Frist No Longer Worthy

Maybe Frist's stem cell speech last week will prove beneficial to his long-term political legacy after all. AP reported Tuesday evening that Frist's now-stated position has so angered his former "Justice Sunday" allies that they're not even inviting him to their next party. "Justice Sunday II," to be held on August 14 in Tennesee (yes, Frist's home state), will feature House Majority Leader Tom DeLay instead, the organizers announced today.

"Justice Sunday" organzer Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council said on his website Tuesday that Frist's stem cells position "reflects an unwise and unnecessary choice both for public policy and for respecting the dignity of human life," while Focus on the Family spokesman Paul Hetrick said "Our views have not changed; Senator Frist's views have evidently changed."

I'm not sure how exactly supporting additional funding for stem cell research translates into changed views on the judiciary, but this is just another example of the tendency that I've noticed being exhibited over and over again by those on the right and left political extremes. Anytime someone disagrees with them, even over a single issue, they instantly become pariahs, completely unworthy of support and in for serious demonization. Those on the "angry ends" seem completely incapable of recognizing that it may be possible to disagree with someone occasionally but still respect them. I'm not sure how that mindset came about; it's nothing new, of course, but it seems particularly vicious of late.

Bill Frist (Pariah) will be replaced at "Justice Sunday II" by his House counterpart, Tom DeLay, the New York Times reports. In stark contrast to his Tuesday comments about Frist, Tony Perkins called DeLay "a natural fit" for the gathering, adding "He has been very outspoken on the need for addressing the issue of judicial activism."

The Times article adds a ghastly detail that I had not seen reported elsewhere. The far right's disgustingly inappropriate slobbering over the potential of more Supreme Court vacancies continues, with a recent televised prayer from "minister" Pat Robertson including the line "Take control, Lord! We ask for additional vacancies on the court." As the Times notes, the same line is listed as a "prayer point" on Robertson's website. How utterly disgusting! In effect, Robertson is asking his supporters to pray for current justices to die or become otherwise unfit to serve. He says, of course, that he means retirements ... but if that's the case, why not say "We ask for additional retirements from the court"? Still inappropriate, but at least not quite so sleazy.

I am glad, for Bill Frist's sake, that he's not been invited to participate in this event. It's good for him, for the Senate, and for the country. That said, Tom DeLay should not provide "Justice Sunday II" with his imprimatur either. As I remarked of the first installment, centrist and mainstream conservative Republicans should not give our party's leaders free passes to consort with groups holding such extreme, bigoted and apparently morbid views as the "Justice Sunday" crowd happily espouse. Will DeLay reconsider? Of course not. But he should.