Running Commentary with Tony Perkins

I found this statement from Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council. He's talking about "Justice Sunday" the event scheduled for next Sunday to bash those godless Democrats. I've decided to do some running commentary. Here goes.

Dear Friend:

A day of decision is upon us. Whether it was the legalization of abortion, the banning of school prayer, the expulsion of the 10 Commandments from public spaces, or the starvation of Terri Schiavo, decisions by the courts have not only changed our nation's course, but even led to the taking of human lives. As the liberal, anti-Christian dogma of the left has been repudiated in almost every recent election, the courts have become the last great bastion for liberalism.

You know, I happen to know many liberals who are also God-fearing Christians. They drive me crazy at times, but they are far from anti-Christian since they happen to be Christians. I guess Mr. Perkins has never met any.

For years activist courts, aided by liberal interest groups like the ACLU, have been quietly working under the veil of the judiciary, like thieves in the night, to rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms. Federal judges have systematically grabbed power, usurping the constitutional authority that resides in the other two branches of government and, ultimately, in the American people.

Hmmm. And Congress and the President did so much when it came to segregation. Thanks, guys!

We now have a President who is committed to nominate judicial candidates who are not activists, but strict constructionists -- judges who will simply interpret the Constitution as it was written. We now have a majority in the U.S. Senate that will confirm these nominees. However, there is a radical minority that has launched an unprecedented filibuster against these outstanding men and women.

Unprecedented! Oh, come on. Since when is a filibuster sinful. Was that the 11th commandment?

Many of these nominees to the all-important appellate court level are being blocked, not because they haven't paid their taxes or because they have used drugs or because they have criminal records or for any other reason that would disqualify them from public service; rather, they are being blocked because they are people of faith and moral conviction. These are people whose only offense is to say that abortion is wrong or that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

I haven't heard anyone say that they are going after these judges because they happen to be Christians. And since we are talking about people of faith, what about that church in Flordia that asked the one of the judges involved in the Terry Schiavo case to leave the church? He was a Republican and a Southern Baptist, hardly a liberal. He was interpreting the law as it read. Why was he treated so...well, un-Christlike?

Only 51 votes are needed to approve these nominees and most of these candidates, if not all, would receive more then 51 votes if a vote were held on the Senate floor. But a radical minority in the Senate is using the filibuster to block an up or down vote on the Senate floor. They are requiring a super majority, 60 votes, to proceed on these nominees. This liberal minority does not respect the will of the people: they want judge-made law because our elected officials will not give them the social anarchy they demand.

The Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee, is committed to returning Constitutional order to the Senate by requiring an up-or-down vote on these nominees. To do this, he urgently needs the help of every "values voter." Without doubt, this will be the most important vote cast in the United States Senate in this term. If this effort fails, the best we can hope for are likely to be mediocre judges who meet the approval of Ted Kennedy, Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Mr. Perkins, why do you think that the only values that matter are things like beating up gays? Some people think that taking care of the environment is a value. Or how about caring for the poor?

And another thing: have you ever thought that the Republicans won't be in power forever? It might be next year, it might be 30 years from now, but the other party will come back to power. I'm not crazy about the Dems being back in power, but it's inevtitable. And they have looooong memories.

We must stop this unprecedented filibuster of people of faith. Join us on Sunday, April 24, as we observe Justice Sunday. On that date, just around the corner, FRC will host a nationwide, live simulcast to engage values voters in this all-important issue of reining in our out-of-control courts.

Am I living in China or something? Do you really want a judicial system that rubber stamps what the President or Congress wants?

The simulcast will originate from Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. Participants joining me include Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Al Mohler, Chuck Colson, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Nice to Senator Frist go after the theocratic vote. He's already lost my vote in '08.

For more information on how your church can participate or how you can find a venue to participate in this critically important simulcast, click the links on website below. This is an event you won't want to miss, an historic debate we can't afford to lose!

Well, you got one thing right. It is a debate we (meaning the rest of the American public) can't afford to lose. I love my country and I love my God, Mr. Perkins. And I won't let you make this into some kind of radical Christian version of Iran and I won't allow you to use God for your narrow political purposes.

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LH05D02

Sincerely,

Tony Perkins
President
FRC Action