People of Faith were deeply disappointed with Senator Bill Frists decision to jump ship and abandon the pro-life position of President Bush and millions of religious conservatives.
Senate Majority Leader Frist said, "It's not a matter of faith, it's a matter of science."
Dr. Frist should know that science left to its own devises, operating in a moral vacuum, can be deadly.
History is well marked with these kinds of abuses. And the whole idea of choosing between faith and science has long passed from the main stage of debate.
Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-GA, who is also a physician, rejected the praise from liberals that was showered on Frist yesterday for breaking with the White House and his own party and said, "I think the courageous speech would have been to continue to stand strong in defense of the sanctity of life. We will fight him on to the very end."
Senator Ted Kennedy was among those who praised Frist. He said, "He honors his Hippocratic Oath today by recognizing the healing power of embryonic stem cells."
And what about the babies, Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Frist, who will be killed in the harvest of the embryos to experiment in the unproven science of embryonic stem cell research?
Now that the John Roberts nomination has been public for about a week or so, nearly everyone has weighed in with their opinion.
One way to learn more about this nominee is to look at the list of those who oppose him.
Moveon.org's Executive Director Eli Pariser wrote,
President Bush nominated this corporate lawyer to add to the right-wing activist block of Scalia and Thomas. Instead of a mainstream jurist with a distinguished career as someone who protects the rights of the American people, Bush choose another right-wing crony.
Evidently, there is some misunderstanding as to what the role of the Supreme Court should be. Rather than to serve as defense lawyers for certain interest groups, are they not charged to rightly interpret the Constitution? _______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
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NARAL, People for the American Way, Howard Dean, and a long list of others are following the same talking points.
But no one has communicated the liberal secularist view of the role of the Supreme Court in more definitive terms than Edward Kennedy did in his floor statement. Quote:
The Senate’s role will be to establish clearly whose side John Roberts would be on if confirmed to the most powerful Court in the land.
Perhaps America would be better served if members of the Supreme Court were confirmed on the basis of their ability to interpret the Constitution.
Back in April 2005, Tim Russert (MSNBC) interviewed Supreme Court Justice, O'Connor, Scalia, and Kennedy. The mainstream press largely missed a statement that Justice Scalia made the following day.
I think what is going on is unprecedented in the difficulty of getting judicial nominations confirmed. I was nominated almost twenty years ago. I was known to be conservative in my policy views, but was known to be a good lawyer, an honest man, and somebody who could be fair and write an intelligent opinion. I was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. Now something very fundamental has changed. What we originalists think has changed, and we've been saying this for a long time, is that you cannot adopt a theory that the Constitution is evolving and the Supreme Court will tell you what it means from age to age.
While the mainstream press focused on a number of different angles of the story, only NPR got it right:
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia – an
originalist
who believes the U.S. Constitution means what it meant at the time of the Founding Fathers adopted it.
Oh, the wisdom and simplicity of those Founding Fathers.
______________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
This afternoon the Oregon House of Representatives passed a measure that ensured the demise of Senate Bill 1000, which provided for civil unions in Oregon.
The Associated Press is reporting that they were not surprised, given that House Speaker Karen Minnis had said she had no intention of allowing a House vote on the Senate bill to open up to same-sex couples hundreds of benefits only available to married couples.
As an alternative to civil unions, the reciprocal benefits bill grants about 20 benefits to people over the age of 18, including relatives and same-sex couples. The rights center mostly around property issues and emergency or end-of-life suitations.
Rebekah Kassel of Basic Rights Oregon, the State's leading gay rights group, said, "This maneuver by the House Speaker is a cruel ploy designed to deny same-sex couples and their families real legal protections and security under the law."
Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, said, "Civil Unions is going to happen. It's just a questions of whether the legislature has the courage to enact them or if the Courts will have to do it."
Perhaps it is not so much a matter of courage as it is conviction on the part of the legislature. Or at least, some of them.
There is no question that traditional marriage will be re-defined by liberal secularist politicians and activist judges, unless people of faith and conviction rise to the occasion.
The assault on traditional, Biblical marriage will continue. The question is simply, who will prevail? People who embrace their faith and the Judeo-Christian values that made this nation great must now more than ever before work together in spirit and in truth.
_______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
Today the non-stop voice of Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, could be heard echoing around the halls of Washington. Many of us simply wouldn't care about what he says, except that today, his mouth may have been moving just a little faster than his brain.
Schumer, who voted against John Roberts when he was confirmed to his present seat a couple of years ago, was heard today saying, "Now that he is nominated for a position where he can overturn precedent and make law, it is even more important that he fully answer a very broad range of questions."
Make law?
That's right. That's the liberal secularists view of the Court.
The judiciary is not supposed to make law. They are to uphold the law. Congress is supposed to make the law.
Keep listening.
_______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
It is refreshing, although sometimes rare, to have an elected official keep his word.
Conservatives and people of faith worked long and hard to help President Bush be elected for a second term. Part of the passion to see him re-elected was the importance of judicial nominees – especially to the Supreme Court.
Tonight, the President stood up and nominated John G. Roberts, Jr., a brilliant, highly qualified individual with a proven record of respect for the Constitution without the inclination to politicize it.
It is interesting that those who have accused the President of some "conservative litmus test" have already spoken out within the hour, decrying the nomination because he does not meet "their" litmus test.
In the face of media criticism and left-wing political threats, the President has chosen a man who clearly believes in the Constitution and its strict interpretation, rather than the "living document" relativistic notion of the secularists.
Justice Joseph Storey, a Harvard Law School professor, who served on the Supreme Court from 1812 to 1845 once made an interesting observation regarding the inherent dangers on the Supreme Court.
"The truth is, that, even with the most secure tenure of office, during good behavior, the danger is not, that the judges will be too firm in resisting public opinion, and in deference of private rights or public liberties; but that they will be ready to yield themselves to the passion, and politics, and prejudices of the day."
It is certain that John G. Roberts, Jr. will not interpret the Constitution through the lens of the passion, politics, and prejudices of those who want to invent a new America.
Thank you, President Bush.
_______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
Judeo-Christian values continue to be attacked on every front. And nowhere is this attack more evident than right here in the Northwest.
NARAL has recently sponsored a "Screw Abstinence Party" in Seattle. That's right – those are their words, not mine. Their invitation to the event included the words, “Pro-choice America declares, 'Throw your hands up and say it loud: screw abstinence!'"
Ironically, their press release has on one hand the picture of Lady Liberty, the American symbol of freedom and protection, while on the other hand, words that are being shouted in Howard Dean fashion that jolt the strongest among us.
The invitation says, "Let them know you keep it real when it comes to your sexual health and decision making." It also features, "Toys in Babeland: Seattle's sleaze-free, sex positive purveyors of adult toys offer tips of sexy safer sex."
NARAL, who exerts much influence on the sex education our children are taught in public school, is certainly exposing itself for what it is. They want your children to be sexually active because it is good for business. Abstinence kids don't buy contraceptives and abortions.
While NARAL throws their "Screw Abstinence" party in Seattle, the Oregon Senate, in Salem, continues their assault on traditional marriage. Although a majority of Oregonians voted to define marriage as between one man and one woman, their elected leaders in the State Senate, who claim greater moral sensitivity than those who elected them, are demanding the State recognize Civil Unions, which is gay marriage by another name. The Senate bill not only legalizes gay unions, but also would force businesses to hire homosexuals.
Karen Minnis, Speaker of the House, is doing all she can do to prevent this subversion of the will of the people.
There is a time when each of us must evaluate what we really believe and what our response should be. As for me, personally, I have made that decision and have joined others who are willing to stand and act on behalf of the Godly principles that made America great.
All of us at Faith and Freedom Network are working to influence legislation and help elect people who embrace traditional Biblical values.
One of our Founding Father's once said: "If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our Country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect it's instruction and authority; no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity." Daniel Webster
Now is the time for people of faith to stand and act.
Let us remember, "Faith without works is dead."
_______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
I received a call, just moments ago, from my close friend, the Chaplin at the Oregon State Capital, telling me that the State Senate had just approved SB1000 with a vote of 19 to 10. This bill allows for civil unions in the State of Oregon.
Civil Unions is simply gay marriage by another name. After the people of Oregon approved a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, the State Senate has now taken a step to circumvent the intent of the people.
Some, who should be taking leadership on this issue, are not.
We will.
I am contacting the Speaker of the House as this email is being sent out and urging her to give leadership and not allow this bill to pass the House.
I need your help.
We are not nearly as well funded as some other organizations, so I ask for your help at this moment.
We need two things:
First, when you step into something like this you need some funding. I need your help, today, as we move forward. You may make a donation onlineor you may send a check to:
Faith and Freedom Network PO Box 461 Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Or you may use our new address:
Faith and Freedom Network 16300 112th Avenue NE Bothell, WA 98011
In either case, your donation will go to help this urgent effort.
Secondly, if your live in Oregon, please contact your State Representatives immediately and tell them you do not favor Civil Unions, which is gay marriage by a different name.
The nomination that President Bush makes in selecting a successor to Sandra Day O'Connor will be a defining moment.
The immediate voice of the liberal secularists is an impassioned call for a centrist nominee, with a promise of all-out opposition if someone less than "centrist" is nominated.
President Bush's father chose what was considered to be a centrist in David H. Souter, who has consistently voted with the Court's liberals. Many conservatives have not forgotten that missed opportunity.
William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard said, "The Court is the pivot point on social policy and O'Connor's sect is the pivot point on the Court. So, it's a pretty dramatic moment."
Indeed it is.
The problem of judicial activism and other interrelated values issues brought conservatives and people of faith out to the polls in 2002 and in 2004. I believe the President understands that.
However, now, more than ever, we must be vigilant and we must be ready to respond at the appropriate time.
_______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
After John Adams signed the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776, he said, "It will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this country to the other, from this time forward, forever."
In the spirit of John Adams and our other Founding Fathers, we will, this weekend, thank God and celebrate all of the wonderful freedoms that have come from our Creator and have been preserved by the wisdom of our Founding Fathers through our Constitution.
As the parades pass, the flags wave, and the fireworks explode into the sky in our communities, let us be thankful and vigilant. The freedom we experience today has been brought to us by the commitment of our forefathers. Let us be true to the next generation.
_______________________________ Gary Randall President Faith and Freedom Network
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