People For the American Way is calling on three potential Republican presidential candidates to tell Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association that the First Amendment applies to all Americans and doesn’t exclude Muslims.
Fischer wrote Thursday the First Amendment was only meant to protect Christians. On Friday, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee were scheduled to appear on Fischer’s radio show following appearances at a controversial gathering of Iowa pastors in West Des Moines known as the Iowa Renewal Project.
“Gingrich, Huckabee, and Barbour all say they value the Constitution. This will be a great opportunity to show their true commitment” said Michael Keegan, president of People For the American Way, a liberal advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. “Bryan Fischer’s attempt to redefine a basic right at the core of our democracy is something that no public official – especially one who prides himself in protecting the Constitution – should let slide.”
The “Renewal Project” was hosted by PrayUSA, which is a part of the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation. The CPCF was founded by Randy Forbes, who laid the groundwork for the group in Mississippi — the same state the American Family Association is based in.
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) also appeared with Fischer this week as she discussed her potential presidential run.
“It’s baffling that these presidential hopefuls think that it’s appropriate to lend any credibility to someone with as astounding a record of intolerance and bigotry as Fischer,” Keegan said. “But if they still go on Fischer’s program, while on the show they should at least clearly separate themselves from his demonstrated contempt for the Constitution and for many of his fellow Americans.”
The PFAW sent letters to all Barbour, Gingrich and Huckabee.