Dems would never in a million years call the Koran “offensive.”

Via Advocate:

Louisiana legislators advanced a bill Thursday that would make the Holy Bible the official Louisiana state book, despite concerns the move could prompt litigation.

“You cannot separate Christianity from the Bible,” said state Rep. Wesley Bishop, D-New Orleans, a lawyer and the son of a preacher. “If you adopt the Bible as the official state book, you also adopt Christianity as the state religion … We are going to open ourselves up to a lawsuit.”

The House Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs Committee voted 8-5 to recommend the legislation to the full House.

State Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, countered that naming an official state book doesn’t equate to establishing a state religion, which isspecifically prohibited in the U.S. Constitution.

“The Holy Bible would be appropriate for the state of Louisiana,” he said, particularly given the state’s strong religious ties. […]

Other legislators said Carmody’s bill was not inclusive of all types of religions practiced by Louisiana residents.

“As an elected official on this committee and in this building, some of my constituents from the city of New Orleans and around the state will find this type of legislation offensive,” said state Rep. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans.

“You don’t think it’s offensive to some citizens of this state to select the Bible as the official state book?” asked Rep. Ebony Woodruff, D-Harvey. Woodruff suggested Carmody add “all books of faith like the Quran, the Torah.”

Carmody said he thought the Bible was “the appropriate symbol.” He said the state can have more than one state book, just as it has more than one official jelly.