HOUSE AND SENATE IN SESSION

THE PRESIDENCY

THE CAMPAIGN

Senator John Kerry has fallen further behind in the polls and his millionaire friends in Hollywood and the media have begun to pile the dirt on President George W. Bush. This follows a report last week that at the end of the Republican Convention the CNN headquarters in Atlanta seemed to have the air of a funeral. The liberal media, particularly CNN and CBS, are just astonished that they cannot single handedly defeat Bush and that his numbers are rising in battleground states. On September 3^rd the 60 day rule kicked in prohibiting broadcast advertising by non-profits, unions and other corporate entities. CBS is of course a “corporation,” but because they are “media” they can ignore the prohibition and this week they unleashed an unfair attack against President Bush featuring a member of Kerry’s campaign staff that accused him of joining the National Guard rather than fleeing to Canada to avoid the draft. Why did CBS and other big media outlets wait to make these attacks until less than 60 days before the election? Because they knew that major conservative organizations would be prohibited by law from advertising an opposing point of view. So much for “Campaign Reform Laws.” The Kerry camp has gone nuts and these attacks are a huge mistake. Most men and women who served our nation in uniform did so in the National Guard and the Reserves. The Kerry campaign has now moved forward to call everyone who ever served in the Guard a “draft dodger” in order to harm the President, without realizing they will alienate former Guardsmen literally by the millions. The Kerry campaign is beginning to look more and more like the campaign of Michael Dukakis as each day passes.

9-11 JIHAD ATTACK

Tomorrow is the third anniversary of the 9-11 Jihad attack on the United States in which thousands of innocent Americans were killed. As if to mock us and the rest of the world, Islamic terrorists attacked a school in Beslan, Russia killing hundreds of innocents including children. Oddly, in the three pages of coverage in the New York Times I read last week about the attacks, the fact that the child murderers were Islamic militants was not mentioned even once. Although an Al Quaida affiliate group took credit for the attack on the children, that fact was never mentioned by the Washington Post or by any TV networks. Yesterday more innocent people were murdered by a bomb placed by Islamists in Jakarta. The liberal media does not want to connect the dots and say that Islamic terrorists are waging a global war, because if that is the case, then we need a strong President who has no fear of using force when required to stop Islamic terror. Each year I publish my personal remembrance of the 9-11 Jihad attack on our nation. To read it click here.

FAITH IN THE WHITE HOUSE

The new documentary, George W. Bush, Faith in the White House is a huge best seller at our Internet store. The 72 minute version on DVD explores the faith of George W. Bush, how it came about, and how it affects his life today. The documentary commentator is nationally known Christian conservative radio show host Janet Parshall. If you have friends and neighbors who don't understand the effect Christ can have on a nation's leader when he really believes the Gospel, I would recommend that you obtain a copy for them. The DVD's are available at the www.rfcstore.com for just $12.95 each and if you order two or more the shipping is free. We are offering the DVD at a discount below retail because I believe it is important that President George W. Bush's faith in Christ should be known and understood by voters, particularly between now and an election that will set the course of our nation for the 21st century. VHS now available! We have ordered a VHS version of George W. Bush, Faith in the White House for those who cannot use the DVD version. The VHS version should be in our warehouse within a week. The VHS version is also offered at $12.95. For more information click here or on the image. (Click here for pdf mail in order form.)

THE HOUSE

CAMPAIGN REFORM

On Wednesday I spoke at a press conference held by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) in favor of his proposed legislation to end the muzzling of individuals and groups within 60 days of a General Election. Under the rules passed by McCain/Feingold, non-profit organizations, unions and other corporations may not advertise within 60 days of an election if a reference is made to a candidate. In other words, the Religious Freedom Coalition may not purchase any broadcast advertising for the documentary listed above because it contains the name of George W. Bush. Just think how irrational and contradictory this is to the rights we are supposed to be granted under our Constitution. I cannot legally purchase a radio advertisement to sell a video because it contains the name of the President of the United States of America. But, I can offer it on the Internet and send out a mailing promoting it, but I am not allowed to spend more than $10,000 to promote it.  To learn more about Congressman Bartlett’s legislation click here .

MARRIAGE

The Federal Marriage Amendment failed in the Senate in July at about the same time that Congressman Hostettler’s (R-IN) Marriage Protection Act passed the House by a margin of 233 to 194. The Marriage Protection Act is a jurisdiction act which prohibits courts from finding the Defense of Marriage Act passed into law in 1996 unlawful. Although passed by the House, the Marriage Protection Act has not been considered by the Senate. The Republican Leadership has decided to hit on the marriage issue one more time before the November elections, this time with a vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment. It is my understanding that a vote may be held as early as the 22nd of this month.

PLEDGE PROTECTION

Another major social issue may come up for a vote on or before September 22^nd. Congressman Todd Akin introduced last year the Pledge Protection Act of 2003 (HR 2028) which would remove jurisdiction from all federal courts in ruling on what is contained in the Pledge of Allegiance. Akin’s bill was held in the Judiciary Committee for far too long and it now appears that Leadership is going to force it onto the floor within the next few weeks.

THE LAME DUCKS

Sources I have within congressional leadership tell me that this current session could last well beyond the October 1st date that had been agreed to because of the lack of progress on important appropriations bills that are needed to keep the government running. Congress may stay in session until October 8th or even October 15th which would be devastating to many congressional Democrats who are behind in the polls. However, Democrat leaders continue to stall bills hoping to add their favorite social issue to them or increase spending to their pet projects. It is almost as if the Democrats want to commit collective suicide by staying in Washington until just two weeks before the election to prove some obscure point. The delay in passing needed legislation, particularly appropriations bills, will mean a “lame duck” session of Congress in November after the election.

CONSCIENCE PROTECTION

Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL) has managed to insert language into Labor/HHS appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2005 that allows hospitals and individuals to refuse to participate in abortions. There has been a trend, particularly by liberal states, to refuse to fund or even issue building permits to hospitals that refuse to kill unborn babies. Under the amendment inserted by Dave Weldon and approved by the full Judiciary Committee, no hospital or individual can be discriminated against for refusing to provide, promote or participate in an abortion. Pro-life supporters must reject any effort to strike the conscience protection language that would protect hospitals and other institutional and individual health care providers from governmental discrimination when they decline to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. If you have an interest to protecting this language in the Labor/HHS appropriations bill please contact your congressman at once.

THE SENATE

TRANSPORTATION

The White House and Republicans in the Senate led by James Inhofe (R-OK) have been in a stand-off for several months over the Transportation Bill which I have supported. Economic conservatives in the party had demanded that the President veto the bill to show “fiscal restraint” even though the road repair and other transportation projects in it are paid for from out of the gasoline tax you and I pay. I had personally told White House officials that vetoing a bill that would fix our Interstate Highway system and provide tens of thousands of jobs just before an election was just plain foolish and they should tell the economic conservatives in the Republican Party to take a flying leap. It seems that rational forces won out and an agreement has been reached with the White House to provide a transportation bill worth $299 billion. I believe this is good news for our economy and I look forward to the public announcement soon.

INTERNATIONAL

On Tuesday morning RFC Executive Director Peggy Birchfield and I attended the swearing in ceremony of Ambassador John Miller in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department. Until this week former Congressman Miller held the title of Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in the State Department. Director Miller had done a superb job in exposing and reporting on modern day slavery using legislation which the Religious Freedom Coalition assisted in passing. Annual reports from his office have shamed governments into doing something about the human slave trade to and from their borders. His office being elevated to the post of Ambassador will give him greater power in dealing with governments that continue to allow trafficking in persons for the sex, domestic and other slave industries.

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.

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