DonkeyHotey (CC)

Just a year later, Barack Obama comes on the national scene, at that year’s DNC convention. Of course this charismatic man was being groomed to run for the presidency. Everyone knew it, just as we can easily predict the rising stars in the GOP today. But how did Obama get there, and more importantly, how did he get into the White House? We all looked at Bush’s pedigree, and the left immediately leaped on any perceived deficiencies they could, leaving a huge market for Moore’s books on the topic. But, that was just a couple years into Bush’s first term. Only now are the Republicans starting to really delve into the past of the elusive Obama. Hopefully, it’s not “too little, too late.”

Instead of Moore, there’s Richard Miniter, and his book, Leading from Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him. I humbly suggest that it was no coincidence that the phrase “leading from behind” was used more than once on the floor of the RNC convention, by no less than Condi Rice, for one. This book suggests that there isn’t just one Rove in the background pulling strings in the current administration, but no less than three. That is, if you are only going to count the women.

In turns, Obama was (and still is) influenced highly by certain women in his life. That list includes Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, and Valerie Jarrett. While both Michelle and Pelosi obviously have some sway in Obama’s world all the time, admittedly Pelosi’s real time of influence was during the debates and passage of the Healthcare Reform Act. No one is likely to forget her infamous “we’ve got to pass it to know what’s in it” plea, and Miniter actually contends that we should be referring to that legislation as “Pelosi-Care,” not Obamacare, to give credit where it is actually due. As for the current debacle with the platform, it’s highly unlikely that either Michelle or Pelosi would have suggested such a thing as removing reference to God and Jerusalem.

So, that leaves Hillary Clinton and Valerie Jarrett to consider. Sure, it’s possible that both of these women had a hand in this, for different reasons. While all the Dems have been making hay about Bill Clinton’s speech at the convention, I’ve been quietly considering Romney’s response to it. It really wasn’t a very good speech for Obama. If nothing else, Bill Clinton is good at smiling while delivering an obscure insult. It could be argued that is precisely what that speech was. Does anyone really think that Bill forgot about Reagan’s inheritance from Carter, and what he did with it? If you do, you must be a Democrat. So yes, there is a strong argument for Hillary suggesting, or at least supporting, the removal of the reference to God and Jerusalem in the Democratic Platform. Or you could buy into Alan Dershowitz’s contention that it’s the result of “rogue elements”. Not very convincing, however, it is interesting to consider Dershowitz’s opinion on Hamas.

And that leaves Valerie Jarrett. She is arguably the one that conservatives should be calling “Obama’s Brain.” And just who is she, really? To hear it from the Obama’s, she’s a very old friend. Considering they met sometime in the 1990′s, it does make one wonder what it takes to become an “old friend.” Otherwise, Jarrett resides in Rove’s old office, and some might even say that she has greater access to and influence on Obama than Rove ever did with Bush. And, by all accounts, Jarrett is a radical left-wing political player, and probably the biggest proponent of secularism in the current administration. Miniter’s book does cover the history of Jarrett and the Obama’s such as can be gleaned from the few that are willing to talk about her. Of course, it’s not likely anyone will get many statements on her going forward, and certainly not from anyone like Robert Gibbs, who she probably caused to end up outside the White House.

So, my bet is on Valerie Jarrett being the culprit, and there is no way it was a typo. And, like many other mistakes in this administration, there never was any intention for there to be a real vote on the issue on the floor of the convention. The fact that the delegates actually spoke their minds had to be highly annoying to Obama. After all, the only deity he wants to see people worshiping is him, right?

While that was undoubtedly painful for Sebelius, in theory, it may have opened a whole new can of worms. By taking it from the purely legal standpoint, Gowdy may have inadvertently opened an opportunity for the left on other issues, including abortion. Yes, there are religions out there that do not have strict restrictions against abortion, Judaism included. In theory, the left could use the same balancing act Gowdy used to justify preventing legislation against abortion, at least in the circumstances permitted by given religions.

Now, before anyone starts frothing at the mouth, that is an unlikely result of this little moment, if for no other reason, the left-wing would have to find people that observe those faiths to come forward and file lawsuits. That’s unlikely, of course.

But, the hearing did cause me to think yet again about the economic end of this perennial debate. Yet again, I am wondering about the feasibility of the I.R.S. adding a checkbox to tax forms that could settle it once and for all. If taxpayers could just tell the government whether or not they were willing to have their tax dollars be applied to public funds for contraception and/or abortion, then the crusade to end all abortions should be considered a purely religious movement. Arguably, it would be rendered moot, at least on the Federal level.

If no one is paying for something that they disagree with based on religious belief, then the government is not preventing anyone from observing their faith. Remember, the rights granted by the Bill of Rights end where the rights of another individual begin. That’s why those of us from the generally Libertarian neck of the woods don’t tend to join in social conservative crusades. It’s none of our business. It shouldn’t be the business of government. Gowdy had it right when he pointed out that Sebelius was wrong when she pushed the mandate for coverage of contraceptives. While what I’ve said here might annoy some social conservatives, keep in mind that I’m suggesting that we take Gowdy’s principle a step farther, and include individuals, not just religious institutions. If you personally do not believe it is moral to have contraceptives, your hard-earned money should not pay for it, ever. If you personally do not believe that abortion is acceptable for anyone, the same applies. But, that should be the extent of your rights. You do not have the right to force those that disagree with your belief system to comply with it. Fairly simple, so it’s highly unlikely it would work in this country. After all, we love having a government that could mess up a one man parade.

Crossposted at Goldwater Gal

Ryan Somma (CC)

The Constitution protects the rights of citizens to observe the faith of their choosing. While Thomas Jefferson did say something about people worshiping or not worshiping any number of gods, the First Amendment only prevents the Federal Government from becoming a theocratic body, or making any law that abridges the observation of any faith. That’s why we call it “Freedom of Religion”, by the way. Now, here’s a newsflash for the folks over at FFRF: Atheism is not a religion, period. If one is atheist, one does not believe there are any deities, and therefore does not observe any religion either. So, if the folks over at FFRF are offended by monuments to deities that they supposedly don’t believe in anyway, perhaps they don’t need to running about filing lawsuits about their discomfort. They need to be letting their fingers do the walking, and find themselves some good psychiatrists to help them with their obvious mental problems!

–Crossposted on Goldwater Gal–

To all members of Clergy in America,
The moral, ethical, and societal situation in our nation today is dire to say the least. An out of control government that does not respond to the wishes of We the People is taking control of every aspect of our lives and implementing a dictatorial oligarchy. Freedom of speech/expression is all but gone unless that speech/expression espouses everything Godless, evil, and despicable.

What I am writing may or may not apply to you. If you are not one of the ones I write about don’t take offense but rather accept my thanks for standing for freedom and Christian values against an increasingly tyrannical government. If this does apply to you please take it to heart and think about what your position in society is, and how you are carrying out your calling from God. In writing this I am doing my best to fulfill my calling, my commission from God.

I find it disconcerting that members of the clergy are either on board with this governmental abuse of power or afraid to speak out against it. I don’t know where each of you stand on issues of government tyranny and the restrictions on preaching true biblical tenets but I do know too many either agree with what the government is doing or have been intimidated into silence on the most important issues facing America today.

I see history repeating itself in horrendous terms. I was born shortly after World War II and clearly remember the situation that led to the Holocaust. When Hitler took over in Germany there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 churches in that nation. When he started his pogrom against the Jews there were only 84 pastors who stood up to oppose what he was doing. Most of those 84 were executed outright and others died in concentration camps.

Those who stood for the Bible and the values of God were martyred for their beliefs. Sadly, almost all of those who should have led the charge against Hitler’s tyranny sat on the sidelines to save their own skins and denied their calling for their own safety. This is not God’s idea of a shepherd, at least not to my understanding.

I see this happening again, in America today. I wonder why the leaders of the Christian community are silent. Pastors John Hagee of San Antonio and Robert Jeffress of Dallas are a couple of the more outspoken critics of what is happening but I know of very few others who are standing for true Christianity. It seems very few other clergy members have the courage to defy the perversion of the 1st Amendment and are willing to exercise the most important freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. I realize I only attend one church but I see and have contact with thousands of people through the internet and my impression is that I am right on the button with my comments.

I know that there are several reasons why pastors won’t speak out. I have heard it said that if they speak out against government overreach and truly preach on the more controversial biblical principles, such as that against homosexuality or pre-marital sexual activity, that people will leave because they don’t want to hear that message. The churches could collapse from lack of donations so they have to be careful what they say from the pulpit in order to keep the attendance and money flow coming. If this is the reason a pastor won’t speak out my sadness deepens. Some fear the possibility of “hate speech” charges being brought if they speak out against immorality. I have also heard it said that they can’t preach certain things because of the “separation of church and state”. If this last point is your concern, let me educate you a bit.

This quaint little phrase is not in the Constitution. The 1st Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…..”. It says freedom of RELIGION, not freedom of WORSHIP as has been the latest propaganda coming from the White house and Obama’s minions. The term separation of church and state came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptist Association in 1802. The state government of Connecticut was trying to establish a denominational control over their state, trying to establish a Church of England style worship, and make it mandatory. The Danbury Baptist group asked Jefferson for help and he told them, in a two page letter, that no government entity can establish such a rule due to the separation of church and state. In 1947 Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black turned 8 words from that two page letter into a decision that totally perverted the meaning of the 1st Amendment. Freedom OF religion suddenly became freedom FROM religion, well freedom from public Christianity anyway.

The government and the courts have turned this perversion into a “no public expression of Christianity” edict. This position doesn’t carry over to Islam, atheism, or any of the many cults in existence today. Atheism has been acknowledged as a religion by the courts but only Christianity is held to the standards of no public displays of faith. When Christians see the clergy accepting this government position and doing nothing they assume the government and the courts are correct because they don’t know what the Constitution says. That Americans have no clue what their founding document says is sad enough in itself. The fact that their church leaders have no better understanding is even worse.

I am saddened when the activism I see from clergy is that of calling for government control of everything. “Ministers” and priests are out in the public eye decrying our freedom and demanding that the government give what doesn’t belong to them to those who refuse to help themselves. Jesus himself said that the man who does not work should not eat. These same clergy members preach hate from the pulpit but are excused because their message is politically correct, and against Christianity. Jeremiah Wright, Michael Pfleger, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton all stand out in public preaching hate, racism, divisiveness, and dependence on government. They need to be countered by true men and women of God who will preach the true message of the Bible, not the message of some pseudo-god they worship.

Our nation is going down the sewer of Godlessness and our clergy are allowing it to happen. Most of the members of your congregation are not going to be as outspoken and forward as I am. Most of them probably know very little, if anything, about their freedom or their heritage. They look to you not only for spiritual guidance but also for the courage to get out in the community and be seen, to stand up for their rights and the freedom given to all of us by Almighty God. It is up to you to teach them about the Christian heritage of our nation, and to be proud of that heritage instead of hiding it in the closet.

Freedom doesn’t come from government or from a document. The Declaration of Independence says; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our founding fathers recognized God as our creator, our benefactor, and our ultimate judge. If we continue to turn our backs on God, our founding documents, and our responsibilities as American citizens we will soon find ourselves living under a brutal dictatorship that will not allow any public Christian worship at all.

It is your responsibility as leaders appointed by God Himself to stand up for the Christian heritage of the nation He designed with His own hand. We the People, Christian and non-Christian, need for you to take on the tough part of your commission from God and lead us back to the promised land, a proudly Christian America.

I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility given to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.

Bob Russell
Claremore, Oklahoma
March 25, 2012

In the January 20, 2012 edict put out by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, stated that all health care plans would be required to cover sterilization and any FDA approved contraceptives, including morning after abortion methods, and would not be allowed to charge any co-payments or fees for these services. The regulations, to take effect in August 2012 as a part of Obamacare, would provide exemptions for “religious employers” but put enough strings into the exemption to disqualify Catholic hospitals and universities, or any of their other charitable organizations. To qualify for the exemption the facility would have to employ and serve “primarily” members of the Catholic Church. The edict also gave the organization one year to comply with the rule but until then they would have to refer any patients to other organizations who would provide the specified procedures. Since the Catholic Church hires and offers services to a wide variety of people, not just those of the faith, the exemption is problematic for them.

Before I go any farther, let me quote the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”.

So far, as bad as the federal government has been in dealing with freedom of religion it has never gone to this extent. Since the 1947 Supreme Court’s unConstitutional decision that said the “separation of church and state” prohibited the public display of any Christian symbol or activity we have seen a steady erosion of our rights as Christians to exercise our religious freedom. Now they have come to the point of thinking they can totally obliterate or control any semblance of Christian faith in America.

This is in direct conflict with the 1st Amendment provision for “the free exercise thereof”, in referring to religious practices. Catholic Church leaders around the nation are incensed at this edict and vow to ignore it.
Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York put out a tersely worded statement that was followed by a short video of his thoughts on this matter.

This edict from Sebelius is a threat to every Christian, regardless of denomination. If the administration can force the Catholic Church to adhere to this unConstitutional ruling, they can force every church organization in the nation to adhere to it. Christians have stood back for nearly 60 years and let the government run roughshod over their Constitutional rights but it is time to turn the page and begin to fight back vigorously.
We can no longer accept the Hitler-esque tactics of the Obama administration, or any administration that violates the religious freedom of Christians. The reward for accepting government rule has taken Christians to the point of no longer being free to exercise any tenet of faith without threats of fines or imprisonment from an increasingly tyrannical government.
Adolph Hitler enacted the same kinds of rules in Nazi Germany, rules that ultimately lead to the death of some 12 million Jews, Christians, and other groups of people. The same paganism that ruled Nazi Germany is taking over in America with a government that has steadily tightened restrictions on religious freedoms until the 1st Amendment means nothing any more. If the Catholic Church, or any other Christian organization, backs down and accepts this ruling the end of Christianity in America will be at hand.

Glenn Beck had three guests on his GBTV show Monday January 20, 2012 to discuss this matter. The guests included Rabbi Daniel Lapin, a Jew; Robert Morris, an Evangelical pastor; and Bill Donohue, President of The Catholic League. You can listen to the entire discussion at this link. Mr. Donohue stated emphatically that the Catholic Church would not comply with this rule, period. Beck, Rabbi Lapin and Pastor Morris all agreed that this is an issue that crosses denominational boundaries. Beck noted that he was a Mormon, sitting with a Jew, an Evangelical, and a Catholic; all agreeing on the premise that this edict is unConstitutional and dangerous to all people of faith. All four men pledged to stick together to defeat this tyranny, whatever the cost.

It is past time to stand up against the tyranny being foisted upon We the People on a daily basis by this administration. They have destroyed our economy, stopped any and all drilling for natural gas and oil on public land, that owned by We the People, passed regulations that make mining coal extremely costly, created regulation after regulation that fly in the face of the Constitution, and now have decided to destroy what little religious freedom is left in America.

Revolution is the only answer to this tyranny. This dictatorial administration must be stopped here and now. The members of Congress must be forced to do their sworn duty to” protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America” or get tossed out on their butts. Every member of Congress needs to get thousands of calls, e-mails, and letters protesting this travesty. If We the People sit this one out the end of our Republic is upon us. Freedom isn’t free; someone has to fight for it. If not me, who; if not now, when? Each of us needs to ask ourselves this question. Peaceful protest is the preferred method if possible; but whatever the method we must stand up and refuse to obey any unlawful regulation made by an unlawful regime.

Thomas Jefferson said, “We must hang together or we will surely hang separately” in reference to the Colonists forging a unified front to oppose British oppression. We the People face the same dilemma today. If we do not stand together to oppose this oppression we will find ourselves in the same situation the Jews and Christians of Nazi Germany found themselves in. Sitting back with the attitude of “I’m not a Catholic”, which I’m not, is not an option in this battle for freedom of religion. This affects all Christians regardless of denomination or dogma. Pastor Martin Niemoller, a victim of Hitler’s genocide said it quite well, “first they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist”…. “Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me”. If we live by this mantra we will all either be murdered or imprisoned for our faith, or we will deny our faith to survive the coming genocide. The choice is yours but the time to decide is short. Obama and his minions are moving rapidly to marginalize and destroy people of faith, starting with the largest group, the Catholic Church.

Those who sit back and assume they are safe from this tyranny are fooling themselves, and putting all of us in imminent danger. Saul Alinsky’s book, “Rules for Radicals”, lays this plan out very clearly. Isolate, marginalize, and destroy is the tactic espoused by Alinsky and is being used by the Obama administration to destroy what semblance of religions freedom is still tolerated by this unlawful regime.

I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility give to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.

Bob Russell
Claremore, Oklahoma
January 31, 2012