Chasing Out the Jews

Washington State Senator Jim Dunn (R) — a Christian — made this appalling comment yesterday:

“It is time to chase out all the Jews and evildoers,” Dunn said.

There has been no backlash.

Oh wait. My bad. He wasn’t talking about Jews…

“It is time to chase out of the house of God all the unbelievers and evildoers,” Dunn said.

Ah. Now it all makes sense. He’s anti-atheist, not anti-Semitic. That’s ok, right?

No wonder the media doesn’t care.

Dunn was speaking against the Freedom From Religion Foundation display in Olympia, Washington.

Here’s the full context of the statement. It took place during a protest yesterday against the display. Over 500 people showed up:

Using a loudspeaker, pastors prayed, sang Christmas carols and criticized Gov. Chris Gregoire for allowing the atheist sign in the building.

“The No. 1 thing is, we want the state of Washington and the governor to represent everyone in the state,” said the Rev. Kenneth Hutcherson, the pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond. “But just because you must represent everyone in the state doesn’t mean that you put up with intolerance from the people that you represent.”

State Rep. Jim Dunn, a Vancouver Republican, called for the crowd to continue their energy and prayers.

“It is time to chase out of the house of God all the unbelievers and evildoers,” Dunn said.

You can disagree with what the sign says. We can argue over the religion-enslaves-minds phrase on the plaque (I’m not a fan of it, personally). But to say atheists don’t have a right to make that statement? From a State Representative? That’s absurd. His constituency includes atheists along with religious people.

Also, is Dunn calling the state Capitol building a “house of God”?!

When an Illinois State Rep. (Monique Davis) made anti-atheist comments, she was named by Keith Olbermann as the “Worst Person in the World” one night.

That title should have a new owner tonight.

If you want to tell State Rep. Dunn how you feel, you can reach him through his website.

Richard

It’s interesting that Christians shriek persecution whenever a dissenting voice is raised or there is criticism of them and yet judged by the persecution they have dealt out over the centuries it hardly amounts to a scratch. Holy paranoia or hypocrisy?
ollie

Given that 93 percent of Academy of Science level scientists are atheist or agnostic, perhaps this “State Senator” ought to do the right thing and abstain from things like modern medicine? 🙂
llewelly

Don’t forget to contact the dear representative.
Unfortunately the web form filters by address of origin.
J. J. Ramsey

It’s interesting that Rev. Hutcherson, rather than dealing with the content of the sign, handwaves about “intolerance.” It’s really a neat trick if you think about it. He uses an emotive sounding word, “intolerance,” that helps spur indignation in his audience, while not really saying anything meaningful.
writerdd

Actually saying something like “It is time to chase out of the house of God all the unbelievers and evildoers,” is pretty damned intolerant if you ask me.

I really hate the way the Right redefines words to suit themselves, destroying the usefulness of meaningful terms. I’m so sick of all the Newspeak.
SarahH

I’m so sick of all the Newspeak.

Agreed. And it can’t be said enough: the weird media tendency to give both sides of an argument (usually polar opposites because grey areas don’t attract viewers!) equal time, even if one side is completely bonkers and the other side is well-supported by science or psychology or common sense.

Anyway, re: the comments by the representative – ew. Washington State, really? I guess the rural red districts exist in pretty much every state, but still.
GullWatcher

Jim Dunn is the lame duck state rep, who lost his most recent bid for re-election. This was after he was kicked off all his committees by his own caucus for sexually harassing a staffer in public, and not for the first time. He was the one and only person to vote against bills to fight gang activity and to allow school lunch programs to buy local fresh produce. He has been such an embarrassment to all concerned that I fear this latest bit of bigoted stupidity just got lost in the shuffle.
J. J. Ramsey

GullWatcher: “Jim Dunn is the lame duck state rep, who lost his most recent bid for re-election. This was after he was kicked off all his committees by his own caucus for sexually harassing a staffer in public, and not for the first time.”

So I guess religion rather than patriotism was the last refuge for this scoundrel?
misterjustin

I sent this moments ago:

Representative Dunn,

I am writing to express my deep disappointment in the comments you made at the state capitol at the recent protest against the atheist sign displayed there. For a member of the state legislature to say, “It is time to chase out of the house of God all the unbelievers and evildoers,” is an inexcusable display of intolerance and bigotry.

You should have listened to the Rev. Kenneth Hutcherson when he spoke at the rally saying, “… just because you must represent everyone in the state doesn’t mean that you put up with intolerance from the people that you represent.”

If you believe the atheist sign to be intolerant you should know that you cannot fight intolerance with intolerance or hatred. Your religious hatemongering only intensifies the intolerance on both sides of the debate.

You represent atheists in your district. I know because you represent members of my family living in your state. My family and I believe the sign to be a poor example of atheist sentiment – that the closing language is a personal, emotional attack on religious people an inappropriate. We have expressed that belief to the foundation that placed it.

What you have done, however, is further the angry, emotional divide that continues to promote bigotry and intolerance among religious people and atheist alike. That you have done so using religious rhetoric will frame the debate in such a way that you will have only your faith to represent you. All hope for rational discourse and reasonable differences is abandoned when anger is given the lead.

A man who lead in the polls by only 330 votes, and whose opponent graciously conceded, should know better than to offend his constituents.

Sincerely,

x
llewelly

My apologies. Hemant already posted a better contact link.
PrimeNumbers

More liars for Jesus. Andy et again, atheists are the new Jews.
GullWatcher

@SarahH

I guess the rural red districts exist in pretty much every state, but still.

The whole right half (so appropriate) of the state is red, the left half (ditto) is blue, with the Cascade mountains running right down the middle (they seldom vote). Dunn, however, by a fluke, was actually from the left half (against the pattern) but the southern edge of the state (draw your own conclusions). In their defense, they did just kick him out of office. Better late than not at all.
JSug

Jim Dunn probably doesn’t have very many atheists in his constituency. He’s the rep for a very rural district on the WA/OR border.

Hutcherson is a whack job who’s favorite cause is protesting G/L/T rights in any shape or form. He was one of the main proponents of the “Defense of Marriage Act” that, sadly, passed in this state in 1998, and was upheld by the state supreme court a few years ago. His attitude on the subject is only slightly less inflammatory than that of the Phelps clan.
efrique

Dunn thinks he was elected to church.
ThatOtherGuy

Now THIS, this is entertaining.

http://www.jimdunn.com/Ideas.html

First of all, “televised speach?” Someone ought to point that one out.

Second, “the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution should be interpreted according to the intent of our founding fathers?” Someone really should inform him that the Declaration is in no way a legal document.

Third, religion is “the foundation from which all justice flows?” He must have skipped class the day they mentioned the Establishment Clause.

Lastly, so important to him is “The Civility of Respect” that he always makes sure to “respect the ideas of others, even if you may not happen to agree.”

Oh, wait.
Eliza

Direct email: dunn.jim (at) leg.wa.gov

Wikipedia page says he’s Catholic. Seems kind of ironic, given their history as a distrusted minority within Christianity in the US (until JFK’s election, at least). But analysis involving any nuance may not be one of his strong suits.