Fox News loves Jesus and hates atheists. Fox News loves the Pledge of Allegiance and hates anybody who would challenge the Pledge. And now that atheists have reminded the Florida school system that students have a right to opt-out of the Pledge, Tucker Carlson has the perfect vehicle with which to attack Jesus and Pledge hating atheists!

Today's outrage du jour was about how an atheist group has reminded the Florida school system that, in response to legislation that goes into effect in July, they must adequately inform students that they have the right to not participate in the Pledge. Presently, a student can opt-out, but teachers can force them to stand and put their hands over their heart. The policy change shouldn't be a big but uber-patriot Tucker Carlson is mighty, mighty pissed!

The segment began with a GREAT BIG AMERICAN FLAG splashed across the screen, while somber music played. Tucker Carlson informed us that, in response to Florida's new law, a Florida teacher believes that "freedom isn't free." He explained the new law and asked his guest, Debi Zacharias, "Of all the problems besetting America, and there's so many I'm not going to begin the list, why do atheists believe saying the Pledge of Allegiance is such a massive problem in this country?"  Debi: "I think that it's a threat to their belief system. She provided historical background on the Pledge which she said, goes back "hundreds and hundreds of years." Fact Check - It was written in 1892 - hardly "hundreds and hundreds."

Debi pontificated that this issue is important to her, as a teacher, because she believes "students need to show respect for our country" because of those "who have given their lives so that kids can "have the freedom that we have now in this great nation." Tucker added his patriotic pontification: "We're importing millions upon millions of immigrants from other countries to our country and they're sending their children to public schools. Isn't it important to teach them what this country stands for, to bring them in to our common American culture and isn't the Pledge part of how we do it."

Zacharias ranted about respect and freedom. She lamented that it's "deplorable" that we "have to fight for our freedom." (Right, the freedom to not stand up when the Pledge is said!) Carlson read part of the American Atheists letter to the Florida school system. The banner reminded the viewers of this treasonous outrage: "Patriotism Putters Out."  Zacharias cited court challenges about standing for the Pledge and added, "but all of that has been null and void because they have proven that it is constitutional to stand for the Pledge."

Carlson asked why atheists are "imposing their views on the rest of us." Debi, of course, agreed and whined about "imposition on our freedom and our constitutional rights as well, as you, know, our traditions...and the respect for our country is very much on the wayside." Carlson: "How decadent is that, how decadent to attack the country that makes this conversation possible in the first place."

It's no wonder that Fox viewers are so uninformed. Debi is wrong about the constitutionality of requiring students to participate in the Pledge. Debi and Tucker either don't know or conveniently omitted the fact that in 2006 a federal district court ruled that students don't have to participate in the Pledge. But when you're bashing atheists and pimping patriotism, Fox don't need no stinking facts! How decadent!