Week Ending October 14, 2005
Religious Freedom Coalition
October 14, 2005 12:07PM EST

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 14, 2005

HOUSE IN RECESS / SENATE IN RECESS

RFC IN THE NEWS

FOX NEWS

On Wednesday I appeared on the FOX News channel's noon day show defending Christian churches and non-profits who gave much needed aid during and after the Katrina and Rita hurricane disasters. The issue at hand was the Bush Administration proposal to use church infrastructure to help with evacuations, particularly with the elderly, during emergencies such as Katrina. The issue of reimbursing churches when they have used all of their resources to aid disaster victims was also discussed. My opponent on the FOX News program was Brent Yaciw of Atheists of Florida who argued that all church infrastructure was actually paid for by tax dollars which of course is a bald faced lie. Mr. Yaciw sees no problem with his atheist organization being a tax exempt organization but rants against churches and Christian relief agencies having the same status. Our office received numerous positive comments about the program on FOX News. This was the 12th national news program either myself or Peggy Birchfield have appeared on in 2005. (Go to this FOX link then click on the video)

THE PRESIDENT

THE PRESIDENT AND THE POLLS

Various polls now show the positive rating for President George W. Bush at below 40% and for the first time more people think he is doing a poor job that those who have a positive view. This comes despite the President's eighth visit to the Gulf Coast region, a trip in which he actually took a hammer and helped rebuild a home lost during the Katrina disaster. His numbers had been moving up, but then suddenly dropped after he made a major security speech and nominated Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Why are his numbers dropping?

Virtually every American now knows that Islam is not a religion of peace. They have come to understand that the Saudis are actually our enemies and have funded most of the death and destruction in the name of Islam during the last decade. When the President of the United States looks into a camera and calls Islam a "religion of peace" virtually everyone knows this is a bald faced lie. People don't like to be lied to by their President. The next reason for his numbers going south is the Spanish language issue. The Bush Administration has been behind the push to make Spanish a second language in the United States and they have actively pushed businesses to operate in the USA in Spanish and English. The White House just does not understand the anger that is arising when people are forced to "pick" English to use their bank card or on a phone system to talk to their utility company. I recently canceled an oil company credit card because I could not get past the company phone screen without choosing a language first. As an American in America I should not have to pick English as an option to talk to an American company. (As a side note, I speak Spanish and when I work in Central America or Mexico there is no English option for me.) Illegal immigration is the next issue the White House ignores and that is destroying the President's poll numbers. Most Americans, including most Republicans, see him as refusing to protect our borders because of some nutty idea that American Hispanics will not vote Republican unless we allow millions of illegals into the United States. This of course is nuts because most Hispanics who were born in the USA are also against illegal immigration. Most Hispanics born in the USA are also against bilingualism being used in our schools. Then there is the issue of the federal takeover of public education. Because the White House ignores these major issues and does not understand the undertow of resentment because of them, the President's numbers will continue to drop. At the White House many think that the only two issues important to Americans are taxes and abortion, with some 9-11 tossed in for good measure, but this is far from the truth. With all this swirling around him the President needs our prayers more than ever. His advisors need wisdom and we need to pray for that as well. President Bush needs the right material put before him to understand the anger of the people and I do not believe that is happening. (See polls)

THE SUPREME COURT

THE COURT AND THE PRESIDENT

President George W. Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court brought down his ratings with the public even more, particularly among conservatives who had been hiding their disdain for the President's position on illegals, bilingualism, the federal takeover of education and Islam. Harriet Miers was sort of the straw that broke the camel's back and brought on an onslaught of criticism from conservatives who were already angry over a host of other issues. My view of the Miers nomination appears below.

THE MIERS DILEMMA

President George W. Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court has presented a huge dilemma to many in the conservative movement including myself. Although I did not know exactly the position of John G. Roberts on some social issues, I was simply awed by his giant intellect and knowledge of constitutional issues. He will be a powerful voice on the High Court for decades to come and he will leave an indelible mark on it. This man had such intellect and depth that even his elementary school teachers remembered him.

Harriet Miers is no John Roberts and this is a real problem for her and for President George W. Bush. During his confirmation hearings John Roberts made the Senators questioning him look like small children. Harriet Miers does not have that ability. She has relatively no legal experience other than working in a law firm under someone else. She has always been an employee, not a major player in everything she has done. For the last fifteen years she has worked with George W. Bush while he was governor of Texas and now as President. She works in the White House as his legal advisor.

During her relationship with President Bush she has sort of taken on being a second mother to him as she has no children of her own. Personal notes to him indicate a close relationship that is almost maternal in nature. Most in Washington view her nomination to the High Court as more of a return of the favor of her loyalty rather than one based on qualifications. Some conservatives have gone so far as to say her appointment is "nepotism."

But there is an even larger problem with her nomination coming on the heels of that of Chief Justice Roberts. Following this great man this closely in time to his confirmation hearings will be devastating to her image. Intellectually she will have the appearance of an amateurish lightweight at her hearings when the press compares her to John Roberts.

Although there is no record of her opinions because she has never been a judge, she is probably pro-life and probably conservative, or President Bush would not have appointed her. The real question is of her intellectual ability. Can she understand and rule on issues on her own without someone telling her what to do? Can she understand the depth of constitutional issues? These are unknowns and the reason many thinking conservatives have not come forward to make comments supporting or rejecting her nomination.

Some "band wagon jumpers" who live to be patted on the head by the White House are out in front promoting Harriet Miers. I care about my country and I care about having a Court that is made up of Justices who have the ability to make wise decisions for decades. I am not going to jump on the Miers bandwagon because of the promise of yet another photo with the President. It is my intention to sit back and watch the hearings (if they occur) before rendering any recommendation on Miers.

THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT