Ramsey is Wrong!

Shame on Ron Ramsey.

I like Ron Ramsey and think he would make a great governor. He has concrete proposals for cutting the cost of state government and a vision for where he wants to take this state. He has made a great Lieutenant Governor. He is a solid conservative and he is ready to hit the ground running. However, I am disappointed to see Ron Ramsey pander to those who would deny First Amendment rights to Muslims. He does not go as far as Lou Ann Zelnik, but almost. He seems to argue that if we can delegitimize Islam then they would not have the benefit of First Amendment protection.

In this clip he says that he is "all about freedom of religion" but then goes on to say, "Now you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, a way of life, or cult – whatever you want to call it. We do protect our religions, but at the same time, this is something that we are going to have to face.”

Maybe he was unprepared for the question and maybe he was having a bad day but he needs to clarify his stand on Freedom of Religion. The Muslim faith is second largest religion in the world and the faith of one-fifth of the world's population. By calling a religion a cult does Ron Ramsey think that a religious group can lose their First Amendment protections?

I grew up in a religious conservative environment where Catholicism was considered a cult. Is Mormonism a cult? Are Jehovah Witnesses part of a cult? Does the Church of Scientology get to have the benefit of First Amendment protection?

One can advocate strict adherence to the laws of this country, vigilance against those who would do us harm, and take a strong stand against terrorism and still be an advocate of Freedom of Religion. Ron Ramsey needs to clarify how he stands on the First Amendment.

I cannot support someone who loves the Second Amendment but is not also committed to the First Amendment.

Ron, please clarify your position.

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