Republican Lawmaker Walks out on First Muslim Prayer Ever in Texas Senate

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http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/218

Republican Lawmaker Walks out on First Muslim Prayer Ever in Texas Senate
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Thu, 04/05/2007 - 5:41pm. Alerts

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

Some Republicans sure hate Muslims. We all remember Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) criticizing incoming congressman Keith Ellison - the first Muslim member of Congress - for wanting to use the Koran during an unofficial part of his swearing-in ceremony. But Texas State Sen. Dan Patrick has taken ignorance to a new level.

Patrick, the same fellow who recently proposed buying babies off of new mothers for $500 to discourage abortions, walked out on the first Muslim prayer ever held in the Texas Senate.

"I think that it's important that we are tolerant as a people of all faiths, but that doesn't mean we have to endorse all faiths, and that was my decision," he said later. "I surely believe that everyone should have the right to speak, but I didn't want my attendance on the floor to appear that I was endorsing that."

Imam Yusuf Kavakci, who was actually invited by a Jewish State Senator, said he can't understand why anyone would have a problem with his prayer or with the text he chose, on the mercy of God.

But Dan Patrick wasn't the only Republican to complain. "I'm shocked that the day before the Easter recess that a Muslim is leading the prayer," said Harris County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill. "They should be having a celebration about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."

That's what you get from a party led by George Bush, who has called his war a "crusade" and the enemy "Islamic fascists." With bigots like these, we can see why some Muslim nations are not always particularly friendly with us.