And of course, war is peace

You've probably already heard about Idaho Representative Bill Sali railing that Muslims and Hindus actually think they have rights in America. Well, due to the shitstorm he raised he's quickly back-pedaling, claiming that having a Muslim in Congress is simply "not what was envisioned by the Founding Fathers." Which is still complete and utter bullshit, and David Neiwert gives some examples why. But he also quotes a few of Mr. Sali's constituents, who are defending his statements to the death:

Rep. Sali's caution with regard to Islam and public policy is wise. The citizens of Minnesota certainly have the right to send anybody to Washington they wish, but when you examine nations whose public institutions have been shaped by Islamic politicians, you invariably find no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, no freedom of conscience, no fundamental rights for women, and no freedom for ordinary citizens to choose their own leaders.

It is still a capital offense in 22 Muslim nations to convert from Islam to Christianity. In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal even to worship Christ in public, and officials there continue to confiscate Bibles, crucifixes, and Stars of David even from tourists who bring them into the country.

If an Islamic-inspired worldview were to shape America's public policy, this country would become a far different land than the one bequeathed to us by our Founding Fathers.

It would no longer be the "sweet land of liberty" of which we sing but something tyrannical and repressive. That's not the kind of nation the American people want, and Rep. Sali is right on target in issuing his word of caution.

In other words, we have to eliminate freedom of religion in order to preserve freedom of religion.

Although, as I noted in the original post, these people have some fucked-up ideas of what freedom of religion means. From a comment on the news article about Sali's hatemongering:

I agree with Congressman Sali. Having a Muslim in office and a Hindu open Senate prayer shows just how far the people of America have fallen from the priciples of God's Word. Freedom of religion was to be able to worship the true God of heaven without the interference of government telling us how to. It was so we could worship the ONE true God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, and not the god of Ishmael, as Islam holds to, or one of the many gods of the Hindus. Yes, we are in the end times and the fight is between light and darkness, right and wrong, God and the devil. Those who choose God are on the winning side and will have the ultimate victory! Praise God!

I really can't wrap my head around it, but these people seem to honestly believe that "freedom of religion" actually means "Christian theocracy."