Faith-based aid deal fixed; White House approves compromise
[this was an article in the Arizona Republic that is no longer available online, to the best of my knowledge]
The entire article should be read [though it is no longer available]. But the "compromise" does include some telling provisions, to wit:
1 - "What the White House originally called the Faith-Based Initiative has become the Armies of Compassion Initiative." That is hardly a "toned-down" religious aspect. If anything, the "armies" signifies a war on freedom of religion, as we shall see. No wonder the Muslims are worried about Bush; all they have to do is look at what he's doing here.
2 - "The House measure would exempt religious-based programs from civil rights laws . . ." Holy shit! The House somehow found a loophole through the Bill of Rights, the 14th Amendment, and Article IV, Section 2 all in one breath. They get to take a religious group, give it the freedom of a private organization, and all the exemptions and funding of a government, with no responsibilities to the populace that provides those funds! You'd think this alone would make Republicans and Democrats alike very concerned, but see how they've compromised? On this issue alone, I'd have to go independent, even without . . .
3 - "[The House measure] would let them make personnel decisions, based on religion, in programs operating with federal assistance. They would be exempt from local laws protecting the rights of gays and lesbians." Same as above, and they get to impose their religion and so-called "morals" on anyone who needs their help. How can anyone - especially a liberal - consider this anything other than an establishment of religion - a government providing that a religious requirement must be met before providing services with public money.
At least the Senate measure excluded #2 and #3 above. (Oh yeah! The Republichristians aren't in charge of that one anymore. Hooray for Jeffords!)
4 - How can anyone buy this C.R.A.P.*? "The measure is intended to allow religious-based organizations to use federal support . . . without running afoul of the constitutional prohibition on the mingling of religion and government." They think they can do both. Well, they can't the former runs right over the latter.
Get ready for that line from Mel Brooks:
The Inquisition . . . what a show!
The Inquisition . . . here we go!
I know you're wishin' that we'd go away . . .
But the Inquisition's here and it's here to staaaaaaaaaay!
Response by Steve Mount:
If nothing else, the new measure should run afoul of the Anti-Stupid Bill Name Act ... Armies of Compassion?? Are they serious? I hope I can have more faith in my Congress than to let such a blatant mockery actually pass.
*C.R.A.P. is an acronym we briefly used on the above-mentioned Debate board. It stands for "Constitutional Response Against Paranoia." Click here to read that posting, and the subsequent responses to it. Steve Mount, the creator, owner and operator of the U.S. Constitution Online site, named the posting a "classic."