Rand Paul to Faith Leaders: 1st Amendment ‘Doesn’t Say Keep Religion out of Gov’t’ (Congress, speech)

[knowledgeiskey]

Libertarian? Don't think so. Sounds more like he's a theocratic Republican. I told libertarians from Day 1 that this guy was far from a libertarian.

[Rggr]

Need the rest of the statement and some context before signing on to the outrage.

[swagger]

As usual, knowledgeiskey is demonstrating an acute lack of the same.

[knowledgeiskey]

Originally Posted by Rggr

Need the rest of the statement and some context before signing on to the outrage.

Rand Paul to Faith Leaders: 1st Amendment ‘Doesn’t Say Keep Religion out of Gov’t’ | Mediaite

[pknopp]

He might not be but the statement is factual. Factual statements would to me cause me to believe you were something other than a (D) or (R).

[bawac34618]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

Libertarian? Don't think so. Sounds more like he's a theocratic Republican. I told libertarians from Day 1 that this guy was far from a libertarian.

A true libertarian would be unelectable. The primary base of the Republican Party today is the religious right, so to even run a semi-legitimate campaign, a candidate has to have support from the religious right.

[Rggr]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

Rand Paul to Faith Leaders: 1st Amendment ‘Doesn’t Say Keep Religion out of Gov’t’ | Mediaite

A bit of a fine line but he's not wrong. It would depend on the specifics of the action.

[lucknow]

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.

He's correct. The text of the amendment does not say "keep religion out of government". Read it, it's pretty clear what it says.

[TheDusty]

That is technically true, though.

There is a difference between saying religion can be an aspect of government and saying we need a theocracy. I'm a secularist to the bone, and even I recognize this. If congress wants to pray, who cares? If government wants to give marriage to churches, fine by me. It's when people are forced to accept or deny a certain religion that I start to have a problem. As a rule, the best way of avoiding this is simply keeping religion and government as far away from each other as possible. But if congress wants to say the word 'God' while in the capital building, that's fine. Freedom of religion has to extend to the politicians, even if politicians are much more bank account than they are human.

[pknopp]

Originally Posted by TheDusty

That is technically true, though.

There is a difference between saying religion can be an aspect of government and saying we need a theocracy.

If he ever says that I will be on board condemning him.