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| U.S. Representative Paul Ryan |
The atheist philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand published more than a
dozen books before she died in 1982. Now, liberal Christians say another
work belongs in Rand’s controversial canon: the 2012 Republican budget.
House Republicans passed their budget along party lines in April, saying
its drastic cuts to federal programs are necessary to prevent a deficit
crisis.
But in a petition drive, video, ads and websites, liberal Christians
counter that Rand’s dog-eat-dog philosophy is the real inspiration for
the GOP budget and its author, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul
Ryan, R-Wis.
“You’ve got a guy who is a rising Republican star, and who wrote the
budget, saying he’s read her books and Washington needs more of her
values,” said Eric Sapp, executive director of the American Values
Network, which produced the video. “If you’re a Christian, you’ve got to
ask some serious questions about what’s going on here.”
In other words, Sapp argues, you can follow Ayn Rand or Jesus, but not both.
