[Vision2020] Sali Defends Stance on Prayer

[Tom Hansen]

>From Representative Bill Sali:

"I believe the invocation in Congress is an important matter and that we
ought to reach out to the God of the Bible, because it is He who continues
to allow this country to prosper and He is responsible for the country's
longevity."

>From Article VI of the US Constitution:

"No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office
or public trust under the United States."

>From today's (August 14, 2007) Spokesman Review -

----------------------------------------------------

Sali defends stance on prayer 
He reiterates religious freedom belief, says he's victim of 'spin' campaign

Betsy Z. Russell 
Staff writer
August 14, 2007

BOISE - Idaho Congressman Bill Sali said Monday he believes in religious
freedom but still doesn't want a Hindu prayer opening a session of Congress.

"I believe the invocation in Congress is an important matter and that we
ought to reach out to the God of the Bible, because it is He who continues
to allow this country to prosper and He is responsible for the country's
longevity," Sali said in an e-mail to The Spokesman-Review.

In an earlier interview, he said a Hindu prayer is to "a different god." 

Sali, a freshman Republican, also said he's the victim of a "well-organized
campaign at the national level" to portray him as an opponent of religious
freedom. The controversy stems from an interview he gave to a Christian news
outlet, American Family News Network, which then published an online article
saying Sali was one member of Congress who was "disturbed" by a Muslim
serving in Congress and by a Hindu prayer recently opening a congressional
session.

Sali's press secretary, Wayne Hoffman, said Sali was "making a historical
observation, nothing more," when he cited those two items to the network and
said, "Those are changes, and they are not what was envisioned by the
Founding Fathers."

Sali said Monday that there's a national effort on to "spin this whole thing
in a way that is deceptive."

"I believe strongly in freedom of religion," he said. "I have nothing but
respect for the right for all people to worship in a way of their choosing.
I believe that people of any congressional district have the right to elect
anyone to Congress that they deem fit, and it is clear that diversity in
Congress will occur because of that."

The U.S. Constitution states in Article 6: "No religious test shall ever be
required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United
States."

But Sali added, "I am a Christian and I believe that this nation was founded
on Christian principles, and that it is important to embrace those
principles that have given this country the many blessings it enjoys today.
I believe it is important to reach out to the hand of God for guidance and
His protective hand and continued blessings upon our country."

Hoffman said, "It's not something that we pick and choose between one day
and the next, which God you're going to pray to. For him, he believes that
the God of the Bible is the one that we ought to reach out to each morning
for guidance and for His continued blessing upon the country. . His
preference is that it's a Christian prayer."

North Idaho College political scientist and human rights activist Tony
Stewart called that "really sad." As a student of the U.S. Constitution and
a teacher of it for 38 years, Stewart said he wished more people understood
the unique balance the Constitution's framers struck by not having a state
religion, but protecting the practice of all religions or even no religion.

"One can be deeply committed to their particular religious principles
without discriminating against other people's right to their religion,"
Stewart said. "It's not the job of the state to show a preference or to
discriminate."

Larry Grant, a Democrat who is running against Sali, sent a letter Sunday to
Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, a Muslim, apologizing for Sali's
remarks "on behalf of the people of Idaho's 1st Congressional District."
Grant wrote, "His remarks, at the very least, were thoughtless, uninformed,
and inappropriate. We here in Idaho do cherish religious freedom, both yours
and ours."

Rick Jauert, communications director for Ellison, said the Minnesota
congressman was out of the country finishing up a trip that included a stop
in Iraq. "He would not think any less of the good folks of Idaho for
comments that were previously made," Jauert said. "But he certainly would be
very appreciative of what was stated in the letter."

Hoffman said Sali already has spoken with Ellison. "It was a very cordial
exchange, and there are no issues between the two of them," Hoffman said.

Jauert said he couldn't confirm or deny that, but said, "I would take
Congressman Sali at his word - it would be so in keeping with the nature of
Congressman Ellison." He added, "The congressman really likes to look on the
bright side of things, and take it that perhaps people are having a bad day
or misspoke, chose some poor words. It's nothing personal."

Jauert said Ellison supported the first-ever Hindu prayer being offered to
open a session of Congress. "We're a nation of immigrants, we're a nation of
many faiths, and no one particular faith should have a corner on how we
(open sessions)," he said.

Ellison, a Democrat, is the first Muslim elected to Congress. He is a
convert to the religion who traces his U.S. ancestry back to 1741.

In addition to Grant, a former Micron Technology executive who lost narrowly
to Sali in the last election, Sali's announced election challengers include
Republican Matt Salisbury, of Nampa, and Democrat Rand Lewis, of Worley.

----------------------------------------------------

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Forty percent of the mass of every tree in the forest is crude oil.  Stop
and think about that.  We call them fossil fuels because they used to be
live stuff, now in the ground is turned into crude oil." 

- Bill Sali (September 21, 2006)