Sen. Cory Booker, like so many Democrats these days, has a problem with religion. But fortunately for him, the media are giving him cover.
Not one of the mainstream newspapers or wire services reported on Booker's badgering of U.S. Appeals Court nominee Neomi Rao. On February 5, Booker sought to pressure her to discuss whether she thinks homosexuality is sinful. With the exception of NBC and Fox News, none of the broadcast TV stations or cable news outlets covered this story.
Booker has gay sex on his mind. "Are gay relationships, in your opinion, immoral?" He then went for the kill. "So you're not willing to say here...whether you believe it is sinful for two men to be married, you're not willing to comment on that?" (My italic.)
Why have most of the media refused to run this story? Is it because they know that religion has become the third rail for Democrats? Is this why they decided not to draw attention to Booker's religion-baiting?
How far do Booker, and all the Democrats he speaks for (which is most of them these days), want to push this line of questioning?
Hinduism is Rao's religion. Mortal sins in her religion, which are known as the Mahapatakas, include showing disrespect for a teacher. On the Sabbath, Orthodox Jews are prohibited from writing two or more letters. Islam regards as sinful a woman's bad conduct toward her husband (but not vice versa).
Are Booker and his fellow Democrats prepared to ask prospective federal court appointees, who ascribe to these religions, if they regard such practices as sinful?
Booker was raised in a Christian family. He is also an admitted sex offender. Does he think Christianity is wrong to regard fornication, adultery, and homosexuality as sinful? Was it sinful of him to grope a drunken 15-year-old girl when he was in high school? He bragged about it when he was in college. Was that sinful?
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said that "Sin is very serious, but it is more serious to deny sin." It would be instructive to know what Booker thinks about that, and how he decides what is sinful and what is not. After all, if the Ten Commandments don't count, why should opinions matter, including his?