Posted on 08/27/2006 10:20:17 AM PDT by dukeman
MIAMI -- U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris told a weekly religious journal that God and the nation's founding fathers did not intend the country be "a nation of secular laws" and made other comments that have drawn criticism in recent days.
The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate also said that if Christians are not elected to political office politicians will "legislate sin," citing abortion and gay marriage as two examples in an interview published Thursday.
Harris made the comments in the Florida Baptist Witness, the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention. The publication interviewed political candidates, asking them questions about religion and their positions on issues.
Separation of church and state is "a lie we have been told," Harris said in the interview, adding that separating religion and politics is "wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers."
"If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin," Harris added.
Among those critical of the comments were U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, and State Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton. Both are Jewish.
Wasserman Schultz told the Orlando Sentinel that she was "disgusted" by the comments, and Slosberg demanded an apology.
Republicans also criticized Harris, calling the comments offensive and not representative of the party.
"Congresswoman Harris encourages Americans from all walks of life and faith to participate in our government," said a brief statement from Harris' campaign, responding to the criticism. "She continues to be an unwavering advocate of religious rights and freedoms."
Harris' opponents in the Sept. 5 GOP Senate primary also gave interviews to the Florida Baptist Witness but made more general statements on their faith.
The interview also included Harris' reasons for running and response to issues like stem cell research, the Terri Schiavo case and other topics.
Part of what Harris is doing here is appealing to conservative dems who live in north Florida and particularly in the panhandle. These are the folks who went for Bush in 2000 and 2004 and they enjoyed seeing her hold up that possum two weeks ago at the possum festival. They are light years apart from the northeastern lib transplants who inhabit southeast Florida. The national dems are totally flummoxed by the idea that a registered dem could vote for a Republican and they trip over it every time.
BTW, your comments on this thread make the most sense and I started this damn thing!
I lurk over on DU fairly frequently. You would not believe how the anti-Semite knives came out over there when the IDF went after Hezbollah. DU had its own civil war. I saw many posts by Jewish DUers seriously questioning their desire to associate any longer with the other moonbats.
Maybe it would do you good to spend some time living under the rule of the Taliban. Then you can come back and repeat that statement. Tell us how difficult it is to see the difference between Christians and Taliban. Unless your head comes back before the rest of you.
Since when am I forbidden to consider a politician's religion when deciding who to vote for? I must have missed that Constitutional Amendment. Can you give me a breakdown of who voted for and against it? Am I allowed to use their voting records, even on issues involving religion, in deciding my vote? Are there any loopholes? Can I vote against a politician who voted for that amendment, using the excuse that they altered the Constitution, thereby skirting the whole religion issue?
>Maybe it would do you good to spend some time living under the rule of the Taliban.
I hope we can save this person in time.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A86.OSFBOvJEhyAALWkBP88F;_ylu=X3oDMTA4OTFrc2RzBHNlYwNwbHly/SIG=129e3l57b/EXP=1156811713/**http://drinkthis.typepad.com/main/files/beheading.wmv
Maybe you mention the fact that it was not Christians doing the sawing. Some people have a hard time telling the difference.
I thought the sound track was enough.
It was more than enough for me, but then, I know the difference between Talibans and Christians. Anyone who hates all things Christian might think they were singing hymns, as it all sound the same to them.
Don't worry, they are hard at work to get that post deleted.
I wouldn't doubt it. Some people forgot 9/11 on 9/12, and they want us all to forget what's happening now, before it's even over.
Wow, the Jesusphobes have came out in full force.
Jesus said, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" (Mat. 11:6; Luke 7:23).
Why don't you just nail her to the cross buddy?
Jesus promised his followers, "you will be hated by all nations for My names sake. And then many will be offended" (Mat. 24:9-10).
She would have my vote in a heart beat if I could. You can vote your bloodthirsty taliban state godless society in if you wish.
Gentiles (as symbols of the godless) and sodomites are called "dogs" in the Bible (Mat. 7:6; 15:26; Deut. 23:17-18; Ps. 22:16; 59:5-6; Phil. 3:2; Rev. 22:15). Perhaps I should scream and shout about it to the Jews on this forum for dare letting Jews think such of us.... Perhaps I should (and I do) understand that our rightousness and such, we are dogs and filthy rags to Jesus. But He loves us anyway... He loves the Jews, the lowest of society people, and cared so much for us that he died on the cross for our sins (everyone that will come to him). Even Jesus called us dogs (lap dogs) in Matthew when dealing with the woman that would not let him alone, but her faith (which he called great) pervailed. Jesus had bread for his children (the Jews) but found that us gentiles were happy to just have the scraps that fall from the table.
Talk about a group that whines when given the full loaf, and how even the scraps were worthy of great praise. Heck, any fool will see that when Jesus breaks bread and shares it, baskets of it are left over. Twice this was demostrated in the NT.
Perhaps the Jews are screaming because they fear Christians hate them? Huh... I know of no other religion that purely and simply says "BE ISRAELS FRIEND" or else. No other group has supported Israel as soundly as Christians, even after being spit on continually (as this thread has shown). No other religion says to let unbelievers alone (other than to preach to them), as far as religious tolerance goes, you can't beat a Christian. Yes, they will not be shut up, but as far a forcing their religion on others, our very Constitution shows that Christians don't care to to that, God wants people to come to Him of their own free will.
We just saw two Fox reporters that were FORCED to covert for show anyways (though, no one can really force your heart to do what it doesn't want to do), and you want to draw parrallels between the two. Civil words fail me sir. Jesus called people "fools" but never without reason. You give a good case for reason.
He loves the Jews, the lowest of society people
It should read (in keeping of my theme of Jesus calling us gentiles "dogs")... He loves the Jews, AND the lowest of society people (Us Gentiles)...
Christians respect the Jews far better than we have been treated by them, and for good reason, we know Jesus was a Jew and that they were His choosen people they followed Him.
.....and Thomas Jefferson?
Moses was Jewish and I think he knew something about sin too. Sin is heavy, especially on big stone tablets.
When it's GOP v. GOP, it's nastier than we are just here bashing all the democrat candidates.
If the GOP doesn't recognize that their base has a problem with republicans in name only, their base is going to walk out, like walking out of a bad marriage.
Attention freepers: I do not worship Katherine Harris. I admire her that she's been through a lot this year with her father passing away and the media making her life a living hell.
She's still standing. She has stayed the course. Who's afraid of freedom of religion? Friends of the Constitution, Katherine Harris enjoys freedom of religion too and she's an inclusive person and this article is just another attempt of the media to SMEAR HER.
Good grief Doctor... you have been here long enough to read more than one tiny sound bit from TJ to know that he didn't want a secular America anymore than the rest did. When not tromping around Europe, his very actions and words proved it..
Here is just a small tidbit of threads on FR about this...
America is a Christian Nation?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1192745/posts
Religion and the Constitution (Kinda long but it's an important subject)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b1e98126aee.htm
Scalia: Church-state separation didn't protect Jews in Holocaust
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1313826/posts
THE BIG LIBERAL LIE (Separation of Church and State)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a54a9ed63d1.htm
The Mythical "Wall of Separation": How a Misused Metaphor Changed ChurchState Law . . .
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1655028/posts
William Rehnquist totally destroys "Separation of Church and State" myth
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/971381/posts
My personal favorite is from a local long timer here on FR... Ohioan... He has a book called the "Conservative Debate Handbook" (I liked it so well I bought it)... Chapter three..
Love his use of Thomas Jefferson quotes in the above article.. Love how simply beautiful he puts things in perspective.
I did. Am I missing something?
However, I did find this:
"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
....or this:
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own."
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Horatio G. Spafford, March 17, 1814
Hope this helps.
Thanks for posting this question and answer. It presents Katherine Harris' views more fully than do any of the articles posted.. As a rule, the larger the textual context the better. There is less room for an editor to manipulate, and less likelihood that someone will misunderstand. No one at FreeRepublic seems to have dissented from this more extensive discussion.
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