David Barton

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David Barton

Top Social Conservative Reportedly Sues After Dems Link Him With White Supremacists

Jillian Rayfield | September 22, 2011, 6:30AM

David Barton

The social conservative and right-wing historian David Barton has reportedly filed a libel and defamation lawsuit against two Texas Democrats, because he alleges they falsely portrayed him as a sympathizer with white supremacists.

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Topics: Anti-Defamation League, David Barton, WallBuilders

Jon Stewart Spars With Social Conservative David Barton Over Church And State (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | May 6, 2011, 2:23PM

Jon Stewart isn't having any of top social conservative David Barton's views on the separation of church and state.

In an extended segment of The Daily Show on Wednesday, Stewart and Barton argued over the Founders' views of religion, and how religion is reconciled in American culture. Barton is known for preaching a somewhat revisionist version of American history, which focuses on the religious beliefs of the Founders, arguing that the country has mistakenly ignored those beliefs when it comes to teaching American history. Among his arguments is that "the Declaration of Independence is nothing more than a listing of all of the sermons that folks had been hearing in church in the decades leading up to the American Revolution."

But Stewart isn't impressed. "You seem to be taking your religious views," he told Barton, "channeling them through sort of a faux-scientific or historical method for use in political and curriculum activities. And that's where I think it creates some trouble."

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Topics: David Barton, Jon Stewart, Religion

David Barton

Top Social Conservative David Barton: The Bible, Pilgrims Would Oppose 'Wicked' Net Neutrality

Jillian Rayfield | April 20, 2011, 4:06PM

David Barton

Social conservative and evangelical David Barton is against net neutrality because he says it goes against the principles of Ben Franklin, the Pilgrims, and the Bible.

Right Wing Watch reports that Barton was speaking with his co-host Rick Green on their radio show Tuesday, and declared that net neutrality is "wicked stuff, and I don't use that word very often, but this is wicked stuff."

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Topics: David Barton, Net neutrality, WallBuilders

David Barton

Top Evangelical David Barton: Maybe Government Should 'Regulate Homosexuality'

Jillian Rayfield | October 6, 2010, 1:38PM

David Barton

David Barton, an evangelical and social conservative well known for his somewhat revisionist history and appearances on Glenn Beck's show, yesterday took the opportunity on his radio show to ask that age-old question: "Why don't we regulate homosexuality?"

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Topics: David Barton, Glenn Beck, Rick Green, WallBuilders

Rick Green

Leading Texas Supreme Court Candidate Has Checkered Ethical Past, Religious-Right Worldview (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | April 7, 2010, 2:20PM

Rick Green

A former Texas legislator who has a good shot at being the next justice on the state's Supreme Court would bring to the job a checkered ethical past, a Bible-based view of the law, endorsements from Chuck Norris and Alan Keyes, and a commitment to "keeping God in the equation" in American civic life.

Meet Rick Green.

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Topics: David Barton, Debra Lehrmann, FTC, Focus Factor, Rick Green, Texas, Texas Supreme Court, V-Factor, WallBuilders

Texas Textbook Hearings

'Expert' Barton Brings Religio-Historical Road Show To TX Board Of Ed Hearing

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 2:56PM

From display by David Barton, Texas board of education hearing room

David Barton, who critics call a "Christian nationalist history revisionist," comes off more as smooth-talking history buff than fiery evangelist.

Among the panel of experts appointed to guide the Texas textbook standards writing process, Barton is probably the most committed right-wing activist. He served as vice-chair of the Texas GOP for many years. He was responsible for the uproar over deletion of a reference to Christmas that the chair of the board of education tried to tamp down first thing this morning.

And when his turn to speak came at the hearing on new history textbook standards in Austin today, Barton was the only expert to bring along a slideshow.

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Topics: David Barton, David Bradley, Texas, Texas Textbook Hearings, Textbooks

Texas Textbook Hearings

Texas Education Board Chair Kicks Off Hearings: There Is No War On Christmas

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 11:43AM

Board of Education Chair Gail Lowe

As we told you yesterday, the Texas State Board of Education is meeting in Austin today for the first public discussion of new history textbook standards, which include a controversial section that would require knowledge of Newt Gingrich, Phyllis Schlafly, et al.

Before the board turned to social studies, the hearing got to an odd start when an animated member of the public testifying about the importance of health education declared, "I'm 56 years old and I'm a virgin." The chair promptly warned her to stay on topic.