Redstate

By Leon H Wolf Posted in Elections — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Thanks to Mike Krempasky, I am here at Justice Sunday II with large portions of the leadership of the social conservative movement in this country, as well as several current and former legislators. Scheduled to speak, among others, are Tom DeLay, Zell Miller, Dr. James Dobson, Phyllis Schlafly, Rebecca St. James, and others. Updates as they happen below the fold.

(4:17:00 EDT) Press conference first. Up first with remarks, Chuck W. Colson, former Watergate convictee and founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries after his conversion in 1976. Remarks about runaway justices and legislating from the bench.

Up next, Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Drew the analogy that a church that abandons the Bible as the rule of law will cease to function properly. Said the same thing is happening to our country due to the abandonment of the Constitution by judges. A "living Constitution" is just another way to say that the Constitution doesn't really mean what it says it means.

Third, Tom Minnery, VP of Government and Public Policy, Focus on the Family. Spoke briefly about the re-awakening of the local church and its role in the community.

Fourth, Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr., Pastor of Hope Christian Church. Spoke about the concerns of the African American community, and black churches in particular, are concerned with the direction of the judiciary. Spoke about the concept of the "new black church" and how they are refusing to be owned by one party.

T. Jerrel Sutton up next, Pastor of the Two Rivers Baptist Church (where this event was held). Discussed the philosophical foundations of our country "One Nation, under God." (Under God added to the pledge in the 50s, but a valid point can still be made about the principle being foundational to our nation).

Cathy Cleaver Ruse next, Senior Fellow for Legal Studies, FRC. Briefly discussed the negative impacts of removing religion from the public square. Discussed critical cases to come before the SCOTUS in the upcoming term, inclidng parental consent, euthanasia, and (potentially) partial-birth abortion. Says this is a fight for the right to govern ourselves on the matters we hold most dear (spot on).

Rebecca St. James up next - spoke of cultures awakening to moral values (abstinence and sex education) - says that young people today are in desperate need of absolutes, and knowing right from wrong.

(16:34:00 EDT) First "questioner" wanted an opportunity to essentially harass the panelists about Christians promoting their values. Next questioner wondered where Tom DeLay was, and wondered whether he was ducking the press (Reuters). Next questioner wanted to know where Frist was, given that he was on the last program - Ted Haggard said that they decided to go with House instead of Senate, had nothing to do with stem cells, given that speakers were chosen four weeks ago.

Another questioner wanted to know if abortion was the key issue under consideration. Haggard said it was about concern for the rule of law. Further said, "This is not about John Roberts." It is an attempt to change the direction of the judiciary.

Next questioner wanted to know what would happen to abortion and the "status of homosexuals in this country" if the panel got the kind of judges as they wanted. Haggard responded that those issues would be dealt with legislatively.

Next questioner asked whether a "living constitution" had helped Bishop Jackson (who is African-American) and Cathy Cleaver Ruse (obviously, a woman). Both pointed out that the process of constitutional amendment helped their causes, not judicial fiat. Ruse further said, "there is never a benefit for having nine unelected people make policy for the whole country." End of press conference.

(18:21:00) A "massive" protest is staged outside by NOW/TNguerillawomen.org and other various groups. Total protester count: 15. Trey Jackson has pictures and video. The sign that woman is carrying is actually the most logically cogent defense of the pro-abortion position I've ever seen.

(19:00:00 EDT) The event begins. Dr. Jerry Sutton is first on stage (Dr. Sutton is the pastor of the church that is hosting this event). I am becoming increasingly convinced that this event is not designed to convince anyone not already convinced, but rather to motivate. We are dealing with the very definition of "religious right" here, in that we have been introduced by a Baptist pastor. I don't know how such an event organized to persuade, rather than motivate, would go. More later.

Tony Perkins, President of FRC is up next. Talking currently about how the courts are ignoring God's law. Says, "We do not claim the right to speak for every American, but we do claim the right to speak." A point that should be defended, that the right to vote and organize and be an activist based upon a religious worldview is not one that should be denied or dismissed.

Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family Action, reassures us all that while he is the new President of Focus on the Family, Dr. Dobson will still be around. "Christians are not second-class citizens who must keep to themselves. We, like everyone, have the right to the public square." It seems that this will be the recurrent theme. Says that if the ACLU had been around in 1776, they would have taken the founding fathers of the country to court for the Declaration of Independence. Probably true.

Up next is a taped statement from Dr. Dobson. "Almost all of the great moral decisions of our time are decided not by the voters, or the legislatures, but by an unaccountable and arrogant judiciary that is determined to remake the government in its own image." Mentions as examples the rulings on Ten Commandments displays (support by 75% of Americans for TC displays, according to CNN/Gallup. WIll try to find link later). Also, of course, Kelo.

Spends much time on the disturbing reliance on European law by the SCOTUS. Calls the SCOTUS an oligarchy.

Moves to discuss the nomination under consideration. Gives tepid support to Roberts - gives the clear implication that he wishes he knew more, but quotes an opinion on Roberts in which he decries judicial legislation. Says therefore that Roberts must be defended.

Says that in the upcoming term, the definition of marrige will be fought over - and you will have nothing to do with this fight. You can't elect representatives or go to the ballot box about it (same with physician-assisted suicide, parental notification, PBA), it will all be done by judges. It seems that he is placing emphasis not on how the judges will rule, but that they will make these decisions at all. This is what I was really hoping to see - he is not pleading for judges that will decide the way he wants them to, but who will realize that these are issues they should not be deciding at all. Splendid.

Majority Leader DeLay is up next to standing applause. Huge displayof the ten commandments behind him. "In a democracy, it is never enough to stand on the sidelines and watch history pass you by." Brief lecture on separation of powers. "Without balances, there can be no checks."

Says that the whole discussion about Roberts will hinge on Roberts' belief that the courts are limited in their power. Thus, the implication that the left opposes Roberts because he won't legislate.

"Our respect and admiration (for judges) does not grant them the powers they have assumed over the last few years." "Elections are the cornerstone of Democracy. Only through the ballot box can citizens keep their politicians in check." "(Judicial activism) has increasingly come to view the public will as inconvenient to their designs."

"Activist courts impose their will without passing a single bill through a single chamber of a single (legislature)... (this is) judicial supremacy." "The Constitution is in place to shield us from arbitrary unaccountability of the kind we've seen over the last few years." DeLay in this capacity is brilliant - a reasoned defense of public will expressed through legislature, rather than through the judiciary. This point must be passionately made in non-religious forums as well.

Chuck Colson up next. Interesting choice for a speaker at this event. Relays a story in which DeLay went visiting with him to a prison recently. "Christianity is a worldview... we particularly care about justice." Quotes scripture - Amos 5 (will try to cut and paste the "let justice run down like water" later). Points out that the last person to quote that verse extensively was MLK - and that the same people who liked it when MLK quoted it, don't like it when we do.

Encourages conservatives to refrain from being angry at the other side. Jeez, do I personally need to be reminded of that from time to time. Anger seldom wins arguments or persuades - Colson spends a lot of time on this and the material is good. Will try totranscribe this entire section later.

Up next is Bishop Harry Jackson. Jackson was the rock star of the press conference. Discusses the black church in America, and making an impact in community. Jackson has done work with church growth guru George Barna, and discusses a shift in the black church in America.

Says that justice is broken - sees color and race, says that not only is she blindfolded, she's sitting down on the job. "Many African-Americans are afraid of the word 'conservative', they think it's a code-word for racist... if there's not a process in this nation, then those who are the least empowered... will be most in danger when new people come into power."

Says that the black church is not going to let America go down into moral decline - "I'm not just black, I'm an American, and beyond that, I'm a Christian." Jackson realizes the same thing I have about the pro-life cause. When your cause is swallowed whole by one party, that's the death of your cause. A brilliant speaker and passionate activist.

Up next, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League. Says of Catholics and Evangelicals being together, "get used to it!" (I won't touch that one with a ten-foot pole). "There is nothing in the Constitution that would lead you to believe that a woman could abort a child."

Advocates a Constitutional amendment that would say that unless the decision of the court is unanimous, the SCOTUS could never overturn an act of Congress (!) - says that this idea actually came from Thurgood Marshall (link, anyone?)

Donohue speaks with a thick New England brogue and is half-comedian, half insult artist against the left. Said of the left, "we respect the fact that they don't believe in anything." I really don't think his remarks have been helpful.

Zell Miller takes the stage next. "Sometimes in the lift of a nation, a time comes when men and women of courage have to stand up and say, enough." Brings to mind Lincoln, motivated by the Dred Scott decision, got back into politics after being defeated in Congress.

Miller is on his typical sidwinder form, here. He's shooting off one liners faster than I can catch them, but I'll try to transcribe his remarks later. My favorite, in speaking of the removal of public displays of the Ten Commandments, "How is it that the government thinks we need a no smoking sign by gas pumps to remind us that danger, but not think we need a reminder of the danger of a sinful lifestyle."

Says that the left has attempted to push an agenda through judges that they could never successfully push legislatively. Encourages the audience to "cover this confirmation process with a blanket of prayer." I seriously can't imagine a single other Democrat today saying that. Which speaks much of their recent success at the polls.

Next we have a performance from Jett Williams. WHich is my cue to hit the bathroom and rid myself of some of this rented Diet Coke.

Phyllis Schlafly next on the agenda. "The Supreme court used the first Amendment to ban the mention of God in public places, and used the same first amendment to defend the vilest of pornography, even on our computers..." This woman is smart as a whip. Gives a long litany of recent judicial rulings that are actively hostile to religion (she pays special attention to the ones made by Clinton-appointed judges). Says that the judges are trying to "remake our culture and heritage by court decision." Stresses judical reform - says nada about Roberts.

(At this point, Mike Crapo (R-ID) becomes the only Senator to lend his support to this event with a short taped blurb.)

Up next is Cathy Cleaver Ruse - who also impressed me very much during the presser. Discusses three of the most vital issues to come before the court in the upcoming term.

First, the case in Oregon on physician assisted suicide. "Federally controlled drugs should be used to heal and comfort suffering people - not to kill them. ANd no American should be made to feel that his country finds his life expendable."

Second, parental consent. Points out that parents have a responsibility to be involved with all medical decisions by minors. Discusses the law in Nebraska, and accuses the abortion-rights supporters of secretly giving minors abortions, and also notes the challenge to it.

Third, the possibility is raised that PBA will come before the SCOTUS again. "They have never had a legislative victory of any consequence on abortion." (Oh, how it chafes). She doesn't cover this, but I strongly suspect that Kennedy will find his federalist side to vote against the federal PBA ban, and that we will see another vote. Legally, the federal statute is just not as strong as a state one. Ruse is once again impressive and knoledgeable.

Next up, Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. He is apparently here to discuss politics and local churches going together. Makes the case (which I am not in total agreement with) that the two ought to go hand in hand. Points out that our beliefs impact public policy. This is true, but I'm not sure about the extent to which a local church as an organization should be a facilitator for that - for the sake of the church, not the country. Churches that become PACs (on either side) have lost their way, IMHO. Nevertheless, "The Separation of Church and State does not mean that churhces and mosques and synagogues must remain silent." In this, he is of course correct.

Dr. Jerry Sutton, local pastor, up next. "The most religious nation in the world is India. The least religious nation in the world is Sweden. We're a nation of Indians, ruled by Swedes." Digs into Griswold (no, he's not Catholic). Brings up Terri Schiavo again, has some extremly harsh words for everyone involved. He's getting short on time, so he's speaking so fast it's hard to keep up.

The event closes with a prayer and a performance by Rebecca St. James. I will try to interview some folks and have some more commentary on the event later.

The whole shebang ends with a prayer and a performance by Rebecca St. James.