Week Ending November 5, 2004
Religious Freedom Coalition
November 5, 2004 8:42PM EST

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 5, 2004

HOUSE AND SENATE IN RECESS UNTIL NOVEMBER 16TH

THE PRESIDENCY

THE BIG WINNER

With the help of "culture voters" President George W. Bush received more votes than any man who has ever run for the presidency. George W. Bush was the first candidate for president to win more than 50% of the votes since his father did in 1988. President Bill Clinton did not win 50% of the vote in either election he won. George W. Bush also drove a campaign that increased the presence of the Republican Party in both the House and the Senate. With the defeat of his nemesis, Senator Tom Daschle, and an increase of four seats in the Senate for the Republicans, it is much more likely that the Supreme Court Justices Bush  nominates will be confirmed. This victory vindicated him and authenticated his leadership and his presidency. In his acceptance remarks on Wednesday after Senator Kerry conceded, the President made it clear that he wanted America to heal and for the vindictiveness to stop. The President said, "... I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent: To make this nation stronger and better I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."

CULTURE VOTER WINNER

President George W. Bush was reelected to the presidency for four more years with the help of what the media is now calling the "culture voter." Pollsters were shocked to learn that the culture, not terrorism and not the economy, was the number one issue with many voters. In Ohio, the key state that placed Bush over the top in electoral votes, the cultural issues were cited as number one by 27% of the voters. Liberals, particularly pro-abortionists and those that promote gay marriage, have had a major set back. The power of our traditional culture has once again come to the surface in America and the dark forces of evil are on retreat for now. But, the Evil One is clever and cunning, and a counter attack against our faith and resolve is assured. We must pray for our President and for his resolve to defend this nation and the Word of God from attack.

FAITH OF THE PRESIDENT A WINNER

For the two months before the election the Religious Freedom Coalition sold many thousands of copies of George W. Bush: Faith in the White House. Did this video, distributed to churches free in battleground states have an affect on the outcome of the election? See for yourself. The documentary, available on DVD and VHS investigates the faith of the President and how that faith has affected him in the high office of the Presidency. The commentator of the documentary is nationally known Christian radio talk show host Janet Parshall. We still have a few of the DVD and VHS copies of the 72 minute documentary available for just $12.95 each. For more information clink on Image or click here. 

THE BIG LOSER

Although some top-name Democrats went down in defeat on Tuesday, in my estimation the biggest loser was Dan Rather of CBS News, whom I see as just another bitter old man with a chip on his shoulder. During commercials at FOX, I clicked over to CBS just to look at the gloom on Rather's face as the night progressed. Every time I checked he was reciting scenarios in which Kerry could still win. After every major news agency declared that George W. Bush had won Ohio, Dan Rather just could not admit it. At 11:00 AM on Wednesday as Senator John Kerry was calling the President privately to concede, Dan Rather's CBS News still showed Ohio "undecided" and Bush listed with less than the needed 270 votes to win in the Electoral College. CBS news has become a joke after its performance on Tuesday night which followed its use of forged documents presented on an earlier 60 Minutes program to "expose" the President's military service record. Viacom, the owners of CBS, should seriously consider replacing Dan Rather and his news shows with something more honest and stimulating such as reruns of The Simpsons. Bernard Goldberg, a former CBS insider, has written an excellent book about the liberal bias of the media titled: Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News.

THE STATES

MARRIAGE

Amendments to state constitutions defining marriage as being between one man and one woman were on the ballot in eleven states on November 2nd, including Ohio. The amendments won big in all eleven states. Of all the amendments, that of Ohio was the broadest, banning even civil unions or other same sex "marriage like" arrangements. Did the presence of the amendment on the ballot help President George W. Bush? The answer is a resounding yes. Political insiders here in Washington, DC agree that the President probably would not have won that critical state had the traditional marriage amendment not been on the ballot. In Mississippi the vote was 86% to 14% in favor of traditional marriage. In virtually every state the initiative received at least 60% of the vote except Oregon. Gay activists had picked liberal Oregon as their best bet and pumped in at least $4 million to kill the constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Despite the fact that voter fraud is so easy in Oregon because there is no secret ballot and all votes are mailed in, the amendment still passed 57% to 43%. Just before the election Dr. James Dobson wrote an excellent book on the homosexual agenda and the need for Christians to step forward and protect our traditional institution of marriage titled Marriage Under Fire: Why We Must Win This War. This year Christians heard the call and voted in mass to protect marriage.

THE COURT

NEW SUPREMES?

Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, age 80, who was been hospitalized for treatment of thyroid cancer since last week, did not return to work on Monday. It has since been learned that he is receiving extensive radiation and chemotherapy. The Chief Justice is one of the most conservative members of the Court and we should all be praying for his recovery. At the same time we need to look for those who will strictly enforce our Constitution as it was intended by our Founders, and who would be willing to serve on the Court. Because culture voters made such an impact on this election it is important that our recommendations be scrutinized before being made to the President. The final decision is his, but it is the responsibility of social conservative leaders to help point the President to good, godly individuals to serve on the Court.

CONGRESS

BIG CHANGES IN SENATE

The chief obstructionist of the Senate, ultra-liberal Senator Tom Daschle, has been defeated. This is the first time an incumbent Senate leader has been defeated since Senator Barry Goldwater more than 50 years ago. The victor is a friend of social conservatives, former Congressman John Thune. I last met with John Thune at an event at the Metropolitan Club in New York City during the Republican Convention. He promised me then he would win and he did. Another good friend of ours, Dr. Tom Coburn, won in Oklahoma. Dr. Coburn will work side-by-side with men such as Senator Sam Brownback on a social conservative, pro-life agenda in the Senate. In all the Republicans added four seats to their majority in the Senate bringing their total to 55.

BIG PROBLEM IN SENATE

In the midst of the conservatives' jubilation over the defeat of Senator Tom Daschle a dark cloud arose as liberal Republican Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) announced at a press conference that he, as the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee, would not allow any of President Bush's Supreme Court nominees who were pro-life to receive confirmation. This was a stunning statement that met with swift retaliation from conservatives. I appeared on Janet Folger's national radio show, Faith2Action that same day demanding that Specter be disqualified as Chairman. The phone number for Senate Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), which is 202-224-3121, was given out over the air so conservatives could call and ask that Specter not be allowed to take over as Chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee. It is my understanding the Senator Specter also received a call from the White House yesterday and immediately started to "clarify" his remarks in fear that his chairmanship bid was headed to the rocks. (See Fox story) In my mind Senator Specter is not qualified to lead the Judiciary Committee. He has made his pro-abortion stance well known and has voted with Democrats more often on social issues than with Republicans. He is not our friend and I urge anyone with any influence to help us block Senator Specter from taking the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. Help stop Specter from gaining the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee by signing an online petition to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. ( See Petition )

INTERNATIONAL

THE UNITED NATIONS

RFC Executive Director Peggy Birchfield received word this week that the United Nations will consider our application for official NGO status in January of this year. This follows a successful trip for Peggy to the United Nations to lobby for a resolution against human cloning. To see Peggy's report on our efforts at the UN click here. Please pray with us that UN officials will grant us the official status in January.

THANKSGIVING

Our Internet store has received a new shipment of men's Fall and Thanksgiving ties. These 100% pure silk ties show you care about the  significance of a day of Thanksgiving. Every man should have a few seasonal ties, such as those for Easter, Christmas, and July 4th. The Fall and Thanksgiving ties our organization makes available to help finance our work are worn by me to Capitol Hill and the White House. I would not try to sell you something I would not wear myself. All Thanksgiving ties are reduced to a clearance price of just $12.95 each! Click here or on image. Complete tie selection click here.

BUSINESSMEN

Consider this: four of the computers on our in-house network are so old they cannot be upgraded past Windows98. Our TIE phone system is now more than a decade old and replacement parts can no longer be obtained. Contributions to the Religious Freedom Coalition are tax-deductible to your business. As the year comes to a close please consider a contribution to the Religious Freedom Coalition to upgrade our information systems. Your contribution can be made by check, credit card, in the form of equipment or common stock. Gifts can be made online or by mailing a check. Please call our office concerning gifts of equipment or common stock.

William J. Murray, Chairman

Religious Freedom Coalition , P.O. Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 Phone: (202) 543-0300

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This publication is a service of the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC) and does not necessarily reflect its views. It is neither an attempt to aid nor hinder the passage of any specific legislation nor an attempt to assist or defeat any candidate running for public office.

Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2004

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