The government shutdown showdown and recent development in the Russia investigation provided a perfect distraction for the liberal media to avoid reporting on recent accusations of anti-Catholic bigotry from prominent Democratic Senators and the pushback from a party colleague.
In a confirmation hearing late last year and a later questionnaire, District Court nominee Brian C. Buescher was assailed for his Catholic beliefs and membership in the Knights of Columbus by Democratic Senators Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Kamala Harris of California. The incident, which went unreported by the broadcast network news programs, was back in the news Thursday following a rebuke from Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Hint, the networks ignored that too.
During a segment on Fox News Channel’s Special Report on Thursday, anchor Bret Baier dedicated time to reporting on the “growing controversy within the Democratic Party about Catholicism. Many progressives have been publicly critical, even contemptuous of the faith and at least one fellow Democrat has had enough.”
The report by correspondent Doug McKelway began with a historic quote by Democratic President John F. Kennedy who had to fight an anti-Catholic bias to become president. “The election of John F. Kennedy changed the trajectory of anti-Catholicism in U.S. politics,” McKelway recalled. “Critics say it’s spreading again, in the party of Kennedy.”
“I do not feel assured that you will be able to put aside your personal feelings. And your ideological propensities,” Hirono chided Buescher in a soundbite from the November 28 hearing. McKelway showed how Hirono and Harris pressed him on leaving the organization:
Buescher is also 1 of 1.9 million members of the Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic charitable organization. In a follow-up questionnaire to his confirmation hearing, Senators Hirono and fellow Democrat Kamala Harris peppered Buescher over whether he will end his membership or recruits himself from relevant cases.
And in a powerful rebuke written for The Hill, Gabbard blasted those two Senators by reminding readers that “politicians have weaponized religion for their own selfish gain, fomenting bigotry, fears and suspicions based on the faith, religion or spiritual practices of their political opponents.”
“We must stand together, and with one voice condemn those who seek to incite bigotry based on religion,” she continued. Gabbard even condemned California’s other Democratic Senator, Dianne Feinstein:
No American should be told that his or her public service is unwelcome because “the dogma lives loudly within you” as Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said to Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearings in 2017 to serve as U.S. Circuit Court judge in the 7th Circuit.
In a spiteful response, Hirono lashed out Hawaii colleague saying, “It is unfortunate that Congresswoman Gabbard based her misguided opinion on the far-right wing manipulation of these straightforward questions.”
“Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh faced a similar inquisition from Democrats and their allies,” McKelway added. “Both Justices attended Catholic Georgetown Prep School. It was recently skewered and a Vanity Fair piece headlined, “‘Inside Georgetown Prep’s Culture of Omerta’. That’s a mafia phrase for, ‘code of silence’.”
Anticipating even more anti-Catholic bigotry from the Democrats, McKelway noted that “[n]ext week, confirmation hearings get underway for attorney general nominee William Barr, he too is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is a Catholic, a constituency the Republican see is ripe for courting.”
This omission of anti-Catholic bigotry of Democrats comes from the same liberal media that does the same Democratic anti-Semitism.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
January 10, 2019
6:12:29 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Back in this country there is growing controversy within the Democratic Party about Catholicism. Many progressives have been publicly critical, even contemptuous of the faith and at least one fellow Democrat has had enough. Correspondent Doug McKelway shows us tonight.
[Cuts to video]
JOHN F. KENNEDY: I'm not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for president.
DOUG MCKELWAY: The election of John F. Kennedy changed the trajectory of anti-Catholicism in U.S. politics. Critics say it’s spreading again, in the party of Kennedy. The latest target they say is U.S. District Court nominee Brian Buescher, who is Catholic and pro-life.
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO: I do not feel assured that you will be able to put aside your personal feelings. And your ideological propensities.
BRIAN BUESCHER: I will absolutely enforce and apply Roe vs. Wade. It’s Supreme Court precedence of the United States.
MCKELWAY: Buescher is also 1 of 1.9 million members of the Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic charitable organization. In a follow-up questionnaire to his confirmation hearing, Senators Hirono and fellow Democrat Kamala Harris peppered Buescher over whether he will end his membership or recruits himself from relevant cases.
The grilling proved too much for Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. This week she called out Hirono and other Democrats who have, quote, “weaponized religion for their own selfish gain”. She cited the constitutions, there “shall be no religious test” for those seeking public office.
Hirono refused Fox’s request for an interview but sent a statement that read in part, quote, “it is unfortunate that Congresswoman Gabbard based her misguided opinion on the far-right wing manipulation of these straightforward questions.”
Hirono and Harris are not alone. California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein grilled another judicial nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, about her pro-life Catholicism.
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: The dogma lives loudly within you.
MCKELWAY: Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh faced a similar inquisition from Democrats and their allies. Both Justices attended Catholic Georgetown Prep School. It was recently skewered and a Vanity Fair piece headlined, “Inside Georgetown Prep’s Culture of Omerta”. That’s a mafia phrase for, “code of silence”.
[Cuts back to live]
Next week, confirmation hearings get underway for attorney general nominee William Barr, he too is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is a Catholic, a constituency the Republican see is ripe for courting.
