Bill Sali's Half-Apology

Idaho Congressman Bill Sali has apologized to Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim to serve in Congress, for his comment last week that Ellison's presence "was not what was envisioned by the Founding Fathers," although, as the Idaho Statesman points out, Ellison took the oath of office using a Koran once owned by Thomas Jefferson.  [Hat tip:  Unequivocal Notion]

From the Idaho Statesman:

Ellison was out of the country, so Sali was unable to call him, said Sali's spokesman, Wayne Hoffman. Instead, he sent an e-mail, and the two exchanged correspondence that was "very pleasant and cordial in nature,'' Hoffman said.

"(Sali) was hopeful that Congressman Ellison understands he meant no disrespect or harm from his comment, and that he hoped that he would meet with him when he returned to Washington, D.C.,'' Hoffman said.

Rep. Ellison's spokesman, Rick Jauert, tells the Statesman that the Congressman "doesn't take these things personally.  People have a bad day, they chose poorly chosen words. … He just simply doesn't choose to take any of that personally."

Hoffman seemed perturbed that his boss's comments became a topic of heated and frequent discussion, essentially blaming bloggers for pointing out the absurdity and ignorance of Sali's comments.

The comments took on a life of their own, Hoffman said, with people "trying to twist it and spin it into something that is horrible. What we have now is bloggers quoting bloggers who are quoting other bloggers.''

Sali has yet to apologize to people of the Hindu faith for similar comments made regarding the Hindu prayer offered in the Senate, although he continues to claim that his comments have been taken out of context.  But Sali's continued attempts to explain the comment have only lent fuel to the fire. 

He told the editorial board of the Idaho Press-Tribune this:

“Christian principles work, and they show up in a lot of different areas,” Sali said. “Most of the hospitals in this country have Christian names. If you think Hindu prayer is great, where are the Hindu hospitals in this country? Go down the list. Where are the atheist hospitals in this country? They’re not equal.”

Hoffman tells the Spokesman Review this:

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."

And in an op-ed at the IPT he says this:

The Judeo-Christian principles on which our republic was founded can be embraced, defended and practiced by people of any faith. Anyone doing so will find an ally in me. But when principles outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition begin to be promoted within Congress, we should all recognize that the government given to us by the Founding Fathers will be at risk. That should give every American serious pause.

Congressman Sali has a bigoted view of religious diversity.  I don't know in what other context his statements could be taken.

Comments

[MountainGoat]

Others have pointed out that this apology also does not extend to Sali's constituency in the 1st District or any the people of Idaho who have been offended by his remarks.

[Sisyphus]

It was weak. But what disturbed me this morning was this section: "Both the Idaho Democratic Party and Sali's 2008 Democratic opponent, Larry Grant, have capitalized on the hubbub in the blogosphere."

What basis does Erika Bolstad have to make that statement? Both the party and Mr. Grant came out contemporaneously with the uproar in the blogosphere. She implies by the term "capitalize" that they were not individually incensed by Mr. Sali's comments but were taking advantage of an opportunity as a result of the uproar. It diminishes their comments and falls into a current right wing talking point that the Democratic Party is cowtowing to commentators on the blogs.

And the term "hubbub" is defined as a "loud confused noise from many sources". We've hardly been confused. The lack of religious tolerance exhibited by the Congressman is a common theme in all comments. But not once does Erika reference the substance of the "liberal" bloggers' complaints. Instead she takes a dismissive tone. We've also had conservative bloggers distance themselves from Sali's statements. Its either very sloppy or deliberate. She must be bucking for Hoffman's job utilizing his methods. Pathetic.

[Diana Rowe Pauls]

Very good catch, Sisyphus, and observation. It would be nice if non-liberal bloggers would contact her and let her know that they were also upset... but I won't hold my breath...

[Elizabeth Schmitz]

From Schmitz Blitz: schmitzblitz.wordpress.com

Perhaps the Congressmen should take a look a the Constitution, which he gave an oath (before God nonetheless) to uphold. Article VI reads, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

This is not the first time Sali has tried to push the ‘Christian Nation’ myth. In a speech to the House floor in March commemorating the 220th Anniversary of Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom, Sali argued that Thomas Jefferson never really supported the “wall of separation.” He said:

"the ‘wall” was designed not to prevent people of faith from expressing their views in the public square, or to discourage them from applying their faith to public life, but rather to prevent the Federal Government from suppressing Judeo-Christian beliefs or their adherents."

I wonder if Sali actually read Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom? I’m guessing he either missed this point, or couldn’t understand the irony of it before writing his speech:

"that the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time"

Seeing as the Congressman had difficulty reading and/or comprehending the Virginia Statute, there’s probably a good chance he missed this bit from Thomas Jefferson’s autobiography:

"The bill for establishing religious freedom, the principles of which had, to a certain degree, been enacted before, I had drawn in all the latitude of reason & right. It still met with opposition; but, with some mutilations in the preamble, it was finally passed; and a singular proposition proved that it’s protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word “Jesus Christ,” so that it should read “a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion.” The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of it’s protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomination."

It’s always frustrating to me that the American people continue to elect guys like Sali who are not only religious bigots, but are also ignorant of the basics of American history.

[MountainGoat]

Nice commentary Elizabeth. Not sure where you're from, but I'm guessing it's from outside Idaho. Many of us here have been trying to point out some of those same kinds of things for awhile now. Hopefully the voters in the 1st Dist. of Idaho will see that a change is necessary come 2008.

[MountainGoat]

Sis, I would also point out to Erika that Larry Grant is not the presumptive candidate. Rand Lewis is very much in the race and it should be a good primary match.

Her reporting is definitely sloppy.