veiled4allah: right-wing lunacy watch

In a column for Counterpunch, Ron Jacobs reports on the so-called Stop Terrorist Entry Program Act of 2003. This bill, which was introduced in Congress by Rep. J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) on September 11 of this year, would permanent bar entry to the United States to ALL citizens of those countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism. Additionally, all temporary visitors (including tourists, students, workers, and others) would be expelled within 60 days of enactment. Fleeing one of those countries to escape persecution or worse at the hands of the government? Doesn't matter. Barrett doesn't want you in America and will send you right back to the country you fled.

Barrett is a freshman Congressman. He was elected to replace Lindsey Graham, who replaced Strom Thurmond in the Senate after Thurmond stepped down. Barrett was quite fond of Thurmond and after Thurmond's death, proposed naming the Capitol Visitor Center in D.C. after him. Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives, Barrett served in the South Carolina state legislature. Among other things, he proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would declare hunting a fundamental right. Another bill he sponsored would have required all public schools to display "In God We Trust" on an eleven by fourteen inch plaque in every classroom, auditorium and cafeteria.

Before we get too carried away in worrying about religious fundamentalist wingnuts in other countries, we might want to look at some of the ones in our own, ones who are elected officials. Hopefully Barrett's abhorrent, neo-fascist bill will never again see the light of day. That such a thing was even proposed is a disgrace to what America stands for.