Pagan Republican Wins Election
Wednesday November 4, 2009
In what may have been the first event of its kind, an out-of-the-broom-closet Pagan candidate has won a seat on New York City's city council. Dan Halloran, who is a Theodsman, had a tumultuous candidacy when his opponents tried to link his Heathen belief system to racism and white supremacist groups. Halloran, a Republican, defeated opponent Kevin Kim by about 1300 votes.
While I wouldn't go as far as to say this is the beginning of some new enlightened political era, in which Pagans and Christians all hold hands and sing Kumbayah on election night, it's certainly something of a milestone. Halloran's campaign had to spend half their time defending his religious beliefs and putting out fires fueled by allegations that he was part of a racist white-power cartel. Now that he's got his seat in District 19, though, it may make things just a bit easier for the next Pagan or Heathen who decides to run for a major political office.
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While I wouldn't go as far as to say this is the beginning of some new enlightened political era, in which Pagans and Christians all hold hands and sing Kumbayah on election night, it's certainly something of a milestone. Halloran's campaign had to spend half their time defending his religious beliefs and putting out fires fueled by allegations that he was part of a racist white-power cartel. Now that he's got his seat in District 19, though, it may make things just a bit easier for the next Pagan or Heathen who decides to run for a major political office.
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It shows a lot that the voters do not buy into ever scare tactic thrown out there.
Thank god he won, we dont need an asian(kevin kim) trying to help his people takeover the area with churches and everything else
Tom, I can’t tell if your comment is supposed to be sarcasm, or if it’s just an example of the same bigotry and intolerance that opponents tried to accuse Dan Halloran of.
patti
I hope that Tom’s comment was some sarcastic show of how stupid rampant bigotry looks. Or perhaps Tom is one of those who put up such comments just to see what kind of reactions he can generate. As to the story at hand – I really do hope that allegations of white supremecism in Mr Halloran’s or his group’s views are as off the mark as Tom’s. I also wonder what the demographic breakdown of pagans, heathens, wiccans, new agers, etc who consider themselves liberal versus conservative looks like. I, like some who commented on the article, have assumed that such belief systems would lend themselves to a more liberal stance. Strange bedfellows, indeed.
This was not racial prejudice. It was a pro-life republican that attracted the Republican Base despite his religious views because he was the lessor evil. Kim being asian is not as traditional a canidate, and trying to use religious difference backfired as he did not run emphasizing the progressive values that most intelligent people would have been more confident to align their values with Kim. It just turned out to be another conservative winning a conservative ticket, because the progressive canidate did not focus enough on the issues. It makes me wonder if Kim had the intention to be a new face in an office that the public was focused upon because of the republican campaign. Dems lose, progressives lose, when the liberals and free thinking people try to focus on a religious minority, especially if the more progressive canidate happens to be from a minority race. It is just 1300 votes, likely hinged on the abortion issues, and since Kim place his focus on something other than the office at hand he appeared to have more an agenda than fufilling the duty of the office. I bet Kim sells a book.
It’s that assumption that all Wiccans are liberal and share identical political beliefs that leads me to stay out of discussion on this site.
Patti, I enjoy your blog for the most part, and I like the fact that it’s accessible and welcoming to everyone from High Priestesses to people who are just starting to learn about the Craft, but oftentimes you write about the Big Bad Christians doing something evil to *something that has nothing to do with Paganism* (like football teams, gay rights activists, a girl from a Muslim family, etc.). While I don’t condone these acts any more than you do, I think mentioning them in a blog about Paganism is irrelevant and unwelcoming to someone who might not agree with your stance on the matter. Moreover, posts like these spread the myth that ALL Christians are intolerant, gay-bashing, Witch-fearing extremists. It is a pet peeve of mine that the media and many non-Christians only mention Christians in the context of hate crimes and intolerant attitudes. What people hear is what they come to believe… I was raised Christian and I while I consider myself an agnostic now, I am proud to say that my family, and the church they attend, contain some of the most welcoming, tolerant people I have ever known. Far more tolerant than say, a Pagan who goes off into Flame-Land on you for mentioning that you support *candidate*…
I think it’s great that a Pagan politician won an election. It’s also interesting to see that liberal politicians are not above the “He associates with the crazies!” game. I just hope for the day when politics is purely about platform and skin color/religion/etc. are non-issues (in a negative OR a positive way!).
Bohemian — thanks for your comments. I’d like to respectfully disagree on one thing, though, and that is the notion that I portray Christians as the bad guys. One of the reasons I cover things on this blog that are unrelated to Paganism and Wicca is because I think it’s important that stories about religious discrimination or freedoms be discussed by people of all faiths. Certainly, the story of the Muslim teen doesn’t affect any of us directly, but it’s important to discuss and think rationally about the circumstances behind her case. As members of minority faiths, I think it’s crucial that we keep our eyes and ears open when injustice is perpetrated — whether it’s towards another Pagan, or towards a Christian, or a Muslim, etc.
I do also try to be objective about the news I post, and try to keep things fair. Reporting a case of religious discrimination doesn’t always mean that I think it’s a valid one. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me all the time — if I did, I’d turn off the Comments feature
But what I do hope is that even those who disagree with my opinion understand that they too have a voice here.
patti
Sweet JeeZus! Will these Pagan inroads never end? If we don’t stop this, the next thing that will happen is that Wiccans will be trying to pray in our Schools! (Gasp)
Wiccans praying in schools? Been there, Done that. I graduated 9 years ago, so Wiccans have been praying in schools for over a decade
BTW, Thanks Patti, for writing this blog. I always get a spark of joy when I see the Pagan/Wiccan newsletter in my email box.
Blessed Be.
Yes, I second the ‘thank you’ to Patti for writing this blog. I look forward to Tuesday morning just so I can drink my coffee and read what is going on in the pagan world. While I prefer the announcements of fascinating ancient archaeological finds, I think its necessary to discuss political situtations that affect us today. If you don’t like the political talk, click on Cleansing Your Sacred Space, etc.
what’s curious to me is that a republican can be in any “nature-based” religion …
Rae,
Yes you can be Pagan and Republican. I am Druid and, gasp, I am Conservative Republican AND work for an Oil company.
keep drilling!
I love the idea of diversity which makes all of us part of the whole. Pagans and Christians are able to have political party viewpoints which fit into their belief systems. Paagans are as diverse as Christians( or any other label ), its the inner Spirit that drives us forward not the label after all! I am a republican conservative wiccan and it is just nice to know that isn’t an oxymoron.
In response to Rae, I have family members and friends who are Pagan and either republican or conservative or both.
As human beings our spiritual and political beliefs are just as unique and varied as we are, and isn’t it a wonderful thing.
I am not an American, but I think this is very important for Pagans everywere around the globe. Congatulations, Americans, for that triumph!