Fox News is an alleged "fair & balanced" "news" network that never wastes an opportunity to feature a seemingly endless supply of persecuted Christians. Still simmering from the bogus outrage about an MSNBC host supposedly demanding that the bible be banned from presidential inaugurations, the church of the perpetually outraged has their tidy Christian whiteys in a bunch because a public school science teacher was, according to Fox tidy Christian whitey king Todd Starnes, told to take down Christian religious visuals from her class. Items included a poster with a bible verse superimposed on an American flag and OMG, a Christian quote from the GOP lord of lords, Ronald Reagan. While it appears that this stuff crosses the line of separation of church and state, not so for the Christian right who received warm fellowship and validation from alleged Fox News anchor, Megyn Kelly on today's "must see" America Live "news" show.
In reporting a "new debate about religion and free speech," Kelly described what is in Starnes piece; i.e. that the teacher received a "counseling letter" which informed her that if she didn't take down certain items, including OMG a quote from President Ronald Reagan, she'd be fired. The teacher, Joelle Silver, a devout Christian who believes her First Amendment rights were violated, is suing although, unmentioned by Kelly, the school district has yet to see a copy of the suit. In the video Silver said it's important to "fight for the rights people have died for." (Christianity in public schools?)
Kelly introduced Jay Sekulow, of the right wing AmericanCenter for Law and Justice, a former Romney advisor who has claimed that President Obama was threatening military voters and who has promoted laws criminalizing homosexuality. Kelly listed the reasons for the school's concern such as bible verse posters and mention of Adam and Eve during a science lesson. She provided the Ronald Reagan quote which is rather religious: “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under." (As Fox always teaches us, we are a Christian nation).
Sekulow said that he didn't think this was a violation of the "Establishment Clause." The chyron was sure to get the Fox Christian soldiers into battle mode: "NY Teacher Forced to Remove Bible Verses, Reagan Quote from Classroom." After Sekulow expressed skepticism that this case has any substance, he asked Kelly, what is in that [Reagan] quote that is creating a constitutional crisis?" Looking smug and righteous, good conservative Christian Kelly, shouted "staying true to what you believe." (Uh, Megyn, Regan was hardly a paragon of organized religion). Sekulow interpreted the Christian verses as merely admonitions to do good and not an establishment of religion.
Kelly chuckled as Sekulow accused the district of treating religion like "asbestos in the ceiling tile." Kelly expressed dismay about the request that the teacher remove post-it notes, on her desk, with inspirational messages. Kelly mentioned how, in the McCreary case, which ruled that placement of the 10 Commandments in school was unconstitutional, Justice Scalia "went ballistic in his defense." Kelly got all histrionic when she channeled Scalia's feeling that "this is nuts." She claimed that "there is nothing in our history to suggest that the Founders wanted neutrality and non-religion." (Sorry Megyn, SCOTUS says otherwise!)
Sekulow asserted that the Founders didn't want hostility towards religion. (Uh, Jay, John Adams had some juicy things to say about Papist superstition!) In arguing for this teacher's religious posters, he asked if "In God We Trust" would be prohibited in classrooms. Naturally he whined about the affront to Ronald Reagan in the demand that the sacred one's words by taken down. He opined that the school overreated and is showing "hostility toward religion." He accused schools of "ignoring the religious history of America." (Uh, this is a science teacher) Kelly whined that there is no neutrality when it comes to church and state when one considers that a chaplain opens each congressional day with a prayer.
So Megyn, you'd be fine if one of your children's teachers put up some nice Koranic verses on the wall of their classroom? But yeah, America is a Christian nation. Keep saying it and maybe folks will believe it. Then again....
- without (rather) than with the aid of government.” James Madison, 1822. -
A good case to stop church tax exemption.
If Mitt what’s-hiz-ass were POTUS now I’d support him daily readin’ that Mormon stuff they got from the Gold page thingies! Like FDR fireside chats wuz done back then. But Mitt could Tweet ’em from the White House Twitter place. Honest!!!!
Megyn Kelly is scoffing at something that’s IN the US Constitution?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— US Constitution, Amendment I
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
— US Constitution, Article VI, Clause 3
It appears as though these rightwingnuts don’t love the Constitution as much as they claim . . .
.
Seriously.
she reads what is scrolling down in front of her.
Her ‘opinions’ are gleaned from the morning talking
points e-mail.
Her ‘news station’ is experiencing a mass exodus of
viewers who have to be getting sick of the constant “ALERTS” about nothing! The doom and gloom message is old and stale. This is indeed a good sign that Americans are waking up!!
