First Amendment Caution

James Dobson, the religious nut just down the freeway in Colorado Springs, has announced that he supports the appointment of Samuel Alito to the US Supreme Court. The Senate needs to beware when things like this come out.

The First Amendment to the Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". Whenever a religious leader or organization establishes a position for or against an issue or candidate before Congress, there is a significant chance that the position reflects their religious views. It also likely is in opposition to the religious views of other citizens. Therefore, although not necessarily always true, voting in Congress in line with the leader of any religious group has a good chance of being in violation of the First Amendment.