New Ala. gov: Just Christians are his family

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | January 18, 2011 | JAY REEVES

[americanophile]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told a church crowd just moments into his new administration that those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior are not his brothers and sisters, shocking some critics who questioned Tuesday whether he can be fair to non-Christians.

"Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother," Bentley said Monday, his inauguration day, according to The Birmingham News.

The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday called Bentley's remarks shocking.

"His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor," said Bill Nigut, the ADL's regional director.

[bluecollarman]

“It’s not his rights I’m talking about...it’s his political judgment.”

We get enough of that. I find this refreshing. I am just wondering if he will cave.

[americanophile]

He will cave, err, ‘clarify his remarks.’

[americanophile]

I guess it's just me. I don't like politicians using the megaphone provided by their position preaching; and perhaps it's more that his tone seemed so unnecessarily inflammatory. It's one thing to ask for guidance or to call people to observe a day of thanksgiving, but this goes too far for me. I really don't want the government involved in my church. I hate to admit it, but I have to be intellectually honest. Substitute Christian for Muslim and God for Allah in his statement, which would be his right to say if he were an elected Muslim, and I would be incensed. I fear that pushing the envelope on prosthelytizing in public office will come back to haunt us when our pro-Muslim immigration policy produces the 'multiculturalism' it's designed to produce.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You can bet that “non-white-bread” politicians who frequent (alleged) churches have stated things, time after time after time, which make the guvnor’s statement look like milk and water. Black supremacy/Black Panthers anyone?

It is in all orthodox Christian creeds to “do good to all men” and for all we know the guvnor could have repeated this till he was blue in the face, but the news still only glommed on to this little theological bit about brothers and sisters in Christ.

[Romulus]

The public square needs more acknowledgments of our need for God, not fewer. I really have no patience with the notion that Americans need to be protected from references to God, including from people who aren’t paid to do so.

[americanophile]

What happens when it’s references to Allah?

[Romulus]

I’ll take that chance.

[mas cerveza por favor]

It’s not his rights I’m talking about...it’s his political judgment.

I don't know. Many people might be glad to finally see a leader who speaks his Christian mind freely and then stand up to the ADL.

[americanophile]

...you may be right. I can see both points of view.

[americanophile]

It’s a fair point.