Robert I. Sherman

Robert I. Sherman is a American journalist and advocate for the rights of atheists [ [http://www.robsherman.com/advocacy/home.htm Robert Sherman's atheist advocacy page] ] .

Alleged George Herbert Walker Bush quote on atheists

Robert Sherman claimed that at press conference in Chicago on August 27 1987 then Vice-President George H. W. Bush said, "I don't know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God." [ [http://www.robsherman.com/advocacy/060401a.htm Robert Sherman's website entry on the quote] ] Though alleged to have been made at a press conference, only Sherman claims to have heard it. [ [http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2006_04/008542.php Political Animal] ]

Monique Davis Controversy

Illinois Representative Monique Davis interrupted Robert Sherman in his testimony before the House State Government Administration Committee in Springfield:

"I don't know what you have against God, but some of us don't have much against him. We look forward to him and his blessings... I'm trying to understand the philosophy that you want to spread in the state of Illinois... This is the land of Lincoln where people believe in God... What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous... It's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists... Get out of that seat! You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24028250/|title='Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Tuesday, April 8, 2008]

Response to remarks

Her remarks generated controversy. [Mehta, Hemant, [http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/08/update-on-atheist-hating-illinois-state-rep-monique-davis/ Atheist-Hating Illinois State Rep. Monique Davis] ] [Zorn, Eric, [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/04/rep-monique-dav.html Rep. Monique Davis to atheist Rob Sherman: `It’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!'] , Chicago Tribune, 2008-04-03] [ [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/files/DAVIS.mp3 Audio] ]

The Council for Secular Humanism said it was "appalled by Davis’s apparent belief that atheists and other nonreligious individuals are not entitled to the same rights and liberties as other citizens." on April 8 2008. Director of the Council's First Amendment Task Force, Ronald A. Lindsay said "She is unfit to serve in her office, just as a representative who told a Jew or a Hindu to ‘get out of that seat’ would be unfit to serve. If she does not resign, the Illinois House has an obligation to expel her." [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/04/rep-monique-dav.html#more]

That same night, MSNBC journalist and commentator Keith Olbermann, on his show "Countdown", declared Davis the "Worst Person in the World," [cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17029342/|title='Is Atheism dangerous?'] [cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24020314#24020314|title='Video of Countdown with Keith Olbermann for Tuesday, April 8 - Monique Davis Worst Person in the World] calling on Davis to either apologize or resign:

"Obviously, Assemblywoman Davis owes the witness and everybody in this country who believes in freedom of religion an apology. And if she can‘t figure that out, she should resign and take her prejudice with her. She also needs to improve her own education. That phrase, 'this is the Land of Lincoln, where people believe in God'; Miss Davis said that in Springfield, where, when Lincoln first ran for Congress in 1846, the future great president was accused by his opponent of being an atheist.You not only spat on the fundamental American freedom to embrace religion, a religion or no religion, Assemblywoman Davis, but you also made a damn fool of yourself in the process. State Representative Monique Davis, Democrat of Illinois, today's Worst Person in the World."

Representative Davis Apologizes

On Thursday, April 10, Sherman reported on his website, and Olbermann reported on "Countdown", that Assemblywoman Davis called him personally to apologize for her remarks, and that he accepted her apology. She stated that she was angry because of the shooting deaths of two students earlier that day. [ [http://www.robsherman.com/ Rob Sherman home page ] ] A few days later, Olbermann also named Sherman Worst Person in the World, and called on him to apologize to Davis, for his comments about Davis after their encounter.

Robert Sherman's language criticized

Robert Sherman has been criticized for his use of the word negro in referring to Representative Davis [Mehta, Hemant, [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/04/davis-and-sherm.html Eric Zorn on the use of the word] ] [Mehta, Hemant,
[http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/rob-sherman-the-worst-person-in-the-world/ on Rob Sherman receiving "Worst Person in the world" award] ] [Mehta, Hemant,
[http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/13/is-negro-a-slur/ on use of the word "negro"] ] . Robert Sherman has since removed the offending passage from his website.

References