[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS ATTACK ``RADICAL RIGHT'' FUNDAMENTALISTS

  (Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the headline in yesterday's Roll 
Call newspaper says it all: ``Dems Unleash on `Radical Right.''' 
Apparently at 2 o'clock this afternoon one of the leading Democrat 
Members of Congress is going to start that attack in earnest. I happen 
to think that that is a big mistake politically for the Democrat Party. 
After all, I think it is very good that we encourage people that have 
religious beliefs to become involved in the political process. Our 
Founding Fathers were men and women of strong religious conviction, and 
many of the original 13 colonies were founded by Pilgrims trying to 
escape religious persecution in Europe.
  I think the Democrats are making a real political mistake to resort 
to any religious bigotry. I think we need to look beyond the headlines. 
I personally do not think there is anything radical at all about people 
when religion plays a role in their daily lives and they happen to 
think they should do more for themselves instead of asking for 
government to do more and more. They happen to read the Bible, and some 
of them can even recite the Ten Commandments. If we had more people 
like that, I think our Government would be better off.

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