Dick Durbin: “That should be adequate. I thank the Senator. Judicial Nominees Mr. President, I come to the floor with some feelings of…”

“That should be adequate. I thank the Senator. Judicial Nominees Mr. President, I come to the floor with some feelings of disappointment. I had hoped that on reflection, Majority Leader Frist would change his mind about taking part in a rally yesterday in Kentucky with groups that claim anyone who opposes President Bush's judicial nominees is opposed to ``people of faith.'' The organizers of that rally, the Family Research Council, called their rally ``Justice Sunday.'' I agree with Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches. A better name would have been ``Just Us Sunday.'' This Republican religious group is trying to redefine faith to fit its own narrow definition. What is their test? Does their definition of faith turn to the Bible? You know the biblical test, how do you treat the least of your brethren. No, the litmus test of faith for this group is as follows: Do you agree that a President--namely President Bush-- ought to be able to ignore the Constitution, the rules of the Senate, and 200 years of Senate tradition to appoint people to the Federal bench for lifetime appointments even if those nominees hold extreme political views outside the mainstream of America? That is their test of faith. If you say yes, then you are a person of faith. If you say no, they would brand you as anti-God and antifamily.…”