Can Anyone Defend Cain's Anti-Muslim Bigtory?

[W.E.B. Du Bois]

newser.com/article/d9ofqij81/gops-herman-cain-says-planned-tenn-mosque-would-gradually-sneak-islamic-law-into-us.html

GOP's Herman Cain says planned Tenn. mosque would 'gradually sneak' Islamic law into US
Cain says Tenn. mosque would spread Islamic law
By ERIK SCHELZIG | Associated Press | Jul 14, 2011 9:43 PM CDT

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain opposes a planned Tennessee mosque that has been the subject of protests and legal challenges.

Cain didn't bring up the controversial facility in a campaign rally on Thursday, but told reporters afterward that he's concerned about the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.

"It is an infringement and an abuse of our freedom of religion," he said. "And I don't agree with what's happening, because this isn't an innocent mosque."

The new mosque has been the subject of protests and counterprotests in the city about 35 miles southeast of Nashville.

A county judge ruled in May that the mosque construction does not harm the residents who sued to try to stop it, but he allowed them to move forward on claims the county violated an open meetings law in approving it.

Opponents have used the hearings to argue that the mosque is part of a plot to expand Islamic extremism in the U.S. Cain appeared to agree.

"It is another example of why I believe in American laws and American courts," Cain said. "This is just another way to try to gradually sneak Shariah law into our laws, and I absolutely object to that."

Shariah is a set of core principles that most Muslims recognize and a series of rulings from religious scholars. It covers many areas of life and different sects have different versions and interpretations of the code.

Cain previously stirred controversy by saying that he would not want a Muslim bent on killing Americans in his administration.

Stephen Fotopulos, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, called Cain's statements about the mosque ill informed.

"The vast majority of Tennesseans believe strongly in our country's founding principles of religious freedom, and support the rights of all Murfreesboro residents to practice their faith without interrogation or persecution," Fotopulos said in a statement.

What is the factual basis for saying that the planned Tennessee mosque would "gradually sneak Shariah law into our laws"? Is there any difference between saying this and 60 years ago saying that blacks are too dumb to be fighter pilots? Any difference between what Cain is saying and 120 years ago saying that freeing black people from slavery would result in the enslavement of whites and the raping of white women? Any difference? Any justification for these kind of statements?

[W.E.B. Du Bois]

I've been looking for some kind of justification for Cain's position (other than sheer demagoguery and prejudice) and I haven't found any. Here's an article from christianpost.com: http://www.christianpost.com/news/herman-cain-says-planned-tenn-mosque-could-lead-to-sharia-law-52357/

The only apparent justification is that some people believe that there is a "plot" on a national level to make Shariah law US law, and this mosque is part of the plot.

Cain is just a plain-old fashioned demagogue and bigot. Perhaps as a black man and a victim of racism, he understands the power of bigotry and demagoguery, and thus he seeks to wield it to his advantage and at some other group's expense.

[W.E.B. Du Bois]

Still no reason for Cain's position other than sheer bigotry and demagoguery:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/17/cain-opposing-mosque-construction-is-not-discrimination/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_politicalticker+%28 Blog%3A+Political+Ticker%29

Cain: Opposing mosque construction is not discrimination
By: CNN Associate Producer Gabriella Schwarz

(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said Sunday that communities should be able to prevent the construction of mosques in their neighborhoods.

Cain said he sided with some residents of a Tennessee town who tried to prevent Muslims from worshiping nearby.

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, outside Nashville, has been the subject of protests and counter protests earlier. A judge ruled in May that its planned construction did not harm the residents who sued to prevent it, but also allowed claims that the county violated an open meetings law in approving it to move forward. Construction of the new center has yet to start as the case continues.

"Our Constitution guarantees separation of church and state. Islam combines church and state," Cain said on "Fox News Sunday." "They are using the church part of our First Amendment to infuse their mosque in that community and the people in the community do not like it, they disagree with it."

The former Godfather's Pizza CEO, who previously indicated Muslims would need to prove their loyalty to the U.S. Constitution before he would appoint them to his administration, said that ultimately, people know what is best in their own communities.

"I'm simply saying I owe it to the American people to be cautious because terrorists are trying to kill us," Cain said. "So yes, I'm going to err on the side of caution, rather than the side of carelessness."

At the same time, Cain said he didn’t think there was any religious discrimination in Murfreesboro residents opposing the mosque or his support for their stand.

As someone who grew up in the '50s and '60s, Cain said, the mosque issue is "totally different" than the civil rights era because of the laws restricting blacks from advancing.


His core reasoning is an attack on all Islam and all mosques themselves because they are a part of Islam. His thinking is that because Islam inherently blends church and state, that this violates the first amendment separation of church and state and therefore by extension of that logic no mosques should be allowed to exist in this country. I find it ironic that Cain is an Evangelical and probably wants to blend church and state himself, yet he says that others are guilty of doing this.

Cain is a pure demagogue and Christian jihadist.

[College_Republican]

What Cain said is a bit harsh but he clarified himself by saying he wouldn't allow Muslims who don't put the constitution before Islam in the government. Maybe some demagoguery going on but Cain is a good man.