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Newt Gingrich warns U.S. at risk of atheism and radical Islam

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Deuce

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Newt Gingrich warns U.S. at risk of atheism and radical Islam - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

Likely Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has regularly been warning that Democrats are trying to impose a "secular-socialist" agenda on the country, in part because of a "relentless anti-religious bias."

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Here's the full quote, via Politico: "I have two grandchildren -- Maggie is 11, Robert is 9. I am convinced that if we do not decisively win the struggle over the nature of America, by the time they're my age they will be in a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists and with no understanding of what it once meant to be an American."

Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler told Hotsheet that Gingrich did not mean to suggest America could become both Islamist and atheist, but simply left the word "or" out of his comments.
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Those radical atheist Islamists are coming to get us!!! :D

Ok, so he probably just left out the word "or" like his spokesman says. Still. The main message is: BE AFRAID! EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET YOU!

Why do people throw around the word secular like it's a bad thing? How the hell does someone simultaneously warn about atheists taking over and then turn around and say that we can't let that OTHER religion take over. So, what, Christianity is the official religion of the US now? Christian values get to dominate our laws? The founding fathers wanted separation of church and state to avoid ANY religion controlling the laws of the nation.

Edit: Note to self: do not type things before coffee.
 
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Deuce said:
Newt Gingrich warns U.S. at risk of atheism and radical Islam - Political Hotsheet - CBS News



Those radical atheist Islamists are coming to get us!!! :D

Ok, so he probably just left out the word "or" like his spokesman says. Still. The main message is: BE AFRAID! EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET YOU!

Why do people throw around the word secular like it's a bad thing? How the hell does someone simultaneously warn about atheists taking over and then turn around and say that we can't let that OTHER religion take over. So, what, Christianity is the official religion of the US now? Christian values get to dominate our laws? The founding fathers wanted separation of church and state to avoid ANY religion controlling the laws of the nation.

Edit: Note to self: do not type things before coffee.
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wait, what? we'll be an atheist country dominated by islamists? that makes no sense.
 
Yep, makes no sense. Now if he would have said "a secular atheist country or one potentially dominated by Muslims" that would make more sense. He should have just said one day we'll be like England.
 
I really hope that Newt gets some flack from his own party for the "atheists aren't real American's" crap. It is unacceptable to marginalize people simply because they don't share your beliefs on religion. Newt has revealed himself a bigot plain and simple.
 
Newt is another one that Republicans should avoid like the plague as far as a 2012 Presidential nomination goes... unless they want 4 more years of Obama.
 
rathi said:
I really hope that Newt gets some flack from his own party for the "atheists aren't real American's" crap. It is unacceptable to marginalize people simply because they don't share your beliefs on religion. Newt has revealed himself a bigot plain and simple.
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Bush 41 did the same thing.
 
Deuce said:
Newt Gingrich warns U.S. at risk of atheism and radical Islam - Political Hotsheet - CBS News



Those radical atheist Islamists are coming to get us!!! :D

Ok, so he probably just left out the word "or" like his spokesman says. Still. The main message is: BE AFRAID! EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET YOU!

Why do people throw around the word secular like it's a bad thing? How the hell does someone simultaneously warn about atheists taking over and then turn around and say that we can't let that OTHER religion take over. So, what, Christianity is the official religion of the US now? Christian values get to dominate our laws? The founding fathers wanted separation of church and state to avoid ANY religion controlling the laws of the nation.

Edit: Note to self: do not type things before coffee.
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I certainly would not have stated it that way and disagree on numerous fronts, but...

I think his message was that the particular combination of western secularism mixed with atheism and socialistic ends makes the country vulnerable on a few different fronts. These can include Islamic radicalism being able to take advantage of America's perceived spiritual weakness by having western sympathy, America's traditionally religious character (albeit Christian character) would be undermined by attempts to further minimize Christianity's influence in society and governing affairs (while radical Islam is supposedly being somewhat coddled), and socialism is not really in the American character, but is being pushed by such forces.

In a convoluted and desperate way, I know where he is coming from..it is just that he spoke far too quickly.
 
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One thing he is definitely right about. Our liberals have far more respect and tolerance for Muslims than they do for Christians.
 
It would be kinda cool if we could appeal to people's loftier aspects, like compassion, courage, or hope... instead of fear and bigotry. Kinda makes me wonder what these republican leaders actually think of their voter base if the only way they think they can appeal to them is by making them afraid of boogeymen.
 
lpast said:
One thing he is definitely right about. Our liberals have far more respect and tolerance for Muslims than they do for Christians.
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That's a pretty stupid thing to say.

There are many Christian liberals.
 
Paschendale said:
It would be kinda cool if we could appeal to people's loftier aspects, like compassion, courage, or hope... instead of fear and bigotry. Kinda makes me wonder what these republican leaders actually think of their voter base if the only way they think they can appeal to them is by making them afraid of boogeymen.
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Politicians are smartest when they appeal toward all of our hopes, dreams, and fears. You will see Newt often reaching back into American lore at the same time that you will see him use it to chastise perceived developments that undermine that.
 
Paschendale said:
It would be kinda cool if we could appeal to people's loftier aspects, like compassion, courage, or hope... instead of fear and bigotry. Kinda makes me wonder what these republican leaders actually think of their voter base if the only way they think they can appeal to them is by making them afraid of boogeymen.
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thorgasm-albums-piquechures-picture67113870-cartoon20060914.jpg
 
As America has become more secularized, divorce has skyrocketed, unwed motherhood has skyrocketed, addictions of all natures have skyrocketed, personal irresponsibility in general has skyrocketed.

In fact, I believe the shrinking of the middle class in America can be directly attributed to the breakdown of family values.
 
Thorgasm said:
That's a pretty stupid thing to say.

There are many Christian liberals.
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Not stupid at all unless of course yoru a liberal :)
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
Newt is another one that Republicans should avoid like the plague as far as a 2012 Presidential nomination goes... unless they want 4 more years of Obama.
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I'll get this out of the way before dessert is served...

Newt is very smart and has good ideas, but, he is a polarizing figure. The left demonizes him as much as the right is said to demonize Clinton.

He displayed hypocrisy when he was conducting an extramarital affair at the same time he was attacking Clinton. But there is a huge difference. A couple actually. Newt didn't lie about it and he resigned. Clinton lied and didn't resign.

And finally, he'll never really be able to escape that bit of dishonesty and it puts a tarnish on his credibility. He's done well since then, but it will never be forgotten.

Over and out
 
I think his message was that the particular combination of western secularism mixed with atheism and socialistic ends makes the country vulnerable on a few different fronts. These can include Islamic radicalism being able to take advantage of America's perceived spiritual weakness by having western sympathy, America's traditionally religious character (albeit Christian character) would be undermined by attempts to further minimize Christianity's influence in society and governing affairs (while radical Islam is supposedly being somewhat coddled), and socialism is not really in the American character, but is being pushed by such forces.
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That is bull****. The only thing common about atheists is that they don't believe in gods. Socialism and atheism are unconnected. As far as radical Islam goes, you can find atheists who hate Islam with a passion to apologists to excuse the actions of radicals. There is no excuse for baseless smears on a group because of their non-belief in religion.
 
Paschendale said:
It would be kinda cool if we could appeal to people's loftier aspects, like compassion, courage, or hope... instead of fear and bigotry. Kinda makes me wonder what these republican leaders actually think of their voter base if the only way they think they can appeal to them is by making them afraid of boogeymen.
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I dunno, I'm pretty ****ing scary.
 
Erod said:
As America has become more secularized, divorce has skyrocketed, unwed motherhood has skyrocketed, addictions of all natures have skyrocketed, personal irresponsibility in general has skyrocketed.

In fact, I believe the shrinking of the middle class in America can be directly attributed to the breakdown of family values.
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Hmm...wonder why all these increasingly secular and nonreligious European countries have lower divorce rates than us.

Divorce demography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
StillBallin75 said:
Hmm...wonder why all these increasingly secular and nonreligious European countries have lower divorce rates than us.

Divorce demography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Or the bible belt has the highest divorce rate?

This is just normal stuff folks. For the primaries, you play to the far right(or left if a democrat), then move into the middle for the general election. That is all Newt is doing, playing the the far right.
 
Redress said:
Or the bible belt has the highest divorce rate?
This is just normal stuff folks. For the primaries, you play to the far right(or left if a democrat), then move into the middle for the general election. That is all Newt is doing, playing the the far right.
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I hadn't known that. I do know that males in red states watch more porn on average. Talk about family values...
 
rathi said:
That is bull****. The only thing common about atheists is that they don't believe in gods. Socialism and atheism are unconnected. As far as radical Islam goes, you can find atheists who hate Islam with a passion to apologists to excuse the actions of radicals. There is no excuse for baseless smears on a group because of their non-belief in religion.
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I said I disagreed on numerous levels.
 
Erod said:
Because most Europeans don't bother with something so mundane as marriage to begin with. Why **** one person when you can **** everybody?
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Ask half the family values council :lol:
 
Unfortunately he is right to an extent, but the extent that he took it to with the Islam was a bit to radical. The athiest movement has grown substantially in the past few years, but to address it at one certain group is a bit extreme, but I still enjoy Newt.
 
lpast said:
One thing he is definitely right about. Our liberals have far more respect and tolerance for Muslims than they do for Christians.
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You do know that most liberals are Christian, don't you?
 
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