Dems React to “Justice Sunday”

Harry Reid’s war room is up and running. His response to Justice Sunday is as follows:

I am disappointed that in an attempt to hide what the debate is really about, Senator Frist would exploit religion like this. Religion to me is a very personal thing. I have been a religious man all my adult life. My wife and I have lived our lives and raised our children according to the morals and values taught by the faith to which we prescribe. No one has the right to judge mine or anyone else’s personal commitment to faith and religion.

God isn’t partisan.

As His children, he does ask us to do our very best and treat each other with kindness. Republicans have crossed a line today. America is better than this and Republicans need to remember that. This is a democracy, not a theocracy. We are people of faith, and in many ways are doing God’s work. But we represent all Americans, regardless of religion. Our founding fathers had the superior vision to separate Church and State in our democracy. It is a fundamental principle that has allowed our great, diverse nation to grow and flourish peacefully. Blurring the line between Church and State erodes our Constitution, and our democracy. It is a blatant abuse of power. Participating in something designed to incite divisiveness and encourage contention is unacceptable. I would hope that Sen. Frist will rise above something so beyond the pale.

My first reaction was that it’s not strong enough, too temperate, but the line “This is a democracy, not a theocracy,” is a good one, and indicative of one of the things I like about Reid, which is his ability to call the GOP on their real agenda subtly. Which is one of many bazillions of reasons why it’s a good thing I’m not the Senate Minority Leader.

He also was careful to address the issue as “the debate,” as opposed to restricting his statement solely to Justice Sunday, which is (another subtle) acknowledgement that the program is only one part of a much larger agenda.

As the NY Times notes in an editorial today:

Senator Frist has an even bigger game in mind than the current nominees: the next appointments to the Supreme Court, which the Republican conservatives view as their best chance to outlaw abortion and impose their moral code on the country.

If that doesn’t send a chill down your spine, I can’t imagine what would.