Christian license tag backers vow to prevail

Well, I'm certainly happy that Andre Bauer's numerous stunts have all been forgiven by the religious right, now that he has publicly partied with the likes of Mike Huckabee and is now showing up at their goofy-ass rallies.

You too can be held at bay by armed law enforcement officers, but still get rated an okay guy by the religious right--as long as you back the correct Christian license plate!

My question: Why is a license plate necessary? Can't they just buy a bumper sticker like everyone else?

Yeesh.

Christian tag backers vow to prevail

McMaster, Bauer among 350 at rally in wake of ruling on 'I Believe' plate

By Anna Lee • STAFF WRITER • GREENVILLE NEWS
January 7, 2009

It was standing room only at People's Baptist Church in Greer on Tuesday night as more than 350 people from around the Upstate rallied to fight a federal judge's ruling on Dec. 11 that halted the state's sale and production of "I Believe" religious license plates.

U.S. District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie issued the injunction on the grounds that the plate violated the U.S. Constitution's establishment clause forbidding government from establishing a religion.

The license plate, which was approved by 78 percent of the Legislature, depicts a stained glass window with a cross on it and the words "I Believe" above the tag number.

The rally was organized by the pastor of People's Baptist, the Rev. Arnold Hiette, who said he is fed up that Christians cannot display anything that symbolizes Jesus Christ or Christianity.

"We've lost so many rights as a Christian over the last few years, the right to prayer in public and call the name of Jesus, the prayer in schools, and this, that and the other. ... The people of South Carolina are really stirred up about this," Hiette said.

One Honea Path resident at the rally, Linda Martin, said she came for that same reason -- to stand up for her rights as a Christian.

"We have every other kind of tag you want in the world supporting sports and whatever else. But as Christians we can't have a tag that says 'I believe,'" Martin said.

Christian note: Did she just compare Jesus Christ, the son of God Almighty, to a sports team?!?

(((reads back)))

Yeah, I guess she did.

Wait, here comes the FUNNY PART! Andre Bauer is on the scene!

Guest speakers Attorney General Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer echoed the crowd's sentiments.

"Total freedom of speech doesn't mean everybody but Christians. When a secular group can get a license plate and nobody challenges it, but Christians can't, there's a problem in the system," Bauer said. "Quite frankly, we're under attack."

Attorney Kevin Hall, who is representing license plate supporters, said the country is being swept by a radical movement where freedom of religion is construed by some to be freedom from religion.

Hall said he, along with McMaster and Bauer, will continue to battle the Dec. 11 ruling and said the case is in limbo as they chart their next steps.

However, Hall does have a plan if the case does not prevail in the courts.

"I will tell you that the name 'I Believe' has been reserved as a corporate name at the Secretary of State's Office in the state of South Carolina," Hall said. "We will take an existing 501(c)(3) corporation, we will change its name to I Believe. We will apply for a license plate at the DMV, and we will dare them to say no."

Can they really do this?

Will I BELIEVE become a CORPORATIZED statement? Does this mean when some poor grandma stitches a sampler with I BELIEVE on it, and then tries to sell it at the county fair, she could be arrested for copyright infringement?

Also, does this mean if Muslims or Hindus try to use I BELIEVE, it will already be patented by Christians, and they can therefore be sued too?

The possibilities are endless.

Play along at home!