Gardner defends Trump nominee who wrote that Muslims have a "deficient theology"

[TexasTowelie]

During a congressional hearing yesterday, Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) defended a Trump nominee who wrote that Islam is a “deficient theology.”

“Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology,” Russell Vought, Trump’s nominee for an OMB post, wrote on a conservative blog last year. “They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont put a series of direct questions to Vought, as reported by Jennifer Bendery at the Huffington Post:

/excerpt
Such a statement is “indefensible, it is hateful and Islamophobic, and an insult to over a billion Muslims throughout the world,” Sanders told the room. He asked Vought, who sat facing him, if he thinks his past comments are Islamophobic.

“Absolutely not,” replied Vought, a former vice president of the conservative Heritage Action for America. “I’m a Christian, and I believe in a Christian set of principles based on my faith. That post … was to defend my alma mater, Wheaton College, a Christian school that has a statement of faith that includes the centrality of Jesus Christ for salvation.”
/end excerpt

Read more: http://www.coloradopols.com/diary/95745/gardner-defends-trump-nominee-who-wrote-that-muslims-have-a-deficient-theology-and-stand-condemned

[luvMIdog]

1. "they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.

Yes they are actually CONDEMNING everyone that is not Christian.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I think that it can become argued from multiple perspectives.

While objecting to Vought can be viewed policing against bigotry by liberals, the other view is that a religious test is being placed upon Vought by delving into his religious writings and how they relate to his ability to perform the job at OMB. Since "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" it appears that Vought's constitutional rights are being disregarded. Can you imagine if the situation was reversed and an agnostic or atheist were the nominee?

[luvMIdog]

3. I misunderstood part of it because I skimmed it too fast and did not click on the link either. What

I had failed to see is that he wrote that on a conservative blog . I have no problem with that - his personal beliefs are his own. Actually I think Pence has expressed wanting to put into law much worse. What I do have a problem with is Trump(R) putting nothing but zealous Christian thinkers in all the positions which is making them a monopoly which is of course what he wants, but then the rest of the country is not represented fairly. It is not that he believes that personally that bothers me it is the right wing agenda to turn my nation into a narrow minded theocracy. I hope this person can separate his beliefs from his role in government because most of them that are already in there cannot.

[mountain grammy]

4. As a Coloradan, I feel it's my personal responsibilty to

work as hard as possible to deny Gardner re-election in 2020 (if I'm still kicking.) This man is handsome and smooth with a charming smile, but I believe him to be a dangerous religious fanatic. I fully expect him to be the GOP's nominee for Pres in our not too distant dystopian future of America.