Comments on: Thou shalt not (be a gay) judge in Virginia UPDATED

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:41:41 +0000

“I don’t have any respect for the Religious Right. There is no place in this country for practicing religion in politics. That goes for Falwell, Robertson and all the rest of these political preachers. They are a detriment to the country.”
While some Americans might find Goldwater’s stand against all interaction between religion and politics too sweeping, many would agree with his strong commitment to individual freedom of conscience on issues as diverse as religion in schools, gay rights or abortion. In 1994 he told The Los Angeles Times, “A lot of so-called conservatives don’t know what the word means. They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right.”

Just another quote from Barry Goldwater.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:25:31 +0000

My favorite Goldwater quote is below. It originally got cleansed but John Dean eventually gave the real quote as shown at the bottom. Dan may not post this one.

“I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass.”

-Said in July 1981 in response to Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell’s opposition to the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court, of which Falwell had said, “Every good Christian should be concerned.” as quoted in Ed Magnuson, “The Brethren’s First Sister,” Time Magazine, (20 July, 1981)

According to John Dean, Goldwater actually suggested that good Christians ought to kick Falwell in the “nuts”, but the news media “changed the anatomical reference.” “I know because I was there when he said it,” said Dean.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:20:00 +0000

“On religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God’s name on one’s behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both.”

“I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in “A,” “B,” “C” and “D.” Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?”

“And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of “conservatism.”

-Speech in the US Senate (16 September 1981)

That speech was given by Mr. Conservative–Barry Goldwater

By: Warren

Warren — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:56:53 +0000

“conservative”…when are the people who own the internet going to finally learn how to spell?

By: Warren

Warren — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:53:44 +0000

Infidelity

By: Warren

Warren — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:00:06 +0000

Congressional

By: Warren

Warren — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:57:04 +0000

#71: “It wasn’t Republicans who obsessed about Vitter, Foley, and Craig.”

Similarly, it wasn’t Catholic dioceses who obsessed about the numerous pedophile priests, or the PSU athletic department that obsessed about child rape on their premises. No, as the poster #71 rightly points out, it took others to reveal those outrageous hypocrises, not the Congessional GOP. And the 1997-98 marriage infedility by GOP sex persecutor Newt Gingrich was just one more example of “consevative” moral relativism that so often occurs, as poster #71 correctly notes.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:41:38 +0000

Yes Suzie, the TP/GOP has and continues to waste valuable time that could be spent on solving real problems on personal and private matters that should not concern any government. We are not a Theocracy and it is past time you all accepted that. Keep pushing and you will lose much more than the Commandments in a backwoods burg that does not even bother to live by them.

The fact that while you have done so the Catholic Church, and Vitter, Foley, and Craig have made it the hypocrisy it is matters only in the realm of scorekeeping.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:35:02 +0000

Sharon, you will have to pardon me for not being able to accept your word on who is and is not a “good writer”. Just call it a failing on my part if it makes you feel better.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:40:21 +0000

However, the Republican party has, in my view, wasted valuable time over the last 30 years or so obsessing about such things instead of tackling the real problems of our nation.

It wasn’t Republicans who obsessed about Vitter, Foley, and Craig. Liberal Ron can’t even keep straight what he’s bitching about.