Just when you thought that American politics couldn't get any slimier, nastier, or more bitter, it has. For several weeks now, Republican leaders -- both elected and unelected -- have escalated their rhetoric against both the U.S. judiciary as well as against Democrats. On April 8, for instance, conservative leaders meeting in Washington, DC to discuss "Remedies to Judicial Tyranny" (how typically subtle of these people), said the following:
As if the rhetoric at that conference wasn't bad enough, we have also had House Majority Leader Tom "Ethic Scandals R Us" DeLay threatening that "the time will come for the men responsible for [allowing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be removed] to answer for their behavior." We've had the head of the far-right Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, announcing a new campaign against the "anti-Christian left." And let's not forget the out-loud musings of Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) , who suggests that judges' decisions could lead people to "engage in violence."
Now, we have Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) saying that he will participate in a judge- and Democrat-baiting, Family Research Council-sponsored bashfest on April 24 called "Justice Sunday". The point of this event, apparently, is to raise the rhetorical heat even FURTHER -- is that even possible? -- claiming that Democrats who opposed a handful of the most extreme right-wing Bush judicial nominees are "against people of faith."
Finally, today the Democrats started to fire back. Most significantly, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) denounced this hateful, dangerous rhetoric "beyond the pale," and asserted his belief that "God does not take part in partisan politics."
Unfortunately, it would appear that certain right-wing Republicans believe that God DOES and SHOULD take part in partisan politics. Jerry Kilgore, for instance, has attacked the sincerity of Tim Kaine's religious beliefs. Why? Do the Jerry Kilgores of the world really believe that they have a monopoly on religious faith? If so, then they are no better than some of the people we are currently fighting in places like Afghanistan and Iraq - extremists who believe that only THEIR hard-line religious beliefs are legitimate.
In contrast, Tim Kaine has never questioned Jerry Kilgore's religious faith. Instead, as should take place in a civilized society governed by the rule of law, reason, and the U.S. Constitution, Tim Kaine has disagreed with Jerry Kilgore on policy issues. In addition, RaisingKaine and other bloggers have brought up certain ethical questions surrounding the Kilgore family's behavior in Scott County, plus Jerry Kilgore's likely involvement in an eavesdropping scandal.
But attack peoples' religious faith? Accuse them of being "anti-Christian?" Imply that judges should be impeached or possibly even assassinated? Do these right-wing Republicans want the United States of America to be "the land of the free and the home of the brave," or would they prefer to turn it into a Third World dictatorship? This may seem like an absurd question, but looking at the rhetoric coming out of the mouths of Tom DeLay, Phyllis Schlafly, John Cornyn and other right-wing Republicans the past few weeks makes one wonder.
And what do we get from Jerry Kilgore on all this? Does he speak out against this un-American and, frankly, un-Christian rhetoric? Does he at least denounce the remarks of his fellow Virginia Republican, Michael Farris? Does he demonstrate how he would bring people together, not divide them, if he ever became governor?
The short answers: nothing, no, no, and no. Instead, what we get from Jerry Kilgore is a deafening silence, nothing more.