February 13, 2009 - Washington, DC

Obama and the end of free speech / Green light to pornographers / Is Geert Wilders the final hope for free speech? / 1000 pages of Stimulus / Your health and the Stimulus / Remembering Mumbai - The Saudi connection / Valentine's Day in Saudi Arabia / Is loyalty racist? / Iraqi Christian refugees

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - February 12th edition now available! Click here for PDF!

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA AND FREE SPEECH - Free speech died in Europe this week and President Barack Obama said nothing. Perhaps he said nothing because be plans the same repression of free speech in the United States as has occurred in the United Kingdom. A member of the Dutch Parliament was refused entry into the UK because he would disturb, "community harmony." Is this next for America and does it start with the "Fairness Doctrine?" Click here to read the Geert Wilders speech that U.K. government officials are so afraid of. If Wilders had been a pornographic author, both 10 Downing Street and the White House would be defending his right of free speech. How truly sad.

REVEALING CHOICE FOR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT - President Obama has nominated David Ogden as the deputy to Attorney General Eric Holder. This is an outrageous choice in that Ogden is an "absolutist" when it comes to abortion and pornography. He believes there should be no limit to on-demand abortions, he supports pornography producers, and he insists that libraries be forced to provide computers to those who desire to view porn. The final irony --his office would be in charge of enforcing federal laws regarding pornography. How does that work? Read this thorough white paper on Ogden.

THE CONGRESS

SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE SPEECH- Every congressman and Senator should have reacted with outrage at the expulsion from the United Kingdom of Dutch member of parliament Geert Wilders. I am astonished by the cowardice not only of the British government, but of our own elected officials who have failed to speak out. Wilders' expulsion was a line drawn in the sand that represents the end of Western civilization and the introduction of Sharia Law by intimidation in Europe and the United States. If good men will not stand to defend Geert Wilders and his right of free speech, in the end all of us will become slaves of Islam.

A THOUSAND PAGES OF STIMULUS - What is in the Stimulus Bill? No one knows for sure. The bill was delivered to the offices of congressmen by the Democrat leadership at 11:00 PM last night after most of them were home in bed. The bill has more than 1,000 pages and congressmen are expected to vote on it less than 18 hours after receiving it. Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) made a short clip on YouTube of himself thumbing though the bill, some of which is actually hand written. View clip here.

YOUR HEALTH AND THE STIMULUS - Under the final Stimulus Bill a "health commission" will be set up to tell doctors what treatment is appropriate and what is not. According to a Bloomberg article, the language in the Stimulus is taken for the most part from a book by former Senator Tom Daschle promoting the rationing of health care. A provision would divide the cost of the treatment by the "remaining years" of life to determine if it is a waste of money. Read more

CULTURE AND RELIGION

HAPPY SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY - While Valentine's Day is celebrated throughout the world very few recognize that it is actually a celebration of a 3rd Century Christian martyr. But the Saudi police who enforce Islamic law know all too well it is a Christian celebration. As Feb. 14 approaches they inspect gift shops for merchandise that is red or may be intended as gifts to mark Valentine's Day. Oddly the items are legal to sell at other times of the year. Read more

NEW FEBRUARY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new February 12, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains more information about our work on Capitol Hill with the new 111th Congress and many international issues. Print out and distribute to your Sunday School class. Click here to view February 12, 2009 edition!

INTERNATIONAL

REMEMBERING MUMBAI - Just weeks ago Islamic terrorists killed hundreds during attacks on hotels and train stations in Mumbai, India. There is a firm link between the attacks and Lashkar-e-Taiba and other radical Islamic groups in Kashmir. Saudi Arabia contributes to Lashkar-e-Taiba motivation, ideology, and funding. While promoting itself as a protector of Muslims around the world, Saudi Arabia funds the extremists who murder civilians. The center of Islamic evil in the world today is Wahhabi Saudi Arabia. Read more

IS LOYALTY RACIST ? - Unexpectedly, a small political party came in third in Israeli elections, with a platform to pass a law requiring everyone to swear an oath to Israel or lose their citizenship. Some call this racist because the Arabs who live in Israel and now claim citizenship would refuse to swear an oath to the country that they are currently exempt from fighting for. You read that right ... Israeli Arab citizens do not have to serve in the army. Now Avigdor Lieberman,the leader of the small party advocating a loyalty oath, may well determine who leads the next government, since neither of the two larger parties won enough seats to form a government. Read more

FACEBOOK FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The Religious Freedom Coalition has a new Facebook page to expose the crisis faced by Iraqi Christians. If you have a Facebook account, please become our friend at this link.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

ALL OCCASION GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE How about birthday, anniversary or Valentine's gifts with a Christian theme? Our Internet Christian Super Store has tens of thousands of books, CD's DVD's, jewelry, food and more. AND ... Our store does not sell the atheist and satanist books that you will find on Amazon.com. When you buy from our store you help our work. Please take a look at our store today at www.rfcstore.com

Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.