Federal judge nixes SC license tag with cross

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A federal judge ruled Tuesday that South Carolina can't issue license plates showing the image of a cross in front of a stained glass window along with the phrase "I Believe."

U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie said in her ruling that the license plates was unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment ban on establishment of religion.

... Her ruling also singled out Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who had pushed the bill approving the license plates through the state Legislature. Christian advocates tried to get the same license plate approved in Florida, but the bill did not pass its Legislature.

Bauer wanted to accomplish in South Carolina what had been unsuccessful in Florida, Currie wrote: To "gain legislative approval of a specialty plate promoting the majority religion: Christianity. Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same. The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation."


Read more: http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/1021648.html

[southpaw]

1. Thank God!

[LeftHander]

33. :snort:...

[brendan120678]

2. We have quite a few different styles...

of specialty plates that one may choose from here in CT.

Doesn't look like any have crosses on them, but one is for the Choose Life/Children First Foundation, and one is for the Knights of Columbus.



http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=811&q=276580

[brooklynite]

9. How many people with a "Choose Life" licens plate want people to have a choice?

[abq e streeter]

3. These people really have nothing better to do than "license plates for Jesus" crusades

mind boggling...

[LiberalFighter]

4. Isn't their fish enough to identify themselves?

[DavidDvorkin]

5. It's not themselves they're trying to identify

They're trying to reinforce the notion that the state (and the United States) is based on Christianity.

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. The one with the feet that says "DARWIN" in the center?

:D

[Ian David]

6. Think how many big-city lawyers that unnecessary legislation kept employed

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Good. Now I won't be tempted to rear-end cars bearing such a plate.

[jeremyfive]

8. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer Doesn't Like the Laws of America???

There are plenty of nice dictatorships he can live in with a state religion. Maybe he can join forces with Osama bin Ladin.

[Zhade]

10. Awesome -- a win for those of us who support the First Amendment!

NT!

[BR_Parkway]

11. Those poor, persecuted Christians - Jesus must be rolling over in his grave

at this news.

[maseman]

12. Didn't he move the big stone and ascend into heaven

:shrug:

[BR_Parkway]

14. Some people say..

[maseman]

17. By the way...

I'm cool with the bible up until that point. When the hokus pokus of the resurrection starts is when I checked out of religion class.

[Arugula Latte]

18. He moved the stone, saw his shadow, and went back underground,

giving us six more weeks of winter.

[Nihil]

31. Thank you for that - now where's the cloth gone? (n/t)

:spray:

[maseman]

32. Punxetawny Christ

[Lugnut]

13. Good.

A cross has no place on a license plate.

[Toucano]

16. Fine every legislator who voted for it. What a waste of taxpayer money! n-t

[yellowcanine]

19. Judge Currie smacks down the Dominionists. Where can we get more like her?

[David Zephyr]

34. That takes guts in S.C.

Great woman.

[yellowcanine]

20. Link does not work.

;(

[question everything]

21. Federal judge nixes SC license tag with cross

Source: AP

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that South Carolina can't issue license plates showing the image of a cross in front of a stained glass window along with the phrase "I Believe." U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie's ruling said the license plate was unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment ban on establishment of religion by government.

Within hours, a private Christian group said the ruling doesn't stand in the way of its "plan B" to get a similar plate issued using a state law that permits private groups to issue tags they design. The fight over the plates started shortly after Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer helped push the legislation through in 2008. Groups including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee challenged the state's ability to put a religious message on a state license tag.

(snip)

Currie ordered the state to cover those groups' legal expenses. Her ruling singled out Bauer after he pushed a tag Christian advocates sought in Florida, but legislators there did not approve.

Bauer wanted to accomplish in South Carolina what had been unsuccessful in Florida, Currie wrote: To "gain legislative approval of a specialty plate promoting the majority religion: Christianity. Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same. The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation."





Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REL_RELIGIOUS_LICENSE_PLATE?SITE=VAWAY&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[frebrd]

22. K&R!

[Warpy]

23. It's totally unacceptable to use state money for that stuff

but the religious nuts are perfectly free to purchase all sorts of car jewelry to proclaim their religious superiority.

It's really easy to get legislatures to approve of all sorts of cockeyed stuff. It's why we have a judiciary to tell them it's not allowed.

It's a pity the judge didn't order Bauer to perform 100 hours or so of community service shadowing a social worker so he could see what all that useless litigation cost real, live people.

[question everything]

26. Perhaps someone can provide a report to the legislators

showing how much this cost. No doubt, SC does not have much funds to spare.

[seafan]

24. Unfortunately, Florida's Republican Legislature started this constitutional assault.

Florida instigated this assault on church and state separation via Jeb Bush stooges in Legislature



So much corruption. So few prosecutors.

[BlueJazz]

25. Maybe these people need to read the Constitution again.

I pissed off a tag agency Lady once,when as she was showing me personalized plates which had the saying "Choose Life" ,I asked if there was a Pro-Choice Tag. (there isn't)

[question everything]

29. Can the state actually come with plates that say: choose life?

in reference to abortion?

How come the ACLU did not go after them?

[BlueJazz]

30. Good Question...I don't know. I see them all the time though..they..

... are cheerfully cute with children happily smiling...the the words CHOOSE LIFE !

:puke:

[NecklyTyler]

27. The Establishment Clause - this one is a no brainer

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion", is clearly in effect here. The question is why this ever got to the point of wasting tax payer money in court

[Gedankenaustausch]

28. wow

I would have nixed the decision, if it looked like the florida one. I mean Floridians should have not wanted it because it looks like shit. As far as other stuff goes here's what I think.

Tags like this can make a lot of money for the state. The only downside is usually some of the money paid for the special tag goes to the cause; this, I believe, violates the establishment clause. If SC or FL offered the tag just purely for profit I would have no problem with it. I mean, many states are in dire need to raise capital, and what better way then ripping off people who want a cross on their tag. For that matter, they could offer an assortment of tags to reflect many personal interests.