Quote of the Day

“A lot of people wonder what a government shutdown would be like. I think a lot more people wonder what a government running properly would be like.” –Jay Leno

Republicans And Sharia Law

Showing the on-going vigilance of Republicans to defend against imaginary threats, from ACORN to NPR, Ben Smith reports that the potential candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination are staking out their positions on sharia law. While “the exact mechanics of how sharia, or Islamic jurisprudence, is threatening the United States are unclear” he notes that “the issue resonates with many GOP primary voters.” Republicans gave the following positions:

Tim Pawlenty, facing questions about a sharia compliant mortgage program: “The United States should be governed by the U.S. Constitution, not religious laws.”

A spokesman: “As soon as Gov. Pawlenty became aware of the issue, he personally ordered it shut it down. Fortunately, only about three people actually used the program before it was terminated at the Governor’s direction.”

Sarah Palin, on sharia: “Whether it be just affecting a segment of the population, a demographic, certainly not in its entirety all over our country, Americans will not stand for this because Americans are smart enough to know Sharia law, if that were to be adopted — allowed to govern in our country, it will be the downfall of America. And too many Americans are onto this already and are starting to rise up and send that message to our federal officials and say, no, we will not put up with any hint of Sharia law being any sort of law of the land.”

Newt Gingrich, on sharia: “We should have a federal law that says sharia law cannot be recognized by any court in the United States,” Gingrich said to a standing ovation from the audience. The law will let judges know, Gingrich said, that “no judge will remain in office that tried to use sharia law.”

Rick Santorum, on sharia: “We need to define it and say what it is. And it is evil. Sharia law is incompatible with American jurisprudence and our Constitution.”

Herman Cain, on Muslims and sharia: “Asked whether there would be a place for a Muslim appointee in Cain’s administration, Cain flatly said “No.””

“There is this creeping attempt to gradually ease Sharia law and the Muslim faith into our government. It does not belong in our government,” he told a Think Progress blogger.

Gary Johnson, on sharia: He told a gathering of supporters in December that he had his “ear to the ground” on the sharia issue when asked by a voter.

Rather than discuss sharia I wish that Republicans would more openly discuss real problems such as  fundamentalist Christian beliefs infringing upon the civil liberties of Americans and the widespread promotion of a revisionist history which denies our heritage of separation of church and state by many on the right.