Ben Sasse has likely won the real general election in the heavily red state of Nebraska: the GOP primary. In 2012, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried this state by 21 points over Barrack Obama. Sasse hopes to fill the senate seat currently held by Senator Mike Johanns, who also served as Secretary of Agriculture under George W. Bush.
So what are Sasse’s views? He believes that no one should be required to violate their religious views even if that requires breaking the law. Quite likely, Sasse’s views are being narrowly framed within the context that the religious expression he’s considering are Christian and deal with the ability to practice the counsel handed down by Jesus Christ. However, it appears that Sasse may not realize the full impact of his statement. If his views that practicing freedom of religion trumps all other considerations including the rule of law, he has established the very premise upon which the 9/11 terrorists operated.
The political left is aghast as the brazen nature with which Sasse would impose a virtual state of anarchy in the name of freedom of religion. However true their assessment would be if Sasse’s views ever became standard practice nationally, it also does not differ from liberal judicial activism.
The practice that justices abrogate laws under the notion that the justices are the arbiters of what constitutionality means to them is as arbitrary as anything Sasse is suggesting. Nevertheless, Sasse should soon begin to temper his views once the reality of what he’s advocating becomes clear.