EXCLUSIVE: Gary Johnson: Clarifying my views on religious freedom, Mormons

Deseret News ^ | August 2, 2016 | Gary Johnson

[C19fan]

A few days ago, trying to maneuver through a “scrum” of reporters in Philadelphia, I was asked about my views regarding religious freedom and non-discrimination laws.

Given the divisiveness and pain that have accompanied several state religious freedom laws, I approach attempts at legislating religious exceptions to anti-discrimination laws with great sensitivity and care.

[C19fan]

The Libertarian POTUS candidate not very keen on defending the 1st Amendment. Basically it is still "BAKE ME A CAKE!".

[Olog-hai]

Including forcing Jews to bake a cake for a Nazi wedding.

[LouieFisk]

“politicians have twisted religious liberty and used it as a tool to discriminate.”
==
Those dang hate-filled, bigoted, homophobic Amish again!

[Vigilanteman]

Yep. My reading as well. This statement also bothers me:

I expressed my reservations rather emphatically — and cited the experience of Mormons as a case-in-point where religious persecution resulted in violent episodes right here in America.

Mormons weren't going around murdering people who refused to join their faith, nor were they advocating overthrow of the U.S. Government to replaced with their brand. They were basically just trying to be left alone.

Huge difference from Muslim immigrants. If Johnson is too dense to see that difference, he is too dense to be running for president.

[Aetius]

Johnson thinks the Utah ‘compromise’ is the way to go. Is there a baker example in that state yet? What does the Utah law say when a baker/photographer/florist refuses to provide their goods and services towards a gay wedding? Will the law basically, as it should, tell the malcontent plaintiffs to kick rocks, or will it allow the baker to be fined and litigated into financial ruin?

Something tells me the baker will come out on the bad end.

[Toliph]

How can a “libertarian” oppose basic freedom of association? People should be free to do business with whomever they wish, or to not do business with whomever they wish, for any reason. If this results in some angst on the part of people who are being discriminated against, the solution is to put market pressure on the discriminators, or better, to just live and let live, and to get your cake someplace else. This is foundational libertarian thought. It seems like the only libertarian positions Johnson likes are open borders and legalized drugs.

[NRx]

This guy is a Libertarian? The party of not just minimal government, but damn near none at all? All I can say is that the Libertarians have fallen a long ways.

[Olog-hai]

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

— John Adams

Without private morality, big government is needed. That is the libertarian conundrum and oxymoron.

[lodi90]

He’s working hard for a Romney endorsement. It’s coming soon I assume.

[lodi90]

And on a personal level, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to mind because I had been in Utah the day before, as my campaign is actually based in Salt Lake City.

---

His campaign is based in Utah? I’m shocked. LOL.

[LegendHasIt]

Hey, Gary.

None of the few who might vote for you cares.

The ones who will are either stoned out of their minds, or have lost them in some other way.

[HLPhat]

Mormonism -- the [reformed Egyptian] theocratic Deseretian state-establishment festooned with historical gems such as the "Doctrine of Blood Atonement"?

"America's Islam"

 

http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Mormonism+America%27s+Islam

That Mormonism?

NO SALE. 

"...who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world, and through all time;

 

...

 

 that it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order; and finally, that truth is great and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them. "

 

"I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN"

--The Virginia Act For Establishing Religious Freedom
--Thomas Jefferson, 1786

https://www.google.com/webhp?#q=truth%20is%20great%20and%20will%20prevail%20if%20left%20to%20herself

 

[HLPhat]

>> as my campaign is actually based in Salt Lake City.

http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Salt+Lake+City+Homosexual+Population

Hmmm. How did that happen?

[HLPhat]

>>Mormons weren’t going around murdering people who refused to join their faith

Meanwhile in reality land...

http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Massacre+at+mountain+meadows

http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Doctrine+of+blood+atonement

[Zarro]

Judging from most of the comments, I would say “lost”.

[Zarro]

Judging from most of the comments, I would say “lost”.

[Steamburg]

Sounds like, walks like and talks like a Hillitarian Shill.

[NeoCaveman]

Bake the cake you bigot - Gary Johnson.

[ManHunter]

Johnson’s as much a Libertarian as Paul Ryan is a conservative.

[fwdude]

The road to hell is paved with ‘religious exemptions.’

What can be granted can be revoked. The First Amendment should be all we need.