Governor "disturbed" by atheist ads on buses

[ccharles000]

Governor Chet Culver says he sides with those who were upset by advertising signs placed on Des Moines city buses that said "Don't believe in God? You are not alone."

The ads sponsored by the Iowa Atheist and Free Thinkers group have now been pulled off the buses. Culver was asked about the ads at an event today.

"I was disturbed personally...by the advertisement, I can understand why other Iowans were also disturbed by the message that it sent. But, we'll see how it unfolds," Culver says. Culver would not say whether he felt the atheist group had a free speech right to have the messages on buses.

Culver says:" I think it's a great question for the attorney general and for legal scholars to kind of sort through that, that balancing act between free speech and the type of message that is being sent. But I do again understand that people were actually not wanting to get on the bus, they were so disturbed by the message that was being sent."

The advertising director for the Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) system says the agency's board never approved the signs, but the president of the atheist group said the signs had been approved. Officials says they got complaints as soon as the signs went on the buses.

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=F06FCF0A-5056-B82A-3798CE05613FE62A

[Critters2]

1. I'm a Christian, and I think Chet's being a jerk about this.

People wouldn't get on the buses? :crazy:

[patrick t. cakes]

9. chets a milktoast and a soon to be one termer

[ejpoeta]

2. if they can put signs about god and believing in god on billboards and buses...

then they can do it for non believing too. wtf!

[C_U_L8R]

3. Is his faith so weak...

that a cardboard advertisement can upset his beliefs???
Why so scared ???

[Betty]

4. free speech is only for believers

apparently.

[TexasObserver]

5. Well, Jesus did say "Abide not dissent" in the second chapter of Ronnie.

Jesus Jones, not the one from the Bible!

[teranchala]

6. I have to wonder, is there an Area Rapid Transit in Fresno

:silly:

[Le Taz Hot]

33. What the hell does this have to do

with Fresno? And no, It's FAX -- Fresno Area Express. See post 32 below for a little ENFUCKINGLIGHTENMENT.

[Bluzmann57]

7. Ok, here is the good old bottom line

The Iowa Atheists and free thinkers group paid the DART for the ads, and Des Moines could probably use the money. And since everything is about money, there should be no problem. If someone needs to get somewhere and has no alternatives, they will board the bus no matter what.

[Blue Gardener]

29. If they are offended

I guess they can walk or ride a bike. No one is forcing them to get on the bus.

[spirit of wine]

8. Brought to you by Richard Dawkins

Another great slogan from their campaign was "Science flies us to the moon, religion flies us into buildings." I like that one. Sounds like that Gov. needs a little more open mindedness.

[cwydro]

10. Oh, for Christ's sake!

Oh, wait...

[unblock]

11. the "message being sent"?

what, the message that non-believers should be anything other than completely silent, invisible or dead?

i'm not sure i completely agree with dawkins's tactics in this particular campaign, but it is indeed having the effect of showing some believer and public figures to be completely idiotic assh*les.


and since when to people refuse to get on a public bus because of an ad?

[GreenPartyVoter]

26. That really caught my eye too.

[abumbyanyothername]

12. Chet is a dem.FWIW.

This is a classic case of he probably should just keep his mouth shut and refer the question to the Des Moines bus company.

In fact, I have a contact in Chet's administration (law school classmate) so if anyone has anything they want him to hear directly, and it makes sense, I will be happy to pass it along.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. He is the Governor of a socially conservative state

And is up for reelection next year.

[Critters2]

18. It's a centrist state. Bright purple.

I lived in rural Iowa, and was never exposed to the wingnuttery I have to put up with in this supposedly blue state. Even the Repugs in my Iowa county were moderates. Here, they're Glenn Beck wannabes.

[rurallib]

21. It is not all that socially conservative. They get the coverage.

Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin have always been in the forefront of leading social change. We here in Eastern Iowa are probably among the most liberal folks in the country.
And Chet continues to pander for a few 'conservative' votes and has pissed off his base no end.
I have many friends in labor who will not lift a finger to support Culver's re-election.
Chet's non-stance on the same sex marriage ruling let gays know where they stand. I am about one more idiot statement from letting Chet fend for himself.

And like Evan Bayh's dad Birch, Chet's dad John was a really true blue Dem. Sometimes second generations don't fend so well.

[rurallib]

22. Tell Chet to cocentrate on labor, jobs, education and health care

fix those problems and leave the religion to VanderPlaats and Rants.
Iowa wants a governor, not a fucking bishop.

[robinlynne]

13. As long as they take down all the Jesus and God signs, fine.

[boppers]

14. Those who lack personal faith are disturbed by others lack of faith?

Uhm. Okay.

If you're so offended by a secular society, perhaps you should leave?

[PSzymeczek]

20. If their faith is so weak

that it's disturbed by any expression of unbelief, it isn't worth much, is it?

[FatDave]

15. The ads are going back on the buses unchanged.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090807/NEWS/90807038/DART--Atheist-group-s-ads-will-go-back-on-buses

Story I heard was that the negative reaction to removing them was far greater than the reaction to putting them up in the first place.

[surrealAmerican]

16. Somebody's going to have to explain to me why this is offensive.

Is the very suggestion that atheists exist offensive now?

[Mariana]

28. Yes. Our very existence is offensive to many.

I don't know why, since the same ones that are so offended that we exist sure do seem to enjoy envisioning us roasting in hell for eternity. If we weren't here, they'd be deprived of that pleasurable fantasy.

[S_E_Fudd]

19. Pull out your copy of the constitution...you moron...

He cannot possibly be that stupid...

(of course I mean Chet Culver not the O)

[cynatnite]

23. Well, if it bothers folks so damn much, they can walk...they probably could use the exercise. n/t

[beyurslf]

24. Why was he not able to say if they had a free speech right?

Does he need a refresher on what the 1st Amendment says?

[kevinbgoode]

25. Maybe the governor should ensure the atheist "religion" gets

some tax-exempt status.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

27. How weak is their faith that it can't withstand a bus advertisement?

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. Governor: "I find your lack of faith disturbing"

http://www.ugo.com.nyud.net:8080/movies/who-is-the-coolest-star-wars-character/images/Darth-Vader.jpg

And this guy's a Democrat? And he thinks his attorney general needs to think about stopping the ads? :banghead: What a fool. And how weak his mind and faith must be, if they are 'disturbed' by the realisation that not everyone shares his religious opinion.

Please, Iowa, find a more intelligent man to run against him in the next primary.

[GodlyDemocrat]

31. I oppose all religious ads on public buses, religious or anti-religious

n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

32. The Muslims purchased ad space

on one of our buses here in town advertising the Islamic faith. For years Christian churches have paid for advertisements on the same buses. If they allow one belief system to advertise on city buses they have to allow them all in.

[Orsino]

34. "Disturbed" = meaningless

Just a weak governor playing it safe by generic pandering to religious interests, issuing a vague threat of baseless legal action.

[Spider Jerusalem]

35. Congratulations, Chet, now you know how the non-religious feel about all the Jesusiness...

that's not even questioned in America (despite being a supposedly secular society).

[PVnRT]

36. I bet he has no problem displaying the ten commandments on the state house lawn, though

Fucking hypocrites.

[eppur_se_muova]

37. Governor "disturbed". Full stop. nt