Comments on: Against religiosity in politics

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 09 May 2005 00:28:32 +0000

Yeah, churches are a ready organizing place for political causes, which we all learned from Martin Luther King. Union halls and schools are pretty good too, and with the Internet everybody can organize.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 08 May 2005 12:27:15 +0000

Richard, you say “the Religious Right has organized and elected politicians who represent their values, with a long-term goal of removing “activist” judges and returning policy prerogatives to the branch of government that actually owns them under our system.”

Of course, you are quoting. So am I, then, in today’s WaPo lead article on stopactivistjudges.com leader Rick Scarborough:

“While Christian right leaders such as Scarborough employ the usual Washington special-interest tactics — collaring lawmakers, issuing press releases, appearing on political talk shows — their real power rests in their unique access to millions of voters “who happen to go to church,” as Scarborough puts it. “It’s straight to the heart of people from men and women they trust,” he said.”

Yikes.

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 08 May 2005 01:50:55 +0000

"How can it be that such grotesque characters, calling down divine revenge on the workers in the World Trade Center, are allowed a respectful hearing, or a hearing at all, among patriotic Republicans?">

Funny that for all their talk of blasphemy they feel free to slander God with impunity. Just don't criticize the church or the "people of ~~reason~~ faith". That would be blasphemy.

By: Stuart Berman

Stuart Berman — Sat, 07 May 2005 02:48:44 +0000

Thanks for including the Taranto reference – it clearly defines why many of us are far less concerned about the religous right than the frothy mouthed left.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 07 May 2005 00:31:51 +0000

Abortion laws have a number of consequences, that’s true, but it’s not really the issue. The question before the house is whether these things should be decided by elected representatives or by guys in black robes with lifetime appointments. The end doesn’t justify the means, to coin a phrase.

Assuming Roe were struck down today, abortion would still be legal in a dozen states or so. And some interesting discussion would ensue in the other states relative to the responsibility the state should take on for “unwanted” babies if abortions are banned. That sort of thing could seriously shakeup welfare laws.

It’s that whole “culture of life” thing.