SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Oregon suggested that “you don’t want” Muslims, atheists and other non-Christians in elected office.
Rep. E. Werner Reschke, of the small town of Malin near the California border, made the comments during a Jan. 17 appearance on “Save the Nation,” a talk show broadcast on Facebook and affiliated with the National Association of Christian Legislators. , Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Monday. Reschke is a member of the association.
The show’s host, former Arkansas lawmaker Jason Rapert, questioned Reschke for much of the episode about what he called the “sad reality of lax drug treatment” in the state. Oregon. Reschke said drug decriminalization “makes our state unlivable” and argued that spirituality and religious leaders are part of the solution.
Last week, Oregon Democratic lawmakers introduced a new invoice it would undo a key part of the state’s first drug decriminalization law, a recognition that public opinion has deteriorated on him in the midst of a fentanyl-fueled overdose crisis deadlier than the United States has ever seen.
During the interview, Rapert also asked why Reschke believes it is important for Christians “to be involved in government.”
“You go back in history and you look at the men and the struggles they faced and the faith they had,” Reschke said. “These are the kind of people you want in government making tough decisions in tough times. You don’t want a materialist. You don’t want an atheist. You don’t want a Muslim. … You want someone who understands what truth is and who understands the nature of man, the nature of government, and the nature of God.
The remarks prompted the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin nonprofit that advocates keeping religion out of governance, to call on Reschke to apologize to the residents of his legislative district or resign. The group sent a letter to Reschke last week, he said his duty was to support the state and federal constitutions, not to promote his personal religious views.
Reschke told Oregon Public Broadcasting in an email that his comments were “grossly taken out of context.” But when asked for more details about what he meant, Reschke did not respond.
Muslim Sen. Kayse Jama, a Portland Democrat, told the public radio station that she was “disheartened to see one of my legislative colleagues expressing views that are contrary to American values, the U.S. Constitution and our collective aspiration to build a more perfect union. Our ability to live and work with our fellow Oregonians who speak different languages, pray or vote in different ways, celebrate different cultures is our strength.
