The New York Times > Opinion > Editorial: Bill Frist's Religious War
The last stand or the beginning of the war? You decide. I, for one, hope this is their final over-reach, the assault that turns people off and away and pushes these folks back to the fringe minority that they are. If not, well...get ready for the new Dark Ages. Those who scoff and say, "it can't happen here" need to look around and see that it IS happening here. Right now.

Right-wing Christian groups and the Republican politicians they bankroll have done much since the last election to impose their particular religious views on all Americans. But nothing comes close to the shameful declaration of religious war by Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, over the selection of judges for federal courts.

Senator Frist is to appear on a telecast sponsored by the Family Research Council, which styles itself a religious organization but is really just another Washington lobbying concern. The message is that the Democrats who oppose a tiny handful of President Bush's judicial nominations are conducting an assault "against people of faith." By that, Senator Frist and his allies do not mean people of all faiths, only those of their faith.

It is one thing when private groups foment this kind of intolerance. It is another thing entirely when it's done by the highest-ranking member of the United States Senate, who swore on the Bible to uphold a Constitution that forbids the imposition of religious views on Americans. Unfortunately, Senator Frist and his allies are willing to break down the rules to push through their agenda - in this case, by creating what the senator knows is a false connection between religion and the debate about judges.

Senator Frist and his backers want to take away the sole tool Democrats have for resisting the appointment of unqualified judges: the filibuster. This is not about a majority or even a significant number of Bush nominees; it's about a handful with fringe views or shaky qualifications. But Senator Frist is determined to get judges on the federal bench who are loyal to the Republican fringe and, he hopes, would accept a theocratic test on decisions.

Senator Frist has an even bigger game in mind than the current nominees: the next appointments to the Supreme Court, which the Republican conservatives view as their best chance to outlaw abortion and impose their moral code on the country.

We fully understand that a powerful branch of the Republican Party believes that the last election was won on "moral values." Even if that were true, that's a far cry from voting for one religion to dominate the entire country. President Bush owes it to Americans to stand up and say so.

First they came for the gays (amendments to state constitutions creating second class citizenship, taking away rights they already have), then they came for the Hollywood and the press (huge fines for "indecency" and owning the corporate media), they've always had it in for the Muslims (40% think that they shouldn't have civil rights), then they came for the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and the children (cuts to all programs that help these people rise up in life), don't forget the educators (laws that say the conservative viewpoint "must" be represented), and now they're coming for the judges so they can complete their assault on the women (reproductive rights).

They have successfully created the villains that are a "threat to our way of life". Does any of this ring a bell? Hint: Think Germany, 1930's. All we need is the economic collapse and the pieces are in place.

When will they come for you?