Tuesday, August 16, 2005
God's spokespeople
Did you know that God is opposed to Senate filibusters? Did you know that God strongly believes in judicial restraint, especially a strict constructionist view of the Constitution? I can't actually find Him on record stating these views, especially not in the Bible. But His self-appointed spokesmen at Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council insist it's true. And since they get to decide for all of us Christians what we should believe, I suppose I shouldn't argue, lest I be branded a secular humanist.
These folks have gotten together recently for a couple of events they've called Justice Sunday and Justice Sunday II to express support for John G. Roberts and to quash anybody who might even question his qualifications and to express its scorn for the Supreme Court in a rabid display not seen since "Impeach Earl Warren" signs began dotting southern highways shortly after Brown v. Board of Ed.
So marching in lockstep with Tom Delay, a paragon of Christian values currently under investigation for a lengthy trail of ethical misdeeds, as well as convicted Watergate felon Chuck Colson, this army of values has shown zero concern about social injustices or that many children in America have no future or that the precarious financial state of middle-class America is perhaps our greatest threat to families. In fact neither the Family Research Council's nor Focus on the Family's archives of statements show that they have anything to say about any real concerns that impact real families. In essence it's the usual story with the Christian right: Hearts bleed over the unborn, but turn to stone for those out of the womb. Indeed, these two groups are about little more than sanctimonious indignation and how it can be harnessed to gain political power.
But instead of listening to me pontificate further, I'll quote some highlights from the two Justice Sundays and throw in some other quotes.
"Justice Sunday: Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith."
-The first event's official name, reflecting the religious right's insistence that anyone who disagrees with them is persecuting them.
"How do the judges get away with such outrageous decisions? By asserting that Supreme Court decisions are the supreme law of the land. But you know that is not true. That is a terrible heresy."
-Phyllis Schlafly, attempting to interpret the Constitution at Justice Sunday II.
"The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority..."
-Article III, Section 2, U.S. Constitution
"There is a majority on the Supreme Court that is -- and you'll have to pardon me, but this is the way I see it -- they're unelected and unaccountable and arrogant and imperious and determined to redesign the culture according to their own biases and values, and they're out of control. And I think they need to be reined in."
-James Dobson at Justice Sunday II, ignoring that six of the nine justice were appointed by Republican presidents.
"Black churches are too concerned with justice,"
- Harry Jackson, who happens to be black, speaking at the first Justice Sunday.
"Very few people know this, that the Congress can simply disenfranchise a court. They don't have to fire anybody or impeach them or go through battle. All they have to do is say the 9th Circuit doesn't exist anymore, and it's gone."
-James Dobson, proposing that Congress get rid of judges it dislikes by stripping their courts of funding.
"But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men."
-Matthew 6:5
Right-wing mouthing off vs. the truth
If you ever listen to conservative talk radio as I try to do as little as possible, you'll notice those guys speak so fast and throw so many opinions and "facts" out into the airwaves, you can't keep it straight. Outrageous comments are made without substantiation. Facts are presented without attribution. It's all part of their game to misinform. Don't let the truth get in the way of a good argument, as Sean Hannity believes. Here's a fun link that presents right-wing opinion alongside what is factually correct:
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/custom/cap/findorg.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=124702&lftnav=claimvsfact
These folks have gotten together recently for a couple of events they've called Justice Sunday and Justice Sunday II to express support for John G. Roberts and to quash anybody who might even question his qualifications and to express its scorn for the Supreme Court in a rabid display not seen since "Impeach Earl Warren" signs began dotting southern highways shortly after Brown v. Board of Ed.
So marching in lockstep with Tom Delay, a paragon of Christian values currently under investigation for a lengthy trail of ethical misdeeds, as well as convicted Watergate felon Chuck Colson, this army of values has shown zero concern about social injustices or that many children in America have no future or that the precarious financial state of middle-class America is perhaps our greatest threat to families. In fact neither the Family Research Council's nor Focus on the Family's archives of statements show that they have anything to say about any real concerns that impact real families. In essence it's the usual story with the Christian right: Hearts bleed over the unborn, but turn to stone for those out of the womb. Indeed, these two groups are about little more than sanctimonious indignation and how it can be harnessed to gain political power.
But instead of listening to me pontificate further, I'll quote some highlights from the two Justice Sundays and throw in some other quotes.
"Justice Sunday: Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith."
-The first event's official name, reflecting the religious right's insistence that anyone who disagrees with them is persecuting them.
"How do the judges get away with such outrageous decisions? By asserting that Supreme Court decisions are the supreme law of the land. But you know that is not true. That is a terrible heresy."
-Phyllis Schlafly, attempting to interpret the Constitution at Justice Sunday II.
"The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority..."
-Article III, Section 2, U.S. Constitution
"There is a majority on the Supreme Court that is -- and you'll have to pardon me, but this is the way I see it -- they're unelected and unaccountable and arrogant and imperious and determined to redesign the culture according to their own biases and values, and they're out of control. And I think they need to be reined in."
-James Dobson at Justice Sunday II, ignoring that six of the nine justice were appointed by Republican presidents.
"Black churches are too concerned with justice,"
- Harry Jackson, who happens to be black, speaking at the first Justice Sunday.
"Very few people know this, that the Congress can simply disenfranchise a court. They don't have to fire anybody or impeach them or go through battle. All they have to do is say the 9th Circuit doesn't exist anymore, and it's gone."
-James Dobson, proposing that Congress get rid of judges it dislikes by stripping their courts of funding.
"But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men."
-Matthew 6:5
Right-wing mouthing off vs. the truth
If you ever listen to conservative talk radio as I try to do as little as possible, you'll notice those guys speak so fast and throw so many opinions and "facts" out into the airwaves, you can't keep it straight. Outrageous comments are made without substantiation. Facts are presented without attribution. It's all part of their game to misinform. Don't let the truth get in the way of a good argument, as Sean Hannity believes. Here's a fun link that presents right-wing opinion alongside what is factually correct:
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/custom/cap/findorg.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=124702&lftnav=claimvsfact
