LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING JANUARY 27, 2006
HOUSE IN RECESS / SENATE IN SESSION
THE PRESIDENT
THE "WIRETAP" ISSUE
One of those sure fire issues the Democrats thought would hurt President George W. Bush has actually helped him. While the Democrats and the media scream about his "domestic spying" program the American people understand that the Terrorist Surveillance Program is about catching terrorists. The National Security Agency program is not about eaves dropping on conversations between Americans; it is about those with known terrorist ties making calls to or from the United States. If a known terrorist calls someone in Indiana, the Democrats say, the NSA should not listen to or record the call until a warrant is obtained from a judge. The President says that the NSA should be able to listen to the call and then go get a warrant for other calls the person in the USA is making. I don't see a problem with that and neither do the vast majority of Americans. It has so backfired on the Democrats, particularly those in the Senate, that their rhetoric has drastically changed in the last few days. Now they say they would have given the President "permission" to do the wiretaps if they had been asked. That is a far cry from last week when they claimed the taps should not be made at all.
STATE OF THE UNION
RFC staff participated in a Conservative State of the Union event today (Friday) that was aired live on C-Span and Rightalk.com. The event was held by the Free Congress Foundation in Washington, DC, in the same building that houses the offices of the Religious Freedom Coalition. The purpose was to give the conservative view of the state of the nation prior to the official State of the Union address by President George W. Bush next Tuesday night. Speakers included Paul Weyrich, the president of the Free Congress Foundation and the father of the conservative movement in Washington, DC. Noted defense and foreign affairs specialist Frank Gaffney, as well as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council were also present with us. The meeting highlighted the fact that contrary to what the screaming liberals say, the conservative movement in America is not always on the same page with the Bush Administration. The Bush Administration's refusal to protect the southern border of this nation was a hot topic, as was its efforts to force a bilingual society on all Americans. The fact that a half mile long lighted and concrete reinforced tunnel was discovered this week from Mexico to the United States was brought up, and it was noted that the Administration had no comment. Also, the issue of fighting a war on a noun (terror), versus naming the actual enemy we are fighting was addressed. Check the C-Span and Rightalk.com Internet sites for rebroadcast times. (SEE VIDEO)
THE HOUSE
THE LEADERSHIP BATTLE
How vicious can the leadership fight for Majority Leader get? Last week I stated that one of the candidates for Majority Leader, Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) did not regularly attend social conservative events such as the weekly Values Action Team meetings on Capitol Hill. I was immediately attacked on the economic conservative Internet blog site, GOPUSA.COM. An article written by Chuck Muth in The Loft section accused me of stating that Mr. Shadegg was not pro-life, although Muth offered no quote from me. No quote was offered because I had made no such statement. Mr. Shadegg is pro-life; he is just not an activist for the social conservative cause. He is an economic conservative first and a social conservative second. This is distinctly different from Congressman Roy Blunt who is a social conservative first and an economic conservative second. In last week's update I stated that while social conservatives such as myself had access to Congressman Roy Blunt, who is acting Majority Leader, we did not have the same access to Mr. Shadegg or the other candidate, Mr. John Boehner . Chuck Muth in his comments said that it would be a good thing if I, and thus those social conservatives like me, had no access to members of the leadership. Interestingly, in the same attack against me a letter was posted written by Congressman Jim Ryun (R-KS) to his colleagues in support of Mr. Shadegg. The letter was used in such a way as to make it look as if Congressman Ryun was attacking me for my position on Mr. Shadegg. Indeed the letter had nothing to do with my comments whatsoever. (I have actually run the Army Ten Miler with Congressman Ryun, who was an Olympic athlete in his youth.) The personal attack on me did not help Mr. Shadegg. As of today Mr. Shadegg is a distant third with only 13 committed votes that I know of, while Acting Majority Leader Roy Blunt has well over 100 and Mr. Boehner has just under 50. I also stand by my statement in the last update that Speaker Dennis Hastert is the only member of the current leadership that actually needs to be replaced. Hastert's old fashioned back room politics and tactics have brought the House into public disgrace and it is time for him to go.
THE SENATE
THE ALITO HEARINGS
Under Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) the Senate Democrats have reached an unprecedented level of partisanship and pettiness. Case in point is the campaign against Judge Samuel Alito. They led an attack against him claiming he was "bigoted" against women and minorities. One of the most outspoken in this bogus attack against Alito was Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy who neglected to mention his own membership in an all male club that still refuses admission to women. Alito did receive a favorable vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, but it was along straight party lines, with not a single Democrat voting for him. Senator Feinstein actually admitted for the record that her vote against him was purely on ideological grounds and had nothing to do with his record or his qualifications. She stated that her opposition was because she feared Alito would vote against Roe v Wade. Now, debate continues in the full Senate over the Alito confirmation, with far left backers of the Democrat Party such as billionaire George Soros threatening to cut off their funds unless a filibuster is mounted against Judge Alito. To see photos of some of our events associated with the Alito hearings please go to www.rfcaction.org . You can help the RFAC work for the Alito nomination by contributing online or sending a check to RFAC, PO Box 77237, Washington, DC 20013
FILM EXPOSES REALITY OF ABORTION
RFC's, Executive Director Peggy Birchfield attended a briefing and screening at the U.S. Capitol previewing the new independent film, "A Distant Thunder". This is the first motion picture to address the partial birth abortion issue. This powerful 35 minute film is the creation of Hollywood writer/director Jonathan Flora, who learned what PBA was after struggling to cope with his own post-abortive experience. His wife underwent an abortion with his full agreement, but later in life when they desperately wanted children they found it difficult to conceive. Flora's perspective changed as he realized, "Here we are praying fervently to have a baby while America is treating unwanted pregnancies like a common cold at the rate of more than 4,500 abortions a day, 95% elective." Flora was shocked to learn what happens during a partial birth abortion procedure, and it was then he decided to create and direct this motion picture in hopes of educating people. In this film his wife, Deborah Flora, plays a pro-choice lawyer whose heart is changed by her experiences.
Several of us from the RFC participated in the signing of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban in 2003. That day President Bush said as he signed the ban into law, "For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed at children only inches from birth while the law looked away. At last the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child." Today RFC continues to work with other social conservative groups in Washington, DC to help unborn babies see the light of day.
A SHAMEFUL ANNIVERSARY
On January 23rd, pro life activists from across the country gathered in Washington, DC for the 33rd annual March for Life, on the day following the anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v Wade. Thirty-three years ago the Supreme Court invented the "right to privacy" and forced every state to legalize abortion, thus signing the death warrants of millions of American children. This year, neither the chilly, rainy day nor the hostile pro-abortion protestors carrying coat hangers stopped thousands of pro-life marchers from rallying on the National Mall, or from marching down Constitution Avenue to the U. S. Capitol and then to the Supreme Court Building. Peggy Birchfield was there to represent the RFC on this solemn occasion. Other pro life rallies were held across the nation this past weekend, even in liberal cities such as San Francisco.
INTERNATIONAL
BETHLEHEM CHRISTIANS NOW RULED BY TERRORIST HAMAS
When the election ballots were counted this week, the bad news was that the ultra terrorist group Hamas won 76 seats in Parliament, while the somewhat less terroristic Fatah Party only managed to hang on to 43 seats. The Fatah Party, which was founded and led by Yasser Arafat until his death, was much more discreet about their aims than is Hamas. While Arafat often incited hatred and terror in his Arabic language addresses to the Palestinian people, he usually tried to present a different side to the Western media and European governments who gave him and his henchmen so much "aid" money for their extravagant lifestyles. Anger at the corruption endemic to the Fatah Party government certainly played some role in this week's election outcome.
While Fatah members have been building themselves palatial homes, Hamas has been busily buying the peoples' loyalty with their numerous charity handouts and social service activities. Hamas has also proudly claimed responsibility for more than 100 suicide bombings that maimed and killed innocent people in Israel, on buses, in restaurants, hotels and in shopping malls. This does not include the thousands of shooting attacks and hundreds of rockets fired into Israel.
The world's leaders are now focused on what this will mean to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the dismal prospects for ever achieving peace in the Middle East. Largely forgotten in all this are the Christians under Palestinian Authority rule, whose very survival now seems questionable. Many believe that Hamas will establish a fanatical, Taliban-like government where Christian churches and schools will not be allowed to exist and where even home worship will be against the law. Others believe there may be a temporary truce while Hamas gathers strength behind the scenes for a final assault on Israel.
The RFC has for several years supported Christian schools in and around Bethlehem, and has also attempted to help several families who have converted to Christianity after being born into Islam. We are deeply concerned now about our friends and acquaintances in that area. All our Christian brothers and sisters there need our prayers and our financial assistance now more than ever.
RFC PROGRAMS
THE ATHEIST LAWSUIT AND THE PLEDGE
Please help by mailing a completed petition today to support the Pledge Protection Act of 2005. To view or print out copies of our petition click here. Our petition is in response to atheist Michael Newdow, who sued to remove "under God" from the Pledge. You can also help protect "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag by placing a "One Nation Under God" bumper sticker on your car. This colorful and dramatic bumper sticker will be sent to anyone donating any amount to the Religious Freedom Coalition over the Internet. Click here to give a gift.
IT'S BACK!
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.
Every time you use GOODSEARCH.COM powered by Yahoo your favorite charity or non-profit organization receives a contribution. The more searches you use GOODSEARCH for the more funds your favorite organization gets. The Religious Freedom Coalition is listed at GOODSEARCH. If you choose the RFC as your favorite and search from GOODSEARCH we will receive a check from them monthly. You can change the designation at any time to any number of organizations you may wish to support. So far we have earned over $11.00! (Please try it.)
William J. Murray, Chairman
Religious Freedom Coalition , PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 543-0300
Please address all comments and questions to support@rfcnet.org
To make a contribution to the work of the Religiouis Freedom Coalition please click here.
TO SUBSCRIBE OR BE REMOVED CLICK HERE
This publication is a service of the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC). Links to political and other sites are for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement. No statement is intended to assist or defeat any candidate running for public office.
Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2006