What If Republican Grilled Muslim Like Dem Grilled Goodling About Christian Education?

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

During her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee testimony Dem congressman Steven Cohen of Tennessee quizzed former Justice Department official Monica Goodling regarding her Christian faith and the Christian law school at Regent University, founded by Pat Robertson, that she attended.

An internet search reveals brief references to the interrogation in articles by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post and Maura Reynolds in the Los Angeles Times. But I saw no coverage of the grilling on any of the morning news shows, nor have CNN or MSNBC picked it up as far as I have noticed.

I'm setting forth the actual transcript below, taken from this article, with the following changes. In place of "Regent" university, I'm substituting the name of an apocryphal Islamic university, which I'm calling "Prophet." In place of Christian or Christianity, I'm substituting Muslim. And in place of God, Allah.

Now imagine what kind of MSM uproar there would have been if a Republican congressman had posed these questions to a person of Muslim faith.

Congressman: And it says you went -- chose Muslim universities in part because they -- value they placed on service. What was the other [reason] that you chose Muslim universities?

Witness: I chose them because I had a faith system, and in some cases -- I went to American University for my first year of law school and then I transferred. And I enjoyed studying with people that shared the similar belief system that I did. It didn't mean that there wasn't a lot of diversity of discussion, because in some cases I actually found that the debate at Prophet was much more vigorous than it was at American University my first year of law school. But I enjoyed being surrounded by people that had the same belief system.

Congressman: The mission of the law school you attended, Prophet, is to bring bear -- "is to bring to bear upon legal education and the legal profession the will of Allah, our Creator." What is "the will of Allah, our Creator" on the legal profession?

Witness: I'm not sure that I could define that question for youCongressman: Did you ask people who applied for jobs as AUSAs anything about their religion?

Witness: No, I certainly did not --

Congressman: Never had religion discussions come up?

Witness: Not to the best of my recollection.

Congressman: Is there a type of student, a type of person that you thought was -- embodied that philosophy of Prophet University that you sought out as AUSAs?

Witness: In most cases, the people at Prophet are good people trying to do the right thing, who wanted to make a difference in the world. If the question is, were I looking -- if I was looking for people like that, the answer is yes. I wasn't necessarily looking for people who shared a particular faith system. I don't have any recollection that that entered into my mind at any point. But certainly there are a lot of people who applied to work for this president because they share his same faith system, and they did apply for jobs.Congressman: Are there a lot of -- an inordinate number of people from Prophet University Law School that were hired by the Department of Justice while you were there?

Witness: I think we have a lot more people from Harvard and Yale.

Congressman: Well, that's refreshing. Is it a fact -- are you aware of the fact that in your graduating class 50 to 60 percent of the students failed the bar the first time?

Witness: I'm not -- I don't remember the statistics, but I know it wasn't good. I was happy I passed the first time.

Congressman: Thank you. That's good.

Is there any doubt that cries of bigotry would be echoing through the land, along with demonstrations, demands that the offending GOP congressman resign, etc? Once again, the MSM demonstrate that traditional Christians remain one of few groups that may be targeted with impunity in our country.

Hat tip: TAL.

Aside: Rep. Cohen, as am I, is Jewish. How would he react if a Jewish appointee who had attended Yeshiva University were grilled in like manner?

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Ping to Today show list.

[PghBaldy]

Why didn’t she mention the fact the Constitution bars religious tests?

[massgopguy]

“Are you a Christian?” - Jay Robinson as Caligula in The Robe

[YOUGOTIT]

“Rep. Cohen, is Jewish”

I feel that Representative Cohen is a non-Jewish Jew.

[PghBaldy]

Article VI - ...The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

[lilylangtree]

Only a RAT can get away with this type of atrociousness.

[TommyDale]

"Is it a fact -- are you aware of the fact that in your graduating class 50 to 60 percent of the students failed the bar the first time?"

Congressman, is it a fact -- are you aware of the fact that in Congress, the average IQ is single digits?

[pgkdan]

I see she went to Law School at Regent University, that explains Jeffrey Toobin’s rant last night on CNN. I heard him whining about how it was a travesty that the fine lawyers he knows at the DOJ should have to work for a 5th rate lawyer like her with a 7th rate legal education. What a bunch of stupid elitist snobs liberals are.

[Y2000]

What If Republican Grilled Muslim Like Dem Grilled Goodling About Christian Education?

This question is insane.

Republicans are incapable of doing anything. Also they believe islam is religion of peace and only few evil people are misusing it.

[Past Your Eyes]

"I feel that Representative Cohen is a non-Jewish Jew."

Maybe he's one of those Jews of convenience.

[AU72]

Protocols of the Elders of the Democrat Party.

[Frank_2001]

“What a bunch of stupid elitist snobs liberals are.”

Toobin is a lawyer by training ( a Haaahvaad lawyer, no less;), and most lawyers are sickeningly snobbish regarding their educational background. Plus so many of them are liberal, it’s enough to make you puke!

[Steve_Seattle]

Cohen is a bigot. His line of questioning was solely intended to mock Goodling’s faith and educational background. The questioning was entirely out of line. And I was surprised to hear that it’s illegal to consider political affiliation in these appointments. Does anyone seriously doubt that political affiliation is a primary consideration in who’s nominated, and always has been?

[Steve_Seattle]

"Why didn’t she mention the fact the Constitution bars religious tests?"

Technically, this wasn't a "religious test" as defined by the Constitution. But it was inappropriate. Goodling should have said, "Where I got my degree is irrelevant to the nature of this proceeding. Ask me a pertinent question, you stinking bigot." But, being a Republican, she caved.

[scrabblehack]

Just out of curiosity — what is the typical pass rate for the bar exam for 1st timers? (Is a 40-50% pass rate low or high, as law schools go?)

Harold Ford Jr. hasn’t passed yet....Was it JFK Jr. (one of the Kennedys anyway) that took quite a few tries?

[scrabblehack]

Hmm...a 40-50% pass rate for 1st timers from a particular school may be not too bad...

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1116925516497

has California’s pass rate at 40%.

New York apparently has 67%...national average looks to be about 64%

http://chris-cohen.blogspot.com/2005/11/67-bar-exam-pass-rate-in-ny-state.html

http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/03/why_are_more_pe.html

[virgil]

Talk about “Inquisition”

[ivyleaguebrat]

Well.. she did plead the 5th even though she was granted immunity. What’s that about?

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Tell me that the left doesn’t want to stamp out Christianity and promote instead a violent, anti-western ideology!