Week Ending December 19, 2008 - Washington, DC

Bush gives GM life support / Obama's first scandal / Obama and the pro-life preacher / Republican congressman rips Rice / Conservative icon Paul Weyrich dies / More war on Christmas / Iraq a "Country of Particular Concern" on religious freedom

In November, 2008, just days after receiving billions of our tax dollars for a bail-out, American Express canceled credit lines of all their small business customers, making it impossible to buy inventory for Christmas and causing layoffs. At the same time American Express canceled the credit lines of non-profit organizations including the Religious Freedom Coalition. As a result of the actions of American Express, we will no longer accept American Express cards at our Internet site.

BUSH GIVES GM LIFE SUPPORT - President George W. Bush is leaving office during an unpopular war, and with the nation in the worst economic condition since the Great Depression. He did not want to add to that the collapse of the domestic automotive industry which could lead to the loss of over two million more jobs. As a result, he has authorized a "bridge loan" that allows GM and Chrysler to survive until March 31st. This gives the new Obama Administration about ten weeks to work up a longer lasting solution. Read more

OBAMA SCANDAL ALREADY? - It appears the future Chief of Staff in the new Obama Administration had direct conversations with the disgraced governor of Illinois, and pushed for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to Barack Obama's empty Senate seat. Rahm Emanuel had direct discussions with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This contradicts statements by President-elect Obama and opens the door to questions of ethics in the "pay to play" Illinois scandal. Read more

AND - President-elect Obama is in a lot of hot water with the homosexuals who gave him millions of dollars during his campaign. His pick of Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration has homosexuals hot, angry and calling names. To them freedom of speach is anything they agree with and nothing more. Read more.

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN RIPS INTO SECRETARY RICE - At a press conference in which the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom designated Iraq a "Country of Particular Concern" Congressmen Frank Wolf, a Republican, ripped into the Bush Administration and Secretary of State Rice. The congressman blamed the policies of Condoleezza Rice for enabling the persecution of Christians in Iraq. He said, ""We are spending billions of dollars and have shed the blood of some of this country's finest, and the U.S. government has not done a darn thing to protect the freedom and safety - forget freedom - the safety of Christians in Iraq. Secretary Rice has failed when it comes to this point." Read more about the USCIRF designation.

CONSERVATIVE ICON DIES - Read more about Paul Weyrich in the Culture and Religion section

HOUSE AND SENATE IN RECESS - The House will reconvene at 11 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2009. The Senate may or may not reconvene on the same date.

PAUL WEYRICH DIES - My good friend and a conservative icon died on Thursday, December 18, 2009. I have been a part of the famed invitation only "Weyrich lunch" for more than a decade, and I came to know and love Paul not only for his views, but for his personal courage. He continued to fight for social conservative views and common sense economic policies even after the loss of both his legs some years ago. He was on a first name basis with congressmen, senators and presidents. All conservatives, particularly this one, mourn his loss. Read more about Paul Weyrich. Video and slide show gallery.

WAR ON CHRISTMAS - An 11-year-old student in Hattiesburg, Mississippi wrote a poem about Christmas that included a mention of the Lord, but his teacher insisted that mentioning Jesus was not allowed and asked him to write a new poem. Read more.

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new December 4, 2008 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. Read more about Rev. George Docherty and "under God" in the Pledge. It also has information on Barack Obama's pro-abortion cabinet and Hillary Clinton. There is new information on Muslim attacks in India and persecuted Christians. Click here to view PDF

IRAQ DECLARED "COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN" - On Tuesday, December 16th the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom designated Iraq as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). This CPC designation from the USCIRF is a declaration that the Iraqi government is not protecting the religious freedom of Iraq's religious minorities. After six years of persecution in Iraq, an official body of the US government finally tells the truth about the effect of our invasion on the Christian minority. See USCRIF Internet site. Also, read RFC news release.

PERSECUTED IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The situation in Iraq has not improved for Christians and your assistance is still needed. if you need a reminder of the situation please watch the testimony video of those who have lived through the persecution. Please help today.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE - Order Christmas ornaments with Christian themes and tens of thousands of other Christian themed items at our affiliate store. We stock jewelry from the Holy Land, Bibles and lots of Christian books. It is a great place to shop for birthday gifts as well. NOTE: Amazon sells atheist and satanist books right along with Christian books. We don't. When you buy from our store you help our work. Please take a look at our store today at www.rfcstore.com

Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.