Week Ending September 16, 2005
Religious Freedom Coalition
September 16, 2005 12:51PM EST

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 16, 2005

HOUSE IN SESSON / SENATE IN SESSION

THE CONGRESS

"UNDER GOD" AND THE PLEDGE

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton (Carter appointee) has declared the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional. He declared that the words "under God" violate a child's right to be "free from coercive requirement to affirm God." This "right" does not appear in our Constitution or in any law passed by Congress. On Wednesday I e-mailed a special update to subscribers about this anti-God decision that highlighted two solutions: the Pledge Protection Act offered by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) and the Religious Freedom Amendment offered by Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK). The entire conservative community is so locked into the John Roberts confirmation that the Religious Freedom Coalition appears to be the only major group promoting legislation to protect the religious traditions of the Founders of this nation. In the update I urged supporters to send a contribution to help us promote the work. Of the over 60,000 subscribers to this update two people sent a total of $125. One person bought a men's tie from us with the words "under God" on it for less than $20. Last week I mentioned in the update that the ultra liberal group Moveon.org received $79 million in one year from just five men including hedge fund operator George Soros. We just can't compete against that kind of money. Please consider helping the Religious Freedom Coalition with its legislative work this month! We honestly need some Christian businessmen to help out with more than $25 or $50 bucks. Please click here to help . 

Late last night the Senate passed by unanimous consent a resolution condemning a decision by a U.S. District Court which ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional because it contains the words “under God.” The resolution was introduced by Senator Jim Talent (R-MO). 

THE ROBERTS NOMINATION

RFC played a leadership role in this week's confirmation hearings of Judge John Roberts who has been nominated to become the next Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Peggy Birchfield, Executive Director of RFC, was out early each morning this week coordinating with other organizations at rallies, press conferences, media interviews and a volunteer staging area. Monday started early as Peggy helped coordinate a group of pro-life women to pray and push baby strollers at 7:00am in front of the Supreme Court to symbolize the children who were aborted due to the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973. During the stroller march several of the pro-abortion protesters hit our volunteers with signs and pushed them. As usual the reporters only covered the pro-abortion side of this event.

Our Kick-off rally was held in the Upper Senate Park to show support of Judge John Roberts—the pro-Roberts "green team" showed up in green t-shirts with stickers and buttons and water bottles with Roberts YES! on the side. RFC is responsible for the stickers, buttons, and green "Roberts YES!" t-shirts worn by all our volunteers and staff. Peggy attended the Senate hearings during the afternoon session during which Senator Brownback (R-KS) and Senator Coburn (R-OK) gave their opening statements. Peggy also helped coordinate volunteers to line the hallways as Judge Roberts approached the hearing room and when he exited.

As Judge Roberts was leaving he stopped and shook hands with our volunteers and commented on the "green" t-shirts that they wore. Volunteers were scheduled from all over the nation to participate in Prayer Walks, Prayer vigils, letter deliveries, rallies and pro-Roberts events. During the week of events, Peggy Birchfield, Executive Director also participated with 40 women from various NGO organizations including women attorneys in a "Women for Roberts" press conference. "The women at NOW and the women at NARAL do not speak for us," stated Kay Daly, MC of the event. Loud cheers and clapping came from the distinguished women, many among them wearing green t-shirts with Roberts YES! The press conference highlighted support for the president's nominee, Judge John Roberts.

On Wednesday, I made a statement  at the "Americans for Roberts" press conference highlighting Religious Liberties/ Civil Liberties Day and Peggy Birchfield participated in the "Voice of Support" press conference with House Members. The "green team" once again showed up with t-shirts, buttons and signs in support of the House members who gave their support of the nominee. Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) who is also chairman of the Value Voters Public Affairs team, stated, "Although the House has no vote in the decision they wanted their voices to be made known". Congressman Franks was responsible for pulling the members together to let the Senate know they want a fair vote given to Roberts.

The week ended with the hearings behind closed doors and the volunteers out on the streets continuing to express their support. The final rally promoted constitutionalist nominees to the federal courts. The press conference featured victims of judicial activism in order to convey the importance of constitutional judges. One of our speakers was Sandy Banning, the mother of atheist Michael Newdow's daughter. Sandy spoke of the Pledge of Allegiance case in which her ex-partner Newdow sued to have the Pledge ruled unconstitutional.

THE PRESIDENT

THE PRESIDENT AND NEW ORLEANS

President George W. Bush has made so many trips to the Gulf Coast since hurricane Katrina that I have lost count. The area affected by the storm was greater in area than the entire United Kingdom and everyone in America, particularly Democrats, are just shocked that everything cannot be brought back to normal in a matter of days. Last night he addressed the nation and set forth a conservative agenda to rebuild the area that included enterprise zones and job training. He mentioned "generational" poverty caused by racism. The "generational" poverty in New Orleans was actually caused by the welfare system created by Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" and his "war on poverty." About half the population of New Orleans was living on government handouts that were controlled by a black mayor, a black city council and enforced by a black police chief. The entire structure of New Orleans was one of corruption and vote buying using the welfare system. Pouring more money into the black community in New Orleans will not help and I believe the President is aware of this. He would like to restore black home ownership to levels at least as high as when Lyndon Johnson decided to help "them poor black folks." It was Lyndon Johnson's racism and his belief that blacks were not capable of making a living for themselves that created a welfare system that discouraged marriage and home ownership in the black community. The best fix for New Orleans is the enterprise zones and minority job creation programs the President proposes; however, I doubt the Congress will go along. Senators Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton will filibuster until the programs are once again turned into welfare programs that do more harm than good to the black community.

INTERNATIONAL

FOX NEWS TO BE BOUGHT OFF BY ISLAMISTS?

As soon as I learned the ominous news that Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has become the fourth-largest voting shareholder in News Corp., the parent company of Fox News, I called for a Congressional investigation. There are at least two problems with ownership of a major American broadcasting company by a foreign enemy national:

First: FOX News reporting may become compromised if Saudi ownership is significant. The prince has already said he may buy even more shares. When Middle Eastern governments such as Saudi Arabia became the biggest advertisers on CNN International, their reporting became slanted against Israel to the point of being anti-Semitic, and news stories began to strongly favor the Islamic world view. We don't want that to happen to FOX News.

Second: The prince owns an Arabic broadcasting company called Rotana, which operates several TV stations in the Middle East. Rotana has a huge library of Arabic movies and music. Arabic produced movies and TV programs contain vicious anti-Semitism and anti-American views. Nothing can be broadcast in Saudi Arabia without it first being approved by the Wahabbi religious police. As part of the investment deal the Prince has, his company Rotana will be allowed to broadcast directly into the US market on DirectTV which is also a subsidiary of News Corp. Fanatical Islamic propaganda will come straight into American homes, perhaps creating more home grown terrorists.

Congress should be as just as alarmed by this Saudi-FOX deal as they were when a company owned by the Chinese government attempted to buy American offshore oil assets.

OLIVE OIL SOAP AVAILABLE AT YOUR CHURCH?

For several years the Religious Freedom Coalition has offered 100% olive oil soap handmade by Christian families in Samaria. The men of these families are converts from Islam and have been accused of being "collaborators" with Israel. As a result they have death warrants against them and cannot return to their villages. Please order a few bars of Peace Soap to help these persecuted Christians. Your church can also offer the soap for sale and send the proceeds to the Religious Freedom Coalition. The soap is available to individuals for just $3.95 per bar! To learn more about this handmade olive oil soap click here or on the image.

HELP GET THE TRUTH IN YOUR LIBRARY! 

My good friend Janet Folger has a national daily radio show which I have appeared on many times. Her new book, The Criminalization of Christianity , is an absolute must read because it addresses the very issue of stripping God from public view in America. The lead story in our update about "under God" in the pledge is one of the areas she touches upon. This book is probably NOT in your local library and it needs to be there. I have drastically reduced the price to urge you to buy it, read it and then DONATE IT to your local library. Buy a second copy and try to get it into your high school library as well. There are ways to fight back, and this is one of them! Click here or on image for more information.