Posted on 05/11/2005 6:01:36 AM PDT by conservativecorner
Up or Down
Religion, Filibusters, and Judges
May 11, 2005
Never before in American history have judges been filibustered. They’ve always been given an up or down vote under the advice and consent clause of the Constitution. But a minority in the Senate is blocking good, decent, well-qualified judges simply because of ideology: They are strict constructionists. This is an outrage, and we need to express that outrage vigorously—now.
Let me clarify two things that cloud the debate. First of all, those of us who are Christian are being told that we are using religion against our opponents. It has been said repeatedly in the press and by various senators that those of us who have been advocating that the Senate change its rules and bring these judges to a vote are impugning the religious faith of the senators blocking the vote, of saying that opposition senators are not as good Christians as we are.
Now, let me tell you something: I’ve been in Washington most of my life, and this may be the most preposterous charge I have ever heard. I reread what people have said in this debate, and no one has challenged the faith of anybody on the other side—not Ted Kennedy or Joseph Biden or Harry Reid. And to accuse us of doing so is nothing but a smear.
The other side of that coin is that we are being told that as people of faith we have no place in the debate. I suppose they think it is okay for us to speak out as citizens, but if we talk from a faith perspective, we are perverting or corrupting the political system.
This is an old tactic. When William Wilberforce, the great Christian parliamentarian, in the latter part of the eighteenth century mounted his campaign against the slave trade, he was attacked for bringing Christianity into public life.
The same charge was made during the 1840s and 1850s in America as the abolitionists challenged slavery in this country. Many of the most prominent abolitionists were moved by their Christianity and used Christian arguments in public debate. And why not? Slavery is an abomination to God.
In the 1860 campaign, Lincoln was charged with trying to impose his moral views on American life. Of course he was trying to win a moral victory, and the world is a better place for it.
So nothing is new today. The senators are claiming that they’re trying to keep ideologues off the bench. But isn’t it interesting that all these so-called “ideologues” are pro-life and pro-family?
So, who is using religion? Not Christian groups who are rallying the Senate to vote. It’s those trying to discredit judicial nominees. They are applying a religious test for office, something the Constitution specifically prohibits. And those of us speaking out as citizens and as Christians are being maligned just the way Wilberforce, Lincoln, and others have been maligned.
But do not be intimidated. What is at stake here is whether we can enact morals legislation in the future, whether it can remain on the books or whether the courts are going to knock it down, as they have been doing consistently for the last thirty years. The future character of the courts in America, whether courts will continue to legislate from the bench or simply interpret the law as the Constitution requires them to, are tied to these votes this week. So call or e-mail your two senators today. Tell them the job of a senator is not to obstruct; it’s to vote. As a believer, you have a right and a duty to make your voice heard.
Frist should assign new office space to all recalcitrant Senators immediately: 6'x6' cubicles with a desk and a spittoon.
They would fold in about 5 minutes...
From now on you might do what others are doing. Answer their junk mail but send not one RED cent until they recognize the contributions conservatives bring to the table every election cycle. In this way they know you received it and that you are quite unhappy with them. It also costs them 37 cents for your reply. Do this thousands of times with lots of supporters, and we just might make them sit up and take notice.
Now now we must not do anything mean spirited to the turncoat rat senators who sell the party down the river at every chance they get. END SARCASM!!
Amen. It's payback time. We hung tight after 9/11 only to be taken forgranted on domestic security. It's costing all of us everyday, with the exception of CongressCritters. They are taken care of for life. Sorry, game IS OVER.
I'm with you. I'm not donating to a party that gets a mandate and doesn't exercise it.
Look no further than last week when we had Senator Reid call President Bush a "LOSER" to a bunch of high school students. That was some civics lesson he gave. In the past he has also said that Chairman Greenspan is a political hack. It's funny that you didn't hear this when Bubba was in office, and he needed Greenspan's help. Meanwhile we continue with flowery rhetoric to people who want to destroy us. Politics is about winning, and our party never seems to have enough gonads to do what the base considers crucial.
I got a check with their name on it just waiting for a stampto be mailed off
But it won't happen till they find their spine and start dealing with these Dems
I feel bad about doing this...but I don't know what else to do to get their attention....I'll mail them a check as soon as I see some results..
Not me .. it's been several YEARS of of us being patient with them .. now it's time to see some kind of action
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