BoldlyRide

Schumer has made much of the necessity of getting at the "deeply held beliefs" of judicial nominees -- at least the ones who have may have religious beliefs as "deeply held beliefs" is Schumerese for religion. He seems to believe that anyone with religious beliefs that are deeply held -- as opposed to beliefs that are merely a veneer or matter of convenience -- poses a serious danger to our nation and to the judicial system in particular. Once more Schumer's position is contrary to good sense, our nation's history, and the understanding of the founders. In his book, Original Intent, David Barton points out the explicit religious nature of this nation's founders and of the state governments that existed under the Constitution. In addition to the religious language in the various organic documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, Barton notes the deeply held beliefs of the individual founders. This piece from Washington's Farewell Address illustrates his point:

"Of all of the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness... The mere politician ought to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert...? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds... reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail, in exclusion of religious principle." Washington's Farewell Address of September 17, 1796. Original Intent by David Barton p. 111.

Even the words of the United States Supreme Court itself contradict the misguided senator from New York:

"[T]his is a religious people. This is historically true... These are not individual sayings, declarations of private persons: they are organic utterances; they speak the voice of the entire people... These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation." Original Intent by David Barton p. 116. quoting from Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S., 143 U.S.457, 465, 470, 471 (1892)

Schumer's opposition to deeply held beliefs, i.e., sincere religious belief, springs, sua sponte, from nothing more than Schumer's cavernous skull and the demands of the left wing extremists to whom he is bound. Schumer will oppose those who do not satisfactorily lay bare their religious beliefs on the basis that they are not forthcoming. If a nominee does speak of religious beliefs, other than to deny or discount them, Schumer will oppose the nominee on the basis that those beliefs interfere with the law or the ability to be neutral and objective. However, his opposition ignores the documents upon which this nation was founded, roughly two centuries of history, and the very intentions of the founders as expressed in their own unequivocal words.