Montana Governor: Commandments Displays a Matter of Free Speech

TBO.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

Montana Governor: Commandments Displays a Matter of Free Speech By Bob Anez Associated Press Writer

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana's governor defended the placement of Ten Commandments monuments on government property, saying those troubled by such displays "have something going inside of them that would need a little help anyway." Gov. Judy Martz's comments Friday came in response to a question about a Commandments display in front of a courthouse in Kalispell. Opponents have said it violates the line between church and state, and have threatened legal action if the display is not removed.

Martz, a Republican, said such displays should be considered speech that's protected by the First Amendment.

"People who are offended by the Ten Commandments have a deeper problem than the stone that it's written on, I think," Martz said at a news conference. "Anybody that has trouble with the Ten Commandments, I think they have something going inside of them that would need a little help anyway."

In neighboring Idaho, the state Senate's leadership committee on Friday killed legislation authorizing a documents display in the state Capitol that would include the Ten Commandments.

"I want to err on the broad side of maintaining that separation" of church and state, said Assistant Republican Floor Leader Joe Stegner. "This comes too close."

The monument would have included the Ten Commandments with six other documents, including the Magna Carta and the preamble to the state constitution. Judges have found similar displays to be constitutional.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was ousted last year after refusing to remove his Commandments monument from the Judicial Building in Montgomery. A federal judge had found the monument to be an unconstitutional governmental promotion of religion.

[Sub-Driver]

yes, go Martz.........

[DannyTN]

I don't know much about him, but he is starting to sound like presidential material to me.

[Sub-Driver]

it's a she....

[jwalsh07]

She.

[jwalsh07]

"I want to err on the broad side of maintaining that separation" of church and state, said Assistant Republican Floor Leader Joe Stegner. "This comes too close."

Where would that "separation" be found in the United States Constitution Assistant Republican Floor Leader Rino Dingbat?

[DannyTN]

a she huh? hmmmmmm A president that understands values vs hormone instability in charge of nuclear weapons. That's a tough call. I still like her though.

[jwalsh07]

She's too old to run for President but God bless her conservative soul.:-}

[savedbygrace]

If these displays, many of which have been around for more than 100 years, were establishments of religion, the nation would be a theocracy by now. That makes the whole argument that they should be removed appear as silly as it is.

[DannyTN]

"She's too old to run for President but God bless her conservative soul.:-}"

Well if she's past menopause that eliminates the concern about the nukes. So what's stopping her? Is there an upper age limit on the President?

[jwalsh07]

DIsregard, I had Governoor Martz confused with someboy else who is in her mid seventies.

[Boiling point]

I wish someone would point out that separation of church and state is NOT IN the constitution

[PeteFromMontana]

This is happening right here in my home town of Kalispell. I will tell you this there will be a huge local fight over this one. All of the radio stations vow to make a stand and the town is uniting behind it.

The fact that the people raising the issue are out of staters, especially from Washington D.C. is not in their favor.

It should be interesting to watch this fight, it could go national.

[GeronL]

If nobody gets in trouble for handing out fradulent marriage documents in CA why should anyone get in trouble for having the 10 commandments??

Just IGNORE any law or court judgement we don't agree with, we have as much right to do that as the liberals.

[PeteFromMontana]

Local

Commissioners find support for keeping Commandments

By Alan Choate
The Daily Inter Lake


Though not universally popular, the county commissioners' stance against removing a Ten Commandments monument at the Flathead County Courthouse has drawn praise and promises of support from county residents and at least one gubernatorial candidate.

"I've gotten, man alive, dozens of calls," said Commissioner Gary Hall, who has been the most vocal on the issue. "Just support calls, thankful that we're standing up, and not rolling over.

"I've never gotten this many positive responses on anything I've done" as an elected official.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy group, sent a letter to the county declaring that the monument is unconstitutional and needs to be removed. A lawsuit will be filed if it isn't, the group's legal director said.

Americans United has received complaints about the monument from county residents since last fall. The group cannot start litigation unilaterally — if a lawsuit is to be filed, someone who lives in the county must put his or her name on it.

Hall said commissioners would like to know about concerns with the monument.

"That's been our position, that we're not really acknowledging this group," he said. "If that person [who complained] would like to come forward and address the commissioners, we'd love to hear from them."

Secretary of State Bob Brown, who is running for governor as a Republican, issued a statement opposing the removal of any Ten Commandments monument, including the one in Flathead County and one at the Montana Capitol.

Judging from phone calls and e-mails to the Inter Lake, there are plenty of people who like the Ten Commandments monument right where it is.

"I was greatly disturbed by the idea that someone or [some] group wants to take away my rights so that they can have the same rights that they are taking away," wrote Andy Murphy of Kalispell.

"Our country was founded on these beliefs and our world today does not want to be reminded of this. ... This disruption of our rights as Americans has got to stop, so let Kalispell be that place."

Several people wanted information on how to contact Americans United (http://www.au.org) and expressed dismay that an organization on the other side of the country would get involved in this issue. Others put forth the argument that without the Commandments, there would be no law.

"If you want true separation of Church and State, I suggest you come up with your own set of laws without referring in the slightest to the Ten Commandments," Andrea Brunz of Columbia Falls wrote. "In case you didn't notice, that means you have to legalize murder, theft and adultery, among other human-rights-violating actions.

"Oh, and by the way, you can't make your trial witnesses promise to tell the truth, either. Good luck."

Lying in a trial is considered perjury, which is punishable as a criminal act. Adultery — while not encouraged — is not a crime in Montana.

Other writers found fault with the monument.

"This very country was founded on the basis of religious freedom," said Richard Wayne. "Key word — freedom. . . . this does not necessarily mean just Christianity.

"Do we need to put up monuments and ‘golden idols’ to represent our point of view? . . . If that is the case, the courthouse lawn is going to get quite cluttered with Buddhas and marble Korans, and — holy smoke! — just think of all the Hindu Gods . . . it’s going to be quite a tough mowing job."

Bill Milner of Whitefish cited a different area of civil rights law to make a case for not posting the Ten Commandments at a courthouse.

"You cannot post things like: ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal,’ ‘Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery’ and ‘Thou Shall Not Lie’ in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians," he wrote.

"It creates a hostile work environment."

Reporter Alan Choate may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at achoate@dailyinterlake.com

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/NewsEngine/SelectStory_AD.tpl?command=search&db=news.db&eqskudata=86-814410-49

[PeteFromMontana]

Just IGNORE any law or court judgement we don't agree with, we have as much right to do that as the liberals.

________________________________________

That was actually proposed on a local talk show this morning.

[GeronL]

well I hope they do it, works for me.

[WOSG]

"I want to err on the broad side of maintaining that separation" of church and state, said Assistant Republican Floor Leader Joe Stegner. "This comes too close." NO IT DOESNT. I want to err on the side of making the ACLU go away. Quit grovelling to those Commies! :-)

[mtg]

Did you hear Brian Swytzer(sp) on David Berg this morning? He didn't know anything about this. He sure skirted around some of the other questions he was asked too. I hear his Lt. Gov. sidekick is pretty much just a RINO.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - TEN COMMANDMENTS - Keep it coming!

[BooBoo1000]

Hey Pete have you checked out the flog-el horn at Mooses lately??