Maybe his nickname should be "The (dumb-as-a-bag-of-)Hammer(s)"

[docwebster]

"I hope the Supreme Court will finally read the Constitution and see there's no such thing, or no mention, of separation of church and state in the Constitution" - Tom DeLay, March 1, 2005.

I'd love to email Tom DuhLay and enlighten him.

Comments

[lubedpumpkin.livejournal.com]

What would you say?

[docwebster.livejournal.com]

Took the short bus to the Capitol this morning, eh Tom? Try the first ammendment, dink.

[lubedpumpkin.livejournal.com]

Oh the Bill of Rights? Technically he's wrong then. =)

The absolutist view of the Constitution would follow "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" to a T. NO law whatsoever.

Unfortunately, to my knowledge only Scalia and.. some other one, one of the lesser famous ones considers themselves to be absolutist.

I think the SC would agree with Tom, unfortunately. And historically, there have been *many* laws dealing with religion, religious practice, and display.

[Not that I think it's right. I don't. Just sayin'.]

[ceruleanst.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to figure out the logical difference, and all I can come up with is that the so-called "absolute" standpoint means that the government can establish a state religion and persecute the practitioners of other belief systems as long as it is not written down in law. Given that making laws is all Congress does, I'm not sure what they think this would enable them to do.

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid you might need to be enlightened (or at least reminded). There's no such thing, and no mention of, separation of church and state in the US Constitution, and Representative DeLay is precisely correct. There is the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which was intended explicitly to prevent a taxpayer-supported "Church of the United States." There were states among the original thirteen with official churches, but there wasn't a federal one. There is also a guarantee in the First Amendment that Congress won't interfere with the free exercise of religion. But separation? No way, no how.

you are correct sir

[scar4711.livejournal.com]

The whole Seperation of Church and State was actually a letter written by Thomas Jefferson.. it is never mentioned in the Constitution. The 1st amendment has what is known as the 'establishment' clause... which has become incredibly warped in this time. it's gotten to the point where any city or county displaying anything religious is now "establishing" a religion. Look at LA.. the city had to remove the cross from the official seal because the ACLU threatened to sue.

Re: you are correct sir

[bassbone.livejournal.com]

That was huge here in LA. It was actually the county seal, not the city seal. It ticked me off, because the cross merely represented the history of the Spanish missions in the region. They did not sue, however, to remove the Goddess Calliope from the seal.

[docwebster.livejournal.com]

Sorry I opened my mouth.

[eathomas.livejournal.com]

None of this detracts from the fact that Tom is a fucktard.