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Tennessee Lt. Governor Questions Whether Muslims Are Protected Under Religious Clauses

Tennessee Lt. Gov. (and Republican gubernatorial candidate) Ron Ramsey has added an alarming new position to the race. He has stated that he is not convinced the Constitution protects Muslims under the guarantee of freedom of religion.

In the video below, Ramsey was asked at a campaign event about the “threat that’s invading our country from the Muslims.” While acknowledging the protections for religion, Ramsey noted that Islam is more of a cult rather than a true religion: “Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult whatever you want to call it. Now certainly we do protect our religions, but at the same time this is something we are going to have to face.”

He insisted, however, that “you know, I’m all about freedom of religion.” Except that is for the world’s second largest religion.

Source: TPM

73 thoughts on “Tennessee Lt. Governor Questions Whether Muslims Are Protected Under Religious Clauses”

  1. I wonder what the odds in Vegas are or Off Shore? I know in 2004 the Det Lions were a 600 to 1 odds to make it to the super bowl in 05 that was in Det. I bet a 100.

    So I am sure somebody someplace has a set of books for this….

  3. My prediction is that once the number of Muslim immigrants reaches a critical mass in this country (Slarti, Byron and the other mathematicians can start work on an appropriate equation now), a reformed school of evangelical theology will emerge proclaiming the newly revealed truth that separation of church and state is biblically mandated.

  4. the religeous ‘wedge’ is being used to start and stoke wars that allow for unprecedented Corporate profits and political corruption and control.

    and to keep the inflamed populaces eyes diverted….

    blech

  5. “Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult whatever you want to call it…”

    That isn’t remotely a description of being a Muslim, but if you replace the word “Muslim” with the word “Jew” you have a classic argument for de-legitimizing Judaism.

    These people can’t even keep their bigotries straight.

  6. I think someone should ask this learned gentleman to list other cults disguised as religions. He might sputter a bit so I would start listing some to specifically answer: Mormon? Unification (Sun Yung Moon)? Scientology? Christian Science? Snake Handlers? Catholic?

    No matter how he answers any of those he will piss off some subset on morons and it will help clarify why the founders were so intent on not letting religious crackpots take control of the government. They had seen how easily these morons start killing each other given half a chance.

  7. Sounds suspiciously like a code-play on one of the republican party’s sub-themes this election cycle, that everybody else is attempting to make good conservative christians second class citizens … liberals are attempting to make secularism a religion (I know, I know … but we’re talking about some really dumb conservative christians), muslims are really cultists, and the end result will be that YOU, a conservative christian, will be relegated to 2nd class citizenship and all the minorities in the country will then take everything you’ve got ’cause you’re no longer first class. Be frightened white, conservative, christians!!!!

  8. Remember folks, all religions seem equally insane to those who aren’t members.

  9. I am still trying to figure out what Obama is doing different than the Bushs or RWR……

    But yet he gets blasted for trying to keep peace at some cost. I am not an Obama supporter, I did not vote for him and I take no responsibility for his actions. I generally vote “Conservative Democratic Values” Obama was left with 3/4s of the ship below water and he had to do something. What would you suppose be done? Get a real great Teabagger in office? Come on, where do you find one. They are generally single issue yes people. I want someone that can think. And even think when the box is open.

  11. In response to budda is laughing: please do not refer to politicians as “clowns”. it is an insult to clowns around the world. thank you

  12. I commented on this story in HuffPo yesterday. Basically, this learned gentleman’s thesis is that religious groups that seek to have their doctrines incorporated into civil law are engaged in a sort of fanaticism deserving of the “cult” label. His fear, of course, is that as Muslims increase in number, there will be pressure to introduce sharia law. He appears not to recognize that his own definition of “cult” embraces Christianity as well, an unintended consequence of delusional thinking. He then takes a flying leap into the great Sea of Illogic to conclude that cults are not protected under the Free Exercise clause. There must be some serpent handling pastors in rural Tennessee feeling a bit uneasy about this view.

    Of course, thoughtful Tennessee Republicans can always opt to vote for Zach Wamp, the loyal C Streeter who clearly has no problems with cults.

  13. Until this kind of speech , using religeon for politically motivated gain, is found universally repugnant by the American populace we can look forward to more of it and a stimatizing and victimization of decent Muslims emigrating to this Country.

    Could not this be cited as an attempt to deny Muslim citizens of their constitutionally protected civil rights and if so why isn’t that happening to stop this nonsense from going further?

  14. Gee, I don’t know Lt. Gov. Ramsey. Is what you’re saying really “speech” covered by the 1st Amendment, or is it just diarrhea of the mouth?

  15. What he really wants is an official “no competition” order from the govt. But then, who will our govt. engage in a very profitable crusade? Maybe he should rethink this plan for the sake of all the money at stake.

  16. This reminds me of Pat Condell’s recent comments, a well known UK atheist and comedian.

    I don’t remember his perspective on the Ground Zero Mosque and religious freedom being covered on this blog. He lays out a passionate argument against construction of this mosque, including the history around the construction of the Córdoba mosque.

    This version has 2 million views.

    I’m not endorsing or refuting his claims here, but think this statement is pertinent to the current discussion of religious protections in a free society.

    @ 2:45:

    Without the shield of religion to hide behind, Islam would be banned in the civilized world as a political ideology of hate, and we have no obligation to make allowances for it, any more than we do for Naziism.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjS0Novt3X4&hl=en_US&fs=1]

  17. This is disturbing. If I recall by history at the time the Turks were taking over the east and many different country’s, I seem to recall that in Italy alone there were 54 or 55 different monarchy’s alone and unification became the norm to join forces to repel the turk invasion.

    But hey, who is to say that one religion is better than the other and that you should die if you don’t subscribe to our way, oh yeah, the tuks, catholics, even Henry got into the act of dismembering unrequited members…..

    The point is, I think that the US was founded upon freedom of religion from governmental influences, one way or the other. After all we know how understanding the Quakers and others were when they escaped from Englands’ religious persecution….Dip on a Stick anyone?

    I think the guy is wrong and pandering to the fears of the audience….

  19. GregD,

    Why stop there?

    We could classify party affiliation as a cult too.

    Cults of personality (or lack thereof as in this clown’s case) are still a form of cult.

  20. Hmmm, well maybe if we classify islam as a cult, we can then classify christianity, judaism, etc as cults too!

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