Holy war on Regent's legal credentials

A mild holy war has broken out in 2141 Rayburn, as House Republicans are furious at Democrats on the Judiciary Committee for questioning the legal credentials of Monica Goodling as a law school graduate from Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia Beach.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), in the last set of questions before the lunch break, questioned why she attended a Christian-themed law school, at one point questioning its credentials because of the low rates of its graduates passing the bar. After going to public elementary and high school, she received her undergraduate degree from small Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. Then, after a year of law school at American University, she left for Regent. "I enjoyed being surrounded by people who had the same faith system," she told Cohen.

Cohen cited reports about a large number of Regent graduates holding positions in the Bush administration, prompting a sharp retort from Goodling: "I think we have a lot more people from Harvard and Yale."

"That's refreshing," Cohen said. This comment prompted loud murmuring of disapproval from the Republican side of the dais, and then brought a sharp rebuke from Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) after the lunch break, noting that Regent beat Harvard at a recent law school debate forum.

"It's not a good day," Forbes said of the attack on Regent.

Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa) then revealed his research on the universities of Harvard and Yale. "The founder was John Harvard, who was a young minister," he said, noting Yale's founding apparently was part of backlash because of Harvard's departure from its "Calvinistic heritage" in the early 18th Century.

King, speaking for conservatives, vowed to "stand up for all our principles."

This has been a mild distraction, but it's part of the overall Republican defense effort to shore up Goodling -- and, more importantly, to shore up Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Justice Department.

Unlike Senate Republicans, who have continually criticized Gonzales, including six calls for his resignation, House Republicans continue to defend Justice.

Here's a sampling of Judiciary Republican comments today regarding Goodling -- who has already admitted she "crossed the line" and might have violated federal laws in hiring career prosecutors by considering political affiliation -- and the entire scandal:

• Tom Feeney (Fla.): "You've conducted yourself with a lot of class."
• Forbes: "There not only is no evidence of wrongdoing, there is no allegation."
• King: "This is a circus without a cause."
• Mike Pence (R-Ind.): "I am troubled by the fact that we have seem to be ever further moving down the road to the criminalization of politics."

By Paul Kane |  May 23, 2007; 3:00 PM ET
Previous: Goodling: ISO 'Ideologically compatible' DOJ staff | Next: Goodling: Talk with AG was 'uncomfortable'

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Well, when political criminals are working in the department of justice what do you expoect but the criminalization of politics.

Pokitics should be a crime...and when you are dealing with DOJ it ALREADY IS!

SEND THE POLITICAL CRIMINALS NAMED "ROVE, CHENEY, AND GONZALES" TO PRISON

Posted by: JBE | May 23, 2007 3:16 PM

Well, when political criminals are working in the department of justice what do you expect but the criminalization of politics.

Pokitics should be a crime...and when you are dealing with DOJ it ALREADY IS!

SEND THE POLITICAL CRIMINALS NAMED "ROVE, CHENEY, AND GONZALES" TO PRISON

Posted by: JBE | May 23, 2007 3:16 PM

Well, when political criminals are working in the department of justice what do you expect but the criminalization of politics.

Pokitics should be a crime...and when you are dealing with DOJ it ALREADY IS!

SEND THE POLITICAL CRIMINALS NAMED "ROVE, CHENEY, AND GONZALES" TO PRISON

Posted by: JBE | May 23, 2007 3:16 PM

C'mon JBE, don't triple post, that's rude.

I think it's quite correct to question Regent's legal credentials. They view law thru the Bible, and not thru the constitution.

Posted by: lzrdldy | May 23, 2007 3:35 PM

Criminalization of politics vs politicization of justice. Ask Americans which is the lesser evil.

Posted by: Grep | May 23, 2007 3:36 PM

We need -- and quickly -- a grassroots movement to promote and defend secular government in this country. Need inspiration? Just look at the Turks and the millions who have been out in the streets in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Samsun for just that reason. The religious right would have us believe that the only threats to the U.S. come from outside of our borders -- but it's just a smokescreen to keep their own evil deeds under wraps.

People - let's wake up and mobilize.

Posted by: goldengateview | May 23, 2007 4:00 PM

I'm with you, goldengate. The questions about Regent's credentials are valid and on-point.

The comments about the supposed absence of wrongdoing begs the question about Goodling's immunity from all but perjury. If she did nothing wrong, she wouldn't be seeking protection from prosecution. This story is far from over.

Posted by: waterbird | May 23, 2007 4:11 PM

Moving *even further* down the road to the criminalization of politics? Nope. This sort of politicalization of Justice is well established as criminal. That's why Goodling needed immunity. By suggesting that she's has done nothing wrong, GOP House members are moving us in exactly the opposite direction, i.e., toward the decriminalization of politics in a Department that is supposed to free of partisan decesions, hiring and otherwise.

Posted by: Ian | May 23, 2007 4:22 PM

Why doesn't anyone put it right out there, ask her directly what makes her qualified to judge the ability of USA's and their performance history? Ask her what in her past work history qualifies her to hold such a high position in our government?What sort of prosecutorial work has she performed that gives her the qualifications to decide who should work at the DOJ?

Posted by: ed barrett | May 23, 2007 4:27 PM

I don't think it is fair to criticize Regents credentials. It is accredited by the ABA.

As far as her credentials for the positions she has had in government the best people to ask about that are the ones that hired her.

I think she and DOJ has done a terrible job under Gonzo and questioning Goodling to find out how dept works is appropriate.

IF no one at DOJ compiled list of USDA's to remove then it up to Congress to find out who created the list. Clearly everybody currently at DOJ says they didn't do it. I think it is time to bring Gonzo and McNulty back for more questions.

Posted by: pensfans | May 23, 2007 4:38 PM

I don't think it is fair to criticize Regents credentials. It is accredited by the ABA.

As far as her credentials for the positions she has had in government the best people to ask about that are the ones that hired her.

I think she and DOJ has done a terrible job under Gonzo and questioning Goodling to find out how dept works is appropriate.

IF no one at DOJ compiled list of USDA's to remove then it up to Congress to find out who created the list. Clearly everybody currently at DOJ says they didn't do it. I think it is time to bring Gonzo and McNulty back for more questions.

Posted by: pensfans | May 23, 2007 4:38 PM

And Gonzo went to Harvard
Who got the better education?

Posted by: | May 23, 2007 5:03 PM

In response to her testimony republicans claimed:

Forbes: "There not only is no evidence of wrongdoing, there is no allegation."
• King: "This is a circus without a cause."
• Mike Pence (R-Ind.): "I am troubled by the fact that we have seem to be ever further moving down the road to the criminalization of politics."

She admitted to breaking the law for God's sake! Have they no shame.

Posted by: James | May 23, 2007 5:11 PM

I was raised a Christian evanglical, all the way through college (private, "Christian" schools all the way) -- until I dropped out near the very end. Most conservative evangelical Christians will NEVER -- I repeat, NEVER -- concede that anything is wrong with this administration. To them, Bush has "Christian principles" and can do no wrong. Don't believe me? Check out the letters to the editor in any small midwestern or southern newspaper. To them, if you question GWB or the Republicans -- and/or anything connected with them and their beliefs -- you are insulting God and Jesus Christ.

That's what we're dealing with here, people. It really is.

Posted by: goldengateview | May 23, 2007 5:32 PM

regent hasn't been as much in the news lately as a place in lynchburg, va., called "liberty" -- which now also has a law school churning out a new generation of true believers who will gladly do as goodling has done, given the opportunity. what they may lack in academic bona fides they more than make up for in $$$ and organization, which is how the evangelicals came to control the social agenda of the GOP. and while they'll be a force for their peculiar point of view for the forseeable future, i predict that the bush administration will do such damage to the republicans' electoral fortunes for the next couple of election cycles that they won't be much of a threat. that is, until the cycle returns them to power -- and then, look out!

Posted by: Billy P | May 23, 2007 5:58 PM

Amen, Billy. In the meantime, I'm considering other countries in which to spend the rest of my life -- away from all of the craziness that has taken over "The Homeland."

Posted by: goldengateview | May 23, 2007 6:05 PM

I have to say that these ataacks on the Regent University have been unfair and I think it is no worse than Harvard/Yale. Regent produced Monica Goodling and Harvard/Yale produced George W. Bush. Hence, they are of the same quality: they produce incomptetent and dangerous administrators. Considering the number of lawyer senators from Harvard/Yale we have, I am not sure they differ in the quality of lawyers.

Posted by: RC | May 23, 2007 6:41 PM

THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE DEISTS WHO KNEW THE DANGER OF A THEOCRACY AND INSISTED ON SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT 'GOD' GIVES THEM ORDERS ARE SUFFERING FROM FRONTAL LOBE DISFUNCTIONS.

Posted by: Fair Eve | May 23, 2007 7:11 PM

THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE DEISTS WHO KNEW THE DANGER OF A THEOCRACY AND INSISTED ON SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT 'GOD' GIVES THEM ORDERS ARE SUFFERING FROM FRONTAL LOBE DISFUNCTIONS.

Posted by: Fair Eve | May 23, 2007 7:11 PM

This so called evangelical universities, such as Liberty and Regent are the equivalent of a Madrasa in Pakistan, nothing but places of indoctrination into fanatical religious purity and anybody who disagrees is going to hell, these people think that they are right because they say so and that is the end of it !!, how sickening !!

Posted by: | May 23, 2007 7:52 PM

Everyone is speaking on the rebel rousing Christian right and rightly so. I grew up in one of the sick narcissistic towns where people suffer from Frontal Lobe dysfunctions where folk will tell you that God told them to take all of an old persons' money, refuse those that care about them to see them, and will watch the old person suffer and die, all because God told them so. I mean the idiots will actually cause an elderly person to suffer in the last days of their life.

No one has asked the question or checked out the statistics, but I would like to know the number of Justice Department employees that graduated from Bob Jones University roaming the halls.

The religious schools are exempt from getting financial aid when folk become preachers, but how many of them have infiltrated the government? Is that why so much of the government is failing? America is doomed to fail as long as we keep this leadership.

Posted by: scheduler | May 23, 2007 8:06 PM

Is it Ironic that when you fly into the Norfolk/VA Beach airport that there is a Regent Univ and Pat Robertson ad next to a Hooters ad?? (The ads change from time to time but most often that is what it is!)
I was offered a scholarship to Regents Law program and turned it down. As a Christian I could not stomach the indoctrination that was obviously part of the curriculum.

Posted by: a mom | May 24, 2007 8:20 AM

Another example of the Bush-Cheney race-to-the-bottom in filling government positions. I guess their criteria for employment is, "how bad can you screw things up?"

Posted by: | May 24, 2007 8:35 AM

Now we know who the real terrorists are. Native Americans knew that the bible thumper types were hypocrites from the years of dealing with them trying to convert us while they were stealing us blind.

We have a secular country based on freedom, not godmyths, never forget that.

Posted by: pre-amerikkkan | May 24, 2007 11:07 AM

i am ashamed to admit Feeney is my rep. of course i did not vote for him nor does he respond to my emails aletters or any other correspondence i have ever sent the man. Oh by the Feeney also actively worked to keep us from getting a way to do a proper recount in elections with those awful touch screen computers.

Posted by: doug12342 | May 24, 2007 11:20 AM

With the advent of Bush & Co. administration, it wasn't long that Lady Justice lost her blindfold. With the right winging phoney christians filling up govt. positions advocating war and profits, why is it necessary for them to put on horse blinders after they stripped Lady Justice's clothes, too? Afraid to see her nakedness? By the way, why not melt that other Lady in New York for ammo so we Americans can keep on killing the "unbelievers" and make more armor for our obeying and dying troops? Save the babies so they can grow up to be cannon fodder? That's besmirching the real patriots who sacrificed for this country's preservation, only to see it whittle away little by lttle, so unperceptible we don't even notice it.

Posted by: Dale Lovins | May 24, 2007 1:43 PM

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