Bizarre, Politics, Society

Alabama Governor Tells Voters That They Need To Believe in Jesus To Be His Brother or Sister

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley had a special message for non-Christian citizens immediately after his swearing in as governor: believe in Christ or do not consider me your brother.

Here is Bentley’s uplifting message: “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.”

His office later issued a statement explaining “The governor clearly stated that he will be the governor of all Alabamians Democrat, Republican and Independent, young, old, black and white, rich and poor.”

Perhaps they could have added Christian and Non-Christians to the list.

Bentley has since apologized.

Source: LA Times

Jonathan Turley

71 thoughts on “Alabama Governor Tells Voters That They Need To Believe in Jesus To Be His Brother or Sister”

  1. At first I thought Tootie’s use of the words “scripture” and “sound” in the same sentence was a joke and I got a chuckle from it. I then realized she actually meant that as a serious statement. How sad.

  2. So he is a Christian, what is the big deal? He hasn’t said he was going to make laws favorable to Christians has he?

    Republicans and Democrats get special treatment from their elected representatives. If I lobby my congressman, a democrat, and I get favorable help on a piece of legislation for my cause does it matter if we are Christian?

  3. Madeline Stowe,

    I suggest you sue your plastic surgeon.

    Something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

  5. I get tried of these tried and true Christians. The self proclaiming glory of God through his son Jesus. If that were a fact, could we not worship an acorn as the fruit of the tree of the Godly oak? Is Jesus a lesser God?

  6. rafflaw:

    You wrote:

    “his point is sound only if you believe in “his” scriptures.”

    Okay, if you want to repeat almost everything I said and act like it is your point, I will allow it.

  7. Well said Elaine! This Christian governor didn’t learn anything from this debacle and he will be making some more headlines during his term.

  8. rafflaw,

    It certainly was a “lame apology.” I believe the governor of Alabama said what he meant and meant what he said. I watched the video of his apology. He said that one has to be careful in how one uses words. He said he speaks openly and honestly and that sometimes when people do that their words are misinterpreted. Who misintrepreted what he said???

    IMHO, I don’t think he’s sorry that he offended anyone. I think he’s sorry that he had to make a public apology.

  12. His point is scriptural and sound.

    But it was unwise for him to make it and totally unnecessary.

    Not very bright.

  13. This is the person elected to hold hold the highest position in the State of Alabama and this is one of the first statements he makes after being sworn in? His lame apology is basically saying I am sorry if I offended anyone, but he never says he will treat non-Christians the same as Christians, as Prof. Turley points out. What is this guy smoking, or better yet, what are the people of Alabama smoking??

  16. Adding insult to injury: One report claimed he was speaking to fellow Southern Baptists at a church once led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. So he was speaking in code to his political base base (“I’m Governor of all, but you have a special relationship with me”) in a place where a theology of expansive inclusion once reigned?

  17. James in LA,

    “This “governor” ought resign. He gives away his emotional age of about 11, dooming his state to more of the same.”

    Have you ever been to Alabama?

    Collectively they’d be lucky to hit seven much less eleven.

    Which is also a good reason to avoid taking them to Vegas.

  18. I can’t imagine that type of sentiment was a surprise to anyone. People don’t just randomly say stuff like that — they have well known religious beliefs. It’s not like the governor got sworn in and yelled “Suckers!” and started proselytizing.

    What bothers me is that there were enough people who approve of that type of attitude to elect this guy governor.

  19. Maybe he doesn’t realize that there is no proof of the existence of the thing he claims is true.

  20. Please keep your nutty religion out of our public square, thanks. What a complete embarrassment to his office. You were elected to serve, not testify.

    Luckily, those under 40 in this country have HAD IT with this nonsense, and you can see its death-pangs in the teahadist rhetoric. When you can debunk anything from a smartphone in three seconds, no one gets exclusive anything, including the manipulative rubbish upon which religion is based.

    You do not need a death cult to be a good person. Service Is, and *real* service always proceeds from unconditional love.

    This “governor” ought resign. He gives away his emotional age of about 11, dooming his state to more of the same.

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