Senate: Boy Scouts 1, ACLU 0

[Abbey Normal]

Senate Approves Boy Scout Events on Military Bases
Tuesday, July 26, 2005


WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Tuesday to allow U.S. military bases to continue to host Boy Scouts events, responding to lawsuits and a federal court ruling aimed at severing relationships between the government and the youth group.

...

In a 98-0 vote, the Senate approved the provision continuing the hosting of Boy Scout events as part of massive bill setting Defense Department policy for next year. After the vote, Senate leaders decided to put off further debate and votes on the overall bill, probably until fall when Congress returns from a monthlong break.
...

Frist said it "removes any doubt that federal agencies may welcome Scouts to hold meetings, go camping on federal property or hold scouting events and public forums" on government property.

In 1999, the ACLU of Illinois filed a lawsuit claiming the Pentagon's sponsorship of such Boy Scout activities violates the First Amendment. The ACLU argues that direct government sponsorship of the group amounts to discrimination.

Civil liberties advocates have assailed the Boy Scouts organization because it bans openly gay leaders and compels members to swear an oath of duty to God.

On June 22, U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning ruled in the ACLU's favor, saying the Pentagon can't spend millions of dollars to sponsor Boy Scout events. She said in an earlier ruling that the government spent between $6 million and $8 million to host the Jamboree on a military base in 1997 and 2001.

The House in November overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution that recognized the Boy Scouts organization for its public service efforts and condemned legal efforts to limit government ties to the organization that has 3.2 million members.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163689,00.html

A couple of comments on this by Bill O'Reilly from a separate article:

"That means even the most liberal senators in the country oppose the ACLU, which want the Boy Scouts banned from all federal property and has sued to make that happen.

This is a stunning rejection of the extremist group and a huge victory for fair play in America. The ACLU has been trying to destroy the Boy Scouts ever since that organization decided to ban openly gay Scout leaders and require an allegiance to a higher power..."

 

[GotZoom]

Bravo to the Senate!

I'm waiting to hear from those who "don't like" certain people and see the spin they put on this.

And there are some who won't read it; therefore, saying it didn't happen

 

[Abbey Normal]

I agree, GZ.

O'Reilly predicted this story would get scant coverage on the networks and newspapers. I wonder if he is right?

 

[archangel]

the Senate told the ACLU to stuff it! :nine:

 

[Bonnie]

Three cheers on this one...We must celebrate every victory we manage to eek out...

 

[William Joyce]

Good job, U.S. Senate. That's acting like the wise body you're SUPPOSED to be.

Favorite case from the last few terms: Boy Scouts v. Dale. Scouts OK to exclude homosexuals.

 

[deaddude]

I am confused about this, why would the aclu want to prohibit boyscouts from visting military bases and so on? What is the point?

 

[archangel]

I am confused about this, why would the aclu want to prohibit boyscouts from visting military bases and so on? What is the point?

the ACLU is just mad that the Boy Scouts can stop Scout Leaders from being open Homosexuals(not allowed)...that is why they continue to attack the Boy Scouts as well as Christianity...the ACLU are nothing more than a front for perversion...pure and simple!

 

[Bonnie]

I am confused about this, why would the aclu want to prohibit boyscouts from visting military bases and so on? What is the point?

Basically the ACLU's argument is that bases are government property..and since in the Boy Scout oath they say the word God.. the ACLU has drawn the extremely ridiculous stretch that this is Government sponsored religion. I think they have way tooo much money and time on their hands!!!

 

[Gunny]

Basically the ACLU's argument is that bases are government property..and since in the Boy Scout oath they say the word God.. the ACLU has drawn the extremely ridiculous stretch that this is Government sponsored religion. I think they have way tooo much money and time on their hands!!!

The ACLU is a white collar terrorist organization bent on destroying anything that smacks of decency.

 

[William Joyce]

I am confused about this, why would the aclu want to prohibit boyscouts from visting military bases and so on? What is the point?

To the people who fund the ACLU, the Boy Scouts = Hitler Youth. The U.S. Military = The Wehrmacht. So anything you can do to disrupt either or both is seen as a plus.

 

[hylandrdet]

Senate Approves Boy Scout Events on Military Bases
Tuesday, July 26, 2005


WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Tuesday to allow U.S. military bases to continue to host Boy Scouts events, responding to lawsuits and a federal court ruling aimed at severing relationships between the government and the youth group.

...

In a 98-0 vote, the Senate approved the provision continuing the hosting of Boy Scout events as part of massive bill setting Defense Department policy for next year. After the vote, Senate leaders decided to put off further debate and votes on the overall bill, probably until fall when Congress returns from a monthlong break.
...

Frist said it "removes any doubt that federal agencies may welcome Scouts to hold meetings, go camping on federal property or hold scouting events and public forums" on government property.

In 1999, the ACLU of Illinois filed a lawsuit claiming the Pentagon's sponsorship of such Boy Scout activities violates the First Amendment. The ACLU argues that direct government sponsorship of the group amounts to discrimination.

Civil liberties advocates have assailed the Boy Scouts organization because it bans openly gay leaders and compels members to swear an oath of duty to God.

On June 22, U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning ruled in the ACLU's favor, saying the Pentagon can't spend millions of dollars to sponsor Boy Scout events. She said in an earlier ruling that the government spent between $6 million and $8 million to host the Jamboree on a military base in 1997 and 2001.

The House in November overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution that recognized the Boy Scouts organization for its public service efforts and condemned legal efforts to limit government ties to the organization that has 3.2 million members.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163689,00.html

A couple of comments on this by Bill O'Reilly from a separate article:

"That means even the most liberal senators in the country oppose the ACLU, which want the Boy Scouts banned from all federal property and has sued to make that happen.

This is a stunning rejection of the extremist group and a huge victory for fair play in America. The ACLU has been trying to destroy the Boy Scouts ever since that organization decided to ban openly gay Scout leaders and require an allegiance to a higher power..."

The ACLU is an A-political organization, they do not "target" organizations; they receive complaints and act on them. They defended the KKK and The Nation of Islam as well as attacked affirmative action, abortion and welfare.

The ACLU is the most hated organization in America for one reason... They don't take sides; therefore, liberals and conservatives bash them all the time! I don't like some of the things the ACLU does at times, but I do respect what they call themselves doing. They're trying to maintain equal rights to everyone; I would NOT want that job even if someone had put a gun to my head and was telling me to do it.

 

[Hobbit]

The ACLU is an A-political organization, they do not "target" organizations; they receive complaints and act on them. They defended the KKK and The Nation of Islam as well as attacked affirmative action, abortion and welfare.

The ACLU is the most hated organization in America for one reason... They don't take sides; therefore, liberals and conservatives bash them all the time! I don't like some of the things the ACLU does at times, but I do respect what they call themselves doing. They're trying to maintain equal rights to everyone; I would NOT want that job even if someone had put a gun to my head and was telling me to do it.

The ACLU picks their cases based on their own agenda and often needs no prompting from others. Every once in a while, they extend their hands to their normal targets, but only when they know the person will refuse. That way, they can sit back and say, "See, we're not biased." The Boy Scouts, displayes of the Ten Commandments, and any publicly displayed symbol of Christian origin are their primary targets. During Christmas, they continually targetted any public display of angels, stars, and nativity scenes while completely ignoring the Muslims symbols of Ramadan and the Jewish Hannakeiah (think I spelled that right). They've also been attacking the Boy Scouts for years. The ACLU also defend's NAMBLA's "right" to publish detailed how-to's on how to have sex with children without being caught.

As an Eagle Scout, I think it's safe to say that, as an organization, I hate the ACLU. Their utter contempt for the free expression of religion is only matched by their disrespect for the legal system. Did you know that after the Supreme Court ruled that Boy Scouts could use public land in San Diego, they turned around and sued the city for the same thing is civil court, and the city settled for millions of dollars and agreed not to let the Boy Scouts use public land?

In answer to an earlier question, the Boy Scouts are a typical target for the ACLU because their recognition of a higher power, policy of exluding open homosexuals, and teaching of traditional family values goes directly against the ACLU's agenda of socialism, complete sexual liberation, and rejection of God. The Boy Scouts also recieve much of their funding from churches. As such, the ACLU does everything within its power to cripple the organization, despite the fact that the U.S. government recognizes the leadership skills taught in the Boy Scouts are valuable enough to merit faster promotion through military NCO ranks or points towards a military academy appointment for successful completion of the Eagle Scout program.

 

[deaddude]

Basically the ACLU's argument is that bases are government property..and since in the Boy Scout oath they say the word God.. the ACLU has drawn the extremely ridiculous stretch that this is Government sponsored religion. I think they have way tooo much money and time on their hands!!!

that is idiotic.

 

[ScreamingEagle]

that is idiotic.

What is idiotic? Bonnie's post or the ACLU methodology?

Most people believe what Bonnie says and have voted accordingly. The ACLU however will continue to take its ridiculous legal stretching to the courts, the only place it stands a chance.
http://randal-robinson.redstate.org/story/2005/7/28/01132/5256

 

[fuzzykitten99]

....
As an Eagle Scout, I think it's safe to say that, as an organization, I hate the ACLU. Their utter contempt for the free expression of religion is only matched by their disrespect for the legal system. Did you know that after the Supreme Court ruled that Boy Scouts could use public land in San Diego, they turned around and sued the city for the same thing is civil court, and the city settled for millions of dollars and agreed not to let the Boy Scouts use public land? ...

Congrats on achieving the Eagle rank. It's not easy! My hubby was an Eagle scout, and his cousin is working towards it. His boss' son also just achieved the Eagle.

I can't wait until I get my son into Scouts. I think that any boy, no matter what background/upbringing they come from, if they join scouts, they are less likely to become criminals or do drugs. I think it has to do with being involved with others outside school, doing activities that require parents to get involved, and learning more about real life than school can ever teach.

 

[Abbey Normal]

...In answer to an earlier question, the Boy Scouts are a typical target for the ACLU because their recognition of a higher power, policy of exluding open homosexuals, and teaching of traditional family values goes directly against the ACLU's agenda of socialism, complete sexual liberation, and rejection of God...

Hobbit, you hit the proverbial nail right on the head. Great analysis.