Harriet Miers' Controversial Speech

| No Comments

As reported earlier, the Washington Post published an article that presents Harriet Miers as an abortion proponent (or at least supporting the right of women to "choose" abortion) based upon a 1993 speech to the Executive Women of Dallas. Without comment, here are a few interesting portions of Miers' talk:

What I see about all of this is the most disturbing is that there has evolved a “government by non-action” or a shifting to the judicial system of the responsibility for making all of the hard decisions…. Sometimes I believe that elected officials would rather abandon to the Courts the hard questions so they can respond to the constituents: I did not want to do that – the Court is making me. Many of the decisions that really need to be made are hard and unpopular. So its just politically advantageous to not make them”

[snip – examples given]


My basic message here is that when you hear the Courts blamed for activism or intrusion where they do not belong... Stop and examine what the elected leadership has done to solve the problem at issue and whether abdication to courts to make the hard decisions is not a too prevalent tactic in today’s world. Politicians who are too concerned about maintaining their jobs.

[snip]

Where else do we hear a lot today about the Courts. The law and religion. A preacher in Dallas is challenged by suits charging that he is ripping off the helpless and defrauding them with prayer cloths, etc. Abortion clinic protestors have become synonymous with terrorists and the courts have been the refuge for the besieged. The Branch Davidian compound became a sight for speculation about legal responsibilities and legal rights. The ongoing debate continues surrounding the attempt to once again criminalize abortions or to once and for all guarantee the freedom of the individual women’s right to decide for herself whether she will have an abortion. Questions about what can be taught or done in public places or public schools are presented frequently to the courts.

The law and religion make for interesting mixture but the mixture tends to evoke the strongest of emotions. The underlying theme in most of these cases is the insistence of more self-determination. And the more I think about these issues, the more self-determination makes the most sense. Legislating religion or morality we gave up on a long time ago. Remember that fact appears to offer the most effective solutions to these problems once the easier cases are disposed of. For example, if a preacher is committing fraud and it can be shown, even if he is a preacher, he should be stopped. But if we just think people are ignorant or stupid for giving their money for a blessing, that is a different matter. No one should not be able to oppressively require a student to participate in religious activities against their will, but if a student on his or her own chooses to express him or herself in religious terms, that should not be prohibited. Where science determines the facts, the law can effectively govern. However, when science cannot determine the facts and decisions vary based upon religious belief, then government should not act. I do not mean to make very complex, emotional issues too simplistic. But some of these issues do not need to be as complicated as they have become if people deal with each other with respect and reverence.

[snip]

HT: Charmaine Yoest, Full text of the speech: here.

Update: It is worth adding that pro-life Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, a member of the Judiciary Committee, continued his patient approach to revelations regarding Miers’ positions. "We need to know what she meant by those statements. We will have to inquire," he said.

Talk Back - leave a comment


Receive Updates

Enter your Email



button02b.gif

Categories

Archives

Recent Comments

Luis Howard for the Howard Family: "JMJ God bless all of you pro lifers ..."

truth teller: "All christians who voted for obama,do not realize ..."

Suricou Raven: "I was just giving a brief skim, not ..."

daniel rotter: ""...I'm sure he's going to send the gestapo ..."

Annie B: "While I have most often try to quote ..."

Suricou Raven: "The second study looks so dodgy I would ..."

Sue Cirba: "Paid community organizers? Organized to do what? I ..."

Pro-Life Articles

add your site
Holy Innocents, Long Beach Jan 5, 2009, 7:21 pm
Holy Innocents, Long Beach Jan 5, 2009, 7:59 pm
Daisy Cutter Jan 5, 2009, 7:01 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 11:00 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 11:01 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 6, 2009, 2:40 am
Holy Innocents, Long Beach Jan 5, 2009, 6:49 pm
Holy Innocents, Long Beach Jan 5, 2009, 7:16 pm
Hispanic Pundit Jan 6, 2009, 3:20 am
Values Voter News Jan 5, 2009, 7:01 pm
donmargolis.com Jan 6, 2009, 3:17 am
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 6, 2009, 1:26 am
Is Anybody There? Jan 5, 2009, 7:29 pm
faithmouse Adjunct Blogmentary Jan 5, 2009, 7:35 pm
The Chatterbox Chronicles Jan 5, 2009, 7:01 pm
Pro-Life News Jan 6, 2009, 1:07 am
Political Vindication Jan 6, 2009, 1:17 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jan 6, 2009, 6:09 am
Mod-Blog Jan 5, 2009, 8:00 pm
Life of the Party Jan 6, 2009, 1:17 am
Kevin McCullough's TownHall Blog Jan 6, 2009, 12:54 am
Verum Serum Jan 6, 2009, 12:21 am
Tulip Field of Dreams Jan 5, 2009, 6:41 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 7:14 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 7:15 pm
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 6:51 pm
BIG BLUE WAVE Jan 5, 2009, 7:24 pm
Aardvark Alley Jan 5, 2009, 7:01 pm
The College Politico Jan 5, 2009, 11:44 pm
Papa Mike's Blog Jan 5, 2009, 11:36 pm
LOUNGE DADDY Jan 5, 2009, 11:38 pm
Len Munsil Jan 6, 2009, 12:16 am
Tulip Field of Dreams Jan 5, 2009, 5:59 pm
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 5:13 pm
Apologies Demanded Jan 5, 2009, 6:05 pm
Apologies Demanded Jan 5, 2009, 6:19 pm
Adam's Blog Jan 6, 2009, 12:03 am
Rebelution Jan 5, 2009, 10:57 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jan 6, 2009, 3:22 am
Values Voter News Jan 5, 2009, 3:01 pm
cause of our joy Jan 5, 2009, 2:38 pm
causa nostrae laetitiae Dec 31, 2008, 9:33 pm
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 4:13 pm
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 4:22 pm
reasoned audacity Jan 5, 2009, 8:48 pm
Karen Edmisten Jan 5, 2009, 2:42 pm
Jack Yoest Jan 5, 2009, 8:48 pm
Christian in College Jan 5, 2009, 9:37 pm
Christian in College Jan 5, 2009, 9:37 pm
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 2:57 pm
Blowing San #1 Jan 5, 2009, 8:34 pm
Blowing San #1 Jan 5, 2009, 8:54 pm
The Senescent Man Jan 5, 2009, 2:41 pm
Sprittibee Jan 5, 2009, 2:22 pm
My View of the World Jan 5, 2009, 9:17 pm
conservativeintelligencer.com Jan 5, 2009, 8:22 pm
The Story of A Girl Jan 5, 2009, 8:11 pm
The Anchoress Jan 5, 2009, 8:31 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 7:22 pm
Holy Innocents, Long Beach Jan 5, 2009, 12:03 pm
conservativeintelligencer.com Jan 5, 2009, 8:00 pm
Christian in College Jan 5, 2009, 8:14 pm
Christian in College Jan 5, 2009, 8:14 pm
Stop The ACLU Jan 5, 2009, 7:35 pm
Spero News Jan 5, 2009, 7:32 pm
Spero News Jan 5, 2009, 7:32 pm
Musing Minds Jan 5, 2009, 6:33 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 6:25 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 6:43 pm
HicktownPress Jan 5, 2009, 6:37 pm
FRC.org - Web Log Jan 5, 2009, 5:28 pm
DEACON FOR LIFE Jan 5, 2009, 1:35 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 1:27 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 12:34 pm
Caffeinated Thoughts Jan 5, 2009, 6:41 pm
The Black Kettle Jan 5, 2009, 10:48 am
Students for Life of Illinois Jan 5, 2009, 5:56 pm
Secondhand Smoke Jan 5, 2009, 8:37 am
Papa Familias Jan 5, 2009, 5:36 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 6:11 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 12:05 pm
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 11:08 am
The Common Room Jan 5, 2009, 11:00 am
The Black Kettle Jan 5, 2009, 8:13 am
The Black Kettle Jan 5, 2009, 9:43 am
The Black Kettle Jan 5, 2009, 10:31 am
Pope Benedict XVI Blog Jan 5, 2009, 12:19 pm
Pope Benedict XVI Blog Jan 5, 2009, 12:05 pm
Papa Mike's Blog Jan 5, 2009, 4:34 pm
Papa Mike's Blog Jan 5, 2009, 5:23 pm
MDViews Jan 5, 2009, 4:36 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 5:25 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 5:08 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 4:55 pm
Independent Conservative Jan 5, 2009, 4:49 pm
Happy Catholic Jan 5, 2009, 11:12 am
Happy Catholic Jan 5, 2009, 10:25 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jan 5, 2009, 8:00 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jan 5, 2009, 8:15 am
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 11:44 am
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 10:53 am
And Rightly So! Jan 5, 2009, 4:42 pm
Alex Schadenberg Jan 5, 2009, 4:19 pm
Alex Schadenberg Jan 5, 2009, 4:53 pm
The Common Room Jan 5, 2009, 9:50 am
Stop The ACLU Jan 5, 2009, 4:35 pm
Right Wing News Jan 5, 2009, 4:07 pm
Papa Mike's Blog Jan 5, 2009, 4:18 pm
Musing Minds Jan 5, 2009, 3:35 pm
Mommy Life Jan 5, 2009, 3:41 pm
LoveHateOprah Jan 5, 2009, 3:41 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 4:21 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 4:12 pm
HumanLifeMatters Jan 5, 2009, 7:44 am
Wheat & Weeds Jan 5, 2009, 10:14 am
Values Voter News Jan 5, 2009, 8:01 am
Dr. Melissa Clouthier Jan 5, 2009, 4:06 pm
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jan 5, 2009, 11:03 am
Chris Dickson Jan 5, 2009, 9:42 am
Catholic Fire Jan 5, 2009, 9:23 am
Caffeinated Thoughts Jan 5, 2009, 3:16 pm
Papa Mike's Blog Jan 5, 2009, 2:36 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 3:25 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 3:25 pm
Life Consistency Jan 5, 2009, 6:48 am
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jan 5, 2009, 3:04 pm
FRC.org - Web Log Jan 5, 2009, 2:34 pm
Wheat & Weeds Jan 5, 2009, 9:57 am
Values Voter News Jan 5, 2009, 7:01 am
Constitutionally Right Jan 5, 2009, 9:53 am
CNSNews.com Headlines Jan 5, 2009, 9:26 am
Christianity Lived Out Jan 5, 2009, 8:22 am
The Anchoress Jan 5, 2009, 2:30 pm
man with black hat Jan 5, 2009, 9:15 am
JivinJehoshaphat Jan 5, 2009, 5:05 am
World Magazine Blog Jan 5, 2009, 2:09 pm
Vital Signs Blog Jan 5, 2009, 7:44 am
Verum Serum Jan 5, 2009, 1:42 pm
The Common Room Jan 5, 2009, 7:00 am
Sudan Watch Jan 5, 2009, 12:52 pm
Stop The ACLU Jan 5, 2009, 1:35 pm
Spero News Jan 5, 2009, 1:33 pm
Sarah's ProLife WebLog Jan 5, 2009, 12:51 pm
Right Wing News Jan 5, 2009, 12:32 pm
Right Wing News Jan 5, 2009, 12:41 pm
Neocon Express Jan 5, 2009, 4:07 am
My View of the World Jan 5, 2009, 12:54 pm
MamaArcher's Blog Dec 20, 2008, 8:51 am
MamaArcher's Blog Dec 26, 2008, 1:01 pm
MamaArcher's Blog Dec 29, 2008, 8:29 am
MamaArcher's Blog Dec 24, 2008, 2:10 pm
MamaArcher's Blog Jan 4, 2009, 2:04 pm
MamaArcher's Blog Jan 5, 2009, 12:22 pm
Kevin McCullough's TownHall Blog Jan 5, 2009, 12:25 pm
World Magazine Blog Jan 5, 2009, 12:54 pm
Vital Signs Blog Jan 5, 2009, 6:41 am
Vital Signs Blog Jan 5, 2009, 6:46 am
Four Pointer Jan 5, 2009, 7:53 am