Judges and Christian Values

[Bradley S. Clanton]

Although I certainly cannot speak to the candidate's motivation, I believe
it is certainly possible, in an election in the Bible Belt, that the
candidate did not use the term "Christian values" to emphasize the fact
that his opponent was Jewish.  (That does not mean, of course, that he was
not trying to "distinguish himself" from his opponent.  That's the whole
point of a campaign.)  The term "Christian values" has appeal in that
region whether or not the candidate's opponent is Jewish.  And many people
(particularly those who study the Bible) recognize that "Christian values"
are in fact Jewish in origin.  Assuming then, that the candidate was not
trying to appeal to anti-Semitic sentiments, why shouldn't the voters be
made aware of his adherence to "Christian values"?  Isn't this just like
volunteering at the soup kitchen and leading a Girl Scout troop?

As for what happen to judges being "fair," I am certain that any judge who
actually adheres to "Judeo-Christian values" will be fair.  It is the judge
that adheres to no value system that I am afraid of.



To:       RELIGIONLAW @ LISTSERV.UCLA.EDU
cc:        (bcc: Brad Clanton/WRF)
From:     JLSatty @ AOL.COM @ SMTP
Date:     11/09/98 07:52:02 PM
Subject:  Re: Judges and Christian Values




In a message dated 11/9/98 5:11:51 PM Central Standard Time,
bclanton at WRF.COM
writes:
<<  (I am assuming, of course, that the "Christian values" slogan
 was not intended by the candidate to distinguish himself from his Jewish
 opponent.  >>
Does anyone really think there was any other reason to use that language
other
than as a comparison to his opponent?  Lets not kid ourselves.  Either
"family
values" or "traditional values" or any of the other cute phrases would do.
Here the idea is clearly to distinguish himself from the non-Christian.
Mind
you, I agree he has a right to say it--it just frightens me that it appeals
to
people.  What happened to judges just being fair?
Joel L. Sogol
Attorney at Law