# Grand Inquisitor Cory Booker **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 7, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137 "2019-02-07T20:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/41 "2019-02-07T23:35:30Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > It absolutely could be. Many sects of Christianity believe that homosexuality is immoral. You seem to be implying that only Christianity has this issue; are you implying that? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/42 "2019-02-07T23:46:15Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > … > What is he trying to prove? > … OK, I got this one. Easy easy easy. He’s trying to prove what the nominee thinks about gay people. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/43 "2019-02-08T00:04:40Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > What you are saying is that you can belong to any religion or sect that you want so long as you disavow what is part of what that sect believes is an important part of its faith. Are you really saying that those whose religious beliefs would engender prejudice (or worse) against those of a different religion, should be allowed to do so? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/44 "2019-02-08T00:44:21Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Are you really saying that those whose religious beliefs would engender prejudice (or worse) against those of a different religion, should be allowed to do so? It’s the classic “tolerance of intolerance” argument. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/45 "2019-02-08T01:15:01Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Believing that gay sex is immoral is not prejudice against gay people. Wrong. > [@](#): > > Prejudice against gay people would be believing that they should be treated differently from straight people under the law. Such as, for example, thinking gay people shouldn’t be allowed to get married? Cool. That’s all Booker was asking her, after all. Why are you complaining about Booker trying to make sure a candidate for a judgeship isn’t prejudiced? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/46 "2019-02-08T01:22:25Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > It absolutely could be. Many sects of Christianity believe that homosexuality is immoral. You cannot game the system that way. Imagine a judicial applicant who had in the past participated in virulently racist demonstrations. Would you be okay with asking this applicant, “Do you believe that nonwhite people should be murdered and that the United States should grant rights only to white people?” Because that’s a religious position held by the World Church of the Creator–indeed, it’s just about their only position. And courts have held it to be a religiously-protected position. Game the system indeed. If someone has a fucked up belief, I don’t give a shit what supernatural reason they give for holding the fucked up belief. They shouldn’t have power over others. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/47 "2019-02-08T01:43:12Z")
Yawn, it’s the old “You’re bigoted against bigoted people!” thing again. Never mind that Republicans are really actually doing the things you’re pretending Democrats do. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/48 "2019-02-08T01:57:48Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > … Many sects of Christianity believe that homosexuality is immoral. You cannot game the system that way. You might as well say that any Muslim can hold political office so long as he eats pork or believes that Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel. > > … Ok, so lets say that Republicans nomiate a Muslim to the court, and then… alright, even I couldn’t keep a straight face for that one. Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/49 "2019-02-08T02:15:05Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Such as, for example, thinking gay people shouldn’t be allowed to get married? Of course gay people should be allowed to get married. They are human beings, and are thereby entitled to human rights. The issue is “what is marriage?” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/50 "2019-02-08T02:21:08Z")
Yeah, so of course what is it? ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/51 "2019-02-08T02:31:31Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Yeah, so of course what is it? A topic for another thread 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/52 "2019-02-08T02:33:54Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Of course gay people should be allowed to get married. They are human beings, and are thereby entitled to human rights. > > The issue is “what is marriage?” This is a question you posed in this thread, not another one. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/53 "2019-02-08T02:41:52Z")
It was a statement. The question was rhetorical in order to state the issue. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/54 "2019-02-08T02:44:10Z")
The issue is rhetorical. Gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/55 "2019-02-08T02:46:51Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Of course gay people should be allowed to get married. They are human beings, and are thereby entitled to human rights. Then what is your objection to Booker’s line of questioning? Surely, we don’t want to seat justices who are opposed to human rights? > [@](#): > > The issue is “what is marriage?” What do you mean by that? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/56 "2019-02-08T02:52:44Z")
I love when people are completely transparent but believe they’re pulling off some kind of trick… ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/57 "2019-02-08T03:28:14Z")
Well, this gay man happens to be a practicing Catholic, and all sex outside marriage is a sin. That is marriage as a Sacrament of the Church. Civil marriage is a completely different thing. People in common-law marriages are living in a state of sin according to most(all?) denominations but that doesn’t make them bad people, and no one expects them to be discriminated against in a court of law. Civil marriage for gay couples(or any couple) is a good thing for lots of legal and financial reasons but that does not preclude it being sinful. Am I prejudiced against myself because I think the piece of paper/legal designation from the county doesn’t constitute a real, sacramental, marriage? Suppose Senator Booker had asked if eating meat on Good Friday was a sin and Neomi Rao had replied in the affirmative - would that mean no one would believe she was capable of applying the law fairly to someone who does not fast and abstain? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/58 "2019-02-08T03:36:18Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Believing that gay sex is immoral is not prejudice against gay people. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/59 "2019-02-08T05:34:00Z")
One Party has implied over and over ad nauseam that it’s all about religion. We even learn from the WH PressSec that Trump, the most immoral man ever to even fantasize about becoming President, was chosen by God. Was it Jerry Falwell or Billy Graham’s son who said just a few days ago that Trump is the greatest President since George Washington? Then a Democratic Senator uses a word like “morality.” The right-wing babbles about “Intelligent design”, “Christian values,” “homosexuality is forbidden by Leviticus,” et cetera et cetera. Then a Democratic Senator dares to use a word like “morality.” Now the self-same Intelligent-design nuts, homophobes, global-warming-is-god’s-will hypocrites want to babble about … about what? About the First Amendment Right to be immoral? Right-wing American political opinion today most resembles a sequence of badly-written Monty Python skits. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/60 "2019-02-08T06:07:55Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > Well, this gay man happens to be a practicing Catholic, and all sex outside marriage is a sin. That is marriage as a Sacrament of the Church. Civil marriage is a completely different thing. People in common-law marriages are living in a state of sin according to most(all?) denominations but that doesn’t make them bad people, and no one expects them to be discriminated against in a court of law. Of course not. Because most of those couples are heterosexual. > [@](#): > > Civil marriage for gay couples(or any couple) is a good thing… I believe the official stance of your church disagrees, does it not? How much did the Catholic church pour into the Prop 8 campaign in California again? Look, my family is Irish Catholic. My mom goes to mass three times a week. She’s also pro-choice and pro-gay rights, and an ardent feminist. I’m not saying that Catholics are automatically homophobes: I get that most American Catholics are significantly more moral than the Church they attend. But when someone’s up for a position where they’ll have significant influence over the rights of a large number of citizens, the fact that they profess a faith that is actively fighting against our rights is a significant concern - doubly so when her political association teaches exactly the same thing. Booker is absolutely right to question her on this issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137.md?page=4)