912 Patriots of Lower Bucks - Your Daily Updates ALL in ONE Place!
April 13, 2012
Quote:
A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity.
Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address.
Limbaugh's Premiere Network pulled the show from PHT to move it to the new WKDN programming format.
Limbaugh will be on 106.9 with ~ 30kW which on VHF low-band FM is a very good power grant over Philadelphia piedmont terrain. PHT with its alleged 50kW had only marginal signal here in NE Chester Co, for example, the result of their antenna pattern that excluded the west for some reason. 106.9 will not suffer that problem, so total EIB audience will probably increase - not to mention no more program delay or preemption for Philadelphia baseball programming.
All politics are the politics of the future. The one cause that we all champion, regardless of our political orientation, is the cause of the future. All that we fight for is the ability to shape the future.
The fundamental political question is, "Do you believe things are getting better or worse?" Ruling parties tend to answer, "Better", opposition parties tend to answer, "Worse". The deeper answer to that question though lies in our perceptions of the past and the future.
The left tends to view the past negatively and future shock positively. It wants change to disrupt the old order of things in order to make way for a new order. It hews to a progressive understanding of history in which we have been getting better with the advance of time, the march of progress mimics evolution as a means of lifting humanity out of the muck and raising it up on ivory towers of reason through a ceaseless process of change.
The right often views the past positively, it sees change as a destroyer that undermines civilization's accomplishments and threatens to usher in anarchy. It fights to conserve that which is threatened by the entropic winds of change. The conservative worldview is progressive in its own way, but it is the progress of the established order. It sees progress emerging from the accretion of civilization, rather than from the disruption of revolution.
Where the left tends to be unrealistically optimistic about the future, acting like a child running to the edge and jumping off, without remembering all the bumps and bruises before, the right tends to be pessimistic about the future. It tends to be wary of change because it is all too aware of how dangerous change can be.
Youth who do not understand the value of what is around them rush to the left. As they achieve a sense of worth, of the world around them and of their labors, they drift slowly to the right. Age also brings with it a sense of vulnerability. Knowing how you can be hurt, how fragile the thin skin of the body, the fleshy connections and organs dangling within, brings with it a different view of the world. Once you understand that you can lose and that you will lose, then you also understand how important it is to defend what you have left.
The vital mantra of the left is do something for the sake of doing something. Change for the sake of novelty. Action for the sake of action. This carnival drumbeat loses its appeal when you come to understand how dangerous change can be. Personal history becomes national history becomes personal history again as you live through it. Seeing what a mistake change can be as you watch politicians disgraced, causes revealed as fool's errands and crusades fall apart, is a great teacher of the folly of change for the sake of change.
Reagan's question, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" is the fundamental challenge of the conservative that asks whether the change was really worth it. It is the question at the heart of the struggle between the right and the left.
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Voter's Guide - Urgent information
April 12, 2012
Dear Patriots,
As a businessman, father and grandfather I believe that we have reached a historic crossroad where we have been forced to either fight for a serious change in direction or suffer the loss of what we currently hold dear. Unfortunately, most persons have been convinced that they should do very little or nothing at all.
I was recently at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference where a very stark revelation was made clear. A question was asked of the 700 plus people in the auditorium: "How many persons here believe that you have had it better than your parents?" I believe that everyone raised their hand. The speaker then asked "How many of you believe that your children will have it as good as you?" Every hand went down.
Personally, I believe along with many others that we are in very serious trouble. We are a very short distance from the rioting in the streets as we see in countries like Greece. Our politicians are not seriously addressing the problems. They continue to bribe the American public with money that is not theirs.
This overspending is not only dishonest and unethical; it is immoral and must be stopped if we have any real hope for our children and grandchildren.
Please take the time to review the voter's guide at the link provided. You will see that there is only one candidate for US Senate who we can really count on to stand firm against the establishment pressure for "spending as usual." The other candidates may be a help, but we do not know for certain how they will eventually vote on important issues and we honestly think they will compromise on many fronts.
Churches have every right to make this information available in bulk to the congregation and the general public. They are not allowed to tell persons who to vote for, but they can tell everyone that there is a voting guide available for the Primary Election and challenge people to do their part.
Please get involved by distributing this Voter's Guide to as many persons as possible, especially at the polls on April 24. Do not let this opportunity escape us.
We have all learned, today, that Governor Mitt Romney has become the de facto presidential nominee of the Republican party.
He could very well become the 45th President of the United States!
Won't you join the Association and the Host Committee in welcoming the Governor to the tri-state region as he addresses the economic concerns of the Tea Party on Tax Day, April 16 (invitation below)?
This could be our last notice as ticket sales are brisk.
Sponsored by: Independence Hall Tea Party Association
Disclaimer: Mitt Romney is not raising funds outside of federal law. Contributions from corporations, foriegn nationals, labor unions, and government contractors are prohibited.
An extremely important movie is coming this summer - Dinesh D'Souza - Obama & 2016
Dinesh D'Souza is author of many New York Times best sellers. The movie is from Gerald R. Molen, producer of Academy Award WinningSchindler's List.
It explains in plain language who Barack Obama really is, what he stands for, and the dangers of him being reelected for another four years.
Watch this short informative video preview of this movie which came out only yesterday and share it with others. It has already been seen by over 18,000 people. Within a very short time it will have been seen by millions! After you see the preview, listen to what Dinesh has to say about Obama. Please take the time to hear this and pass it on.
Dinesh D'Souza - Obama & 2016
George W. Bush to speak in Pennsylvania on GOP presidential primary day
Former President George W. Bush will deliver a speech in Pennsylvania on the day of the state's GOP presidential primary. Bush is the only prominent politician in his family that has not made an endorsement in the 2012 presidential race.
Bush will give the keynote address at the Plumstead Christian School's annual "Founders Forum" on the Calvary Church's campus in Souderton, according to the school's official website.
His father, former President George H. W. Bush is the most recent member of the Bush family to endorse former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for president.
Bush reportedly asked Romney if his son had endorsed him for president yet.
"I haven't met with President George W. Bush," Romney said. "We speak from time to time."
Barbara Bush, his wife, replied, "We'll talk about that."
One of the highlights of our fundraisers are the clever and fun raffle baskets assembled by our team and consisting of generous gifts and items donated by many local patriots and businesses. Please review the list of theme baskets and contact Mariann Davies (267) 981-9017 or via e-mail: msbdavies@aol.com, if you wish to donate items, or gift cards for the baskets. Deadline: April 12th, 2012.
Here the list of baskets:
1. The Well-Read Patriot: 2. Fourth of July Basket:
3. American Beauty: (Beauty/spa items, jewelry, accessories)
4. Obama's Early Retirement Party: (wine, spirits, goodies, set-ups for the celebration on Nov. 6th, 2012!)
5. School Choice: (for the kids, educational books, games, DVDs, back-to-school supplies)
6. Acts of Valor: (a salute to our military, gifts, t-shirts, books, DVDs, accessories)
7. Don't Tread on Me!: (Gadsden flag items)
8. "Made in America": (gift items made in the U.S.A.)
9. Time for TEA!: ice tea glasses, tray, ice tea, towels, pitcher, tea-pots, etc.
Come on out and help us make plans to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) for the primary election on April 24.
We need everyone to participate leading up to the most important presidential & senate election of our life time.
We are also honored to have William E. Been author of "Masters of Audacity and Deceit" discuss the important elements of his book including: Progressivism's Threat to America, the New World Order and George Soros, Wall Street, Mainstream Media and the Democrat Party, and Housing Crisis, Financial Crisis and the Great Recession.
Don't miss this chance to get together with your fellow Patriots and participate in a stimulating discussion.
Over the years, many friends of Hillsdale, those who never attended college here, have said to me: "Dr. Arnn, I wish I could take Hillsdale's Constitution course!"
In response to these requests, this past year, for the first time ever, Hillsdale College offered the "Introduction to the Constitution" lecture series at no charge. Frankly, I wasn't sure what sort of a response a course like this would have.
That's why I was excited to see that YOU and almost 200,000 other people from all over the United States registered for "Introduction to the Constitution."
Thank you very much for registering and participating. I hope you learned a lot from the series.
I was thrilled, not only by the response, but at what it indicates: Americans are willing and eager learn about the Constitution and to defend the principles of liberty that made America so prosperous!
And this re-awakening of national interest in the Constitution comes not a minute too soon.
Now, for the first time ever, Hillsdale College is offering a no-cost 10-week online Constitution course based on the class Hillsdale College students must complete for graduation:
This course on the U.S. Constitution is available online at no charge to anyone who wants to understand and defend the timeless principles of liberty upon which our nation was founded!
I am proud to be teaching part of our NEW "Constitution 101"course and hope YOU will be one of my students again!
"Constitution 101" begins on February 20, 2012, and concludes the week of April 30. It will cover such topics as the Declaration of Independence and its connection to the Constitution, how the Constitution is structured to protect individual liberty and ensure good government, the crisis of constitutional government faced by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, and modern challenges to the Constitution during the "Progressive" era.
It is my honor to teach the first class, "The American Mind," and the final class, "The Recovery of the Constitution." All of the classes will be taught by Hillsdale College professors - the top teachers in their field and the same ones who instruct our students here on Hillsdale's campus.
Classes listed in Blue have been posted on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the link for each class below.
Featuring 113 primary source documents, The U.S. Constitution: A Reader was developed for teaching the core course on the U.S. Constitution at Hillsdale College.
Divided into eleven sections with introductions by members of Hillsdale's Politics Department faculty, readings cover the principles of the American founding, the framing and structure of the Constitution, the secession crisis and the Civil War, the Progressive rejection of the Constitution, and the building of the administrative state based on Progressive principles.
Editorial Note: Just received a couple of copies of the reader. Not just a short course pamphlet this; with the heft of 'Atlas Shrugged', it is well worth getting whether or not you choose to take the course.
About Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College is a private, coeducational, residential, liberal arts college with approximately 1,400 students. Founded in 1844, the College remains, in the words of its Articles of Association, "grateful to God for the inestimable blessings resulting from the presence of civil and religious liberty and intelligent piety" in our nation, and dedicated to "the diffusion of sound learning" that is "essential to the perpetuity of these blessings."
Hillsdale College is distinguished by its rigorous core curriculum, by its principled rejection of federal and state taxpayer funding, and by the pledge of its Board of Trustees to resists any attempts by the government to regulate its internal affairs.
Hillsdale College promotes the principles of liberty nationwide through its national speech digest, Imprimis, which has a monthly circulation of over 2 million, and through several outreach programs. In 2008, Hillsdale launched its Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. The College will also launch the Hillsdale Graduate School of Statesmanship in fall 2012.
The bad news is last month some well intentioned political activist announced a cut-off date for signing up co-sponsors for Rep. Rose Marie Swanger's American Law's for American Courts (HB 2029) in an effort to inject some urgency into the effort.
What it resulted in was an interruption of the campaign to encourage those Representatives not yet signed on as co-sponsors to join with those Legislators who have already recognized the death by smothering threat to our Constitution.
The good news is there is no cut-off date for adding co-sponsors and we are once again asking your readers to contact their representatives and ask they join the battle.
There are only three Representatives from Bucks who are co-sponsors, Representatives Clymer, Petri and Quinn and we thank them for showing their colors.
But that leaves seven more Representatives who appear to be still standing on the sidelines as the battle for our existence as a free people is joined.
If you're ready to help, visit www.actforamerica.org and sign on as a chapter leader. It's free and the people there are friendly and helpful. Your help is needed. Every township, every neighborhood needs an Act! for America chapter leader.
But before you do anything, if your Pennsylvania Representative has not yet ssigned on as co-sponsor, urge her/him to do so and ask what is it that prevents him/her from doing so.
Help Pennsylvania be counted among those States that have shown the courage to face off with the enemies who have plainly stated their aim is to destroy our Nation. Our laws have worked just fine since colonial times. What is needed are politicians who respect them. And you know whose job it is to remind them of that.
Resistance to a new bill aimed at limiting foreign law in Pennsylvania courts serves as a case study of how Islamists and their allies operate: peddling falsehoods about Shari'a, painting Muslims as victims, and denying that anyone seeks to institutionalize aspects of Islamic law - even as they vigorously promote that very agenda. With similar legislationbeingdebated across the U.S., understanding their tactics is critical.
At issue in Pennsylvania is House Bill (HB) 2029, which stipulates that "a tribunal shall not consider a foreign legal code or system which does not grant ... the same fundamental liberties, rights and privileges" as guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions. Introduced in November, it follows the American Laws for American Courts (ALAC) model and makes no mention of Shari'a. A preliminary memo sent to legislators last June in the name of Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, HB 2029's chief sponsor, does highlight Islamic law, but she later said that it had been circulated accidentally. Regardless, concerns about Shari'a are warranted due to its many provisions that conflict with the standards of American jurisprudence. For example, it disadvantages women in terms of inheritance, divorce, child custody, and other areas of family law. Shari'a already has shaped numerous cases nationwide, including in Pennsylvania, where one state court decided how assets should be distributed according to Islam.
Pushback against HB 2029 has been led by the Philadelphia office of the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) and was punctuated by an interfaith press conference (video here) at CAIR-PA headquarters on December 14. The overall campaign reflects CAIR's usual recipe of distortion, victimology, and contradiction between words and deeds.
Attacks on bills like HB 2029 begin by sowing confusion about Shari'a. Because Islamic law encompasses virtually every facet of life - governing personal activities such as eating and worship, but also forming an oppressive social and legal structure - suit-and-tie Islamists work to emphasize its unthreatening pieces whenever possible. CAIR-PA executive director Moein Khawaja's suggestion that Shari'a should worry Pennsylvanians no more than halal gyros is a fine example of this technique.
John Stossel joined Fox Business Network (FBN) in 2009. He hosts "Stossel," a weekly program highlighting current consumer issues with a libertarian viewpoint, which debuted. His first shows covered health care, global warming, the novel Atlas Shrugged, "food police", and the Road to Serfdom.
Prior to joining FBN, Stossel co-anchored ABC's prime-time news magazine show, 20/20. There he contributed in-depth special reports and recurring segments on a variety of consumer topics, from pop culture to government and business.
John Stossel's new book, "No, They Can't: Why Government Fails-but Individuals Succeed,"argues: "There ought not to be a law." Stossel explains how politicians promise to solve problems by passing laws, but the laws invariably make our problems worse.
Why don't we learn? Because our brains don't intuit well about complex situations. After thousands of years of taking orders from tribal elders, after years of obeying our parents, we are programmed to think that anytime there is a problem, whether it's companies going bankrupt or schools keeping kids stupid, government action is the way to solve it. Using his decades of reporting, Stossel tackles how those intuitive, knee-jerk reactions lead us astray.
Central planning sounds right. It feels good. But it has nothing to do with the realities of economics and science. There is nothing that government can do that we cannot do better as free individuals - and as groups of individuals, working together voluntarily, not at the point of a gun or under threat of a fine.
May 31st The Patrick Henry Award will be Presented to Glenn Beck
In the coming months, critical decisions are going to be made about Iran, Israel and the world. Finally, Washington is beginning to focus on the issue of a nuclear Iran. Many of our leaders want to confront this looming threat. But others want to keep kicking the can down the road. The debate is far from over.
We know that when thousands of CUFI activists arrive in DC and on Capitol Hill, we can change the conversation.
We can remind our leaders that a nuclear Iran is not only a threat to Israel, but to the US as well. And we can demonstrate to our elected officials that their constituents care enough about this issue to show up at their DC offices.
We know that we can create a sense of immediacy that's otherwise lacking.
We know that the more of us who show up and speak out -- the louder our voice and the greater our impact.
Joan Carter & John Aglialoro Adele & Harold Schaeffer
Amy & Steven Erlbaum Gerald B. Shreiber
Vicki & Gary Erlbaum Beth & Craig Snider Penny & Robert Fox Ed Snider
Gerry & Richard Fox Laurie Wagman & Irv Borowsky
John Stossel - May 2, 2012
The Union League of Philadelphia
Luncheon: 12:00 - 1:30PM
John Stossel's new book, "No, They Can't: Why Government Fails-but Individuals Succeed," argues: "There ought not to be a law." Stossel explains how politicians promise to solve problems by passing laws, but the laws invariably make our problems worse.
After years of obeying our parents, we are programmed to think that anytime there is a problem, whether it's companies going bankrupt or schools keeping kids stupid, government action is the way to solve it. Using his decades of reporting, Stossel tackles how those intuitive, knee-jerk reactions lead us astray.
Central planning sounds right. It feels good. But it has nothing to do with the realities of economics and science. There is nothing that government can do that we cannot do better as free individuals - and as groups of individuals, working together voluntarily, not at the point of a gun or under threat of a fine. Without big government, our possibilities are limitless.
This event is co-sponsored by The Union League of Philadelphia
Lots to eat, drink, and make phone calls for Sam to help him WIN this April 24th Primary.
Remember this "To know where a man will stand, one must know where he has stood." Just as Sam has stood in PA , he will stand in D.C.
Mark Driver
Phone Bank Manager
610-901-3391
484-302-6336
3821 Main St. Morgantown,PA
Sam Rohrer for US Senate from Pennsylvania
Former Pennsylvania State Representative Sam Rohrer is running for the US Senate.
America needs men and women in Congress, who exemplify Sam Rohrer's character, principles, commitment to our Constitution, abilities, and faith. In the Republican Primary on April 24, 2012 the voters of Pennsylvania have a special opportunity to elect a freedom-fighting American for the US Senate. That man is Sam Rohrer.
Your vote for Sam can help him win the PA Senate seat that is currently held by a Progressive Democrat whose actions and voting record are in lock-step with the failing Obama administration and Congressional Democrats.
Sam Rohrer is a common-sense, constitutionally-grounded, public servant who believes that America is absolutely the greatest nation in history. Sam believes in the ability of Americans to take responsibility for themselves and their families without the Government's intrusion into every aspect of our lives. He is a strong advocate of the rights detailed in the U.S. Constitution such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. Sam also strongly supports that "... the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." He believes that the intent of the 2nd Amendment is clear. Sam believes that this amendment guarantees a natural and individual right - not granted by the government nor to be compromised by the government. He believes that this right is necessary for free citizens to protect themselves, their families, and their property against all who may seek to inflict personal damage or harm.
During his terms as a leader in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and as a strongly fiscal conservative, he never voted for a tax increase. He believes that good jobs and a strong economy occur when government at all levels is limited and government does not compete with the private sector. He believes free enterprise and individual freedom are the greatest components of a strong economy and good jobs. He believes the current recession plaguing the American economy is primarily the result of failed and constitutionally unauthorized Congressional laws, Presidential policies and Executive orders. He believes that our economy can be turned around but only when Congress and the President commit themselves to less federal involvement, not more.
Mr. Rohrer believes that the 10th Amendment is one of the most important and most violated of the Bill of Rights. This amendment guarantees the proper relationship between the individual sovereign states and the federal government. It is the amendment that, when followed, ensures a limited federal governmentthat is authorized to perform core functions such as ensuring a sound currency and maintaining a strong military.
Sam is committed to vote against everything "big government" like ObamaCare. He has a business background and also served for 18 years in the PA General Assembly. He will not vote for tax increases and will bring to the Senate his commitment to continue to fight against all forms of political bribery including earmarks.
There are other candidates running for the PA Senate seat as Republicans but, two of them, were recently Democrats. The Republican-endorsed candidate, while one of these recent Democrats, voted for Barrack Obama in the 2010 Primary and voted for super liberal Democrat Joe Sestak against conservative Republican Senator Pat Toomey in the last PA Senate race. There is no one in this PA Senate race who has the level of character, principles, commitment, and is as Constitutionally-grounded as Sam Rohrer.
Join me in voting for Sam Rohrer for US Senate in the Republican Primary Election on Tuesday, April 24, 2012.
Jerry La Mastra
London Grove Township
Patriots,
SAM ROHRER NEEDS YOUR HELP IN SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT HIS CANDIDACY FOR U.S. SENATE in the Republican Primary on April 24.
PLEASE PRINT the FAITH & FREEDOM LETTER attached addressed to Pastors and GIVE TO YOUR PASTOR (and other pastors in your area) THIS WEEK. Let him know of Sam's Christian character and integrity in office. Ask if there is any avenue by which he and/or you could let the church folks know of Sam (email, flyers in lobby, post a flyer on a bulletin board, church bulletin?).
I also gave our pastor the handout on the Life, Marriage, and Educaton policies Sam supported. How about printing out enough copies of this handout for your Sunday School group and/or handing them out to your friends at your child's private school or in Bible study, Awanas, or prayer groups?
Know any homeschoolers? The Michael Farris letter is specifically directed to homeschoolers, but also reminds us of Sam's record as a Constitutionalist and the importance of this race and our involvement.
Please forward the message below with the attached flyers to all pro-life, people of faith and traditional values, Christian school parents, and homeschoolers you know. Thank you for supporting this courageous champion of liberty, Jaime
During his time in office, there was no greater champion of morality, the protection of life and the family, religious liberty, school choice, and homeschooling than SAM ROHRER.....Please read the attached letters of endorsement and information sheets and pass them on. Also, watch the video clips in the links below to hear of Sam's stand on life, freedom, and faith in his own words.
Check out Sam's great website at www.rohrerforsenate.org for more information. To support Sam's election effort, follow the links on his website to donate or volunteer your time (making calls from home, passing out literature, putting up signs, and/or passing out info at the polls). Please spread the word to all your friends and family.
Yes, Senator Demint has asked that Sam's supporters flood his Senate Conservatives Fund with calls and emails to endorse Sam.
ONLY WE can prove that the grassroots can be relied on to carry Sam to victory over Casey!! ONLY an outpouring of patriots' support can give Senator Demint the verification he needs to silence the skeptics and throw the political clout and financial resources of his Senate Conservatives Fund behind Sam.
This is the EASIEST thing Sam has asked his supporters to do - All you have to do is click on the links below and say "Please endorse Sam Rohrer for U.S. Senate." WE MUST NOT FAIL SAM NOW THIS CLOSE TO VICTORY!! Jaime
Team, please use the link above to go to Senate Conservatives Fund on Facebook. Let Jim Demint know you support Sam and that he should too. HE WANTS US TO DO THIS.
Resources on 2nd & 10th Amendments for Rohrer outreach to Gun and Fish & Game clubs, gunshops, Constitutionalists
To: Patriots for Sam!
Please pass this on.....
With this great endorsement from Gunowners Of America (see attachment), gun owners and outdoorsmen, with their natural bent toward constitutional rights, are almost a given for Sam IF THEY HEAR ABOUT HIM - - MANY STILL HAVE NOT. NOW IS THE TIME to find out through friends or local gun shops when the local gun and F&G clubs have their monthly meetings.
Schedule now a visit to clubs who still have one meeting before April 24th; or convince a friend who is a member to speak for Sam at the club if you can't be there; or ask the president if he would mention Sam and pass the flyers around - they are usually very willing. The attached letter of endorsement from Gunowners Of America is very convincing, focusing on 2nd amendment and 10th amendment. Also, I would give him your contact info for any of his members that want to volunteer for Sam.
Following are a couple of good video clips from Sam's 2010 speeches to forward to people who care about these issues. Ask the Gun/Fish & Game club officers if you can forward informational emails on SAM to their email network, then send the GOA letter, along with these video links. Watch these yourself: Sam's GREAT responses will convince any gunowner that he fundamentally understands and believes in the Second Amendment and the clips are short.
And don't forget the gun shops in your area: drop off a Sam flyer to post there (Legislative checklist flyer is good too)
Also, we want to encourage anyone to whom we give info to go to his website, www.rohrerforsenate.org where they can find links to sign up to get email updates from the campaign, to volunteer (we NEED poll workers), and to donate. Jaime
Paul Crager............................ Corr. Secretary
April Meeting Notice
Guest Speaker:Linda A. Kerns, Esq. - VOTER ID
Linda A. Kerns practices law in Philadelphia and is cochair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association. She is a supporter of the recently enacted Voter ID law in Pennsylvania and has written a guest opinion in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and has appeared on 6abc and local radio. Join us for her comments on Voter ID.
Linda A. Kerns practices law in Philadelphia and is cochair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association.
Last week, the Philadelphia Bar Association sent a legislative action alert e-mail urging members to immediately call their legislators to oppose the voter ID bill that was being considered in the state Senate. The e-mail included a convenient "quickly generate a letter now" button. With the click of a mouse, a form letter full of Democratic talking points against voter ID and sprinkled with references to Philadelphia as the birthplace of democracy was spewed out.
Friday 10-11pm "Veterans' Weekly Forum" - Rich Davis and David Bellavia
The Case Against Obamacare: Health Care Policy Series for the 112th Congress
A Health Care Policy Series for the 112th Congress
Building on decades of Heritage research, The Case Against Obamacare: A Health Care Policy Series for the 112th Congress examines 15 key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Each report:
Cites specific sections of the 2,700-page health care law
Provides detailed analysis of specific Obamacare provisions
Identifies key principles for a better way to reform health care
The unmistakable conclusion of this series is that Obamacare must be fully repealed. Congress cannot build sound market-based health care reform on the flawed foundation of this health care law. Until it can be repealed, Congress must employ its full powers authorized by the Constitution to:
For Tea Parties, this can be used as basic ammunition for letters to the editor, columns for your local news outlet, handouts at public events, emailing the pdf to our elected reps as well as to members, friends and neighbors.
This appears to be an excellent resource; let's make use of it.
Lou Flanagan
The General Wayne Tea Party
The 2012 Presidential Voter Guide
The first contests in the race for the Republican nomination are just around the corner. To better inform you, we looked beyond the rhetoric to the candidates' actual records on the issues important to families.
This voter guide outlines candidate stances on issues that are important to the family. We researched the candidates' statements and votes on the ten issues that best give voters an understanding on if the candidates match your values. Please use this resource as you think about who you would like to see be the nominee to challenge President Barack Obama.
Download the free guide and be sure to share this resource with your friends and family before the 2012 primary season begins next month.
A values voter is an informed voter.
Sincerely,
Tony Perkins President
FRC Action: 801 G Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 P: 202/393-2100 or 877/372-2808
Dear By revealing the Nazi and Marxist origins of groups such as the Muslim Students Association and Students for Justice in Palestine and the connections between these organizations and terrorist activities around the globe, Muslim Hate Groups on Campus sheds light on the dark undercurrent of anti-Semitism which flows unobstructed through our most prestigious institutions of higher education.
On Thursday, our staff finalized the most explosive resource that Grassfire has ever published. It's called 69 Obama Lies.It's a Fantastic Resource for this election year!
I believe 69 Obama Lies is the most thorough "vetting" of Obama's actual words in print. And I know it is going to outrage the Left because we actually hold Obama accountable for what he said!
Dear Patriot,
About six weeks ago, our staff set out with the goal of putting the "truth detector" to what Obama has actually said. What we realized is Obama has lied so pervasively and thoroughly that even our staff had forgotten many of his most outrageous fibs! That's when we realized we had to create a written record of the Obama Lies.
69 Obama Lies is organized in six sections that cover everything from the lies Obama has told about himself (we call these "ObamaLies"), to his campaign lies, his lies about government and taxes, ObamaCare and domestic and foreign policy.
They are all here -- and footnoted so you will have complete documentation. We start with the ObamaLies -- his denial of Rev. Wright.... the "normalcy" of his church... the Bill Ayers lie... the ACORN lie... and Obama's "Brother's Keeper" lie which exposes his Marxist core.
Let's be clear -- it was these "ObamaLies" along with his campaign lies that got Obama elected in the first place. Obama's ability to cloak his real beliefs and his real associations (with the willing help of the liberal media) kept his campaign moving forward.
But we don't stop there....
+ + Obama's "Big Government" Lies
69 Obama Lies also tracks the BIG LIE that Obama sold to the American people just after Inauguration Day -- that massive deficit spending would "create and save" jobs and restore the economy.
It was all a LIE. We know that now. But it is vitally important to have the facts laid out in an orderly fashion. That's precisely what 69 Obama Lies does. We expose the full range of Obama's Big Government lies...
The "Create Or Save Jobs" Lie...
The Stimulus Law is Working" Lie...
The "I'll Cut The Deficit" Lie...
The "Government Motors" Lie...
The "Cash for Clunkers" Lie...
The "Rich Pay Less In Taxes" Lie...
+ + Border Lies, ObamaCare Lies... Energy Lies...
69 Obama Lies literally covers every aspect of Obama's presidency -- from his lies about border security and immigration to his lies about gas prices and green jobs.
We saved a whole section for Obama's signature legislative "achievement" -- ObamaCare. We've identified a Baker's Dozen of fibs Obama told just to get ObamaCare passed.
And please note that each of the 69 Obama Lies is like a mini research report -- clearly laying out the specific Obama lie and fully documenting our sources.
If you can help Grassfire with a contribution of ANY AMOUNT (even a few dollars to cover printing and shipping), we'll send you TWO COPIES of "69 Obama Lies" -- one to keep and one to share with a friend.
We have asked the printer to rush the first printing of 69 Obama Lies so we can get this resource into our team members' hands as quickly as possible.
As a result, we expect to begin shipping 69 Obama Lies the week of April 23.
In order to be included in our first shipment, please let me hear from you as soon aspossible. Go here to request your two copies:
I truly believe 69 Obama Lies is the most thorough and most important resource Grassfire has ever created. And I want to put it in the hands of every Grassfire team member.
Please take a moment to order your two copies of 69 Obama Lies today, and thanks for the stand you are taking.
Patriots, this booklet will assist in setting the record straight with swing voters, moderates, and even Democrats! This is the best resource I have seen to prove the lies from Obama - out of his own mouth- versus the truth or facts. This is the resource of this 2012 Presidential election year.
Want Obama out? Then obtain multiple copies of this booklet and share with friends, neighbors, co-workers, church family, and your tea party. To win we must be equipped! This is the best weapon for your arsenal of resources to beat Obama!
Standing for Freedom, Fighting for Our Country, Darla Dawald, National Director Patriot ACTION Network
Five Republicans battle in April primary to oppose Sen. Casey in fall
April 8, 2012 4:44 pm
1/7
U.S. Senator Bob Casey
WASHINGTON -- Everyone, it seems, wants Bob Casey's job.
Who wouldn't? The U.S. senator from Pennsylvania has one of Washington's most sought-after offices outside the White House.
His third-floor space in the Russell Senate Office Building was once occupied by the young Sen. John F. Kennedy. Four 8-by-10 shots on the wall show that Mr. Kennedy's desk was in the spot now reserved for office visitors who perch on a yellow couch to meet with Mr. Casey.
The office space, though, doesn't go with the job. Offices are assigned by seniority. Mr. Casey got the coveted spot when its prior occupant, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., took over Joe Biden's office when the Delaware senator became vice president.
That's something Steve Welch, Tom Smith, Sam Rohrer, Marc Scaringi, David Christian and Joe Vodvarka ought to know.
The five Republicans and one Democrat -- Mr. Vodvarka -- are on the ballot to unseat the one-term U.S. senator from Scranton. John Kensinger wants a shot, too. The Bedford County pharmacist is running as a write-in candidate after failing to collect enough signatures to appear on the Republican primary ballot.
Recent polls show no clear frontrunner in the Republican contest, but indicate that Mr. Casey would beat any of them if the general election were held today.
Morning Bell: The Internet Taxes that Could Be Coming
Mike Brownfield | April 12, 2012
If you've ever bought anything on the Internet, over the phone, or from a catalog, you might have noticed that when you buy from some stores, you don't pay any state sales tax, but if you buy from other stores, you do. That's because a Supreme Court decision protected out-of-state businesses from revenue-hungry states. But a new bill working its way through Congress would change all that, turning every online retailer into a sales tax collector. And that's legislation Congress should reject.
Attorney General Eric Holder may say voter fraud isn't a problem, but some in the city of Vernon, Calif., would disagree. The city's Chamber of Commerce says nearly 30% of the registered voters in the city don't actually live there, and charges of widespread voter fraud are plaguing the city's recent election.
If President Obama and Congress fail to act this year, an enormous, unprecedented tax increase will fall on American taxpayers starting on January 1, 2013. The Washington Post called the looming tax increase "Taxmageddon," and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke called it a "massive fiscal cliff."
This impending tax increase is mostly the result of the expiration of many long-standing policies that all expire at the end of 2012. President Obama and Congress should start working together now to prevent this massive tax increase rather than waiting until the end of the year. That would assure families, businesses, and investors that their taxes will not rise sharply as the economy is still staggering to its feet and show the voters that Washington really can get important things done-even in an election year.
Taxmageddon is a $494 billion tax increase that strikes at the beginning of 2013. Under current law, tax policies in seven different categories will expire, and five of the 18 new tax hikes from Obamacare will begin.
Total Tax Burden Is Rising to Highest Level in History
Taxes are projected to increase rapidly under various policy scenarios. If the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire and more middle-class Americans are required to pay the alternative minimum tax (AMT), taxes will reach unprecedented levels. The tax burden will climb even if those tax breaks are extended. President Obama's budget, which cuts some taxes and raises others, also increases the overall tax burden.
PERCENTAGE OF GDP
Urgent Action Needed!
URGENT PTCC Update
10 April 2012
Please note: This PTCC Update includes a number of links that provide further information. Because many email servers block emails with multiple links as spam, they are not included in this message but are marked as (link). To read this Update with all links provided, please visit the PTCC website at:http://www.ptcc.us/arc040912.htm
Dear Friends,
Today's Update starts with a question: Do you truly want to see school property taxes eliminated? If your answer is "Yes," then you need to take a mere five minutes a week to become fully involved in the effort. The Property Tax Independence Act has terrific support and great momentum but it's going to take a STRONG grassroots effort to push it over the finish line. For the next few months we'll need everyone's help, so please pitch in and let's get this done!
On Monday, April 2, a press conference was held in Harrisburg to announce House Bill 1776 and Senate Bill 1400, the Property Tax Independence Act. You can see a replay of the press conference here. (link) If you have a half-hour to spare, please watch the video - it contains a lot of good information.
On Thursday, April 5, HB 1776 was officially introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by Representative Jim Cox with 60 co-sponsors that include 43 Republicans and 17 Democrats. This demonstrates strong bipartisan acceptance of the plan - a very good indication of broad support - and something that we've never before seen for this legislation. The list of co-sponsors is included in the PTCC website version of this Update.
SB 1400, an identical version of HB 1776, will be introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate by Senator David Argall in the very near future.
FIVE MINUTE ACTION ITEM: If your Representative is not included on the co-sponsorship list, please call, write, or email to ask him or her to co-sponsor HB 1776 and ask your friends, neighbors, and relatives to do the same. You may receive excuses, but they're just that - excuses. The Property Tax Independence Act is an outstanding piece of legislation and there are NO good reasons to not support this plan for school property tax elimination. If they are already a co-sponsor, please contact them to offer your thanks for their support; they will be appreciative of your thanks. In all contacts, please be respectful but firm. Your Representative's contact information by Zip Code is available here. (link)
Taxpayer support of the Property Independence Act has been very gratifying. On April 3 the Reading Eagle published a story about the press conference that included a reader poll asking readers whether or not they agreed with the proposal. As of this writing there have been 1459 votes with 89% of them in agreement with the plan, a tremendous outpouring of public support. You can add your vote and see the results here. (link)
There was also an excellent article published in the PA Independent about the Property Tax Independence Act that explains the financing of the bill. That piece is available here. (link)
* * * * * * * * *
As I mentioned earlier, we're going to need a vigorous grassroots effort to win the battle for school property tax elimination and we'll need as many recruits to the cause as possible. There are a few simple things you can do to help.
- Please forward this email to everyone in your Pennsylvania address book and ask them to forward it to their contacts.
- If you're a Facebook member, please join the PTCC Facebook group and "Like" the Property Tax Independence Act Facebook page. There is always an ongoing conversation about the effort and valuable up-to-the-minute news items on these two pages that would otherwise have to wait for the next PTCC Update. You can easily find these pages with a Facebook search or you can go directly to the pages from here and here. (link)
- One of our biggest obstacles to enactment of Property Tax Independence Act is the lack of taxpayer knowledge about the plan; with more taxpayer awareness we gain valuable support. If you can, please write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to inform homeowners of this effort and be sure to include the PTCC Web address so people can find further information. If you wish, you can use the "Quick Facts" and "Ten Reasons" documents that are available on the PTCC website as source material for your letter. (link)
* * * * * * * * *
Finally, in the last PTCC Update I mentioned that the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA) was 64 member groups that support the Property Tax Elimination Act. Since then we've grown to 71 and there are more to come. The momentum is with us!
Thank you, everyone, for your support. Now let's get this done!
Hilary Rosen's specific point was that Ann Romney, not having been in the workforce outside the home, cannot really relate to women in the workforce. I disagree. Here's why.
In my experience, with both a stay at home mom raising me, my wife a stay at home mom, and many of my friends married to stay at home moms, the stay at home mother typically raises the kids, cooks the meals, cleans the house, oversees homework, and on top of that the stay at home mom pays the bills, buys the groceries, handles the insurance hassles, knows the co-pay, haggles with the bank, etc. etc. etc.
The stay at home mom deals with many of the same issues the working woman deals with in addition to a host of other matters. It is not that the working woman has it more or less difficult. It is that working women and stay at home moms have it differently difficult in different areas with some days better and some days worse. And single parents, mothers and fathers, have it most difficult. But none are homogenous automatons of one singular thought or view on all topics.
Move past Hilary Rosen's remarks if you can. The amazing speed at which Democrats sought to distance themselves from her remarks suggests they know that in all the talk about Romney's problem with women, they have their own.
After Hilary Rosen's remarks, a number of leftwing pundits came out seemingly upset that Hilary did not go as far as they would have wanted her to. In so doing, these pundits, activists, and politicos have raised up the raw stench of elitism.
This has been the typical response of Romney supporters on twitter for my role in "L'Affair Rosen" on CNN now two nights ago:
"JoiseyCop: For you to sit by and let Hillary Rosen slander Ann Romney without challenge shows you be the phony piece of dog sh*t you are ! @EWErickson"
I'd mentioned I missed the remark, still dwelling on a previous remark along with some IFB trouble, but yay Romney supporters.
I'm referring to this bit of hate in its twitter feed. Today while the right is pushing back on Hilary Rosen's comments about stay at home moms somehow not having jobs like women who work outside the home, the Catholic League, via twitter, presumes to divide up moms between authentic moms who have their own children and moms who adopt - not to mention raising the wholly irrelevant issue of Hilary Rosen's sexuality.
A mother is a mother however she received her blessing. Trying to claim natural mothers are superior to mothers through adoption is rather vile in my mind. Would the Catholic League prefer adoption or abortion?
One of the issues that I have dwelled on for some time is how so many of the people vouching for Romney's bona fides are the same people who vouched for Harriet Miers' nomination in 2005. As Ben Domenech noted in this morning's Transom, the Romney campaign has put Ed Gillespie in charge of finding a Vice President. That suggests to me Bob McDonnell remains the most likely choice - and it would be a fine, mature choice.
I like Ed Gillespie and think his Resurgent Republic effort has been quite good, but I am reminded of this story from the Harriet Miers days that Ben linked to in this morning's Transom.
Oldies but goodies corner:
Remind a liberal that more people died in Teddy Kennedy's car than were killed at Three Mile Island.
After weeks of agitation by the activist Left, would-be vigilantes across America got their wish Wednesday as George Zimmerman was charged in Florida with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
All politics are the politics of the future. The one cause that we all champion, regardless of our political orientation, is the cause of the future. All that we fight for is the ability to shape the future.
Founded in 2005, Color of Change (COC) is a nonprofit corporation and an Internet-based grassroots activist group. Van Jones and James Rucker (former director of MoveOn.org Political Action and co-founder of the Secretary of State Project) created COC to combat what they viewed as the systemic racism pervading America generally and conservatism in particular.
Predicting the GOP presidential nominee at this point does not require a crystal ball or a celestial phone call to Nostradamus. As of today, here are the official GOP stats on the GOP race for the White House...of course those who have watched GOP politics for a while saw this coming before the primaries started.
While the mainstream media, government officials and so on try to portray these attacks as products of poverty, the fact is, wherever there are significant numbers of Muslims, churches are under siege.
Last Sunday, many Christians around the world celebrated Easter, taking for granted that they can congregate and worship in peace. Not so in the Islamic world, where top religious officials call for the destruction of churches, Christian holidays celebrated in church are increasingly a time of death and destruction, and a time of terror.
Rick Santorum ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination yesterday, making Mitt Romney the all-but-certain nominee. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are staying in the race, but now attention is shifting to Romney's future choice of a running mate and uphill battle to replace President Obama.
Investigative Project on Terrorism The State Department broke with normal procedures last week when it ordered the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) not to conduct a secondary inspection on members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) on their way to visit government officials and think tanks in the United States.
The Investigative Project on Terrorism They represent the new political power in Cairo, and given their performances in public events in Washington last week, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party has the art of doublespeak nailed.
By Humberto Fontova The Miami Marlin's recent praise for a Stalinist dictator went beyond the pale -- but what about Castrophiles in the Democratic Party? Read more »
Bang for your buck: that's what the Freedom Center provides. Ammunition for the culture war against the Left: that's what your contribution buys. So please act now and help us in the fight we are waging on many fronts for America's future. America is under assault from within and without. There is no time to lose.
DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was scheduled to give the keynote address at a fundraiser hosted by an American Muslim on the Federal Terrorist Watch List, is backing out. Called out by her Republican opponent Joe Kaufman, Wasserman Schultz's spokesman issued a statement that "there was a miscommunication, she is not speaking to the organization ... we never agreed to do a fundraiser, nor this event." But, as usual, Wasserman Schultz is lying. You can see the flyer here.
The event, which was to raise funds for EMERGE USA, is to be hosted by Khurrum Wahid, an attorney who has defended immigrants detained for questioning in the wake of the 9/11 attacks as well as a man convicted of plotting a subway station bombing. Wahid currently represents imams who are accused of providing material support to the Pakistani Taliban.
Schultz has never been ashamed to consort with those hostile to Israel or America. She has welcomed J Street, the George Soros and Arab-funded terror group to her offices, as well as hosting the first conference for them; this is the same anti-Israel organization that Michael Oren, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said was "fooling around with the lives of 7 million people." She supported President Obama's call for Israel to return to its suicidal pre-1967 borders - and, of course, she hired Dani "Jewbags" Gilbert as the liaison to the Jewish community.
Wasserman Schultz, as head of the DNC, is looking for money wherever she can find it. And that means the enemies of America and Israel have a willing partner - until, of course, they become inconvenient.
After the end of the Civil War, the U.S. became the world's largest economic power after only 81 years of existence. The reasons why this happened are varied, but all point to personal freedoms and responsibility that certain politicians today seek to destroy.
Liberals have tried to destroy a 40-year-old association of state legislators who believe in "the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty." Because of conservatives' silence, liberals are winning.
Increasing pain at the pump and plug underscore the reality that Mr. Obama's energy policies are anything but all-inclusive, and his PC power is anything but sustainable - though they certainly are transforming our country.
Extra inspection is standard operating procedure when a foreign visitor has been tied to criminal activities, as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood White House delegation has been (child pornography). It must pay to have friends in high places.
Tom Friedman welcomed the Arab Spring which in Egypt and elsewhere has produced governments now dominated by terrorism-supporting Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. Friedman is fast becoming the darling of Islamist terrorists everywhere.
The question is not how do we eliminate fear from our lives; it's going to be with us. Fear can help us, but it can also paralyze us if we give it its head. A better question is - how do we manage fear?
From the alleged crimes committed in the DOJ Fast and Furious program to the new "Republican DREAM Act", the debates about illegal immigration and illegal aliens rage on.
600,000 Iraqi documents reveal an extensive partnership between Saddam's Ba'athists and bin Laden's network, even though it had not been believed by media, politicians and even the U.S. intelligence community. Is there a lesson here?
Speeches for Palestinian refugees called code for Israel's destruction
byAaron Klein
Editor's note: In 2008, WND thoroughly vetted President Obama's radical background. Many of those original exclusive reports, almost entirely ignored by the establishment news media, currently are being utilized four years later by some media outlets in the lead up to this year's presidential election. From now until Election Day, WND will present original investigations into Obama and his radical ties with bonus updates. These reports are as important today as they were in 2008. The first story examined whether Valerie Jarrett, one of President Obama's closest advisers, was introduced to the president's political circles by her father-in-law, a communist sympathizer who worked with the radical Obama mentor Frank Marshall Davis. Following is the second of a series of articles aimed at re-vetting Obama.
JERUSALEM - Back in the 1990s, Barack Obama spoke at fundraisers for Palestinians living in what the United Nations terms refugee camps, as WND was first to report.
Palestinians have long demanded the "right of return" for millions of "refugees," a formula Israeli officials across the political spectrum warn is code for Israel's destruction by flooding the Jewish state with millions of Muslim Arabs, thereby changing its demographics.
As president, Obama has faced criticism of his stance on Israel, including his unprecedented call for a complete halt to Jewish construction in the eastern sections of Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria as a precondition for talks with the Palestinians.
Obama has hailed his presidential track record on the Jewish state, touting continued financial aid and loan guarantees to Israel. Such standard funding falls mostly within the purview of Congress, however.
Clinton Overrules Republican Lawmaker's Hold on Palestinian Aid
Ros-Lehtinen: "Where is the accountability for U.S. taxpayer dollars?"
By Sara Sorcher
Updated: April 11, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the G8 foreign ministers at the start of a working session at Blair House in Washington on Wednesday.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is allowing U.S. funds to flow to the West Bank and Gaza despite a hold by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., a rare display of executive-branch authority that angered the key lawmaker concerned about protecting her congressional oversight role.
A State Department official saidthat a letter was delivered on Tuesday to key members of Congress informing them of Clinton's decision to move forward with the $147 million package of the fiscal year 2011 economic support funds for the Palestinian people, despite Ros-Lehtinen's hold. Administrations generally do not disburse funding over the objections of lawmakers on relevant committees.
It is an axiom of conventional wisdom about the Middle East that the government of Israel is a hard-line opponent of peace that must be pressured and cajoled to deal with the Palestinians for the sake of the survival of its people. This chestnut is an evergreen of foreign policy discussion used against Prime Minister Netanyahu's predecessors that has always been false. But the persistence of this canard in the face of contrary evidence is testimony to the strength of anti-Israel prejudices among the chattering classes.
If this notion could survive the Palestinian leadership's decision to turn down offers from Israel in 2000, 2001 and 2008 that would have given them a state in virtually all of the West Bank, Gaza and a share of Jerusalem, then it will certainly outlast today's refusal of the Palestinian Authority of Netanyahu's offer of peace talks without preconditions. Nevertheless, those wondering why such an ardent supporter of the Palestinians like President Obama has abandoned them in the last year can't blame it all on election year politics. Having staked out positions and picked fights with the Israelis to tilt the diplomatic playing field to the Palestinians directly, even he understands there's no point getting into arguments for the sake of a group that simply won't talk, let alone make peace, under any conditions.
The Palestinians claim their refusal of negotiations is based on the idea that it is pointless to talk if Israel isn't going to concede every point of contention such as borders and settlements in advance. Part of this is, however, Obama's fault. Since he demanded three years ago that Israel freeze settlement building as a precondition to negotiations - something that not even the Palestinians had thought of prior to 2009 - it is difficult for PA leader Mahmoud Abbas to insist on anything less. But since Israel already froze building in the West Bank in 2010 and Abbas still wouldn't talk, the point is moot.
National conference info and early bird registration HERE. The short video above provides a glimpse of the conference in action.
Dear Linda,
Hamas-connected CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) is desperately trying to derail legislation we've gotten introduced in some 20 states entitled "American Laws for American Courts (ALAC)." This legislation prohibits state courts from applying foreign law when doing so would infringe on the constitutional rights of any party to the case.
The extent and degree of dishonesty in CAIR's attacks are extraordinary even by today's political "standards." Clearly, CAIR deeply fears ALAC becoming the law of the land. That speaks volumes about CAIR's real agenda.
ALAC is one of the issues we will be highlighting at this year's National Conference and Legislative Briefing. Click here to find out more and to register. Register by April 20th and you'll receive several "early bird" benefits, including preferred seating at the gala banquet and the chance to win free registration and $250 towards your travel expenses.
Below we bring you a commentary co-authored by Brigitte Gabriel, president of ACT! for America, and Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy (highlights added). Published by WorldTribune.com, the commentary directly challenges the CAIR propaganda campaign. Please read this and forward it to everyone you know.
Ten questions for the Council on American Islamic RelationsSpecial to WorldTribune.com
By Brigitte Gabriel and Frank Gaffney
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has launched a propaganda campaign attacking a state legislative initiative that is designed to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans, including Muslims.
That initiative is known as American Laws for American Courts (ALAC).
CAIR claims this bill would have the opposite effect - infringing upon Muslims' and others' right to freedom of religion. CAIR's real motivation, however, is not to safeguard the U.S. Constitution, but rather to promote the insinuation here of Shariah, a totalitarian Islamic political-military-legal doctrine. Shariah requires and enforces discrimination against women, children, homosexuals, atheists, members of other religions such as Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, as well as Muslims who repudiate the dictates of that doctrine.
Rather than fretting over out-of-power Paul Ryan and the Republicans making decisions about who will live and who will die, the people we have to worry about are in the White House or advising it right now.
Being indifferent about race is not the same as not caring about racism. Besides, it is impossible to discuss race in this country. There is only one narrative about race, and if you don't subscribe to it, debate is closed off and the apostate is branded a racist.
"No legislative act ... contrary to the Constitution, can be valid." --Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78 (1787)
Last week, seeing that his signature legislative achievement was in jeopardy, Barack Hussein Obama fired a shot across the bow of the Supreme Court as it considered the constitutionality of his so-called "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (a.k.a., ObamaCare). Obama warned the court against "judicial activism."
"I am confident," proclaimed Obama, "that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress. I just remind conservative commentators that for years what we have heard the biggest problem on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint. That an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law. Well, this is a good example and I am pretty confident that this Court will recognize that and not take that step. ... [T]hat's not just my opinion, that's the opinion of a whole lot of constitutional law professors and academics and judges and lawyers who have examined this law."
Actually, as Obama knows well, the Supreme Court's consideration of ObamaCare is not an example of judicial activism as Obama erroneously claims, unless the Court actually upheld the institution of socialized medicine as constitutionally compliant.
In fact, SCOTUS is exercising appropriate judicial review as outlined in Article III of our Constitution, and established as precedent in 1803 with the Court's Marbury v. Madison decision under Chief Justice John Marshall. In that fundamental case, Marshall wrote, "The powers of the legislature are defined, and limited; and that those limits may not be mistaken, or forgotten, the constitution is written. ... [T]he framers of the constitution contemplated that instrument, as a rule for the government of courts, as well as of the legislature."
Marbury v. Madison is often derided as the beginning of the end of Liberty. However, it certainly was consistent with our Framers' intent, as Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist No. 78: "[T]he courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature, in order, among other things, to keep the latter within the limits assigned to their authority. The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges as, a fundamental law. It, therefore, belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents."
The unfortunate consequence of the Marbury precedent is that it rendered the Constitution vulnerable to broad extra-constitutional interpretation, should the courts ever become highly politicized -- as indeed they did in the 20th century, from FDR forward.
Judicial review was and remains a foundational component of republican federalism and was instituted to preserve Liberty. However, as Thomas Jefferson feared when warning the judiciary could become the "despotic branch," the federal court's checks and balances have been adulterated by judicial activists who, in the words of the venerable Senator Sam Ervin, "interpret the Constitution to mean what it would have said if [they], instead of the Founding Fathers, had written it."
Thus, now, as Jefferson warned, "The Constitution [will be] a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please."
Setting aside Obama's fallacious assertion that ObamaCare "was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress" (a 219-212 House vote with 34 Democrats defecting does not constitute a "strong majority"), his condemnation of "judicial activism" is the height of hypocrisy, given that judicial diktat is the primary tool the Left uses to amend our Constitution to comport with their political agenda. However, it should be noted that judicial activism can take the form of both judicial intervention or judicial inaction -- turning a blind eye to the violation of our Constitution.
Notably, in contrast to Obama's feigned concern for judicial activism in the challenge to ObamaCare, another egregious example of his hypocritical prevarication would be his administration's failure to defend against legal challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which passed in 1996 under Bill Clinton's tenure. The margin then was 342 to 67 in the House and 85 to 14 in the Senate -- which actually is a "strong majority of a democratically elected Congress."
Of course, congressional margins of support for a piece of legislation should have no bearing on proper judicial review and ruling on such legislation.
Obama's warning in regard to the High Court's review of ObamaCare handed Republicans an outstanding opportunity to score a touchdown with a national discourse on the subject of appropriate judicial review v judicial activism. Unfortunately, Republicans fumbled the ball, perhaps because too many old-guard Beltway-types have been drinking Potomac water for so long that they can't readily distinguish the difference between the proper constitutional role of the Supreme Court and judicial activism -- or worse, they can distinguish the difference, but choose not to because they support judicial activism when it advances their political agenda.
Constitutional scholar Mark Levin draws the distinction between constitutional judicial review v judicial activism as follows: "Originalists believe that the powers enumerated specifically in the Constitution are the only powers of the federal government, unless the Constitution is formally amended. Originalists generally interpret provisions of the Constitution (and, when applicable, statutes) narrowly. In other words, these judges attempt to look at the plain meaning of the law. They believe in a clearly delineated separation of powers. ... A judicial activist, on the other hand, construes the Constitution broadly and rejects some of its provisions outright (or gives them superficial acknowledgment) if they interfere with the desired outcome. In essence, activist judges make, rather than interpret, the law."
Levin concludes, "When the judiciary utilizes outcome-determinative reasoning, rather than adhering to the Constitution, the result can be catastrophic. ... The extreme left has scored few victories at the ballot box. They must rely on the tyranny of an activist judiciary to advance their policy agenda."
I would argue that the result of judicial activism is, inevitably, catastrophic. Tyranny is the certain consequence of judicial activism (rule of men), and history records no instance of tyranny that was not catastrophic.
On the authorized role of SCOTUS review, Robert Bork, one of the greatest jurists of the 20th century, wrote, "Judges may look to the text, structure, and history of the Constitution but are prohibited from inventing extra-constitutional rights. Originalism seeks to promote the rule of law by imparting to the Constitution a fixed, continuous, predictable meaning."
The bottom line is this: Our Constitution established a republican form of government predicated upon Rule of Law. Endeavoring to undermine our authentic Constitution, Leftist legislators and judicial activists, in abject violation of their sacred oaths to "support and defend" our Constitution, are replacing it incrementally with their so-called "living constitution." They are slowly digging away at our Republic's foundation of Liberty assured by Rule of Law, and they are backfilling with the tyranny of a dumbocracy.
The most influential Leftist organization in the nation is the Democrat Party, and its activist cadre organizer, MoveOn.org, has issued the following charge: "It's time to reclaim Democracy. It's time for a 99 percenter Spring." Make no mistake -- they are serious.
Fellow Patriots, dire warnings of the rise of socialism have emerged in every election cycle since the 1960s, but this election is the most critical in the history of our Republic. If we do not muster enough support to defeat the socialist propaganda of the Left, they will have four more years to fully implement Democratic Socialism, and its eradication will be unlikely, short of another call to arms for the current generation of American Patriots.
Deus et Constitutione - Libertas aut Mortis! Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!
The always-energetic CNBC financial reporter, Rick Santelli was live on TV when he launched into a wild rant about President Obama's support for the "Buffet Rule." Watch the clip HERE.
Last night on GBTV, Glenn delivered the first of his scheduled weekly addresses from the 'Oval Office' at the new studios in Dallas. Watch the speech that President Obama should have given HERE.
Hilary Rosen is a frequent visitor to the White House and also a regular contributor to CNN. Last night, the Democratic strategist appeared on Anderson Cooper's TV show and put her foot in her mouth when she talked about Mitt Romney's wife Ann. Watch the clip and take our Blaze poll about it HERE.
Former Heavyweight champ and convicted rapist Mike Tyson was apparently not satisfied with the just arrest of George Zimmerman. Tyson thinks more should be done. In fact, he is surprised that Zimmerman hasn't been shot or dragged behind a car. Read all the shocking details HERE.
A public worker in Germany sent a letter announcing his retirement to the 500 co-workers in his division. However, his note was not a fond farewell to his work pals. The 65-year-old newly-retired guy has managed to tick off the entire country. Read his note HERE.
Buck Sexton explains the government's use of regulations to 'criminalize' unsuspecting citizens. Could you be facing prosecution for violating some obscure law without knowing it? Watch the segment from last night's show HERE.
Tonight on Real News From The Blaze: President Obama is heading to Columbia this weekend for the Summit of The Americas. He will face growing opposition to the United States' "War on Drugs." With the death toll climbing above 50,000 in Mexico alone, is it time to reconsider our tactics in this controversial fight? Real News from The Blaze will discuss this and more tonight at 6pm ET
Old cardboard boxes, tape, and the fertile mind of a young boy combined to create "Caine's Arcade" in East L.A. The neighborhood attraction has become a national sensation and because of all the attention, Caine Monroy's college fund has already banked almost $80,000. Watch the inspiring story HERE. READ THIS |
(Updated) ForgeryGate: New Jersey Judge Admits Obama Hasn't Provided Proof Of Birthplace, Then Rules Obama Born In Hawaii
Apr 12, 2012 02:36 pm
To watch videos of these proceedings, click here and here. By Daniel Noe A judge in New Jersey just ruled yesterday afternoon against two concerned citizens who questioned Obama's eligibility to be on their state's presidential primary ballot. Essentially, Obama was cleared to be put on the ballot. Attorney Mario Apuzzo, arguing for plaintiffs Nick [...]
Part 2 of: Barack Obama Foreign Student - American Media Threatened into Silence Today, there is no American news outlet factually covering the illegal actions of the sitting President of the United States in context. Nor is there one consistently exposing the laws his administration has flagrantly broken, though this corruption now demonstrably permeates every [...]
Video: La Raza: Blacks, Hispanics Should Team Up "To Attack Common Enemies"
Apr 12, 2012 02:27 pm
La Raza President Janet Murguia used Wednesday's Al Sharpton radio show to spew the latest round of racial hatred. Murgola called on blacks and Hispanics to team up against the common enemy (white people). It's more of that hope-and-change we were promised. Related posts: Gingrich Instructs Team Not To Attack Romney New GOP presidential front-runner Newt [...]
Eric Holder's End Game: Stealing The November Elections
Apr 12, 2012 02:14 pm
James O'Keefe has struck again. And once more, he deserves a medal for his heroic operation. In 2009, he and an accomplice, Hannah Giles, laid bare the rampant criminal activities being perpetrated nationwide by ACORN, the subversive network of leftist activists whose seditious political work had previously remained largely under the radar. As a result [...]
Republican Rep. Allen West said he believes 75-plus House Democrats are members of the Communist Party, a claim that echoed Joe McCarthy's unsubstantiated 1950s charges that communists had infiltrated the top ranks of the U.S. government. Addressing a town-hall meeting Tuesday in Florida, the freshman lawmaker was asked how many members of the American legislature [...]
When President Obama made his famous declaration about how he was confident that "that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress," many observers figured the chief executive missed April Fools' Day by a single digit. [...]
During the White House Press Briefing yesterday. Jay Carney claims that Obama never argued that Buffett Tax would solve our debt issue. Another flip flop by Obama and Co.? Can't say I am that surprised. Related posts: White House: Obama Still Trying To Kick The Habit President Barack Obama apparently hasn't had a cigarette since [...]
The Obama Environmental Protection Agency just condemned to death an entire U.S. industry - a legal and scientific horror story that congressional Republicans failed miserably to prevent. The EPA's newly proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for coal-fired power plants will be finalized by the Obama administration, win or lose, after the November election. Though the [...]
Why Did The Trayvon Martin Special Prosecutor Dismiss The Grand Jury?
Apr 12, 2012 01:59 pm
It was reported Monday that Special Prosecutor Angela Corey would NOT be giving the Trayvon Martin case to the assembled and waiting Grand Jury in Seminole County, Florida. As it requires a Grand Jury to bring an indictment of first degree murder, the move by the Special Prosecutor takes the possibility of a capital charge [...]
Mission Accomplished, Obama; Operation Sideshow Is A Success, Part One
Apr 12, 2012 01:58 pm
Just Google "Obama Sideshow"; this simple phrase "sideshow" gave cover to what has become the single greatest HOAX ever perpetrated on the American people by a sitting president with the sole purpose to place a forged birth certificate on the White House website. I have dubbed it "Operation Sideshow." My browser showed 5,380,000 hits for [...]
Video: Christie: I Will Sacrifice My Career To Take On Teachers Unions
Apr 12, 2012 01:54 pm
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie assured voters that he will not bother to pretend to be someone he is not, and that if he is expected to, voters ought to choose someone else. Related posts: MSNBC's Ed Schultz Calls NJ Governor Chris Christie A 'Cold-Hearted Fat Slob' MSNBC host Ed Schultz launched into a fuming [...]
I'm sick of Obama peddling the "Buffet rule", which states that anyone making a million dollars will be taxed 30% due to that fact that Warren's poor secretary paid a higher tax rate than he did. Duh. Warren Buffet get most of his income from his investments. His base salary is $100,000, while his secretary is earning [...]
Video: Not Even CBS News Buys Obama Adopting Reagan As His Own
Apr 12, 2012 01:46 pm
CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley was barely able to contain his laughter Wednesday night after playing a clip of President Obama invoking Ronald Reagan on behalf of his "Buffett Rule" tax hike quest. Nearly breaking into a laugh, a baffled Pelley wondered to CBS News political analyst John Dickerson: "So a vote for President [...]
DOVER, Del. - During a meeting with 18 Delaware Tea Party leaders here on Wednesday, Newt Gingrich lambasted FOX News Channel, accusing the cable network of having been in the tank for Mitt Romney from the beginning of the Republican presidential fight. An employee himself of the news outlet as recently as last year, he [...]
Video: ForgeryGate: "Purpura And Moran V. Obama" Ballot Hearing, Video 1
Apr 12, 2012 01:32 pm
In this video, the attorney for these two patriots argues that the NJ Secretary of State is obligated to ensure that candidates who want to appear on the state's presidential election ballot must be constitutionally qualified. Related posts: ForgeryGate: "Purpura And Moran V. Obama" Ballot Hearing, Video 2 The lawyer for the Barack Obama campaign [...]
The Obama administration says it is saving taxpayers billions of dollars in improper payments to vendors and contractors, the result of a concerted attempt to reduce errors and instances of fraud in outside expenditures. To better coordinate the effort among executive agencies, it is launching a new online tool to cut waste. The administration planned [...]
The fellow's name is Joe Muto and now we know why he can't get a job anywhere else in the industry. It's not because he is "blackballed" because he works at Fox. It's because he is a liar, a thief, and a lazy, unambitious clock puncher. After 8 years working at Fox, he rose from [...]
Video: ForgeryGate: "Purpura And Moran V. Obama" Ballot Hearing, Video 2
Apr 12, 2012 12:47 pm
The lawyer for the Barack Obama campaign concedes that Obama has not furnished a birth certificate to the NJ Secretary of State, and then boldly asserts that he is under no obligation to do so. Related posts: Brian Kemp To Barack Obama's Attorney: Skip Ballot Hearing 'at Your Own Peril' Below is the full text [...]
The Republican leadership in Congress will not be investigating Obama's Constitutional eligibility problem according to a leak out of a closed door meeting of top GOP rulers. This is according to a commenter who had just read a post about Obama's father being born in Kenya. They made this decision in a high stakes closed door meeting and are giving their rank and file members talking points centering on high gas prices and getting Americans back to work.
Ironic indeed is a new video surfacing of the November 5, 2008, session of the Kenyan Parliament which reveals then Senator Barrack (their spelling) called the Kenyan Parliament's Vice President at midnight to say: ""Mr. Vice President, could you make sure you sort out this problem?" The producer of this amazing video asks viewers what was the problem this Kenyan parliamentarian should not talk about? The Kenyan speaker, by translator, is bringing before the ... Continue Reading:GOP won't investigate Kenya's Standing Order #20 "..son of Kenya was elected America's President"
"Houston, we've had a problem" were the words sent from Apollo 13, which was launched for the moon APRIL 11, 1970. Mission control identified that an oxygen tank had exploded, irreparably damaging the craft. Special prayer services were held at the Chicago Board of Trade, at St. Peter's Basilica by the Pope, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and reported in The New York Times. Even the U.S. Senate adopted a resolution urging prayer. In sub-zero temperature, the crew pieced together an oxygen filter, jump-charged the command module batteries, and manually steered the ship to land in the ocean near a raging hurricane. On April 19, 1970, President Nixon spoke at Kawaiahao Church, the oldest Christian Church in Hawaii: "When we learned of the safe return of our astronauts, I asked that the Nation observe a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving today... This event reminded us ... Continue Reading:American Minute April 11
Remember when that snarky Plastic Faced hag Nancy Pelosi used to demand of George Bush, "Where are the jobs Mr. President?"? Remember when the Democrat cheerleaders in the media convinced enough halfwits an unemployment rate under 5% was putting America on the brink of collapse? We might not hear remarks like that now but they are more appropriate than ever in our lifetime.
As meager as Obama's reported number of jobs was last week, experts (Democrats LOVE to quote experts except when they say things they don't like) said the unusually warm winter has distorted and inflated even the small jobs growth we might have experienced last month. Because there was no "seasonal change" to cheat with, the Bureau of Labor Statistics can't claim a "seasonal adjustment" to make its numbers look better now and adjust them downward later when they think no one will be watching.
While the Democratic National Committee was quick to distance itself today from marketing strategist Hilary Rosen, WND has found that Rosen held strategy meetings with top Obama aides Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod.
You won't believe what Hilary Rosen, a former lobbyist under fire for her remarks about Ann Romney, says she expected in return for raising money for politicians.
Don't write it off just yet, at it continues to add candidates to this year's mix.
WASHINGTON -- All is bleak. All is woe! I speak of the Tea Party movement, the movement of 2009 and 2010 that was the hot news story of those years, and led to the Republican rout of the Democrats in 2010. Now the Tea Party movement is according to reports in the media in decline.
Was it extremist? Was it racist? Distinguished Americans like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton said it was. Yet their evidence when it came under objective scrutiny kept falling apart, as so many of their hoaxes over the years have fallen apart: Ms. Tawana Brawley, the 1979-1980 Atlanta killings supposedly by local cops who spent their leisure hours in the Ku Klux Klan. I cannot think of another couple of hucksters who have adduced so much evidence of heinous behavior by the American majority only to have the evidence go poof! The Tea Party movement was neither extremist nor racist. In fact, it was what Americans look like when they suddenly become alive to politics: somewhat amateurish, terrifically enthusiastic, and eventually quite serious about practicing the political arts at the local level, in Madison, Wisconsin; in Waco, Texas; in Tucson, Arizona -- all locales far, far away from Washington, D.C. Though I have reason to suspect that the Tea Partiers may return to Washington, D.C. after the November elections. Read on.
Clooney's Presidential Fundraiser: One-Percenters Living Large To Help The Poor By Jeannie DeAngelis Breitbart.com
Actor, director, producer and screenwriter George Timothy Clooney - Darfur activist, serial romancer, and former bedmate to the late Max, a 300-lb. pot-bellied pig - is going to host a fundraiser for President Barack Obama. Over the years, Clooney, a committed ladies' man, liberal and owner on Lake Como in Laglio, Italy, has proven equally loyal to Obama's re-election hopes. So much so that together with DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, whose own $35 million home is currently under construction, Clooney will co-host a $6 million fundraiser for the President at his impeccably clean 7,000+ square-foot Los Angeles home.
GOP Party Chair Schools MSNBC: Pro-Life is Being Pro-Woman By Scott Whitlock LifeNews.com
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Wednesday mocked the liberal, pro-abortion bias of MSNBC, educating anchor Thomas Roberts about the so-called "war on women." After Priebus denied such an attack on females existed, Roberts dismissed, "But Chairman, how can you say that it's a fiction if you stand on the record on what the Republican Party has said and done?"
If you are really serious about taking back this country, you must be willing to do what it takes to help elect true conservatives to office and, in order to actually do what it takes, you must first know what it takes. Craig Copland's 214-page Conservative Election Handbook is a must have tool that every conservative should have in his or her arsenal.
Uncanny: Nation That Can't Feed Its People Affords Nukes
Shoot It Down! By Alan Caruba CanadaFreePress.com
When North Korea launches its intercontinental ballistic missile called the Taepodong, Japan and/or the United States should shoot it down. News reports suggest it could occur as early as 6 PM, April 11.
Obama: 'That Wild-Eyed, Socialist, Tax-Hiking Class Warrior Was Ronald Reagan' By Terence P. Jeffrey CNSNews.com
In reiterating on Wednesday his proposal that the federal government should increase taxes on wealthy Americans, President Barack Obama said he was following the model of President Ronald Reagan, whom he mockingly called--in likening Reagan to himself--a "wild-eyed socialist." Read the Full Story
Bill of the Week: My Heart Criminal Law Will Go On
Everywhere you turn, there's no escaping the 100 year commemoration of the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic. The film is back in the theaters-in 3D no less. There are television specials and new books coming out every day this week. And Congress is passing a federal criminal law to protect the sunken ship. The latter fact might be more confounding than the reasons why "Rose" tossed her gigantic diamond necklace into the ocean at the end of the Oscar-winning 1997 film.
In 1997 three-time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser was convicted of a federal crime that exposed him to a $5,000 fine and a six month prison sentence. What did Unser do that so angered the federal government?
He got lost in a blizzard. That's it. How did getting lost in a blizzard become a crime? Watch the video.
The Heritage Foundation and a coalition of public interest legal groups are committed to reversing the troubling trend of overcriminalization, which is defined by three attributes:
1. Federalizing crime that properly belongs under state and local jurisdiction;
2. Imposing criminal penalties upon persons who acted without criminal intent (mens rea);
3. Applying criminal sanctions to conduct that historically has not been considered wrongful.
This Legislative Update includes bills our researchers have identified that add or expand federal criminal offenses or penalties, but it generally does NOT include bills involving drugs, firearms, or crimes of violence.
April 12, 2012 Teen Parents are Not the Real Issue in Unwed Childbearing
The data show that 16 states saw notable declines in teen births since 2007, ranging from 20 percent to 29 percent. In 31 states, the rate dropped by at least 8 percent. And teen births dropped among all races.
Notes theWashington Times: "In three groups of teens-blacks, American Indians, and Alaska Natives and Asian and Pacific Islanders-the 2010 rates were more than 50 percent lower than the 1991 peak." Because of the decreases of the last two decades, notes the CHS report, approximately 3.4 million fewer babies were born to teen mothers (of which nearly all would have been to single mothers).
This is because teens account for only a small portion of unwed births, especially if only considering high school girls. While less than 8 percent of unwed births are to girls under 18, nearly 75 percent are to women between 18 and 29. Rather than a teen issue, the majority of unwed childbearing is a result of the breakdown of marriage relationships among young men and women in lower-income communities.
The breakdown of marriage and the subsequent growth of unwed childbearing should be of major concern, considering its strong association with poverty. Children in single-parent homes are more than five times as likely to be poor as their peers in married-parent homes, and not surprisingly, single-parent families are also much more likely to be dependent on government welfare. Additionally, children raised outside of married-parent homes are at greater risk for a variety of negative outcomes.
Yet, despite the major growth in unwed childbearing and the problems associated with it, there has been a "pervasive social silence" on this matter. While there is much chatter about teen birthrates, the overriding issues of marriage breakdown and unwed childbearing are too often ignored.
With more than five decades of nearly steady increases in the unwed birthrate and the growing societal inequality it creates, it is time to stop tiptoeing around this issue. Strengthening marriage requires that all sectors of society take action to reinforce the institution that is most crucial to the prosperity of individuals and to the entire nation.
Married mothers in intact families tend to be the most educated - more than 38 percent have at least a college degree. By comparison, about 21 percent of mothers in married stepfamilies have at least a college degree, and less than 15 percent of single mothers are college educated. Find out how intact marriages help sustain civil society at FamilyFacts.org.
// FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM NOW OPEN Week in Washington: June 4-8, 2012 Do you desire to be equipped with a coherent vision of faith, justice and civil society? Young faith leaders and recent graduates are invited to apply for a week of special seminars (most expenses covered). Applications accepted through May 4. Click for details >>
Earlier this week, President Obama traveled to Florida to stump for his plan, dubbed the "Buffett Rule," that would drastically raise taxes on successful Americans and small businesses.
The President says his plan, supposedly inspired by the fallacy that billionaire Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary, would bring "fairness" to the tax code. But the plan is far from fair and would do real damage to the economy.
The Buffett Rule would raise a mere $47 billion over ten years. Meanwhile, President Obama's budget calls for adding $6.7 trillion to the national debt. That means that the Buffett Rule will only cover one half of one percent of the President's new spending. Soaking the rich cannot get deficits down, only spending reductions can do that.
When it comes to one of biggest problems America is facing - a weak economy and high unemployment - the Buffett Rule would make matters worse. And it would do little to address the government's massive budget deficit.
The plan would target America's job creators, drastically raising taxes for families and small business owners. When job creators face higher taxes, they must look for other ways to cut costs, putting less money into the economy and slowing economic growth and job creation.
"The top 1 percent of income earners - earning more than $380,000 - paid more than 38 of all federal income taxes while earning 20 percent of all the income," Dubay writes. "At the same time, the bottom 50 percent of income earners- those earning less than $33,000-earned 13 percent of all income and paid less than 3 percent of federal income taxes."
The Heritage Foundation recognizes the tax code must be reformed and has created a practical, truly fair solution. Our New Flat Tax plan is a simple, coherent and comprehensive tax policy that encourages saving and investment.
Heritage Foundation president Ed Feulner will be awarded one of four 2012 Bradley Prizes in recognition of his "outstanding contributions" to the national debate, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation announced Tuesday morning.
"The award will be presented to Dr. Feulner during a ceremony to be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 7.
Ed Feulner has elevated the influence of conservative research institutions since co-founding the Heritage Foundation in 1973 and serving as its president since 1977," said Michael W. Grebe,President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bradley Foundation. "Under his guidance, the Heritage Foundation has become a bastion of ideas that are an integral part of the national conversation and that have shaped public policy."
Feulner, who recently celebrated 35 years as Heritage's president, has been widely recognized over the years for his leadership of the conservative movement:
Three years ago, the Obama administration predicted that its trillion-dollar "stimulus" program would keep the unemployment rate below eight percent and lead to a thriving economy.
But the March job report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was a bleak reminder of unrealized dreams. The figures showed an increase in employment, but the new-jobs numbers still fell 80,000 short of expectations. And the unemployment rate remains stubbornly above eight percent.
While the labor market has continued to improve, the state of the recovery is troubling and disappointing. Many workers simply have not re-entered the labor market, and as a result, the unemployment rate's decline conceals the overall weakness. While jobs were added in March, job growth was much slower than earlier in the year, which indicates that a truly robust recovery has not yet taken hold.
Heritage Foundation tax expert J.D. Foster will answer your questions about the looming "Taxmageddon" tax increases in a live web chat tomorrow at noon Eastern.Sign up today to participate in the discussion. "Taxmageddon is a $494 billion tax increase that strikes at the beginning of 2013," Heritage's Curtis Dubay writes in a recent report. "Under current law, tax policies in seven different categories will expire, and five of the 18 new tax hikes from Obamacare will begin." Learn more.
Before his speech Tuesday at The Heritage Foundation, Fox Business host John Stossel sat down with Heritage's Rob Bluey talk about government debt, President Obama and the economy, and the role of the media. Watch the interview on myHeritage.
Liberal groups and the Department of Justice continue to maintain that voter ID requirements are part of a deliberate effort to "suppress the votes" of minority groups and others, The Heritage Foundation's Hans Von Spakovsky explains in an video exposé on groups that oppose election integrity laws. Watch the video on myHeritage.
Yesterday, The Heritage Foundation ran the first-ever American Dream Money Bomb to support our Saving the American Dream plan to get the country back on track. Due to the generous donation of nearly 5,000 Americans the $250,000 goal was reached and an additional challenge gift was given for a grand total of $350,000 raised to preserve the American Dream.
New Study Shows Obamacare's Huge Additions to Federal Deficit
A study released this week by Charles Blahous, one of two public trustees of Medicare and Social Security, once again shows that Obamacare increases federal deficits and significantly worsens the nation's fiscal outlook. According to the study's most optimistic scenario, the health law will increase federal spending by $1.16 trillion and increase the deficit by $346 billion between 2012 and 2021. The worst case-and most realistic-scenario: an increase in spending of $1.24 trillion and $527 billion in new deficits. In an accompanying video, the Mercatus Center explains the math that led to this dire situation.
Obamacare's failure to reverse the federal government's abysmal financial situation is not to be taken lightly. The legislation's primary goal was to expand health coverage. However, Blahous points out that not only were the law's fiscal benefits "consistently presented as a primary motivation for enacting legislation," but it was also widely believed that health care reform was inextricably tied to reversing the fiscal outlook, since a significant portion of the nation's long-term deficits are caused by federal spending on health care.
Blahous makes clear: "Because of the federal government's untenable long-term fiscal outlook under current law, and because of the political difficulty (and thus infrequency) of comprehensive health care reform, it is essential that such reform unambiguously and significantly improve the government's fiscal outlook."
Legislation can, of course, succeed at deficit reduction but perpetuate fiscal irresponsibility-by increasing spending but raising taxes or cutting in other areas by a comparable amount. This scenario, which maintains the trajectory of unaffordable federal health spending, is exactly what will come to fruition under Obamacare. And it is unacceptable.
$346 BillionINCREASE TO THE DEFICIT BETWEEN 2012 AND 2021Obamacare is "bending the cost curve" up, not down. Learn More >>
Why Obama Hates Paul Ryan
This column by ACRU General Counsel and Senior Fellow for the Carleson Center for Public Policy (CCPP) Peter Ferrara was published April 11, 2012 on The American Spectator website.
Barack Obama's address on April 3 at the Associated Press luncheon in Washington D.C. demonstrated why our politics and our country today are seriously dysfunctional, and only the American people can fix it at the ballot box. Find the transcript online and print it out as I did.
I will show below why it reveals that the President, in fact, does not understand the major issues facing the country, indeed, he actually can't even discuss them intelligently. Moreover, he is hopelessly, abusively dishonest about what he does understand. Thirdly, what he is demanding as policy is irreconcilable left-wing extremism.
Fourthly, what the speech shows is that Barack Obama is very angry. He is angry because he has been completely shown up by Paul Ryan, who stepped up in his budget and provided the leadership that Obama promised America in 2008, and America so badly needs, but that Obama has not only failed to deliver, but refused to deliver. In fact, he has delivered just the opposite. What the speech says to me is that Obama has internal polls showing him getting creamed in public opinion by Paul Ryan. Republicans may have those same internal polls, explaining the surge of interest in Ryan for VP.
This column by ACRU Policy Board Member and Professor of Economics Dr. Walter E. Williams was published April 11, 2012 on Townhall.com.
When NBC's "Today" show played the audio of George Zimmerman's call to a Sanford, Fla., police dispatcher about Trayvon Martin, the editors made him appear to be a racist who says: "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black." What Zimmerman actually said was: "This guy looks like he's up to no good or he's on drugs or something. It's raining, and he's just walking around, looking about." The 911 officer responded by asking, "OK, and this guy -- is he black, white or Hispanic?" Zimmerman replied, "He looks black." NBC says it's investigating the doctoring of the audio, but there's nothing to investigate; its objective was to inflame passions.
In his Associated Press article titled "Old photos may be deceptive in Fla. shooting case," Matt Sedensky pointed out that the photos carried by the major media were several years old and showed Zimmerman looking fat and mean and Martin looking like a sweet young kid.
Jesse Jackson told the Los Angeles Times that "blacks are under attack" and that "targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business," adding that Martin is "a martyr." President Barack Obama chimed in by saying, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."
SCOTUS Rules Strip Searches Before Incarceration Constitutional
This column by ACRU Senior Legal Analyst Ken Klukowski was published April 9, 2012 on Breitbart.com.
The Supreme Court narrowly sided with police, holding on April 2nd that the Fourth Amendment allows strip searches for anyone taken to jail if that person will mingle with the other inmates.
Years ago, an arrest warrant was issued against Albert Florence when he fell behind in paying a fine for a criminal conviction. He later finished paying the fine, but somehow that fact fell through the cracks and the warrant was not rescinded. When running a background check during a traffic stop years later, a police officer discovered the warrant. The officer arrested Florence and took him to jail, where he was strip searched before being put with the general jail population.
Florence argued, since there was no reason to suspect he was concealing anything, the search violated the Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights, which declares in part that regarding their bodies and possessions, people are protected against "unreasonable searches and seizures."
Catholic schools in Ontario, Canada will no longer be permitted to teach Catholic doctrine regarding to homosexuality. Glenn Murray, an openly gay member of Provincial Parliament, rebuked Ontario's Catholic bishops for refusing to launch "gay clubs" in Catholic schools.
"I have to say to the bishops: 'You're not allowed to do that anymore,'" said Mr. Murray, who serves as Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "I would never say to you that anything that goes on in your family with the person you love-can you imagine me describing a husband-and-wife relationship as inherently depraved?" he added.
Mr. Murray's comments, made during a debate over Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, "amount to a declaration of war against the Catholic Church and all people who support traditional moral values," said Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life Catholics. "We've been saying all along that McGuinty wants to dictate what the Church can teach in its schools and here it is straight from the government's mouth."
As part of an "anti-bullying" effort, Ontario's New Democratic Party intends to force the Catholic Church into naming clubs in its schools "gay-straight alliances." Catholic bishops and over 2,000 concerned parents and pro-family advocates have protested the bill and called for its defeat.
The current Minister of Education Laurel Broten has referred to Bill 13's opponents as "homophobic."
However, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada states that Bill 13 threatens to undermine religious and parental freedom, and the group warned Premier Dalton McGuinty, "Should your government fail to make the necessary amendments to Bill 13 to ensure its constitutionality, we share the opinion of several Canadian constitutional law lawyers that Bill 13 will be setting up the province of Ontario to likely face years of expensive, taxpayer funded litigation."
I met Paul Ryan for the first time today at a lunch meeting. I would have said that my opinion of Ryan couldn't get much higher, but it did. He was even more impressive in person than I expected: funny and passionate as well as superbly knowledgeable about fiscal issues. Ryan is a first-principles conservative, who draws a straight line from the Founding and the Declaration of Independence to our current debt/spending crisis.
I would summarize Ryan's main themes as follows:
1) The United States has a brief time remaining when we can solve our budgetary crisis without drastic measures. Soon, our debt to GDP ratio will inhibit economic growth, the sheer magnitude of the debt will overwhelm efforts to get it under control, and rising interest rates will crush all other budgetary considerations. For now, we have an opportunity to solve the fiscal crisis without, for example, having to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits to existing seniors. This is what the House Republican budget seeks to do. But that window is rapidly closing.
2) Ever-increasing numbers of Americans are becoming dependent on the federal government. Currently around 40% are either "dependent" or "reliant" on federal checks, and 70% of the population takes more out of the federal government in benefits than it pays in taxes. The Democrats seek to accelerate these trends in order to perpetuate their own power (my paraphrase). But those numbers are somewhat misleading, as many are now dependent on government as a result of the current recession. The United States remains, for the time being, a center-right country, and a clear majority continues to favor freedom and opportunity over cradle to grave government control.
3) For the above reasons, the 2012 election is a pivotal contest in which Americans will likely choose one of two destinies: a return to the commitment to freedom and opportunity that is embodied in the Constitution and in American history, or a decisive turn toward European-style social democracy.
4) It is important for this election to be one in which the choice facing the voters is framed starkly so that, if the Republicans win, they will have a mandate to do what is necessary to rescue America from financial collapse and return to the opportunity society that was envisioned by the Founders.
Ryan answered a number of questions from the audience. It is no surprise that his knowledge of the facts and data as they relate to budget policy is encyclopedic. But Ryan is not merely a wonk; he is also skillful at discussing budget issues in a way that is both understandable and compelling. We have all seen him do this on video and television; I would say that in person, he is even more impressive.
Ryan was asked about Mitt Romney and the vice-presidency. He spoke highly of Romney, who he says has the high character that he associates with World War II veterans he has known, and a businessman's understanding of economics. He brushed off, naturally, any talk about the vice-presidency. It is entertaining to contemplate a matchup between Ryan and Joe Biden, which would be even more one-sided than the 2004 "debate" between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. For that matter, no one would be better able to expose the fatuous demagoguery of Barack Obama than Paul Ryan. For better or worse, that is a spectacle to which we will not be treated.
CNN has posted the full text of Hilary Rosen's apology (or should that be "apology"?). Here it is:
Let's put the faux "war against stay at home moms" to rest once and for all. As a mom I know that raising children is the hardest job there is. As a pundit, I know my words on CNN last night were poorly chosen. In response to Mitt Romney on the campaign trail referring to his wife as a better person to answer questions about women than he is, I was discussing his lack of a record on the plight of women's financial struggles. Here is my more fulsome view of the issues. As a partner in a firm full of women who work outside of the home as well as stay at home mothers, all with plenty of children, gender equality is not a talking point for me. It is an issue I live every day. I apologize to Ann Romney and anyone else who was offended. Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance.
If you look up the word "fulsome" in the dictionary, you will find something like this:
1. offensive to good taste, especially as being excessive; overdone or gross: fulsome praise that embarrassed her deeply; fulsome décor.
2. disgusting; sickening; repulsive: a table heaped with fulsome mounds of greasy foods.
3. excessively or insincerely lavish: fulsome admiration.
4. encompassing all aspects; comprehensive: a fulsome survey of the political situation in Central America.
5. abundant or copious.
Ms. Rosen's use of the term "fulsome" harks back to the word's archaic meaning, listed as fifth above. In its modern sense, I think it is the perfect adjective for Ms. Rosen's "apology."
The key to a magic trick is distraction: the magician tries to draw his audience's attention to some irrelevant place while he executes his trick elsewhere. A politician with a lousy record is much like an amateur magician. He tries to get his audience, voters, to focus on something-anything!-other than his record in office. That is the mode that Barack Obama is in these days, as manifested by his monomaniacal dedication to the Buffett Ploy. Michael Ramirez puts Obama's effort at distraction in context:
Jay's book covers everything you've ever wanted to know about more than 100 years of Nobel laureates, a cast stretching (in character) all the way from Mother Teresa to such unpeaceable types as Le Duc Tho and Yasser Arafat. And let us not forget Rigoberta Menchú, author of the celebrated book that is as genuine as a three dollar bill. What about the fact, as Jay asks, that the committee gave the prize to her "as an advocate of the [Guatamalan Communist] guerillas and their violence-a committee for whom Gandhi might not have been pure enough in his pacifism?" We obviously have a lot to talk about.
The price of the lunch is $30 for members of the Center, $35 for nonmembers. In addition to online registration, you can contact Peter Zeller via email (Peter.Zeller at AmericanExperiment.org) or telephone (612-338-3605) to make a reservation. As at most Center events, scholarships are available to support the attendance of students and teachers. Just check in with Peter and we will get it taken care of. In any event, please plan on joining us on April 20.
From time to time people ponder the question of why so many of Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs-turned-billionaires turn out to be so liberal. My experience hanging around Silicon Valley tech types a bit back in the 1990s was that computer and tech geeks bring an engineering mentality to politics, and do not understand why social and political problems can't be solved like engineering problems. Republicans are very bad at explaining the political world to tech types, while the sentimental nostrums of liberal politicians-and I watched a few liberal pols in small rooms with tech CEOs-go over very well with techies. And amazingly smart people turn out to be slow learners in politics: even after the Clinton Justice Department went after Microsoft, Bill Gates remained a liberal Democrat, even though I know a lot of Microsoft executives found it to be a "learning experience" in the predatory ways of Washington.
Thia is the preface to a nine-month old story that I just caught up with. Google, I read, has started a "think tank." Since I'm in that business, I got curious. Here's the lede from the Washington Post article about it:
Technology giant Google, having conquered the Internet and the world around it, is taking on a new challenge: violent extremism.
The company, through its eight-month-old think tank, Google Ideas, is paying for 80 former Muslim extremists, neo-Nazis, U.S. gang members and other former radicals to gather in Dublin this weekend to explore how technology can play a role in de-radicalization efforts around the globe.
The "formers," as they have been dubbed by Google, will be surrounded by 120 thinkers, activists, philanthropists and business leaders. The goal is to dissect the question of what draws some people, especially young people, to extremist movements and why some of them leave.
This isn't a totally frivolous idea, but there is a substantial body of serious social research already out there on why people become terrorists and why some quit the lifestyle. But there is something beyond naïve and presumptuous about their belief in the power of their good-hearted social engineering mentality on this vexing problem. And it is easy to predict that this will come to nothing. At some point I'm sure these group gropes with former terrorists will become what I call "Steyn bait."
Besides, I thought Google was going to solve the problem of dirty fossil fuels for us. Back in 2007 they launched to great fanfare their "Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal" research project (RE<C was the catchy equation). Great idea in the abstract. How's that working out for Google? They cancelled the project last fall. Welcome to the real world, hearty internet conquerors. I guess there's some things Google's internet geniuses can't do after all.
FRED HUTCHISON, RA ANALYST - How important was freeing the slaves to Abraham Lincoln? Was that his top priority? How did Lincoln view his primary mission as president? I have heard these issues debated all my life. The issue is now resolved for me by reading One Last Card to Play, a book review by Peter Schramm of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America, by Allen C. Guelzo. Lincoln was a greater president than I had realized... (more)
WALTER E. WILLIAMS - When NBC's "Today" show played the audio of George Zimmerman's call to a Sanford, Fla., police dispatcher about Trayvon Martin, the editors made him appear to be a racist who says: "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black."... (more)
WASHINGTON TIMES - Social conservatives who backed Rick Santorum's presidential campaign said his supporters will get behind Mitt Romney, but warned that the presumptive Republican nominee still has a lot more to do if he wants those activists to man phone banks and knock on doors in the drive to win in November... (more)
DAILY CALLER - For the hordes of Republicans left thinking post-2008, "Had only we run a real moderate!" yesterday's news that Rick Santorum is dropping out, thus clearing the way for Mitt Romney, was quite a relief. Finally we'll be able to prove that stubbornly unprovable theory that the only way to beat Democrats is by running Republicans who sound and govern just like Democrats... (more)
WASHINGTON EXAMINER - When Republicans abandon the free market and smaller government, the culprits are often the industry lobbyists within the GOP's inner circles. Former K Street lobbyist Ed Gillespie, who joined Mitt Romney's campaign last week as adviser, shows how industry can muddle Republicans' economic message... (more)
JOSEPH FARAH - It's time to be very honest about why one political party -- and one political party only -- is dead-set against requiring voters to properly identify themselves at the polling place before casting their ballots. That party is the Democratic Party. And the reason it opposes voter ID is because it makes voter fraud easier when identification is not required... (more)
REUTERS - Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Tuesday refused to sign a bill that would permit discussion of creationism in classrooms alongside the traditional evolutionary-based explanation of the origins of life, but allowed it to become law anyway... (more)
DAVID LIMBAUGH - Can anyone think of an innocuous reason that President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder oppose state voter ID laws? Obama and Holder appear to view almost everything through the prism of race or, at the very least, use race as an excuse to justify otherwise very dubious policies, from immigration enforcement to voter intimidation actions to strong-arming banks to make loans via allegations of racism... (more)
WASHINGTON TIMES - What is it about the Justice Department and the Black Panthers? On March 24, Mikhail Muhammad, leader of the New Black Panther Party, offered a $10,000 bounty for the "capture" of George Zimmerman, who shot and killed Trayvon Martin... (more)
NATIONAL REVIEW - Let's stipulate: Activists on the left are free to exercise their rights of speech and assembly to boycott businesses whose politics they oppose. Conversely, activists on the right are free to exercise the power of their pocketbooks and refrain from supporting businesses that shun their values... (more)
NEWSMAX - March's gloomy jobs report would be a lot gloomier if the government accurately depicted the health of the labor market, says real-estate mogul Donald Trump. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the economy added a net 120,000 jobs in March, well below expectations... (more)
RICH LOWRY - For the first time in 34 years, Chuck Colson won't be in a prison for Easter. The famous Watergate figure and Christian convert usually spends the day ministering to prisoners, but is recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain... (more)
CBS PHILLY - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign. Senator Santorum appeared at a hotel room in Gettysburg at 2 p.m. where he announced he was suspending his campaign... (more)
BREITBART - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has declared that there is no proof that in-person voter fraud is a problem. He's about to see proof that even he can't deny... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - Not many weeks ago, Barack Obama announced that Congress was being uncooperative, so he would have to go it alone with executive orders to make changes he wanted for America... (more)
WES VERNON, RA ANALYST - Several years ago during the Jesse Helms era, a top staffer for a relatively conservative East Coast U.S. Senator told me that Senator Helms was probably the only true unalloyed conservative in that august body... (more)
NATIONAL REVIEW - Americans are an enterprising people, and we start churches like we start businesses. (It is not always possible to tell the two apart.) There are more than twice as many distinct religious communities as McDonald's restaurants in the United States, and eight times as many religious congregations as ZIP codes... (more)
WASHINGTON EXAMINER - Conservative leaders, increasingly concerned that the Republican Party is about to nominate a presidential candidate too moderate for their tastes, met with Rick Santorum in Tysons Corner on Thursday to work out a plan to beat front-runner Mitt Romney... (more)
WASHINGTON EXAMINER - Justly regarded as the most aggressive abortion defender to ever occupy the White House, President Obama has spent two years prosecuting pro-life advocates, using the Department of Justice as his weapon... (more)
THE HILL - The case of a Marine who is facing discharge for posting disparaging comments about President Obama on Facebook has renewed a debate about free speech rights for members of the military...(more)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer
COUNTDOWN TO VICTORY: 208 DAYS TO THE 2012 ELECTIONS
Grave Robbing
Armed robbery has skyrocketed in Washington, D.C., this year, and apparently one of the suspects hangs out at the White House. Yesterday Barack Obama tried to steal Ronald Reagan's tax cutting reputation.
Obama told a White House gathering that his proposed "Buffet Rule," the minimum tax on high-income earners, was consistent with Reagan's desire for a fairer tax code. Obama even cited a Reagan speech in which Reagan said it was unfair that multi-millionaires paid nothing while a bus driver was paying 10 percent of his salary. Obama then suggested the Buffet Rule should really be called the Reagan Rule.
I almost lost my lunch when I read this latest Obama distortion. Obama despised Ronald Reagan as he made clear in one of his multiple autobiographies. It was the Obamas of the 1980s who tried to smear Reagan and block his agenda. Now Obama tries to use the goodwill the American people feel for this great man in order to sell his decidedly anti-Reagan, big government, high tax, socialist agenda.
Reagan did bemoan the unfairness of the tax code. But his solution was to close a lot of loopholes coupled with an across-the-board tax CUT! Republicans today favor the same idea. Obama wants higher rates, not lower. Worse, his gargantuan deficit spending will require that everyone's taxes skyrocket, not just "the wealthy."
Pay attention now, folks, because Obama doesn't deny it. At the White House yesterday, Obama said: "There are others who are saying, 'Well, this is just a gimmick. Just taxing millionaires and billionaires, just imposing the Buffett Rule, won't do enough to close the deficit.' Well, I agree."
In other words, he wants more, and he could get it because the Bush tax cuts expire January 1, 2013. If Obama is reelected and if Democrats continue to control the Senate next year, they don't have to do a thing. Everyone will automatically get hit with a massive tax increase. That is just one more reason why Obama must be defeated!
By the way, even the liberals at the Washington Post are mocking Obama for his "gimmicky Buffett Rule." The executive editor of Politico said that the Obama campaign was being "insanely political" for pushing this issue. The left knows there isn't enough money to fund its agenda by just taxing "millionaires and billionaires," and it is increasingly frustrated with Obama's intellectual dishonesty.
If Reagan were alive today he would be looking at Barack Obama's agenda and exposing it for what it is -- more government that will shrink your wallet and your freedoms.
The Democrat War On Moms
The Obama campaign must be feeling really desperate. It started off the week by attacking Mitt Romney as some sort of tax cheat for paying the legal capital gains rate. Next a leading Democrat attacked his wife, Ann Romney, for being a stay-at-home mom.
What prompted the attack was a rather deft maneuver by the Romney campaign to turn the so-called "war on women" onto Obama by noting how many women have lost jobs during the Obama "recovery." Speaking on CNN last night, Democratic strategist and DNC adviser Hilary Rosen lashed out at Ann Romney, saying, "Guess what, his wife has actually never worked a day in her life."
Needless to say, Ann Romney disagreed with Ms. Rosen's assessment, tweeting, "I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work." Mrs. Romney wouldn't say this, but she did it while battling multiple sclerosis.
Rosen's comments are a prime example of the left's disdain for traditional values. Many feminists despise traditional marriage and place no value on women who stay home to raise their children.
Political observers are crediting Rosen with doing something the Romney campaign had so far been unable to do: rally conservatives to Romney's side. Yet despite making top Democrats cringe, Rosen isn't backing down.
Today she said, "This is not about Ann Romney. This is about the waitress in a diner in some place in Nevada who has two kids whose day care funding is being cut off because of the Romney/Ryan budget and she doesn't know what to do."
Nice try, Hilary. But no one's day care funding has been cut. The Ryan budget is merely a proposal that has not been enacted. If the Nevada waitress is struggling to pay her bills, it's because of the sorry state of Obama's economy!
And here's another point to consider. While Rosen and some Democrats may want to make this a class issue -- Ann Romney was lucky to have a husband who could provide for her -- there are lot of other women who do stay home and don't have husbands to provide for them. They are a big part of the Democrat voting bloc. They can stay home without husbands thanks to Big Government taxing working class families to pay for welfare programs for women with out-of-wedlock children, who are abandoned by their "baby daddies."
If Rosen is so upset because some mothers are struggling financially, perhaps she should speak out more against the breakdown of the traditional family and demand a return to traditional values.
Here's a little background on Rosen that puts her attack in context: In 2004, she became the interim director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest homosexual rights lobbying group. Her ex-partner, Elizabeth Birch, whom I debated on occasion, had also been a top executive at HRC.
In 2007, Rosen launched a social networking website targeted to lesbians. So Ms. Rosen has made a lot of money in recent years aggressively promoting lesbian rights and undermining family norms.
By the way, she's no stranger to the Obama White House either. In fact, visitor logs show she has been there four times more often than CIA Director General David Petreaus. (Now what does that tell you about Obama's priorities?)
Whose War On Women?
While Obama and top Democrats make ridiculous claims about a "Republican war on women," it was reported yesterday that female employees in the Obama White House "earned a median annual salary ... about 18 percent less than the median salary for male employees."
Women on Obama's Senate staff faced similar discrimination too. In 2008, CNSNews reported that women earned on average, only 78 percent of what Obama paid his male staffers.
In contrast, women were much better off working for Senator McCain. McCain's female staffers earned "24 percent more on average than women on Obama's Senate staff." But for the left, "women's rights" really isn't about equal pay. It's all about abortion-on-demand, which doesn't end well for a lot of unborn baby girls.
Romney's A-Game
Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard has an insightful column today suggesting that in order to defeat Barack Obama, Mitt Romney "will have to make significant changes in his campaign." Barnes writes that Romney's first task is to "secure the Republican Party's conservative base." And there, Mr. Romney still has some work to do.
Mr. Barnes goes on to devote much of his column to several of my suggestions for how Romney can reassure conservatives and energize the GOP base. You can read his column here.
It's because of your generous support for our work that I am able to have these opportunities to defend our values in the media and influence the course of our party. Thank you, my friends, for standing with me. Together, we will end the Obama nightmare and once again restore this "shining city upon a hill."
Can Mitt Romney Win? By Ben Shapiro This election cycle started with the promise that it would be run on economics. It will be run on economics, for the most part. But if Romney is to win, he will win on foreign policy.
Shoot It Down! By Alan Caruba Shooting down a North Korean missile will not set off a war, but it will signal that America is not going to continue being played for a fool after years of having acceded to North Korea's blackmail schemes.
Ask Penn. Governor to Veto Anti-REAL ID Legislation
This is a special message for NumbersUSA members in Pennsylvania.
Dear Pennsylvania activist,
On April 3rd, the Pennsylvania House cleared for Gov. Tom Corbett's consideration SB 354, a bill to prohibit the Commonwealth from complying with any provision of the federal REAL ID Act. Please call and email the Governor to ask for a veto.
Background
Part of the REAL ID Act addresses secure driver's license rules, such as those that will prevent illegal aliens from obtaining licenses. Other parts of the Act address immigration enforcement and border security. These provisions are designed to minimize the risk of terrorists entering the U.S. SB 354 would prevent the Governor from cooperating with federal officials under any provision of the Act. If bill proponents intended to target just driver's license requirements, they missed by a long shot.
Proponents of SB 354 are spreading misinformation about REAL ID in their effort to enact the bill. For example, contrary to their claims, REAL ID is not a pre-cursor to a national ID card. In fact, it's the best defense against government forcing a national ID card on citizens. They also claim that REAL ID would create a centralized federal database without any controls. But in reality, each state's DMV would maintain driver information just as they do now. Proponents also say it would cost the state $125 million to implement. However Florida, with 6 million more people than Pennsylvania, got it done for $7 million.
The REAL ID Act takes effect on January 15, 2013. The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License tells us that the Department of Homeland Security does not plan to extend the compliance deadline even though it has in the past. DHS will issue guidance to states in the next few weeks concerning the necessary steps states must take to meet the deadline.
Consequences of Enacting SB 354
If Gov. Corbett signs this bill and Pennsylvania is prohibited from complying with any aspect of REAL ID on 1/15/13:
* Pennsylvania driver's licenses will no longer be valid for ID purposes when boarding an airplane or entering a federal building;
* The governor will not be able to adjust state requirements to conform with the upcoming federal guidance or may prevent cooperation with federal officials in certain border security matters;
* Pennsylvania will lose the federal grant for REAL ID implementation, as did Montana, Oklahoma, and Minnesota when they passed similar laws; and
* As nearby states comply with REAL ID, Pennsylvania will become a magnet for identity thieves, professional criminal organizations, and illegal alien smugglers because their standards are lower than compliant states.
Please call and email Gov. Corbett -- 717-787-2500; Comment form -- with the message:
"I am a Pennsylvania voter who respectfully asks that you veto SB 354, the anti-REAL ID Act bill. I do not want this measure to block me from using my license to board airplanes. And I do not want to you to be prevented from making our driver's licenses more secure when new REAL ID rules are released in the next few weeks."
Additional Talking Points
SB 354 would prohibit the Commonwealth from complying with any provision of the federal REAL ID Act. This has consequences that extend beyond driver's licenses because the Act also affects border security and immigration enforcement. You do not want your hands tied when it comes to cooperating with federal officials on matters affecting Pennsylvania's border with Canada along Lake Erie.
Pennsylvania will not be eligible for REAL ID implementation grants. This is what happened in Montana, Oklahoma, and Minnesota where very similar anti-REAL ID laws passed. Pennsylvania has already lost $3.1 million in grants since we stopped aligning our system in 2008.
The REAL ID licenses are secured against counterfeiting. The booming business of counterfeiting will continue to thrive if Pennsylvania backpedals now. This will make the Commonwealth a magnet for identity thieves, professional criminal organizations, and illegal alien smugglers because our standards will be lower than compliant states.
Proponents of SB 354 say it would cost the Commonwealth $125 million to implement but Florida, with 6 million more people than Pennsylvania, got it done for $7 million. Spreading misinformation like this is just fear mongering.
Proponents falsely claim that REAL ID is a pre-cursor to a national ID card. However, in reality, it's the best defense against government forcing a national ID card on citizens. They also say it creates a centralized federal database containing personal information about all Americans from which information can be shared without any controls. However, each state's DMV would maintain driver information just as they do now.
Signing this bill will also block Pennsylvania from having driver's licenses that help law enforcement protect national security, prevent identity theft, and combat illegal immigration. None of us want that. Please veto SB 354.
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April 12, 2012
On Today's ProgramFarrakhan: Jesus was a Muslim If there's one thing Louis Farrakhan is good at, it's being controversial. His latest speech proved it. He called the Prophet Elijah the n-word, and went on to claim that Jesus was a black Muslim. What are Farrakhan's real motivations besides controversy? Glenn has the clip & reaction on radio today.
WATCH & SHARE: Do NOT miss a very special Glenn Beck Program on GBTV tonight exposing the shocking truth behind Farrakhan - one of the most hateful and dangerous men in America - and the Nation of Islam. Sign up for your FREE TRIAL and watch it HERE.
Ann Romney destroys attacking Obama advisor in 1 tweet Obama advisor Hilary Rosen's mockery of Ann Romney for 'never having worked a day in her life' backfired in a huge way. Given she is a mother of 5 boys, has M.S. & is a breast cancer survivor - trying to go after her for 'never working' is not smart (and not true). Ann joined Twitter and dismissed Rosen in 1 tweet.
Real News: Hilary Rosen's attack caused the media dubbed "war on women" to explode on the battleground of twitter. Real News from The Blaze will discuss that and more tonight at 6pm ET.
Are you preregistered for Restoring Love? On July 28th, Glenn's attempting to bring people from all over America and the world to Dallas, TX for a night of inspiration, faith, and love. It's the beginning of a movement - WATCH as Glenn explains. If you preregistered for the event, click here to buy your tickets NOW. The Public on sale begins next Friday, April 20th. Can't make it to Dallas? Help support the event by checking out the Restoring love merchandise. All net proceeds go to Mercury One.
Special Offer from one of Glenn's Favorite Authors: If you haven't read a Richard Paul Evans book yet, this is your best opportunity yet! Today through Sunday only, the first two e-books in his series, THE WALK and MILES TO GO are just $3.99!! Don't miss this opportunity to see why Richard's books fill so many readers with hope and inspiration. Get them now for Kindle, Nook, or through iTunes.
Justice is blind? Not in the Obama administration At this point one has to wonder if Obama is just messing with conservative talk show hosts. Who in their right mind would let Eric Holder go speak at an Al Sharpton event just days after Sharpton indicated that he and his group would seek vigilante justice if Zimmerman wasn't arrested? Only someone as arrogant as Obama. Check on the full story from radio today.
Glenn's first speech from The Oval: Last night on GBTV, Glenn delivered his first speech from "The Oval." It's time to stop with the class warfare and the ridiculous debates about Warren Buffett's taxes. It's time to start talking about the hard truths facing America. This is what our leaders should be doing. This is what our leaders are paid to do, but they don't do it. They won't do it. So Glenn will. Please SHARE with your friends and family.
Cass Sunstein strikes again: jail time for mysterious laws? Glenn interviewed Blaze contributor Buck Sexton on a very disturbing story - one which provides more evidence that Cass Sunstein is the most dangerous man in America. Hunters, fisherman, etc are facing jail time for breaking laws and regulations they didn't even know existed. More on the disturbing development HERE.
Start your spring off right!Markdown is offering a 3 book spring gardening package from Bob Flowerdew - one of the most well-known organic gardeners of our time. You'll receive three practical, user-friendly, full-color guides designed to help any beginning gardener save time and money.
New documentary coming to GBTV: The U.S. is under attack. The enemy moves freely amongst us and even advises the very government bodies to protect us from such a threat. A shocking new documentary coming soon to GBTV provides irrefutable evidence of the attack underway. The information you will see in this film has to be shared with as many Americans as possible to wake them up. WATCH THE TRAILER.
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Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
"Constitution 101" begins on February 20, 2012, and concludes the week of April 30. It will cover such topics as the 
Farrakhan: Jesus was a Muslim
