AANEWS for Wednesday, June 17, 2009

[Synnical]

A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
A A N E W S
#1257 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/17/09
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org
http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv

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A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS, a nationwide movement that defends
civil rights for non-believers; works for the total separation of
Church and State; and addresses issues of First Amendment public
policy.
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"ATHEIST is really a thoroughly honest, unambiguous term, it admits
of no paltering and no evasion, and the need of the world, now as
ever, is for clear-cut issues and unambiguous speech."
-- Chapman Cohen
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MORE SANCTIMONIOUS RELIGION ON THE HILL: KEY RELIGIOUS
RIGHT LAWMAKER ADMITS TO AFFAIR WITH EX-STAFFER
Sen John Ensign Is Latest Hypocrite: Do As I Say...

He is a key religious right operative on Capitol Hill, a lawmaker
with possible presidential ambitions, and a deceitful hypocrite.

Meet Sen. John Ensign, a Republican senator from Nevada, and a
sanctimonious blowhard with a staunch "family values" voting record
who opposes abortion rights, wants to re-instate teacher-led prayer
in public schools, and steps up to the nearest podium to denounce
other public officials who engage in private sexual misconduct.
He is also active in the Promise Keepers movement, and according to
one news report, "resists temptaation" by not being alone in a room
with a woman other than his wife. Now, the spotlight is on Ensign
who admitted Tuesday that he engaged in an extra-marital affair
with a woman who had served on his campaign. staff. According to a
spokesperson, Ensign and the unidentified staffer carried on their
tryst between December 2007 and August 2008. Her husband worked in
Ensign's Capitol Hill office at the time.

"Last year I had an affair," declared Sen. Ensign in a statement to
news media. "I violated the vows of my marriage. It is the worst
thing I have ever done in my life. If there was ever anything in
my life I could take back, this would be it."

Ensign's wife, Darlene, dutifully released her own spin-control
statement, saying that she and her husband had "come to a
reconciliation." The couple have three children.

It is not clear why the Senator, who has been mentioned as a
possible candidate for the 2012 GOP presidential race, admitted
to the wrong-doing, although there are unconfirmed reports of a
blackmail threat. What makes this latest revelation of misconduct
by a leading public official noteworthy, though, is Ensign's staunch
social conservatism and penchants for denouncing others who have
committed similar peccadilloes. In the midst of the imbroglio over
Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, for instance, the Nevada Republican
loudly denounced the president's actions and describe the affair as
"an embarrassing moment for the country," adding "I think we have
to feel very sad for the American people and Hillary and Chelsea."
Ensign demanded that Mr. Clinton resign from office and said "I came
to that conclusion recently and frankly it's because of what he put
the whole Cabinet through and what he has put the country through..."

At the time, Ensign was in a hotly-contested race with incumbent
Harry Reid. The brash challenger said that the Clinton affair
"could have a dramatic effect on Democrats like (President Nixon's
resignation following the Watergate break-in) had on Republicans
in 1974." During the campaign, Ensign hammered away at the Clinton
scandal, and accused Mr. Reid of weakness when it came to denouncing
libertine politicians and sexual hanky-pank.

Despite losing to Reid, Ensign later won a seat in the U.S. Senate
where he quickly established credentials as a water-bearer for
religious right groups. The Christian Coalition "voter guide"
gave him a 100% favorable rating; and at the congressional well,
Ensign was quick to denounce any hint of sexual misconduct, even when
it involved fellow Republicans. He towed the line on hot-button
political issues, voting against abortion rights for women,
opposing same-sex domestic partnership benefits, and coming out
strongly in defense of teacher-led unison prayer in public schools.
Sen. Ensign also emerged as a supporter of Sam Alito and John
Roberts for confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States.
When it came to legislation having to do with the Establishment
Clause separation of government and religion, Ensign earned a zero
percent rating from the state-church watchdog group Americans United.

John Ensign is also a key member of a shadowy, Washington, DC
religious cult that over the years has operated under a battery
of names and disguises. They include, according to a March 2003
expose by Harper's Magazine reporter Jeffrey Sharlett, National
Committee for Christian Leadership, the International Foundation,
the Fellowship Foundation, and Fellowship House. To members
and informed outsiders, the group is simply "the Family," and
maintains a sprawling house/retreat in a quiet Arlington, Virginia
neighborhood. There is much praying, and much talk about what
amounts to theocratic government. The group's $10 million annual
budget comes from a handful of wealthy donors, and its only public
activity is the National Prayer Breakfast. The group also conducts
"prayer warrior" meetings in the Pentagon. The Harper's expose
lives at http://www.harpers.org/archive/2003/03/0079525 .

This certainly is not the first time that a leading politician
--especially one with impeccable religious-right credentials -- has
engaged in hypocritical conduct that speaks less to their public
religious sensibilities that it does to the slogan, "Do as I say,
not as I do." Mr. Ensign joins the ranks of Rep. Mark Foley; "Larry
"wide stance" Craig; "Crusader Eliot Spitzer, the former New York
Governor who made his political career as a foe of corruption in
high place; and, of course, a retinue of philandering preachers
including Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Rev. Tim Haggard along
with an undisclosed number of pedophile clergy.

No doubt Sen. Ensign, who loudly demanded the resignation of Bill
Clinton, will now engage in a media rain-dance that we have come
to expect whenever public figures -- celebrities, politicians,
super-star athletes -- stumble in their careers. He will "seek
counseling," give lipserve to apologies, engage the assistance
of a "spiritual advisor" and then once again step up to the
pulpit or podium taking about "the healing process." Indeed, the
American people are a forgiving folk. We insist on this ritual of
self-humiliation, asking for that very forgiveness, and then smile
when the former wrong-doer basks in the bright light of redemption.
The only problem is that no one mentions the hypocrisy. Sen. Ensign
is full of prescriptions, prohibitions and rules that others must
follow lest they slip into the clutches of sin. In his case, though,
this is just another example of being a hypocrite, and living by
a credo that declares: "Do as I say, not as I do."

Links pertinent to this article:

<http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23813.html>
"Admission clouds Se. John Ensign's future" (developing story.

<http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23832.html>
History of political affairs ... we've been here before!

<http://www.harpers.org/archive/2003/03/0079525Harper>s Magazine expose on "The Family."

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vblJPjA85_M&feature=fvw>
Jimmy Swaggart, "I have sinned."

**

SAN FRANCISCO ATHEISTS SUMMER SOLSTICE PICNIC

Saturday, June 27, 11 AM - 4 PM Pine Lake Park, San Francisco
Join us for our annual Summer Solstice Picnic! We have again
secured last year's nice space at Pine Lake Park. Pine Lake Park
is located in the southwest quadrant of San Francisco, just north
of Sloat Boulevard between 19th Avenue and 34th Avenue. The park
is a beautiful eucalyptus-lined meadow next to Stern Grove, site
of the famous outdoor summer concerts.

We'll get started about 11 AM and stay until about 4 PM. Please
bring a potluck dish to share and $5 per person to cover reservation
and food/drink costs. Grilled burgers and hot dogs with all the
fixin's will be provided, as well as water, soft drinks, beer
and wine.

Make your plans to celebrate the longest day of the year with your
fellow Atheists on June 27. Dress in layers just in case fog rolls
in. You may want to bring something extra for the grill, frisbee,
football, ball and glove, blanket, Scrabble, and even your dog
(a popular dog run is between the parking lot and the picnic site).

Getting There Car: Parking is easy at the park's 100-car parking
lot. Turn north on Vale Avenue to enter the park. Park then walk
the trail west to the picnic area. Click here for a Google map
with interactive driving directions.

Public Transportation: MUNI lines 23, 28 and the K and M streetcars
will get you to the park. Walk north on Vale Avenue to enter
the park. At the parking lot, walk the trail west to the picnic
area. Click here for a Google map. Click here for a MUNI system map
(PDF) or plan your trip at 511.org.

11 am - 4 pm Saturday, June 27, 2009 ... Don't Miss It! Questions?
Visit HTTP://WWW.SFATHEISTS.COM

**

WORTH NOTING...

http://tehranbureau.com/
The Tehran Bureau is an excellent blog source for news of what is
happening in Iran. Check out the "Girl Power" column!

<http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2009/06/17/us_presidents_act_religious_even_when_they_are_not/>
Presidents act religious even when they are not. Interesting Boston
Globe piece on how presidents use religious narratives to support
their policies. We wish they wouldn't, of course, but that is the
"on the ground" political reality -- at least for now.

<http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/48200872.html>
Churches in Kentucky head for the state capital to oppose legislation
that would permit slot machine gambling. What you can think,
what you can read, what you can drink -- and now how you may spend
disposable income -- is all the concern of zealous Christians who
want to control our lives. Even if you believe government should
ban or regulate gaming, should this decision be made on the basis
of religious taboo? There is also the question of taxes -- which
religious groups do not pay. More slots provide more revenue for
cash-strapped municipalities and counties. Perhaps, in lieu of
expanded gambling, the churches should begin to pay their fair share?

<http://www.opednews.com/populum/diarypage.php?did=13499>
A good op-ed piece on "Islam and Free Speech." "The right to free
speech does not give the right to an individual, or group, to impose
their beliefs and values on other people. The right to free speech
just means that you have the right to express your opinion so long
as you respect the rights of others. We have the right to our own
life. Religious prohibitions should only apply to the believers of
a particular religion."

<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193357/Jewish-couple-sue-neighbours-imprisoning-automatic-hallway-light.html>
Religious row as Orthodox Jewish couple sue neighbors for
'imprisoning' them with automatic hallway light.

**

RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS

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**

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rights of nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church
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