GHWB's (GWB's Daddy) comment about atheists...twenty years ago

by nvrgnbk 12 Replies latest members adult

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  nvrgnbk

  No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

  When George Bush was campaigning for the presidency, as incumbent vice-president, one of his stops was in Chicago, Illinois, on August 27, 1987. At O'Hare Airport he held a formal outdoor news conference. There Robert I. Sherman, a reporter for the American Atheist news journal, fully accredited by the state of Illinois and by invitation a participating member of the press corps covering the national candidates, had the following exchange with then-Vice-President Bush.

  
  

  Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are atheists? Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me. Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists? Bush: No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God. Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church? Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not very high on atheists.

  
  

  On October 29, 1988, Mr. Sherman had a confrontation with Ed Murnane, cochairman of the Bush-Quayle '88 Illinois campaign. This concerned a lawsuit Mr. Sherman had filed to stop the Community Consolidated School District 21 (Chicago, Illinois, suburb) from forcing his first-grade atheist son to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States "one nation under God" (Bush's phrase). The following conversation took place.

  
  

  Sherman: American Atheists filed the Pledge of Allegiance lawsuit yesterday. Does the Bush campaign have an official response to this filing? Murnane: It's bullshit. Sherman: What is bullshit? Murnane: Everything that American Atheists does, Rob, is bullshit. Sherman: Thank you for telling me what the official position of the Bush campaign is on this issue. Murnane: You're welcome

  http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/ghwbush.htm
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  Junction-Guy

  I agree too, it's BS.
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  bluesapphire

  OMG that was too funny. Dont they know how these comments make them look? If I was a Christian I would be embarassed by their bigotted stupidity.
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  nvrgnbk

  GWB on the subject of prayer:

  It is fitting that we have a National Prayer Breakfast. It is the right thing to do, because this is a nation of prayer. I know, from firsthand knowledge, that this is a nation of prayer. See, I work the ropelines a lot, and I hear all kinds of things on the ropelines. But the thing I hear the most, the comment I hear the most from our fellow citizens, regardless of their political party or philosophy, is, Mr President, I pray for you and your family, and so does my family. That's what I hear. I turn to them without hesitation and say, it is the greatest gift you can give anybody, is to pray on their behalf. -- George W Bush, although the Encarta World Dictionary of the English Language displays noknown meaning for the word ropelines, this is where our President tells us he obtains his "Statistics of Small Numbers" with which he backs up his claim that such a large percentage of the populace practices the religious ritual of prayer to such an extent and with such fervance as to justify describing the United States as "a nation of prayer," during his speech before the 51st Annual Congressional Prayer Breakfast, quoted from "President Bush Addresses the 51st Annual Prayer Breakfast" (February 6, 2003)
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  5go

  GHWB was also so quoted as saying he wished the office of president had the power to do domestically as it does overseas.

  Now that is scary!
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  Trygon

  bluesapphire, I am a Christian and yes, I am embarassed by their bigotted stupidity, and their ignorance. Though I am not American and don't plan to be so I'll (gladly) never know what having a fool for a leader will be like, though Brown is close to that but at least he has good intentions and is not an anti-all non Christian peeps war seeker.
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  Jourles

  Is it really that difficult to understand the meaning of separation of church and state?? Obviously so. Why do these presidents even bother with swearing an oath to uphold the constitution? It has become a worthless piece of paper as far as recent history is concerned.
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  5go

  Is it really that difficult to understand the meaning of separation of church and state?? Obviously so. Why do these presidents even bother with swearing an oath to uphold the constitution? It has become a worthless piece of paper as far as recent history is concerned.

  Honestly the constitution became that way with the prohibition. Amendments were not supposed to ban commerce and force ones beliefs on the people. They were intended to secure freedoms, or fix future governmental problems written into constitution by the previous writers.
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  brinjen

  Bit of a contrast compared to Rudd, in his victory speech he pledged to be a "Prime Minister to all Australians".
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  ninja

  the bushes arent christians....they are in "the order of death"........would any christian do the following?...
  
  That being said, our president has far more to answer to than just secrecy.
  
  The initiation rituals, while secret, have been leaked by errant Bonesmen disgusted with the organization they have joined. Apparently initiates are forced to lie in a coffin with ribbons around their genitals and recount their sexual history to the other 14 initiates while masturbating.
  
  This ceremony is known as "connubial bliss" and is intended to cement a bond between fellow initiates.
  
  Bonesman are also impelled to steal artifacts to add to the Tomb's hoard. A favorite target is human remains. In fact W's grandfather, who traded with the Nazi's during World War II (the SS wore the death's head), is famous within the Order for digging up and stealing the remains of Geronimo and placing his skull in a display case in the tomb.