George Phillies for President 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phillies Defends Freedom of Religion Against Republican Attacks

Worcester, Mass, April 1: Libertarian Presidential candidate George Phillies urged Americans not to repeat a sad error in our nation's history. "Three centuries ago, Massachusetts hanged nineteen people for witchcraft. The people of Massachusetts have long since realized that witchcraft trials are a travesty of justice.

"Witchcraft trials were three centuries ago," Phillies continued. "Our Constitution enshrines freedom of religion. Do our elected officials want to return to 1690? Alas, some Republicans do.

"In Summer 1999, Congressional bigots campaigned for Army persecution of members of the Wiccan faith. Republican Senator Thurmond demanded Wiccan services be excluded from the military. In an ABC News interview, then-Governor George Bush announced 'I don't think that witchcraft is a religion.' The charge was started by right-wing Georgia Congressman Bob Barr, who urged the Army to ban Wiccan services from military bases.

"Bigotry is a key theme of right-wing Republicanism, going back to the KKK and Concerned Citizens Councils," Phillies said. "Like all other patriotic Americans, Libertarians believe that Freedom of Religion is for everyone. No real Libertarian will ever ask that a religion's harmless practices be banned. This Fall, please take a stand against Republican bigotry. Please vote Libertarian."

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Cites on Barr, et al

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=18556

http://bluegrassredstate.blogspot.com/2007/05/northup-asks-fletcher-to-explain-his.html

DOMA, which he continues to defend

http://steeleskentucky.blogtownhall.com/2007/05/19/the_blue_grass,_red_state_corkscrew.thtml

http://kyprogress.blogspot.com/2007/05/recorded-phone-message-i-got-last-night.html

http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RINVol2No2/wicca.htm

Contact Information:

Carolyn Marbry, Press Director

pressdirector@phillies2008.org

(510) 276-3216