Will face of Jesus appear on your car?

HOBE SOUND, Fla. – It may sound ironic, but a governor named "Crist" is taking a firm stand about the face of Jesus possibly adorning license plates on vehicles in his state.

Florida Republican Charlie Crist (pronounced not like Christ, but rather rhyming with wrist) says he would not veto legislation creating a specialty tag featuring artwork of the Son of God.

Florida lawmakers are considering optional license plates with Christian themes.

The Sunshine State already has more than 100 specialty tags promoting awareness and raising money in the name of schools, sports teams, the environment, U.S. Armed Forces and miscellaneous causes from the Boy Scouts to choosing life.

Now, two state senators, Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, are each promoting their own version of a new plate that outspokenly champions their Bible-based beliefs. One depicts an image of Jesus, while other features a cross in front of a stained-glass window.

With Florida's history of approving such a wide variety of tags, some members of the news media went directly to the governor to ask his thoughts about the legality of such designs.

As seen in this embedded video from YouTube, Crist was firm in his resolve not to prevent Jesus from appearing on a license plate.

"I would not veto those .... No, I would not," Crist said.

Question: So you don't have a problem with Jesus on a license plate?

Crist: "I don't. No."

Q: What about separation of church and state?

Crist: "If they don't want one they don't have to buy one."

Q: You're putting it on a public license plate. Doesn't that endorse religion? Isn't that state endorsement of religion?

Crist: "I think it ... What's it say? 'In God We Trust' on every single piece of monetary, coins and paper we have? I think it's fine."

The debate is receiving considerable attention in newspapers across the peninsula.

In the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, columnist Alma James-Johnson rejects the notion a Jesus plate violates any so-called separation of church and state:

... [T]hat's just spin from the anti-Christian crowd who go berserk anytime the word "Jesus" is mentioned in public. It's like they have an allergic reaction that makes them go insane.

These, mind you, are the same people who push for freedom of expression in every other arena. But when it comes to religious expression, they become the champions of intolerance. ...

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Driving behind a person with a Jesus license plate doesn't mean you have to like it, or convert to Christianity, any more than driving behind a Marlins license plate means you have to root for that baseball team or become a life-long fan.

Denying speciality plates based on opposition to religious expression would be just another form of censorship. And that's not the American way.

Frank Cerabino of the Palm Beach Post takes a more sarcastic tone, stating:

I can envision a "Jews are Cool" license plate, with a Star of David on it, and the words "Chosen People" in the design. And the Muslims ought to be able to state their claim as Florida's one true religion. Those misunderstood Wiccans would get their covens a shot at state-sponsored advertising. And let's not leave out the Pastafarians and their Flying Spaghetti Monster.

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If the Florida license plate is a canvas for one religion, it should be a canvas for all. Or none. We're going to have to accommodate the atheists, too.

The public is also having a field day on the topic, with comments from serious to humorous:

Gov. Crist, I agree with your laissez-faire "live and let live" attitude, but here are a couple of questions for you: 1) If a pagan group wants a license plate, is that OK? According to your statement, if you don't want it, don't buy it. 2) If a gay couple wants to marry, is that OK? (If you're not gay, then don't marry someone of the same sex) ... Does this freedom of choice that you are espousing only apply when it fits within your moral frame of reference?

Yes, I want a God or Jesus license plate to remind all he pagans and heathens they are on the path to eternal misery if they don't change their ways!

Here in Florida we do have something close to a license plate for atheists. It is a plate with a likeness of John Lennon that says "Imagine" on it. It's not as in-your-face as this, but ...