August 2009 Archives

It did not take long for the media and politicos to start speculating about what the death of Senator Kennedy will mean to the current debate on health care and other vital issues.

 

Just hours after his death, a call from some to turn Obama-care into Kennedy-care.  Some are vowing to "win one for Teddy."

 

Top Democrats are hoping to rally the troops - to reenergize efforts to pass health care legislation.

Today, our country has lost one of its strongest defenders of the Constitution, Sen. Edward M.Kennedy. He was a longstanding civil rights advocate and will be greatly missed.

I issued this statement about Sen. Kennedy this morning via Americans United's Web site: 

"Sen. Ted Kennedy was a great champion of church-state separation. It's not just that he consistently voted to support that principle - he really got it. He deeply understood that only a high and firm wall of separation between church and state could protect our liberties. He knew the reasons why our Founders established church-state separation and why we need to preserve it. He got how church-state separation protects the rights of both religious and non-religious people.

"One of the things that made Sen. Kennedy so effective was his powerful presence. I first met him in the 1970s during a meeting designed to address issues of concern to residents of Washington, D.C. There were probably 40 people in the room, all squabbling about how to proceed. When Sen. Kennedy walked in, all talking stopped. He outlined a plan of action, and we divided up the work.

"In subsequent years, I had many occasions to work with Sen. Kennedy and his staff. Although he belonged to a powerful political family, I always found him to be down to earth and engaging.  He always took the time to intensely study whatever issue came before him, and his command of the facts and the workings of the Senate were impressive.

"When Sen. Jesse Helms tried to push a school prayer amendment through the Senate, Ted Kennedy stood up to block it. When President Ronald Reagan sought to put Robert Bork on the Supreme Court, Ted Kennedy led the charge to stop him. When bills were introduced in Congress to fund religious schools with tax funds, Ted Kennedy was the first to speak up in opposition.

"At the same time, Sen. Kennedy was a consistent supporter of the free exercise of religion and deplored any effort to chisel away at this cherished right of the American people.

"At Americans United's 50th anniversary celebration in 1997, Kennedy sent videotaped remarks commending AU's work. 'Through the years,' Kennedy said, 'we have worked well together to ensure that when the First Amendment says [Congress shall make] no law [respecting an establishment of religion], it means no law. May it always be so.'

"Sen. Kennedy truly cannot be replaced. He was an institution and will be remembered as one of the great heroes of religious liberty and church-state separation. Americans United sends its condolences to the senator's family. We mourn his passing but honor his legacy - a legacy of freedom that will stand for many years to come."

I welcome all of you to join in this conversation and share your thoughts about Sen. Kennedy, a truly great American.

To subscribe to "Lynn v. Sekulow" click here. 

 

I like to think that my outrage is in relative proportion to the outrage that generated it in the first place.  I have never been known to give any politician a "pass" nor to overstate the gravity of a politician's anti-separation errors.

So, as in my earlier blog, or in this interview with Fox News, I said what was on my mind about President Obama's use of religious language to get people to rally around his health care plan.  Similarly, I have criticized the way the President has initiated his version of the "faith based initiative."  It is my hope that this kind of specific criticism is useful.  More will come if changes are not made.

Barry, I'm pleased to see that you brought up President Obama's use of religion during his conference call designed to drum up additional support among religious Americans for his health care plan.  I'm glad that you're concerned, but disappointed that your response is so muted.  Where's the outrage, Barry?

 

Your comments barely reflect a slap on the wrist.  If this had been President Bush, you would have issued a press release, sent out a blast email, drafted a letter of concern to the President, and launched a web-based campaign.  I can see the image now - President Bush with a large cross behind him (super-imposed with a montage of Evangelical leaders).  And, maybe a graphic title like:  President Bush crosses the line - violates separation of church and state!

Yesterday at 5 o'clock Eastern time, I joined the President and 130,000 of his closest friends on a conference call about health care.  Earlier in the day, the President had a similar phone call with about 1,000 rabbis, initiated by my longtime friend David Saperstein, head of the Reform Action Center.

Was there anything wrong with these calls?  Here's my take.

First, religious groups do have every right to advocate for specific public policies on any and all subjects.  Those on the Religious Right even have the "right" to support curtailing or abolishing the separation of church and state.  (I've spent much of my life trying to be an advocate on the other side of that debate.)

Second, these groups, like all others, may invite politicians, including the President to address their gatherings, live or on the telephone.  Ronald Reagan used to frequently address the primarily religious "March for Life" every January on the anniversary of Roe v Wade via a telephone call played through loudspeakers at the Capitol.  Many of us were horrified at what he said, but I don't recall anyone saying he didn't have the right to speak to these people.

The White House flagging program was both less useful and less sinister than its advocates and opponents, respectively, believed.  One can understand the frustration that the White House has about the astonishing level of lies, misinformation and nonsense being promoted by the...

Barry, it looks like the White House got the message:  its email 'flagging' operation appears to have been disabled.   As I reported to you last week, the White House launched in early August what can only be described as...

Jay, I want to get back to the very serious issue of the debate over health care in a few days, but I want to interrupt that flow with a point of personal privilege.You see, I have been attacked by...

Barry, there's a troubling pattern developing as the White House and Congressional leadership embark on a campaign to silence their critics - especially when it comes to concerns about health care.   Example One:  Last week, in an official White...

Jay, As one of the commentators on our blog stated, parent satisfaction does not define whether vouchers have been successful. So while I am sympathetic to parent testimony, it's hardly a reason for changing my stance.I have cited and linked...

Barry, I don't believe that school vouchers run afoul of the First Amendment, and neither does the Supreme Court.  In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, a school voucher case, the Supreme Court explained that its Establishment Clause jurisprudence makes it clear that:...

Jay, I think it's great that so many Americans want to volunteer for good causes, and I have no problem that many want to work with faith-based groups. Americans can volunteer for and/or donate to the charity of their...