!!

The suit also asks that Chief Justice John Roberts administer the oath as written in the Constitution, and not add “So help me God,” as recent Chief Justices have done.

[rsmith6621]

2. This Bull$hit Has To Stop

.........One more time.....It's Obama's Party so he get to choose who he wishes to invite...he get to choose the TONE of the party....He gets to choose the ENTERTAINMENT......He gets to choose things that BEST represent who he is.....


This Rick Warren choice I don't personally care for frankly I think Joel Olsten would have been a better choice has gone overboard...Regardless we knew of Obamas Christian roots....so why must you deny him what is part of his spirit....I don't remember the same backlash for the current Idiot and Chief the last two inaugs....Billy Graham has the same philosophy about Gays as well..


So sorry some of you have your P###ies in a WAD.

The last thing we need to show the world is that we are divided......Three Words.....

.........GET OVER IT!!!!!

[argonchloride]

3. Well, yes...he "gets" to be an asshole if that's what he wants. But he doesn't and he isn't.

The Rick Warren thing was a dumb choice, hopefully he won't make more like it. But heck, I guess I'll just GET OVER IT.
Thanks for reminding me that my panties are in a wad.

[rsmith6621]

4. It was a move...

....to attempt to court the RIGHT wing to get some of his vision/goals passed....plain and simple....he will need a few Repukes to get something through.

[defendandprotect]

8. ...and Obama told you this . . .?

or are you using your crystal ball -- ??

...and "repukes" will vote for Single Payer Health Care because Obama picked Warren -- !!!

ROFL

[Bluebear]

10. Grand.

[Creideiki]

11. The problem isn't that he's made one dumb choice

as that he's made a lot of dumb choices.

Now, I don't give a rat's ass about Obama's lifestyle choice to be straight, nor his lifestyle choice to be a conservative Christian. I would appreciate if he would keep his social conservative beliefs out of his social policy, but that's apparently too much to ask.

[terisan]

5. The bullshit is rewriting the Constitutional Oath of office by demanding Roberts

change what the Supreme Court Chief Justice says. It is written in the Constitution and specifically omits any mention of a god. Roberts is only too happy to do it. Must be laughing about it too. Bush never made any such demand, nor did Reagan.

The Supreme Court conservatives are very pleased with this opportunity to chip away at separation of church and state-It opens the door to Scalia's and Thomas's Natural law philosophy.

Obama is free to say so help me god or so help me satan, Roberts is not but will say "God" to further the Conservative agenda.

The oath which Roberts asks the PE to affirm is not Obama's party. It is the People's party.


It is the people's Constitution and the people's country , not Bush's not Obama's.

The way to be undivided is to follow the Constitution. It is the only basis for our government.

We don't get over this in the name of a false call for unity. Dictatorships of the left, Dictatorships of the Right--all bullshit.

[defendandprotect]

6. You sound somewhat athoritarian for a democracy ...!!!

Obama is subject to criticism and challenge re his actions/intent in a DEMOCRACY ...

I didn't vote for anyone's "Christian roots," any more than I voted for an African-

American, nor Hawaiian. I voted for a party to lead the nation away from the religious

insanities of George--"I spoke with God and he told me to attack Iraq"--Bush.


And who says anyone ever approved of W's Inauguration ... or of Graham's relationships

with presidents-??

And if this is as much as you prize free speech ...

So sorry some of you have your P###ies in a WAD.

it's clear you don't "get democracy."

And this works ...

The last thing we need to show the world is that we are divided......Three Words.....

.........GET OVER IT!!!!!

if you like denial and hate dissent.


:think:

[Bluebear]

9. 'I think Joel Olsten would have been a better choice' - say no more.

[ConsAreLiars]

12. Indeed. (nt)

[LostinVA]

13. Seriously -- any Evangelical to the right of Jim Wallis should haven't have even been considered

Why not clergy from his supposed own church, the UCC? Or the UU?