After making a bizarre argument about the incompatibility of marriage equality and evolution, Gohmert claimed that Obama is merely a “proclaimed Christian” and contended that the president has “gone to war with Christianity.”
“The gloves have come off, there really is a war by this administration against not just the Catholic Church but the Christian Church,” he said. Gohmert charged that under Obama “you can’t practice what you believe about birth control, about abortion, this administration will tell you what religious practices you can participate in and what you can’t.”
He also suggested the government may begin collecting personal information such as medical and phone records and emails of Christians to use against them[.]
34 comments
"“you can’t practice what you believe about birth control, about abortion,"
Sure you can. If you don't want to get an abortion, no one is forcing you to get one. However, if you need to get one, the option is available. Same with birth control, if you don't want to use any, you are free to not use any, but it is there and available if you change your mind.
@Paler Face
Well, because people voted for them. That's how a democracy works. We can't disqualify people from voting just for being idiots.
Some days I wish we could , but them's the rules.
“you can’t practice what you believe about birth control, about abortion, this administration will tell you what religious practices you can participate in and what you can’t.”
But why is it OK for Christianity to do the very same thing?
I am put in mind of Senator Roman Hruska's view on the confirmation of Harold Carswell to the Supreme Court: "Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they?"
@Paler_Face:
Gohmert is a congressman. When he ran for office, he didn't have to appeal to the entire country, or even an entire state. He just had to convince the voters of a small sub-section of his state to vote for him. Some of those congressional districts are heavily populated with ultra-conservative fundamentalist Christians who are in total agreement with people like this. That's how Michelle Bachmann has been able to stay in Congress for as long as she has. Many Minnesotans have stated that if she had to appeal to voters across the whole state, her political career wouldn't have lasted very long.
YOU can practice what YOU believe. What you can't do is forcing ME to practice what YOU believe, as I have the same right as you do to practice what I believe.
According to Mr Snowden, the government has been collecting personal information about EVERYONE for years; Christians, Muslims, atheists and everyone else.
Marriage and evolution have very little in common. You can procreate without marriage, and a marriage certificate does not make you spontaneously procreate. I've been married for 15 years and not the smallest offspring has presented itself.
@Paler Face:
"Are there not enough reasonable people in America to offset this trend? "
Yes, but the batshit insane paranoid delusional fuckbrained fundies are far more motivated. They are in a rage about Obamas still not released birth certificate, while normal people don't really care.
Also http://www.thenation.com/article/161969/alec-exposed-rigging-elections#axzz2Yl35L2Dz
That said, the republic party does have a continuing problem where the choice is
1. If they run a reasonable candidate that might beat the liberal, he will be successfully primaried by a batshit insane paranoid delusional fuckbrained fundie, who will be defeated by the liberal.
2. If they run a slightly less batshit insane paranoid delusional fuckbrained fundie he will still be defeated by the liberal.
This is why the ALEC laws were passed, and gerrymanders were set up, so they don't have that problem. It's not a coincidence that all the swing states have been geryymandered by the Republic party.
"this administration will tell you what religious practices you can participate in and what you can’t."
NO. No-one is telling you to have an abortion, just like no-one is telling you that you have to marry a man. What they are telling you is that you don't get to tell people that they have to live their life in a way that you personally approve of. You can participate in whatever kooky religious practices you want. But you don't get to force anyone else to follow your personal religious beliefs. Something makes you uncomfortable? You have a perfect right to disapprove. You do not, however, have a perfect right to interfere with other people's rights. How is that so difficult to understand?
@Paler_Face
I'm not entirely sure you understand what a democracy is, or you're just being a troll. It's already been addressed, but I will do so again. As a congressman, Mr. Gohmert doesn't have to get the entire country to vote for him, or even an entire state. Congresspeople only have to win the support of an area the size of a county, sometimes even a town in order to be elected. If he was running for office in an area with a high concentration of far-right wing supporters than no, there is nothing the progressives could have done to stop him from getting elected.
That said, he was running for Texas's 1st Congressional District, which is indeed populated by a high concentration of ultra conservatives and fundamentalist religious people.
This isn't about American democratic principles 'failing' somehow, in fact they functioned exactly as they should, by electing the person who the local constituency voted for. Even if that person is an idiot, he managed to win a free and open election by the people.
So take your poorly constructed 'America isn't a democracy' nonsense elsewhere please.
So controlling other people's view on birth control and abortion is what religious freedom means to you?
Stop crying like a little wussy about being persecuted just because you can't force your warped view onto others.
It's not religion vs. non-religion, dumbass (Obama is Lutheran, Slapnut); it's about religion being your own business vs. assholes like you who try to dictate it for others.
You wouldn't know freedom if it fucked you in the ass. Practice what you preach. You talk the talk; now walk the walk.
Let me get this straight, this was an elected official?
I love democracy and all that, wouldn't have it any other way, but do we have to keep electing bigoted dumbasses?
you can’t practice what you believe about birth control, about abortion, this administration will tell you what religious practices you can participate in and what you can’t.
Nonsense. No one is forcing you to use birth control or have an abortion, or interfering in any way with your church's rituals and practices. All they're doing is saying you can't force your religious beliefs on birth control or abortion on other people who don't share your beliefs.
Gohmert charged that under Obama “you can’t practice what you believe about birth control, about abortion, this administration will tell you what religious practices you can participate in and what you can’t.
At first I thought this was just some paranoid nutjob. Then I realized it was a congressman. Then I got scared.
Seriously, people that are unhealthily paranoid and spout obvious and insane misinformation should NOT have a part in guiding this country!
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
To post a comment, you'll need to Sign in or Register . Making an account also allows you to claim credit for submitting quotes, and to vote on quotes and comments. You don't even need to give us your email address.
