Periodically I am compelled to recognize an individual in American politics or government whose efforts on behalf of theocracy are, well, extraordinary. This week we recognize the efforts of U.S. Rep. John Hoesttler (R-IN) who has pushed through legislation in the House that would deny funding to enforce the ruling of a federal court which declared that a display of a monument to Ten Commandments in a court house in his district was unconstitutional. He also declared on the House floor, that “Democrats cannot help denigrating and demonizing Christians.” Finally, in a House committee meeting, he referred to “the mythical wall [of] separation between church and state that’s been erected by the courts.” (Although he did not say this last item this week, my judges have ruled that it counts since the remark came to our attention this week.)
Here are the details.
The National Jewish Democratic Council reports: “During a debate… surrounding an amendment by Rep. David Obey (D-WI) to fully examine allegations of proselytizing and religious intolerance at the United States Air Force Academy, six-term Republican Rep. John Hostettler (IN) rose to assert that ‘Democrats can’t help denigrating and demonizing Christians.’ [Rush transcript.] Rep. Obey, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, interrupted Hostettler’s deeply disturbing remarks and demanded that they be formally retracted; Hostettler ultimately agreed to retract one sentence from his diatribe.”
“Earlier in his remarks, Hostettler discussed the drive by Democrats to erase every ‘vestige’ of Christianity from America; he also prefaced his remarks by noting that ‘The long war on Christianity today continues on the floor of the House of Representatives.’ During a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee on May 18th, while debating a similar amendment by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Hostettler referred to ‘the mythical wall separation (sic) between church and state that’s been erected by the courts.'”
Regarding Obey’s amendment, Americans United for Separation of Church and State reports that Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) plans to strip the bill of the amendment and replace it with a watered down version.
Meanwhile, Hosteller has been active on another front as well. The Interfaith Alliance reports: “Last week, as the House debated an appropriations bill for the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce (H.R.2862), Rep. Hostettler (R-IN) introduced an amendment to prohibit any funds from being used to enforce Russelburg v. Gibson County. A federal court in that case ruled that a courthouse in Rep. Hostettler’s district containing a Ten Commandments display violated the First Amendment and had to be removed. During the debate, Rep. Hostettler stated that the ruling was unconstitutional, and inconsistent with ‘the Christian heritage of the United States.'”
“Following the court ruling, Rep. Hostettler wrote President George W. Bush, asking for support to deny law enforcement from carrying out the order. The matter was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, which informed Hostettler that law enforcement officials are obligated to enforce court orders under federal law. President Bush has said that he will uphold the court’s ruling that Rep. Hostettler seeks to defy.” (Hostettler says he is “disappointed.”)
“Rep. Hostettler sponsored a similar amendment regarding a Ten Commandments monument in Alabama in 2003 that passed the House but was rejected in the Senate.”
It remains to be seen what the Senate will do about Hostettler’s current effort.
Congratulations to Rep. John Hosttetler, Republican of Indiana — Theocrat of the Week.
Nominations from readers for Theocrat of the Week are always welcome, and may be e-mailed to me c/o my web site, FrederickClarkson.com.
So many theocrats, so little time.
you must remember that during 1920’s it had largest state membership in KKK ” that’s the kind of Kristians about whom Hostettler seems so concerned.
He is no less deserving for his Koncern for the Kristians of his Kongressional District
Eugene Debs was also from Indiana and ran for Prez on the Socialist ticket before the KKK backlash (which was promoted by the American govt against unions, etc.)
Not only were blacks lynched, union agitators were lynched in this country, too…I’m not talking about Indiana.
Debs was also put in prison by Wilson for speaking out against WW1…just to add a little perspective, since I’m living in Indiana now, tho not from here.
If I were not at IU, however, there is no way I would live here.
I detest Hofstadler, or however you spell his name. He also lied about abortion causing breast cancer. He’s such an idiot, and an embarrassment.
Teacherken,
Not only did they have the largest state membership, they controlled the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Indiana government during that time.
Ah, how I fondly (snark intended) remember my father talking about when my grandfather told him about the glory days of the KKK controlling the state of Indiana. It was not until my father found out that my mother was 1/2 breed Native American that he became the monsterous reptilian animal that he was to his wife and children. Seems Daddy dearest was a pure blood enthusiast, you know that mongrel blood impugned his blood lines.
I have no love for Indiana or the many reichwing wingnuts that it has produced over the years.
I also don’t want to insult the many wonderful people who do live there that are subject to these theocratic imbeciles who manage to get elected from that state.
Thanks Frederick for your oh so enjoyable Theocrat of the week.
you are very welcome. Alas, there will certainly be more! The nominations are aleady coming in!
Thank you, and teacher ken, for reminding us of the ugly — and recent history of the political power of the KKK in America, and not only in the south.
as it happens, writing this Thursday AM, while walking down Penna Ave SE last night, I walked right by Mr. Obnxoiousness himself — it is a good thing my wife was not with me, or she would have been in his face. When I acught up with her one block later, she told me she would have stopped him, told him she was a devout Orthodox Christian and a Proud Democrat, and he needed to grwo up and boraden his understanding of what Christianity is before he made a fool of himself again.
I always get so confused about this. In the 10 Commandments, doesn’t it say not to worship any graven images. And aren’t 10 Commandments monuments graven images?
I get so confused. So you want to erect a monument that breaks one of the commandments.
This entire issue confuses me as well.
I know many liberal Christians that seem to be concerned about issues the Far Right Christians ignore; Social issues, civil rights, freedom of religion.
The last one seems pretty important. How come these people do not understand that Christianity is not under attack, just the Government sponsoring of a National Religion? Protecting this right protects them as well.
If, in the future, the Mormons gained as much power as they have (and this is not an impossibility) they would be screeching about their loss of freedom.
Thanks for the info. I don’t tend to search this out as it tends to give me the willies, not to mention a severe headache from trying to follow the flawed logic.
well, its simpler than meets the eye and ear.
If you believe that God intends and requires one to evangelize and that it is one’ mission to Christianize all areas of life, then such matters as separation of church and state, and the rights of others, stand in the way of that mission. To declare religious persecution or a violation of one’s religious freedom does ring hollow from the stand point of equal rights under the law — but not if you hold to their world view.