Mixing Religion and Politics?
Conservatives are sometimes accused of mixing religion and politics, of trying to impose our version of morality via the political process.
But of course, we're not alone. Our friends on the left have no qualms about using moral and religious language to support their positions on matters of politics and policy. Just this morning, the Oklahoma Senate Democrats correctly reminded us that our state budget is a "moral document."
One could cite numerous other examples of attempts to legislate morality. For instance, two Tulsa rabbis once argued that "when we do not make public education a priority in our state we sin against our children and our future."
University of Oklahoma president David Boren once said that reducing government spending on higher education is "morally wrong." He even seemed to express agreement with the notion that it is a "sin."
Former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters said it's "immoral" not to embrace the Obamacare Medicaid expansion.
A homosexual rabbi suggested that perhaps Planned Parenthood is "doing God's work."
Oklahoma journalist Arnold Hamilton pronounced it "a moral imperative" to do things like expand medical welfare.
A liberal think tank said the Obamacare Medicaid expansion is the "morally responsible" choice for Oklahoma. The organization also promotes the pro-abortion Obamacare law, defends the Oklahoma branches of the nation’s largest abortion business, and laments that there isn't more accessibility to what it calls (in a devilishly Orwellian turn of phrase) "abortion care."
State Rep. Emily Virgin pronounced it "sinful that many Oklahomans are unable to receive affordable and quality health care." (She likely does not deem sinful her vote against banning abortions on children who can feel intense pain or her vote against banning the practice of tearing babies apart as they bleed to death.)
Legislating morality is so important, in fact, that the failure to do so can apparently have serious long-term consequences. One Oklahoma educator suggested that would-be pension reformers in the Oklahoma legislature probably "should die and go straight to hell." For his part, Clinton confidant James Carville, the lovable Ragin' Cajun, once suggested that "somebody is going to hell" over attacks on the Clinton Foundation.
In short, liberals often try to legislate morality. Not, I hasten to add, that there's anything wrong with that.
UPDATES:
Arguing against a specific piece of legislation, state Rep. Collin Walke (D-Oklahoma City) said "we do have an opportunity today to live out our Christian faith and say that we will not enslave the poor, we will defend them today by voting no on this bill."
But of course, we're not alone. Our friends on the left have no qualms about using moral and religious language to support their positions on matters of politics and policy. Just this morning, the Oklahoma Senate Democrats correctly reminded us that our state budget is a "moral document."
Our state budget is a moral document. It shows what we value. What do YOU value? What will our state budget show we value? #okleg #oklaed— OK Senate Democrats (@OKSenateDems) March 16, 2017
One could cite numerous other examples of attempts to legislate morality. For instance, two Tulsa rabbis once argued that "when we do not make public education a priority in our state we sin against our children and our future."
University of Oklahoma president David Boren once said that reducing government spending on higher education is "morally wrong." He even seemed to express agreement with the notion that it is a "sin."
Former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters said it's "immoral" not to embrace the Obamacare Medicaid expansion.
A homosexual rabbi suggested that perhaps Planned Parenthood is "doing God's work."
Oklahoma journalist Arnold Hamilton pronounced it "a moral imperative" to do things like expand medical welfare.
A liberal think tank said the Obamacare Medicaid expansion is the "morally responsible" choice for Oklahoma. The organization also promotes the pro-abortion Obamacare law, defends the Oklahoma branches of the nation’s largest abortion business, and laments that there isn't more accessibility to what it calls (in a devilishly Orwellian turn of phrase) "abortion care."
State Rep. Emily Virgin pronounced it "sinful that many Oklahomans are unable to receive affordable and quality health care." (She likely does not deem sinful her vote against banning abortions on children who can feel intense pain or her vote against banning the practice of tearing babies apart as they bleed to death.)
Legislating morality is so important, in fact, that the failure to do so can apparently have serious long-term consequences. One Oklahoma educator suggested that would-be pension reformers in the Oklahoma legislature probably "should die and go straight to hell." For his part, Clinton confidant James Carville, the lovable Ragin' Cajun, once suggested that "somebody is going to hell" over attacks on the Clinton Foundation.
In short, liberals often try to legislate morality. Not, I hasten to add, that there's anything wrong with that.
UPDATES:
Arguing against a specific piece of legislation, state Rep. Collin Walke (D-Oklahoma City) said "we do have an opportunity today to live out our Christian faith and say that we will not enslave the poor, we will defend them today by voting no on this bill."
