Michael Arcuri Votes For Religious Pandering Act of 2007
Congressman Michael Arcuri gets it right some times, but today, he sure got it wrong.
Arcuri, the politician who represents New York’s 24th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, voted for H RES 847, which might easily be called the Religious Pandering Act of 2007. It’s a resolution that expresses the support of Christianity and Christmas.
“Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible…”
“Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity…”
“acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States…”
Congress can’t bother itself with ending the war in Iraq. Congress can’t pass an energy bill that increases fuel efficiency. Congress can’t do a thing to seriously address global warming. Congress can’t hold George W. Bush accountable for the increasingly obvious grave crimes he’s committed against the Constitution and laws of our nation.Yet, Congress can find the time to pass a resolution saying that Christmas and Christianity are especially important?!?
Why? This bill is in direct response to right wing propaganda that there is a war against Christmas. That’s blatant nonsense, of course. Look around you, and you’ll see that there is no war against Christmas. No one is doing anything to prevent people from celebrating Christmas in their homes or businesses, if that’s what they choose to do.
There isn’t any particular vulnerability of Christianity that needs addressing either. In fact, with the 2008 presidential campaign, it seems that Christianity is being made a requirement for holding public office. The candidates seem to be in a competition with each other to prove who loves Jesus most.
Furthermore, there’s troubling language in the legislation that expresses support for the idea that the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation. That’s an historically false and politically dangerous assertion. These claims are being made by the Religious Right in order to promote laws giving a privileged legal status to Christians above all other Americans. By voting for the resolution, Representative Arcuri gave aid to this effort.
This congressional resolution is unnecessary. It’s a distraction from urgent business that is not being taken care of. Worse than that, it’s a violation of the Constitution. The first line of the first amendment to the Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”.
Congress is forbidden by the constitution from passing legislation that establishes special recognition of any religion, or of religion in general. Yet, that’s just what the House of Representatives did today, and Mike Arcuri went along with it.
He didn’t have to vote against the resolution. He could have abstained from it, to hold himself apart from the shameful religious pandering. How disappointing that Arcuri went along with the rhetoric of the Religious Right and voted for the legislation in spite of this easy alternative.
Agree with you. I also think that this is dangerous from the perspective of international opinion. It bolsters the fundamentalist propaganda (“founded as a Christian nation”) in the US, and it simultaneously bolsters the fundamentalist propaganda in Wahabi Muslim areas (the US is waging a Crusade against Islam).
Dumb thing to do. I plan to tell him so, too. Although I understand that it can be hard to “vote against Christmas,” he could have, indeed, abstained.
Yes, even Republican presidential candidates Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul didn’t vote on this legislation. If they can get away with doing that, surely Arcuri could have.
As I understand it, as actually passed (as opposed to how it was introduced . . . Jon’s quotes above), the bill reads as follows:
“Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;
Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;
Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;
Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;
Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its Judeo-Christian roots;
Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;
Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God’s redemption, mercy, and Grace; and
Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;
(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;
(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;
(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and
(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.”
The vote was 372-9, with 10 voting “present”, and 40 not voting. 195 Democrats (including Arcuri and Hinchey) voted for it and 177 Republicans voted for it. Republicans Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, and Ron Paul didn’t abstain, they weren’t there during the vote, thus they and 37 others who also weren’t there (a total of 19 Dems and 21 Reps)were recorded as “not voting”. 9 Democrats voted against it and 9 voted “present” (i.e., not taking a position). No Republicans voted against it, and 1 lonely Rep, Mike Pence from Indiana, voted present.
It clearly was a silly resolution on its face and Congress should be embarrassed to have spent any time on it at all.
Reading the whole thing makes me even more sure that it could easily bolster propaganda that the US is on a Crusade, what with all the references to “supporting” and “respecting” Christians outside the US, and the “historical” importance of Christianity in the “formation of Western Civilization.”
The US-sponsored fundamentalist Islamic terrorist recruitment program must stop!! This is not just “silly,” it’s dangerous.