Preaching Politics

For days now, Democrats have been expressing their outrage at Senator Bill Frist for appearing in a tape to be aired in Louisville, Kentucky, at an event called Justice Sunday: Stop the Filibuster Against People of Faith.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), told ABC's This Week that "Justice Sunday" was "deeply un-American."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), on CNN's Late Edition said: "It's a very dangerous, extreme thing. There is no telling what it might launch."

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), said the stalled nominees have "radical views" on states' rights in areas such as air pollution and family leave. "It has nothing to do with the Bible," he said on Fox News Sunday.

Here's the text of Frist's dangerous, extreme, un-American remarks:

FRIST STATEMENT FOR FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL TELECAST

US Senator William H. Frist, M.D.
April 24th, 2005

The judicial nominations debate has created quite a bit of controversy. Emotions are running high on both sides, and it reveals once again, our country’s desperate need for more civility in political life.

All of us who are active in politics -- whether Republican or Democrat -- need to remember the lesson of Ronald Reagan -- that we can disagree without being disagreeable.

Now let me tell you about a disagreement that is going on in our nation’s capital.

Never in 214 years, never in the history of the United States Senate had a judicial nominee with majority support been denied an up-or-down vote…until two years ago.

In the last Congress, however, a minority of senators denied ten of the president’s judicial nominees an up-or-down vote. They wouldn’t allow a vote, because they knew the nominations would be approved.

Now we are in a new Congress, and these same senators again threaten to obstruct the vote on judges. And, even worse, if they don’t get their way, they threaten to shut down the Senate – and obstruct government itself.

Americans elect their senators to vote on the people’s business. That is a senator’s job -- to vote. If these senators are not prepared to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities, then why are they here in the first place?

Right now, there are 46 vacancies on the federal bench. Four of the appeals court vacancies are in the region that serves my home state of Tennessee.

Those four nominees have been waiting a combined thirteen years for a vote on the Senate floor. Thirteen years!

Either confirm the nominees or reject them . . . but don’t leave them hanging. Don’t leave our courts hanging. Don’t leave our country hanging.

If the nominees are rejected . . . fine . . . that’s fair. At least, rejection is a vote.

Give those nominees the courtesy and the respect of a vote.

Let me tell you about Priscilla Owen. A Texas Supreme Court justice for the last ten years -- she has received praise from both parties.

Former Justice Raul Gonzalez, a Democrat, said: “I found her to be apolitical, extremely bright, diligent in her work, and of the highest integrity. I recommend her for confirmation without reservation.”

Justice Owen has also been a leader for providing free legal services to the poor. And she has worked to soften the impact of legal proceedings on children of divorcing parents.

On May 9, 2001, President Bush nominated Justice Owen to the fifth circuit court of appeals.

To this day, even though a majority of Senators support her, she has been denied an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate.

Ladies and gentlemen, Justice Owen deserves better. She deserves a vote.

To ensure Justice Owen and other judicial nominees get a vote, I’ve been trying to work out a compromise that would do just that.

It’s not easy. My Democratic counterpart, Senator Reid, calls me a radical Republican.

I don’t think it’s radical to ask senators to vote.

I don’t think it’s radical to expect senators to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.

I don’t think it’s radical to restore precedents that worked so well for 214 years.

Now if Senator Reid continues to obstruct the process, we will consider what opponents call the “nuclear option.” Only in the United States Senate could it be considered a devastating option to allow a vote. Most places call that democracy.

But let me make one important point – this option only addresses the delay of judicial nominees.

In no way will it curb delays on legislation, which is a time-honored senatorial practice. “Mr. Smith” will still be able to go to Washington and take a stand on the Senate floor.

Now some Republicans – even some conservatives – don’t think we should press the issue on requiring votes on judicial nominees.

They’re concerned that in the future Republicans won’t be able to use this same device to obstruct Democratic nominees.

Well, that may be true. But if what Democrats are doing is wrong today, it won’t be right for Republicans to do the same thing tomorrow.

Ladies and gentlemen, our judiciary must be independent, impartial and fair.

When we think judicial decisions are outside mainstream American values, we will say so. But we must also be clear that the balance of power among all three branches requires respect – not retaliation. I won’t go along with that.

Allow me to close with how you can help.

I hope you’ll call your senators and remind them -- whether they’re Republican or Democrat -- that they work for you.

Tell them to do what’s right. Tell them to do what’s fair. Tell them to do their job – give judicial nominees the up-or-down votes they deserve.

Thank you for coming together to study this issue, and thank you for inviting me to be a part of this evening's discussion.
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Question: Where do the Democrats get off criticizing Frist for appealing to Christian groups? Democrats have a long history of addressing religious groups for political gain.

In 1999, Al Gore preached or pandered at a Salvation Army drug rehabilitation center in Atlanta, GA. Whatever it was he did, American Atheists weren't happy, though he certainly wasn't criticized by fellow Democrats.

Excerpts:

The 30-minute address drew a warm response from Gore's religious audience, and at times sounded more like a sermon than a whistle stop in his efforts to capture the White House in the 2000 elections. Although he paid lip service to "the founders' precious separation of church and state," Gore lambasted those who "have said for too long that religious values should play no role in addressing public needs," describing this as "hollow secularism."

"I believe strongly in the separation of church and state. But freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion. There is a better way..."

The Vice President also challenged what he described as an "allergy to faith," and praised the work of his wife, noted censorcrat Tipper Gore, for her involvement in faith-based outreach groups. He also recounted the story of how Christ House, a Washington, D.C. social service agency provided both medical treatment and "a much deeper type of healing."

John Kerry morphed into a preacher at a campaign stop during the 2004 presidential race.

Excerpts of his remarks at the Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention:

"Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

Thank you Reverend Shaw for that gracious introduction and thank you all for giving me this opportunity to speak to this great convention. I opened with a stanza from "Amazing Grace." It was my father's favorite hymn and probably many of yours, too. And I know that in the next seven weeks, as we seek the America of our dreams, we will need every voice and every vote in this room and all across this broad land to bring this election home. And I know, as you do, that we cannot finish that journey and reach the mountaintop without the blessings of amazing grace."

"I also know that George Bush has asked the question, "Does the Democratic Party take African American voters for granted?" Well, here is my answer. The Book of Matthew reminds us, "Beware of false profits which come to you in sheep's clothing." (Matthew 7:15). The president who in the last four years couldn't even find time to meet with NAACP... the Black Caucus ... or the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. The president who turns away from African American needs...who scorns economic justice and affirmative action...who traffics in the politics of division -- and then claims he is a friend of Black America can not conceal his identity no matter what clothes he wears. And here is the other part of my answer: We will march with you every step of the way to full equality for all Americans. This November we're going to have a new march on Washington to bring your voice and our concerns right to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I'm ready to march with you. Will you march with me?"

"On issue after issue, the other side has been trying to muddy the waters to keep you from seeing the real differences and the real choices in this election. The Bible tells us that we must sometimes see through a glass darkly. But on every issue, from Iraq to health care, from jobs to education to America's role in the world, the choice is clear. If you believe that this country is heading in the right direction, you should support George Bush. But if you believe a vote for W is a vote for the wrong choices, wrong direction, and the wrong leadership for America, then join with us."
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Gore and Kerry are just two examples. Bill Clinton frequently hung out in churches in search of political support. Were the Democrats outraged then?

Where were all the complaints from liberals that the behavior of these men was dangerous, extreme, or un-American?

This double standard, promoted by the MSM, is SOP for the American left.