And because we have understood that our source is eternal, America has been different. We have no king but Jesus. Anticipating that critics might allege that Ashcroft does not support the separation of church and state, a Bush spokesman noted that former Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman had made similar comments about religion having a place in public life.
Faith is an important part of the fabric of our society.
Nevertheless, the speech seemed sure to become ammunition for critics who want to prevent the Senate from confirming Ashcroft as the nation's top prosecutor and law-enforcement official. The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled hearing Tuesday on Ashcroft's nomination. Critics on the left had drawn attention to the speech even before they knew what Ashcroft said. That was because of the location. Bob Jones University once forbade interracial dating, and because its founder once likened the Pope to Satan, Bush had to apologize to Catholics after speaking there during the 2000 Republican presidential primary campaign.