Democrats throw pouting fit over accurately being called anti-Christian

From the Washington Post:

Business on the floor of the House was halted for 45 minutes yesterday after Rep. John N. Hostettler (R-Ind.) accused Democrats of "denigrating and demonizing Christians," prompting a furious protest from across the aisle.

The House was debating a Democratic amendment to the annual defense appropriations bill that would have required the Air Force Academy to develop a plan for preventing "coercive and abusive religious proselytizing."

Hostettler, speaking against the amendment, asserted that "the long war on Christianity in America continues today on the floor of the House of Representatives" and "continues unabated with aid and comfort to those who would eradicate any vestige of our Christian heritage being supplied by the usual suspects, the Democrats."

"Like a moth to a flame, Democrats can't help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians," he said.

What followed sounded more like an elementary school classroom, than a governing body. Rep. David R. Obey of Wisconsin, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, screeched, "I move that the gentleman's words be taken down." (translation: “Teacher! teacher! Johnny said something really bad.”)

In spite of outrageous Democrat rhetoric over the past few days, Rep. Hostettler found himself under some silly House rule against saying anything to “disparage” another member of the house. If he refused to withdraw his comments he wouldn't be able to speak for a day. Who knows, he might have been made to stay in at recess and not allowed to play in the sandbox.

Eventually, Hostettler rose and read a sentence that had been written out for him in large block letters by a young Republican floor aide: "Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the last sentence I spoke."

The Democratic amendment was ultimately defeated, 210 to 198. On a voice vote, the House agreed to require the Air Force to establish how it is “promoting religious tolerance” before the overall appropriations bill passed, 398 to 19. It wasn't explained how being forced to attack Christians would “promote religious tolerance”.

Posted by Danny Carlton at June 21, 2005 11:03 AM