Week Ending October 5, 2007 - Washington, DC

Religious Right to form 3rd party? The Administration, 3Com and China / President to veto Defense Authorization / New push for Pledge Protection Act / LOST - Law of the Sea Treaty needs to get lost / Three giant crosses in Virginia and a boycott of Miller beer in California / Human Rights in Saudi Arabia - an oxymoron / Syria closes border to refugees

THE PRESIDENT
RELIGIOUS RIGHT TO FORM "3rd PARTY?- Several Christian conservative leaders have openly advocated the formation of a third political party because of the lead in the presidential race held by pro-abortion, pro-gay mayor Rudy Giuliani. A Washington Times front page story on the movement was titled "Religious Right Aims to Hurt GOP. I have confidential information that the group is attempting to recruit a Christian billionaire who is unknown and has no public record of positions to run for president.MEANWHILE: Governor Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, has moved well ahead of Senator John McCain in Iowa and is solidly in third place. (Check Real Clear Politics) In New Hampshire he is now tied with former Senator Fred Thompson. Why won't James Dobson consider backing Mike Huckabee? You ask him, he doesn't return my phone calls.

THE ADMINISTRATION, 3COM and CHINA - A Chinese company with ties to that communist nation's military is trying to buy an American company that holds the keys to the Pentagon's communications system. Oddly, American businessmen don't seem to have a problem with this as long as money is made on the deal. Now, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson has recused himself from the government review of the merger because of his past relationship with the investment firm that put the deal together. Contact your congressman and Senators and share your thoughts on our national security being sold to a Chinese company.

THE PRESIDENT TO VETO DEFENSE BILL - It is very rare for a President to veto a Defense Authorization particularly during war time. Yet the White House has issued an SAP (Statement of Administration Policy) giving the reasons why the President intends to veto the bill. The press is reporting that the President has "yielded" to the Christian right because Senator Kennedy has placed special rights for homosexuals in the authorization. HOWEVER: When I read the SAP I found no mention of a veto because of a "hate crimes" amendment. Check here for full copy of White House SAP

THE HOUSE
PLEDGE PROTECTION ACT - Congressmen Todd Akin (R-MO) has begun a major push to pass the Pledge Protection Act. ( Read his letter) The act would protect the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. In the last Congress we had 196 co-sponsors and so far this year we have 107. San Francisco radical Nancy Pelosi can block a vote unless we reach 218 cosponsors for a discharge petition. Is your congressman one of the 107 backing the PPA? (See list) If not, contact your congressman now and ask him to support HR- 699, the Pledge Protection Act.

THE SENATE
LAW OF THE SEA - The Bush Administration is rushing a United Nations treaty through the Senate that would give the UN authority over the stream that runs past my back yard. WHAT DID I SAY? The stream in my back yard runs to the Rappahannock River, which runs to the Chesapeake Bay which opens to the Atlantic Ocean. The treaty gives the United Nations authority to "protect" the environment of the ocean. Not only can I be told by the United Nations not to use pesticides in my lawn, but major manufacturing companies in the United States that "pollute" by the UN's definition, could be shut down as well. In a recent Senate hearing the Democrat Chairman who is pushing the treaty for President Bush allowed just two of nine witnesses who opposed the treaty. Click here for joint letter against LOST signed by me.
SENATE TAKES WEEK OFF - The Senate will take next week off in celebration of Columbus Day. The House will stay in session (For what reason I do not know.)

RELIGION AND CULTURE
THREE GIANT CROSSES - There is a new landmark in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley off Interstate 81. Three crosses, one of which is 150-feet tall, dominate the landscape for motorists in the area. Pastor Jay Ahlemann of the Church of the Valley hopes the Freedom Memorial Park will become a national point of interest just a short drive from the Capitol.
MILLER BEER - Catholic organizations have organized a boycott of Miller Beer because of its sponsorship of a San Francisco homosexual festival that ran an advertisement depicting the Last Supper with Jesus Christ and the Disciples as homosexual sadomasochists. I would join in on the boycott, but I don't drink.
ALL NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The September 19th, 2007 issue of the Chairman's Report is now available online. See photos of petition deliveries! This issue contains information that has not appeared in weekly updates. Click here to read.

INTERNATIONAL
OXYMORON: HUMAN RIGHTS IN SAUDI ARABIA - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the most repressive nation in the world. Not even the brutal dictator of North Korea is as repressive as the Saudi monarchy. Despite this fact the monarchs are to this day protected by American troops because they can't trust any of their own citizens. On October 3rd I spoke at a reception held in the Rayburn House Office Building for the The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. At the event the group unveiled a comprehensive policy paper addressing political/judicial reform in Saudi Arabia, women's rights, religious freedom, and economic reform. CDHR founder, Dr. Ali Alyami, is a Saudi. If he were to return to that nation he would be hung without trial.

SYRIA CLOSES BORDER TO REFUGEES - Syria says it has absorbed more than one million Iraqi refugees and cannot support any more. About 200,000 of those are Christians who have fled persecution in Iraq. The cost to Syria last year was $2.5 billion dollars. We consider Syria a terrorist state and an enemy. Meanwhile our ally in the region, Saudi Arabia, will accept no Iraqi refugees at all. Read more.

IRAQI MISSION UPDATE - The Religious Freedom Coalition fact finding mission to the Middle East will depart in mid-October. We will visit with just some of the hundreds of thousands of Christians who have been forced to flee Iraq in the last four years. Your prayers and your help are needed! Please consider a contribution to our mission. Click here to help!

SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION
THE PLEDGE - My new book, The Pledge: One Nation Under God has been released and is now available online and at bookstores. The book has a forward by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) who is the primary sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Please order The Pledge from the RFC bookstore, as the funds will be used to help fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Click here or on Image to learn more.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - There are literally tens of thousands of Christian theme items available at our affiliate store including jewelry from the Holy Land. It is a great place to shop for gifts. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com. Please help us with our various projects on Capitol Hill and in the Holy Land by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at http://www.rfcnet.org/donate.html