On Tuesday, Jody Hice, a conservative pastor, won the Republican primary election in Georgia’s 10th District. Since the district has historically leaned conservative, it is likely that he will win the general election in November against his Democratic opponent, Ken Dious.
Hice previously wrote a book called “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America“ in 2012, and hosts a radio show called “The Jody Hice Show” which can be heard on approximately 400 radio stations, in which he has made many public comments about Islam, gays, women, and various other topics. Here are some of the most eyebrow-raising remarks he has made.
On Islam:
1. “Although Islam has a religious component, it is much more than a simple religious ideology. It’s a complete geopolitical structure and, as such, does not deserve First Amendment protection.”
— From his book, “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America” (via Raw Story)
2. “Most people think Islam is a religion, it’s not. It’s a totalitarian way of life with a religious component.”
– From a 2011 Coweta County Tea Party Patriots event
3. [A]lthough terror is a real threat and must be taken seriously, the worst plan is the Muslim Brotherhood’s attempt to take over America! Don’t think that it can’t happen. Europe once considered itself impervious to Islam. Today we are being told that Europe will be 20 percent Islamic by mid century because they were ignorant to the problem until it was too late. The United States had better wake up to the fact that this threat is real!”
— From his book, “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America” (via Mother Jones)
On LGBT Americans:
4. “These shocking words by Michael Swift have been considered part of the ‘gay manifesto’ by many, and reveal the radical agenda that is currently threatening our nation…One need not look very far to discover the overall agenda of militant homosexuality, and its attempt to permanently change American society.”
— From his book, “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America.” He was commenting on a satirical piece by gay writer Michael Swift that poked fun at the idea of a gay agenda. However, he neglected to mention that Swift’s piece was satire. (via Mother Jones)
5. “We are enslaving and entrapping potentially hundreds of thousands of individuals in a lifestyle that frankly they are not.”
— From a 2013 episode of his radio show
6. “The concept of ‘love’ is not the issue when it comes to marriage! People love all kinds of other people and things, but that does not grant permission for marriage. It is illegal to marry a child or a sibling. It is illegal to marry a pet, which many people love dearly.”
— From his book, “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America” (via Mother Jones)
7. “Some ask the question, ‘How does same-sex ‘marriage’ threaten your marriage?’ The answer is similar to asking, ‘How does a trashy neighborhood affect you?’ It might not affect you at all on a personal level. But, we are not talking about ‘a’ same-sex marriage. We are talking about an effort to redefine marriage, and that would have drastic results and irreversible consequences!”
— From his book, “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America” (via Mother Jones)
On women running for office:
8. ”If the woman’s within the authority of her husband, I don’t see a problem.”
— From a 2004 interview with the Athens Banner-Herald
On mass shootings such as those at Sandy Hook:
9. “We have tragedies, horrifying tragedies such as this, happening in America today with much greater frequency because God is largely removed from our culture…we have been kicking God out of the schools, and we have been kicking God out of the public square.”
–– From his radio show after the Sandy Hook shooting
On abortion and reproductive rights:
10. “How many times have we denounced the murderous acts of people like Hitler? Most certainly, his actions and similar ones by other political leaders should be vehemently condemned! Yet, we so easily overlook the genocide that has been committed within our own country. Our murderous dealings are much worse than Hitler’s six million Jews or Mussolini’s three hundred thousand. The genocide in America is inexcusable! It is worse than genocide. We are guilty of eugenics!”
— From his book, “It’s Now or Never: A Call to Reclaim America” (via Mother Jones)
Nisha Chittal