Is Focus on the Family Making Salazar Stronger?

[coloradodem2005]

The Denver Post has an interesting article about how Senator Ken Salazar is gaining big points from Democrats for his handling of his feud with Focus on the Family:

Jeered for his early support of the Bush agenda, Democratic U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar now is endearing himself to liberals in his party. Members of the political left say they're heartened to see Colorado's mild-mannered moderate come out swinging against Colorado Springs- based Focus on the Family about judicial nominees and the role of religion in politics.

James "SpongeDob" Dobson and his Focus on the Family organization have been laughably bad on the PR front lately, and their recent attack on Salazar may end up doing more good for the Senator than it does for their organization. Here's a good analysis of why:

"He had the guts to stand up and say, 'Hold on here,"' said veteran Washington watcher Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "This has given him a place in this debate, which you wouldn't usually find for a freshman."
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http://coloradopoliticalnews.blogs.com/colorado_political_news/2005/04/is_focus_on_the.html#comments

[BOSSHOG]

1. I can't vote for the man but if he makes an enemy

out of James Dobson, he has my support. dobson is my enemy and he is an enemy of the constitution. If you care about constitutional liberties than james dobson is your enemy too.

[politicat]

2. I was in the office yesterday, and they're getting a great deal of

support from Separationists.

I'm of the opinion that FotF needs to be taxed. They engage in politics. Therefore, they are no longer a religious institution. It's that simple.

[MissMarple]

4. Actually they have spun off a political arm, just to stay legal.

It must have been something like an amoeba splitting in two. Ugh!

[MissMarple]

3. Well,Focus isn't exactly making points with anyone but kool aid drinkers.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E115%257E2831730,00.html

Diane Carman's column on Sunday quotes Focus spokeswoman Amanda Banks, and Diane is not flattering in her references to Banks. apparently good old Amanda thinks (among other things) that the filibuster is unconstitutional, godless, and evil. This really makes them look like the power mad fanatics they really are...and with their own words.

"She insists that "the federal courts have attacked family values for decades." Focus wants "strict constructionist" judges who - for starters - will legalize school prayer, outlaw abortion and sodomy, and strike down the Massachusetts court ruling on same-sex marriage, she said.

"Liberals have realized that the judiciary is the only branch of government they have left," she said.

She acknowledged that the vast majority of these "liberal" judges - including 200 of Bush's judicial nominees who already have been approved by the Senate - were appointed by Republicans. Still, these Reagan-Bush-Bush appointees are not toeing the line.

"They continue to pursue their radical agenda," she said.

The religious right has control of the legislature and the presidency, Banks said. All they need now is the judiciary. The filibuster is all that stands in their way."

For them it's all damn the Constitution and full speed ahead. Catholics and other authentic people of faith should be insulted by such blatant thuggery, by such disrespect for religious values, by such a naked and unabashed political power grab.

But that's just my humble opinion. :-)