We reported earlier on the troubling comments from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) during a hearing for Riley Barnes, who was nominated for Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. While Kaine claimed he believed in "natural rights," he said the following.
FOUNDING: Senator Tim Kaine made a full throated rejection of our founding principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence. pic.twitter.com/Dt0XlOllHI
— @amuse (@amuse) September 4, 2025
The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator... that’s what the Iranian government believes. It’s a theocratic regime that bases its rule on Sharia law and targets Sunnis, Bahá’ís, Jews, Christians, and other religious minorities. And they do it because they believe that they understand what natural rights are from their Creator. So, the statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) just eviscerated this take, saying the "radical and dangerous notion" that Kaine appeared to have a problem with was the founding principle of our nation.
READ MORE: Watch: Ted Cruz Lays Waste to Tim Kaine During Hearing Over Stunning Ignorance of Founding Documents
Kaine is allegedly Catholic. So he might want to listen to this response from Catholic Bishop Robert Barron.
I’d like to respond to a disturbing contention from Senator Tim Kaine, during a recent confirmation hearing. pic.twitter.com/hvaYlQQybi
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) September 4, 2025
Barron said he found Kaine's comments very troubling. It struck him that Kaine is saying that as a senator from Virginia, the state of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, both of whom took it as "fundamental" that our rights don't come from the government, but from God. Barron then noted the words of Jefferson - that we are "created" equal, and endowed "by our Creator with certain inalienable rights."
Barron:
"Basic to Jefferson was the fact that rights come first - they're not invented by the government. Rather, government exists...to secure these rights...These rights are inalienable...because they come not from the government, but from God. If the government creates our rights, it can take them away. If the government is responsible for our rights, well, then it can change them."
He pointed out how totalitarian systems of the 20th century worked to deny God and people's rights, when it served their purposes, and that it gave "the government God-like power."
Barron believed this was another example of the "marginalization" of religion, if not the outright hostility toward it. "I'm speaking out against this statement, not only as a Catholic bishop, but as a proud American," he said.
Good on Barron for speaking up - more of this to defend our fundamental liberties.
He is right, and the marginalization is not just on this specific issue. We also saw Democrats marginalizing prayer in the Minnesota church shooting. It's one thing to have different policy positions on mass shootings or gun laws, but in that case, you had people like former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki attacking prayer and saying, "Enough with thoughts and prayers."
READ MORE: JD Vance Crushes Jen Psaki and Those Attacking Prayer After Minnesota Church Shooting
Jen Psaki Gets Wrecked After Despicable Remarks About Trump, Prayer, and Minnesota Mass Shooting
On this particular issue of natural rights, every member of Congress should know this - or they don't understand the fundamental nature of our country.
Editor’s Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject its globalist agenda.
Help us continue exposing Democrats' plans to lead America down a dangerous path. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member