Snowe challenger: Obama not Christian

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Sen. Olympia Snowe's tea party challenger in Maine doesn't believe President Obama is a Christian.

Scott D'Amboise told Frum Forum Obama has "Muslim sympathies."

"The President, he says he is Christian but yet he’s exercises a lot of Muslim faith too. Me personally, I’m a Christian conservative. I don’t hold any malice to anybody, whether they are Muslim, or Jewish, or Catholic, or anything else. I just believe that he needs to come forward with his views a little bit clearer.”

When asked whether D’Amboise believed that Obama was secretly a Muslim–or how holding Muslim sympathies might effect his policies–D’Amboise replied: “I don’t know if he is or isn’t, but I don’t believe he’s a Christian.”



Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0711/Snowe_challenger_Obama_not_Christian_.html

---

And will Olympia have the courage to stand up to this?

[Kingofalldems]

1. If he beats her in the primary I suspect a Democrat could win

Am I correct?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. It . . . . does . . . . not . . . . matter

Here's why:

The No Religious Test Clause of the United States Constitution is found in Article VI, paragraph 3, and states that:

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.

This has been interpreted to mean that no federal employee, whether elected or appointed, career or political, can be required to adhere to or accept any religion or belief. This clause immediately follows one requiring all federal and state officers to take an oath or affirmation of support to the Constitution, indicating that the requirement of such a statement does not imply any requirement by those so sworn to accept a particular religion or a particular doctrine. The option of giving an "affirmation" (rather than an "oath") can be interpreted as not requiring any metaphysical belief or as a nod to Mennonites and Quakers who would not swear oaths but would make affirmations.

The clause is cited by advocates of separation of church and state as an example of "original intent" of the Framers of the Constitution of avoiding any entanglement between church and state, or involving the government in any way as a determiner of religious beliefs or practices. This is significant because this clause represents the words of the original Framers, even prior to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Religious_Test_Clause

My friend, Roy Torcaso, went to the Supreme Court and they agreed with him: No Religious Test to hold office.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torcaso_v._Watkins

[indepat]

7. Only a "Christian" fuck-head would imo raise this issue or make such claim

:patriot:

[Raschel]

17. I think only a bigot would make such a claim.

[brooklynite]

9. Your... answer... does... not... matter...

The issue at hand is not whether the President is ELIGIBLE to be President. The insinuation is that the President doesn't DESERVE to be President because of his "foreign" inclinations, and the tea partiers to whom this message is being sent won't care about legal issues anyway.

[no_hypocrisy]

27. Then your contention is that if the President isn't a Christian, therefore he isn't an American?

[brooklynite]

64. Of course not...

Your original reply addressed the legal aspect of whether a Muslim was ineligible based on the Constitutional prohibition on a religious test for office; my point is that I don't think the tea bagger is bringing up a legal impediment; he's making an argument, and I think his audience is responding to an argument that to be non-Christian makes one morally ineligible to be President.

[atreides1]

21. You're right

There is no "religious test", but that hardly matters to the rabid fanatics that this idiot will attract...just like Bachmann saying that money slated for Black American farmers denied loans because of the color of their skin, should be given to idiots who keep building their houses in flood plains...most of whom are white!

So, as far as the racist or religious fanatics are concerned...this asshat and Bachmann are their heroes...and regardless of what the US Constitution says...the praise will only increase.

[No Elephants]

23. So true, yet it does matter if you sway voters and no one counters this bs.

If you think the average American, or even the average member of the House, knows everything the Constitution says without being told, you are mistaken.

And, if Obama were inclined to come back with this argument, he would have done so long ago.

[Thav]

26. That's not in the Tea Party's Constitution (tm)

We'll just gloss over that part, k? We'll focus on the Important Parts.

[kestrel91316]

67. More importantly, it's not in the bible, and that's the only law these freaks

acknowledge as legitimate.

[FedUp_Queer]

53. BINGO.

Instead of defending the fact that he's Christian, the CORRECT answer is your answer...it doesn't matter what he is...THAT'S the proper response.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. AND you'll see he also doesn't believe Catholics are Christians, if you pay attention.

"I’m a Christian conservative. I don’t hold any malice to anybody, whether they are Muslim, or Jewish, or Catholic, or anything else. I just believe that he needs to come forward with his views a little bit clearer."

But this one comes with plausible deniability. If called out on it, he'll say he didn't say that. Dog whistle. Saying without saying. Right-wing extremists are experts on it. I learned that from observing DU trolls.

[Wait Wut]

22. Nice catch.

In other words, "It's all fine by me as long as they think like I do".

Perfect teaper candidate.

[No Elephants]

28. Duh. How could Catholics possibly be Christians, when the Pope is the anti-Christ?

Mel Gibson even said Pope John Paul was the anti-Christ--and Gibson calls himself a Catholic.

I don't know how Gibson feels now that Pope John Paul has passed without fulfilling any of the prophesies about the anti-Christ, though. He probably has some rationalizations, just as they all do when their brilliant interpretations of Revelation don't pan out.

[arcane1]

4. "exercises a lot of Muslim faith too"?? WTF does that even mean???

I don't suppose someone could ask her that?

[No Elephants]

32. D'Amnoise to English translation: Obama does not openly disrespect all Muslims, like any

decent "Christian" neo theo.

[kestrel91316]

68. Translation: Obama won't come out and declare Islam to be the work of the devil.

[Fearless]

5. No one cares. 2008 called and wants their catch phrase back.

We're dealing with the President cutting social programs right now, which is just a teensy bit bigger than whatever fucking religion he or anyone has.

[No Elephants]

29. Well, that proves it. If he were a "real" Christian, he'd cut them a lot more.

[Fearless]

31. I didn't know it was "give unto Caesar what is yours" Lol!

[No Elephants]

36. It sort of was. The question was about paying taxes.

Jesus held up a coin and asked whose likeness appeared on it. The reply was "Caesar's." And his response was "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." However, before you pay a coin or anything else it taxes, it has to be yours.

[Fearless]

37. I meant "yours" as in everything you have. My bad.

[yellowcanine]

6. "And will Olympia have the courage to stand up to this?" If not she deserves to lose.

[trud]

10. Olympia is a good person

We are lucky to have her in the Senate. She's a sensible New Englander.

[yellowcanine]

14. I don't question her "goodness", But when "good people" keep quiet about bigotry they deserve to

lose. I assume she won't let this slide. But if she does.....

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lucinda]

15. I've always thought so too.

I've been paying attention to her for a few years now.

[MaineDem]

16. Ummm, okay... n/t

[No Elephants]

38. As in "sensible liberal?" Or are you being serious?

[grantcart]

52. and on every close important vote she votes with an evil caucus

Politics isn't an individual sport its a team support.

She openly lied about supporting the Health Care Bill stating repeatedly that she would support it if the public option was not part of the legislation but had a delayed 'trigger'.

They cut the public option out completely and she still voted against it saying that it was 'rushing the legislation through'.

Its 'sensible' ones like Snowe that give the Republican Party a thin veneer of respectibility and allows it enter country clubs without being laughed out the door.

In that sense she is the worst of the Republicans as she appears to give the Party balance while in reality voting for the worst of the Republican legislation ever offered.

If Snowe had simply stood up and defended Warren it would have provided enough of a split to give her a fighting chance to get confirmed. She sat on her hands while real sensible New Englanders get thrown to the wolves.

She is neither sensible nor courageous and has had zero impact on mimizing the radical nature of the caucus that she conntinues to support in vote after vote, she could leave the caucus but doesn't.

Ironically she has become docile in her votes because she wanted to avoid a primary contest, which she now has anyway.

[trud]

56. recent bills

3/3/2011--Introduced.

Medicare Mental Health Access Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to treat as a physician, for Medicare purposes, a clinical psychologist acting within the scope of a psychologist's license (or other state law authorization), but only with respect to the furnishing of clinical psychologists services which the psychologist is legally authorized to perform by the state.

2/10/2011--Introduced.

Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to revise provisions governing the importation of prescription drugs. Waives the limitation on importation of prescription drugs that have been exported from the United States.

4/8/2011--Introduced.

Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to require a group health plan that provides medical and surgical benefits and also provides benefits for prosthetics and custom orthotics to offer such prosthetics and custom orthotics in the same manner as applicable to medical and surgical benefits. Prohibits separate financial requirements or more restrictive treatment limitations. Requires a health plan that does not provide coverage for benefits outside of a network to ensure that such provider network is adequate to ensure enrollee access to prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and related services provided by appropriately credentialed practitioners and accredited suppliers.


Well, she;s just scum, I can see that.

[grantcart]

61. Oh she introduces lots of good bills

Here is where she introduced a bill for a trigger on the public option

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/olympia_snowes_trigger_amendme.html

Here Snowe explains in detail how the current system is collapsing, how the current bill incorporates Republican and Democratic ideas, that it will reduce suffering of real people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3rdPOkY4_M

Here is her saying that she will support the right policy even if she is the only Republican


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPd6B6OCwP0


here is Snowe saying that she didn't leave the Republican Party but that the Party has changed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPrqJKLYQBA&feature=relmfu

Here is from Senator Snowe's Senate website where she argues that the Health Care Bill is bad for "job creators" (the right wing name for billionaires. Here she is support Hatch's criticism of the HCB which is a double irony because when Clinton promoted health care reform Hatch co sponsored a health care bill very similar to the bill that was eventually passed.

Here her capitulation is complete as she is now the spokeswoman for the Republican Caucus going on Face the Nation absolutely lying that it is more expansive than what was in her committee. It is less expansive than her ammendment that would have allowed for a trigger for a public option.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorOlympiaSnowe?blend=22&ob=5#p/u/36/Jw4XuMhyaoQ

Snowe is big on talk, big on sound bites and on important votes goes with her caucus all the time giving the Republican Party a reasonable vaneer that bears no relation to the reality.

[Maine-ah]

8. Snowe will win in a land slide.

Mainers like her...well, enough Mainers like her.

[MaineDem]

19. Yup. Sadly. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

11. Wow! Are there enough drooling idiots in Maine to elect him?

http://static.bangordailynews.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/CONGRESS-414x600.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/1249/1153653153_af5ec98281.jpg
He does look like a prime teabagger, for sure.

How can he possibly substantiate gibberish like this?

"The President, he says he is Christian but yet he’s exercises a lot of Muslim faith too."

How the heck do they even make it out of their houses by themselves? Unbelievably stupid.

[KamaAina]

12. Well, there were enough to elect LePage

albeit in a needless three-way race.

[kestrel91316]

69. Hey, he passed third grade, so that's all that matters (and he writes like it, too).

[kiranon]

13. Are these the new code words for Obama is not American born or American enough?

Good grief. He needs to go back into the woodwork where he belongs IMHO.

[No Elephants]

18. Remind us, D"Amnoise, WHY President Obama has to come forward with his religious views a bit clearer

Read your Constitution, D'Ambigot. It specifies clearly, no religious test for a President.

Sit down and shut up.

Ooops. Another Teabagger who pretends to be about the Constitution and has no idea what that beautiful document says, let alone means.

Hope we're running a decent Democrat against Snowe?

[Roy Rolling]

20. one thing for sure

I'm sure he's not a hypocrite Christian phony like the D'Amboise---Obama has compassion for others like Jesus. Jesus never said "have compassion for the rich"

[No Elephants]

41. Cutting Medicare, Social Security and fuel subsidies for the poor.

[RZM]

24. He's doing several things here

One is the tired 'Obama is not one of us' red meat for the right that has died down a bit since the birther movement jumped the shark, but is still out there. Another is for the hardcore fundies - the idea that only very devout protestants are 'real' Christians. The last is the more subtle accusation (and not just for the right) that Obama's faith is for show and that he adopted it for political reasons when he began his career in public life in Chicago.

The first is hogwash. The second I have no opinion on. The third might have some truth to it, though the only people who know for sure are the president and those close to him. Though to be fair, skin-deep religious faith often comes with the territory when you want to have a political career here.

[Journeyman]

25. If he holds no malice, why's he hold truck with such discrimination?. . .

[SteveM]

30. Another GOPer punk-bully. nt

[Heywood J]

33. "Christian conservative" means he takes the Bible literally.

The Bible compels him to hold malice to many people - it even prescribes violence under numerous circumstances. Jesus did not completely abrogate the Old Testament.

Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.

Do we really want anyone in public office who thinks that's his duty?

[No Elephants]

43. I very much disagree with your definition of Christian conservative.

"Christian" conservatives of the RW twist the Bible to suit their agenda and ignore huge chunks of the teachings of Jesus.

[Heywood J]

71. OK. I'll give you that.

"Free-market parables" and all...

[Frisbee]

34. And this jerk needs to come forward with his...

racist views. A-hole.

[Raschel]

39. Agreed. When Jack Johnson became the first Black world heavyweight boxing champ

they did everything they could to discredit his win.

(from Wiki)In 1910, former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries came out of retirement and said, "I feel obligated to the sporting public at least to make an effort to reclaim the heavyweight championship for the white race. . . . I should step into the ring again and demonstrate that a white man is king of them all."

Jackson beat Jeffries. In the US, many states and cities banned the exhibition of the Johnson-Jeffries film. The movement to censor Johnson's victory took over the country within three days after the fight. It was a spontaneous movement, mobilized by the Christian lobby and police forces.

Doesn't this just sound like the teabaggers? And remember how schools wouldn't let students listen to the President's speech? I know this is not politics, but it's the same old tired stuff.
It's just despicable that this still goes on in 2011!

[jaysunb]

35. Neither was Jesus

:evilfrown:

[larwdem]

40. when

when are the fucking people from the blue state of maine going to put a dem in that seat

[Butch350]

42. If you don't hold any malice - then STFU!

[Roy Rolling]

44. Amen

Well said (STFU above). . .

[getting old in mke]

45. With a name like "D'Amboise"

the man is clearly a foreigner and even worse, French. No doubt a damn crypto-Socialist!

:sarcasm:

[Iliyah]

46. And neither

is he, no Christian acts like most the gopers.

[SoapBox]

47. I would be listening for her to simply say..."Outrageous!"

...will she have the balls?

[johnd83]

48. There is no requirement to be Christian

There is no requirement to be Christian to hold office. People who think that other religions are evil have never had a Muslim or Jewish friend. Most non-Christian Americans are happy to be here for the same reason that Christians are.

[mwooldri]

49. I don't believe Scott D'Amboise is a Christian. And so what?

Religion should be SEPARATE from politics. I don't care who you worship or not.

Mark.

[MadMaddie]

50. Ah are we back to that old meme?

[and-justice-for-all]

51. Well I wish that were true...

Scott D'Amboise however is a christofascist.

[callous taoboy]

55. I don't care I don't care I don't care I don't fucking goddamn care!

Take your religion and shove it firmly where the sun don't shine.

[demigoddess]

57. will someone explain to this idiot that Obama doesn't have to

be 'Christian' to be in office, any office in the federal government.

[NorthCarolina]

58. Actually, I don't believe him to be a devout Christian either, beyond the lip service that Politics

has come to demand. Be that as it may, I really could care less whether he is or isn't a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Pastafarian.

[noiretextatique]

59. in other words

Sen. Olympia Snowe's tea party challenger in Maine doesn't believe President Obama is a BLACK.

Scott D'Amboise told Frum Forum Obama has "BLACK sympathies."

"The President, he says he is Christian but yet he’s exercises a lot of BLACK faith too. Me personally, I’m a Christian conservative. I don’t hold any malice to anybody, whether they are BLACK, or Jewish, or Catholic, or anything else. I just believe that he needs to come forward with his views a little bit clearer.”

When asked whether D’Amboise believed that Obama was secretly a BLACK–or how holding BLACK sympathies might effect his policies–D’Amboise replied: “I don’t know if he is or isn’t, but I don’t believe he’s a WHITE PERSON.”

[alp227]

60. Me: Religion is irrelevant n/t

[polmaven]

62. WTF

are "Muslim sympathies??????? :shrug:

[sakabatou]

63. OFFS!

[BigDemVoter]

65. Let's pray Snow gets beaten. . .

As somebody has already posted, a Democrat could beat that tea party asshole, and Olympia Snow is nothing more than a whoremonger, pardon my language.

[jpak]

66. D’Amboise is Arabic for "Douchebag"

yup

[TxVietVet]

70. Maine elected a goofball for governor, so why not elect another teabaggin' idiot for Senate.

That ought to work really well. Such a good conservanazi christian that he claims to be. Probably one of those 6 or 7 commandment christians. He only obeys the ones he likes. F*ckin' idiot.