Posted on 08/27/2006 7:01:21 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris told a religious journal that separation of church and state is "a lie" and God and the nation's founding fathers did not intend the country be "a nation of secular laws."
The Florida Republican candidate for U.S. Senate also said that if Christians are not elected, politicians will "legislate sin," including abortion and gay marriage.
Harris made the comments - which she clarified Saturday - in the Florida Baptist Witness, the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which interviewed political candidates and asked them about religion and their positions on issues.
Separation of church and state is "a lie we have been told," Harris said in the interview, published Thursday, saying separating religion and politics is "wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers."
"If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin," Harris said.
Her comments drew criticism, including some from fellow Republicans who called them offensive and not representative of the party.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who is Jewish, told the Orlando Sentinel that she was "disgusted" by the comments.
Harris' campaign released a statement Saturday saying she had been "speaking to a Christian audience, addressing a common misperception that people of faith should not be actively involved in government."
The comments reflected "her deep grounding in Judeo-Christian values," the statement said, adding that Harris had previously supported pro-Israel legislation and legislation recognizing the Holocaust.
Harris' opponents in the GOP primary also gave interviews to the Florida Baptist Witness but made more general statements on their faith.
Harris, 49, faced widespread criticism for her role overseeing the 2000 presidential recount as Florida's secretary of state.
State GOP leaders - including Gov. Jeb Bush - don't think she can win against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November. Fundraising has lagged, frustrated campaign workers have defected in droves and the issues have been overshadowed by news of her dealings with a corrupt defense contractor who gave her $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions.
Katherine Harris is discovering that if you persist in telling the Truth, you WILL be caught! ;)
My big question has been: Why have Florida Republican's allowed this big mess over fielding viable candidate to oppose the Democrat, Nelson, happen? Where has Jeb Bush been on this? why hasn't he shown any leadership? Perhaps this is his way of demonstrating that he really doesn't want to be president of the USA.
Posted by Luis Gonzalez
On News/Activism 08/26/2006 8:08:02 AM CDT · 166 replies · 2,459+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690353/posts
Since when is this Liberal NOT "disgusted"? Debbie probably starts every day "disgusted". Especially trying to get a comb through that bale of hay on her head.
It has also sent FReepers into a frenzy too, short of their heads exploding.
Harris nails it.
Thank God this woman has balls.
She's definitely right, but she just handed the Left a hammer to hit her in the head.
Good I hope her saying that really p****s off the liberals. THAT is what most Americans want to hear from conservatives. And what she said is 100% true.
Some voters don't want the truth. They can't stand the truth. We are commisioned to let our (really His) light shine (in our lives) and liberals want to play whack-a-mole with it.
All of the "viable" Florida Republicans refused to run in the race, yet they have the gall to trash Harris for running.
Don't hate the player, hate the game.
The only fair point is about separation of church and state. Her charge about if Christians are not elected, politicians will "legislate sin," is pure crap and another reason she will be trounced in November.
They (and GOP insiders) have been trashing her since she filed to run. What else is new?
> God and the nation's founding fathers did not intend the country be "a nation of secular laws."
And yet... that's what the founding fathers created.
I guess God's pretty ineffective in Harris' mind.
She's toast. If I were in Florida, I'd go all out against her for saying what she said. As a Hin-Jew, I'd hit her hard.
It would help if she actually read the Constitution she swore to uphold.
Foolish comment, and frankly this is why the party has little love for her.
Sorry, there are more than Christians in the Republican party. One does not have to be religious to value freedom, fairness, and personal responsibility that the Democrats fail to provide.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.