Atheist Group Demands That Gov. Scott Walker Delete Religious Tweet

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A Wisconsin-based atheist organization has demanded that that Governor Scott Walker remove a posting on the social media website Twitter that is religious in nature.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation stated Tuesday that they took exception to Walker's official account, including a tweet posted Sunday that simply read, "Philippians 4:13."

As rendered by the New King James Version, Philippians 4:13 states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Based in Madison, FFRF sent a letter to the Wisconsin governor on Tuesday arguing that the tweet was a "misuse of gubernatorial and state of Wisconsin imprimatur."

Signed by FFRF co-presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker, the letter expressed "dismay" over the tweet, which was also posted on Facebook.

"This braggadocio verse coming from a public official is rather disturbing," wrote Gaylor and Barker to Walker.

"As governor, you took an oath of office to uphold the entirely godless and secular United States Constitution."

Gaylor and Barker called on Walker "to immediately delete this religious message from your official gubernatorial Facebook and Twitter."

On Sunday, Walker tweeted "Phillipians 4:13" on the @GovWalker twitter handle. This is noted as being the "Official Twitter Account of the 45th Governor of the State of Wisconsin, Scott Walker." Walker has another twitter handle, @ScottWalker.

The @GovWalker tweet of the verse citation received as of Tuesday evening 52 retweets and 76 favorites. It also received diverse responses from other Twitter accounts.

"@curtkrone @GovWalker it speaks volumes of a man who will admit his strength comes from that which is greater than him. #prideBeforeTheFall," tweeted @Jameski07.

"@GovWalker If you TRULY were a person who gained his strength thru Christ, you would stop stealing from the poor to pay the rich. #disparity," tweeted @BadgerStew.

"@GovWalker Isn't this supposed to be your official government twitter account? Whatever happened to the wall of separation?" tweeted @LLchern.

The letter comes not long after Walker appeared in a couple of commercials with characters from Sesame Street to promote healthy eating and exercise for children.

As of Wednesday morning, the tweet remains undeleted.