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WND EXCLUSIVE
TERRORIST SUPER-AXIS TO STRIKE WITHIN U.S.
Imminent attacks planned by al-Qaida, Quds Forces, Hezbollah
Update:On Tuesday, the source provided additional new information on the terrorists' plan for a major attack - that it is to take place within weeks and is planned to be "spectacular," using a new method. The information was immediately passed on to the appropriate U.S. agency.
Iran has given the go-ahead to operatives of three terrorist groups that have infiltrated the United States to carry out missions, including what is expected to be a Mumbai-style attack on a hotel where innocent bystanders would be killed, WND has learned.
A full report with many details of the missions has been passed on to U.S. officials.
Three targets have been chosen within America for imminent attack, and the terror teams have now cut communications with the operational center in Iran, a sign that they are moving ahead with the attacks, according to a high-level intelligence officer within the Islamic regime.
If only one of the attacks occurs, the regime will consider the operation a success, the source said. Tehran believes, he said, an attack would not be traced back to Iran due to the nationalities of the operators.
In just one week, President Barack Obama's political machine has switched from endless campaign to survival mode. And for the first time in Obama's presidency, the damage to his regime may be permanent.
Three revelations have come together like an avalanche. First, there was a Benghazi hearing that proved beyond any reasonable doubt that this administration is feckless, dishonest, and cravenly politicized. But in its aftermath on Friday, an executive branch information dump dropped another bombshell: the IRS does indeed target and intimidate conservative groups.
This appalling admission from a senior IRS official was obviously meant to slide into the news cycle and dissipate over the weekend. This unseemly public relations gambit has become a hallmark of the Obama approach to all issues, regardless of their importance to the nation. Deny or delay, spin and win.
And, to the discredit of our electorate, it has worked-until perhaps now.
As the country was still reeling from the gut-wrenching testimony of three Benghazi whistleblowers and the IRS mea culpa, yet another log was thrown onto the bonfire of the Obama administration's credibility. Yesterday the Associated Press broke a news story that Obama's Justice Departmentcollected phone data on dozens of AP reporters as part of a national security leak investigation.
Such sweeping intrusion upon a news organization's privacy-exposing all its sources and chilling all speech in the process-makes a mockery of the Constitution's guarantee of not "abridging the freedom of speech." We can now add the First Amendment to the butcher's bill of Obama administration overreach and nascent autocracy.
German Homeschooling Family's Request for Asylum Denied by the U.S. Government
The Blaze | Erica Ritz | May. 14, 2013 1:27pm
The Romeike family has for years been battling for the right to educate their children as they see fit. Today, the United States government has denied their request.
Originally from Germany, Evangelical Christians Uwe and Hannelore Romeike wanted to homeschool their six children, but it is against the law in Germany. They faced threats of legal action from the government and crippling fines before choosing to immigrate to the United States in 2010, seeking political asylum.
U.S. Immigration Judge Lawrence Burman granted the Romeike's request, but it was overturned in 2012 by the Board of Immigration Appeals, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement challenged the decision.
Today, in the words of the Home School Defense League Association, which has represented the family: "The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Obama Administration's denial of asylum granted to the Romeike family."
The parents could face jail time if forced to return home.
The Way This Tea Party Group Responded to the IRS' Request for its Reading List Is Pretty Awesome
The Blaze | Becket Adams | May. 15, 2013 1:45am
When Internal Revenue Service agents decided to target conservative groups with "unnecessary" information requests, they probably weren't expecting Marion Bower, an Ohio woman who in 2010 founded her own Tea Party group.
"I was trying to be very cordial, but they wanted copies of unbelievable things," the 68-year-old founder of American Patriots against Government Excess told ABC News Tuesday. "They wanted to know what materials we had discussed at any of our book studies."
Yes, when applying for the group's tax-exempt status, the IRS actually asked her for information regarding the books she and her colleagues read.
"They wanted a synopsis of all the books we read," she said. "I thought, I don't have time to write a book report. You can read them for yourselves."
So she sent the IRS official handling her tax-exempt request in Cincinnati a copy of "The Five Thousand Year Leap" (a Glenn Beck favorite) and a paperback version of the United States Constitution.
This event is FREE & open the public. This is not about any political parties, this is about saving our country. Please RSVP!
[WHEN] Wednesday, May 15th [TIME] Meeting starts promptly at 7pm, doors open at 6pm. [WHERE] Giacomo's Restaurant 368 E Main St Norristown, PA 19401 (610) 277-7277
There is no greater threat to the long-term security and prosperity of the United States today than the out-of-control, secretive Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve is a private, unelected group of banks that was created by congress in 1913 and was given the previously congressional responsibility of money creation. Ever since, the dollar has declined in value by 95%. The Fed does this by inflation, or expansion of the money supply. This acts as a hidden tax that requires you to pay more dollars for every product and service to recoup that loss in purchasing power. In addition to this the fed artificially sets interest rates, funds the bailouts, the wars, and picks economic winners and losers.
2013 symbolizes the 100th anniversary of the Federal Reserve. It's time to End The Fed!
AGENDA:
* Jackie Piotrowski will speak about local & state issues..
* Steve Piotrowski will give his monthly Liberty Report.
* Dave Giordano, our special guest speaker will talk about America's Economic Meltdown, The U.S. Constitution, Sound Money and the Federal Reserve.
* Open Discussion: This will be your opportunity to be heard!
Following this meeting will be a nationwide End The Fed Rally happening Saturday May 18, Noon, at the Federal Reserve Building, 10 North Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106
END THE FED Rally Promo Video 5/18/13
Philly END THE FED Rally Promo 5/18/13
We hope that you can make it to these upcoming events. These are two great events that you're not going to want to miss! There is no greater threat to the long-term security and prosperity of the United States today than the out-of-control, secretive Federal Reserve. #RestoreTheConstitution #EndTheFedPhilly
[When] Saturday, May 18th [Time] High Noon - Rally Starts, 1pm Speakers, Afterwards We March [Where] Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia 10 North Independence Mall W, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Cable provider Comcast is actively supporting Obama's radical leftist agenda to fundamentally transform America.
The news programs at NBC and MSNBC, run by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, reflect total agreement with the Obama agenda. These "news" organizations even adopted the Obama re-election campaigns "Forward" slogan. Is this what Comcast subscribers and American voters need?
Brian Roberts has close ties to Obama - he was selected to serve on the President's Jobs and Competitiveness Council, he hosted an intimate reception for the President at his vacation home in Martha's Vineyard during last year's election campaign, and he openly supports ObamaCare.
On May 15, Let's show up and protest Comcast at their annual shareholder's meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If you've been waiting to tell MSNBC boss Brian Roberts that the government doesn't own your kids, like they claimed in a recent commercial, now is your chance! RSVP here to lend your voice.
When: May 15 starting at 8:00 AM Eastern
Where: The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Perelman Theater 300 S. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19102
We will leave from the Doylestown Parking lot at 6am
If we get enough interest we will get a bus. Please respond to thekitchentablepatriots@gmail.com
BUCKS COUNTY TEENAGE REPUBLICANS
DICK MORRIS
LIVE IN DOYLESTOWN
THURSDAY, MAY 16TH, 7:00PM 115 N BROAD STREET $20.00 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW WWW.BCTARS.COM
Join freedom-loving activists in protesting the liberal agenda of Comcast outside of the Kimmel Center in Center City Philadelphia during the Comcast Shareholder Meeting!
May 15th 8:00 - 10:00 am
Protest outside of the Kimmel Center! Bring your signs and your voices! Let Comcast know you are not going to stay silent about their liberal agenda!
Comcast employees contributed nearly $80,000 directly to Obama for America and roughly $200,000 to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint account benefitting both the Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee, through the first half of 2011. President Obama has recently spent time with top Comcast executives, attending an intimate fundraiser at the home of Comcast executive vice president David Cohen in Philadelphia in June and a private "social reception" at the Martha's Vineyard estate of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts earlier this week.
May 12, 2013, 5 PM
Dear Members and Friends,
In a rather peculiar and ill-timed statement issued this past Friday, a mid-level IRS administrator publicly admitted that the agency has been harassing Tea Party and Patriot groups who filed for 501c tax-exempt status by forcing them to undergo additional burdensome scrutiny above and beyond the standard application process.
As many news outlets reported, IRS intimidation of conservative groups has been ongoing since 2010.
Association Editorial
None of this is news to the Independence Hall Tea Party Association.
Due to our concerns over the Obama Administration's control of the IRS, the Association decided not to file for tax exempt status. In addition, unlike most Tea Party groups across the nation, we formed a federal PAC to handle political endorsements and activities--thereby making it less likely that we would become potential government targets.
However, a left-wing, anarchist group called Anonymous did manage to hack into both of our websites during the 2012 primary--taking over the sites for a 24-hour period and posting pornographic images/racial slurs on our home page.
We believe the Anonymous attacks were directly related to our hosting an event with Governor Mitt Romney at the Franklin Institute in which we refused to admit members of Occupy who were threatening to disrupt the Governor's speech.
(Because of our limited resources, both the Association and the PAC decided only to report the matter to local authorities and to focus our efforts, instead, on our respective educational and political missions.)
As for the IRS, the Association, like everyone else, is waiting for the Inspector General's full report--which is expected early this week.
The Inspector General's report, we insist, should signal the beginning of a more thorough investigation--not the last word on this highly explosive scandal.
Internet Sales Tax
As we reported last week, the Internet Sales Tax bill, known as the 'Marketplace
Fairness Act,' cleared the US Senate in lopsided vote 69-27 vote--but we're still hoping it will never see the light of day in the US House.
Please continue to call the Capitol Switchboard @ 202.224.3121 and ask to be connected to your Congressman/woman. Tell your Representative to oppose the Internet Sales Tax bill!
Then, use the same number to call Speaker John Boehner and Majority LeaderEric Cantor. Tell them not to move the bill forward.
Next, call House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Congressman Bob
Goodlatte (R-VA). He and fellow Republicans on the committee can deal a lethal blow to the tax bill. Tell them to bury the bill in committee!
An Immigration Bill to Match ObamaCare
Again, as we reported last week, the US Senate began serious debate on the Immigration bill proposed by the 'gang of eight' Senators--an enormous 844-page tome described as a comprehensive bill.
For starters, we believe the only matter for Congress to consider after the 2013 Boston Massacre is how to prevent terrorists from gaining access to our land.
We note that the Boston Jihadist brothers were here legally!
Our entire immigration process is broken--and the sooner we focus on securing our nation from would-be terrorists and Jihadists--the safer we will be.
The most often heard retort to 'comprehensive' immigration reform is 'let's secure our boarders first.' So, Congress, let's secure our borders now! As the following article suggests, a majority of Americans are united on this front:
Secure borders, like 'energy independence,' has been an illusive goal for decades--but if our nation can send spacecraft to the far reaches of the Milky Way and beyond, we can certainly achieve other, less lofty, objectives.
Please call 202.224.3121 and ask to be connected to the offices of your US Senators (DE: Carper, Coons; NJ: Lautenberg, Menendez; PA: Casey,
Toomey). Tell them to oppose the 844-page "comprehensive" Immigration bill and to secure our boarders before passing any additional legislation!
Pot of Gold Money Drop
Our April/May Pot of Gold Money Drop has passed the half-way mark!
We hope to continue our efforts to restore limited government and free market principles--despite the IRS, President Obama, and his allies--but we need your help!
Many thanks to those who have already "dropped a donation!" So far, we have raised $3,000! If each of you gave just $5, we would surpass our goal many times over.
$5000
As an extra incentive:
* Those giving a $25 donation will receive an Independence Hall Tea Party t-shirt as our thank you.
* Those giving a $50 donation will receive one Independence Hall Tea Party golf shirt or two t-shirts as our thank you.
* Those giving a $100 donation will receive two Independence Hall Tea Party golf shirts as our thank you.
Zionist Organization of America in a Parade celebrating 65 years of
Israeli Independence.
Israel 65 Parade with Pat Ciarrachi and the Avalon String Band
When: Sunday, May 19, 11 AM
Where: Center City Philadelphia
The Celebration continues at the Pennsylvania Convention Center immediately following the Parade. For more information, call ZOA @ 610.660.9466
Later that week (Wednesday, May 22),
Drexel University College Republicans
will be hosting Brooke Goldstein -- author, filmmaker, and human rights attorney. Ms. Goldstein's documentary, The Making of a Martyr, will be shown prior to her talk.
Drexel CR's Present: Brooke Goldstein and The Making of a Martyr
When: Wednesday, May 22, 6-8:45 PM; Cocktail Hour, 5-6 PM
Where: The Skyroom, MacAlister Hall, 3250 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Sponsored by Drexel University College Republicans.
And finally, last but not least, the Independence Hall Tea Party will sponsor its 5th Annual July 4th Celebration on Independence Mall. This year's theme:
Preserving America's Heritage.
Preserving America's Heritage--Independence Day 2013
When: Thursday, July 4, 1-3 PM
Where: Independence Mall, 5th and Market Streets
Free and open to the public. Many more details to follow.
Hope to see you soon!
On behalf of the Association Board,
Teri Adams
Shalom ZOA Members, Friends and Supporters of Israel,
Philadelphia is having a parade to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Israel's re-establishment on May 19 and ZOA will be one of the groups taking part.
March with ZOA through the streets of Philadelphia. Display your Israel pride and ZOA pride. We will have special T-shirts for the occasion.
The parade will wend its way through the heart of Center City from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, stepping off at 11 a.m.
This is a great opportunity for young and old - and all of those in between - to come out to celebrate Israel.
If you've always wanted to take part in a parade but never had an opportunity, this is your chance! Let's show Philadelphia that support for Israel is stronger than ever!
The annual Israel Independence Day Festival will take place after the parade inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 11th and Arch Sts. ZOA will have a booth at the festival, and we will need volunteers to help us.
Please RSVP about participating in the parade either by email or phone - 610-660-9466.
If you are able to volunteer during the festival from noon to 5 p.m. (for all or part of the afternoon) please let us know as well.
Thank you.
See you on May 19!
$25 OFF Bus if you register before April 22 $25 OFF Participation if you register before April 22
On Thursday, May 30, the organization Friends of Israel will celebrate its 75th anniversary of helping Jews and the Jewish State of Israel with a gala in Voorhees, N.J. We hope you will attend their reasonably priced dinner as a show of support and unity.
As you will note, this Christian Zionist group began its mission 10 years before Israel was re-established. They were originally known as "The Friends of Israel Refugee Relief Committee." To this day they continue to be advocates for Israel throughout the world and lead an annual mission to Israel. Though this group is international in scope, it is based in South Jersey.
Friends of Israel leadership have attended our Philadelphia ZOA Gala each year and last year we honored its immediate past executive director, William Sutter, and his wife, Annette. We see Bill (who is still quite active) and his successor, Jim Showers, at nearly every pro-Israel event in the region. They truly are, as their name indicates, "friends of Israel."
Tickets are just $45. The event takes place at The Mansion on Main Street, on May 30, beginning at 5:30 p.m.........
Kosher meals are available
Please call me at our Office for all of the details at 610-660-9466. I hope you will be able to attend.
Thank you,
Steve
THE UNION LEAGUE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM CENTER
present
Michele
Bachmann
United States House of Representative for Minnesota
Friday, June 7, 2013 at 11:30 AM (EDT) at the Union League of Philadelphia.
WITH TRADITONAL VALUES, STRONG CONVICTIONS & FAITH IN OUR CONSTITUTION, HEAR MICHELLE BACHMANN'S VISION FOR OUR NATION.
In 2006, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann became the first Republican woman to be elected to represent Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a self-proclaimed "Constitutional Conservative" she is committed to fixing Washington's broken ways by advocating for America's adherence to the Constitution. As a believer in the traditional values upon which this country was founded, Bachmann consistently defends America's religious liberties and the importance of family as the first unit of government. As the federal government continues to grow under the current administration, Bachmann was honored to establish the Tea Party Caucus in July 2010. She is proud to stand with the Tea Party to call for lower taxes, renewed focus on the Constitution and smaller government.
Reception: 11:30 am * Luncheon/Speaking Engagement: Noon
Price: $50.00 inclusive
For additional information please call 484-380-2549 or log on to www.phillyfreedom.org.
Announcing the 2013 National Conference
& Legislative Briefing!
June 19 - 21 we will convene at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC for our fourth annual National Conference & Legislative Briefing.
And here's some really great news: This year's registration fee is only $229! Register by April 15th and you'll receive our "Early Bird" rate of just $189!
We also offer again this year special benefits for Patriot Eagle and Patriot sponsors.
We have some exciting new wrinkles planned for this year's event, and our list of confirmed speakers already includes:
Steven Emerson - Journalist, author, and the Executive Editor of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. A. M. Rosenthal, late-managing editor of The New York Times, described Emerson as "one of the nation's best national security correspondents."
John Guandolo - Former FBI agent and one of America's leading authorities on the Muslim Brotherhood and its inner workings in America. Guandolo spoke at our conference in 2011 and received rave reviews from conference attendees!
Ezra Levant - Canadian lawyer, author, newspaper columnist with Sun Media, and former publisher of the Western Standard. Hauled before a Canadian "human rights commission" because he published the Danish cartoons that satirized Muhammad, Levant's personal account of a politically correct government inquisition is something you won't want to miss!
The National Conference & Legislative Briefing will begin on Wed. evening, June 19th, and conclude on Friday, June 21st at noon, with additional optional training sessions Friday afternoon.
It will again feature our very popular Capitol Hill Awards Luncheon and our signature gala banquet-and of course, our Legislative Briefing, where Members of Congress will brief you on various issues and answer your questions.
So make your plans now to join us in our nation's capital for what promises to be our best National Conference & Legislative Briefing ever!
More details to come!
As Israelis celebrate their 65th Independence Day this year, we should all take time out to reflect on the miracle of Israel's independence. We must also ask ourselves the question, "What can I do to ensure that this miracle of Israel survives and thrives?"
We announced earlier this week that we'll be headed to New Orleans the first weekend in August for this year's RedState Gathering. As a member of our RedState family, we'd like to extend exclusive Early Bird registration and pricing to you (just use the promo code EARLYBIRD on the registration page).
The 2013 RedState Gathering will be held August 2-3 at the Westin Canal Place in New Orleans, LA. We'll have two full days of speakers and activities and you can expect a good mix of elected officials and potential candidates for the 2014 cycle (we'll keep you informed as additions are made).
The Gathering has always been a unique event, in that all speakers, even the most in-demand and influential, pay their own way and make their own travel arrangements. This helps keep our costs low, a savings we are happy to pass along to our conference attendees. Additionally, we strive to get you up close to the speakers, ask them to take your questions, and we take care of nearly all your meals during the conference. Bottom line: fewer frills, more thrills and access.
We are thrilled to once again be joined by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who will be hosting a reception for all attendees and appear at the Gathering podium as a keynote speaker. A huge hit in 2012, we're looking forward to Gov. Jindal playing an even larger role this year as he welcomes us to his home state.
Now, more than ever, true conservative activists must come together to exchange ideas and strategize for the future. That's what this year's Gathering is all about. We hope you'll join us.
P.S. Don't delay! You'll receive 20% off if you register today - just use the promo code EARLYBIRD. Click here.
From a trusted friend:
As some of you may know, I am associated with Coventry Christian Schools as a parent of a graduate (2010) and as member of the Board of Trustees. Last October we spent a wonderful evening honoring Mark Niehls at our revitalized Founder's Dinner and celebrated our shared heritage in the remarkable community that is Coventry Christian Schools. Our vision for future Founder's Dinners is to inspire and inform not only our alumni and current CCS families but to inspire and inform the Tri-County Area and even our region by hosting speakers and artists who can uniquely assist us in celebrating the heritage, core values, and mission of CCS while also lifting our vision for an even greater future built upon the foundation of our past. The caliber of our speakers and guest artists should provide us with wonderful opportunities to share our CCS story with new partners in Christian education. Proceeds from the dinner will be applied to our annual Coventry Kids Fund for CCS scholarships.
This year we are proud to announce that our distinguished guest and speaker is Dr. Benjamin Carson, and our dinner's theme is "Faith of Our Fathers: The Role of Faith in American Schools." Please join us as we welcome Dr. Carson to the Tri-County Area and celebrate the great things God is doing at CCS!
Dr. Carson is a highly regarded neurosurgeon and motivational speaker who has addressed various audiences across the country. He is one of the most honored and recognized physicians in the world and holds more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees along with hundreds of awards and citations. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. He is the author of five books and is the founder of the Carson Scholars Fund. The 2009 award-winning movie entitled Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Carson, premiered on TNT and is based on his memoir. Dr. Carson is an authentic disciple of Christ, has been married to his wife Candy for more than 37 years, and is the father of three sons.
The 2013 Founder's Dinner, which will once again be a part of our Homecoming festivities, will be held at the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown on Sunday, October 13th, 2013. Doors will open at 4:30pm, followed by dinner at 5:15. Dress will be business/professional. Tickets will be priced at $100 until May 15th, then will be $125, so reserve your tickets for the reduced price.
Due to Dr. Carson's international reputation and recent prominence in the media, including his recent speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, we fully anticipate that this event will sell out quickly once advertised to the public. Tickets go on sale to the public April 15. If you are interested in attending, tickets can be purchased online. I will send the link out to those who wish to go on April 15
th
. While online reservations are preferred because they facilitate efficient event planning, you may also complete a paper order form, which I can forward to you as well.
All of us at Coventry Christian Schools, look forward to sharing this very special evening with you and acquainting you with the school and its mission!
Blessings,
Christine Gordon
Sponsorships are available as well and are as follows:
Gold Sponsor $3,000
Two tickets at Speaker's Table
Two tickets at Headmaster's Table
Listed as sponsor on school website through 12 months post event
Listed as sponsor on pre-event print marketing
Mentioned by name at event
Full Page ad in Dinner Program
Silver Sponsor $1,500
Two tickets at Speaker's Table
Listed as sponsor on school website through 12 months post event
Half page ad in Dinner Program
Bronze Sponsor $500
Two tickets at Headmaster's Chairman's or Founder's Table
Listed as sponsor on school website through 12 months post event
·Quarter page ad in Dinner Program
Heritage Foundation weighs in on Common Core
By Rachel Sheffield April 11, 2013: Policy Analyst, The Heritage Foundation (courtesy of Citizens' Alliance of Pennsylvania)This coming school year, Pennsylvania public schools will begin implementing the Common Core education standards. Like many other states, Common Core standards are quickly making their way into the classroom. While proponents of the standards continue to champion their predicted benefits, there is significant cause for concern.First, the standards represent a massive federal overreach. The Obama Administration jumped on board from the get go, promoting national education standards, via policy and federal taxpayer dollars, as part of their education agenda. Billions of federal dollars have gone towards and are continuing to fund, the promotion and implementation of these standards nationwide. The federal government's involvement with the standards should be alarming. Pushing state and local leaders away from classroom curriculum is not only a breach in federalism but gives parents, teachers, and communities less say over what children learn in school. Education experts have also raised alarm over the quality of the standards. Sandra Stotsky, Professor of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, has particularly expressed concern over the English Language Arts. Common Core's ELA standards reduce emphasis on literature by promoting the study of "informational texts." Stotsky says
, "A diminished emphasis on literature in the secondary grades makes it unlikely that American students will study a meaningful range of culturally and historically significant literary works before graduation. It also prevents students from acquiring a rich understanding and use of the English language. Perhaps of greatest concern, it may lead to a decreased capacity for analytical thinking."
Common Core goes SOCIAL MEDIA!!! Please share with everyone you know and help us make this a huge success. MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!! Not a TWITTER person.....grab a kid and have some fun.
Parent-Led Reform (@ParentLedReform) will host a Twitter Rally on April 16, 2013 which will start will go from 12:00p-2:00p (EST). We will discuss how the Common Core State Standards effect your family, community and schools? We invite you to participate.
There will be an expert panel and several organizations that will discuss#StopCommonCore. So far I know the panel will consist of:
I'll update with a live link for the Twitter Rally (or you can just follow the hashtag #StopCommonCore) and as the expert panel is finalized.
Update: Be sure to RSVP with the Facebook event invite, this will help keep you up to date with pertinent info.
The whole story on Common Core
Read the sourced and footnoted response to the National Review Online and get all the facts you need to know about Common Core HERE. Compiled by American Principles project and Glenn's research team.
Common Core is the new set of federal education standards being pushed by the Obama administration and several leftist organizations but it's even seeing some support from some conservatives.
defending Common Core, and Glenn gave the definitive response on radio today."Common Core is something that we didn't really get for quite some time and again it's something we've learned from the 9/12 project and concerned parents all around the country that have been bringing this to our attention. When we started in on this work, we thought it was pretty bad. The more we do, the worse it becomes," Glenn said.
Below are some of the points made by the National Review Online in defense of Common Core, followed by Glenn's response.
Today on radio, Glenn gave the definitive response. See that and get all the sources to back it up HERE.
Students in some Albany High School English classes were asked to participate in the unthinkable this week as part of a persuasive writing assignment. The objective? Prove why Jews are evil and convince the teacher of their loyalty to the Third Reich in five paragraphs or less. See the actual lessonHERE.
A concerned parent tipped off TheBlaze to the disturbing fact that NY public schools are teaching the U.N.'s Socialist-leaning Universal Human Rights. We also discovered that the schools are delivering this indoctrination using videos made by the Church of Scientology. Learn what our investigation revealedHERE.
TheBlaze has been at the forefront in uncovering the disturbing details of the nationalized curriculum standard known as Common Core. One of the most troubling aspects of this federal program is that government bureaucrats are currently mining sensitive and highly personal information on children through Common Core's tracking system. Watch the powerful segments from The Glenn Beck Program HERE.
We all know how tough it is to maintain your morals in today's media world. Here are two gifts from the AFA to you, each meant to help you navigate your way through media today:
The article discusses how far TV has fallen in recent years and outlines some practical steps you can take to protect your family.
And the free movie guide is a great way to find movies for family night that the whole family can enjoy.
I hope these tools are a blessing to you!
Sincerely,
Tim Wildmon, President American Family Association
America needs a history lesson
Sign up now for Hillsdale's newest online courses - available FREE to every American!
Did you know that over 500,000 other students have already registered for one of our free online courses?
As Ronald Reagan once said during a speech delivered on our campus in 1978, "Hillsdale deserves the appreciation of all who labor for freedom...Your creative outreach on national issues enables little Hillsdale to cast a long shadow."
As a school of only 1,400 students, we reach over 350 TIMES that number with our online courses on the Constitution and America's founding principles.
Now is your chance to join with your fellow citizens!
Register now for this free "American Heritage" online course so you can better understand - and defend - the principles of liberty. This is the type of education America's Founders thought necessary to preserve our republic. Lectures in this not-for-credit online course are delivered by members of Hillsdale's history department faculty, and readings are drawn from the American Heritage Reader used in the American Heritage core course taught on Hillsdale's campus.
Course Schedule
Approximately 40 minutes in length, lectures will be released each Monday according to the schedule below. Once available, each week's materials can be viewed at your convenience.
The critically-acclaimed film, The Third Jihad - Radical Islam's Vision for America educates about the nature of radical Islamic ideology. Law enforcement agencies across the country have used the film in their counter-terror training.
Understanding the threats of terror is the first step in preventing deadly attacks.
Please consider supporting our efforts
"This fantastic documentary is both entertaining and educational" - Dove Foundation
Rev. C.L. Bryant's documentary Runaway Slave has been a runaway hit! The film recently won the Crystal Dove Seal, and has been making waves across the country.
Runaway Slave is the story of C.L. Bryant, a former NAACP Chapter president who realized that the Democrat Party and progressive movement was hurting Africa-Americans and keeping them stuck on the government dole. Rev. Bryant discusses the impact of progressivism on the African-American community and how freedom works with a host of leaders including Dr. Alveda King, Herman Cain, Allen West, Dr. Thomas Sowell, and many others.
The Crystal Dove Seal award is given to films that are family-friendly and provide wholesome, educational content. Runaway Slave is an important movie for all audiences, and it has a message that should be heard if we want to achieve a society where character is king.
Congratulations to Rev. C.L. Bryant and the Runaway Slave team on their achievement!
Justice has been served for a few infants and one mother whose lives were taken within the filthy walls of 3801 Lancaster Avenue.
Late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell was convicted yesterday of first-degree murder in the deaths of three infants who were born alive after botched abortions performed in his run-down West Philadelphia clinic. He was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old woman who died from an overdose of anesthetic drugs during an abortion procedure.
The jury's deliberations came after six weeks of harrowing testimony detailing the brutal deaths of newborns and unthinkable mistreatment of women. The gruesome murder of moving, breathing infants after botched abortions allegedly became a regular occurrence at the filthy West Philadelphia facility, with one clinic worker estimating nearly 100 living babies were killed shortly after birth.
Many of those murders followed failed abortions performed after Pennsylvania's 24-week limit. In addition to the four murder charges, Gosnell was also convicted of more than 200 other criminal counts including violating Pennsylvania's informed consent law and performing illegal late-term abortions.
In wake of the trial's disturbing revelations, many are left questioning how the oft-repeated slogan of "safe, legal, and rare" abortions can continue to encompass late-term procedures-especially of the kind that can produce live births.
There is broad consensus that abortions like those Gosnell performed should not take place, whether in a run-down Philadelphia clinic or the sterile facilities of other abortion providers. Nearly two-thirds of Americans generally oppose abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy, while 80 percent oppose abortions in the third trimester.
"The first degree murder conviction of Kermit Gosnell brings some closure to this horrific case, but we must act to address the broader problems highlighted by this tragedy," remarked Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). "Congress should conduct a thorough investigation into the practices of late-term abortions in America with the goal of ensuring that these atrocities are never repeated in the future....Life is precious at every stage, and America's policies must reflect this fact at every turn."
That policy work got underway last week, when the House Energy and Commerce Committee began investigations into current state efforts to monitor clinics and protect the rights of born-alive infants and their mothers.
Yet much more needs to be done, especially as current policy entangles taxpayer dollars in the abortion industry.
In light of the brutality that became commonplace at 3801 Lancaster Avenue and has appeared elsewhere, policymakers should rethink continued financial support for an industry that creates and supports the likes of Gosnell.
Americans must likewise reexamine the prevailing ethicofabortion-on-demand for any reason-even in late-term abortions.
"[I]n our justice system premeditating and exacting the demise of babies is only a crime if a child is fully outside the womb," stated Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC). "We would do well as a society to consider what deciding murder based upon geographic technicalities reveals about our collective conscious."
For over four decades since the Roe v. Wade decision, American medical practice, politics, and laws have separated the health of mothers from the well-being of the children they carry. Gosnell's "house of horrors" should demonstrate that the severing of that connection does a disservice and risks the health and lives of both child and mother.
New Jersey Dems Caught on Hot Mic Wanting to 'Confiscate, Confiscate, Confiscate ... Their Little Guns'
How many times have we heard establishment press members, particularly broadcasters, insist that no one on the left side of the gun control discussion wants to take away anyone's guns? Just a few examples include CNN's Piers Morgan, CNN's Carol Costello, and MSNBC's Alex Wagner, even after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was quoted in the New York Times before Christmas saying that "confiscation could be an option." Currently, New York, as Hot Air's Jazz Shaw noted in late April, actually is confiscating guns, based on "the exercise of reasonable professional judgment" of "mental health professionals."
Though I'm sure they'll try, the deniers are going to have a hard time explaining away what the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs has reported with accompanying audio. After the conclusion of a hearing of New Jersey's Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, an open mic captured the following discussion among three Democratic senators (HT PolitiChicks via Instapundit; internal link and bolds are in original):
I'm so glad Michelle Malkin came out with this. I am also against any kind of armed March on DC. Here on PAN we never promote anything Adam Kokesh because he is a fraud and troublemaker. Here is what Michelle has to say:
Michelle Malkin:
One of the advantages of having fought conservative battles in the blogosphere for a decade and in traditional media for more than two decades is that I never forget a fraudster.
Many gullible gun-rights activists have been promoting a July 4th armed march on Washington organized by Adam Kokesh.
Just stop it.
I'm also flabbergasted at others on the Right who are either ignorant or have forgotten Kokesh's sordid history with Iraq Veterans Against the War.
For crying out loud, just Google him and his pals.
In June of 1170, the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of London and Salisbury crowned Henry II of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett, should have had the privilege, but he and King Henry had been warring over the powers of clergy in England.
Beckett proceeded to excommunicate the bishops and other opponents of the Catholic Church in England.
According to tradition, Henry II, away in Normandy, upon hearing the news asked, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" According to some, including Edward Grim who wrote during the time of Henry II, what Henry actually said was, "What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and brought up in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?" But the former is what has taken hold in common history.
Regardless of which of the two statements Henry II made, neither of them asked anyone to go kill the Archbishop of Canterbury. Nonetheless, on December 29, 1170, four knights confronted Thomas Beckett inside Canterbury Cathedral as Beckett headed to vespers. They cut off the top of his head and began stabbing him, leaving him to die, and smearing Beckett's brain matter on the floor of Canterbury Cathedral.
Four years later, Henry II performed public penance in front of Becket's tomb. None of Becket's assassins were ever punished by the king.
Like Henry II, Barack Obama never specifically asked that tea party groups and conservative be targeted. But by both his language and the "always campaigning" attitude of his White House, he certain sent clear signals to Democrats with the power and ability to fight conservatives to engage as they could. Given his rhetoric against his political opponents, it is no wonder sympathetic Democrats in the Internal Revenue Service harassed and stymied conservative groups and, though little mentioned, pro-Israel Jewish groups and evangelical groups. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2.Reporter Claims IRS Harassment After Tough Obama Interview
St. Louis Reporter Larry Conners revealed via Facebook yesterday that he has been "hammered" by the IRS since his much-discussed interview with President Obama. Conners, a veteran reporter, asked tough, but fair question during the interview which was slammed by progressives in media. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
3.Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. Targeted by IRS
The man known as America's pastor was among those targeted by the Internal Revenue Service after the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ran newspaper advertisements promoting traditional marriage and biblical values.
"I am bringing this to your attention because I believe that someone in the Administration was targeting and attempting to intimidate us," wrote Franklin Graham in a letter to President Obama. "This is morally wrong and unethical - indeed some would call it 'un-American.'"
Graham is president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as well as the international charity Samaritan's Purse. Both organizations received word of audits on the same day - not long after they ran full -page ads supporting North Carolina's Marriage amendment.
As we watch a string of scandals detonate across the Obama Administration, we should all be able to agree that the abuse of government power to punish political opposition is hideously wrong.Sometimes we struggle to define the precise boundaries of "corruption," as a growing government extends its power into the private sector, and the daily conduct of its business becomes inherently corrupt.Special interests swarm around the Leviathan State like remora fish around a shark.Everyone is either getting punished or subsidized by the government.Political connections become the most valuable economic resource.(If only President Obama's cronies in the "green energy" racket had been given half the scrutiny this Administration directed at Tea Party groups, imagine how much money taxpayers would have saved!)
The ruling class reaches the apex of its power when it no longer has to tax and spend money to promote its agenda, or even deploy coercive regulations that could be traced back to particular administrators; instead, the ruling class need only express its desires, and those eager to curry favor will scramble to obey.For an example, watch the unfolding scandal around Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' efforts to squeeze money out of the industries she regulates.. . . please click here for the rest of the post →
The End of the Obama Illusion Thomas Lifson They are disillusioned and angry liberals who are starting to grasp that they have been lied to, who realize that a skeptical stance is necessary when examining a narrative offered by team Obama. More
Benghazi Reveals the Heart of Progressivism Daren Jonescu A cold lack of interest in the suffering of others -- not the abstract, theoretical suffering of collective interest groups, such as "the poor" or "gays" or "women," but the real physical pain and mortal terror-style suffering of individual human beings in mortal crisis More
All Your Wishes Granted Randall Hoven How would you, as a Democrat, have felt if a genie had just granted you all your political wishes in 2007? Well, he might as well have. And look how it's turning out. More
Daily Email - May 14, 2013 Top StoryIRS Scandal Threatens to Overshadow Benghazi By Roger Aronoff | May 14, 2013 You would have thought that the Obama administration would have learned from the growing Benghazi scandal that the best way to handle such controversies is to get out in front of them, and put it all out there, rather than let it drip, drip, drip, as is now happening with the recent IRS blowup. According [...] From the AIM Blogs Maureen Dowd Hits Obama on Benghazi By Don Irvine | May 13, 2013
CNN's Zucker Hoping to Make Network Number One By 2016 By Don Irvine | May 13, 2013 Guest ColumnsObama's Betrayal of Islamic Democracy By Andrew McCarthy | May 14, 2013 A significant point made in riveting testimony by Gregory Hicks, the State Department's former deputy chief of mission in Libya, has largely been missed in the coverage of Wednesday's Benghazi hearing. It is worth highlighting, not least because doing so illuminates the depth of the Obama administration's depravity. In its assiduous effort to defraud the American [...]
Going to China for peace? By Michael Widlanski | May 14, 2013 'Itlab al-'ilm hatta fi-al-Sin" is an Arabic proverb that means - "Go even to China for the sake of knowledge." This Arabic saying recalls the English "walk the extra mile for peace." Chinese officials have suggested that since Israeli and Palestinian leaders were in China last week, it's a great time for walking that extra [...] AIM Newswire Bangladesh Islamist leader receives death penalty for war crimes
In just one week, President Barack Obama's political machine has switched from endless campaign to survival mode. And for the first time in Obama's presidency, the damage to his regime may be permanent. Read the rest of Blaze National Security Editor Buck Sexton's opinion piece HERE.
Although Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler has written several times before about what exactly Obama actually said the day after the Benghazi attack and what he meant, Kessler is once again examining the issue. This time, he's turning up the heat. What caused Kessler to give Obama a dreaded "four Pinocchio" rating typically reserved for stories that are "whoppers?" Find out HERE.
In an interview on MSNBC last night, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made a very curious statement about the current speaker John Boehner. The discussion was about jobs and the unemployment rate and Pelosi remarked: "I will say this about John Boehner, and I have a good relationship [with him]. If he were a woman, they'd be calling him the weakest speaker in history." Watch the clip and learn her reason for the strange statementHERE.
If Obama Raids Private Retirement Accounts, He Can't Touch This One:
If government auditors looked at this program, they would have no idea what to make of it. Here, money grows tax-free... and currently offers a yield 5 times higher than your average CD or account. One FL accountant has already hidden 20% of his family's money here.Click here for the full story...
On Monday, Laurence Nordvig told CBS that he had thought for some time that his Tea Party group was being targeted by the IRS. Nordvig is the head of the Richmond Tea Party and explained that after two years and an estimated 500 pages of documents sent to the agency, he became suspicious. Especially after recent requests demanded he hand over the names of donors and even communications. See the actual letter with the unusual demandsHERE.
A 7-year-old second-grade boy at Downtown Montessori Academy in Milwaukee, WIS wrote a letter to Vice President Joe Biden and other officials with an idea about guns. Biden's handwritten note to the boy is a "must-read." See it HERE.
Originally from Germany, Evangelical Christians Uwe and Hannelore Romeike wanted to homeschool their six children, but it is against the law in Germany. The family faced threats of legal action from the government and crippling fines before choosing to immigrate to the United States in 2010, seeking political asylum. Today their request was denied. See the storyHERE.
White House spokesman Jay Carney clashed with NBC News' Chuck Todd over federal shield laws and President Barack Obama's alleged flip-flop on journalistic protections. Watch the clipHERE.
A California father of four died after being beaten by police outside of a Bakersfield hospital, while witnesses say he begged for his life. A couple witnesses filmed the gruesome scene, but say they were later forced to give their cellphones to authorities and have yet to receive their devices back. See this tragic and disturbing storyHERE.
In April, race car driver Shigeru Terajima was involved in a severe accident at the Suzuka racing circuit. And the racetrack video, which is just now starting to go viral, shows that the the accident was really pretty awful. Watch the collision and try not to cringe HERE.
An Arizona teenager working at a fast food restaurant had to walk nine miles home if he missed the last bus of the evening. The young man,Christian Felix still had several miles to go when Phoenix Sgt. Natalie Simonick spotted him around 11 p.m. last month. What Officer Simonick did next will tug at a few heartstrings. Watch the clipHERE.
The US Department of Defense said Thursday it plans to sidestep a Congressional ban to purchase 30 helicopters from Russian state-owned defense firm Rosoboronexport, despite objections from US lawmakers who allege that the firm has equipped the Syrian government to commit brutal crimes against civilians.
The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, approved by Congress last year, includes an amendment that prohibits financial contracts between the United States and Rosoboronexport, except when the Secretary of Defense determines that such arrangements are in the interest of national security.
Our friend Hugh Hewitt and the Daily Beast's superb reporter Eli Lake have opined that it is likely a recording of the 2 a.m. phone call exists in the archives of the NSA or the State Department.
Lawmakers from both parties sharply questioned the Justice Department late Monday over its reported effort to secretly obtain two months of phone records from AP journalists, with Speaker Boehner's office saying "they better have a damned good explanation."
Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis testified that his department received no information about Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev from the FBI prior to April 19.
Obama issued a proclamation declaring May 12-18 as National Women's Health Week, and praising the Obamacare "preventive services" mandate that the Catholic bishops of the US have unanimously declared and "unjust and illegal mandate".
The left doesn't accept that the United States has a right to safe and secure borders. It doesn't accept that when it comes to immigration policy or to terrorism.
Did the NYT really fail to come across Tamerlan Tsarnaev's ex-girlfriend and domestic abuse victim while they were busily interviewing every single person in Boston who ever ran into the future terrorists?
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"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." ~ Ronald Reagan
May 14, 2013 Student visas and terrorism, Benghazi, IRS scrutiny of non-profits, etc., etc., etc... Washington is buzzing, and our National Conference & Legislative Briefing is the "don't miss" national security event! Two weeks ago, three young men were arrested on charges they conspired to cover the trail of the Tsarnaev brothers after the Boston bombing.
One of them was a student who had re-entered America in January despite the fact that he had violated the terms of his student visa. He should have been denied entry, but he wasn't.
Michael Cutler, a veteran of 30 years with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, recently appeared on Fox News to discuss the gaping holes that exist in our student visa program and the terrorism threat this poses. Hundreds of thousands of foreign students are in the U.S. on student visas, including tens of thousands from Saudi Arabia.
Cutler will be making a presentation at next month's National Conference & Legislative Briefing entitled "Will Comprehensive Immigration Reform Turn Out to be the Terrorist Assistance and Facilitation Act?"
Washington and Capitol Hill are buzzing with issue after issue, news story after news story.
Benghazi
Immigration and national security
Unlawful IRS scrutiny of certain non-profit organizations (including, it appears, some concerned with national security)
The Boston bombing
Just yesterday there was another news bombshell, apparently connected to administration leaks about terrorism plots:
The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press in what the news cooperative's top executive called a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into how news organizations gather the news.
This is the time to be in Washington and get the inside scoop from our expert speakers and Members of Congress-and ask them questions!
H.R.1039 - To rescind unobligated amounts for foreign assistance to Egypt, and to appropriate funds for the Department of Defense tuition assistance program.113th Congress (2013-2014)
The Washington DC-based Newseum, a museum dedicated to the media, will beholding a ceremony to honor those journalists who have been killed in the last year in the course of covering the news.
Included in this list of 84 names are Mahmoud Al-Kumi and Hussam Salama.
"Hey, let's blame the video!" appears to have happened between the second and third drafts of Benghazi talking points. The first two talk about "attacks" that were "spontaneously inspired" by events in Cairo. However, number three edits out "attacks" ... and replaces it with "demonstrations."
We want to comfort ourselves with the delusion that we can spot the dangerous people in our midst. But the truth is that most of us haven't a clue about what goes on inside our neighbors' homes, even in those neighborhoods described, like Ariel Castro's, as "tight-knit."
One of the reasons Labor secretary nominee Tom Perez is unqualified to serve in the cabinet is because he cannot represent all Americans fairly. To him, vast sections of the country represent oppressive backwaters that are culturally regressive, racist, and oppressive.
As our mainstream news media is forced to stretch itself further and further to disguise the nature of reality from its audience, I guess we're going to find out where and whether some inelastic measure of journalistic integrity snaps any of them back into place.
Lori Lowenthal Marcus, President of Z Street, 'On the Record' - The Uncut Interview
by Greta Van Susteren
MAY 14 2013
As promised, here is our entire, unedited interview with the president of Z Street and sound off on the IRS apparently targeting the pro-Israel group after it applied for tax exempt status.
On Wednesday, I listened to first-hand accounts of what transpired in Benghazi.
The testimony brought forth even more unanswered questions. It also further cast doubt the initial Administration statement that the attack was a spontaneous demonstration in reaction to an online video.
What we know, is that we were attacked on Sept 11, 2012 and the people on the ground in Libya on Sept 11, 2012 believed it was an attack also.
After the attack, these witnesses were warned about speaking to a Congressional investigator. Later, their competency was questioned when they continued to raise doubts about the Administration's response to the unfolding situation on the ground in Libya during and after the attacks.
For these reasons I fully support H. Res. 36 which calls for a 19-member select committee to be created to investigate this matter further. I urge the Administration to be fully supportive of this select committee's efforts and support a full investigation by a bi-partisan panel convened to get to the truth about the Benghazi attack.
If you agree, I urge you to co-sign my Petition and ask your friends and family to do so as well.
Posted by Daniel Greenfield @ the Sultan Knish blog
Two elections ago, the Democratic Party was on the verge of being torn to shreds. After a long series of dirty tricks and one stolen election later, there was an uncomfortable coming together.
Obama and his cronies kept most of the important positions, while the Clintonites got a few pieces of the foreign policy apparatus. The arrangement satisfied no one, but it kept ticking along until the Benghazi attacks happened.
By the time Benghazi happened, Clinton and Obama needed each other more than ever. Obama needed the Clintons on the campaign trail to sell him to more moderate Democrats who remembered that times had been better under Bill. Hillary needed Obama to anoint her as his intended successor.
The awkward dance, complete with an injury, a congressional hearing and a 60 Minutes interview and then the real fireworks began.
Hillary Clinton had turned lemons into lemonade, getting what she could out of Obama. State had looked like a good spot for her because it would insulate her from the backlash over the economy. And she would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for Benghazi. It wasn't quite leaving on a high note, but as bad as Benghazi was, no one in their right mind would want to be associated with what is going to happen in Afghanistan. At least no one who isn't as dumb as Hanoi John who began his career with Viet Cong and Sandinista pandering and will end it watching the Taliban take Kabul.
Benghazi hasn't slowed Hillary Clinton down. And her target is the same old target from 2008. We're back in that 3 A.M. phone call territory. The truce between Obama and Hillary Clinton ended on 60 Minutes. It's not exactly war, but it is politics.
The progressive-leaning investigative journalism group ProPublica says the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office that targeted and harassed conservative tax-exempt groups during the 2012 election cycle gave the progressive group nine confidential applications of conservative groups whose tax-exempt status was pending.
The commendable admission lends further evidence to the lengths the IRS went during an election cycle to silence tea party and limited government voices.
Sharyl Attkisson: CBS Bosses Encouraging Benghazi Investigation More
Race, IQ, And The Heritage Foundation Resignation
After the Heritage Foundation put out a report claiming that immigration "reform" will cost more in public funds than immigrants will contribute in taxes, opponents accused one of the contributors of racism because of his PhD dissertation at Harvard. Jason Richwine has suddenly resigned from the Heritage Foundation and it seems he was forced to do so. According to Fox News, his resignation "has triggered an impassioned skirmish among conservatives - who are divided over whether Jason Richwine was unfairly targeted." Richwine argued in his dissertation that "the average IQ of Hispanics and other immigrants is lower than that of the country's white 'native' population and that the disparity will likely persist over generations."
First of all, the Heritage Foundation is not repudiating their immigration report because of Richwine's contribution to it, so I don't see why anyone there considered it a good idea for him to resign in response to the controversy. Others are blaming the immigration paper on DeMint's leadership as a politician. But the study was created, and Richwine was hired, before DeMint began his job there.
Here's the problem: only by allowing open study about IQ without shame can we be liberated from fears and superstition. Back in 2002, Thomas Sowell (a great economist who also happens to be an African-American) wrote a masterful column about the issues, pointing out how many mistakes have been made regarding IQ and how only later investigations overturned those mistakes. If we stifle the study of IQ by a politically correct regime that punishes those who break the "taboo," we will never find where we have gone wrong. In fact, studies have debunked myths relating race to IQ. If such research is suppressed, such corrections will be suppressed. Many people will infer that we are afraid of IQ research because we are afraid of the truth.
It's a special ALL-SCANDAL edition of the Morning Jolt!
SCANDAL ONE: Dear Media: Obama's Indignant Benghazi Response Revealed a Lot Yesterday!
Dear friends in the media.
Come on.
I mean, come on.
You and I know what's going with the Benghazi thing. Let me share something that I first put into play during the "was Anthony Weiner's Twitter account hacked" debate, but that comes from watching the Lewinsky scandal, the where-did-Mark-Sanford-go scandal, the why-is-David-Wu-dressed-in-a-tiger-suit scandal, and a wide variety of wrongdoing committed by politicians:
When there is evidence of scandalous or bizarre behavior on the part of a political figure, and no reasonable explanation is revealed within 24 to 48 hours, then the truth is probably as bad as everyone suspects.
Nobody withholds exculpatory information. Nobody who's been accused of something wrong waits for "just the right moment" to unveil information that proves the charge baseless. Political figures never choose to deliberately let themselves twist in the wind. It's not the instinctive psychological reaction to being falsely accused, it's not what any public communications professional would recommend, and to use one of our president's favorite justifications, it's just common sense.
So . . .
You and I both know, in our guts, and based upon everything we've seen in Washington since we started our careers, that there's no innocent explanation for the Obama administration's actions before, during, and after the Benghazi attacks.
If there were good reasons for why the requests for additional security from staff in Libya didn't generate any serious response in the halls of the State Department, we would have heard it by now. If there was evidence that everyone within the State Department, military, and White House were doing everything they could to rescue our guys on that awful night, we would have heard about it long ago. If there was a good reason for the "talking points" to get edited down from a false premise (a demonstration) but at least serious information (previous CIA warnings about terrorist activity) to false pabulum, we would have heard it by now; the latest lame excuse is that the 14 edits merely reflect "bureaucratic infighting between the CIA and State." And if there was a good reason for State Department lawyers to call up Deputy Chief of Mission Gregory Hicks and tell him not to allow the RSO, the acting deputy chief of mission, and himself to be interviewed by Representative Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah), we would have heard that by now, too.
Come on, guys. What do we think is going on when Hillary Clinton's chief of staff calls up the acting ambassador, and harangues him about the lack of a State Department lawyer for his conversation with Congress? Does anybody really believe it's just her checking up to make sure protocol was followed?
You can see what's going on here. You may not want to see it, or believe it, but you can see it. The federal government made awful, unforgivable wrong decisions about the security for its people in Benghazi. They compounded the error by failing to put together even the beginning of a rescue mission during the seven-hour assault. Perhaps those responsible for making the call had a fear of a "Black Hawk Down" scenario, in which the rescuers find themselves needing rescue, but whatever the reasoning, the net effect was the same: Our people were under fire, fighting for their lives, and nobody was coming to help. The decisions made that night make a mockery of the unofficial, but widespread motto of our armed forces: "Nobody gets left behind."
The decisions made up until this point may or may not have involved the president or then-secretary of state Clinton, but they sure as hell were involved in the decisions that came afterwards. The morning after the attack, the administration tried to offer the excuse that it was a completely unforeseeable event, randomly triggered by some YouTube video. And they sought to intimidate and punish anyone who would contradict their storyline.
The whole issue of talking points, frankly, throughout this process has been a sideshow. What we have been very clear about throughout was that immediately after this event happened we were not clear who exactly had carried it out, how it had occurred, what the motivations were.
You know what this is: Stop looking at what I did, and start looking at the people accusing me of wrongdoing. We've seen this tactic before: "The vast right-wing conspiracy."
We know the president's claim that there was confusion is false, because everyone on the ground was clearly telling their bosses that this was a terror attack from the beginning. No one in Benghazi or Libya was saying this was a protest as a result of a YouTube video. Where did that idea come from? Who within the administration decided to take accurate information and start inserting inaccurate information?
The president continues:
It happened at the same time as we had seen attacks on U.S. embassies in Cairo as a consequence of this film. And nobody understood exactly what was taking place during the course of those first few days.
No, the folks on the ground understood what was taking place. They just said so before Congress and a lot of television cameras. Why is the president confused about this?
Obama continues:
And the fact that this keeps on getting churned out, frankly, has a lot to do with political motivations. We've had folks who have challenged Hillary Clinton's integrity, Susan Rice's integrity, Mike Mullen and Tom Pickering's integrity. It's a given that mine gets challenged by these same folks. They've used it for fundraising.
The motivations and fundraising of those who disagree with you are irrelevant to whether or not you're telling the truth, Mr. President.
SCANDAL TWO: Hey, Why Does the IRS Have to Tell the Truth to Congress, Anyway?
NBC News points out that the IRS appears to have directly lied to Congress when asked about the targeting of conservative groups:
Lois Lerner, head of the IRS division on tax-exempt organizations, learned in June 2011 that agents had targeted groups with names including "Tea Party" and "Patriots," according to the draft obtained by NBC News.
She "instructed that the criteria immediately be revised," according to the draft. Ten months later, in March 2012, the IRS commissioner at the time, Douglas Shulman, testified to Congress that the IRS was not targeting tax-exempt groups based on their politics.
The IRS said over the weekend that senior executives were not aware of the targeting, but it remains unclear who knew what and when. [Then IRS commissioner] Shulman, who left the agency last fall, has not spoken publicly about the scandal and did not answer a request for comment Monday from NBC News.
Members of Congress had sent letters to Shulman as early as June 2011 asking specifically about targeting of conservative groups, according to a House Ways and Means Committee summary obtained by NBC News.
The IRS responded at least six times but made no mention of targeting conservatives, according to the committee's summary.
"Oh, you mean that effort to target conservative groups, we thought you meant a different one."
Remember the explanation that this was just some runaway low-level employees in one office? Yeah, that was bull: "Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington and at least two other offices were involved in the targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, making clear the effort reached well beyond the branch in Cincinnati that was initially blamed, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post."
SCANDAL THREE: Of Course Eric Holder Is Allowed to Secretly Eavesdrop on Journalists!
You know a scandal is bad when I can point you to the Huffington Post's summary, because it can't collect any more outrage than I can:
Journalists reacted with shock and outrage at the news that the Justice Department had secretly obtained months of phone records of Associated Press journalists.
The AP broke the news on Monday about what it called an "unprecedented intrusion" into its operation. It said that the DOJ had obtained detailed phone records from over 20 different lines, potentially monitoring hundreds of different journalists without notifying the organization. The wire service's president, Gary Pruitt, wrote a blistering letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, accusing the DOJ of violating the AP's constitutional rights.
Reporters and commentators outside the AP professed themselves to be equally angered. "The Nixon comparisons write themselves," BuzzFeed's Ben Smith tweeted. Margaret Sullivan, the public editor for the New York Times, called the story "disturbing." Washington Post editor Martin Baron called it "shocking." CNN's John King described it as "very chilling."
Speaking to the Washington Post's Erik Wemple, a lawyer for the AP called the DOJ's actions "outrageous," saying they were "a dagger to the heart of AP's newsgathering activity."
BuzzFeed's Kate Nocera was perhaps more pithy, writing simply, "what in the f--k."
You "Hope and Change" true believers were a bunch of chumps.
As this illustration over at Ace of Spades reveals . . .
SCANDAL FOUR: Dear Doctors, Donate to the Woman Who Controls Your Industry . . . Or Else.
The government official who now effectively controls the American health-care system is now calling up private health-care companies and "asking" them to "voluntarily donate" to a fund for "public outreach" on Obamacare:
Leaders in Congress are questioning Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's solicitation of funds from private businesses and charities to help pay for public outreach on Obamacare to get prospective enrollees signed up for health exchanges.
Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, ranking Republican on the Senate Health committee, told the New York Times he plans to ask the Government Accountability Office to check the legality of Sebelius's actions, done after Congress denied the administration funds for public outreach in the 2014 budget. The Washington Post also said that Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, top Republican on the Finance Committee, questioned the legality of the action.
The Times said Sebelius obtained $10 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and $500,000 from H&R Block for the effort. HHS officials said that Sebelius's efforts would continue, after first denying they were soliciting funds for the effort. But a spokesman for Sebelius said a section of the Public Health Service Act allows her to encourage others to support those working to help carry out public health activities.
This is like when your boss stops by your desk and "casually" mentions that his daughter is selling Girl Scout cookies. Although as Liz Mair pointed out last night, most people like Girl Scout cookies.
A flack for Sebelius tells the Post that . . . Sebelius did not explicitly ask for financial donations. Instead, "[HHS spokesperson Jason] said that Sebelius did not solicit for funds directly from industries that HHS regulates, such as insurance companies and hospitals, but rather asked them to contribute in whatever way they can."
That's not how the insurers understood it. An "industry official who had knowledge of the calls but did not participate directly in them said there was a clear insinuation by the administration that the insurers should give financially to the nonprofits," according to the Post. Something like this, perhaps? Hey, we're short on money here. It would be nice if you could help with whatever you can, hint-hint, nudge-nudge.
Or maybe just: Hey, insurers. We just passed a law mandating that everyone in the country buy your product. So how about a million bucks? Or even a couple million? Over the weekend The New York Times reported that, according to an insurance industry executive, "some insurers had been asked for $1 million donations, and that 'bigger companies have been asked for a lot more.'" That sounds rather like there was a direct solicitation.
Allow me to remind you what Obama said a week ago: "Unfortunately, you've grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that's at the root of all our problems. Some of these same voices also do their best to gum up the works. They'll warn that tyranny always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices."
Since Obama scoffed about those who warn about tyranny, we've learned that the IRS targeted Americans based upon their political beliefs, his Health and Human Services secretary is shaking down companies for cash, his attorney general is secretly listening in to conversations between journalists and their sources, and they threatened whistleblowers on Benghazi.
Admittedly, most tyrants are a little more on-the-ball than what we've been getting lately . . .
SPECIAL BONUS SCANDAL FIVE: Gosnell Convicted
Such a crazy news day, you could almost forget about that fiend Kermit Gosnell and the trial that the Washington Post health-beat reporter dismissed as a "local crime story." The editors:
A jury in Pennsylvania has convicted abortionist Kermit Gosnell of three counts of murder, one count of involuntary manslaughter, and several counts of performing illegal late-term abortions at his facility in West Philadelphia. Gosnell is eligible for the death sentence, an end that would be as close to justice as earthly powers can mete out in this episode. The English language does not contain a word sufficient for describing the crimes of Kermit Gosnell; "murder" will do, but only for legal purposes.
Gosnell's human abattoir is the logical endpoint of our morally fraudulent national approach to abortion, the proponents of which maintain that they wish the procedure to remain "safe, legal, and rare," in Bill Clinton's cynically triangulating formulation, while at the same time resisting any and all restrictions upon the procedure. Gosnell's murders are not an aberrant abuse of the abortion license but an inevitable result of it.
If he gets the death penalty, couldn't we just snip his spinal cord with a pair of scissors?
ADDENDUM: Readers . . . are you familiar with Tony Katz? He's a talk show host and tea-party activist, and he's launching a web-based chat show, with hopes for much wider distribution, aimed at reaching beyond the GOP base. Here's the debut episode; if you can stand a lot of "Baby Got Back" references with Kurt Schlichter and Kira Davis, here's the second episode.
If the cigar-smoking, bourbon swilling, speaking-at-the-same-speed-as-Louisiana-Governor-Bobby-Jindal Tony comes on strong, I'd like to tell you that's just his on-camera persona . . . but really, his off-camera persona is probably 85 to 90 percent of what you see there. Tony is the Bakken shale formation of personality, with much deeper reserves than even the wildest estimates.
NRO Digest - May 14, 2013
Today on National Review Online . . .
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: The Obama administration is intent on downplaying the Islamic roots of contemporary terrorism. Terrorism as Therapy
AVIK ROY: The Left dismisses research finding that government fails to make people healthier. The Medicaid Deniers
"An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others." ~ James Madison
Stacked Jury Still Finds Gosnell Guilty Of Murder
9 of 12 Jurors in Gosnell Trial Are 'Pro-Choice' By Elizabeth Harrington CNSNews.com The jury today found Gosnell guilty of third-degree murder in three instances of killing babies born alive during abortions by snipping their spinal cords with surgical scissors.
Boston Bomber's Background Check Highlights Amnesty Bill Flaw By Jon Feere RightSideNews.com While amnesty advocates are exploiting the horrific Boston Marathon attack as justification for quickly passing an amnesty, the Center for Immigration Studies finds that the failed FBI background checks of terrorism suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev indicate that the government does not have the capacity to adequately vet the backgrounds of 11 million illegal aliens, and that an amnesty might actually facilitate terrorism.
Stop It In Time: Sheltering In Place, IR"SS", Bis Sis, And Obama Youth
Rise of the Obama 'Reich' By Paula Helton CanadaFreePress.com The time has come for Americans to stop bending to the will of the PC enablers and define the Obama Administration for what it is: The Obama Reich. How else to describe the eerily similar parallels of Barack Obama and Adolph Hitler?
Tea Party Groups Consider Suing IRS By Greg Richter Newsmax.com Some tea party groups targeted for extra scrutiny by the IRS may sue the tax-collecting agency, especially if they are not granted tax-exempt status by Friday.
Now that Benghazi appears to be destroying the political career of Hillary Clinton and taking air out of the Clinton dynasty, we are beginning to hear rumblings once again about a third Obama term... Related posts: Bombshell: Clinton Ordered More Security In Benghazi, Obama Denied Request Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered additional security for [...]
Gosnell Verdict Exposes Inhumanity Of Obama And Democrats
May 14, 2013 01:30 pm WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Stockman released the following statement Monday afternoon: A court has formally declared what people with consciences have long known. Abortionist Kermit Gosnell is a murderer. Gosnell killed his adult patient and an unknown number of children both pre-born and born alive. The courts call it murder. Democrats call it "health care." Kermit Gosnell's [...]
And we're gonna keep them!! Related posts: Obama Going For The Guns How can one NOT refer to Obama as a dictator?...... Obama: People Shouldn't Be Able 'To Own Guns' Laura Ingraham interviewed gun rights advocate John Lott, who recounted...
May 14, 2013 01:24 pm There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Hussein Obama is the most corrupt president that we have ever had. I said it numerous times and I'll say it again, the man is worse than any leader of organized crime in the history of the United States. I don't understand is why Congress has [...]
Video: Keyes: Obama Encouraging "Slaughter" Of African Americans
May 14, 2013 01:13 pm
Alan Keyes says Obama is implementing an agenda of death and murder... Related posts: Keyes: Obama Crying 'Crocodile Tears' Over Boston Bombing Alan Keyes claims Obama "was crying anything but crocodile tears"... Keyes And Solomon Joke About Deporting First Family! Alan Keyes, Steve Solomon, and 'Chief' Steve Davis joke about...
Video: CBS, ABC Presidents Have Siblings Working For Obama
May 14, 2013 12:58 pm The presidents of ABC News and CBS News have siblings who work in the Obama administration and are involved with Benghazi... Related posts: Obama Signs Protection Bill For Former Presidents WASHINGTON (OfficialWire) - President Barack Obama has signed into law... A Tale Of Two Presidents This is the story of two very different American presidents...
NYC Considering Allowing Foreign Nationals To Vote
May 14, 2013 12:48 pm As if NYC wasn't already a liberal "paradise", a new city bill is coming into the light. This would allow foreign nationals to vote in city elections. The legislation has 34 sponsors and shall be debated among City Council soon. The thing is, though, why should people who aren't even citizens be able to vote [...]
Rand Paul talked about the 3 scandals facing Obama... Related posts: Rand Paul: Fight The Nanny State The more I watch Rand Paul, the more I like... Rand Paul Calls For Spiritual Awakening In U.S Senator Rand Paul appeared on Glenn Beck's program and talked...
Obama Hailed 'World Press Freedom Day' As His DOJ Was Seizing AP Phone Records
May 14, 2013 12:41 pm (CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama issued a statement heralding World Press Freedom Day in May 2012, at the same time his Department of Justice was secretly obtaining phone records from Associated Press reporters and editors. "On this World Press Freedom Day, the United States honors the role of a free press in creating sustainable democracies [...]
NBC's Lisa Myers says that the Obama Admin has a history of intimidating reporters and sources Related posts: Benghazi Is Starting To Worry Democrats! At least that's what NBC's Lisa Myers is reporting...... Continue... Why Reporters Are Down On President Obama One of the enduring story lines of Barack Obama's presidency,...
Millions Of Americans Could Be Misdiagnosed As "mentally Ill"
May 14, 2013 12:28 pm "In the days of the Malleus, if the physician could find no evidence of natural illness, he was expected to find evidence of witchcraft: today, if he cannot diagnose organic illness, he is expected to diagnose mental illness." The Malleus Maleficarum was a 15th century text that instructed Inquisitors on the proper method of identifying, trying, [...]
Video: Dems' Hopes Of Winning House In 2014 Are Over
May 14, 2013 12:17 pm
Dana Perino explains why... Related posts: MSNBC: We'll Beat Fox By 2014 In a profile piece written by veteran journalist Rebecca Dana... Dem Hopes Of Taking House Dim Democratic hopes of recapturing the House are dimming as a...
May 14, 2013 12:07 pm When NBA basketball player Jason Collins recently announced to the world that he's sexually attracted to other men, Michelle Obama tweeted, "So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We've got your back!" Jason even got a personal call from the president. Lovely. But even as the Obama administration is [...]
ABC's Jon Karl reports... Related posts: The DHS Is Targeting You! On Freedom Friday, radio host Carl Gallups pointed out that... Ad Targeting Catholics A Winner Every campaign has a key group that will decide the...
Sunday's shooting at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans has resulted in calls for new gun restrictions. Related posts: My Take On The Recent Shooting In New Orleans... Sunday's shooting at a New Orleans second line celebration underscores... Media Blackout: Secret Theater Shooting "It brings back memories of the other theater shooting, and...
May 14, 2013 11:48 am WASHINGTON- Acting Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Steven T. Miller failed to tell Congress that tea party groups were being inappropriately targeted, even after he had been briefed on the matter. The IRS said Monday that Miller was first informed on May, 3, 2012, that applications for tax-exempt status by tea party groups were inappropriately singled [...]
Video: My Take On The Recent Shooting In New Orleans...
May 14, 2013 11:44 am
Sunday's shooting at a New Orleans second line celebration underscores Black America's (literal in some cases) crying need to launch a two front war against thugs in blue jeans I call "chocolate Klansmen " and thugs in blue uniforms, instead of either/or choices. Related posts: Are Recent Shootings Really The Work Of "Lone Wolf" Gunmen? [...]
May 14, 2013 11:42 am WASHINGTON - Two Republican governors are urging President Barack Obama to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Internal Revenue Service's admission that it targeted conservative political groups. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker call the allegations "Big Brother come to life." They want a special prosecutor to find out if any [...]
Video: Trailer For DREAMER, A Modern Day Joseph Film
May 14, 2013 11:41 am
With an overwhelmingly positive response to The Bible mini-series and faith-based films (such as Fireproof, Courageous, and The Chronicles of Narnia), Moving Visions Entertainment has announced it has begun pre-production of the full length motion picture "Dreamer," a modern re-telling of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Related posts: An Interview With Western Journalism [...]
Abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell Convicted Of First-degree Murder
May 13, 2013 05:56 pm Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell was convicted Monday of three counts of first-degree murder for the death of three babies that prosecutors said were delivered alive and subsequently killed. Gosnell, 72, could face the death penalty when the jury reconvenes for the sentencing phase next week. "He's disappointed and he's upset," defense lawyer Jack McMahon [...]
And thank goodness it doesn't. Time for our monthly installment from the Paso Wine Guy, this month extolling the virtue of Viognier. I heartily approve. Can't get enough good Viognier. Just picked up the new 2012 Viognier from Denner Vineyards, but it needs a couple more months in the bottle before it's ready to drink. So I'll be thirsty for a couple of months I guess.
With the Obama Administration having moved fully into the "limited modified hangout" stage of its multiple scandals (Jay Carney: Ron Ziegler is on line two for you right now), some of the cartoons and memes are piling up too fast to wait for Power Line's weekend photo wrap. So here we go.
You know you're in trouble when this headline appears in the Puffington Host, as it does right now:
President Obama put on a good show on the subject of Benghazi in his joint press conference with David Cameron yesterday. He expressed something like righteous indignation regarding coverage of the story and his alleged his lack of candor regarding the attack. Employing the famous Gertrude Stein quotation, he alleged that there is no there there.
Maybe. As Bill Clinton might explain, it depends on the meaning of "there."
It is probably not too much to dismiss Obama's comments yesterday as a pack of lies, though it would be nice to see the CIA's presidential daily briefings to which Obama made reference. Did they depart from the original version of the "talking points" drafted by the CIA? If so, I should think Obama would be looking into it, but of course he isn't.
I think it's fair to conclude that the CIA should not be faulted for Obama's continued yammering about the "crude and disgusting" Muhammad video two weeks after the massacre of our men in Benghazi. Obama declared at the UN that "there are no words that excuse the killing of innocents" and that there is "no video that justifies an attack on an embassy."
Why was Obama talking about the Muhammad video two weeks after the attack in the context of the Benghazi massacre? He obviously wanted the world to think it went to the heart of the events in Benghazi, but at least in that respect there was no there there.
Josh Gerstein at Politico reports that the same Internal Revenue Service office that singled out Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny also challenged Israel-related organizations, at least one of which filed suit over the agency's handling of its application for tax-exempt status.
The group in question is called Z Street. It alleges that one of its attorneys was told that its application for tax exemption was delayed and sent to a "special unit...to determine whether the organization's activities contradict the Administration's public policies."
As Gerstein explains, Z Street sought the 501(c)(3) status applicable to most charities, allowing for tax deductible donations. Most of the Tea Party groups that have come under scrutiny applied for 501(c)(4) status, which allows advocacy groups to avoid federal taxes on their operations but doesn't render donations to the groups tax deductible. However, both kinds of applications are processed in the same Cincinnati office.
What is the IRS's explanation for investigating Z Street? It admits that applications mentioning Israel received special attention, but says this was because "Israel is one of many Middle Eastern countries that have a higher risk of terrorism."
This is absurd. Israel may have (or have had) a high risk of being victimized by terrorism. But this fact should create no presumption that groups concerned about, or connected with, Israel are linked with terrorism. And absent that concern, what is the justification for extra scrutiny? Under the IRS's logic, maybe it should now consider providing extra scrutiny to charitable groups headquartered in Boston.
Under President Bush, the IRS cracked down on "charitable" groups that support or sympathized with terrorists - an outgrowth of the fact that Muslim charities funneled money to Islamic terrorists. But, says Gerstein, President Obama has backed away from this approach, declaring that he thought government rules were unfairly impeding Muslims from carrying through on their religious obligation to donate to charity.
How ironic that the Obama IRS now seems focused instead on a tiny pro-Israel group that questions the president's approach to the Middle East.
The IRS's response to Z Street's lawsuit raises more questions than it answers. The concern, according to the IRS, was not whether pro-Israel groups contradict Obama administration policy, but rather whether they violate "public policy."
One doubts the ability of bureaucrats to distinguish Obama policy from "public policy." Giving IRS the benefit of the doubt (but why would we at this point), the stated public policy in question is that the government shouldn't bestow a benefit on an individual or organization engaged in illegal activity like terrorism, or in an officially disfavored activity such as racial discrimination.
But why would a pro-Israel advocacy group be suspected of engaging in terrorism or racial discrimination?
And how do some of the questions posed to pro-Israel groups relate to terrorism or racial discrimination? Among the inquiries sent to at least one group were:
Does your organization support the existence of the land of Israel?
Describe your organization's religious belief system towards the land of Israel.
The proper answer to the second inquiry is, none of your damn business.
It's too early to reach firm conclusions about the allegations in Z Street's suit against the government. But the matter warrants our close attention.
I wrote here about the Freedom Club's annual spring dinner, featuring Steve Forbes. At the dinner, a few of us were steered in front of a camera to free associate about the club. That led to this short video, "Why the Freedom Club?", which I think you will enjoy:
The Freedom Club is a model, I think, for what can be done in other states. (There are, of course, some states that have similar organizations.) By banding together, a group of the state's principal conservative donors have increased their clout and had a real impact on local, and to a lesser extent national, politics. Of course, we haven't been able to turn Minnesota red; not yet, anyway. But if you are a Minnesotan and a donor to conservative politicians, I would urge you to consider joining the club. If you are not a Minnesotan or are not interested in joining the club, but would like to contribute to the club's efforts, you can do that at the Freedom Club web site. Small contributions are more than welcome, and the cause is worthy. Thanks!
Rush Limbaugh makes stunning offer to Obama ...
With the nation in continued gridlock and seemingly racing off a cliff, radio powerhouse Rush Limbaugh has just made this astonishing offer to President Obama.
Obama's Minion Media can't ignore brand-new scandal
While embroiled in two major investigations related to the Benghazi attack and the IRS' admission that it has been targeting conservatives, the Obama administration is now facing a third scandalous accusation.
What can you say about an administration that uses the Internal Revenue Service to go after its political foes?
What can you say about an administration that lies systematically about events leading up to the torture-murder of one of its ambassadors, U.S, military personnel and other U.S. citizens in Benghazi?
The president has just won a landslide victory. He is looking forward to an aggressive second term agenda. Suddenly scandal strikes. What year is it -- 1973 or 2013? A lot of folks in Washington say it feels like 1973 all over again. It is astonishing how quickly fortunes can change.
The front page of today's Boston Herald reads: "OBAMAGATE." Another headline declares: "Scandals Invoke Comparison To Nixon." For the past two days MSNBC's "Moring Joe" has even trotted out Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein.
Less than week ago the president had a Benghazi problem. Now he still has a Benghazi problem plus a growing IRS scandal and a potential Justice Department scandal for spying on the Associated Press. And it's only Tuesday. Who knows what else might come out before the end of the week!
Here are some brief updates on the Benghazi and the IRS scandals.
The Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes, who has extensively covered the Benghazi scandal, said it was "stunning and very foolish" for President Obama to say, as he did yesterday, "There's no 'there' there," regarding Benghazi.
Unbelievably, Obama actually tried to make the case that the whole controversy was contrived and politically motivated by congressional Republicans. If Obama actually believes that, then he is engaged in Nixonian denial.
His administration lied to the American people, spreading a false narrative about a terrorist attack that took the lives of four Americans, including the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in decades.
Obama's claim that he and others in his administration were calling the attack "an act of terrorism" within a day or two is absurd. So absurd, in fact, that the Washington Post Fact Checker gave Obama's statement its worst rating of Four Pinocchios.
Meanwhile, the momentum for a select committee to investigate Benghazi is picking up steam. To date 146 House Republicans -- 63% of the entire GOP caucus -- have co-sponsored Rep. Frank Wolf's legislation calling for a select committee.
In acknowledging that it had wrongly targeted conservative groups, the IRS tried to downplay and distance the administration from the scandal by noting that the offenses were limited to low-level employees in an Ohio office.
The detail demanded was incredible, including, "The names of the donors, contributors, and grantors." Now what do you suppose some overzealous IRS bureaucrats might do with that kind of information?
Just when you think the scandal is bad enough, it gets even worse.
The IRS provided "confidential" information on a number of conservative organizations to the left-wing, progressive media outfit ProPublica. According the Washington Post, "That revelation contradicts previous statements from the agency and may represent a violation of federal guidelines."
President Obama said he only learned about the trouble at the IRS on Friday from the same news reports as the rest of us. But the White House counsel's office apparently learned about it last month! So the IRS was about to publicly acknowledge targeting conservative organizations and no one in the counsel's office thought to tell the president? Call me skeptical.
"Just The Beginning"
In an interview with Breitbart News yesterday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said that this was "just the beginning" of the IRS scandal. And McConnell rightly noted that there is pattern of abuse throughout the Obama Administration. Consider this excerpt:
"The Obama effort to shut up opponents isn't limited to the IRS. It applies to the FCC [Federal Communications Commission], SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission], FEC [Federal Elections Commission], HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] ... And you remember, the Obama campaign last year published a list of eight businessmen who it believed were enemies. ... Everybody understands the IRS and how powerful they are. This is just one example of an administration-wide effort to silence critics."
Yesterday we reminded our readers about Frank VanderSloot, a conservative businessman who supported Mitt Romney and was targeted by the IRS and the Labor Department. It appears as though the IRS was also unleashed on a local Missouri reporter who dared to ask the president a few tough questions.
The AP Scandal
The latest scandal to erupt has seriously offended a core left-wing constituency -- Big Media.
News broke yesterday that the Obama Justice Department had seized two months of phone records from 20 phone lines at three Associated Press offices as well as the AP's phone line in the House of Representatives' press gallery. These lines were used by more than 100 reporters.
The Associated Press blasted the move as a "massive and unprecedented intrusion." Members of Congress from both parties are condemning the seizure of phone records, as are members of the press.
On "Morning Joe" today, veteran journalist Andrea Mitchell said the IRS scandal was "one of the most outrageous excesses that I've seen in all my years in journalism." She quickly added, "I think this Associated Press investigation just rises to that standard, as well."
National Journal's Ron Fournier writes that the "unprecedented seizure of telephone records ... sends a chilling message to whistle-blowers armed with information that might embarrass the president: 'We're watching you.'"
The Obama Administration may soon find itself with few defenders. Even the left-wing ACLU is lambasting the administration for its "unacceptable abuse of power."
I know many conservatives won't be shedding a tear for the liberal media, but we should not take pleasure in it. A government so out-of-control that it targets local reporters and seizes massive amounts of data from even the most influential news organization is a threat to everyone.
Gosnell & Obama
Yesterday abortionist Kermit Gosnell was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder for killing babies born alive in his Philadelphia abortion mill. The intention of the women was to abort their unborn children, but the babies were born alive. Gosnell finished the job by "snipping" their spinal cords.
In Illinois, babies were being born alive after botched abortions and their little bodies were set aside, left alone to die slowly. One can argue that was even worse. Yet as an Illinois state senator Barack Obama was unwilling to require a doctor to save those babies.
Society rightly recoils in horror at the notion of killing little babies outside the womb. A jury in Philadelphia found Kermit Gosnell guilty of infanticide. Obama may not have blood on his hands, but his support of after-birth abortion is no less offensive.
EDITOR'S NOTE
GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE!
A very bad week for the Obama Administration continues, as more details of abuse by the IRS - and other federal agencies - are discovered. The pattern is clear: the President's political opponents were harassed and intimidated, while his supporters had nothing to fear. And these actions most certainly were not confined to some little rogue band of die-hard Obama supporters in the Cincinnati office of the Internal Revenue Service.
A few long-running stories of suspicious agency abuse from the 2012 campaign - including the disclosure of confidential tax information from a prominent traditional-marriage group to gay-marriage organizations closely linked with the Obama campaign, and the harassment of a Mitt Romney supporter targeted by Obama campaign publications - have gained new relevance in light of this week's revelations.
And suddenly a new scandal burst forth, this time involving a media association generally quite friendly to the President, the Associated Press. The Justice Department announced it had seized the telephone records of numerous AP employees, including personal home and cellular phones. The CEO of the Associated Press called it "a massive and unprecedented intrusion." Free speech advocates on both the Left and Right pronoucned themselves deeply troubled.
The President claims all these developments are stunning surprises to him, which he learned about by watching the evening news. His allies in the media might be growing tired of hearing that same tired scandal-control routine from this White House, over and over again.
Notwithstanding the passionate protestations of President Barack Obama, it is possible that an issue can be both "politicized" and have merit. | READ MORE »
Can a Republican preaching free market economics win in a district that is heavily Democratic and Hispanic? How about if he stresses family values and faith? The short answer seems to be: "Yes, but it's not easy." | READ MORE »
House Republican members are defying Speaker John Boehner and five committee chairmen by endorsing a measure that would set up a special panel to investigate the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya. | READ MORE »
"In the days of the Malleus, if the physician could find no evidence of natural illness, he was expected to find evidence of witchcraft: today, if he cannot diagnose organic illness, he is expected to diagnose mental illness." (1)
The Malleus Maleficarum was a 15th century text which instructed Inquisitors on the proper method of identifying, trying and burning witches. Though it was many years ago that renowned psychiatrist Thomas Szasz (1920-2012) used the example of the Malleus to comment on the diagnostic practices of his fellow physicians, it seems he might have been on to something as today psychiatrists and educators alike are concerned that the recently completed "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V" (DSM 5) will be responsible for psychiatrists improperly diagnosing millions of Americans as mentally ill.
STEPHEN STONE, RA PRESIDENT - As the gay agenda rolls forth unchecked in fulfillment of its published goals and tactics - dragging Western Civilization down more predictably than the Muslim Brotherhood is likely ever to do - rational Americans need to come to grips with one of the most damnable frauds in the world's history: the belief that there is such a thing as "being gay."... (more)
MOTHER JONES - After a very long and demoralizing losing streak, supporters of marriage equality have recently experienced a string of victories so sudden and dramatic that it has their heads spinning. Just yesterday, the Minnesota House passed a bill that would make it the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage... (more)
ALAN KEYES - Synoptic: seeing apparently distinct things or events as they relate to one another to form, on the whole, a coherent plan, pattern or design. Data: Obama issues orders to allow open homosexuality in the military... (more)
WASHINGTON TIMES - In a case that attracted national attention, Philadelphia inner-city abortion provider Dr. Kermit B. Gosnell was found guilty of first-degree murder Monday in the deaths of three born-alive babies by "snipping" their spines... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - Kermit Gosnell, the notorious Philadelphia abortionist who reportedly took millions of dollars from his business, was found guilty today of three counts of first-degree murder for delivering live babies and then killing them by snipping their spinal cords with a scissors... (more)
LIFE SITE NEWS - A Philadelphia jury has found late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell guilty of murdering three of four babies in his capital murder trial. He is also guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 abortion death of Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old legal immigrant who died when his untrained staff administered an overdose of sedatives... (more)
WASHINGTON POST - At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials singled out for scrutiny not only groups with "tea party" or "patriot" in their names but also nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution, according to documents in an audit conducted by the agency's inspector general... (more)
CNSNEWS.COM - The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight has thrown down an investigative gauntlet to the Internal Revenue Service, demanding that the agency hand over by next Wednesday every communication in its records that includes the words "tea party," "patriot" or "conservative."... (more)
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM - When Obamacare's individual mandate takes effect in 2014, all Americans who file income tax returns must complete an additional IRS tax form. The new form will require disclosure of a taxpayer's personal identifying health information in order to determine compliance with the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate... (more)
WIRED - The immigration reform measure the Senate began debating yesterday would create a national biometric database of virtually every adult in the U.S., in what privacy groups fear could be the first step to a ubiquitous national identification system... (more)
ANDREW C. MCCARTHY - A significant point made in riveting testimony by Gregory Hicks, the State Department's former deputy chief of mission in Libya, has largely been missed in the coverage of Wenesday's Benghazi hearing. It is worth highlighting, not least because doing so illuminates the depth of the Obama administration's depravity... (more)
NEW YORKER - It's a cliche, of course, but it really is true: in Washington, every scandal has a crime and a coverup. The ongoing debate about the attack on the United States facility in Benghazi where four Americans were killed, and the Obama Administration's response to it, is no exception. For a long time, it seemed like the idea of a coverup was just a Republican obsession. But now there is something to it... (more)
CLIFF KINCAID - "Beck Crosses the Line Again" was the headline over a Jonathan Tobin Commentary article about Glenn Beck's attack on Michael Bloomberg at the NRA convention. Tobin insisted that Beck "spoke in front of a large backdrop that photo-shopped Bloomberg's face into what appears to be a famous photo of Adolf Hitler."... (more)
ANITA CRANE - A noted specialist on Islamic law and ideology from the Center for Security Policy, who has been cited as an expert for the Pentagon, says a coalition of Islamists and Marxists is working to destroy the United States... (more)
CLIFF KINCAID - Bill Ayers' recent claim that the Weather Underground bombed property, not people, in order to protest the Vietnam War, is two lies in one. First, they specialized in anti-personnel bombs using heavy metal staples. Second, Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn were not opposed to the war, only to a U.S. victory... (more)
WES VERNON, RA ANALYST - There are reasons why this is probably the most heavily promoted and advertised book in the television age, perhaps beyond that: Rare is the volume in recent times that deals so clearly with a subject -- "Obamacare" -- that will have such a profound effect on the lives of so many, prompted bitter debates from the halls of Congress to dinner tables across America, and yet about which there is still so much confusion... (more)
FRED HUTCHISON, RA ANALYST - During part one of this essay, we took a tour of history, beginning with the birth of European civilization and finishing with the high watermark in Western culture (1100-1750). We discovered how Europe began with an excellent foundation for reason and how false ways of thinking and knowing began to creep into Western thought during the seventeenth century... (more)
LIFE NEWS - Local journalist J.D. Mullane has been the most dogged reporter following the murder trial of Kermit Gosnell. When most media outlets ignored the trial of the abortion practitioner, Mullane was there chronicling every day of it... (more)
JEROME CORSI - "Greg, we are under attack," were the last words whistleblower U.S. diplomat Gregory Hicks, present in Libya at the time of the Benghazi terrorist attack, recalled U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens saying to him in a desperate phone call moments before Stevens was killed... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - Revelations in Wednesday's congressional hearings on the Benghazi terrorist attacks prove it is a massive scandal that will carry significant consequences for those involved in the cover-up, according to retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney... (more)
To lead the nation always under threat from North Korea, backbone is required. As the president of South Korea demonstrated during her visit to Washington, she is a vital figure at this time in history.
Park Geun-hye has been referred to as the "Iron Lady of Korea." It is a fitting moniker since it honors not only her, but also Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Two principled leaders, reaching out to others but willing to risk criticism to achieve a bold vision for their country. As Lady Thatcher observed, "Consensus is the absence of leadership."
The U.S. and South Korea have stood together for 60 years. Repeatedly during her visit, Park affirmed the continuing need for the alliance that has kept peace on the Korean Peninsula for decades. Although Pyongyang may have toned down its threats of the past two months, the military threat remains. North Korea's million-man army remains poised near the demilitarized zone, and the regime continues expanding its nuclear and missile arsenal.
Last week the Department of Defense (DOD) issued the 2013 annual report to Congress on the Chinese military. The report provides details of various new ship classes, new fighters, new missiles, and improvements in Chinese space assets.
The drug problem in Asia continues to stem the tide of economic growth and development in the region. Without serious reforms to the drug control strategy, Asia will continue to be a primary source of illicit drugs.
About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Don't Muddle the Debt Debate
As reaching the debt limit presents a leverage point for real change, Congress needs to keep a laser focus on reducing spending - immediately and permanently. Legislative procedures to expedite some future tax reform bill, while certainly important, do neither.
Internet Taxation: Fair or Foul? As a general rule, whenever one hears members of Congress talking about "fairness," you should hold on tight to your wallet. That's certainly the case with the proposed "Marketplace Fairness Act," voted on last week in the Senate.
Discretionary Spending Cuts Alone Will Not Balance the Budget
Annual spending on Medicare and other entitlement programs ismassive compared to other federal spending priorities. Cutting discretionary spending is necessary, but cuts to foreign aid alone or pulling out of Afghanistan will not close the deficit. Entitlement programs must be reformed.
Conservatives know that we can't bribe voters into supporting our positions, and we shouldn't try. The key is opportunity for all Americans, regardless of sex, creed, color or ethnicity.
Matthew Spalding and Stuart Butler outline what opportunity conservatism looks like.
As commencement season winds down, it's discomfiting to think that almost half of new graduates know exactly where they're headed when school's out: back to their parents' homes. That's a big problem with President Obama's big government approach. It tends to weaken our associations with civil society by turning Americans into wards of the state.
The Constitution is everywhere. In fact, it's so ubiquitous that even PBS managed to find it. From the Hoover Dam to Yale University, the Constitution shapes every aspect of American life. Follow our series of reports, as we follow Peter Segal around the country on his patriotic motorcycle.
Quote of the Week
"I trust that the proposed Constitution afford a genuine specimen of representative government and republican government; and that it will answer, in an eminent degree, all the beneficial purposes of society."
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Diocesan officials welcomed the decision in a statement, saying the union's decision "acknowledges and affirms that all those who teach within the Catholic school system agree to abide by the rules."
Today the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Obama Administration's denial of asylum granted to Uwe and Hannelore Romeike and their six children.
A new Toronto District Catholic School Board motion up for vote on May 23, seeks to reject the Ontario Liberal Government's enforcement of homosexual activist clubs in Catholic schools.
We are pleased that Kermit Gosnell will pay the price for the crimes he committed. But how many other abortionists are getting away with the same thing day after day?
On April 25th Boston College, a Jesuit University, announced that Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, who is aggressively promoting abortion legislation in Ireland, would be receiving an honorary Doctor of Law degree at their May 20th graduation exercises.
The bishop has reportedly been accused of protecting pedophile priests in his diocese, supporting of a type of civil union legislation that would give benefits to homosexual couples, and other indiscretions.
If it passes, the official policy of the U.S. government would be to penalize organizations who take the well-being of children into account in adoption placement.
Union-label Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is fuming.
You see, Senator Reid was clearly hoping the Senate Labor Committee would just rubber-stamp the nomination of the biased, pro-forced unionism Thomas Perez as Barack Obama's next Labor Secretary.
The Senate Republicans' decision to delay the vote last week is an encouraging sign they are listening to concerned citizens like you, but it's vital we keep up the pressure. Now Senate Labor Committee Chairman Tom Harkin has scheduled a new vote for this Thursday morning.
One of your Senators is a member of the HELP Committee, and time is running out before the committee vote.
Please urge you Senator to oppose the nomination of Thomas Perez:
*** Alaska - Lisa Murkowski (202) 224-6665
*** Colorado - Michael Bennet (202) 224-5852
*** Connecticut - Christopher Murphy (202) 224-4041
*** Georgia - Johnny Isakson (202) 224-3643
*** Illinois - Mark Kirk 202-224-2854
*** Iowa - Tom Harkin (202) 224-3254
*** Kansas - Pat Roberts (202) 224-4774
*** Kentucky - Rand Paul (202) 224-4343
*** Maryland - Barbara Mikulski (202) 224-4654
*** Massachusetts - Elizabeth Warren (202) 224-4543
*** Minnesota - Al Franken (202) 224-5641
*** North Carolina - Richard Burr (202) 224-3154 Kay Hagan: 202-224-6342
*** Pennsylvania - Bob Casey (202) 224-6324
*** Rhode Island - Sheldon Whitehouse (202) 224-2921
*** South Carolina - Tim Scott (202) 224-6121
*** Tennessee - Lamar Alexander (202) 224-4944
*** Utah - Orrin Hatch (202) 224-5251
*** Vermont - Bernie Sanders (202) 224-5141
*** Washington - Patty Murray (202) 224-2621
*** Wisconsin - Tammy Baldwin (202) 224-5653
*** Wyoming - Mike Enzi (202) 224-3424
After Big Labor unleashed another Billion Dollar political spending blitz in 2012 to re-elect Barack Obama and other forced-unionism partisans, Obama is eager to pay back his union-boss benefactors with more sweetheart deals and special privileges.
If you thought the last four years were bad, just think about what the Obama Administration has in store for worker freedom now that Obama is no longer accountable to the voters.
Make no mistake, Thomas Perez is another forced-unionism partisan who has repeatedly gone to the mat for Big Labor:
*** As Maryland's Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez greased the skids to more easily force unionization on childcare providers.
That scheme mirrors Big Labor's nationwide strategy to force in-home care providers -- even parents, grandparents, and babysitters who take care of sick and disabled children with state assistance -- into dues-paying ranks.
*** Perez repeatedly tapped into the Big Labor well to fill political appointments.
In fact, Perez even gave a political appointment to a former organizer from the Laborers International Union of North America, an organization the Department of Labor Inspector General's racketeering section considered corrupt.
*** While on the Montgomery County Council, Perez allegedly used his position to influence, intimidate and pressure employers on behalf of Communications Workers of America union officials.
Attempting to justify those tactics, Perez made the offensive and derogatory comment that unionized workers "would be more productive, more motivated and more loyal" than non-union workers.
The more than 93 percent of American private-sector workers free from union control don't need that kind of bias at the Department of Labor.
Not only that, our economy just can't afford it.
With a committee vote scheduled for Thursday morning, time is running out.
But most importantly, your Senator on the Senate Labor Committee must hear from you right away.
Please urge your Senator to oppose the nomination of Thomas Perez before it's too late.
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
P.S. The U.S. Senate Labor Committee is set to act on Barack Obama's nomination of forced-unionism partisan Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary on Thursday morning. Perez has a long track record of using his power to do Big Labor's bidding.
One of your Senators is a member of the Senate HELP Committee, and time is running out before the committee vote.
Please urge your Senator at once to oppose the nomination of Thomas Perez.
The National Right to Work Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, single-purpose citizens' organization dedicated to combating compulsory unionism through an aggressive program designed to mobilize public opposition to compulsory unionism and, at the same time, enlist public support for Right to Work legislation. The Committee's mailing address is 8001 Braddock Road, Springfield, Virginia 22160. The Committee can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-325-7892.
Amnesty Watch
Tue May
14
Today: Some Senators lied when they promised 'ENFORCEMENT FIRST.' Will yours? Tell Senators why Americans by 60% to 27% oppose 'amnesty first' decision last week.
Ever since the American voters rose up to demand defeat of Pres. Bush's amnesty in 2007, it has been Republicans who have tried to reassure the voters that they would never support legalization unless borders are secured and immigration laws are enforced first.
Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) won the Republican nomination for President and then ran for Senate re-election on a promise of "enforcement first."
Sen. Rubio (R-Fla.) told the nation all this winter that he would never support legalization of 11 million illegal aliens until after the border was fully secured. (Of course, he campaigned for election in 2010 on the promise that he would never support an amnesty, period.)
But along with Republican Senators Flake (S.C.) and Graham (S.C.), they were part of the bi-partisan Gang of Eight that produc ed an immigration bill that puts all the enforcement (if it happens at all) after the amnesty.
Last week, those four Republican Senators worked with their Democratic and White House allies to ensure that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted repeatedly against amendments that would have at least required immigration enforcement before work permits and legal status are handed out to 11 million illegal aliens.
With their actions last week, they broke every promise they ever made about the priority of enforcement.
The lies need your response
All Republican Senators are watching to see if the public noticed the lies and if the public will express any anger.
Please click on the red button below to review various text options, modify one that suits your opinions and click to send the fax for free.
Be sure to put some special messages to your Senator in the PS field.
What the Senate Judiciary Committee did last week was extremely unpopular with America's likely voters.
A Pulse Opinion Research poll in April, posed this question:
QUESTION: SOME in Congress propose giving work permits to illegal immigrants immediately and then implementing border and workplace enforcement to stop future flows of illegal workers over the next 10 years. OTHERS in Congress say the enforce ment at the borders and workplace must be implemented first and then the work permits can be CONSIDERED. Which do you prefer for dealing with the illegal immigrants?
LIKELY VOTERS ANSWERED THIS WAY:
26% Work permits first, followed by 10 years of implementing enforcement
60% Full enforcement first, before considering work permits
14% Unsure
Most Republicans in the Senate have not yet turned their promises of "enforcement first" into lies. They are on the fence right now.
Send a fax and give voice to the 60% who want these Senators to keep their promise.
Whether they support amnesty ever or maybe at some time, they have to vote against this immigration bill because it puts all enforcement after the amnesty, and not much enforcement is guaranteed even after that.
The Heretic at Heritage By Patrick J. Buchanan Jason Richwine's thesis -- that the average IQ of immigrants is well below that of white Americans -- was acceptable at Harvard, where it earned him a Ph.D. - it has scandalized the Potomac priesthood.
Hating America By Walter E. Williams The people running our education system are destroying the minds and values of our young people, and we allow them to do it.
The more we learn about what really happened in Benghazi, the more lies seem to come out of the Obama administration. Susan Rice, Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Jay Carney and a host of others have demonstrably said false things about Benghazi -- Glenn goes through the top 20 on radio today.
Trifecta: Obama's 3rd major scandal in just days
DOJ illegally tracked 20 phone lines at the Associated Press in order to track down the identity of a whistleblower. For years Glenn has highlighted how this administration went after whistleblowers - this sends a clear message to anyone thinking about ratting out the government. Glenn goes through the latest scandal plaguing the administration. WATCH
Obama caught in blatant IRS lie
Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney admitted the administration knew about the IRS scandal since April 22, but Obama came out yesterday and said he was just hearing about it for the first time in news reports like everyone else. It'd be comical if it weren't so sad. Glenn has the latest on the IRS scandal HERE.
Buck Sexton on Obama scandal week: "there's no way that they will be able to get out of this unscathed"
Glenn spoke with TheBlaze national security editor & host of Real News, Buck Sexton, about the horrific week the Obama administration is having as several lies and scandals are finally becoming front page news. Most of the time the press feigns interest for a day or two and moves on - why will this time be different? Buck explains on radio today.
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If so, we need YOU to help us Get TheBlaze: Comcast hasn't yet decided if they plan to carry TheBlaze or not. They say there hasn't been enough demand for the channel. If you want a channel that represents YOUR values, it's time to let Comcast know. Please visit GetTheBlaze.com or call 1-800-996-2529 and make your voice heard.
The Wonderful World of Stu: Did you know Jay Carney is a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan? MORE
Deported: unbelievably, the Roemike Family is being deported by the Obama administration
What happens when someone illegally crosses the border and sneaks into America? The Obama administration does everything it can to make them an American citizen. What happens when someone comes to America legally and flees an oppressive government to homeschool their children? The Obama administration denies asylum, of course. Get the full story via TheBlaze.
You asked, we listened! Read & share news from TheBlaze.com directly in TheBlaze App!
TheBlaze iOS App is your direct portal into "the network that YOU are building". Get access to live and on demand video from TheBlaze TV, listen to TheBlaze Radio Network, and much more! Plus, with the new TheBlaze newsreader, access to breaking news from TheBlaze.com is easier than ever! Download TheBlaze iOS App HERE.
'Freedom of Religion since 1791' t-shirt: The Obama administration is under fire for the Benghazi cover-up, the IRS targeting conservative groups, and the DOJ's overreach with the AP -- there's one common link: the First Amendment. The latest t-shirt from 1791 displays a bold statement about one of your most important freedoms laid out in the First Amendment, the freedom of religion. Order yours HERE.
Watch On Demand: For The Record
Episode 2 of For The Record is now available on demand! Two shocking stories you will not believe the mainstream media isn't talking about are exposed: the horrifying persecution of Christians in Egypt and unbelievable stories of human trafficking inside our own borders. We need your help to get these stories out. Watch For The Record on demand -- only on TheBlaze.
The mainstream media wants you to believe that gun crime originates with the gun. It doesn't. Debunk the progressive myths, the talking points, and arguments with #1 New York Times bestseller CONTROL. Backed by hundreds of sources, Glenn's latest book gives everyone who cares about the Second Amendment the indisputable facts they need to reclaim the debate, defeat the fear, and take back their natural rights. Get your copy HERE.
Want to share CONTROL with your friends? Take advantage of this exclusive box set offer of CONTROL that includes an copy autographed by Glenn! Get one while they last!
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