The Sarah Palin Effect

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey supports the First amendment right to freedom of religion. Except when the religion is worshipped is Islam.

"Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult whatever you want to call it," Ramsey said. "Now certainly we do protect our religions, but at the same time this is something we are going to have to face."

More pearls of wisdom from Ramsey.

"Now, you know, I'm all about freedom of religion. I value the First Amendment as much as I value the Second Amendment as much as I value the Tenth Amendment and on and on and on," he said. "But you cross the line when they try to start bringing Sharia Law here to the state of Tennessee -- to the United States. We live under our Constitution and they live under our Constitution."

Could Mr. Ramsey enlighten us and say who is bringing Sharia Law into Tennessee. The state has laws on the books. Did Muslims tear up the law books and force the Tennessee courts and law enforcement to enforce Sharia Law? If not then Mr. Ramsey either has a bad grasp on reality or he is pandering to racists. Mr. Ramsey should read George Washington's letter to to the Jews of Newport to get a lesson in tolerance.

Ramsey's comments were aimed at Muslim community center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Sarah Palin's Twitter posts attacking a mosque in New York City have given Republicans the green light to attack Muslims in a racist and anti-religious manner. Bigotry is not an American value. George Washington made that point clear.

"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support."