Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association Wants to Deport American Muslims

by Sheila Musaji

Bryan Fischer, the Director of Issues Analysis at the American Family Association posted an article on the Rightly Concerned blog entitled “Time to restrict Muslim immigration to U.S., send them back home”.

He opens the article with a disclaimer (It should be noted that the American Family Association has not taken a position on this issue.) which is a clue that what he is going to say is controversial.

He discusses a book by Nicolai Sennel and Sennel’s conclusions which Fischer says he agrees with.  His [Sennel’s] sobering conclusion, with which I agree: the integration of Muslims into Western societies is “impossible.”

He explains the worldview that he and Sennel share by saying

Here are the takeaways for the United States. First, the most compassionate thing we can do for Americans is to bring a halt to the immigration of Muslims into the U.S. This will protect our national security and preserve our national identity, culture, ideals and values. Muslims, by custom and religion, are simply unwilling to integrate into cultures with Western values and it is folly to pretend otherwise. In fact, they remain dedicated to subjecting all of America to sharia law and are working ceaselessly until that day of Islamic imposition comes.

The most compassionate thing we can do for Muslims who have already immigrated here is to help repatriate them back to Muslim countries, where they can live in a culture which shares their values, a place where they can once again be at home, surrounded by people who cherish their deeply held ideals. Why force them to chafe against the freedom, liberty and civil rights we cherish in the West?

In other words, simple Judeo-Christian compassion dictates a restriction and repatriation policy with regard to Muslim immigration into the U.S.

This is the same Bryan Fischer who wants no Muslims in the U.S. military.

This is the same Bryan Fischer who said regarding passage of the Health Care Bill:

Thus what Congress did yesterday in passing the monstrous MussoliniCare bill, will not only bankrupt America, it is flatly and unequivocally unconstitutional and is hated by a majority of the American people. Something is being crammed down our throats that makes us gag and vomit.

The last remedy left - other than bloodshed - is the 10th Amendment, which reserves to the states any power not delegated to the federal government. The central government is exercising a power that it does not have, and can only exercise by usurping that power from the states.

State governments can legitimately and constitutionally decide not to cooperate with the central government on the legal ground that Congress has transgressed the boundaries marked out in our founding document. The central government is trespassing on the sovereign territory of the states, and the states have every right to throw them off their property.

Trespassers can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Squatters can be evicted. If they won’t leave, they can be tossed. And in the worst case scenario, if they won’t surrender peacefully, they can be shot.”

I don’t understand how someone can make such a public statement in favor of what amounts to a call for secession from the U.S. and another civil war, and receive no public censure.

This is the same Bryan Fischer who has called for sending homosexuals to prison for forced reparative therapy. 

When Keith Ellison was sworn in on the Qur’an, the AFA “The American Family Association, for example, sent out an “action alert” to its 3.4 million members urging them to write their members of Congress to ask for a “law making the Bible the book used in the swearing-in ceremony of representatives and senators.” 

The AFA also objected to a Hindu prayer offered in the Senate.

Obviously, this is a group for whom, like Ann Coulter, or like Rev. Grant Swank who wants American Muslims in internment camps, or like those who have called for a Constitutional Amendment to ban Islam in the United States, or like SANE who wants to make practicing Islam a felony in the United States,  Christian Brotherly Love is difficult to attain.  These are Christian extremists who are attempting to hijack Christianity, just as Muslim extremists are attempting to hijack Islam, and they must be condemned.

These folks are not alone in their extremism, and it is important to note how widespread these sorts of attitudes are becoming: 

Rev. Jerry Falwell suggested that Muslims be excluded from federal faith-based initiative money because the religion is “bigoted” and “teaches hate.”  Falwell also said who said “Atheistic secular humanists should be removed from office and Christians should be elected…Government and true Christianity are inseparable.”  And, also said that “Most American children do not know that this is a Christian nation… [O]ur Constitution won’t work in Russia, won’t work in Haiti, won’t work in Iraq. It only works where the people believe in the Christ of the Bible. The United States of America.”  Gary Cass, executive director of Reclaiming America who said  “The most humble Christian is more qualified for office than the best-educated pagan. We built quite a little grass-roots machine out there [in San Diego]. Now it’s my burden to multiply that success all across America.”   

Gary Potter of Catholics for Christian Political Action who said “When the Christian majority takes over this country ... pluralism will be seen as immoral and evil and the state will not permit anybody the right to practice evil.” 

Rev. Pat Robertson who said  that “those who believe in the Judeo-Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims”  Rev. Robertson also said that there is “... a veritable infestation of America with violent subversive Muslims…”

Judge Roy Moore who objected to a Muslim being elected to Congress and compared the Qur’an to Mein Kampf. 

Bishop Carlton Pearson who said “We are going to remove the mythical separation of church and state.” 

Rev. D. James Kennedy who said  “Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors—in short, over every aspect and institution of human society.”  Rev. Kennedy also said who said “This is our land. This is our world. This is our heritage, and with God’s help, we shall reclaim this nation for Jesus Christ. And no power on earth can stop us.”   

Gary North who said “This is God’s world, not Satan’s. Christians are the lawful heirs, not non-Christians.”  North   also said “The long-term goal of Christians in politics should be to gain exclusive control over the franchise. Those who refuse to submit publicly to the eternal sanctions of God by submitting to His Church’s public marks of the covenant - baptism and holy communion - must be denied citizenship, just as they were in ancient Israel.” 

Randall Terry of Operation Rescue who said “America is under the judgment of God. And if we are ever going to rebuild this country, it must be under God’s law. Our goal must be simple: We must have a Christian nation built on God’s law, on the Ten Commandments. No apologies.” and who said  “I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you,  I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good ... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a Biblical duty; we are called by God to conquer this country. We don’t want equal time. We don’t want pluralism.”

John Rutherford who said  “The [Supreme] Court, by seeking to equate Christianity with other religions, merely assaults the one faith. The Court in essence is assailing the true God by democratizing the Christian religion.” 

Rev. Jeff Fugate who said “If you don’t want a Christian nation, then go to one of the many nations that are heathen already, rather than perverting ours.  You’re welcome to come, but leave your religions, your bibles, all your other things back where you came from.” 

Rev. Jimmy Swaggert who said “‘We ought to tell every other Moslem (sic) living in this nation that if you say one word, you’re gone.’ “ 

Rev. Maury Davis who said ’‘I want to go on record as telling you that I believe the greatest threat to the American way of life, to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the religion of Islam as it stands today.’‘ 

Bailey Smith, a founding father of Robertson’s Christian Coalition who said  “With all due respect to those dear people, my friend, God Almighty does not hear the prayer of a Jew.”  Rev. Maury Davis who said ’‘I want to go on record as telling you that I believe the greatest threat to the American way of life, to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the religion of Islam as it stands today.’‘ 

Paul Weyrich, founder and president of the Free Congress Foundation who said “We are talking about Christianizing America. We are talking about the Gospel in a political context.” 

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore who said “Buddhism was considered a false religion by the forefathers.  It is not my definition of religion, no.  It was not their definition of religion under the First Amendment of the Constitution.” 

Rev. Franklin Graham who said “This country was not built by Hindus, nor Muslims, nor atheists. It was built by Christian men and women.”  Rev. Graham also said  “We’re not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. The God of Islam is not the same God. He’s not the son of God of the Christian or Judeo-Christian faith. It’s a different God, and I believe it [Islam] is a very evil and wicked religion.” 

Rev. David Chilton who said “The Christian goal for the world is the universal development of Biblical theocratic republics” 

Former Atty. General Bob Ashcroft who said that America has “no King but Jesus”. 

Sen. Inhofe who believes that “our religion” guides our foreign policy, and that for example, Israel has a right to the land because God said so. 

The Family Research Council who believes that ”[W]hile it is true that the United States of America was founded on the sacred principle of religious freedom for all, that liberty was never intended to exalt other religions to the level that Christianity holds in our country’s heritage. Our Founders expected that Christianity—and no other religion—would receive support from the government as long as that support did not violate peoples’ consciences and their right to worship.” 

Rev.  Joseph Morecraft who said “Nobody has the right to worship on this planet any other God than Jehovah. And therefore the state does not have the responsibility to defend anybody’s pseudo-right to worship an idol.” 

Beverly LaHaye, President of Concerned Women for America who said “Yes, religion and politics do mix. America is a nation based on biblical principles. Christian values dominate our government. The test of those values is the Bible. Politicians who do not use the bible to guide their public and private lives do not belong in office.” 

Robert Simonds, founder & president of Citizens for Excellence in Education who said “Atheistic secular humanists should be removed from office and Christians should be elected…Government and true Christianity are inseparable.” 

Rep. Don Davis of NC who forwarded a message to all of his colleagues in the legislature that read in part “Two things made this country great: White men & Christianity. Every problem that has arrisen (sic) can be traced back to our departure from God’s Law and the disenfranchisement of White men.” 

John Sobieski  who said “We have several million Muslims in the US and all of them are terrorists, some use the tonque and the pen, not bombs, but all are scheming liars deceiving the naive infidels and our stupid leaders. Why don’t we BAN ISLAM and deport all Muslims? Political correctness and multiculturalism will destroy the West.” 

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee who said  “I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that’s what we need to do is amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than trying to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family.” 

Rev. Albert Mohler who claimed that Buddhism, Hinduism, and Marxism are “demonstration[s] of satanic power”.  He also said that said Christians do not serve the same God as that of Jews and Muslims, he insisted, because the Jews have rejected Christ and the Muslims have replaced the God of the Bible with Allah.
 
Canon Julian Dobbs who said that “so-called moderate Islam” was a myth. 

Rev. J. Don George who said ”Our faith is in Jesus Christ, and the Muslim community does not accept Jesus and God, and therefore we’re at odds with Muslims ... Any religion or ideology that refuses to acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ could be typified as a war against Satan.”  

Christian Broadcasting Network News who said  regarding the Ramadan celebration at White House “The Bible teaches that leaders who embraced, tolerated or celebrated foreign gods brought suffering and disaster upon their nation.” 

Dove World Outreach Center Church that posted a sign on their lawn (and sent children to school wearing tee-shirts) that read “Islam is of the devil”. 

Rev. David Clippard of the Southern Baptist Convention who said “Islam is an evil encroaching on the United States. ... ” 

Operation Save America statement that said “If we love our brothers and sisters who claim the Name of Christ, we must love them enough to tell them that Islam and Christianity cannot peacefully coexist. They are at war” 

Rev. John Hagee who called Catholicism ”“A Godless theology of hate that no one dared try to stop for a thousand years produced a harvest of hate.”  

Rev. Reza Safa who said “Islam is not a religion; it’s a political system. That political system, just like communism, is a threat to our existence. ... [Unless the church realizes] this religion is evil in its core beliefs [and], the American public realizes this, we will continue to have problems with radicalism.” 

Rev. J. Grant Swank who said “It’s time to erect the internment camps worldwide.  Put Muslims into those camps. There is no safety for the planet unless we lock up every potential killer. Every Muslim is just that. The Koran states that deity has commanded every non-Muslim be slaughtered by Muslims. That makes every Muslim a potential warrior on the loose.  ... Therefore, for America for example to tolerate the Council on America-Islamic Relations (sic) ((CAIR) organization, satellite offices, and web site, is to invite killers into our back and front yards. This has to stop. It can only stop when all Muslims are put inside gates and behind fences, when hell-sponsored public relations efforts such as CAIR are closed down completely, and when Congress sees to it that this World War III is won by the non-Muslims.  There is no other answer.  ...  We are faced with idiotic, insane cultish killers who belong to no religion recognized by world religions researchers. Instead, non-Muslims are confronted by members of a persistent murdering cult.  Civilized nations immediately close down killing cults. America does and has. Therefore, its time to do that now.  Put Muslims in internment camps. Shut them out and off.”

NOTE:  All of these folks need to study The Constitution of the United States and The Bill of Rights.  Those who believe that only Christians built this nation and forget about Native Americans, African slaves (including Muslim slaves), Chinese railroad workers, and many other groups holding different religious beliefs, and all of whom helped to build this country,  need to study American history.

The American Family Association is a right wing Christian group that is not only Islamophobic and Homophobic, but also anti-Semitic.  The AFA has an annual budget of roughly US$14 million and owns 180 American Family Radio stations in 28 states.  So, this is an extremist religious group with the ability to influence millions of people.  The AFA as well as the others I have quoted are not some marginal fringe group, but part of what is considered mainstream American Christianity, and that should concern all of us.  You can read many more religious extremist quotes here, and here, and here, and here, and here, and here.  The American Muslim is hoping to be able to put all of these in one section in alphabetical order as soon as we have the volunteers to help with this project. 

As I said in a previous article about anti-Muslim rhetoric

The American Family Association has called for a ban on Muslims in the military and has posted an article on its website by the group’s Director of Issues Analysis, Bryan Fischer.  Mr. Fischer argues that the tragedy at Ft. Hood is the sign to start the ban. “This is not Islamophobia, it is Islamo-realism,”  Fischer said.  What are Fischer’s reasons?  He said:  ”“The reason is simple: the more devout a Muslim is, the more of a threat he is to national security.  Devout Muslims, who accept the teachings of the Prophet [Muhammad] as divinely inspired, believe it is their duty to kill infidels.”

I don’t believe that and don’t know any Muslim that does.  Is he saying that every single devout Muslim believes the opposite of what the Qur’an clearly teaches?

Oklahoma freelance writer Timothy Rollins also said that Muslims should be kicked out of the armed forces.  In a recent column he stated, “What [the Fort Hood] attack does is further strengthen the case for the honorable discharge of all Muslims from the United States Armed Forces, regardless of the degree to which they may adhere to their faith.”  He also repeats the lie that almost all terrorists have been Muslims.

Perhaps they forget how many crescents are among the crosses at Arlington, how many Muslim soldiers fought with the allies WWI and WWII and how many of these soldiers are buried in Europe, how many Muslims and Arabs serve in the U.S. military, and have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan - e.g. U. S. Army Corporal Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan: killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq,  U.S. Army Specialist Rasheed Sahib: accidently shot to death by a fellow soldier in Iraq, U.S. Army Major James Ahearn: killed by a bomb in Iraq,  Army Captain Humayun Khan, who lured a suicide car bomb away from the men in his charge, saving their lives but giving up his own, Army Spc. Rasheed Sahib, an American Muslim from Guyana, Army Spc. Omead Razani, a son of Iranian immigrants, Marine Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey, who was killed in a helicopter crash, and sadly many more.  Perhaps they think it is a good thing that the graves of 500 Muslim soldiers who died in WWI were defaced in a French veterans cemetery.  There are about 3,500 Muslims in the military, Muslims and Arabs both maybe 10,000.  Will we just throw out the Muslims or also the Arabs (Maj. Hasan was, after all an Arab).  Perhaps we should also move the Muslim and Arab veterans out of the veterans cemeteries and put them in potters field, and as other bigots have suggested keep all Muslims out of America.

According to the Examiner, the Internet-based MoveAmericaForward.org is using their web site, email, and social networking sites such as Facebook.com and Twitter.com to push for the removal of Secretary Napolitano.  Why?  Because Napolitano appeared to reassure the world that U.S. authorities were taking measures to quell anti-Islam sentiments after last week’s attack by Maj. Hasan at Fort Hood.

Islamophobia truly does not represent American values, and it doesn’t make us any safer.  I pray that the voices of dialogue and reason prevail and drown out the voices that would tear us apart.  By burning bridges with American Muslims we make me and my family, and all other Americans, less safe. 

Unlike harmless Mad Libs, this is not a game. We are hurtling towards an avoidable clash of civilizations and such rabble rousing only lessens our chances of isolating and marginalizing the extremists among all religions.  When genuine anger about actual specific incidents or individual events is allowed to become generalized anger towards every member of a religious community we limit our options dramatically.

Even if you are an individual who agrees with attitudes such as those expressed in the statements, I would ask you to consider what is the goal?  This will certainly not win hearts and minds, open possibilities for dialogue, or make any of us safer.  Is it possible that when we vilify one particular group, the end result will damage not only them, but also us?  If we create a stereotype and through repetition turn it into a meme (a mind virus). Will that meme also infect us?  Insisting on this world view leaves only one option - a violent clash of civilizations, a final Crusade to convert or annihilate one group.  And, one might wonder what a world without Islam would really look like.

How is it possible that we could have learned so little from our past mistakes, in spite of having access to so much information?  Perhaps people have the right to say whatever hateful things they wish, but the fact that we have a legal right to such speech does not mean that we are required to say such things.  More importantly, we have a right to not listen passively. If there are no condemnations of such speech, if toxic hate does not have the consequence of marginalizing the speaker, if society accepts such speech without remark then that is a loss of rights, isn’t it? Those who say such things are emboldened to continue and even to ratchet up the rhetoric, and this venomous rancor seeps into our media, our homes, our schools, our friendships.

The villification of Muslims, Arabs, and Islam has become relentless.  Repeating the same things over and over again has been shown to create credibility. False logic seem plausible, and even outright lies repeated enough begin to sound like the truth.  Sadly, these stereotypes have replaced knowledge with ignorance and misperception, and ignorance fuels hatred of what we don’t know much about.  Muslims are consistently portrayed as “the other”, not part of us, and imposible to understand, and so not worthy of tolerance.  Just the mention of Islam creates a feeling of fear on the part of many non-Muslims because of what they have heard so often and causes them to believe that this fear is reasonable.

It seems that any time a crime is committed by someone who is a Muslim, the rhetoric becomes more hysterical, and I really do wonder at what point American Muslims need to be afraid for our safety.  I’m waiting to see some strong statements against this sort of religion baiting by interfaith groups.

I am puzzled as to how people cannot see that - yes, there are criminal Muslims, and Muslims who have attempted to justify their crimes by a distorted interpretation of their religion, but this sort of criminal behavior is not confined to Muslims.  What about Charles Whitman, James Oliver Huberty, George Hennard, Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold, Jeffrey Weise, Charles Carl Roberts IV, Seung-Hui Cho, Sgt. William J. Kreutzer, Jr., Pvt. Steven Green, Master Sgt. John Hatley, Jomar Falu Vives, Scott Roeder, Timothy McVeigh, William Krar, Demetrius Van Crocker, Eric Robert Rudolph, Theodore Kaczynski, Terry Nichols,  William Cottrell, Linda Evans, Jeff Fort, Irv Rubin, Earl Krugel, Victor Vancier, James Earl Ray, Buford Furow, Stphen John Jordi, Edgar Ray Killen, William Klar, James Charles Kopp, David Robert McMenemy, Gail Nettles, and thousands more.

Where does this sort of hateful rhetoric take us.  On November 10th,  in Tampa, FL, a Marine reservist attacked a Greek priest he claimed he thought was a terrorist, according to the news report:  “Bruce pulled out a tire iron and attacked the priest, police said. He then called 911 as he chased Marakis, saying an Arab man was trying to rob him. When officers arrived, Bruce told them the man was a terrorist.  Bruce also told police he heard Marakis yell, “Allahu akbar!” — Arabic for “God is great,” according to Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.  Marakis, however, does not speak Arabic, McElroy said. He speaks Greek. Police are working to determine if the offense meets the standard for a hate crime.”   I haven’t seen a photograph with this story, but can make an educated guess that this Greek Orthodox priest had a beard and a long black robe, and so his religious clothing alerted this proud citizen to the danger he posed.  Cal Thomas must be proud.

As James Zogby pointed out so clearly:  “Given the circumstances we face, the old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” needs to be updated by adding “but may provoke others to break my bones”. A warning is in order “Put away the matches”. It’s dangerous out there and you don’t know who’s listening or what they might do to act on what you say. It’s time to lower the temperature and tone down the rhetoric, before it’s too late.”

UPDATE 4/29/2010

Ibrahim Ramey has written an excellent response to Bryan Fischer and the AFA

I’ve heard some bizarre, offensive, and wacky things said about Muslims in America, but the recent comments from Brian Fischer, the Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association, just about takes the cake: it seems as if Mr. Fischer is beneficent enough to feel that Muslims should be allowed to stay in America-but only if, as he says, we “renounce Islam, Allah, Mohammed, and the Koran (sic) so that “we can not only become good Christians, but true Americans”.

Let me see if I have this right.  Mr. Fischer thinks that Muslims must renounce our faith in order to become “good” Americans, although, last I heard, neither Christianity nor faith were requisite requirements for citizenship.

But it gets even deeper.  Mr Fischer is quoted as saying that “the current objective of Muslim activists is to create a brand new Islamic state-meaning a state like New Jersey of Montana.”  Not California or Florida, Mr. Fischer?  We’re not demanding some sunshine and beachfront property as part of the deal?

It would be convenient to dismiss this latest rant as the product of a depraved, xenophobic mind.  But that would be wrong, because a great deal of Evangelical Christians in America do listen to the pronouncements and opinions of the American Family Association, and presumably, their Director of Issues Analysis carries some clout in the formulation of the group’s policies.  So when a large Christian organization claims that Muslims must “convert” in order to be “allowed” to stay in America, Muslims-and anyone with a modicum of respect for religious freedom and pluralism-should wake up and take serious notice.

As a 16th-generation American citizen of African ancestry who accepted Islam in 1993, I might know a few things that Mr. Fischer and his friend seem not to be aware of: First, that Muslim are an authentic part of America, and that our roots in this nation go back even before the arrival of Muslim captives from Africa in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Second, that there is no “un-American” religion, and that Muslims have the legal and moral right to practice our religion freely, and without hindrance.  And third, that peaceful religious co-existence and the mutual respect of religious differences are values that reflect the best of this society, and ones that are shared by a great majority of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others who make up the diverse mosaic of the American religious landscape.

There is no litmus test for the proper religious identity of a “good” American.  But there certainly is a litmus test for xenophobic ignorance and intolerance, and sadly, Brian Fischer and company seems to fail it miserably.  And if Mr. Fischer is looking for religious fanatics who threaten domestic tranquility in this nation, he might want to start with the nearly 1,000 identified American militia and racial supremacist groups-made up mostly of white, Christian men-who defy the legitimate authority of the U.S. government, and in some cases, take up arms or plot to attack it.

So, if it’s all the same to you, Mr. Fischer, I think that I’ll stay right here in the land of my birth.  After all, my ancestors-all 16 generations of them-contributed both slave labor and underpaid labor to build this society, and in some cases, they fought fought to defend the best of this nation.  The the current population of more than eight million Muslims in America includes some of the most brilliant and dedicated men and women who carry on that tradition of service to our diverse and plural nation.  And we don’t need the permission of anyone to be here.  We will be here, with full belief in the Creator of the universe (Allah, Most Exalted and Glorified), His messenger Muhammad, and the sacred, revealed text of the Holy Qur’an.

The American Family Association may not want Muslims to be here.  But while some men plan against Muslims, God plans for us to not only be present in this nation, but to thrive, serve, and lead here as well.

And God Almighty is the best of planners.

UPDATE 8/6/2011

Pat Young reports that

This weekend, Gov. Rick Perry will host a mass Christian prayer rally in his home state of Texas. The principal sponsor of the rally, the American Family Association, has a truly vile record on immigration issues. The Association’s principal spokesperson on policy issues, Bryan Fischer, says that Muslims should be barred from becoming naturalized citizens because, he says, Islam requires Muslims to kill Christian Americans.

Fischer has hosted a number of Republican presidential hopefuls, including Mike Huckabee and Tim Pawlenty, on his powerful “policy” radio broadcast that is heard nationally. His tarring of all Muslims as destructive of America has not dissuaded Perry and others from seeking Fischer’s favor.

... Fischer has said that Muslim immigrants are not protected by the First Amendment. Fisher says there should be “no more mosques, period” because “each Islamic mosque is dedicated to the overthrow of the American government.”

Fischer says that Muslim’s should be ineligible to enter the U.S. and that those who are already here should be deported.

It really is a concern that not only are elected representatives of the government of the United States participating in hateful rhetoric against Muslims, but they are actively encouraging and promoting individuals like Fischer with violent extremist views.

It has been reported that “As the AFA’s leading talk show host, whose voice is heard on affiliates in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Fischer frequently hosts likely presidential candidates who are looking to make inroads among Religious Right voters. Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and businessman Herman Cain have all appeared on Fischer’s radio show. In addition, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour were both guests on Fischer’s show while they were weighing runs for the presidency.”

Right Wing Watch has a report on Perry’s prayer gathering and those involved in it including Bryan Fischer.  They note

The American Family Association is the driving force behind The Response. Founded by the Rev. Don Wildmon in 1977, the organization is based is best known for its various boycott campaigns, promotion of art censorship, and political advocacy against women’s rights and LGBT equality. The organization also controls the vast American Family Radio and an online news service, in addition to sponsoring various conferences frequented by Republican leaders, including the Values Voter Summit and Rediscovering God in America. The AFA today is led by Tim Wildmon, Don’s son, and its chief spokesperson is Bryan Fischer, the Director of Issues Analysis for Government and Public Policy and host of its flagship radio show Focal Point.

Fischer routinely expresses support for some of the most bigoted and shocking ideas found in the Religious Right today. He has:

•held gays responsible for the Holocaust and likened them to domestic terrorists and Nazis who are intent on committing “virtual genocide” against the military, and asserts that “homosexuals should be disqualified from public office”;
•said “we have feminized the Medal of Honor” by awarding it to a soldier who saved his fellow combatants rather than killing enemies;
•demanded all immigrants “convert to Christianity” and renounce their religions;
•asserted that Muslims have “no fundamental First Amendment claims” and should be banned from building mosques and deported from the US, adding that Muslims are inherently stupid as a result of inbreeding;
•claimed African American women “rut like rabbits” due to welfare and that Native Americans are “morally disqualified” from living in America because they didn’t convert to Christianity and were consequently cursed by God with alcoholism and poverty;
•said that the anti-Muslim manifesto of the right-wing Christian terrorist who killed dozens in Norway was “accurate.”

UPDATE 8/30/2011

Fischer now calls for all 50 States to criminalize homosexuality. 

SEE ALSO:

Apparently hating Muslims is now a family value, Doug Mataconis http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/apparently-hating-muslims-is-now-a-family-value/

The GOP’s Favorite Hate-Monger: How the Republican Party Came to Embrace Bryan Fischer - a backgrounder http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/the-gop-s-favorite-hate-monger-how-the-republican-party-came-to-embrace-bryan-fischer