Frist Set to Join Religious Effort on Judicial Issue

Frist Set to Join Religious Effort on Judicial Issue
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Published: April 15, 2005

WASHINGTON, April 14 - As the Senate heads toward a showdown over the rules governing judicial confirmations, Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, has agreed to join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's nominees.

Fliers for the telecast, organized by the Family Research Council and scheduled to originate at a Kentucky megachurch the evening of April 24, call the day "Justice Sunday" and depict a young man holding a Bible in one hand and a gavel in the other. The flier does not name participants, but under the heading "the filibuster against people of faith," it reads: "The filibuster was once abused to protect racial bias, and it is now being used against people of faith."

snip

"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," Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and organizer of the telecast, wrote in a message on the group's Web site. "For years activist courts, aided by liberal interest groups like the A.C.L.U., 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."

More

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/15/politics/15judges.html?hp&ex=1113537600&en=8c9b3d57ff2f60e9&ei=5094&partner=homepage

I can't stand it....

....to the left or right, that it reveals an almost flat face profile? Even his nose is flat. In a frontal shot on TV it isn't noticeable, but the side shots just shows up almost like the man is wearing a mask. Very creepy looking.

....that's not only creepy that's spooky!

...like a thick smog. See his role model:

http://www.mengele.dk/

An extremist fundy religious NUT JOB.

Let them hang themselves.

don't they know that God is watching what they are doing?

I don't see any other way around it.

Fundamentalist Muslim theocracy took over our enemies & it is spreading.

Remember, virtually all red states voted against Lincoln - Texas was the most anti-Lincoln. VT the most pro-Lincoln. Only Ohio supported Lincoln as a large red state. So nothing has changed.

The Northeast & California have sustainable economies. The south is now unable to discern freedom of religion from the duty of every American to actually be Christian.

The NE should join Canada or become the Northern States of America (NSA - a great term anyway)& the south can be the Confederates States of America. The mountain west might want to be the Rocky States of America. California & Oregon can confederate with Washington states.

Dr. Frist, my brother & my father were rabbis, & we think your actions are repugnant & most decidedly UNCHRISTIAN, anti-Jesus, & anti-democratic.

Religion does not belong in our government, I'm tired of these radicals using it to gain more and more control of our private lives.

This country will be under theocratic rule if we don't expose these hypocrites soon. If Jesus Christ was alive today and preaching the same message, he would be labeled an anti-American terrorist.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Why can't people SEE this?

These people aren't concerned with the real Jesus. For crying out loud he was a Liberal.

to do, last time I checked there were still one or two sick or poor people in the world

Does that say enough? What kind of a Christian would do that?

Thanks, God :hi:

The right wing wack jobs are saying we will oppose anyone who practices their religion. Many religions are anti-choice for women, and against gay marriage. If you believe these things are a fundi who believes these things are a detriment to society you fight against them. Having said that, how then do you reach the casual voter who may only go to church once a year but still believes in the precepts of his religion? He doesn't fall into the fundamentalist catagory by any strech of the imagination. (but he may admire those strong enough to do what he thinks to be right and stand up for his beliefs) The right frames this as discrimination based on religion rather than discrimination based on issues. Without the support of the casual believer we will lose consistently.

I don't know how to fight it but if we don't, things will continue to spiral away.

That kid isn't holding those items. They've been inserted into the picture.

Trying to play Democrats or Progressives as being against faith is their ol' standby for pushing their judges and their agenda. The Schiavo case was Bill Frist and his group's warm-up, in my opinion.

I think this is going to be very successful. It will draw millions from all the fundementalists and they just might succeed.

Sorry to dampen the hurrays but I think this will be the breaking point or democracy as we know it is done. Seriously

Welcome to DU! :hi:

please....

nomination.

One thing that I can thing of that I have in common with the Christian right wing is that I boycott MSM. So neither of our contingents will be watching the unappealing Frist vs. a ham sandwich. However, there is still a contingent of sheeple out there, that still vote on cosmetic issues instead of ideas.

God, I hope they nominate this ghoul. The only thing uglier than his face is his soul. IMO, that's what makes him so ugly in the first place.

:puke:

ASHINGTON, April 14 - As the Senate heads toward a showdown over the rules governing judicial confirmations, Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, has agreed to join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's nominees.


Fliers for the telecast, organized by the Family Research Council and scheduled to originate at a Kentucky megachurch the evening of April 24, call the day "Justice Sunday" and depict a young man holding a Bible in one hand and a gavel in the other. The flier does not name participants, but under the heading "the filibuster against people of faith," it reads: "The filibuster was once abused to protect racial bias, and it is now being used against people of faith."

Organizers say they hope to reach more than a million people by distributing the telecast to churches around the country, over the Internet and over Christian television and radio networks and stations.

Dr. Frist's spokesman said the senator's speech in the telecast would reflect his previous remarks on judicial appointments. In the past he has consistently balanced a determination "not to yield" on the president's nominees with appeals to the Democrats for compromise. He has distanced himself from the statements of others like the House majority leader, Tom DeLay, who have attacked the courts, saying they are too liberal, "run amok" or are hostile to Christianity.

<more>
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/15/politics/15judges.html?th&emc=th&oref=login

Three words:

Temple.
Moneychangers.
Jesus.

--p!

country in the conflagration of Armageddon of their own making. They want to shove their Christo-Fascist morality down all of our throats. Ain't gonna happen.

I wouldn't use the word 'Christian' to describe a doctor who's comfortable diagnosing a brain injury by viewing an edited video, then passes a law based on that diagnosis. Neither would I call it 'Christian' when someone uses his influence to willingly spread lies and deceive the public.

Frist is nothing but another GOP demagogue. Like so many in Congress, he has no great attachment to the truth, personal honor, or professional integrity. How in the world he can seriously claim to be a Christian is beyond me. His behavior doesn't represent any form of Christianity I'm familiar with.

When are Christians going to wake up and take their religion back from these rightwing frauds?

I haven't seen any huge groups of Christians in the streets protesting what the rightwing is doing in their name.

an IQ above 70 uneless their income is above $1M.

That was when Moral Majority appeared, and they won their first national (mid-term) elections.

They had been planning it since the 1964 Republican wipe-out under Barry Goldwater, who later came to criticize them as being "as bad" as the socialists they so loathed.

After 41 years in their comfortable, well-paid desert, they finally have found the support they need to wage jihad fully in the open. At their great Satanic feast, the High Priest has invoked the godwashed faithful: "Let Us Prey".

--p!

the gop's high card is religion. insufferable

The conservatives are overplaying their hands. It WILL backfire soon enough.

...their halos are about to fall down around their necks and choke them.

When I read today's story on NYT website, my first thought was how much they were overplaying the fundie influence. The more the repukes do this sort of thing, the greater is the association in voter minds of repukes and fundies. When push comes to shove, I feel that most American voters do want to retain the separation of church and state. Fundie don't, but they aren't a majority.
I remember the election of 1960, when Catholic John Kennedy had to go on television of face accustions that the Pope would be running the American government.
My fondest hope is the Frist and company shout their Christian faith from the roof tops. Let every fence sitting voter make the association that Pope won't be running things, but Dobson and Fallwell will.
They overplayed the Schiavo death, and it looks like they are going to overplay the filibuster rule change.

blatant and rediculous, hopefully America's bull shit meter is getting ready sound.

I wish you were correct but it will not be. This is just the lead in to the takeover, they are determined to run this country and I am very afraid that they are suceeding.

being easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle then it would be for a rich man to get into heaven? Now why would the good book say that? Probably has something to do with how people get rich. It's usually done at the expense of others and pure greed. Let's look at the real Frist family Robinson clan. How did they get rich? How do they continue to be rich? Making dough off of providing "for-profit healthcare" would make them rich men as they gauge America for an essential service.

What's the ratio of RICH Christians to POOR & MIDDLE CLASS Christians? It's time for Jesus to wake these poor fools up! They are unequally yoked to their filthy ass rich bretheran like the Frists. The time will come when they wake up and realize how they helped America get SCREWED. Thank you, Jesus????

He owns a huge chunk of a hospital chain that, among its services, provides abortions. How will that play with the fundies?

This is very insulting to many Christians - the implication that all democrats are anti-Christian. They need to be called out on this - on the pages of the local papers letter to the editors... on local call in radio... on national editorial pages... on national radio and tv (IF an opportunity is given - though these days that sometimes seems doubtful.)

Defending the constitution - and the role of checks and balances between Congress and the Executive branch - is something that both Conservative, and Liberal Christians have done for 200 years (that is - supporting the procedures - even when frustrated by them - in the senate).

Trying to introduce the idea - and in exceptionally inflamatory words - that preventing such a serious change in the senate is... an act "against" Christians - and by implication that all the democratic senators (and a few republican senators) and all citizens who vote for them are "against Christians" is not only absurd - it is offensive, and an obscene - in the sense that it seems that by implication Dobson and Frist are USING Christ for political power gain... in the sense of claiming this is a pro-Christian (eg Pro Christ) move by Frist, when it is simply a secular, political power play. Shame on them.

And shame on us if we do not take forums available to us to immediately push back on this.

or do something about it.

Let's fight back.

I've already been up all hours firing off LTTEs!

and am already composing. Trying to find the right tone of tempered outrage - that is ... indignant, but dignified... target audience: moderates who don't pay enough attention - but who have begun to grow a little wary of some of the rw religious rhetoric - but are far too quick to dismiss it.

We can all call and write LTTE, but who can get the big media attention here? Who with the big profile will be willing to stand up and call them on their rank hypocrisy?

Serious question. Can we identify and then encourage the voices we need from the Christian (and other religions!!!) left?

This needs to be organized. Every TV appearance by these clowns needs to be countered by strong and able voices from the left -- not some canned talking head the media decides to pull out. We need to push our views.

Jimmy Carter
Jim Wallis

I'm not awake enough yet, but let's add to this...

shoved down OUR throats via the courts! The TALIBAN did things like that....

The majority of federal judges were appointed by Republicans

See:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0414/p01s02-uspo.html

Republican appointed judges control 10 of the 13 appeals courts..

7 of the 9 Supreme Court judges were appointed by Republicans..

452 of active federal judges were appointed by Republicans, only 377 were appointed by Democrats.

http://www.afj.org

If evangelicals don't like the Judiciary, they should question the Republicans...

Recently, I was trying to Google this very information.

thanks for posting it

Rehnquist - Nixon
Bader - Clinton
Breyer - Clinton
Stevens - Ford
O'Connor - Reagan
Scalia - Reagan
Kennedy - Reagan (probably wanting to confuse people by appointing someone with the Kennedy surname)
Souter - Poppy Bu$h
Thomas - Poppy Bu$h

and, from I read, the GOP is appointing young justices striving for longetivity ... that's part of what Reagan's Atty General, Ed Meese (a fellow at the Heritage Foundation and the Hoover Institution; CNP Executive Committee, 1994; CNP President, 1996), has been doing in the background, and helping to cultiviate over the years at the Federalist Society he co-founded

and, if they hadn't meddled in the Iranian hostage situation (the October Surprise), Jimmy Carter would have appointed 3 SC justices ... and, who knows, Walter Mondale might have succeeded him, to get 2 more ...

they had to cheat and steal to usurp power and change the course of history and human events

Washington, D.C.:
Office of Senator Bill Frist
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3344
202-228-1264 (fax)

Nashville:
Office of Senator Bill Frist
28 White Bridge Road
Suite 211
Nashville, TN 37205
615-352-9411
615-352-9985 (fax)

April 15, 2005

Office of Senator Bill Frist
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


Sen. Frist,

I have just finished reading an article about your participation in the upcoming Family Research Council telecast scheduled for April 24.

As a woman who is a Democrat and was raised in the Catholic faith, I find your insinuation that the Democratic Party is somehow "against people of faith" because they are attempting to keep a few of George Bush's more extreme federal judicial candidates from being appointed deeply insulting.

In fact, I find much of what you and the more radical "christian" element of the GOP have been peddling recently to be insulting as a Christian and an American who believes deeply in the freedom of religion promised by our founding fathers and our Constitution.

I am a Democrat because of my twelve years of religious schooling. My Dominican teachers instilled in me a love of social justice and equality for all Americans, a sense of responsibility for my fellow citizens and the planet, belief in and respect for science, and a love of the document that allowed me the privilege of true freedom of - and from -- religion. And because of this, I will always vigorously fight any attempt to interject the government into my religion or religion into our great system of government.

I don't know what alternative reality you and those like you live in Mr. Frist, but I have never once been discriminated against as a Christian, I have never once been stopped from practicing my faith as I see fit, nor have I ever thought that my freedom of religion was in danger from any ruling coming out of our justice system. Yet, you would have Christians believe we are just a few judicial rulings away from the total destruction of Christianity in America. What lunacy and fear-mongering. And what a cynical, ugly use of religion to further your Presidential aspirations.

Sincerely,
HHNF


Write or call people!

I left my message. Told her that I was ashamed of Sen. Frist and that, if he is saying that the left isn't confirming *'s appointees because of faith then Frist is either:

1) lying
2) confused about how many appointees have been confirmed
3) saying that all of the other appointees who have been confirmed are atheists or agnostics.

Hee hee. Felt good. :)

I hope he's getting his butt spanked!

:spank:

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans are moving to put some muscle behind their pitch to eliminate judicial filibusters after watching liberals push out TV ads against them in anticipation of a showdown over who sits on federal appeals courts.

"They're ahead of the power curve," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said of the orchestrated effort by Democrats and groups such as MoveOn.org and People for the American Way. "I think you'll see a greater, stepped-up message on part of the Republicans, to go on offense on this issues."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, after vowing last fall to stop Democrats from blocking the most conservative of President Bush's nominees, will appear in a telecast later this month with leaders of social conservative groups.

-snip-
But conservative senators and advocacy groups say there must be a resolution on the filibuster before that happens. Needing 60 votes to confirm a Supreme Court justice might affect whether Bush picks a conservative or a moderate, they say.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56539-2005Apr15.html

In the Northwest: Religious rightists using scary tactics to pad courts

Friday, April 15, 2005

By JOEL CONNELLY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST

With a customary disregard of history, and the usual purpose of crushing dissent, America's conservative propaganda machine is revving up the "nuclear option" to get right-wing judges confirmed to federal appellate courts.

The "nuclear option" involves using a rules gambit to abolish the right of a minority in the U.S. Senate to filibuster against President Bush's judicial nominees. Sixty votes in the 100-member Senate are now needed to cut off debate and force a vote.

It's part of a two-pronged strategy, aiming at both packing and cowing our federal courts.

<snip>

Non-ideological nominees like McKeown and Gould contrast to William G. Myers, the 9th Circuit nominee who may trigger the "nuclear option" in the Senate.

<snip>

He once likened federal land regulations to King George's "tyrannical" rule and called the California Desert Protection Act "an example of legislative hubris." He compared the Interior Department's reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone Park to England's requirement that colonists in America shelter its soldiers.

Is this a man qualified to rule fairly and impartially?

Of course, that's not what the Bush administration and the religious right want. An ugly extremism has been abroad in the land since courts refused to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case.

"The time will come for the men responsible to answer for their behavior," declared DeLay.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, mused in a Senate speech of how perceptions of judges' decisions could lead people to "engage in violence."

(more)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/220211_joel15.html

Jesus weeps.......

if they're cooked properly, they're really quite tasty.

But seriously--the answer to this little slice of idiot pie is that Democrats will use the filibuster to stop Bush from stacking the courts with radical right-wing judges who want to impose their religious views on the rest of the nation, a la Terri Schiavo. The Republicans gave us the Schiavo issue, and we shouldn't be afraid to remind the American people (again and again) how idiotically they behaved, and how much the American people disapprove of that kind of interference in their private lives.

The real problem is that the fundies are framing the debate by saying that the left is in effect portraying anyone who has a problem with abortion, or an absolute seperation of church and state as not being qualified to be a justice in this country. In reality, the only time we would have a problem with them is if they believe their personal views should take president over the constitutionality of issues.

Yet we are also often guilty. Many of us blelieve exactly what they claim.

If the right is sucessful in making common religious yet non-fundamental people feel that those of their particular faith would not be allowed to sit on the bench because of their faith they will side with the fundies. Its tricky. How do you tell someone that is practicing Catholic (Anti-war, anti-death penalty, anti-abortion) that the faith of a candidate is not the reason he is undesirable for the bench. Rather, it is his view that Roe-V-Wade should be overturned is the problem. Many would still say you are discriminating on the basis of religion. Yet, if you are articulate, it may be possible to convince many people of our arguments as you talk with them one on one.

More problems arrise as you attempt to market pro-choice only judges as not being aiti-religion to large portions of the population. It becomes easy to attack our the stance in the media. They will say you are only opposing Orin Hatch because he is Mormon. Mormons are anti-abotrion so you would not want any practicing Mormon elevated to the supreme court. How would you argue our point of view to the masses? Remember that there are large numbers of people in this country that believe in one religion or another but don't go to church. We need their support to get this country back on track.

I just cannot believe that the extremists who support him DON'T YET GET that they are being "used" just like anyone else is USED by a pure political/religious power-grabbing HO who "uses" anyone's extremism or weakness or vulnerability for self-serving purposes.

BAH!!!

He's benefitting no one but himself. He's an extremist power-manic NUT!! He hasn't enough strength or character in one of the hairs on his head to hold any power. I hope he hits bottom so hard his butt creates a cloud. He certainly has earned that fall.

What an evil ass.

:puke:

i dont believe the average evangelical or fundamentalist believes in the dominionist or christian reconstructionist doctrine.

We do have to show which christians they are talking about. However, to do this you must be very knowledgable about each situation and individual. I know that, if for example Roy Moore were nominated to the supreme court, most of us would have no problem spouting problems with his lack of seperation between church and state. Yet on a practical level, many normal people have no problem with the 10 commandments monument in the state house. To most, it is an innocuous symbol. Getting up in arms about it seems rather fundamentalist to many people. Again, one on one convincing people is very possible, but how do you market it to the masses.

Moore is one of the easiest targets. Most people don't know about *'s other nominees. They hear this one is controversial because he is anti-abortion. Translation: I'm not pro-abortion, perhaps I would be deemed unworthy. They hear a black woman and hispanic man are considered controversial. Translation: Are they being stopped because of their ethnicity. I've read a little about each of the right wing nominees, but it can be difficult to remember who was responsible for what. Again, what do you tell the masses in national debates on radio and TV when the race/religion card is thrown on the table? You see, that is what the public hears and remembers.

"Cardiac surgeon, later U.S. Senate majority leader. A killer of kittens, Frist documents in his autobiography how he obtained kittens from a shelter under false pretenses and performed medical experiments on them. "

Here's my Cross/Gavel thump thump.
Just like a time machine stuck in reverse.

Its his style. He convinces the entire religious right on single issues they want to hear and he makes it work.

Independent
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
16 April 2005


Bill Frist, the Republican leader of the US Senate and strongly tipped to run for the presidency in 2008, is to join a broadcast with right-wing Christian evangelicals in which Democrats will be accused of "standing against people of faith" by seeking to block George Bush's judicial nominations.

Mr Frist has agreed to join a number of prominent Christian conservatives for a service next weekend to be beamed live from a "mega-church" in Kentucky to churches around the US and on the internet. The event, organised by the Family Research Council (FRC), has been dubbed "Justice Sunday".

A flyer for the event says that the filibuster - a process whereby a party in the minority can "talk out" a bill and ensure there is no time to pass it - is "being used against people of faith". The flyer does not name the Democrats but the party has used the device to prevent Republicans confirming 10 of Mr Bush's judicial nominations.

Mr Frist says his Republican majority may change senate rules to require that only a simple majority is needed to confirm a nomination. At the moment 60 of the 100 senate votes are required. Democrats say that they would respond to such a "nuclear option" by bringing senate business to a standstill.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=629860

BUNCOME.....what a great name ...

"The FRC is one of several Christian organisations trying to use the Republican domination of Washington to pass conservative and right-wing legislation. The battlegrounds for such groups are the issues of gay marriage and abortion.

The group's website declares: "The FRC champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilisation, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society ... Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society." "

News item on UK TV last week lampooned US TheoCons as last bastion of the morally overpriviledged........

No matter what your religious beliefs are, if everyone would refer to this hate mongering, power grubbing, psychos, and call them Pharisee's and refer to them as Pharisaical (def. marked by hypocritcal cesorious self-righteousness, it would take away much of their power. Even the most ignorant of the fundamentalists understand these words to be intolerant of "christ."

Why haven't all the long established religious groups United to confront or to give an opposing view of christianity and the true teachings of Christ. It seems that any bible thumping, tent-revival preacher who has ordained himself/herself as the teacher of the faith, and voice of God, ie., Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, the Kansas wacko, gets all the media attention and there is no educated religious expert, teacher, preacher, etc to give an opposing view point.

I say call Frist, Santorium, Bush, etc., etc., what they are Pharisee's within the Pharisaical community. Not a damn one of them is capable of quoting bible verse nor the meaning within without having a script written by a speech writer an placed on the telepromter. They are incapable of even reading the bills that they place their signatures to.

Repeat after me: Christian - NO, Pharisee - YES.

Christian Coalition - NO, Pharisaical - YES

Either one -- take yer pick!

I've been using those terms since the middle 1990s. They are devastatingly effective, especially when coupled with a few choice Bible quotes -- the ones about False Witness, and the Publican at the Temple are pretty good for that.

Actually reading the Bible will turn up a bounty of Quotable Quotes. There's a good one that says "As you have judged, so will you be judged" and another that goes "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you have also done to me."

On a secular note, using the word "Publican" for "Republican" is also a lot more effective than some of the cutesy synonyms people use around here (like "Repug", "Rethug", "Repuke" and the rest).

But don't underestimate them. They are as "clever as snakes", as The Good Book says.

--p!

You might be able to make use of this:

Dear <deleted>:

We have received your RSVP to the Justice Sunday Simulcast event. Here's how you can take part in the April 24th simulcast:

1. Watch via live webcast

Click this link for more information on how to participate via webcast:

http://www.lightonthehill.tv/justice.html

2. Watch the live simulcast via SkyAngel (no charge for SkyAngel subscribers)

Angel 2 - Channel 9702
Sunday APRIL 24, 2005, 7PM-8:30PM EST

If you already subscribe to SkyAngel then you are all set. If you have Dish Network equipment, you can subscribe to one month of SkyAngel programming and watch this along with other SkyAngel programming for the month.

Cost: $11.99 (Dish Network equipment not included)

Call 1-888/759-2643 (SkyAngel) to sign up or get more info or visit SkyAngel's website:

http://www.skyangel.com

3. To find a host church near you, visit the link below:

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=JS_SIMULCAST.

Additionally, on the Friday before the event, you will receive an email with a list of host churches in your area.

Thank you for registering for this exciting event!

Your confirmation number is <deleted>. If any information in this confirmation is in error, please contact us by telephoning 1-800-225-4008 Mondays through Fridays between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM EST. Thank you and God bless.

Family Research Council

Senator, since you apparently believe that the Democrats are blocking the confirmation of "people of faith" as judges and since 200 judges nominated by President Bush have been confirmed by the Senate, why is the President nominating so many atheists?

onenote

I had them on the phone.

Telecast to focus on judicial dispute

Friday, April 22, 2005

By Kay Stewart
and Jason RileyThe Courier-Journal

Organizers are limiting access and increasing security because of immense interest in a conservative Christian national telecast to be held Sunday in Louisville.

Tickets now are required for the once-free telecast organized to oppose what a promotional flier called Senate Democrats blocking "people of faith and moral conviction" from being confirmed as federal judges.

All the tickets, however, are spoken for. They are going to members of Highview Baptist and Southeast Christian churches, and it's unlikely any will be left for the general public, said the Rev. Kevin Ezell, senior pastor at Highview.

>snip

"I don't see this as political," Ezell said. "It's been politicized by some."

more:http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050422/NEWS01/504220452/1008/NEWS01

-----

If this doesn't qualify as political, what does? They deserve to lose their tax-emempt status over this stunt.

Interjection of religion into judicial appointment debate is evidence of 'dangerous effort to divide,' says UCC leader

April 20, 2005

By J. Bennett Guess
United Church News

Joining other prominent religious leaders, the leader of the 1.3-million-member United Church of Christ today (April 20) called upon Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to distance himself from recent efforts to interject religion into the debate over federal judicial appointments.

The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, said Frist's planned participation in an April 24 telecast to churches - sponsored by the right-wing Family Research Council - "represents one more highly public and dangerous effort to divide this country by falsely accusing his opponents on the issue of Senate rules and judicial opponents of not being faithful."

~snip~

Sandy Sorensen of the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries in Washington, D.C., said her agency is asking members of its Justice and Peace Action Network to "flood Frist's office with calls and e-mails" through use of its advocacy website http://www.ucctakeaction.org.

~snip~

http://www.ucc.org/news/r042005.htm

Could they be setting themselves up again?

One can only hope..