NC conservatives seek to remove councilman because his atheist

As if you thought folks couldnt get any more backward, we find this. North Carolinian conservatives are seeking to remove Cecil Bothwell from the Asheville city council because well.... his atheist:

Bothwell's detractors are threatening to take the city to court for swearing him in, even though the state's antiquated requirement that officeholders believe in God is unenforceable because it violates the U.S. Constitution.

"The question of whether or not God exists is not particularly interesting to me, and it's certainly not relevant to public office," the recently elected 59-year-old said.

www.charlotteobserver.com...

The freedom lovin' conservative patriots from the south want to remove a man based on his choice of belief? Well thats what they want, and they are referencing the North Carolinian constitution to remove him.

Yes.... there is actually a ruling in the that states constitution that requires holders of public office to believe in God. Im pritty darn sure there will be unbelievers here so I will happily reference you that part of the North Carolinian constitution:

Sec. 8. Disqualifications of office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.

statelibrary.ncdcr.gov...

Fortunately there in clause 6 of the United states constitution it states that:

no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

topics.law.cornell.edu...

Given the supremacy clause where the US constitution overrules any state constitution, this requirement in the NC constitution is not valid.

Amazing aint it? How backward some parts of this country is. Whats more amazing that there are 6 other states with the same requirement and two of them are Texas and South Carolina. You know? those two states with governors that threatened to leave the United states because they felt the Obama administration was imposing on their freedoms. Yes those two states have the same law, and with the 7 states in total, all below the Mason-Dixon line, you'd figure where all the freedom loving tea party "patriots are?? Theres more:

Bothwell ran this fall on a platform that included limiting the height of downtown buildings and saving trees in the city's core, views that appealed to voters in the liberal-leaning community. When Bothwell was sworn in Tuesday, he used an alternative oath that doesn't require officials to swear on a Bible or reference "Almighty God."

That has riled conservative activists, who cite a little-noticed quirk in the North Carolina Constitution that disqualifies officeholders "who shall deny the being of Almighty God." The provision was included when the document was drafted in 1868 and wasn't revised when North Carolina amended its constitution in 1971. One foe, H.K. Edgerton, is threatening to file a lawsuit in state court against the city to challenge Bothwell's appointment.

www.charlotteobserver.com...

When most southern folk demand that their country be returned to them, I often ask myself what country is that exactly?

SG




[edit on 15-12-2009 by Southern Guardian]

It is a good way of keeping the communist-types out of government.

Anyhow, each state has it's own Constitution - that's part of what makes our Union so great.

If you have a problem with any of them, then don't live in that state. Go to another.







[edit on 15-12-2009 by Exuberant1]

This is one of the reasons I'm independent. Although I am conservative on a lot of issues, I just don't get the bible thumping conservatives. Religion has NO PLACE in politics. What you do, who you worship or don't in your private life is just that. Private. Keep it such.

...And how about, I dunno, FOCUS ON REAL ISSUES?

Mighty peculiar, because Asheville is the most liberal town in the most liberal area of North Carolina. I mean, Asheville is a town where liberals talk liberalism on the street corners, in the art galleries, in the art nouveau cinemas, and in the organic food stores all day long.

They have goddess retreats in Asheville.

C'mon, where'd this story come from? What's the real story? Are you telling me that conservatives are trying to run the atheists out of Asheville?

I'm laughing. There's gotta be another side to this story.

— Doc Velocity






[edit on 12/16/2009 by Doc Velocity]

Originally posted by Exuberant1
It is a good way of keeping the communist-types out of government.

Anyhow, each state has it's own Constitution - that's part of what makes our Union so great.

If you have a problem with any of them, then don't live in that state. Go to another.







[edit on 15-12-2009 by Exuberant1]

Or

all the backwards ass people can go to hell...

ALL of them

Originally posted by Doc Velocity
Mighty peculiar, because Asheville is the most liberal town in the most liberal area of North Carolina. I mean, Asheville is a town where liberals talk liberalism on the street corners, in the art galleries, in the art nouveau cinemas, and in the organic food stores all day long.

They have goddess retreats in Asheville.

C'mon, where'd this story come from? What's the real story? Are you telling me that conservatives are trying to run the atheists out of Asheville?

I'm laughing. There's gotta be another side to this story.

— Doc Velocity

If there is anotherside to this story, I am sure you'll find it. For now, this is the story, and there are different sources.

Here is yahoo: news.yahoo.com...

Here's AOL:
news.aol.com...

The Associated press:
www.google.com...

theres more sources, so feel free to look em' up and when you find "that other side to the story" let us know here.

Originally posted by Exuberant1
It is a good way of keeping the communist-types out of government.

So essentially your saying that by forcing everybody to follow one faith to join office, your keeping out the communist-type government? Isnt it the complete opposite?

Anyhow, each state has it's own Constitution - that's part of what makes our Union so great.

Yes, and as I stated in my OP, the supremacy clause of the US constitutional overrules conflicting laws with state constitutions, and in the US constitution it clearly states that there shall be no religious tests. This will not get far sorry.

If you have a problem with any of them, then don't live in that state.

That state is part of the United states of america. It is the concern of every american citizen as it is our constitutional rights to follow what religion we want and not to be bounded by any one.

Originally posted by Janky Red

Or

all the backwards ass people can go to hell...

ALL of them

Hell?

Please be realistic. There is no need to have anyone die.

Individuals are free to go to another state that has a Constitution they can support.

Originally posted by Exuberant1
It is a good way of keeping the communist-types out of government

You mean people like Thomas Jefferson? Yea, that guy sure was an evil communist, and bad for democracy/America.

Too bad we didn't have the conservative religious right back in those days to oust that traitor and his anti-superstitious, non-bible embracing beliefs.

reply to post by Southern Guardian


Starred and well deserved sir.

I've tried to make this argument myself here on numerous topics when discussing legality. Thank you for stating better then I could.

It should also be noted the reference in the declaration is to nature's God and not the Christian God as many would have us believe. This is closer to a deist belief.

Originally posted by Doc Velocity
Mighty peculiar, because Asheville is the most liberal town in the most liberal area of North Carolina. I mean, Asheville is a town where liberals talk liberalism on the street corners, in the art galleries, in the art nouveau cinemas, and in the organic food stores all day long.
— Doc Velocity
[edit on 12/16/2009 by Doc Velocity]

I wouldn't call it the most liberal part of NC. However, this is a strange story coming out of Asheville. I couldn't imagine this happening in Chapel Hill, Durham, or Raleigh. Maybe the mountain folk still have more sway than people think.

Originally posted by Exuberant1

Originally posted by Janky Red

Or

all the backwards ass people can go to hell...

ALL of them

Hell?

Please be realistic. There is no need to have anyone die.

Individuals are free to go to another state that has a Constitution they can support.

Well if you can convince all the backwards christians to go to.... Atlantis? (the original one)

No need to transplant faulty genetic constitution to other states -

You get on it would ya?

[edit on 16-12-2009 by Janky Red]

reply to post by Janky Red


I said please be realistic.

Atlantis, Christians, "genetic constitutions". Why do you joke?

Got something against Jews too?

[edit on 16-12-2009 by Exuberant1]

reply to post by Exuberant1


Yep. You ain't happy with what goes on around where you live? Work to change it, within your state. And abide by the LAWS of the constition. Or move. However, if you just can't abide by this, then form a revolutionary force to change things. Good luck with that. Really, good luck with that.

Woohaaa to you that are willing to fight for your rights as you see them, without trampling upon others' rights. according to the constitutions you proclaim. If you want a whole brand new constitution, maybe you should have the majoriy of folks on your side. Otherwise it's chaos. May the strongest force win.



How democratic is that?

...here's an entertaining snippet from another article...

www.citizen-times.com...

OK, actually H.K. Edgerton, our quirky African-American former local NAACP head who frequently dresses up as a Confederate soldier to promote Southern heritage, brought all this up. Generally speaking, when H.K. Edgerton is protesting you, you're doing something right.

In this case, I suspect some conservative movers and shakers who just don't like Bothwell and his uber-liberalism helped Edgerton along in bringing the legal questions to light. But whatever happened, this time I think the blind squirrel got hold of a genuine nut.

reply to post by Wyn Hawks


Whether Edgerton is a nut is not my concern, his gathering a storm of conservatives to remove this councilman, and the facts you stated above still does not excuse the fact you actually have this requirement in your constitution.

Seriously how backwards are these states?? In all 7 southern states they have this requirement of faith to serve in public office. In all the years of Republican and Democratic governors and state senators and mayors and other elected officials, and for all the talk of southern "freedom" why have they remained silent over this national unconstitutional requirement in their states constitutions?

Originally posted by Southern Guardian
reply to post by Wyn Hawks

 

the facts you stated above still does not excuse the fact you actually have this requirement in your constitution.

...i didnt state any facts, kiddo... i just posted a snippet from an asheville north carolina newspaper - and - i dont live in that state, so (1) dont be blaming me for what goes on there and (2) antiquated bs laws are still on the books in every state in the usofa, which means your state is not exempt and perhaps you should focus on fixing whats wrong in your state rather than runing down folks who happen to live in the south...

www.godlessgeeks.com...

...psssst, southern guardian (thats really funny, lmao) - according to that website up there, its NOT just southern states who have christian bigot crap in their constitutions... aint that a hoot?...

Originally posted by Exuberant1
reply to post by Janky Red

 

I said please be realistic.

Atlantis, Christians, "genetic constitutions". Why do you joke?

Got something against Jews too?

[edit on 16-12-2009 by Exuberant1]

Nope, don't mind christians either

But I do mind backwards Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindu's, Satanists, atheists, agnostics trying to force their views on other Americans.

These Backwards Christians in NC can go to Afghanistan and fight the backwards Muslims.



Both have experience fighting the socialisms... Soviets and democrats

YES.... It can be one big Rightwing gun and god fest.


thanks for revising my plan

[edit on 16-12-2009 by Janky Red]

Originally posted by Wyn Hawks
...i didnt state any facts, kiddo... i just posted a snippet from an asheville north carolina newspaper -

Yes you did, you posted it on behalf of your reply. I dont see much difference. The fact your trying to single this issue to this specific man who is leading the charge and all the other conservatives as "just nodding along for other reasons" tells me its just another attempt to down play the blatant hypocrisy.

I agree though with you on one point, that there are other examples of other states beyond the south with unconstitutional religious laws, but the fact the majority of these ammendments still exists in these southern states and that fact that no freedom yapping senator or governor has opted to rally the removal of it tells me plenty.

You seem not so concern about this ammendment threating your rights to faith, but rather to down play it. This tells me more than enough.

[edit on 16-12-2009 by Southern Guardian]