GOP operative attacks Virgil Goode's victim on MSNBC

By: Rob
Published On: 1/2/2007 11:02:07 PM

Media Matters catches this despicable defense of Rep. Virgil Goode and an attack on Rep. Keith Ellison by Republican strategist Cheri Jacobus:
JACOBUS: Well, first of all, I'm a pretty big fan of free speech, so even if Congressman Goode's remarks were somewhat inelegant, if you read the blogs today there are a lot of people who sort of get his larger point -- first on immigration -- but also, you do have a newly elected Democrat [sic] Muslim member of Congress who seems to be proactive in making a stink about this, saying, "I will not be sworn in with my hand on the Bible like every other elected member to Congress before me." ...

And he could have -- look, if he wasn't trying to make a stink about it, if he wasn't trying to cause controversy, what he should have done, and the mature thing to do and the diplomatic thing to do, would be to say, "You know, I think I would like both." But instead, you have a newly elected member of Congress trying to cause controversy, and yet we're focusing on Virgil Goode? I think that's a little bit strange....

Sound bad? Watch the video - it looks even worse.  So many stupid comments, so little time. Suggesting Ellison meant to cause controversy, blaming him for the media attention, wondering why Virgil's xenophobia is getting so much more press than the scary Muslim who wants to swear on the Koran.

For now, I'll just highlight her most ridiculous comment - her suggestion that the mature thing for this Muslim Representative would have been to say he "would like both" the Koran and the Bible just to be "diplomatic." No need for Virgil Goode to be diplomatic, of course! Let's have Rep. Ellison swear on the book of another religion!

Can you believe the GOP trotted this person out on national television?

Comments



Is it "diplomatic" to swear on someone else's Bible? (Andrea Chamblee - 1/2/2007 11:58:50 PM)
I think it would have been disrespectful.

The presence of the Bible is to affirm the solemnity of the Constitutional oath, not the solemnity of the Bible. The oath is to uphold the Constitution, not to uphold the Bible. Oath takers should use the book that reflects the solemnity of their personal oath, or no book for those who do not believe in the Bible. That is what is done in court.  For a Congressman (and President) that oath includes the Constitution's promise to uphold freedom of religion and of speech.

"I don't put my hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible. I put my hand on the Bible to uphold the Constitution."  Jaime Raskin.



who is this lady? (littlepunk - 1/3/2007 12:07:27 AM)
and what qualifications does she have to be a "republican strategist"?

for that matter, any of these strategists on the cable news talk shows - i think strategist or consultant is an extremely loosely used term (for both parties).  it irritates me when somebody clueless gets up there representing republicans as a "strategist" (though they probably have lost all their races) and sounds like a moron.



She works for Capital Strategies on C Street (Andrea Chamblee - 1/3/2007 12:37:57 AM)
and is a favorite on Fox when Ann Coulter is busy getting hair extentions, throwing up her latest meal, or making up footnotes. (She "defended" the Repubs for outing Valarie Plame on the basis that Plame was already "out" because she drove to work.  Watch out, anyone who drives to Langley.)


Just like an alcoholic family (Rebecca - 1/3/2007 12:37:41 AM)
Just like in an alcoholic family the alcoholic parent wants everyone fighting so they won't focus on the fact that he or she is drunk. Keep you eye on the drunk, i.e. George Bush. Keep the big I on the table.


Seen her before (Gordie - 1/3/2007 12:41:55 AM)
and she has that same shit eating grin Bush has all the time. She must have gone to the same school that Bush went too. George Allen has that same shit eating grin and it has been stuff down his throat. People tend to dislike people who smile back like you are stupid, and she sure does that. Phonyness shows. Doesn't it?


The George W. Bush Smirk Academy (Rebecca - 1/3/2007 12:47:45 AM)
Yes, Chris Wallace and William Kristol are graduates too.


Choke, sputter, choke (Silver Fox - 1/3/2007 9:39:35 AM)
This is so outrageously moronic I can only sputter and choke.  If we follow her reasoning to its logical conclusion, then Goode should also take his ceremonial oath on both the Bible and Quran.  Hey, Virge, even though you won't have anything to do with the Quran in your office or display anything relating to it on your wall,  I'm sure someone would lend you one if you promised to treat it with respect during the brief ceremonial oath/photo op after the official swearing in.  And hey, people, at the actual  official ceremony, no one is swearing on any book of any sort.  They raise their hands and swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States.  Period.

Geesh. 

Can we please go back to teaching a course of Logic 101 in our high schools?  Not only are we graduating people who can't read (the Constitution is a fairly short document) but they can't follow a logic chain.



Now there you go, taking my own brilliant idea (Catzmaw - 1/3/2007 12:37:17 PM)
Tell you what -- let's extend the analysis and say that Goode and maybe every other Congressman should swear on the holy books of every one else in Congress -- let's have a stack including the Bible, the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the Talmud, and whatever a Buddhist or Hindu might be inclined to use. 

Throughout all this Ellison has shown nothing but class.  His request to use Jefferson's copy of the Koran was terrific.  I think he'll show up Goode just by being such a class act.



Thomas Jefferson's Koran (Andrea Chamblee - 1/3/2007 5:31:57 PM)
It turns out she shot off her lipsticked mouth too soon. He IS doing the traditional swearing in, then he's going to a private ceremony using Thomas Jefferson's Koran.  So what is her complaint now? That he caused a fuss suggesting that the Bible was not a "one-size fits all?"