# George W. attacks Wicca **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2000, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998 "2000-10-23T18:54:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![doc\_miller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@doc\_miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc_miller)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/1 "2000-10-23T18:54:03Z")
I’m looking for some confirmation/denial information here. My wife was visiting some friends this weekend, and while discussing politics, they showed her a web site with the following story (No, I don’t have the URL) Because of the nature in which the story came to me (oral retelling 1.5 days later) I only have vague info. The story: At some recent question-asking opportunity, George W. Bush was asked if he would support a bill currently in Congress that would remove Wicca and related faiths from the list of those approved / accredited / sanctioned / supported for practice by members of the US military. His response was to the effect of “Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Bhuddism are all ok, but witchcraft should be illegal” My impression was sure, this might be true. But something about it just screams agi-prop to me. The only 2 goals I can think of for planting a false story of this type would be: Make Wiccans currently not supporting Bush feel even better about their decision; or to get conservative Wiccans (both of them) to abandon Bush for Gore/Nader/whoever. So, anyone else heard this? Have a date/situation for the quote? Have a bill number for the refernced legislation? Any info one way or the other on this story? Thanks in advance, Scott ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/2 "2000-10-23T19:25:16Z")
Here you go. > **[Web White & Blue 2000 Evaluation Summary](https://www.markle.org/publications/231-web-white-blue-2000-evaluation-summary)** > > This is a summary of the evaluation results of Web White and Blue 2000, a Markle initiative organized around the 2000 national elections to help voters, journalists, and others use the Internet to learn more about candidates, campaigns, and... Has anyone else seen his (Bush’s) stuff on his Armies of Compassion? It seems disturbing, at least to me. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/3 "2000-10-23T19:34:55Z")
Yes, Dubya did indeed say that. Here’s a quote from the _Freedom of Religion_ website. The article is mainly about Bob Barr and Strom Thurmond, but Bush’s quote is toward the bottom. [CLICK HERE](http://199.183.110.96/religion/1999/6/29barrwicca.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/4 "2000-10-23T19:37:16Z")
Whoops! _BAD_ Freyr!! (slaps wrists) That should be _The Freedom Forum, Online_. :o ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/5 "2000-10-23T19:38:10Z")
Lovely. We can have freedom of religion, as long as GWB thinks it “counts” as a religion. :rolleyes: Someone should perhaps delicately remind him that Christianity was once considered a wacky cult too. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/6 "2000-10-23T19:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gaudere \* > \*\*Someone should perhaps delicately remind him that Christianity was once considered a wacky cult too. \*\* I say we feed 'im to the lions! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/7 "2000-10-23T19:45:22Z")
Freyr - thanks for that website! Sorry to hijack… ---
**Author:** ![doc\_miller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@doc\_miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc_miller)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/8 "2000-10-23T20:23:24Z")
Thanks for the replies all. Sad to see this is true. Scott ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/9 "2000-10-23T20:28:02Z")
;:looking like Horton:: \*I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… If GW becomes president, I’m moving to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/10 "2000-10-23T20:45:07Z")
The really sad thing is that I moved away from Texas as soon as I could after he became governor and now he may be moving to where I live again. I think he is following me. I hated him then and I hate him now even more. I can’t believe that he beat Ann Richards. Now she was smart, funny, and just generally classy. He is a hillbilly retard (I know that is redundant but in his case he needs the second word as he is even a retard among hillbillies). HUGS! Sqrl ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/11 "2000-10-23T21:01:01Z")
**Moderator’s Notes:** If this is going to become a Bush and/or conservative bashing thread, let me know now and I’ll move it to the Pit so you folks can properly express yourselves. I have a question though, why is this issue important now that Bush has weighed in? Why did no one seem to care when in was only a couple senators with this opinion? And here’s another question. You folks seem to be worried about limits on the freedom of religious expression but no other freedoms. Does it not concern you that Gore would like to limit the types of guns you may own to only what he thinks appropiate? Hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/12 "2000-10-23T21:09:26Z")
Well, Unc, you skeptic and gad about town you, (sorry - I just read the ghost thread) since you ask, Gore scares the bejeezus out of me. Bush does too but to a lesser extent. I been spending a good part of my time lately reading up on Nader. I just can’t live with the vote for the lesser of two evils thing. But, after reading reading reading, and listening listening listening, frankly, I’d prefer just to build a cabin, move to Montana and say “the hell with it all get the hell off my land”. 😃 (That was supposed to be a **joke** in case anybody feels like going bonkers on me for my last remark. No democrats were injured in the making of this post.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/13 "2000-10-23T21:19:04Z")
I heard a story about this a couple of months ago on NPR. Here is a link to hear the story… [http://search.npr.org/cf/cmn/cmnps05fm.cfm?SegID=51295](http://search.npr.org/cf/cmn/cmnps05fm.cfm?SegID=51295) ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/14 "2000-10-23T21:19:16Z")
> [@](#): > > But, after reading reading reading, and listening listening listening, frankly, I’d prefer just to build a cabin, move to > Montana and say “the hell with it all get the hell off my land” What the heck is your problem? Idaho is much more suited for that kind of existence. ---
**Author:** ![SouthernStyle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@SouthernStyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouthernStyle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/15 "2000-10-23T21:27:44Z")
Try again **Missy** , maybe you can nail a democrat with your _next_ post! With so many of the Montana Freemen in jail, I would expect that they are in need of recruits. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tradesilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tradesilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tradesilicon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/16 "2000-10-23T21:28:01Z")
Ahh, c’mon, any witch worth his salt would just cast a spell on W, and make him change his mind. About that cabin, does it come with a pool? ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/17 "2000-10-23T21:37:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > > \*\*I have a question though, why is this issue important now that Bush has weighed in? Why did no one seem to care when in was only a couple senators with this opinion? \*\* First I heard about it. If I would have heard about it before, i would have started a thread about it somewhere… GD or The Pit, depending on my mood… > [@](#): > > **And here’s another question. You folks seem to be worried about limits on the freedom of religious expression but no other freedoms. Does it not concern you that Gore would like to limit the types of guns you may own to only what he thinks appropiate?** Bleeding-heart Liberal answer: Religion doesn’t kill people. Guns do. My answer: “…a _well-regulated_ militia…” * * * Yer pal, [Satan](http://www.members.tripod.com/jmspoofe/sdmb/satan.jpg) \*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Six months, two weeks, 19 hours, 42 minutes and 21 seconds. 7912 cigarettes not smoked, saving $989.10. Extra life with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 6 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes. **I slept with a REPUBLICAN moderator!** \* ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/18 "2000-10-23T21:41:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tradesilicon \* > \*\*Ahh, c’mon, any witch worth his salt would just cast a spell on W, and make him change his mind. > \*\* Now, now…any witch worth his/_her_ salt has a moral obligation to refrain from just that sort of behaviour. Though you oughtn’t think I’m not tempted. ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/19 "2000-10-23T21:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gaudere \* > \*\*Lovely. We can have freedom of religion, as long as GWB thinks it “counts” as a religion. :rolleyes: > \*\* Perhaps he’ll supply us with a list of groups that he thinks the First Amendment applies to. ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998/20 "2000-10-23T21:59:03Z")
As far as I could tell from the article… I thought this just applied to the military. Trust me… This won’t fly. I promise. I know quite a few wiccans in the Air Force, and I’ve also seen “the list”. Those of you who’ve had military service and have had id-tags made, know what “the list” is. That huge list of religions that you can put on your id-tags. If G.W. doesn’t allow for Wicca in the military I can think of three others he’ll have to take off that list right off the top of my head. Personally I think they both suck and am writing in Lewis Black, with Dennis Leary as VP. Just kidding… 😃 Maybe… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-w-attacks-wicca/37998.md?page=2)