Gingrich Calls For Federal Ban On Shariah Law In US

[Emit]

The second morning of speeches at the Values Voter Summit here in DC was dominated by a man who is swiftly becoming the nation's spokesperson for Islamophobia -- former House speaker Newt Gingrich. Fresh off the release of his Islam-focused film "America At Risk," Gingrich told the crowd at VVS that it's time to take federal action to prevent Shariah Law from infiltrating courtrooms in the US.

"We should have a federal law that says sharia law cannot be recognized by any court in the United States," Gingrich said to a standing ovation from the audience. The law will let judges know, Gingrich said, that "no judge will remain in office that tried to use sharia law."

Gingrich made a not-so-subtle reference to the right wing meme about freshly-minted Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan which claims that Kagan is "sympathetic" to Shariah and -- as some suggested during her confirmation hearings -- might allow it to be recognized as law in the United States.

But beyond the Kagan hit, Gingrich's anti-Shariah talk inserted him directly into the most extreme end of the Islamophobic push-back against mosque projects all over the country.

~snip~

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/gingrich-calls-for-federal-law-banning-shariah-law-in-us.php

[EFerrari]

1. I guess his infidelities still weigh on him.

:)

[shraby]

4. You mean like he doesn't want to get stoned to death? Or is

that just a woman's penalty for infidelity??

[EFerrari]

10. Men are punished for adultery, too, although I don't know

what their punishment is.

I wonder if they have a punishment for being a lying corrupt sack.

[Emit]

6. Heavily...

[sixmile]

2. Eh, what is the penalty for adultery , Newtie?

under Sahria law? Is THAT what you're scared of?

[bluestateguy]

3. ????

So if someone wants to live their private live according to those rules, they are not allowed to do so?

I suppose he only wants Sharia law banned so that a Protestant theocracy can be instituted instead.

[Tutankhamun]

21. He recently converted to Catholicism.

Nonetheless, I'm sure he would love a protestant theocracy just as much as a Catholic one.

Speaking of religion, he has a really punchable face.

[still_one]

5. funny the SOB was against the ERA, so it surprises me he is against shariah law

[MrScorpio]

7. What has he been smoking lately?

What a nutcase.

[rustydog]

8. Hey Newt...You still a family values Christian?

What does your ex-wifes think of your hateful political strategy?

you want to lecture the world on morals and religious intolerance!

Your decades of hate-politics, of division and cowardice produced the Tea-baggers, Palin, McVeigh, et al.
America is reaping what you andyour Party has sown for 30 years.

Shut up you Goddamn hypocrite.

[hlthe2b]

9. Sad that his moronic audience... wil not be able to distinguish this

for the political stunt it is. I shudder to think how many teabaggers actually believe the courts are using Sharia law in making their determinations.

So, now we know for sure there is no sincerity in Newt's Catholic conversion. Otherwise he might fear the hell he deserves.

[seabeyond]

11. i was wondering where this was coming from. have heard others argue allowing sharia law

infilterate our system and didnt know what the fuck they were talking about.

[BolivarianHero]

12. Jesus fucking Christ....

Muslims in North America aren't seeking to impose anything on anyone. I live in a community with a sizable Muslim community, and I do things that violate Islamic law every day. I've never had anyone of any significance argue that the power of the state should be used to compel towards following Islamic law. Conversely, fundamentalist Christians around here often want to imposed a bastardized Mosaic Code on everyone, regardless of creed.

[Orsino]

13. Someone ought to tell him about that document called the Constitution.

Turns out that we already have a bunch of laws in this country, with other laws to prevent those from being replaced. This is pretty fucking cool.

[hayu_lol]

14. Must be time for a Federal Ban on Gingrich's presence...

in Washington DC.

What a fat little fool he has been and is. He does want to be pretzeldent however so is dangerous. Keep the peach PIT in Georgia where he belongs.

[pnwmom]

19. I don't have a problem with him working to increase the strength

of the laws we already have preventing the state establishment of religion. Just change his "Sharia law" to "religious law" and who here would object to it?

[Taverner]

15. What?!?!?!?!?

He is pandering to the least 'hinged' of us...

[HughMoran]

16. Fear-mongering moron-like behavior at it's finest.

Is this how Republicans make friends? Vote for us or die. Idiots.

[Lucky Luciano]

17. Religious law has never been allowed. Separation of church and state prevents this...

Though Newt and his ilk need to be reminded of that quite often.

[pnwmom]

18. I don't think religious court rulings of any faith --

Catholic, Muslim, Jewish -- whatever -- should have any standing in state or federal U.S. Courts.

For example, a Catholic person who has an annulment in a Catholic trial still has to get a civil divorce in order to be legally divorced. That is as it should be.

If a law was written to enshrine that principal into law for all religions, fine -- it would strengthen the wall separating Church and State.

[Lyric]

20. Fine with me, so long as we similarly ban all court recognition of Christian law

And ALL religious law, for that matter. We are a nation of religious freedom and secular laws, NOT a Christianized Taliban.

[madrchsod]

22. i wonder what version of 'shariah law' is he bitching about.....

[pinboy3niner]

23. So now Newt SUPPORTS separation of church and state? LOL!

Something tells me he didn't think this one through...

[NWHarkness]

24. We already have one

It's called "The First Amendment".

What a jackass.

[peacetalksforall]

25. Is there a specific to this? An example or two? I'm lost. What did Kagan say? What was it about?

So lost. Helppppp!

[spanone]

26. is newt drunk all the time or on some kind of narcotic? or insane?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. I didn't realize that Sharia Law was being practiced here in the US

let alone instituted.

:wtf: is he talking about????

[no_hypocrisy]

28. And does that mean that Jews no longer have to go to rabbis for a "Get" and a

secular court's divorce is enough to remarry?

Or go to the Vatican for an annulment?