Robert Bentley, a southern-Baptist deacon and the recently elected Republican governor of the

state of Alabama, needs to learn to shut his mouth.

Only moments after being elected on Jan. 17, and as his first official act governor, Bentley stood

before a congregation at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and blithely informed them that his

administration would not be one in which equal representation takes part.

“Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're

not my brother and you're not my sister,” said Bentley.

This mistake is only compounded because Bentley was delivering his remarks from Martin

Luther King, Jr.’s podium on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a fact which was not lost on the black

community. Few, if any, have demonstrated King’s skill at combining political with religious

rhetoric, and some, like Bentley, would do better to not even try.

The remark wasn’t just in poor taste, it was also biblically incorrect. In Mark 3:35, Jesus clearly

states, “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and

mother,” meaning that all men are brothers, and not just those who subscribe to a particular

belief.

But there’s another document besides the Bible that represents a far greater concern for the

people of Alabama. The First Amendment to the Constitution reads “Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” while Article VI

specifies that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public

Trust under the United States.”

“His comments are not only offensive, but also raise serious questions as to whether non-

Christians can expect to receive equal treatment during his tenure as governor,” said Bill Nigut,

regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. “[Bentley] is dancing dangerously close to a

violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.”

Bentley’s comments also come in the wake of the tragedy in Tuscon, Arizona which left six dead

and 14 wounded. Following the shooting, pundits have engaged in all manner of finger-pointing

to include private security, gun laws and even marijuana use. However, the one topic that seems

to come up again and again is the pundits themselves. Whether or not Jared Loughner’s attack

was politically motivated, it has become clear to many people that the spite and anger charging

both parties in this country has become unsustainable.

“As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility,” said President

Obama at the victim’s memorial. “Rather

than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let's use this

occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our

instincts for empathy and remind ourselves of all the ways that our hopes and dreams are bound

together.”

In this way, Gov. Bentley was being irresponsible with his comments, even as they are

potentially illegal and immoral beside. Unfortunately, the people of Alabama will have to live

with their decision for another four years, unless his next comment does them the kindness of

getting rid of him.