Associated Press
In the wake of tragic gun violence, most politicians realize the decent, responsible thing to do is send sympathies to those affected while leaving politics out of it. Others aren't as sensible.
After the Columbine massacre, for example, then-Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) blamed science textbooks for the murders: "Our school systems teach the children that they are nothing but glorified apes who are evolutionized [sic] out of some primordial soup."
In 2007, after the Virginia Tech massacre, Newt Gingrich blamed liberals for supporting "situation ethics," adding, "Yes, I think the fact is, if you look at the amount of violence we have in games that young people play at 7, 8, 10, 12, 15 years of age, if you look at the dehumanization, if you look at the fact that we refuse to say that we are, in fact, endowed by our creator, that our rights come from God, that if you kill somebody, you're committing an act of evil." Gingrich, explaining the VT tragedy, went on to condemn Halloween costumes and the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law.
And this morning, after the slayings in Aurora, Louie Gohmert weighed in with some stupidity of his own.
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said Friday that the shootings that took place in an Aurora, Colo. movie theater hours earlier were a result of "ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs" and questioned why nobody else in the theater had a gun to take down the shooter.
During a radio interview on The Heritage Foundation's "Istook Live!" show, Gohmert was asked why he believes such senseless acts of violence take place. Gohmert responded by talking about the weakening of Christian values in the country.
"Some of us happen to believe that when our founders talked about guarding our virtue and freedom, that that was important," he said. "Whether it's John Adams saying our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people ... Ben Franklin, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom, as nations become corrupt and vicious they have more need of masters. We have been at war with the very pillars, the very foundation of this country."
"You know what really gets me, as a Christian, is to see the ongoing attacks on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and then some senseless crazy act of a derelict takes place."
I see. So, in the mind of this strange Republican congressman, a madman killed 12 people because of ... the separation of church and State? The First Amendment is to blame for a shooting spree in a movie theater?
If decency had any place in American politics, this would be an immediate career-ender for the ridiculous congressman from Texas. Some political missteps are simply unforgivable.
Update: Gohmert also wondered aloud why no one else in the theater was armed, complaining that the victims should have shot back.
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The scuttle but going around the internet now is that Holmes is possibly a member of the Tea Party.... here's the link... not confirmed as to the identity of this person being one in the same as the suspect, but we will see as time goes on.
http://denverteaparty.ning.com/profile/JimHolmes?xg_source=activity
They had the wrong Jim Holmes in that report.
Is this guy for real ?
Talking about nut-jobs....
Does he really believe that firefights, in public, are going to solve this sort of thing ??
Too bad a State Rep can't be impeached for 'stupid'.
Just one more in a long line of publicly embarrassing statements from elected officials in Texas. I am an embarrassed Texan. Let's hope we don't send this one on to Washington.
Too late - he is already a member of the US House.
Yup..and he's sort of the poster child for who we *don't* want representing us. If you've ever tried to speak to him, you'd know: The stupid..it runs deep.
k.akin .... Is it possible that there are enough at least halfway intelligent people in that part of NE Texas to vote this guy out? Or is there currently an ongoing epidemic of gross stupidity in that area? I'm not optimistic, but I don't know the area.
Thanks to the NRA and various Texas folks (*Bush comes to mind) we are not safe in our leisure activities, our homes, our schools, our work places. But you can bet some dumbass type will blame it on godlessness rather than Republican values that made the gun laws.
Just think though, a new cottage industry is created for Hallibortion!
TSA: Theatrical Security Agency!
Raise your hand it you knew it would be Gohmert?
*raises hand*
Mr. Judeo-Christian Ghomertbunghole:
Thou....Shalt.....Not.....Kill.....
As a progressive myself, I don't have an issue with people owning guns nor the 2nd amendment. The wrong use of guns is the symptom here, not the problem. I truly feel it is our hate-filled rhetoric, our self-righteous judgments on our fellow human beings, our lack of compassion, the politics of lock and load and idiot statements from people like Gohmert!
I'm pretty sure that a political system bought & paid for by massive corporations that only have fudiciary responsibility to their shareholders is more "dehumanizing" then evolution is. If these people are concerned about a lack of morality in America, maybe they should start modeling that morality by standing up for the citizens of the United States who they were elected by instead of selling out to Corporate Interests just to back an easy buck.
And we pray to our Lord
Who we know is American
He reigns from on high
He speaks to us through middlemen
And he shepherds his flock
We sing out and we praise His name
He supports us in war
He presides over football games
And the right will prevail
All our troubles shall be resolved
We have faith in the Lord
Unless there's money or sex involved
SOMETIMES not always Henely gets it right.
Just when you think people can't be more insensitive... How sad. My heart cries for the victims and their families. My sensibility is being assaulted by the stupidity being expressed by this member of congress. This man has no business being in office. Why did no one else in the theater have guns indeed. Shame on you Mr.Gohmert.
The NRA is a terrorist organization.
A-@!$%#ing-men!
Why are we dignifying this moron's comments by repeating and publicizing them? As much as my sympathies lie with the left, the more airtime given to comments by Gohmert, Bachmann, et al., the more their message is promulgated. You want to shut them up? Stop covering them.
I agree with your sentiments to a certain extent, but it's also important for people to know what kind of garbage comes out of the mouths of their elected leaders so that they (hopefully) won't get voted back. That's a long shot, I realize, but we gotta try.
Because everyone knows that going around always ready to shoot back is a Judeo-Christian belief. When Jesus said to turn the other cheeck, he really meant, "shoot the bastard." Yep, I totally remember that part in my Bible classes.
Why is it then, that every time there is a slaying like this it turns out to be some religious zealot? I'm tired of your pathetic fantasy god asking people to shoot up schools and theaters, asking delusional mothers to drown their children, sending us into unwinnable idiot wars where our freedoms are lost along with our lives, and then trying to "blame" the aftermath on the decent, reasonable people who just want to know why you @!$%#s have to pretend like it's not your own damn fault for raising your children on lies and fear and mistrust and hate. And then, the rest of the religious claim "we are not all like that." So what? By being a part of the organization that it all stems from you are supporting these acts. @!$%# you, religious @!$%#s. Even if you feel like you are not directly related, @!$%# you. You are part of the problem, and willingly so.
Wow, if only Jesus had a gun, he could have prevented himself from being crucified. Idiot!
What I find appalling is that in the exact same breath, he claims this happened because of the loss of Judeo-Christian values AND wonders why no one else had a gun. Does he even know what Judeo-Christian values are? Does he have a mental impairment? Nut bag.
Prayers for the poor families affected.
Gohmert is a mean, twisted, self loathing little man.
For Republicans it is a knee jerk reaction to whore themselves out to the NRA and defend them..... as for Gomer Pyle from Texas. 1. It's Texas and 2. It's Gomer Pyle. That man is a jacked up hot steaming pile of crazy.
Can't we just suspend, for a few respectful minutes at least, the cascade of words loudly assigning political interpretations to this sad and tragic event? Please - on both sides of the fence - have you no compassion and self-restraint?
So he blamed the shooting on a loss of Judeo-Christian values, and then complained that people didn't shoot back?
Wait, what?
Is he talking about Judeo-Christian values like this one?
" ‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; "
Matthew 5:38-39
Or perhaps this?
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God;* for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. " Romans 12:17-21
Because if anything seems incompatible with the teachings of Jesus, it would be opening fire at a gunman in a crowded theatre.
bravo!!!....i love it when people fight against "christian" stupidity and inane mouthings by actually quoting scripture that proves the idiots wrong!!!
And what exactly are "Judeo-Christian beliefs?" Seems to me, JCBs are whatever the "believer" is doing, wants to do or has been kept from doing at any given moment.
Guns solve nothing - but create chaos in situations like this. Blaming this on religion and political things is crazy. This person may have had a mental health break - or something else. Let the officials do what they have to do. Let the politicians shut up - and when it is all done - vote them out. At least the gunman is alive and possibly we will find out what caused this to occur- he needs to be in a cell with pictures of all his victims on the wall forever. Prayers to all the families affected and everyone in that theater.
In the same interview Louie Gohmert also said, "Well, it’s always a problem and there are some people who require medication."
Isn't he against universal access to medication for people that need it?
Someone please explain to me why this guy can buy guns, body armor, tear gas and a gas mask to shoot up a theater, kill women and children and babies - but the same men who defend his right to own a gun tell me I don't have the right to an abortion? What world do we live in?
And how worthless is the Patriot Act if there is no database keeping track of people who buy these things? They have a right to privacy when planning mass murder, but I don't have a right to privacy in my family planning?
T his isn't the best subject to bring politics into such an aweful act of violence. However since this is about politicians saying stupid stuff at stupid times I've witnessed this personally myself. One voice that will most asurdely be quiet would be the NRA! Whenever something bad like this happens those belonging to the NRA start to shiver in their boots because all too often bad things lead to substantial change in regards to gun laws! The NRA's stance of not taking their guns unless it's from their cold dead hands. What about those who were totally unarmed and now have cold dead bodies because of a crazed person who wanted his 15 min of fame. IT disgusted me to no end. Doesn't anyone think about the actual breathing, living person who could get hurt by these guns? Most are not for hunting or target practice. Most of these weapons are auto or semi automatic guns that doesn't give much time for anyone to get out of the way. That's enough from my soap box. Tina T