A Case of Intolerance for Court Picks

by Tony Perkins: Conservatives can complain about a lot of things in Washington, but President Trump's judicial nominees aren't one of them. And it's not just the quantity of the White House's judges -- it's the quality. The president is blowing past his predecessors' pace for nominations, but the good news for Americans is that he's picking men and women with proven, originalist track records. Just last week, Trump sent another slate of 16 to the Senate for consideration, filling the chamber's already full plate.

Part of the problem keeping up with Trump is Senate Democrats, who insist on blocking anyone with a scrap of judicial integrity. Minnesota's Al Franken (D-Minn.), the same man who tried to disqualify Amy Barrett for her faith last week, refuses -- like many Democrats -- to return his "blue slip" for other nominees, signaling that they have their home state senator's support. And while it's common courtesy to wait for those blue slips before proceeding, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) patience is wearing thin.

When they aren't obstructing, liberals are name-calling -- like we're seeing this week with the nomination of two attorneys from First Liberty Institute. Already, the Left is out in full force, blasting Jeff Mateer and Matthew Kacsmaryk as "associates of [a] hate group," a nod to the discredited Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), whose labeling Franken tried to legitimize in a Judiciary hearing last week. Obviously, he and others are trying to drag Trump's nominees through the SPLC's mud despite the fact that even the mainstream media is questioning the group's shady methods.

First Liberty is one of the premiere religious liberty legal groups in America. If Jeff and Matthew's defense of natural marriage disqualifies them for public service, then what does that say about Barack Obama? He held the same position when he was elected president. Now, suddenly, anyone who believes in the institution isn't eligible for government work? Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) certainly thinks so. And we don't have to guess where Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Franken stand after their assault on Amy Barrett. "I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that's of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for, for years in this country."

As far as Senate liberals are concerned, anyone who believes in the Bible or world history need not apply. And they're the ones complaining about dogma? Their intolerance is rooted in it! That's the arrogance of the Left. Anyone who doesn't share their far-Left credo is unfit for work of any kind. This has to stop – and you can help. Sign our petition to the U.S. Senate pushing back on this dangerous religious test for Trump's nominees!
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Tony Perkins is President of the Family Research Council . This article was on Tony Perkin's Washington Update an written with the aid of FRC senior writers.

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