Friday 22 April 2005

Frist In Dispute Over Dem Bashing Telecast
Says Only Promised to "View Tape" for 'Justice Sunday'

Already facing one major battle in the Congress, over a threatened Democrat filibuster, Senate Leader Bill Frist is now drawing the anger of Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council over Perkins's planned 'Justice Sunday' telecast.

With a theme of "The Filibuster Against People of Faith", the program will be broadcast to churches and Christian radio and television networks. Perkins and other conservative religious leaders claim that the Democrats are blocking judicial nominees who oppose abortion rights on religious and moral grounds.

"Justice Sunday" will take place Sunday evening, at a Kentucky mega church. Posters for the event depict a young man holding a Bible in one hand and a gavel in the other. Though no names are mentioned on the poster, it does state "the filibuster against people of faith," and under that, copy reads: "The filibuster was once abused to protect racial bias, and it is now being used against people of faith."

Perkins also claims he had Frist's commitment to appear on the program.

A spokesperson for Frist stated the Senator was aware of the broadcast and never confirmed his participation at the event. Frist did however agree to view a videotape of the broadcast and/or a live broadcast. The spokesperson went on to say that viewing the videotape is where the Senator can be of most assistance.

Last month, Frist stunned the medical community, when he correctly diagnosed the late Teri Schiavo, from viewing 4-year-old videotape. Less then two-weeks following Schiavo, Frist correctly diagnosed the late Pope John Paul II, from watching tape, and live broadcasts of the Papal apartment (see The Garlic April 5th - Frist Concurs With Vatican Diagnosis)

Frist is drawing criticism from the National Council of Churches and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who are planning to conduct a conference call with journalists today for his participation in the telecast. Democrats are calling his participation evidence of Republican extremism.

People for the American Way is buying advertisements and distributing church program inserts that attack Senator Frist for invoking religious faith in what it says is a partisan context. The National Council of Churches is asking members to organize news conferences denouncing Dr. Frist.

Other critics say that Frist's courting the religious right is merely to begin lining himself up for his speculated run for President in 2008. The evangelical Protestant groups and other religious traditionalists are the bedrock that formed President Bush's winning coalition. Frist, a member of the Presbyterian Church, which is considered religiously liberal, does not natural align the Bush's Conservative Christians.

Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, a top official of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., plans on joining the protesters, believing that elected officials should not be bearing down weight for determining public policies on the bases of faith.

Perkins remains optimistic that he and his group can come to terms with Frist to have him appear on the 'Justice Sunday' broadcast.

"We understand that the Senator is a great doctor, and can do wonderful things with videotape. It would be a bigger inspiration if we can have him actually with us. We want the man that is going to stop the Democrats from discriminating against people with faith."


Surveys In: New Pope A Winner - And So Is Mortal Sin

Results from an MSNBC/Reuters polling show a surprising endorsement for the new Pope, Benedict XVI.

Over 10,000 Catholics and 10,000 Non-Catholics were surveyed and 68% of the Catholics believe Pope Benedict XVI is good for the church, while 61% on Non-Catholics believe the same.

A question asking if they were worried, being the new Pope was a Hitler Youth, that he is too much a hardliner, 58% of the Catholics answered 'No', while 78% of the Non-Catholics answered 'Yes'.

On the question of strictly enforcing the church's doctrine, being 'God's Rottweiler', 43% of Catholics thought he was more of a German Shepard and 63% of Non-Catholics saw him as a Doberman Pincer.

87%, from both groups believe that Cardinal Bernard Law is best depicted as a snake.

Both groups responded at 92% for 'Yes', when asked if they, like the television anchors, were fooled by the color of the Vatican smoke signal. 72% of Catholics felt it would be okay to use email to announce a new pope has been chosen, while 67% of Non-Catholics preferred faxes.

In a Catholics-Only question, 83% responded that they now only commit Mortal Sins and that Venial Sins were too "low-key" to be bothered with.