The Hill's Michael O'Brien
reports that Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chairwoman of the
Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, while discussing the viability
of the Stupak Amendment, claimed that the Catholic bishops and
other religious groups should not have a say in the health care
debate.
She also said that religiously-affiliated groups like the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, which had pushed for the Stupak
provision, should be shut out of the process.
"Last I heard, we had separation of church and state in this
country," she said. "I've got to say that I think the Catholic
bishops and all of the other groups shouldn't have input."
Family Research Council president Tony Perkins responded with a
press release calling DeGette's words "religious bigotry."
Apart from whether DeGette is a religious bigot, it's clear she
is a constitutional ignoramus.
UPDATE:
Apparently The Hill misquoted DeGette. She said "I think
the Catholic bishops and all of the other groups
should have input." Obviously that changes her
point entirely.
Although the line about the separation of church and state was
not a misquote, so the point that she is a constitutional
ignoramus still stands.
"Apart from whether DeGette is a religious bigot, it's clear she
is a constitutional ignoramus."
That seems to be a common malady within the party of
tolerance.
/snark
Pete| 11.17.09 @ 6:00PM
That lady is as hideous as she is stupid. From what I have read,
she has re-districted 'just right' within Denver to stay in
office.
Richard Baker| 11.17.09 @ 6:35PM
Stupid Lady (D-CO) should try and find the words or idea of
separation of church and state in the Constitution. Oh, I forgot.
Her ilk think the Constitution is low grade toilet paper.
Regardless, Mr. Jefferson's 1802 letter has been taken out of
context and idiots like this see what isn't in the Constitution.
The Bishops have every right as citizens to express their beliefs
whether this moron likes it or not. Some college gave this woman
a degree? Sic Semper Tyrannis.
Maureen| 11.17.09 @ 7:31PM
And if the Bishops decide to close down all their hospitals
because they can't morally practice medicine if this bill passes?
Doesn't the Catholic church have about 600 hospitals, with 15% of
all US admissions -- and a much greater percentage in the inner
cities? Do you really want to lose 600 hospitals over night,
DeGette? Think maybe the Bishops know way more about health care
than you do about the 1st amendment???
BD57| 11.17.09 @ 8:02PM
I don't know that she's a bigot - she probably is, but that's not
the issue for me.
I'd wager she considers any opposition to her position
illegitimate - when it's the bishops, she says "separation of
church and state"; if the opposition is secular, she says
"misogynist."
She's a perfect example of "Shut up, she explained."
Russ| 11.17.09 @ 8:18PM
Oh, really? "Does that mean on issues in which she almost
certainly agrees with the church, like immigration, that they
should have no input? How would she institute such a ban on
input? Would she try to impose a limit on the ability of the
church to communicate with it's members about it's positions? It
seems to me that the Obama administration and it's supporters are
totalitarians. They would silence dissent, jail dissenters and
institute a dictatorship if they could find a way to do it.
Agree with them or not, at least the Church pays its own way with
voluntary donations. As for "tax breaks" or "tax exempt" -- from
the likes of this woman we should all get tax breaks and
exemptions so as to cut the funds out from under her pie in the
sky (in your face) plans -- in which she wants to criminalize us
if we don't join her in the destruction of the country.
Bruce| 11.17.09 @ 5:32PM
"Apart from whether DeGette is a religious bigot, it's clear she is a constitutional ignoramus."
That seems to be a common malady within the party of tolerance.
/snark
Pete| 11.17.09 @ 6:00PM
That lady is as hideous as she is stupid. From what I have read, she has re-districted 'just right' within Denver to stay in office.
Richard Baker| 11.17.09 @ 6:35PM
Stupid Lady (D-CO) should try and find the words or idea of separation of church and state in the Constitution. Oh, I forgot. Her ilk think the Constitution is low grade toilet paper. Regardless, Mr. Jefferson's 1802 letter has been taken out of context and idiots like this see what isn't in the Constitution. The Bishops have every right as citizens to express their beliefs whether this moron likes it or not. Some college gave this woman a degree? Sic Semper Tyrannis.
Maureen| 11.17.09 @ 7:31PM
And if the Bishops decide to close down all their hospitals because they can't morally practice medicine if this bill passes? Doesn't the Catholic church have about 600 hospitals, with 15% of all US admissions -- and a much greater percentage in the inner cities? Do you really want to lose 600 hospitals over night, DeGette? Think maybe the Bishops know way more about health care than you do about the 1st amendment???
BD57| 11.17.09 @ 8:02PM
I don't know that she's a bigot - she probably is, but that's not the issue for me.
I'd wager she considers any opposition to her position illegitimate - when it's the bishops, she says "separation of church and state"; if the opposition is secular, she says "misogynist."
She's a perfect example of "Shut up, she explained."
Russ| 11.17.09 @ 8:18PM
Oh, really? "Does that mean on issues in which she almost certainly agrees with the church, like immigration, that they should have no input? How would she institute such a ban on input? Would she try to impose a limit on the ability of the church to communicate with it's members about it's positions? It seems to me that the Obama administration and it's supporters are totalitarians. They would silence dissent, jail dissenters and institute a dictatorship if they could find a way to do it.
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Jim Hlavac| 11.18.09 @ 12:09AM
Agree with them or not, at least the Church pays its own way with voluntary donations. As for "tax breaks" or "tax exempt" -- from the likes of this woman we should all get tax breaks and exemptions so as to cut the funds out from under her pie in the sky (in your face) plans -- in which she wants to criminalize us if we don't join her in the destruction of the country.
Tim| 11.18.09 @ 12:49PM
Der Komissar's in town, uh-oh!