(State)Minister resigns after row with bishop

[Kellanved]

A German state official who once said US President George Bush should be “shot down” resigned today over the political fallout from a row with a Roman Catholic bishop.

Andreas Renner, conservative social affairs minister in Baden-Wuerttemberg state, yielded to growing pressure over a remarks made to the Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart last year.

Renner has acknowledged telling Bishop Gebhard Fuerst during a fierce argument over a gay parade that the church should allow its priests to have children.
...
The minister also drew criticism last year for saying US President George Bush should be “shot down” over his handling of Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=170842116&p=y7x84z8zz&n=170842876

[donco6]

1. The "Oops, was that my outside voice?" problem.

Maybe a state official can't afford to be so outspoken, but I find it refreshing.

[carl_pwccaman]

2. When Robertson urges assassination it's wrong, though

I think it's ok for public officials and media personelle to step down after making assassination rhetoric. Whether it's Anne Coulter or this German minister.

[Kellanved]

3. Actually that's an idiom in German

It doesn't mean "assassinate", it means "removed from office by his own peers"