During Monica Goodling's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee testimony Dem congressman Steven Cohen of Tennessee quizzed the former Justice Department official regarding her Christian faith and the 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?Story Continues Below Ad ↓
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 you
Congressman: 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—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.















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Oh! For G-d sake!!! Refresh m
May 24, 2007 - 14:57 ET by drillanwrCongressman: 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?
Oh! For G-d sake!!! Refresh my memory here ... How many frakking times did JFK Jr. FAIL his bar exam??!!?????
This was an OBVIOUS nasty insult to this woman's intelligence and education AND her viability to be serving in the legal system of this country in any capacity, private or government, while trying to degrade a university of Christian origin.
Once again, another prime example of the democrats' bigoted intolerance towards conservative Christians.
I think it was three.
May 24, 2007 - 15:24 ET by motherbeltI think it was three. And I may be wrong, but I think it is not at all uncommon for people to fail the bar exam their first time.
Mark -- I am not aware of M
May 24, 2007 - 15:03 ET by Jack BauerMark -- I am not aware of Mr Cohen's religious (or not) affiliations or beliefs. But why substitute Muslim for Christian.
One could say, for instance Jewish. Do you think he might have rightly choked on the question...
That would be a disgusting and despicable question to pose. And no different from the one he asked without any media interest.
GMTA. I made that point in
May 24, 2007 - 15:05 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGMTA. I made that point in an "Aside" I added at the bottom of the item.
Sorry Mark -- missed that!
May 24, 2007 - 15:06 ET by Jack BauerSorry Mark -- missed that! Damn my failing eyes.
Anyone hear about the armband
May 24, 2007 - 15:15 ET by TruthMongerAnyone hear about the armbands Christians will have to start wearing pretty soon when we leave our ghettos for work everyday...?
I was also reminded of the (popular liberal legend of) Joe McCarthy - rooting out the "Pinko Christianists" in our midst...! Quite a witch hunt...
Of course, it's despicable,
May 24, 2007 - 15:22 ET by motherbeltOf course, it's despicable, Jack, and inconceivable that the congressman would ask that.
I also think it's despicable that Mr. Cohen's reaction was "That's refreshing" when he found out that there are more lawyers from Harvard and Yale than from Regent or other "Christian" universities.
Can you imagine the uproar if Ms. Goodling were actually a graduate of the Falwell-founded Liberty University????
mb...OMG...Now that thought i
May 24, 2007 - 15:30 ET by bigtimermb...
OMG...
Now that thought is laugh out loud funny!
Great point indeed!
motherbelt,Are you referring
May 24, 2007 - 16:56 ET by msh1973motherbelt,
Are you referring to the Liberty University School of Law? If so I am sure that would be more unacceptable to the liberal Senator. What a shame we have come to this place in the history of America. It was once a good thing to be a God fearing American, now we are looked upon as freaks.
I heard this yesterday Mark..
May 24, 2007 - 15:09 ET by bigtimerI heard this yesterday Mark...it was infuriating, you made a great point with how you turned it around here....I can just imagine what the outcry would of been in the media had it been reversed...we would still be hearing about this today and most likely on the Sunday shows.
That whole hearing was outrageous IMO, Bobby Scott and Sanchez made me see red.
From what I have seen so far from the hearings that I have watched or listened to with the dem's in control they are the same as before the Republicans had the majority, rude, crude and bullying....for me they act as spoiled mean rotten children...
For me it is embarrassing and they should be ashamed.
Okay, I went to Regent for
May 24, 2007 - 15:11 ET by terrigOkay, I went to Regent for 1 year of Law School but didn't know Ms. Goodling. I know that they have had some problems with bar passage but the school isn't that old either. I, also loved it at Regent myself because the people were kind and were interested in whether or not you got the info. All of my professors were from schools like Harvard & Yale & one of them Prof. James Duane descends from one of the first Justices on the Supreme Court. Anyway, of course they make fun of Regent because it's affiliated with Pat Robertson (who I am no fan of btw) but if it was affiliated with Hugo Chavez it would be a-okay by the idiot snobs in Congress. And for the grilling Bobby Scott gave her, I had to laugh. He's from Hampton and there are plenty of students who graduate from Hampton University at Regent Law School.
I should also add that I left Regent to get married. When I spoke to the Dean about leaving he told me that there are ABA certified law schools in many military places. He probably thought that since I was 36, I better jump on the offer of marriage. :)
Is there any doubt that cri
May 24, 2007 - 15:34 ET by JDWIs there any doubt that cries of bigotry would be echoing through the land
The ultimate goal is to force the resignation of Gonzales, Spanish and Christian orientation.
Simultaneously the dems are attempting to open the gates to the Mejicanos, again Spanish and Christian orientation.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Grilling of Goodling
May 24, 2007 - 16:19 ET by merlin61Everytime Congress "grills" someone, all they are doing is
hoping that everyone is agreeing with every pompous word they say. Right now, not just Christianity is under fire but religion in general. The leftists are never happy
Pres.Bush is right. Get this political ridiculous investigation over with. There has been nothing
done illegally reference firing these attorneys. The more
they talk, the more they make fools of themselves
Grilling of Goodling
May 24, 2007 - 16:20 ET by merlin61Everytime Congress "grills" someone, all they are doing is
hoping that everyone is agreeing with every pompous word they say. Right now, not just Christianity is under fire but religion in general. The leftists are never happy
Pres.Bush is right. Get this political ridiculous investigation over with. There has been nothing
done illegally reference firing these attorneys. The more
they talk, the more they make fools of themselves
gutless libs
May 24, 2007 - 16:55 ET by bulbasaurAfter cowering like girls from radical islamic terrorists, libs try to regain their wilted manhood by bullying Christians.
These phonies are so freaking transparent.
TN beliefs
May 24, 2007 - 17:10 ET by m1xramAnybody from TN out there? His contact page only accepts email from TN. Please let this guy know that some of us believe in the values that founded this country.
Use Contact Cohen link.
m1xram
Ya just have to think like
May 24, 2007 - 17:16 ET by MightyMouthYa just have to think like a liberal, Lie about which state you are from!! :-P
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Jesus: "If the world hat
May 25, 2007 - 02:16 ET by mattmJesus: "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." Jn 15:18
Steve Cohen's political behav
May 25, 2007 - 09:41 ET by Mike BrattonSteve Cohen's political behavior is an embarrassment to the state of Tennessee, and has been for quite awhile. Gerrymandering is probably the best reason to explain his presence in Congress, as it was for his presence in the Tennessee State Senate.
And for the record, his religion of choice is Orthodox Liberalism. Mr. Cohen's long-time support of things such as gambling-related initiatives that are at odds (pardon the pun) with the Judeo-Christian tradition have, over the years, clearly defined where his affiliation lies.
I understand that Ms. Goodling was attempting to be cooperative, but it would've been marvelous to see her bring the questioning to a clattering halt by responding "Congressman, what business is it of yours that I'm a Christian?"
--Mike