Winston-Salem official places Ten Commandments at city hall [Vernon Robinson - Black Conservative]

WCNC ^ | Jan. 19, 2004 | AP Presswire

[TaxRelief]

01/19/2004 Associated Press A city council member placed a granite block bearing the Ten Commandments on a walkway in front of a city hall deserted on Monday's Martin Luther King holiday.

Vernon Robinson, a black conservative who has been on the city council since 1998, said he and four helpers acted on the holiday because the barren adjoining parking lot allowed him to move in a truck and crane to position the one-ton block.

The monument — inscribed on one side with the Ten Commandments and on the other side with the Bill of Rights — was positioned on a landing of the stairway ascending to the 1930s city hall at dawn Monday, Robinson said.

Robinson said he had no permit or other authorization to place the monument on public property.

The $2,000 cost of buying and moving the four- tall, blue-granite block was entirely his own, said Robinson, who is running for a vacant U.S. House seat.

Mayor Allen Joines did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the city's response.

"This display is intended to acknowledge the undeniable role that the Ten Commandments and Bill of Rights have played in developing the American legal tradition," Robinson said in a telephone interview.

"These are the ideas on which society has been built and these works encapsulate the belief system on which the republic was founded."

Robinson said he was inspired to act by former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who ordered a 2 1/2-ton Ten Commandments monument placed in the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building in 2001.

A federal judge found the monument to be an unconstitutional promotion of religion by government in 2002. Moore was removed from office last year for violating ethics rules by not obeying the federal court order to remove the monument.

Robinson said the monument was quarried and cut in Georgia and shipped from there.

[Howlin]

I sent money months ago.

It's just that I'm uncomfortable with anybody billbears actually likes, not that that happens that often.

[TaxRelief]

There will not be a lawsuit. If the city decides not to accept the gift, Mr. Robinson would probably just have the monument moved.

[mykdsmom]

Now, in North Carolina, Winston-Salem City Councilman Vernon Robinson is running for the 5th Congressional District seat.

The Winston-Salem Journal describes Robinson as the "black Jesse Helms." FOX News calls him "the next J.C. Watts" and "the new face of the Republican Party. The Wall Street Journal says he is "the next black Republican Congressman."

MKM

[TaxRelief]

LOL. There are probably alot of people who voted for Bush that I would not be able to tolerate in the same room with me!

[Catspaw]

Ah, I knew he was running for something.

[Kuksool]

We need Vernon Robinson in Congress.

[mykdsmom]

Vernon is a GREAT guy but IMO this is all for the publicity.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

MKM

[Catspaw]

I'm not big on candidates who feel they have to resort to stunts and gimmicks for publicity. Except for this, he does sound like a good candidate. I do hope he doesn't cost the city any money.

[Kuksool]

I can't wait to see how the other contenders in the GOP primary react. I especially would like to see Virginia Foxx's reaction. This stunt by Vernon may reveal Foxx's true RINO colors.

[TaxRelief]

Mr. Robinson has always been a press-savvy conservative activist.

[Ethan_Allen]

"The Moore lawsuit is going to cost the taxpayers of Alabama somewhere around $300,000 (probably more once the final bills from the plaintiffs are in to the judge)."

Last I heard (and it's been a while), it costs $1 million to incarcerate one person for life. If it saves just one person from committing a murder and from spending a lifetime in prison, it will be a bargain. It might eventually put the abortion mills out of business, prevent the break-up of marriages and homes, and bring this nation back to a relationship with God, which would make him heal this land and restore our freedom. One can't put a price tag on that.

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/2Ch/7/14.html

[TaxRelief]

The liberal press may slaughter him for this, but the public will be pleased that he is not abandoning his activism while he runs for congress.

[Catspaw]

It sounds like you approve of the state of Alabama having to pay the legal fees of the plaintiffs in the Moore case. Of course, that Alabama is running a significant deficit makes no difference to you.

[Ethan_Allen]

which would make him heal this land and restore our freedom.

"him"=Him

[prognostigaator]

kaboom

[Catspaw]

Mr. Robinson has always been a press-savvy conservative activist.

And if the city of Winston-Salem is sued, it makes no difference to you or Mr. Robinson if the city loses and is assessed legal fees by the court? Of course, if Robinson gets elected to congress, it won't make any difference to him because he won't be there anymore.

[Howlin]

Or because he's a North Carolinian blowing your theory that I dislike everything in North Carolina? ;) I'm kidding you

I take it you'll be pulling for the Pats in the Super Bowl, right?

[Rebelbase]

"Pretty shrewd Vernon. $2000 is a pretty cheap price to pay for all the publicity this will garner."

You got it. OTOH, the damn mess this is going to cause isn't going to be worth the taxpayer's cost to remove it.

Publicity stunt pure and simple.

Ironic that on the other side of the building is the County's confederate soldier memorial.

Since Robinson placed it there, I wonder would happen if someone knocked it over, or even stole it?

[JohnnyZ]

It certainly is interesting. Obviously Vernon put it up to make a point and get some press. Probably a net positive political move; people who would be uncomfortable with this sort of demonstration wouldn't vote Vernon anyway, while people who are undecided can see very clearly where Vernon stands.

[billbears]

Is there somebody else playing the Panthers I don't know about?