Bigotry Should Disqualify a Presidential Candidate

[NMMNG]

This is a wonderful blog post from Atheist Revolution. Being a gaytheist I couldn't agree with the author more.

Remember Don Imus? How about George "Macaca" Allen? Try to imagine what would happen if video got out in which one of the Presidential candidates used the dreaded "n-word." That campaign would be over in an instant. Why? Because that type of bigotry would not be tolerated and would be accepted by an overwhelming majority of the American people as grounds for disqualification. Unfortunately, other types of bigotry are not only accepted but are actually an important strategic component of many Republican campaigns. I long for the day when anti-gay and anti-atheist bigotry will disqualify a candidate as quickly as racism.

<snip>

Overt bigotry directed at African Americans is not tolerated from Presidential candidates and other high-profile politicians. We saw a powerful example of this in Allen's case. More subtle forms of this bigotry generate predictable outrage from well-organized African American groups, but will not necessarily lead to disqualification if the politician can successfully deny of distance him or herself from them. The Bush campaign's assault on John McCain during the 2000 South Carolina primary comes to mind.

And yet, bigotry directed at the secular and GLBT communities is not only acceptable but appears to be an intentional part (some would even say a central part) in the campaign strategies of many Republicans.

<snip>

Mitt Romney linked religion and freedom and demonstrated his ignorance of the Constitution in a prominent speech. The implication, clear to those who watched or read the speech was that atheists did not deserve the same sort of freedoms reserved for religious Americans. Romney's anti-atheist bigotry was clearly on display. Again, this did not end up being the huge story it should have been. This strikes me as quite revealing about how the mainstream media views atheists.

And here in 2008, we have Mike Huckabee calling for a Christian theocracy, denying evolution (video), and comparing homosexuality to bestiality. He has a long track record of theocratic statements, so this does not appear to involve a recent strategy. Where is the media outrage? Here we have a man running for President who actually opposes the very Constitution he would be asked to defend! From the manner in which the mainstream media has covered him, I'd have to conclude that they either agree or are so afraid to engage in what could be perceived as criticism of Christian extremism that they refuse to expose this important story.

<snip>

Full Post

[Demeter]

1. When It Is Accurately Reported in the MSM, It Does

That's why there's media consolidation--to obscure, conceal, and lie about the people in power and those who want to be in power, and confuse the people with the ultimate power: the voters!

[NMMNG]

3. To some extent, yes

The saddest thing is that bigotry against non-Christians and LGBTs is so enshrined in our society that not only are candidates allowed to get away with it but it's expected of them. Furthermore, the candidates themselves fall prey to it in that they have to "out Christian" one another in order to have a chance of winning with the bulk of the voters. It's a disgusting catch-22.

Yet another argument for full separation of Church and State, and keeping religion/faith out of politics.

[Demeter]

5. The Reason Why Racial Bigotry Went Out of Fashion Was Accurate Press in 50's. 60's & 70's

Same for blatant sexism and disability. There is no reason why accurate press cannot also educate and persuade today's population of the evils of religious and sexual bigotry. Nice work, if you can get the press to go along with it. If the politicians went along with it, too, we'd be back in that American Renaissance that Ronald Reagan killed.

[aquart]

2. LOL! Unless it's the kind practiced by the voters.

You must have a very narrow definition of bigotry. It would be REALLY DIFFICULT to find someone completely free of it. That's why we require laws that assure us all of equal protection and aggressive enforcement of those laws.

[NMMNG]

4. I don't have a narrow definition of bigotry

I was just focusing on a particular kind, the ones described in the blog post. The two that are so broadly acceptable in our society that presidential candidates can proudly stand at a podium and proclaim that they hate both LGBTs and atheists and still hope to get a significant number of votes come election time. It's part of their "deeply held religious beliefs" after all.

Is there any other group out there that a candidate could proclaim their hatred of so openly and still come away unscathed?

[aquart]

6. Fat people.

But be careful of using "hatred" here. "Hatred" requires a vast intensity of energy. It consumes like love and occupies the mind as entirely. What you are calling "hatred" is nothing like that. This is a carelessness that doesn't occupy the mind at all. It's a set of inherited or acquired mindsets and opinions that have never been considered. That's why the offensive statements roll off the tongue so easily. Nor in this bigot's circles, have these attitudes ever been questioned. They are simply accepted as normal.

It's the "banality of evil," but it isn't hatred. It's a poisonous, deadly indifference. Which destroys lives just as effectively, btw.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

7. Bigotry is simply a belief in inequality

The fact that the bigotry is traditional hardly excuses it. A belief in inequality is bigotry, period.

[NMMNG]

11. While I agree there's plenty of discrimination against obese people

No presidential candidate could stand and state that he wants to ban marriage between obese people and still have anything resembling support. No candidate could equate obesity with pedophilia or bestiality the way several candidates have equated homosexuality with those acts and still win presidential primaries. Roughly 63% of Americans are obese and they'd crucify any candidate who tried anything so outrageous.


Presidential candidates have heartily endorsed legislation denying LGBT people their rights and/or promised to thwart pending legislation that would give us equal rights. They equate being LGBT with pedophilia, bestiality, murder and other such things. They have also constantly made statements insinuating that Christianity (and religion in general) is superior to everything else. Take Mitt Romney's "Religion requires freedom, freedom requires religion". The hidden message there is that if you aren't Christian, and if you're non-religious in particular, you're bad and don't count.


No presidential candidate could bash obese people so severely and still garner support. With LGBTs and the non-Christians/non-religious it's not only acceptable, it's pretty much expected.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Fat people experience THE most discrimination in the workplace. More than any other group...

and the taller presidential candidate nearly always wins - GWB is the exception here.

So, people regularly discriminate against short people also.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

8. Sherri "flat earth" Sheppard on The View said she'd never vote for an atheist presidential candidate

Imagine if she'd said that about any other group. For starters, she certainly would've had to apologize and take it back in order to retain her job.

[NMMNG]

12. Yes, because we're so unethical

Unlike, say, GWB, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts or any of these lovely people.

Sherri Sheppard. :rofl: I'm surprised she can even find her way to work every day.

[robbedvoter]

9. Without Bigotry, GOp wouldn't exist - at least for the past 50- 60 years or so

when Nixon(the real "transformationist") harnessed racism as the secret motivator to be a GOP-er
As for dems, when the stupid prayer question was asked, Gravel was the only one saying "I think we need less prayers and more love and empowerment of the people".
Everyone else, while mentioning separation of church and state, rushed forward into a contest of bible quotes

[NMMNG]

13. Very true

And sadly they cherry-pick the very worst of the Bible. All Leviticus and no Luke. They claim to be Christians and know so little of what Jesus had to say.