HYPOCRITE (from the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary)
1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
A few weeks ago Mike Pence made the absurd observation that being in Iraq was just like being in Indiana on a summer day. I could swear I could hear guffaws from around the world on that one. What on earth would possess someone to liken a day in an Iraqi market to a day in Indiana? Loss of sanity? A true misunderstanding of the Iraqi situation? Blind following of his leader’s path?
Pence just amazes me. On Tuesday, forty-one Republicans and one Democrat voted “present” on a resolution recognizing the commencement of Ramadan. There were zero “no” votes, so representatives voted either “yes” or “present.”
Republican representative Mike Pence of Indiana’s 6th district said, “I voted ‘present’ because I read somewhere that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.” Really? He read somewhere? Would that somewhere be the United States Constitution? So why didn’t he just vote no?
When a lawsuit was filed challenging the use of the religious motto “In God We Trust” as an establishment of religion, Pence joined 46 other members represented by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) in urging the federal court to dismiss the lawsuit. The basis for requesting the dismissal? The motto was not an establishment of religion but simply evidence of patriotism and our national religious heritage.
Recognizing the Islamic religious observance of Ramadan in Pence’s eyes becomes an “establishment” of religion and he ducks behind the Establishment Clause. On the other hand, when it comes to the motto, “In God We Trust”, Pence joins in the position that the motto certainly does not violate the Establishment Clause even though the ACLJ Amicus Brief flat out refers to the motto as a reflection of our national religious heritage. And, even though we are a nation of religious diversity, in 2001,76.5% (159 million) of Americans identified themselves as Christian.
Funny how Pence’s reliance on the Establishment Clause changes with his views. What a hypocrite.
BERRY STREET BEACON 
And Mike Pence has sided with Rush Limp-Paw on the “phony soldiers” comment and voted against giving our children health care. What do you expect from someone who compares Iraq markets with Indiana markets?
I missed seeing that of Pence. While being slightly right of middle I have to say, “That is the dumbest statement I have heard in years!”
I am sure you can find some market, some place, in that country you apply that statement to. But in the major cities I don’t think that is true.
I mean I have been to the market on Warsaw street and I never feared a car bomb going off. I think in all the years I have gone to the Warsaw Street Market I have only once heard a gun shot.
Oh well, it was good for a 30 second bite.
So sad, so sad
Congress Crosses the Line. Where is the Outrage?
Muslims Against Sharia condemn politically correct cowardice of the United States Congress. We call on every American Muslims to contact their congressmen, and voice their disgust with Congress’ blatant disregard for the United States Constitution.
Congressional Resolution HRES 635 EH:
“House of Representatives … acknowledges the onset of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal”
First Amendment to the United States Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”
HR 635 was historic, the resolution simply states it is a bill “Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.”
Even the Islamic Society of North America, http://www.isna.com, commends this progressive step with Muslims in America, and I would have to agree.
Your assessment of Representative Pence’s comments and vote in this matter are right on the mark.
However, Representative Pence also has a few good points now and then, and some would disagree I understand, but he done much for Indiana in the way agriculture and helping Indiana’s vast farming communities.
Charles
Charles:
Thanks for your comments. Those opposed to the recognition of Ramadan try to pass the Resolution off as law and then argue that the Resolution is an establishment of religion.
I am not a fan of Mike Pence, as is probably apparent. I am sure he has done a number of positive things for our agricultural community. I just hope those things have not been in support of corporate farming, which I do not consider farming that enhances our true agricultural community.
Since Pence isn’t my representative, I haven’t paid too much attention. I guess he catches my attention when he makes comments such as the similarity between an Iraqi market and a summer day in Indiana.
I do not censor comments on my blog unless they are generated by an automated system. This happens on an infrequent basis, and when comments appear that are simply advertisements cloaked in the form of comments, I delete them.
Comment #3 comes from a group (not an individual author) called “Muslims against Sharia.” Since the comment appeared to be aimed at the notion that the Congressional Resolution passed a few days ago was a violation of the establishment clause, I decided to check out the group.
Some interesting facts I learned:
Contributors:
Liah McKeegan – must be an alter ego for Pamela Geller since the link leads back to Geller
Ted Belman – retired lawyer living in Toronto – Jewish – authors blog named “Israpundit”
Atlas Shrugs – Pamela Geller – author of the blog “Atlas Shrugs”
The location of the blog lists “Afghanistan” under blog profile, yet the contact address listed with the IP address is Cox Cmmunications in Atlanta, GA. The following is the info provided with the IP address:
OrgName: Cox Communications Inc.
OrgID: CXA
Address: 1400 Lake Hearn Drive
City: Atlanta
StateProv: GA
PostalCode: 30313
Country: US
NetRange: 68.96.0.0 – 68.111.255.255
CIDR: 68.96.0.0/12
NetName: COX-ATLANTA-2
NetHandle: NET-68-96-0-0-1
Parent: NET-68-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS.COX.NET
NameServer: NS.EAST.COX.NET
NameServer: NS.WEST.COX.NET
Comment: For legal requests/assistance please use the following contact information:
Comment:
Comment: Cox Subpoena Phone: 404-269-0100
Comment:
Comment: Cox Subpoena Info: http://www.cox.com/policy/leainformation/default.asp
RegDate: 2002-02-04
Updated: 2007-03-27
RTechHandle: IC146-ARIN
RTechName: Cox Communications, Inc
RTechPhone: +1-404-269-7626
RTechEmail: abuse@cox.net
OrgAbuseHandle: IC146-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: Cox Communications, Inc
OrgAbusePhone: +1-404-269-7626
OrgAbuseEmail: abuse@cox.net
OrgTechHandle: SHACK-ARIN
OrgTechName: Shackelford, Scott
OrgTechPhone: +1-404-269-7626
OrgTechEmail: scott.shackelford@cox.com
It would appear from initial research that none of the contributing members of the blog is Muslim. In today’s internet world of no privacy, do people still think they can pull stunts like this and not be found out?
Happy Columbus Day! While Pence is not my congressional representative either, he certainly embarrasses the entire Hoosier state with his ludicrous comment! Lately, it has been unusually hot for October in most of Indiana. When I was outside yesterday throwing the football around with my son, I wasn’t thinking as sweat rolled down my forehead, “Wow, this is what it must be like in Iraq.” More Pence…more stupidity!
I agree that ducking behind the Establishemt Clause is something Pence seems to do when it is most politically convenient. To equate the resolution on Ramadan with being an establishment of religion is also ludicrous! It is what it is: simply an acknowledgment of an important holy month for Muslims in the U.S. and around the world.
Pence needs to recall a bit of history, as our nation from its early days has been about a place for religious tolerance. The Pilgrims who were members of the English Separatist Church fled England to Holland, and ultimately our shores to escape religious persecution. I believe that our government can certainly display such tolerance to religious beliefs of all kinds without violating the Establishment Clause.
Pence, a hypocrite? He’s that and a whole lot more!