Taylor Hanigosky
tmh004@marietta.edu
Over 100 people lined one side of Pennsylvania Avenue Sept. 18 in response to the controversial right-wing figure, David Barton, who spoke at the Washington County Republican Party’s annual Reagan Dinner.
Barton is the founder and president of WallBuilders, a national organization with goals of encouraging more Christian participation in civics and educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of the country. In 2005, Time magazine named Barton one of the “25 most influential Evangelists.” However, Barton’s polarizing views about the LGBT community and the role of Christianity in government and education caused some local residents to decry his visit to Marietta.
Some of Barton’s most controversial comments on homosexuality were stated in a 2012 WallBuilders broadcast, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization for social justice and LBGT rights.
“There’s a passage that I love in Romans 1. … [It] talks about homosexuality and it says that they will receive in their bodies the penalties of their behavior,” Barton said. “The Bible [is] right every time … and that’s why AIDS has been something they haven’t discovered a cure for or a vaccine for. …”
Members of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta organized the peaceful rally to counter Barton’s ideas. A diverse group of community members and Marietta College students attended, displaying signs with positive messages of love and equality to greet dinner attendees.
“I don’t think [Barton] represents the views of the Marietta community well,” said Jim Rapp, the organizer of the demonstration. “We are not here to bash him, but we want to get together to promote alternative voices of love, liberty and justice.”
According to Leslie Haas, chair of the Washington County Republican Party, roughly 365 people attended the sold-out dinner held at the Marietta Shriners Club. Barton touched on a variety of topics including Common Core, a set of education standards for kindergarten through 12th grade, Haas said.
Debbie Phillips, an Ohio state representative for the 94th district, attended the rally to voice her opposition to Barton’s ideas. Phillips believes in the ability of a strong scientific foundation to prepare students for admittance into top universities. Barton’s theories overlook this, she said.
“I’m concerned about the impact [Barton’s influence] could have on Ohio public education,” Phillips said.
Haas, however, is puzzled by the negative response to Barton’s Marietta appearance.
“His methods of social, civic and ethical responsibility resonate well with our members,” Haas said. “His knowledge of our constitutional heritage is of paramount importance to all Americans.”
Barton authored “The Jefferson Lies,” a book that aims to challenge existing knowledge about Thomas Jefferson. However, Christian publisher Thomas Nelson pulled the book off store shelves for what it claimed were factual issues with the text. Additionally, Barton speaks of the plentiful biblical references in the Declaration of Independence, citing them as evidence of the founding fathers’ Christian intentions. An NPR inquiry into Barton’s claims found none of the references he mentioned. (link: http://www.npr.org/2012/08/08/157754542/the-most-influential-evangelist-youve-never-heard-of)
Despite discrepancies over the factuality of some of Barton’s research, his views on Christianity in schools and government are popular among his support base.
“A secular government cannot be a limited government,” Barton said during his speech at the Reagan Dinner. “The only way you get limited government is to understand that some rights come from God.”
Karen Van Camp, a Marietta resident, attended the dinner and found Barton’s arguments to be valid.
“I believe he tells the truth,” Van Camp said. “I believe he’s done his research and has the right motives.”
Allison Davis, a 32-year-old Wood County resident and mother of three, decided to join the line of protesters down the street from the Shrine building because she disagrees with Barton’s views.
“I’m here to stand up for love,” Davis said. “I have a lot of friends and family who can’t get married because of the way they were born.”
Her sons, ages three through six, were among the youngest present at the rally.
“I decided to bring my children to expose them early because there is going to be injustice that they will experience throughout their lives,” Davis said. “His views on the separation of church and state directly affect my children. There’s no place for church in schools.”
