I wonder – would a Christian official be able to get away with a comment disrespectful of Jewish (or other) religious beliefs in a manner similar to this?

The Ohio Christian Alliance and state Republican Party have demanded an apology from the state attorney general for telling his communications director that some of the bad press the spokesman got was worse than Christ's crucifixion.

The Dayton Daily News obtained reams of e-mails sent and received by Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann at his office. The e-mails were released after a lengthy battle over public records access.

On April 6, Dann wrote to his director of communications, Leo A. Jennings III, about an editorial in the Youngstown, Ohio, newspaper that yielded a series of unflattering online postings about Jennings.

"Jesus had it better on good [sic] Friday," Dann wrote in the e-mail — which was written on the Christian holiday commemorating Christ's crucifixion and death.
Following the Daily News' publication of the exchanges, Ohio Christian Alliance President Chris Long drafted a letter demanding that Dann apologize.

"I think it would benefit all if he was to make a public apology," Long said in an interview. "That a public official would make a bigoted comment about the crucifixion on Good Friday has people outraged and in disbelief."

The GOP has joined in calling for an apology from Dann, who mocked the crucifixion on the Christian holy day marking it. But Dann refuses to apologize.

He said that he and Dann have been friends for more than 20 years and that the attorney general, who is Jewish, doesn't discriminate against people of any religion.

"Marc cherishes his own faith and is deeply respectful, considerate and tolerant of the religious beliefs held by others," wrote Jennings.

"He is absolutely committed to upholding the religious freedoms guaranteed by both the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions and he would zealously oppose any attempt made by anyone to impinge upon those freedoms."

So it appears that DannÂ’s defense is that he is a nice Jewish boy who would never say anything offensive, so all of the folks who are offended can go pound sand. Such insensitivity from the stateÂ’s attorney general is unacceptable, and he should certainly offer an immediate apology -- and seriously consider resigning.

After all, I'm sure that is what Jewish leaders would expect of a Christian official who made such insensitive comments about Jewish practices.

Posted by: Greg at 10:39 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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