Amanda Simpson, named by President Obama to be senior technical adviser for the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, is the Christian right's latest talking point. Apparently for many, a requisite part of Christianity is homophobia.
The Christian right can not accept that Simpson is simply the most qualified individual for the job. Instead they must look for some sinister conspiracy, and point to a "gay agenda" that terrifies them.
"Is there going to be a transgender quota now in the Obama administration?" asked Peter LaBarbera, president of the anti-gay group Americans for Truth. "How far does this politics of gay and transgender activism go? Clearly this is an administration that is pandering to the gay lobby."
"Simpson's nomination was forwarded through to President Obama by a gay activist group, making it appear that this appointment of a male-to-female 'transgender' activist to a high level Commerce Department position to be payback to his far-left base for their political support," a spokeswoman for Focus on the Family said in statement.
Matt Barber, associate dean at Jerry Fallwell's Liberty University, said the appointment "boggles the mind" and said that while African-Americans might deserve special treatment, transgender people don't.
"This isn't like appointing an African-American in order to try to provide diversity and right some kind of discriminatory wrong," he said. "This is about political correctness."
The accusations ring hollow, and the religious bigots miss the mark. This is not about political correctness or a gay agenda. This is about who is the most qualified for the job.
Simpson has more than 30 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry, most recently serving as Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona.
She holds degrees in physics, engineering and business administration. She is a certified flight instructor and test pilot with 20 years of experience.
Amanda Simpson is eminently qualified for the position. Those who object to her appointment put their religious superstitions ahead of national interest and security.
On the announcement of her appointment Amanda Simpson issued the following statement:
"I'm truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me. And at the same time, as one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others."
Good luck Amanda. Real Americans wish you well. Thank you for your service. Let us hope that one day soon this ugly and ignorant religious bigotry will come to an end.
Comments
Of course they have. They're divisive hate mongers that cannot tolerate anyone that doesn't confirm to their ideology and world view.
Christians are the most tolerant people on earth. If that were not true you would see them behaving like radical Muslims or other religious types that routinely assault those who subscribe elsewhere. Christians make room for everyone, but in good conscience, they cannot make room for sin. Expecting them to do so is the real bigotry involved here. Anyone still embracing the idea that Christians are hateful simply for upholding traditional morality either rests there for political advantage, or is content being a moron.
Obviously Obama has an agenda. You'd have to be blind not to see it. Simpson is a pawn. She may be the best qualified but that is doubtful. EX: Sotomayor. If Simpson is the most qualified, she should be hired regardless of plumbing.
And Christians have a right to conscience and free speech too don't they?
Oh, I see.
Hello Micha,
The noteworthy aspect from your entire article was your phrase concerning bigotry: coming from an anti-Faith bigot such as yourself, I'll take more than a truckload of salt with it thank you.
Once again you illustrate your hatred against People of Faith and our right to Free Speech.....I don't particularly care about Simpson's plumbing, the issue is the psychological stability of the person: having someone cut you apart and piece you back together again, for the sake of intellectual and emotional imbalance, is not an act of intelligence in the first place.
Hiring someone who is not stable in such a manner, for such an intensely important position, is without a doubt, proof that a Social Progressive/Politically Correct Agenda is indeed at issue.
How about you put down the Roach, open a window to let some fresh air in, and turn off the 100 decibel hate filled anti-Christian lyrics of your CD player?
That way, some form of rationality may present itself.
Hello Karen,
My, my, my, what a wonderful example you've given us all: yet another 'open minded,' 'tolerant,' and 'accepting of diverse opinion,' proof of just how fascist and oppressive are Social Progressives.
Thank you so very much for illustrating just how hollow are the words and positions from adherents of the Social Progressive Political Movement.
Cheers from a Born Again Bible Thumper.
Look at all these haters Christian or otherwise! Sinners or saints, Christian or Pagan, Brest augmentation or SRS, Jesus never said that restrictions applied to God's love. You all are overlooking the fact that Jesus, God or Goddess all advocate LOVE; which no commentator is speaking from. The other fact is the job tasks Amanda Simpson has been asked to do has nothing what so ever to do with her sex, color, beliefs, gender or sexual preference. I am pretty willing to bet most everyone has never even heard of this appointment before. Amanda Simpson has got to be not only qualified to do the job itself, She also has to be a strong person to represent her trans community and take the kind of scrutiny and criticism she has, is, and will have directed toward her until we all find something else more interesting to argue about.
PS Please don't open the window if you are smoking pot. It might get a good Christian high. ;)
Thanks for the story. As a Christian, I always want the bigotry of those who claim to be Christian challenged.
JR, the "good little Christian boy", calls Simpson unstable. This is the exact sort of bigotry Micha is talking about.
JR's remarks make the case that many Christians are bigots, and unable to accept those that are different.
Melody: you are right about Jesus espousing love, for God is love, but tolerance of sin and rebellion against God is not love. Jesus said to his disciples "If you love me you will keep my commandments." God made us, He knows what's best for us, but our stubborn sinful human nature is do whatever we want to do regardless of God's instructions. The result may be temporary carnal satisfaction, sometimes it is confusion, but as the scripture tells us "there are ways that seem right unto a man, but the end thereof is death." We end up killing ourselves, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes physically. What many Christians have discovered is that God's word is true and He does have our best interest at heart. So we cling to what pleases Him, and learn to reject what He abhors. What a troubled soul needs is not an operation on his/her face or genitals, but rather the unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness God brings when one completely surrenders to His will.
God gave us 10 commandments, the rest are man made. Not 1 of the 10 say "Thou shalt not be gay or transgendered." That is another law made by idiots in the church. Thus not a law at all. Just closed minded crap.
So Christians don't get botox? Now I know that is lie!
Let's all just concentrate on what's good about the people on the other side of the fence. I am tired of both sides of the debate in any conservative vs. progressive contest. Let's agree that conservatives really do get help from God and that progressives really do want all people to be treated with dignity and respect. Then it's a win-win. Just ignore all the stuff about their idealogy that offends you. That's the middle path to peace. Ohm.
The middle path is lukewarm and gets vomited out, therefore one must take a left hand path or a right hand path to truth. Extremism is the only course to enlightenment. Comprimise leads to stagnation.
Micha, Thank you for your article. I appreciate the humanity of your statements and see there as being nothing "anti-faith" about your sentiments.
JR Bailey, What a totally unloving message you wrote this writer. Such precious love the divinity holds, how do you hold it while shaking your fists at people you too swiftly judge?
Please learn about what it means to be transgendered if it confuses you, it is the best way to quiet the fear and see the person. It does not mean one is "unstable", but rather they sought most honest alignment through a path that is far from easy.
Attila the Hun, "Christians are the most tolerant people on earth" ever met a Buddhist? I am feeling the need to be most tolerant right now after reading your comments.
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