Not a single Republican, or Democrat, senator opposed confirmation of Todd M. Hughes to be celebrated as the first openly homosexual judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Up to now, Hughes has been the deputy director of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division of President Obama's Department of Justice.
For background, read More High-profile Republicans Going Gay Agenda and also read GOP Strategy: Dump Old Uneducated Christian Voters as well as Nationwide Marriage Amendment Puts GOP to Test
In addition, read GOP NJ Gov. Christie Says Homosexuality is NOT a Sin, as he signs a Gay Agenda law.
-- From "Senate confirms first openly gay U.S. appeals judge" by Michael Winter, USA TODAY 9/24/13
President Obama nominated Hughes in February, and a Senate subcommittee approved him in July.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., lauded the confirmation, which he called "an important milestone for the judicial branch."
"I am proud that today the Senate is finally taking this critical step to break down another barrier and increase diversity on our Federal bench," Leahy said in a statement.
The advocacy group Alliance for Justice also applauded Hughes' confirmation, noting its push "for a federal judiciary that reflects the full diversity of America and a confirmation process that evaluates candidates based on their legal expertise, not how they look or who they love."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate confirms Todd M. Hughes as first openly gay federal appeals judge" by Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post 9/24/13
White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler published a blog post celebrating the confirmation as “yet another ‘first’ among President Obama’s judges” and added: “We look forward to the ‘seconds’ and ‘thirds’ who will come after Todd Hughes and his fellow ‘firsts’ currently serving on our courts.”
Seven openly gay judges have already been confirmed to serve on district courts, which rank one level below the circuit courts. The first, Deborah Batts in the Southern District of New York, took senior status in April 2012, and the remaining six were all appointed by Obama.
The Obama administration has won Senate approval for six openly gay nominees so far this term, five of them on July 30. The group included four ambassadors: Dan Baer to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, John Berry to Australia, Rufus Gifford to Denmark, and James Costos to Spain. The other two were Stuart Delery, assistant attorney general for the Civil Division at Justice, and Elaine Kaplan as a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
The president has also appointed 13 openly gay officials this year who did not require Senate confirmation, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
In addition, read Senator Ted Cruz Says the Gay Agenda Ends Christian Liberty
Showing posts with label Senate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senate. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Christians in Obama's Military? Don't Ask, Don't Tell
As conservatives have warned for years, homosexualists' demands for "gay rights" must, by default, result in stripping America of religious liberty. That prediction is now reality in a military recreated into President Obama's image, where Christians are now "forced into the closet."
In addition, read of President Obama's homosexualization of the American military -- what was once the greatest force for good in the world.
-- From "Sen. Vitter: Military Suppressed Religious Rights In 42 ‘Documented Cases’" by Alissa Tabirian, CNSNews.com 9/20/13
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) urged Deborah Lee James, President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Air Force, to look into specific cases in which the military allegedly suppressed service members’ religious rights before she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. "We're going to give you about 42 specific examples as a followup," Vitter told her.
“A lot of us are very concerned about what in our opinion is political correctness run amok on steroids quashing legitimate exercise and expression of religion in the military, things like… telling somebody they can’t have a Bible on their desk - that’s a documented case. Telling a Christian chaplain he can’t end a prayer in Jesus’ name – that’s a documented case,” Vitter told James at her nomination hearing Thursday.
However, committee chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich) said during Thursday’s hearing that “in terms of the reference to prayer, depending on where a prayer is made, if it’s made to a general audience, it could be a different responsibility for a chaplain than if it’s made to an audience of his own religion.
“This is a very sensitive area, because we want to protect freedom of religion for chaplains and for our troops, but we also want to protect the freedom of religion for people who are listening to chaplains,” Levin continued.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Vitter Urges Air Force Secretary Nominee to Address Religious Freedom" press release by office of Sen. Vitter 9/20/13
“Religious freedom is one of the core principles that make our nation great,” Vitter said. “Unfortunately there are far too many cases of the military restricting the men and women who serve our country from expressing their faith. That’s just not right, and I want to make sure the Air Force Secretary nominee does everything she can to fix it.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Former Special Forces Commander: Now It's Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell for Christians" by Michael W. Chapman, CNSNews.com 9/20/13
“There was a meeting in San Antonio yesterday [Sept. 17] where 80 members from Lackland Air Force base came and talked about the persecution they are under at Lackland Air Force Base,” said the general. “That’s significant. And now, you’re an open Christian at your own peril in many places, under many of the commanders in the military today and that’s a major change, a major paradigm shift in our society.”
“They’re trying to force Christians underground so that our faith and our values do not impact the public sector. So that’s what you’re seeing unfold today,” said Boykin, who was one of the original members of Delta Force.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
“Yes, it’s a real turnabout where you, at one time, had to come out of the closet to admit you’re homosexual, and now you have to come out of the closet to admit that you’re a Christian.”For background, read Homosexualists Say Gay Agenda will be Complete when Christians are Muzzled and also read Senator Ted Cruz Says the Gay Agenda Ends Christian Liberty as well as Pentagon Gay Agenda: Christians are 'Hate Groups'
-- Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William “Jerry” Boykin, former commander of the U.S. Special Forces Command
In addition, read of President Obama's homosexualization of the American military -- what was once the greatest force for good in the world.
-- From "Sen. Vitter: Military Suppressed Religious Rights In 42 ‘Documented Cases’" by Alissa Tabirian, CNSNews.com 9/20/13
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) urged Deborah Lee James, President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Air Force, to look into specific cases in which the military allegedly suppressed service members’ religious rights before she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. "We're going to give you about 42 specific examples as a followup," Vitter told her.
“A lot of us are very concerned about what in our opinion is political correctness run amok on steroids quashing legitimate exercise and expression of religion in the military, things like… telling somebody they can’t have a Bible on their desk - that’s a documented case. Telling a Christian chaplain he can’t end a prayer in Jesus’ name – that’s a documented case,” Vitter told James at her nomination hearing Thursday.
However, committee chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich) said during Thursday’s hearing that “in terms of the reference to prayer, depending on where a prayer is made, if it’s made to a general audience, it could be a different responsibility for a chaplain than if it’s made to an audience of his own religion.
“This is a very sensitive area, because we want to protect freedom of religion for chaplains and for our troops, but we also want to protect the freedom of religion for people who are listening to chaplains,” Levin continued.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Vitter Urges Air Force Secretary Nominee to Address Religious Freedom" press release by office of Sen. Vitter 9/20/13
“Religious freedom is one of the core principles that make our nation great,” Vitter said. “Unfortunately there are far too many cases of the military restricting the men and women who serve our country from expressing their faith. That’s just not right, and I want to make sure the Air Force Secretary nominee does everything she can to fix it.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Former Special Forces Commander: Now It's Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell for Christians" by Michael W. Chapman, CNSNews.com 9/20/13
“There was a meeting in San Antonio yesterday [Sept. 17] where 80 members from Lackland Air Force base came and talked about the persecution they are under at Lackland Air Force Base,” said the general. “That’s significant. And now, you’re an open Christian at your own peril in many places, under many of the commanders in the military today and that’s a major change, a major paradigm shift in our society.”
“They’re trying to force Christians underground so that our faith and our values do not impact the public sector. So that’s what you’re seeing unfold today,” said Boykin, who was one of the original members of Delta Force.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Senate Codifies Gay Agenda in School Reform Bill
Democrats in Congress, eager to further recruitment of children into the homosexual lifestyle as sexual playmates for wealthy donors, are Hell-bent to create a special provision to snare troubled children -- all under the guise of anti-bullying rules for schools nationwide, buried in the 1,150-page reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
For background, read the history of President Obama's Gay Agenda for Schools and read how Obama Investigates When a School Doesn't Back the Gay Agenda
. . . couldn't do this under the new bill: Illinois School Drops Gay Agenda Books on Bullying
Also read Gay Clubs Required in Schools, Says White House and read School Doesn't Back Gay Agenda, Obama Investigates
And read the homosexualist who says: We Recruit Kids for Sexual Deviancy
-- From "Bill to Alter Bush-Era Education Law Gives States More Room" by Motoko Rich, New York Times 6/4/13
Renewing the effort to revise No Child Left Behind, the signature Bush-era federal education law, Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, introduced a new version on Tuesday that he said would “replace the failed tenets” of the law.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "LGBT-inclusive education reform bill, SNDA introduced in U.S. Senate" by Brody Levesque, LGBTQ Nation 6/4/13
Under the [Senate] bill, schools that don’t take strong measures against bullying or discrimination against LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered] students would see their federal funding reduced or eliminated.
. . . Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) reintroduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) as a stand alone measure Tuesday.
“Our nation’s civil rights laws protect our children from bullying due to race, sex, religion, disability, and national origin,” Franken said. “My proposal extends these protections to our gay and lesbian students who shouldn’t ever feel afraid of going to school. I’m also pleased my provision is now a part of the education bill that will soon be debated in the Senate Education Committee.”
SNDA was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year by Reps. Jared Polis, (D-Colo.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
SNDA is closely modeled after Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides legal recourse to redress such discrimination
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Education bill rewrite would protect gay students" by Philip Elliott, Associated Press 6/4/13
The supporters praised the language as similar to Title IX, the federal law chiefly known for mandating gender equity in high school and collegiate sports.
The bill bans discrimination against students who are gay — or who are perceived as gay — in any program that receives federal education dollars. Schools that do not provide sufficient protection to gays and lesbians could find their dollars cut.
"These provisions will help to ensure that all students, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, are treated fairly and afforded equal opportunities to succeed in the classroom," Harkin said.
The provision was not highlighted in the news release announcing the bill . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read 10-year-old's Speech Mimics Obama on Gay 'Marriage'
For background, read the history of President Obama's Gay Agenda for Schools and read how Obama Investigates When a School Doesn't Back the Gay Agenda
. . . couldn't do this under the new bill: Illinois School Drops Gay Agenda Books on Bullying
Also read Gay Clubs Required in Schools, Says White House and read School Doesn't Back Gay Agenda, Obama Investigates
And read the homosexualist who says: We Recruit Kids for Sexual Deviancy
-- From "Bill to Alter Bush-Era Education Law Gives States More Room" by Motoko Rich, New York Times 6/4/13
Renewing the effort to revise No Child Left Behind, the signature Bush-era federal education law, Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, introduced a new version on Tuesday that he said would “replace the failed tenets” of the law.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "LGBT-inclusive education reform bill, SNDA introduced in U.S. Senate" by Brody Levesque, LGBTQ Nation 6/4/13
Under the [Senate] bill, schools that don’t take strong measures against bullying or discrimination against LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered] students would see their federal funding reduced or eliminated.
. . . Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn) reintroduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) as a stand alone measure Tuesday.
“Our nation’s civil rights laws protect our children from bullying due to race, sex, religion, disability, and national origin,” Franken said. “My proposal extends these protections to our gay and lesbian students who shouldn’t ever feel afraid of going to school. I’m also pleased my provision is now a part of the education bill that will soon be debated in the Senate Education Committee.”
SNDA was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year by Reps. Jared Polis, (D-Colo.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
SNDA is closely modeled after Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides legal recourse to redress such discrimination
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Education bill rewrite would protect gay students" by Philip Elliott, Associated Press 6/4/13
The supporters praised the language as similar to Title IX, the federal law chiefly known for mandating gender equity in high school and collegiate sports.
The bill bans discrimination against students who are gay — or who are perceived as gay — in any program that receives federal education dollars. Schools that do not provide sufficient protection to gays and lesbians could find their dollars cut.
"These provisions will help to ensure that all students, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, are treated fairly and afforded equal opportunities to succeed in the classroom," Harkin said.
The provision was not highlighted in the news release announcing the bill . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read 10-year-old's Speech Mimics Obama on Gay 'Marriage'
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Congresswoman Says She'll Have Sex with ANY Gender
Just when you thought Congress couldn't get any more dysfunctional, the 113th Congress will not only have its first lesbian member in the Senate, Tammy Baldwin, but also the first "bisexual" member, Kyrsten Sinema, in the House of Representatives -- meaning she's sexually attracted to either/both/any sex.
. . . wonder if she's also bipartisan? (probably anything but!)
For background, read Texas Lawmaker Says She'll Have Sex with ANY Gender and also read Gay Agenda: Gender Neutrality & Gender Spectrum as well as Homosexual 'Marriage' Not Enough; Next Goal
-- From "Kyrsten Sinema: A success story like nobody else’s" by Manuel Roig-Franzia, Washington Post 1/3/13
Krysten Sinema is also — and it irks her to no end that this is such an object of fascination — an openly bisexual woman. And not just any openly bisexual woman, but the first openly bisexual person to be elected to Congress, an undoubtedly historic figure whose very presence on Capitol Hill could serve as an inspiration when she is sworn in Thursday and joins six openly gay and lesbian members in the most demographically diverse Congress in U.S. history.
In an era when gay men and lesbians getting elected to public office is trending from “oh, wow” to almost ho-hum, it’s a real bummer for this 36-year-old Arizona Democrat that news reports around the world have distilled her to a single distinguishing characteristic based on her sexual orientation (although Sinema has been open about her sexuality for years and welcomed the endorsement and financial support of gay rights groups).
[Sinema was] the architect of a successful campaign to block a same-sex marriage ban in Arizona . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Sinema, First Openly Bisexual Member Of Congress, Represents 'Changing Arizona'" by Peter O'Dowd, National Public Radio NPR 1/1/13
Democrat Kyrsten Sinema marvels at the number of women, minorities and members of the LGBT community who will join her in the freshman class, which will be sworn in Thursday.
Early on, Sinema formed a reputation as an outspoken advocate for women's rights and same-sex marriage.
[Republican state Sen. Frank Antenori said of her perceived shift to the political center,] "She created this transformation ... going from one of the most left-wing leftists of the state House into one of the more moderate Democrats in the state Senate — which was a facade."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "113th Congress Sworn in Thursday: Meet Your Leaders" by Emily Feldman, NBC News WMAQ-TV5 (Chicago) 1/3/13
The 113th Congress will also include the first openly bisexual congresswoman (Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.) who is also the first member of Congress to self-identify as religiously unaffiliated. Ten other members of the 113th Congress did not specify a specific religious affiliation, the Pew Forum points out, yet Sinema is the only to describer her religion as “none.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read More Than Two Genders, Kindergartners Taught
And don't miss reading about the Surgical 'Miracle:' First Genderless Person
. . . wonder if she's also bipartisan? (probably anything but!)
For background, read Texas Lawmaker Says She'll Have Sex with ANY Gender and also read Gay Agenda: Gender Neutrality & Gender Spectrum as well as Homosexual 'Marriage' Not Enough; Next Goal
-- From "Kyrsten Sinema: A success story like nobody else’s" by Manuel Roig-Franzia, Washington Post 1/3/13
Krysten Sinema is also — and it irks her to no end that this is such an object of fascination — an openly bisexual woman. And not just any openly bisexual woman, but the first openly bisexual person to be elected to Congress, an undoubtedly historic figure whose very presence on Capitol Hill could serve as an inspiration when she is sworn in Thursday and joins six openly gay and lesbian members in the most demographically diverse Congress in U.S. history.
In an era when gay men and lesbians getting elected to public office is trending from “oh, wow” to almost ho-hum, it’s a real bummer for this 36-year-old Arizona Democrat that news reports around the world have distilled her to a single distinguishing characteristic based on her sexual orientation (although Sinema has been open about her sexuality for years and welcomed the endorsement and financial support of gay rights groups).
[Sinema was] the architect of a successful campaign to block a same-sex marriage ban in Arizona . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Sinema, First Openly Bisexual Member Of Congress, Represents 'Changing Arizona'" by Peter O'Dowd, National Public Radio NPR 1/1/13
Democrat Kyrsten Sinema marvels at the number of women, minorities and members of the LGBT community who will join her in the freshman class, which will be sworn in Thursday.
Early on, Sinema formed a reputation as an outspoken advocate for women's rights and same-sex marriage.
[Republican state Sen. Frank Antenori said of her perceived shift to the political center,] "She created this transformation ... going from one of the most left-wing leftists of the state House into one of the more moderate Democrats in the state Senate — which was a facade."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "113th Congress Sworn in Thursday: Meet Your Leaders" by Emily Feldman, NBC News WMAQ-TV5 (Chicago) 1/3/13
The 113th Congress will also include the first openly bisexual congresswoman (Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.) who is also the first member of Congress to self-identify as religiously unaffiliated. Ten other members of the 113th Congress did not specify a specific religious affiliation, the Pew Forum points out, yet Sinema is the only to describer her religion as “none.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read More Than Two Genders, Kindergartners Taught
And don't miss reading about the Surgical 'Miracle:' First Genderless Person
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Christians Favor MO Candidate Todd Akin over GOP
Since the inception of the Tea Party, Christians have made it clear that they put no faith in party loyalty. Now as the Republican establishment attempt to crucify outspoken Missouri pro-lifer Rep. Todd Akin, whom voters chose to defeat the current Missouri pro-abortion Senator Claire McCaskill, Christian grassroots and prominent evangelical spokesmen are defending the six-term congressman from the St. Louis suburbs, despite his "one word" gaffe.
UPDATE 8/30/12: MO senate race dead heat says new poll as well as latest poll
UPDATE 8/27/12: M.D. says Akin's statement on conception NOT unreasonable; read this 1999 article by doctor
UPDATE 8/22/12: Washington Post makes fun of Akin's Christianity and those who favor him
In video, evangelical Pastor Tony Evans backs Rep. Akin, not party politics:
-- From "Mo. congressman defies GOP leaders to stay in race" by Jim Salter, Associated Press 8/21/12
"I misspoke one word in one sentence on one day, and all of a sudden, overnight, everybody decides, 'Well, Akin can't possibly win,'" he said on a national radio show hosted by former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. "Well, I don't agree with that."
Akin predicted he would bounce back from the political crisis threatening his campaign, including a call from presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney to leave the race, and capture a seat that is pivotal to Republican hopes of regaining control of the Senate.
In a potential sign of his strategy, Akin appealed Tuesday to Christian evangelicals, anti-abortion activists and anti-establishment Republicans. He said he remains the best messenger to highlight respect for life and liberty that he contends are crumbling under the big-government policies of President Barack Obama.
Noreen McCann, who lives in the same suburban St. Louis area as Akin, said Tuesday that his rape comment hasn't weakened her support for him. McCann expressed frustration that Akin was being publicly flayed for his ill-chosen words while other Democrats — specifically President Bill Clinton — have survived scandals that included accusations of sexual impropriety and lies.
Akin "is a man of principle. I trust and respect his integrity and his commitment to defending American values," said McCann, who had passed out Akin fliers on primary election day. "I think he wants to defend all innocent human life. If he misspoke, or it was in the wrong context, that is not a major problem for me."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Akin says he’ll stay in Senate race, heightening tension within GOP" by Paul Kane, The Washington Post 8/21/12
The Republican political establishment drew closer to a confrontation with some in the party’s Christian conservative wing Tuesday as Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri chose defiance over surrender, refusing to step aside as the GOP nominee for Senate.
Missouri’s Republican Senate primary already served to pit several conservative constituencies against one another, as Christian evangelical leaders backed Akin and hard-line anti-spending conservatives supported his opponents.
But after two days of apologizing, Akin grew angry Tuesday, allowing a deadline to pass on an easier way to withdraw from the contest. The congressman made clear that he would not apologize for his belief that abortion should be illegal, even in cases of rape.
The staunchest opponents of abortion, led by the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins and the Eagle Forum’s Phyllis Schlafly, said they remained behind Akin’s candidacy Tuesday.
“Todd Akin . . . has a record of voting to protect human life,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, said in a statement. He “has been an excellent partner in the fight for the unborn.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Ignoring Deadline to Quit, G.O.P. Senate Candidate Defies His Party Leaders" by Jonathan Weisman, New York Times 8/21/12
“I believe the defense of the unborn and a deep respect for life, which underlie all of America, those are important parts of who we are. And they’re not things to run away from,” Mr. Akin said on the radio program hosted by Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.
. . . “We can’t run from our shadows every time someone says ‘abortion,’ ” he told Dana Loesch, a conservative talk radio host, on Tuesday.
Ione Dines, 72, from Marshfield, Mo., a Republican activist for 45 years and a Missouri state committee member since about 2006, said she was “just devastated” by her party’s actions.
Mr. Akin found support among anti-abortion activists and Christian conservatives, in Missouri and around the country. “Missouri Right to Life supports Congressman Akin’s defense of the life of an innocent unborn child conceived by rape,” declared Pam Fichter, president of the group’s political action committee.
“No one is speaking up on his behalf — this is a travesty,” said Rick Mathes, executive director of the Mission Gate Prison Ministry in Chesterfield, Mo., and an acquaintance of Mr. Akin’s. “With all this negative publicity, it’ll have a reverse spin, just watch. More people will be getting out to vote for him.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Rep. Steve King [R-Iowa] defends Akin as a 'strong Christian man'" by Cameron Joseph, The Hill 8/21/12
[Congressman Steve] King, a close friend and ally of Akin's who campaigned for him during the primary, stood by Akin's side. He told a local television station that he didn't want to give his thoughts on Akin's specific remark because he hadn't heard it in context, but attacked those who were blasting Akin as focused on "petty personal attacks."
"I think this election should be about how did Todd Akin vote and what did he vote for and what did he stand for and in this case, I'm seeing the same thing, petty personal attacks substituting for strong policy," he said.
The Iowa congressman, who supports changing the law so Medicaid won't cover abortions for victims of statutory rape and incest, said he didn't personally know of anyone who'd been in that situation.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Akin Still Has Strong Support Among Some Conservatives" by Reuters 8/21/12
Tim Wildmon, president of the conservative American Family Association, said in a statement that the controversy had been overblown and should be forgotten, since Akin has apologized.
"Even if he is medically incorrect, still, that is irrelevant to the issues of life that may come before him for a vote should he be elected to the U.S. Senate," he said.
Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, said Akin's comments were inappropriate and indefensible, but his group still supports Akin because of his long-term anti-abortion positions.
John Putnam, Missouri state coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, rose to the defense of Akin on Tuesday blaming Republicans for not “circling the wagons around him and getting him through this.”
Putnam, who is also the Republican Party chairman of Jasper County, ranked Akin as the 21st most conservative member of Congress during his six terms in the lower chamber.
“No question that things are rapidly deteriorating in terms of his ability to stay in the race. I hold the party somewhat responsible, mostly responsible for not pulling behind him the way the Democrats support their guys when they make a gaffe,” explained Putnam.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Tea Party Christianity Exhibited at Chick-fil-A
“The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness.”For background, read Proved: Tea Party Movement is Christian and also read Tea Party Fights: GOP War on Christianity as well as Teavangelicals Continue to Shock Mainstream Media
-- Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO)
UPDATE 8/30/12: MO senate race dead heat says new poll as well as latest poll
UPDATE 8/27/12: M.D. says Akin's statement on conception NOT unreasonable; read this 1999 article by doctor
UPDATE 8/22/12: Washington Post makes fun of Akin's Christianity and those who favor him
In video, evangelical Pastor Tony Evans backs Rep. Akin, not party politics:
-- From "Mo. congressman defies GOP leaders to stay in race" by Jim Salter, Associated Press 8/21/12
"I misspoke one word in one sentence on one day, and all of a sudden, overnight, everybody decides, 'Well, Akin can't possibly win,'" he said on a national radio show hosted by former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. "Well, I don't agree with that."
Akin predicted he would bounce back from the political crisis threatening his campaign, including a call from presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney to leave the race, and capture a seat that is pivotal to Republican hopes of regaining control of the Senate.
In a potential sign of his strategy, Akin appealed Tuesday to Christian evangelicals, anti-abortion activists and anti-establishment Republicans. He said he remains the best messenger to highlight respect for life and liberty that he contends are crumbling under the big-government policies of President Barack Obama.
Noreen McCann, who lives in the same suburban St. Louis area as Akin, said Tuesday that his rape comment hasn't weakened her support for him. McCann expressed frustration that Akin was being publicly flayed for his ill-chosen words while other Democrats — specifically President Bill Clinton — have survived scandals that included accusations of sexual impropriety and lies.
Akin "is a man of principle. I trust and respect his integrity and his commitment to defending American values," said McCann, who had passed out Akin fliers on primary election day. "I think he wants to defend all innocent human life. If he misspoke, or it was in the wrong context, that is not a major problem for me."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Akin says he’ll stay in Senate race, heightening tension within GOP" by Paul Kane, The Washington Post 8/21/12
The Republican political establishment drew closer to a confrontation with some in the party’s Christian conservative wing Tuesday as Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri chose defiance over surrender, refusing to step aside as the GOP nominee for Senate.
Missouri’s Republican Senate primary already served to pit several conservative constituencies against one another, as Christian evangelical leaders backed Akin and hard-line anti-spending conservatives supported his opponents.
But after two days of apologizing, Akin grew angry Tuesday, allowing a deadline to pass on an easier way to withdraw from the contest. The congressman made clear that he would not apologize for his belief that abortion should be illegal, even in cases of rape.
The staunchest opponents of abortion, led by the Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins and the Eagle Forum’s Phyllis Schlafly, said they remained behind Akin’s candidacy Tuesday.
“Todd Akin . . . has a record of voting to protect human life,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, said in a statement. He “has been an excellent partner in the fight for the unborn.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Ignoring Deadline to Quit, G.O.P. Senate Candidate Defies His Party Leaders" by Jonathan Weisman, New York Times 8/21/12
“I believe the defense of the unborn and a deep respect for life, which underlie all of America, those are important parts of who we are. And they’re not things to run away from,” Mr. Akin said on the radio program hosted by Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.
. . . “We can’t run from our shadows every time someone says ‘abortion,’ ” he told Dana Loesch, a conservative talk radio host, on Tuesday.
Ione Dines, 72, from Marshfield, Mo., a Republican activist for 45 years and a Missouri state committee member since about 2006, said she was “just devastated” by her party’s actions.
Mr. Akin found support among anti-abortion activists and Christian conservatives, in Missouri and around the country. “Missouri Right to Life supports Congressman Akin’s defense of the life of an innocent unborn child conceived by rape,” declared Pam Fichter, president of the group’s political action committee.
“No one is speaking up on his behalf — this is a travesty,” said Rick Mathes, executive director of the Mission Gate Prison Ministry in Chesterfield, Mo., and an acquaintance of Mr. Akin’s. “With all this negative publicity, it’ll have a reverse spin, just watch. More people will be getting out to vote for him.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Rep. Steve King [R-Iowa] defends Akin as a 'strong Christian man'" by Cameron Joseph, The Hill 8/21/12
[Congressman Steve] King, a close friend and ally of Akin's who campaigned for him during the primary, stood by Akin's side. He told a local television station that he didn't want to give his thoughts on Akin's specific remark because he hadn't heard it in context, but attacked those who were blasting Akin as focused on "petty personal attacks."
"I think this election should be about how did Todd Akin vote and what did he vote for and what did he stand for and in this case, I'm seeing the same thing, petty personal attacks substituting for strong policy," he said.
The Iowa congressman, who supports changing the law so Medicaid won't cover abortions for victims of statutory rape and incest, said he didn't personally know of anyone who'd been in that situation.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Akin Still Has Strong Support Among Some Conservatives" by Reuters 8/21/12
Tim Wildmon, president of the conservative American Family Association, said in a statement that the controversy had been overblown and should be forgotten, since Akin has apologized.
"Even if he is medically incorrect, still, that is irrelevant to the issues of life that may come before him for a vote should he be elected to the U.S. Senate," he said.
Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, said Akin's comments were inappropriate and indefensible, but his group still supports Akin because of his long-term anti-abortion positions.
John Putnam, Missouri state coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, rose to the defense of Akin on Tuesday blaming Republicans for not “circling the wagons around him and getting him through this.”
Putnam, who is also the Republican Party chairman of Jasper County, ranked Akin as the 21st most conservative member of Congress during his six terms in the lower chamber.
“No question that things are rapidly deteriorating in terms of his ability to stay in the race. I hold the party somewhat responsible, mostly responsible for not pulling behind him the way the Democrats support their guys when they make a gaffe,” explained Putnam.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Tea Party Christianity Exhibited at Chick-fil-A
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Obama, Senate Continue to Push Transgender Privilege - ENDA
In April, President Obama's employment department (EEOC) enacted transgender rights by executive fiat, and this week the Senate's Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) hearing paraded a biological woman living as a man, all in an effort to give special rights, such as allowing cross-dressing men to use the ladies room and teach kids in Christian schools without reprisal.
UPDATE 11/9/13: Senate passes ENDA, homosexualists look to Obama
UPDATE 5/30/14: President Obama proclaims Hell-bent goal to enact ENDA (see proclamation excerpts below)
UPDATE 7/10/14: Obama Wedged by Religious Homosexualists on ENDA
-- From "Man tells senators transgendered people 'lose their careers'" by Jamie Goldberg, Los Angeles Times 6/12/12
Following a letter from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions reopened discussion on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
While committee chairman Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) expressed a commitment to seeing [Senate Bill 811] move quickly through committee, he could not give any time frame. No Republicans attended what was supposed to be a full committee hearing.
Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and it is illegal in 16 states and the District of Columbia for employers to discriminate on the basis of gender identity.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Transgender Breakthrough" by Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly 4/23/12
An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person's gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation.
The opinion came in a decision delivered on Monday, April 23, to lawyers for Mia Macy, a transgender woman who claims she was denied employment with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the agency learned of her transition. It also comes on the heels of a growing number of federal appellate and trial courts deciding that gender-identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, whether based on Title VII or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws.
The EEOC decision, issued without objection by the five-member, bipartisan commission, will apply to all EEOC enforcement and litigation activities at the commission and in its 53 field offices throughout the country. It also will be binding on all federal agencies and departments.
. . . after today's ruling transgender people who feel they have faced employment discrimination can go into any of those 53 offices and the EEOC will consider their claims. What's more, the EEOC could take action itself to sue the employer for discrimination.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "DOJ Accepts EEOC Ruling That Trans Bias Is Covered By Title VII, ATF Begins Investigation" by Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly 5/21/12
The ATF Office of Equal Opportunity sent a letter to Macy dated May 18, a copy of which was received today by TLC and reviewed by Metro Weekly, stating that it was accepting for investigation Macy's claims of discrimination "based on gender (female), gender identity, gender stereotype, and or transgender status." Initially, ATF, which is within the Department of Justice, had stated that Macy's gender identity and "transgender status" claims were not able to be brought under Title VII, which led Macy to appeal her complaint to the EEOC, which found that her claims could be brought under Title VII.
Although the ruling from the EEOC is not the same as a definitive Supreme Court ruling on the question of whether transgender people are protected under Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination, the decision has substantial impact because it is binding on the EEOC, all its field offices and all federal department and agencies. The EEOC's interpretation of Title VII and other civil rights laws are given significant deference by federal courts.
. . . "There's still a lot more steps to go. We still need [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act]. We still need an executive order [to ban federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity]. We still need a hell of a lot of training."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Federal ban on job bias still eludes gay rights groups" by Curtis Tate, McClatchy Newspapers 6/11/12
Gay rights activists have made significant strides in recent years on marriage and military service, but one long-standing policy goal remains elusive: a federal law to ban discrimination against gay workers.
Gays now can serve openly in the military. Gay couples now have some form of legal recognition in 19 states and the District of Columbia. But in 29 states, gay workers can still be fired or denied promotions simply because they're gay.
To be sure, 21 states ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and all but five of those prohibit bias based on gender identity. Hundreds of cities and counties across the country have enacted nondiscrimination laws. Federal government employees are protected by a policy that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have their own nondiscrimination policies.
But some legal experts say workers and their employers need the kind of legal clarity that only a federal law can provide. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Dems Take Time to Consider 'Gender Identity' in the Workplace" by Susan Jones, CNSNews.com 6/13/12
According to the Liberty Counsel, if a supervisor told a male employee he could not use the women's restroom, the employer would be in violation of ENDA.
Craig L. Parshall, senior vice president and general counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters Association, was the only witness to warn that ENDA would gut religious liberty. The NRB represents the free speech interests of Christian broadcasters and organizations.
"Requiring discrimination laws to adequately protect and accommodate the religious liberties of faith groups is not a mere legislative prerogative: it is a constitutional mandate," Parshall said in his written testimony.
"It is my opinion that ENDA, as it stands now in the form of S. 811, would impose a substantial unconstitutional burden on religious organizations. Furthermore, it would interfere with their ability to effectively pursue their missions."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
ENDA would equate sexual deviancy rights to civil rights, thus requiring, for example, Christian schools to hire cross-dressing men.
UPDATE 5/30/14: From "Presidential Proclamation -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transponder Pride Month, 2014" by President Barack Obama, posted at WhiteHouse.gov
Last year, supporters of equality celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, a ruling which, at long last, gave loving, committed families the respect and legal protections they deserve. In keeping with this decision, my Administration is extending family and spousal benefits -- from immigration benefits to military family benefits -- to legally married same-sex couples.
My Administration proudly stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights. Here at home, we have strengthened laws against violence toward LGBT Americans, taken action to prevent bullying and harassment, and prohibited discrimination in housing and hospitals. Despite this progress, LGBT workers in too many States can be fired just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; I continue to call on the Congress to correct this injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. . . .
To read the entire proclamation above, CLICK HERE.
". . . lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are first-class citizens."For background, read Obama's EEOC Commissioner says Homosexual Sex is Morally Good & Wonderful and also read Congressional Definition of the 'Radical Homosexual Agenda' and read about the progression of ENDA (federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act)
-- Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Committee Chairman
UPDATE 11/9/13: Senate passes ENDA, homosexualists look to Obama
UPDATE 5/30/14: President Obama proclaims Hell-bent goal to enact ENDA (see proclamation excerpts below)
UPDATE 7/10/14: Obama Wedged by Religious Homosexualists on ENDA
-- From "Man tells senators transgendered people 'lose their careers'" by Jamie Goldberg, Los Angeles Times 6/12/12
Following a letter from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions reopened discussion on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
While committee chairman Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) expressed a commitment to seeing [Senate Bill 811] move quickly through committee, he could not give any time frame. No Republicans attended what was supposed to be a full committee hearing.
Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and it is illegal in 16 states and the District of Columbia for employers to discriminate on the basis of gender identity.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Transgender Breakthrough" by Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly 4/23/12
An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person's gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation.
The opinion came in a decision delivered on Monday, April 23, to lawyers for Mia Macy, a transgender woman who claims she was denied employment with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the agency learned of her transition. It also comes on the heels of a growing number of federal appellate and trial courts deciding that gender-identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, whether based on Title VII or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws.
The EEOC decision, issued without objection by the five-member, bipartisan commission, will apply to all EEOC enforcement and litigation activities at the commission and in its 53 field offices throughout the country. It also will be binding on all federal agencies and departments.
. . . after today's ruling transgender people who feel they have faced employment discrimination can go into any of those 53 offices and the EEOC will consider their claims. What's more, the EEOC could take action itself to sue the employer for discrimination.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "DOJ Accepts EEOC Ruling That Trans Bias Is Covered By Title VII, ATF Begins Investigation" by Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly 5/21/12
The ATF Office of Equal Opportunity sent a letter to Macy dated May 18, a copy of which was received today by TLC and reviewed by Metro Weekly, stating that it was accepting for investigation Macy's claims of discrimination "based on gender (female), gender identity, gender stereotype, and or transgender status." Initially, ATF, which is within the Department of Justice, had stated that Macy's gender identity and "transgender status" claims were not able to be brought under Title VII, which led Macy to appeal her complaint to the EEOC, which found that her claims could be brought under Title VII.
Although the ruling from the EEOC is not the same as a definitive Supreme Court ruling on the question of whether transgender people are protected under Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination, the decision has substantial impact because it is binding on the EEOC, all its field offices and all federal department and agencies. The EEOC's interpretation of Title VII and other civil rights laws are given significant deference by federal courts.
. . . "There's still a lot more steps to go. We still need [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act]. We still need an executive order [to ban federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity]. We still need a hell of a lot of training."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Federal ban on job bias still eludes gay rights groups" by Curtis Tate, McClatchy Newspapers 6/11/12
Gay rights activists have made significant strides in recent years on marriage and military service, but one long-standing policy goal remains elusive: a federal law to ban discrimination against gay workers.
Gays now can serve openly in the military. Gay couples now have some form of legal recognition in 19 states and the District of Columbia. But in 29 states, gay workers can still be fired or denied promotions simply because they're gay.
To be sure, 21 states ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and all but five of those prohibit bias based on gender identity. Hundreds of cities and counties across the country have enacted nondiscrimination laws. Federal government employees are protected by a policy that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have their own nondiscrimination policies.
But some legal experts say workers and their employers need the kind of legal clarity that only a federal law can provide. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Dems Take Time to Consider 'Gender Identity' in the Workplace" by Susan Jones, CNSNews.com 6/13/12
According to the Liberty Counsel, if a supervisor told a male employee he could not use the women's restroom, the employer would be in violation of ENDA.
Craig L. Parshall, senior vice president and general counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters Association, was the only witness to warn that ENDA would gut religious liberty. The NRB represents the free speech interests of Christian broadcasters and organizations.
"Requiring discrimination laws to adequately protect and accommodate the religious liberties of faith groups is not a mere legislative prerogative: it is a constitutional mandate," Parshall said in his written testimony.
"It is my opinion that ENDA, as it stands now in the form of S. 811, would impose a substantial unconstitutional burden on religious organizations. Furthermore, it would interfere with their ability to effectively pursue their missions."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
ENDA would equate sexual deviancy rights to civil rights, thus requiring, for example, Christian schools to hire cross-dressing men.
UPDATE 5/30/14: From "Presidential Proclamation -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transponder Pride Month, 2014" by President Barack Obama, posted at WhiteHouse.gov
Last year, supporters of equality celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, a ruling which, at long last, gave loving, committed families the respect and legal protections they deserve. In keeping with this decision, my Administration is extending family and spousal benefits -- from immigration benefits to military family benefits -- to legally married same-sex couples.
My Administration proudly stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights. Here at home, we have strengthened laws against violence toward LGBT Americans, taken action to prevent bullying and harassment, and prohibited discrimination in housing and hospitals. Despite this progress, LGBT workers in too many States can be fired just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; I continue to call on the Congress to correct this injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. . . .
To read the entire proclamation above, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Democrat Senate Legalizes Bestiality in Military
As part of the repeal of the military "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding homosexual behavior, the Senate has passed a defense appropriation bill (S. 1867) that eliminates the prohibition of sodomy of all kinds, including bestiality.
For background, read Congress Duped on Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal and also read Gay Soldiers Battle American Society via Marriage as well as Celebrating Gay Victory over Military: Obama White House
UPDATE 12/15/11: Obama and Dems in Congress fight hard to lift bestiality ban, but lose
UPDATE 12/13/11: Congress changes bill - sodomy now OK, but bestiality still outlawed
UPDATE 12/9/11: Pentagon says bestiality allowance just a cosmetic change, but Virginia State Senator-elect Richard Black, former head of U.S. Army's Criminal Law Division, says change in statute could create big problems
UPDATE 12/7/11 - White House refuses to denounce bestiality and won't take it seriously (video):
UPDATE 12/2/11: Defense bill must be reconciled with House version; Obama has other objections
UPDATE 12/4/11: No Senators Spoke Out as the Senate Voted for Bestiality
-- From "Senate Poised to Legalize Sodomy and Bestiality in U.S. Military" by Pete Winn, CNSNews.com 12/1/11
On Nov. 15, the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved S. 1867, the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision to repeal Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Article 125 of the UCMJ makes it illegal to engage in both sodomy with humans and sex with animals.
It states: "(a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense. (b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
“It’s all about using the military to advance this administration’s radical social agenda,” [Family Research Council President Tony] Perkins told CNSNews.com. “Not only did they overturn Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but they had another problem, and that is, under military law sodomy is illegal, just as adultery is illegal, so they had to remove that prohibition against sodomy.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "First Gays, Now Democrats Trying to Legalize Bestiality in Military?" by FRC posted at Opposing Views 11/30/11
The dust is finally starting to clear over the rubble of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal, and our military is beginning to see what's on the horizon: a campaign to radicalize the country from the Pentagon out. It started by toppling the barrier to open homosexuality. And it continues with an assault on marriage and religious freedom.
. . . Unlike civilian entities, the military operates under stringent moral guidelines so that it can perform its job efficiently. In fact, most people don't realize that the military still outlaws adultery. These are the kinds of distractions that our troops try to eliminate--not because it's socially responsible (although that is a good reason), but because it's physically and emotionally responsible.
This is the slippery slope that FRC warned of. For three long years, President Obama has worked to draft the military into his radical social agenda. Obviously, the administration understands that once it breaks down the values and inhibitions of our Defense Department, society will be easier to wear down.
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
Also read White House Gay Agenda Advances by Fiat Promised
For background, read Congress Duped on Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal and also read Gay Soldiers Battle American Society via Marriage as well as Celebrating Gay Victory over Military: Obama White House
UPDATE 12/15/11: Obama and Dems in Congress fight hard to lift bestiality ban, but lose
UPDATE 12/13/11: Congress changes bill - sodomy now OK, but bestiality still outlawed
UPDATE 12/9/11: Pentagon says bestiality allowance just a cosmetic change, but Virginia State Senator-elect Richard Black, former head of U.S. Army's Criminal Law Division, says change in statute could create big problems
UPDATE 12/7/11 - White House refuses to denounce bestiality and won't take it seriously (video):
UPDATE 12/2/11: Defense bill must be reconciled with House version; Obama has other objections
UPDATE 12/4/11: No Senators Spoke Out as the Senate Voted for Bestiality
-- From "Senate Poised to Legalize Sodomy and Bestiality in U.S. Military" by Pete Winn, CNSNews.com 12/1/11
On Nov. 15, the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved S. 1867, the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision to repeal Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Article 125 of the UCMJ makes it illegal to engage in both sodomy with humans and sex with animals.
It states: "(a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense. (b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
“It’s all about using the military to advance this administration’s radical social agenda,” [Family Research Council President Tony] Perkins told CNSNews.com. “Not only did they overturn Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but they had another problem, and that is, under military law sodomy is illegal, just as adultery is illegal, so they had to remove that prohibition against sodomy.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "First Gays, Now Democrats Trying to Legalize Bestiality in Military?" by FRC posted at Opposing Views 11/30/11
The dust is finally starting to clear over the rubble of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal, and our military is beginning to see what's on the horizon: a campaign to radicalize the country from the Pentagon out. It started by toppling the barrier to open homosexuality. And it continues with an assault on marriage and religious freedom.
. . . Unlike civilian entities, the military operates under stringent moral guidelines so that it can perform its job efficiently. In fact, most people don't realize that the military still outlaws adultery. These are the kinds of distractions that our troops try to eliminate--not because it's socially responsible (although that is a good reason), but because it's physically and emotionally responsible.
This is the slippery slope that FRC warned of. For three long years, President Obama has worked to draft the military into his radical social agenda. Obviously, the administration understands that once it breaks down the values and inhibitions of our Defense Department, society will be easier to wear down.
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
Also read White House Gay Agenda Advances by Fiat Promised
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Obama, Senate Full Assault on Marriage Begins
Having set the American economy on a course for virtual destruction, next, President Obama and liberals in Congress intend to destroy the underpinning of society -- the familial unit.
UPDATE 11/16/11: Senate committee votes to repeal DOMA; now on to full Senate
UPDATE 9/26/11: Florida Republican sponsors DOMA repeal legislation in U.S. House
-- From "Obama backs bill to end DOMA" by MJ Lee, Politico 7/19/11
The White House on Tuesday publicly supported a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which the Obama administration has opposed.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled Wednesday to hear testimony about the marriage legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act [S. 598], introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that he celebrates Obama’s position and appreciated the show of support before Wednesday’s hearing.
The Human Rights Campaign, the country’s biggest gay advocacy group, immediately thanked Obama for his support.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "White House: Obama Supports Bill to Repeal Federal Gay Marriage Ban" posted at FoxNews.com 7/19/11
[Sen. Dianne] Feinstein, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is hosting the hearing, said she is under no illusion that overturning the ban will be easy, but she does think the public is ready for a change.
"I think eyes have opened. More and more people across this land know people who are gay, who want to have a lasting relationship, who look at marriage as an economic agreement as well as an emotional agreement," said Feinstein, speaking at the National Press Club Tuesday.
The Defense of Marriage Act passed both chambers of Congress by overwhelming margins and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Feinstein was one of 14 senators to oppose the legislation.
Feinstein is now one of 27 co-sponsors, none Republican, supporting repeal. She said with a GOP-dominated House, she understands repeal may not happen anytime soon.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "My Senate Testimony Against Bill to Repeal DOMA" by Ed Whelan, posted at National Review Online 7/19/11
The inevitable effect, and the presumed purpose, of section 3 of S. 598 is to have the federal government validate so-called same-sex marriage by requiring that it treat as marriage for purposes of federal law any such union recognized as a marriage under state law. Section 3 would also require taxpayers in the states that maintain traditional marriage laws to subsidize the provision of federal benefits to same-sex unions entered into in other states.
Further, the principles invoked by advocates of same-sex marriage in their ongoing attack on traditional marriage clearly threaten to pave the way for polygamous and other polyamorous unions, especially via the judicial invention of a state constitutional right to polyamory. . . .
Under section 3 of S. 598, any polyamorous [or polygamous] union recognized as a marriage under state law would have to be recognized by the federal government as a marriage for purposes of federal law. Thus, the foreseeable effect of S. 598 would be to have the federal government validate any state’s adoption of polyamory and to require taxpayers throughout the country to subsidize polygamous and other polyamorous unions.…
Our predecessors understood what too many Americans today have forgotten or never learned or find it convenient to obscure—namely, that the marriage practices that a society endorses have real-world consequences that extend far beyond the individuals seeking to marry and that shape or deform the broader culture. That understanding underlay the 19th-century effort to combat polygamy, which was recognized to be incompatible with democracy. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Same-sex Household Count Tiny: U.S. Census
"The president has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA]."For background, read Obama Pushes Court to Rule Against Marriage and also read Gay Military Offense Against Defense of Marriage as well as House of Representatives Defends DOMA in Court, Countering Obama
--White House Press Secretary Jay Carney 7/19/11
UPDATE 11/16/11: Senate committee votes to repeal DOMA; now on to full Senate
UPDATE 9/26/11: Florida Republican sponsors DOMA repeal legislation in U.S. House
-- From "Obama backs bill to end DOMA" by MJ Lee, Politico 7/19/11
The White House on Tuesday publicly supported a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which the Obama administration has opposed.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled Wednesday to hear testimony about the marriage legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act [S. 598], introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that he celebrates Obama’s position and appreciated the show of support before Wednesday’s hearing.
The Human Rights Campaign, the country’s biggest gay advocacy group, immediately thanked Obama for his support.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "White House: Obama Supports Bill to Repeal Federal Gay Marriage Ban" posted at FoxNews.com 7/19/11
[Sen. Dianne] Feinstein, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is hosting the hearing, said she is under no illusion that overturning the ban will be easy, but she does think the public is ready for a change.
"I think eyes have opened. More and more people across this land know people who are gay, who want to have a lasting relationship, who look at marriage as an economic agreement as well as an emotional agreement," said Feinstein, speaking at the National Press Club Tuesday.
The Defense of Marriage Act passed both chambers of Congress by overwhelming margins and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Feinstein was one of 14 senators to oppose the legislation.
Feinstein is now one of 27 co-sponsors, none Republican, supporting repeal. She said with a GOP-dominated House, she understands repeal may not happen anytime soon.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "My Senate Testimony Against Bill to Repeal DOMA" by Ed Whelan, posted at National Review Online 7/19/11
The inevitable effect, and the presumed purpose, of section 3 of S. 598 is to have the federal government validate so-called same-sex marriage by requiring that it treat as marriage for purposes of federal law any such union recognized as a marriage under state law. Section 3 would also require taxpayers in the states that maintain traditional marriage laws to subsidize the provision of federal benefits to same-sex unions entered into in other states.
Further, the principles invoked by advocates of same-sex marriage in their ongoing attack on traditional marriage clearly threaten to pave the way for polygamous and other polyamorous unions, especially via the judicial invention of a state constitutional right to polyamory. . . .
Under section 3 of S. 598, any polyamorous [or polygamous] union recognized as a marriage under state law would have to be recognized by the federal government as a marriage for purposes of federal law. Thus, the foreseeable effect of S. 598 would be to have the federal government validate any state’s adoption of polyamory and to require taxpayers throughout the country to subsidize polygamous and other polyamorous unions.…
Our predecessors understood what too many Americans today have forgotten or never learned or find it convenient to obscure—namely, that the marriage practices that a society endorses have real-world consequences that extend far beyond the individuals seeking to marry and that shape or deform the broader culture. That understanding underlay the 19th-century effort to combat polygamy, which was recognized to be incompatible with democracy. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Same-sex Household Count Tiny: U.S. Census
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Gay Recruitment of Kids: Senators Join Obama
Thirteen U.S. senators have joined President Obama in encouraging children to claim sexual deviancy as their identity and lifestyle as part of the homosexualists' nationwide campaign called “It Gets Better.”
For background, read White House Says Gay Recruitment of Kids Successful and also read ACLU Threatens Schools: Must Teach Homosexuality as well as Obama, Dems Celebrate Deviant Sex Month
UPDATE 3/5/12: Professional Hockey Embraces Gay Agenda as well as Major League Baseball
-- From "Senators reach out to gay youth" by Seung Min Kim, Politico 6/29/11
Thirteen Democratic senators released a video Wednesday morning as part of the online “It Gets Better” video campaign, encouraging gay and lesbian youths and highlighting Democrats’ political support for the gay community, like the repeal last year of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
The campaign is part of the nationwide “It Gets Better” campaign, launched by syndicated columnist Dan Savage [see video interview below] last fall following news of suicides of gay teenagers. Other political figures including President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi have filmed their own videos, as well as celebrities like Joe Jonas, Kesha and Ellen DeGeneres.
The senators’ video, which opens with soft guitar strums and an interior shot of the Capitol, is called “A Message of Hope from the United States Senate.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "13 Democratic senators unveil ‘It Gets Better’ video for gay youths" by Felicia Sonmez, Washington Post 6/29/11
The senators, led by freshman Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), unveiled their video at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at a Capitol news conference. The nearly five-minute-long video is set to upbeat music and features black-and-white clips of each senator shot individually over the past month.
The 13 senators featured in the video are Coons and Sens. Mark Udall (Colo.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Al Franken (Minn.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.).
All 13 are among the 25 co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which was introduced by Feinstein in March and which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Wyden, 12 Colleagues to LGBT Youth: 'It Gets Better'" posted at KTVZ.COM (central Oregon) 6/29/11
More than 20,000 LGBT adults have produced videos around the “it gets better” message — a collection that has formed the heart of a global movement of support. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, as well as the employees of a host of major companies including Apple, Facebook, and Google, have contributed heartfelt videos to the project.
“‘It Gets Better’ is more than a message,” Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) said. “It’s a movement. It Gets Better is telling a whole generation of LGBT youth that they are not wrong just for being who they are and that they should not give up.”
"Martin LutherKing, Jr. said the arc of history is long, but it bends in the direction of justice. Last week, my home state of New York took a giant leap in that direction by extending the freedom to marry to all New Yorkers," Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Video interview with Dan Savage, homosexual and author of "It Get's Better," as praised by President Obama and so many leading liberals in America:
For background, read White House Says Gay Recruitment of Kids Successful and also read ACLU Threatens Schools: Must Teach Homosexuality as well as Obama, Dems Celebrate Deviant Sex Month
-- From "Senators reach out to gay youth" by Seung Min Kim, Politico 6/29/11
Thirteen Democratic senators released a video Wednesday morning as part of the online “It Gets Better” video campaign, encouraging gay and lesbian youths and highlighting Democrats’ political support for the gay community, like the repeal last year of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
The campaign is part of the nationwide “It Gets Better” campaign, launched by syndicated columnist Dan Savage [see video interview below] last fall following news of suicides of gay teenagers. Other political figures including President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi have filmed their own videos, as well as celebrities like Joe Jonas, Kesha and Ellen DeGeneres.
The senators’ video, which opens with soft guitar strums and an interior shot of the Capitol, is called “A Message of Hope from the United States Senate.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "13 Democratic senators unveil ‘It Gets Better’ video for gay youths" by Felicia Sonmez, Washington Post 6/29/11
The senators, led by freshman Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), unveiled their video at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at a Capitol news conference. The nearly five-minute-long video is set to upbeat music and features black-and-white clips of each senator shot individually over the past month.
The 13 senators featured in the video are Coons and Sens. Mark Udall (Colo.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Al Franken (Minn.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.).
All 13 are among the 25 co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which was introduced by Feinstein in March and which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Wyden, 12 Colleagues to LGBT Youth: 'It Gets Better'" posted at KTVZ.COM (central Oregon) 6/29/11
More than 20,000 LGBT adults have produced videos around the “it gets better” message — a collection that has formed the heart of a global movement of support. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, as well as the employees of a host of major companies including Apple, Facebook, and Google, have contributed heartfelt videos to the project.
“‘It Gets Better’ is more than a message,” Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) said. “It’s a movement. It Gets Better is telling a whole generation of LGBT youth that they are not wrong just for being who they are and that they should not give up.”
"Martin LutherKing, Jr. said the arc of history is long, but it bends in the direction of justice. Last week, my home state of New York took a giant leap in that direction by extending the freedom to marry to all New Yorkers," Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Video interview with Dan Savage, homosexual and author of "It Get's Better," as praised by President Obama and so many leading liberals in America:
Monday, June 06, 2011
RINO IL Sen. Kirk for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
As Republican Mark Kirk said in his 2010 campaign to win Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat in Illinois, he'll advance a bill making Obama’s endorsement of embryonic stem cell research permanent, so it can’t be meddled with by some future right-wing, pro-life president.
For background, read Embryo Destroyer: Mark Kirk, IL GOP Senate Candidate and also read Obama Wins Ruling: Embryos will be Destroyed
-- From "US Sen. Kirk calls for action on stem cell law" by The Associated Press 6/6/11
A Chicago-based scientist says he's grateful to U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk for siding with legislation that backs stem cell research.
Kirk on Monday called for congressional action to codify an executive order on the research issued by President Barack Obama in 2009.
Dr. John Kessler directs a stem cell research institute at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He says Kirk is backing legislation that's "absolutely essential for the field" because uncertainty over federal funding discourages young scientists from doing research on stem cells.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "US Sen. Kirk calls for action on stem cell law" by The Associated Press 6/6/11
The Illinois Republican made his remarks Monday at Northwestern University in Chicago where he toured a stem cell research lab and hosted a symposium on the approach to searching for disease cures.
Kirk says if senior Democratic senators choose not to move the legislation in this Congress, he will. He says court challenges to taxpayer-financed stem cell research make legislation necessary.
Opponents object because the cells were obtained from destroyed human embryos.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Kirk for Senate campaign video (April 2010):
For background, read Embryo Destroyer: Mark Kirk, IL GOP Senate Candidate and also read Obama Wins Ruling: Embryos will be Destroyed
-- From "US Sen. Kirk calls for action on stem cell law" by The Associated Press 6/6/11
A Chicago-based scientist says he's grateful to U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk for siding with legislation that backs stem cell research.
Kirk on Monday called for congressional action to codify an executive order on the research issued by President Barack Obama in 2009.
Dr. John Kessler directs a stem cell research institute at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He says Kirk is backing legislation that's "absolutely essential for the field" because uncertainty over federal funding discourages young scientists from doing research on stem cells.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "US Sen. Kirk calls for action on stem cell law" by The Associated Press 6/6/11
The Illinois Republican made his remarks Monday at Northwestern University in Chicago where he toured a stem cell research lab and hosted a symposium on the approach to searching for disease cures.
Kirk says if senior Democratic senators choose not to move the legislation in this Congress, he will. He says court challenges to taxpayer-financed stem cell research make legislation necessary.
Opponents object because the cells were obtained from destroyed human embryos.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Kirk for Senate campaign video (April 2010):
Friday, May 06, 2011
11 RINOs Put Abortionist on Federal Bench
Eleven GOP Senators broke a Republican filibuster to pave the way for John J. McConnell, former director of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, to be confirmed for a lifetime federal judgeship.
-- From "RI lawyer confirmed as US judge; GOP block fails" by The Associated Press 5/5/11
A trial lawyer nominated by President Barack Obama to be a federal judge in Rhode Island was confirmed on a party-line vote Wednesday just hours after a Senate GOP filibuster attempt failed.
The Senate voted 50-44 to confirm lawyer John McConnell to the bench after a more significant 63-33 tally to advance the nomination past a filibuster orchestrated by GOP leaders.
Eleven Republicans joined with Democrats in the earlier vote to break the filibuster. GOP leaders opposed McConnell, citing his record as a trial lawyer in cases against businesses. Republicans also said McConnell was less than truthful in his testimony to the Senate.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Approves Former Planned Parenthood Director as Judge" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 5/4/11
Senate Republicans joining all Democrats to end debate and approve McConnell include [Lamar Alexander of Tennessee,] Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins of Maine, Lyndsey Graham of South Carolina, [Saxby Chambliss and] Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Mark Kirk of Illinois, John McCain of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Olympia Snowe of Maine, and John Thune of South Dakota.
Before the vote, several senators suggested McConnell lied or offered contradictory sworn statements about a lead paint case in which he was involved.
“I don’t know how I can say it any more gently,” said Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, during floor debate. “The fact is, he lied to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation process.”
Pro-life advocates say McConnell is a pro-abortion stalwart who doesn’t deserve a place in the federal courts. In fact, McConnell disclosed in his public questionnaire that he was director of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island from 1997 until 2001.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "McConnell confirmed for lower court" by Abby Phillip, Politico 5/4/11
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has rarely filed for cloture for Obama’s judicial nominees, a move that could help push controversial nominees toward final confirmation. However, this requires 60 votes and can potentially eat up limited floor time as a result of debate.
But with the Democrats overcoming this hurdle with McConnell, advocates see a clear opening for other District court picks now that one of the president’s most controversial lower-court nominee is on his way to eventual confirmation.
Moreover, it bolsters an argument liberals have been making for months when they've called on the White House to more aggressively push for cloture votes on stalled nominees. They have long believed that Democrats could count on the votes of some Republican senators who were a part of the 2005 "Gang of 14," which negotiated a compromise on some of Bush's judicial picks.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "11 Republican Senators Permit Former Planned Parenthood Director to Become Federal Judge" by Fred Lucas, CNSNews.com 5/5/11
All 11 Republicans who voted for cloture—and thus to allow McConnell’s nomination to proceed—turned around and voted against the nomination itself on the final vote. That vote succeeded 50 to 44 and McConnell was confirmed.
[Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia], and other Republicans, said they did not want to duplicate the tactics of Senate Democrats who blocked numerous of President George W. Bush judicial nominees by refusing to support a cloture vote that would allow their nominations to come up for a final vote on the Senate floor.
“As a member of the ‘Gang of 14’ in 2005, I agreed that ‘Nominees should be filibustered only under extraordinary circumstances,’” [Sen. John] McCain said before the vote. “The nomination of Mr. McConnell does not rise to a level of ‘extraordinary circumstances.’ However, I am deeply troubled by Mr. McConnell’s less than candid responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee, his liberal judicial philosophy, including his public antipathy toward private enterprise, and his strong political activism. For these reasons, I will not support his nomination.”
In a floor speech, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called Jack McConnell and fine man and praised Republican senators for allowing the McConnell nomination to come to the floor.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Had 4 of the 11 Republicans who voted for cloture not done so, the nomination would have failed.Read related article: GOP Senate RINOs Fund Planned Parenthood
-- From "RI lawyer confirmed as US judge; GOP block fails" by The Associated Press 5/5/11
A trial lawyer nominated by President Barack Obama to be a federal judge in Rhode Island was confirmed on a party-line vote Wednesday just hours after a Senate GOP filibuster attempt failed.
The Senate voted 50-44 to confirm lawyer John McConnell to the bench after a more significant 63-33 tally to advance the nomination past a filibuster orchestrated by GOP leaders.
Eleven Republicans joined with Democrats in the earlier vote to break the filibuster. GOP leaders opposed McConnell, citing his record as a trial lawyer in cases against businesses. Republicans also said McConnell was less than truthful in his testimony to the Senate.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Approves Former Planned Parenthood Director as Judge" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 5/4/11
Senate Republicans joining all Democrats to end debate and approve McConnell include [Lamar Alexander of Tennessee,] Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Susan Collins of Maine, Lyndsey Graham of South Carolina, [Saxby Chambliss and] Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Mark Kirk of Illinois, John McCain of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Olympia Snowe of Maine, and John Thune of South Dakota.
Before the vote, several senators suggested McConnell lied or offered contradictory sworn statements about a lead paint case in which he was involved.
“I don’t know how I can say it any more gently,” said Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, during floor debate. “The fact is, he lied to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation process.”
Pro-life advocates say McConnell is a pro-abortion stalwart who doesn’t deserve a place in the federal courts. In fact, McConnell disclosed in his public questionnaire that he was director of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island from 1997 until 2001.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "McConnell confirmed for lower court" by Abby Phillip, Politico 5/4/11
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has rarely filed for cloture for Obama’s judicial nominees, a move that could help push controversial nominees toward final confirmation. However, this requires 60 votes and can potentially eat up limited floor time as a result of debate.
But with the Democrats overcoming this hurdle with McConnell, advocates see a clear opening for other District court picks now that one of the president’s most controversial lower-court nominee is on his way to eventual confirmation.
Moreover, it bolsters an argument liberals have been making for months when they've called on the White House to more aggressively push for cloture votes on stalled nominees. They have long believed that Democrats could count on the votes of some Republican senators who were a part of the 2005 "Gang of 14," which negotiated a compromise on some of Bush's judicial picks.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "11 Republican Senators Permit Former Planned Parenthood Director to Become Federal Judge" by Fred Lucas, CNSNews.com 5/5/11
All 11 Republicans who voted for cloture—and thus to allow McConnell’s nomination to proceed—turned around and voted against the nomination itself on the final vote. That vote succeeded 50 to 44 and McConnell was confirmed.
[Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia], and other Republicans, said they did not want to duplicate the tactics of Senate Democrats who blocked numerous of President George W. Bush judicial nominees by refusing to support a cloture vote that would allow their nominations to come up for a final vote on the Senate floor.
“As a member of the ‘Gang of 14’ in 2005, I agreed that ‘Nominees should be filibustered only under extraordinary circumstances,’” [Sen. John] McCain said before the vote. “The nomination of Mr. McConnell does not rise to a level of ‘extraordinary circumstances.’ However, I am deeply troubled by Mr. McConnell’s less than candid responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee, his liberal judicial philosophy, including his public antipathy toward private enterprise, and his strong political activism. For these reasons, I will not support his nomination.”
In a floor speech, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called Jack McConnell and fine man and praised Republican senators for allowing the McConnell nomination to come to the floor.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Friday, April 15, 2011
GOP RINOs Fund Planned Parenthood
The "clean bill" to strip all federal funding of abortionists was defeated in the Senate by every Democrat, plus five Republicans (in name only): Mark Kirk of Illinois, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Maine’s Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.
Democrats voting against defunding included self-described pro-lifers: Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
For background, read Abortion Funding Nixed in D.C., Still Funding Planned Parenthood and also read America Hinges on Defunding Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 4/24/11: Pro-abortion votes will haunt the above senators in 2012 election
UPDATE 4/17/11: Cash Floods into Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 10/3/14: Congress Again Fails to Defund Planned Parenthood
-- From "U.S. Senate Kills House Bills Targeting Health Law, Planned Parenthood" by James Rowley, Bloomberg 4/14/11
The House voted 241-185 to stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides contraception and abortion services. The legislation was voted down in the Senate, 42-58, with five Republicans joining the 53 members of the chamber’s Democratic caucus to oppose it.
In yesterday’s House votes, three Democrats broke with their party to support defunding the health-care law, while seven Republicans split with their caucus to oppose blocking funding for Planned Parenthood.
Federal law bars the expenditure of government money for abortions except under specific circumstances, such as to save a woman’s life. Republicans argued that providing funding to Planned Parenthood frees up other money that the organization can use for its abortion services.
Planned Parenthood affiliates received $363 million in government grants or contracts in the 2009 fiscal year, according to the organization’s 2008-2009 annual report.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Planned Parenthood message war goes on" by Sarah Kliff & Jennifer Haberkorn, Politico 4/15/11
“Planned Parenthood plays an important role in providing services for women,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told POLITICO.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also emphasized the preventive services Planned Parenthood provides, especially when she became the first Republican senator to break with the party line on the issue.
“For every 33 pregnant women who walk into a Planned Parenthood, 32 receive an abortion,” Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) said on the House floor shortly before voting against Planned Parenthood’s federal funding.
“Planned Parenthood received $1 million a day and performed about 1,000 abortions a day,” said [Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)], who introduced the initial amendment to defund Planned Parenthood in the House Republicans’ budget.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Planned Parenthood Funding Ban Fails in Senate" by Kevin J. Jones, Catholic News Agency 4/15/11
Cardinal DiNardo, the U.S. bishops' point man on pro-life activities, defended the proposed funding ban.
He said it was "indisputable" that Planned Parenthood is "by far the largest provider and promoter of abortions nationwide." The organization performs about one third of all abortions, over 332,000 in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009, and abortions account for over a third of its income.
"The organization has aborted over five million unborn children since 1970," the cardinal said.
Planned Parenthood's involvement in abortion has "substantially increased" in recent years while its provision of other services such as prenatal care and adoption referrals has declined "markedly." The national organization now insists that all affiliates provide abortions by 2013, he said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Democrats voting against defunding included self-described pro-lifers: Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
For background, read Abortion Funding Nixed in D.C., Still Funding Planned Parenthood and also read America Hinges on Defunding Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 4/24/11: Pro-abortion votes will haunt the above senators in 2012 election
UPDATE 4/17/11: Cash Floods into Planned Parenthood
UPDATE 10/3/14: Congress Again Fails to Defund Planned Parenthood
-- From "U.S. Senate Kills House Bills Targeting Health Law, Planned Parenthood" by James Rowley, Bloomberg 4/14/11
The House voted 241-185 to stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides contraception and abortion services. The legislation was voted down in the Senate, 42-58, with five Republicans joining the 53 members of the chamber’s Democratic caucus to oppose it.
In yesterday’s House votes, three Democrats broke with their party to support defunding the health-care law, while seven Republicans split with their caucus to oppose blocking funding for Planned Parenthood.
Federal law bars the expenditure of government money for abortions except under specific circumstances, such as to save a woman’s life. Republicans argued that providing funding to Planned Parenthood frees up other money that the organization can use for its abortion services.
Planned Parenthood affiliates received $363 million in government grants or contracts in the 2009 fiscal year, according to the organization’s 2008-2009 annual report.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Planned Parenthood message war goes on" by Sarah Kliff & Jennifer Haberkorn, Politico 4/15/11
“Planned Parenthood plays an important role in providing services for women,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told POLITICO.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also emphasized the preventive services Planned Parenthood provides, especially when she became the first Republican senator to break with the party line on the issue.
“For every 33 pregnant women who walk into a Planned Parenthood, 32 receive an abortion,” Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) said on the House floor shortly before voting against Planned Parenthood’s federal funding.
“Planned Parenthood received $1 million a day and performed about 1,000 abortions a day,” said [Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)], who introduced the initial amendment to defund Planned Parenthood in the House Republicans’ budget.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Planned Parenthood Funding Ban Fails in Senate" by Kevin J. Jones, Catholic News Agency 4/15/11
Cardinal DiNardo, the U.S. bishops' point man on pro-life activities, defended the proposed funding ban.
He said it was "indisputable" that Planned Parenthood is "by far the largest provider and promoter of abortions nationwide." The organization performs about one third of all abortions, over 332,000 in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009, and abortions account for over a third of its income.
"The organization has aborted over five million unborn children since 1970," the cardinal said.
Planned Parenthood's involvement in abortion has "substantially increased" in recent years while its provision of other services such as prenatal care and adoption referrals has declined "markedly." The national organization now insists that all affiliates provide abortions by 2013, he said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Fed. Insurance for Abortion isn't Funding Abortion: Sen. Boxer
Democrat Sens. Franken & Boxer say that conservatives are "twisting/turning what the meaning is of federal funds" when pro-lifers say that federal subsidizing of health care insurance (which includes abortion coverage) is essentially taxpayers providing monetary incentive for abortion.
For background, read Left Fears a Take-down of Planned Parenthood, and also read Defund Planned Parenthood: New Coalition Launched
-- From "Abortion debate heats up on Capitol Hill" by Felicia Sonmez, Washington Post Staff Writer 2/9/11
. . . H.R. 3 - also known as the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" - would eliminate tax breaks for abortions and permanently prohibit taxpayer funding for abortions in all federal programs by codifying the Hyde Amendment, which typically is renewed annually. It also would reinstate a ban on abortion funding in the District, a move that some have contended would infringe on the city's right to self-government. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
The other, H.R. 358 - known as the "Protect Life Act" - would prohibit federal funding for abortions under the new national health-care law and also would prevent funding from being withheld from institutions that are opposed to providing abortions. It is sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.).
Abortion rights advocates contend that the proposals would allow hospitals to refuse to provide abortions in cases where the woman's life is threatened. They also argue that the bills go too far in prohibiting women from using their own money to obtain insurance that covers a range of reproductive care.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Abortion Funding Showdown Escalates" by Stephanie Condon, CBS News 2/8/11
Democratic lawmakers held press conferences today decrying a set of anti-abortion bills in Congress as an "attack on women's health," as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) put it. Meanwhile, [dozens of] protesters against the legislation, wearing red tape over their mouths, were escorted by police out of a congressional hearing room today for silently interrupting a panel discussion on the issue. As they walked out, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said the current debate is about whether it is the federal government's role "to fund a practice that continues to take the lives of over 1 million little Americans every year." [Recommended viewing: House hearing on H.R. 3 - click for C-Span video.]
The political action committee of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), chair of the House Tea Party caucus and a rising national figure in the Republican party, sent a fundraising e-mail to its supporters this week, targeting Planned Parenthood. In the e-mail, Bachmann lamented the "Fifty three million lives have been snuffed out at abortion clinics around our nation since 1973," the year of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, and she promised her PAC would support politicians "who agree that abortion is a crime and must be stopped immediately."
Planned Parenthood is striking back against the Republican assault, mounting a new round of grassroots activism to raise opposition to the two anti-abortion funding bills. The group is organizing nationwide phone banking and e-mail campaigns, in-district visits to congressional offices and circulating a "Stand with Planned Parenthood"petition.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Dems vow abortion bills block" by Shira Toeplitz, Politico 2/8/11
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters “I do think we’ll have 41” votes necessary to block legislation backed by some members of House GOP leadership that would further restrict federal funds for abortions. Boxer was referring to a procedural maneuver that would require 60 votes to get a bill to the floor.
Boxer and Sens. Al Franken of Minnesota, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Kirstin Gillibrand of New York, Patty Murray of Washington, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are likely have the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in their efforts to thwart the legislation. A spokesman for Reid told POLITICO he supports the abortion language passed in the health care overhaul law last year.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told POLITICO that he would “take a look at what the House sends over and see what’s appropriate,” but his spokesman said the GOP senator opposes federal funding for abortion — a position that puts him in line with many House Republicans who support the anti-abortion measures.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
For background, read Left Fears a Take-down of Planned Parenthood, and also read Defund Planned Parenthood: New Coalition Launched
-- From "Abortion debate heats up on Capitol Hill" by Felicia Sonmez, Washington Post Staff Writer 2/9/11
. . . H.R. 3 - also known as the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" - would eliminate tax breaks for abortions and permanently prohibit taxpayer funding for abortions in all federal programs by codifying the Hyde Amendment, which typically is renewed annually. It also would reinstate a ban on abortion funding in the District, a move that some have contended would infringe on the city's right to self-government. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
The other, H.R. 358 - known as the "Protect Life Act" - would prohibit federal funding for abortions under the new national health-care law and also would prevent funding from being withheld from institutions that are opposed to providing abortions. It is sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.).
Abortion rights advocates contend that the proposals would allow hospitals to refuse to provide abortions in cases where the woman's life is threatened. They also argue that the bills go too far in prohibiting women from using their own money to obtain insurance that covers a range of reproductive care.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Abortion Funding Showdown Escalates" by Stephanie Condon, CBS News 2/8/11
Democratic lawmakers held press conferences today decrying a set of anti-abortion bills in Congress as an "attack on women's health," as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) put it. Meanwhile, [dozens of] protesters against the legislation, wearing red tape over their mouths, were escorted by police out of a congressional hearing room today for silently interrupting a panel discussion on the issue. As they walked out, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said the current debate is about whether it is the federal government's role "to fund a practice that continues to take the lives of over 1 million little Americans every year." [Recommended viewing: House hearing on H.R. 3 - click for C-Span video.]
The political action committee of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), chair of the House Tea Party caucus and a rising national figure in the Republican party, sent a fundraising e-mail to its supporters this week, targeting Planned Parenthood. In the e-mail, Bachmann lamented the "Fifty three million lives have been snuffed out at abortion clinics around our nation since 1973," the year of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, and she promised her PAC would support politicians "who agree that abortion is a crime and must be stopped immediately."
Planned Parenthood is striking back against the Republican assault, mounting a new round of grassroots activism to raise opposition to the two anti-abortion funding bills. The group is organizing nationwide phone banking and e-mail campaigns, in-district visits to congressional offices and circulating a "Stand with Planned Parenthood"petition.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Dems vow abortion bills block" by Shira Toeplitz, Politico 2/8/11
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters “I do think we’ll have 41” votes necessary to block legislation backed by some members of House GOP leadership that would further restrict federal funds for abortions. Boxer was referring to a procedural maneuver that would require 60 votes to get a bill to the floor.
Boxer and Sens. Al Franken of Minnesota, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Kirstin Gillibrand of New York, Patty Murray of Washington, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are likely have the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in their efforts to thwart the legislation. A spokesman for Reid told POLITICO he supports the abortion language passed in the health care overhaul law last year.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told POLITICO that he would “take a look at what the House sends over and see what’s appropriate,” but his spokesman said the GOP senator opposes federal funding for abortion — a position that puts him in line with many House Republicans who support the anti-abortion measures.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Homosexual Military Remake: IL Sen. Kirk?
Newly elected Illinois RINO Senator Mark Kirk faces a conundrum: Does he jettison his GOP Immaculation immediately during the Congressional lame-duck session by voting for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," or does he buck the homosexualists and risk being "outed" from his closet?
UPDATE 12/18/10: Mark Kirk joins with other Senate RINOs voting for military sexual experiment
-- From "Mark Kirk on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell:" Will Study Report" by Lynn Sweeton, Chicago Sun-Times 11/30/10
Freshman Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)--a Navy reserve officer who has declined to give his views on gays serving openly in the military--waiting for a Defense Department survey to be completed--will study the report released on Tuesday. Defense Sec. Robert Gates on Tuesday called for the Senate to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," ban, based on the report.
"Senator Kirk will read every page of the DoD/Joint Chiefs of Staff report and will seek a meeting with the Chief of Naval Operations to discuss his findings before making a decision on this issue," his spokesman, Lance Trover, said in a statement.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mark Kirk Says He's Undecided On DADT Repeal, Will Study Report" by On Top Magazine Staff 12/1/10
Republican Mark Kirk, who'll serve the remaining weeks of President Barack Obama's unexpired term, was sworn in on Monday. Democratic Senator Roland Burris was appointed to the seat after Obama became president but didn't run for the post. Kirk's full term begins in January.
As a representative, Kirk, a Navy reserve officer, voted against a measure that would repeal the law that has ended the military careers of over 13,000 service members.
A Senate committee will begin two days' worth of hearings on the Pentagon report on Thursday.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mark Kirk Has No More Excuses For Voting To Keep 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" by Edward McClelland, posted at NBC Chicago 11/30/10
During October’s WTTW debate with Alexi Giannoulias, Mark Kirk suggested he might vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell if the Pentagon’s Working Group Study showed that allowing gays to serve openly would have no effect on morale.
“I think we should wait for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to report,” Kirk told moderator Phil Ponce. “This was actually the recommendation of Secretary Gates and the President, but Speaker Pelosi wanted to move forward anyway. The problem here is that when you remove the policy, you got to have a new policy….I’m going to read every word of that study.”
“I understand that he’ll have time to read the report and that it is, in fact, what’s he's asking for: a roadmap,” [Winnie Stachelberg, senior vice president of the Center for American Progress] told Metro Weekly. “Losing Senator Burris as a known vote in favor [of repeal] is a challenge, but, as I understand now-Sen. Kirk’s concerns, I feel we haven’t lost a vote there.”
“I think we should make a very limited set of decisions, and then let the new Congress, that has a fresh mandate from the American people, take office and make the bigger decision,” Kirk said [Monday, nebulously].
To read the opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 12/18/10: Mark Kirk joins with other Senate RINOs voting for military sexual experiment
-- From "Mark Kirk on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell:" Will Study Report" by Lynn Sweeton, Chicago Sun-Times 11/30/10
Freshman Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)--a Navy reserve officer who has declined to give his views on gays serving openly in the military--waiting for a Defense Department survey to be completed--will study the report released on Tuesday. Defense Sec. Robert Gates on Tuesday called for the Senate to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," ban, based on the report.
"Senator Kirk will read every page of the DoD/Joint Chiefs of Staff report and will seek a meeting with the Chief of Naval Operations to discuss his findings before making a decision on this issue," his spokesman, Lance Trover, said in a statement.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mark Kirk Says He's Undecided On DADT Repeal, Will Study Report" by On Top Magazine Staff 12/1/10
Republican Mark Kirk, who'll serve the remaining weeks of President Barack Obama's unexpired term, was sworn in on Monday. Democratic Senator Roland Burris was appointed to the seat after Obama became president but didn't run for the post. Kirk's full term begins in January.
As a representative, Kirk, a Navy reserve officer, voted against a measure that would repeal the law that has ended the military careers of over 13,000 service members.
A Senate committee will begin two days' worth of hearings on the Pentagon report on Thursday.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Mark Kirk Has No More Excuses For Voting To Keep 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" by Edward McClelland, posted at NBC Chicago 11/30/10
During October’s WTTW debate with Alexi Giannoulias, Mark Kirk suggested he might vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell if the Pentagon’s Working Group Study showed that allowing gays to serve openly would have no effect on morale.
“I think we should wait for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to report,” Kirk told moderator Phil Ponce. “This was actually the recommendation of Secretary Gates and the President, but Speaker Pelosi wanted to move forward anyway. The problem here is that when you remove the policy, you got to have a new policy….I’m going to read every word of that study.”
“I understand that he’ll have time to read the report and that it is, in fact, what’s he's asking for: a roadmap,” [Winnie Stachelberg, senior vice president of the Center for American Progress] told Metro Weekly. “Losing Senator Burris as a known vote in favor [of repeal] is a challenge, but, as I understand now-Sen. Kirk’s concerns, I feel we haven’t lost a vote there.”
“I think we should make a very limited set of decisions, and then let the new Congress, that has a fresh mandate from the American people, take office and make the bigger decision,” Kirk said [Monday, nebulously].
To read the opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Worldwide Abortion Advanced by IL Sen. Durbin
At a Senate Committee hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin advocated U.S. ratification of the United Nations CEDAW treaty (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) to force countries to legalize abortion.
-- From "Durbin, Geena Davis press for international women's treaty" by Bill Lambrecht, St. Louis Post Dispatch 11/18/10
[CEDAW] was negotiated by Jimmy Carter 31 years ago and most countries have ratified it.
The last time a ratification effort began, during the Bush administration in 2002, anti-abortion and pro-family groups organized against it, calling CEDAW "the Equal Rights Amendment on steroids."
Prior to a hearing underway now, Durbin . . . acknowledged that ratification was unlikely given that it would require 67 senators voting aye.
But Durbin said he felt it was necessary to keep the discussion alive and to hear testimony about discrimination and abuse suffered by women around the world.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pro-Abortion CEDAW Treaty Gets Senate Committee Hearing" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 11/18/10
. . . Sen. Dick Durbin made promoting the treaty a majority part of a hearing he held today featuring a who’s who of pro-abortion leaders and activists including representatives of the ACLU, Human Rights First and the National Women’s Law Center.
. . . President Barack Obama supports the controversial treaty.
Steven Groves, a fellow from the conservative Heritage Foundation, testified . . . “Ratification of CDAW would neither advance U.S. national interests within the international community nor enhance the rights of women in the U.S.,” he said.
Groves added that he worried the United States would face pressure from the UN and other nations in the same manner as have other countries.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
-- From "Durbin, Geena Davis press for international women's treaty" by Bill Lambrecht, St. Louis Post Dispatch 11/18/10
[CEDAW] was negotiated by Jimmy Carter 31 years ago and most countries have ratified it.
The last time a ratification effort began, during the Bush administration in 2002, anti-abortion and pro-family groups organized against it, calling CEDAW "the Equal Rights Amendment on steroids."
Prior to a hearing underway now, Durbin . . . acknowledged that ratification was unlikely given that it would require 67 senators voting aye.
But Durbin said he felt it was necessary to keep the discussion alive and to hear testimony about discrimination and abuse suffered by women around the world.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pro-Abortion CEDAW Treaty Gets Senate Committee Hearing" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com 11/18/10
. . . Sen. Dick Durbin made promoting the treaty a majority part of a hearing he held today featuring a who’s who of pro-abortion leaders and activists including representatives of the ACLU, Human Rights First and the National Women’s Law Center.
. . . President Barack Obama supports the controversial treaty.
Steven Groves, a fellow from the conservative Heritage Foundation, testified . . . “Ratification of CDAW would neither advance U.S. national interests within the international community nor enhance the rights of women in the U.S.,” he said.
Groves added that he worried the United States would face pressure from the UN and other nations in the same manner as have other countries.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Homosexual Assault on Military Misses Target
Any changes to the 1993 law banning homosexuals from serving in the military (a.k.a. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell") have been iced by the combination of Monday's action by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to indefinitely freeze the recent activist judge's ruling, along with Tuesday's election results showing voters' denouncement of President Obama's sweeping agenda to remake the nation.
UPDATE 11/9/10 (video): Top Marine says don't change law
-- From "Appeals court extends life of gay military policy" by Lisa Leff, The Associated Press 11/1/10
In an eight-page order, two judges said they were persuaded by the Department of Justice's argument that U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips' worldwide injunction against the policy "will seriously disrupt ongoing and determined efforts by the Administration to devise an orderly change."
"The public interest in enduring orderly change of this magnitude in the military — if that is what is to happen — strongly militates in favor of a stay," Judges Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain and Stephen S. Trott wrote in their majority order. "Furthermore, if the administration is successful in persuading Congress to eliminate (the policy), this case and controversy will become moot."
Another reason they gave for imposing the freeze was decisions by four other federal appeals courts that cast doubt on whether Phillips exceeded her authority and ignored existing legal precedents when she concluded gays could not serve in the military without having their First Amendment rights breached.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "‘Don’t Ask’ Repeal Advocate Is Ousted" by Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal 11/3/10
The Republican wave that took over the House of Representatives also claimed the seat of Rep. Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.) who had headed up efforts to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
With sharp Republican gains Tuesday, the fate of repeal of the so called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill is unclear. . . .
In addition to Mr. Murphy, many more senior Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee, including Rep. Ike Skelton (D., Mo.), were defeated Tuesday.
Congressional observers say unless [Senate Majority Leader] Reid brings up the bill before Thanksgiving, there will likely not be time to pass the measure, and get it through a Congressional conference committee by the end of the lame duck session.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 11/9/10 (video): Top Marine says don't change law
-- From "Appeals court extends life of gay military policy" by Lisa Leff, The Associated Press 11/1/10
In an eight-page order, two judges said they were persuaded by the Department of Justice's argument that U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips' worldwide injunction against the policy "will seriously disrupt ongoing and determined efforts by the Administration to devise an orderly change."
"The public interest in enduring orderly change of this magnitude in the military — if that is what is to happen — strongly militates in favor of a stay," Judges Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain and Stephen S. Trott wrote in their majority order. "Furthermore, if the administration is successful in persuading Congress to eliminate (the policy), this case and controversy will become moot."
Another reason they gave for imposing the freeze was decisions by four other federal appeals courts that cast doubt on whether Phillips exceeded her authority and ignored existing legal precedents when she concluded gays could not serve in the military without having their First Amendment rights breached.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "‘Don’t Ask’ Repeal Advocate Is Ousted" by Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal 11/3/10
The Republican wave that took over the House of Representatives also claimed the seat of Rep. Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.) who had headed up efforts to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
With sharp Republican gains Tuesday, the fate of repeal of the so called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill is unclear. . . .
In addition to Mr. Murphy, many more senior Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee, including Rep. Ike Skelton (D., Mo.), were defeated Tuesday.
Congressional observers say unless [Senate Majority Leader] Reid brings up the bill before Thanksgiving, there will likely not be time to pass the measure, and get it through a Congressional conference committee by the end of the lame duck session.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Media Scorn God's Involvement in Elections
The mainstream media's favorite pastime of making fun of Christians again targets Delaware's U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell and her stated belief that God is in control of America's elections (and everything else, for that matter).
-- From "O'Donnell says prayer may have boosted her polling" by Ben Evans, The Associated Press 10/25/10
Delaware Republican Christine O'Donnell says prayer could be boosting support for her Senate campaign.
"The day that we saw a spike in the polls was a day that some people had a prayer meeting for me, that morning, for this campaign, so I believe that prayer plays a direct role in this campaign," O'Donnell said. "I always ask, please pray for the campaign, please pray for our staff, please pray specifically that the eyes of the voters be opened."
O'Donnell has been criticized for her conservative commentary over the years - she once voiced opposition to masturbation in a campaign against premarital sex - and has been ridiculed for saying that she once dabbled in witchcraft. [The AP is in error writing "that she once dabbled in witchcraft."]
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
After quoting O'Donnell, USA TODAY points out that she's trailing in the polls by double digits -- "obviously proving" (in their minds) that prayers to God are ineffective.
It's noteworthy that the mainstream media does NOT quote from this portion of the same interview:
-- From "O'Donnell says prayer may have boosted her polling" by Ben Evans, The Associated Press 10/25/10
Delaware Republican Christine O'Donnell says prayer could be boosting support for her Senate campaign.
"The day that we saw a spike in the polls was a day that some people had a prayer meeting for me, that morning, for this campaign, so I believe that prayer plays a direct role in this campaign," O'Donnell said. "I always ask, please pray for the campaign, please pray for our staff, please pray specifically that the eyes of the voters be opened."
O'Donnell has been criticized for her conservative commentary over the years - she once voiced opposition to masturbation in a campaign against premarital sex - and has been ridiculed for saying that she once dabbled in witchcraft. [The AP is in error writing "that she once dabbled in witchcraft."]
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
After quoting O'Donnell, USA TODAY points out that she's trailing in the polls by double digits -- "obviously proving" (in their minds) that prayers to God are ineffective.
It's noteworthy that the mainstream media does NOT quote from this portion of the same interview:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
