As continue our review of the outrageous and offensive things we heard from the right in 2016, let’s look at the some of the year’s rhetoric involving anti-Muslim hysteria and religious freedom. You can check out previous posts from the Year in Quotes here.
“(D)efender-in-chief of Islam.”
– Religious-right leader Robert Jeffress, pastor of a Dallas megachurch, describing what he sees as President Obama’s “favorite role”
“We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.”
– Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, calling during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination for singling out Muslims in America for suspicion and special police action
“Yes, I hate Islam, the Muslim Brotherhood and all terrorist organizations. I will fight for your freedom to be ignorant and hateful to your fellow Americans because I love America and everything she stands for even when her own turn against her.”
– Texas state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, making her religious prejudice clear in a Facebook comment
“What if this technology is transferred to Islamic jihadists and Islamic jihadists have an app that shows them where Christians are located geographically?”
– Right-wing talk show host Rick Wiles, fretting about the nefarious possibilities of the smartphone game, Pokémon Go
“We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in Sharia, they should be deported.”
– Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, reacting to a terrorist attack in France
“There are those folks who are mad that I’m a conservative Christian and make no bones about it. They say that people of strong faith don’t belong in public service. I’m a man of faith, I ran for office as a man of faith, and I will continue to serve you as a man of faith. I’m here to tell you that I’m not going anywhere.”
– Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, defending himself after being indicted on charges of securities fraud
“Well, the reality is that this idea of the separation of church and state is a myth.”
– Pastor Mike Gonzalez, who was serving as the evangelical chair of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s South Carolina campaign for the Republican presidential nomination
