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is a Political Demagogue Alabaman Won't Remove Two Ton Tablets from State Building Defiance of Federal Court 'Shameless Grandstanding' says AU Americans United for Separation of Church and State
"Instead of filing writs, Moore should call it quits," said Lynn. "He simply doesn't understand or respect this country's Constitution, and he should resign from office. "Moore has put Alabama citizens through enough," Lynn concluded. "By turning the Alabama Judicial Building into his personal pulpit, Moore has violated the Constitution. His continued defiance of the federal courts is even worse, provoking a constitutional crisis that dishonors his state and will cost its citizens dearly. This shameless grandstanding must stop." In an obvious attempt to inflame public opinion against the federal courts, Moore used an Aug. 14 press conference and several media appearances to repeat his argument that the federal courts have no power to enforce church-state separation in Alabama. "Alabama will never give up its right to acknowledge God," Moore said yesterday at an afternoon press gathering in front of the 5,280-pound Ten Commandments monument and before a delighted throng of his supporters. "They have no power, no authority, no jurisdiction to tell the state of Alabama that we cannot acknowledge God as the source of our law." Moore's announcement comes only days before the Aug. 20 deadline for the monument's removal. On July 1, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld District Judge Myron Thompson's ruling that the Ten Commandments display is a blatant violation of the First Amendment principle of church-state separation. Thompson issued an order on Aug. 5 giving Moore until the 20th to remove the monument or be found in contempt of court. Thompson's order made clear that Moore's obstinacy will exact a heavy toll on Alabama taxpayers. Fines could start at $ 5,000 a day and increase substantially every week thereafter. In addition to stating his refusal to abide by a lawful injunction, Moore fired ad hominem attacks at Thompson, accusing him of "abuse of power," and yet again sought to ratchet up public support for his defiance. Indeed as an Aug. 13 editorial from The New York Times noted, Moore "has built his career on demagoguing about the Ten Commandments." Religious Right outfits are organizing large rallies in favor of Moore's action and encouraging his supporters to descend upon the judicial building to prevent the monument's removal. After the press conference, Moore said in an interview with the Fox News channel that he has no objection to civil disobedience. |
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore