Week Ending January 25, 2008 - Washington, DC

The President and the pro-life rally / The Florida primary / Republican Study Committee's pro-life message / Pro-life amendment to Indian Health? / Pledge petitions delivered to Senator / Roads Not Rebates / Afghan student gets death for paper.

THE PRESIDENT

THE PRESIDENT'S PRO-LIFE MESSAGE- On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the President spoke to the tens of thousands of right to life marchers who had come from all over the nation to protest the murder of more than 50 million unborn babies. The President said: "Thirty-five years ago today the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an unborn child is not considered a person. But we know many things about the unborn. Biology confirms that from the start each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the mother's womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul.

THE FLORIDA PRIMARY - I am currently in Florida where a presidential primary will be held on Tuesday the 29th. On Saturday the 26th, several pro-life leaders will present an award to Governor Mike Huckabee at a ceremony in Orlando. Most "big name" evangelical leaders have endorsed Mitt Romney, who was pro-abortion until he announced his run for president. A voter guide issued by one a group affiliated with Dr. James Dobson was so pro-Romney that it had to be changed because of complaints. I am not backing a man in this race; I am backing a message. Many major evangelical leaders are backing the most likely man to win, to obtain favor in a future Administration. The only favor I desire is from my God.

PRESIDENTIAL VOTER GUIDE - Wall-Builders has just released a really good guide to the presidential candidates that is short and concise. Unlike some published by major evangelical organizations, it is not biased toward Gov. Mitt Romney. Click here to view the WallBuilders voter guide in PDF format.

THE HOUSE

REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE - The pro-life members of the House who are members of the Republican Study Committee booked time on the House floor on the evening of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade to make impassioned pleas for the lives of the unborn. The session was moderated by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) who is currently one of the great pro-life champions in the 108th Congress.

The Republican Study Committee currently has 100 members. Keep in mind that after resignations and deaths, the GOP currently has 200 seats in the House. That means that only half of the Republicans in Congress have a desire to join this conservative body that consists of social conservatives who are also economic conservatives.

THE SENATE

UNDER GOD PETITIONS TO SENATOR - On January 23rd I personally handed to Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) a disc containing the names and addresses of every Oklahoman who had signed a petition to protect "Under God" in the Pledge. We are seeking a godly Senator to introduce the Pledge Protection Act in the Senate. Senator Inhofe was chosen as the first senator to receive our petitions because he is a member of the Republican Senate leadership. Each week he is part of a steering committee meeting that determines what legislation the Republican members of the Senate will push. Senator Inhofe is the leader of a Senate Bible study that is attended by numerous Senators, and each summer he visits African leaders to share the Gospel.

PRO-LIFE INDIAN HEALTH CARE - On the anniversary of Roe v Wade, Senator Vitter (R-LA) filed a pro-life amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S-1200) that would codify a long-standing policy against funding of abortions with federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds. This amendment to the bill would mean that funds cannot be used for abortions (except life of mother, rape, and incest) no matter what happens with the annual appropriations language. (This same pro-life goal was accomplished in the Department of Defense by enactment of a permanent Hyde Amendment as part of the Defense Authorization Bill in 1996.)

The Vitter amendment to S. 1200 would accomplish this pro-life goal with respect to the Indian Health Care program. The amendment language is based on the Hyde Amendment which is contained in the Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

ROADS NOT REBATES - The small rebates proposed by President Bush and the Democrat Congress wouldn't even pay for the gas lost in traffic each year for the average American family. Using the billions he and the Democrats propose to spend to "stimulate" the economy by sending us all small checks would be better used to fix our roads with American steel, American cement and American labor. The rebates would probably be used by most Americans to buy cheap consumer goods made in China.

A recent Heritage Foundation report agreed, showing that the 2001 tax rebates had virtually no economic effect. We need to say no to tax rebates and demand that our broken roads and bridges be fixed. I have personally set up an Internet site at www.roadsnotrebtates.com to get this point across. If you agree, please go to that site and vote for roads instead of rebates.

NEW 2008 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The January 4, 2008 issue of the Chairman's Report is now available online. This issue contains the latest information on atheist Michael Newdow's "under God" lawsuit. Read about conservative victories in the Congress and the Huckabee and Obama campaigns. Click here to read in PDF format

INTERNATIONAL

AFGHAN STUDENT GETS DEATH - The United State and our NATO allies invaded Afghanistan to rid it of the Taliban who harbored terrorists and persecuted the people with a violently rigid version of Islam. To justify the invasion our nation pointed to executions of people innocent of any crime but free speech.

Now the government we installed after the invasion plans to execute a student for "offending" Islam.

An Afghan court sentenced a student to death for blasphemy, for distributing an article from the Internet considered to be an insult to the Prophet Muhammad. The student, Sayed Parwiz Kambakhsh, 23, also works for a local newspaper. There has been no comment from the White House or NATO commanders in Afghanistan. See New York Times article.

WATCH THE VIDEO ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS- Thousands of people have viewed the new video on the persecution of Iraqi Christians that is streaming from the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet site. Please send the link to others to view! Click here to view the 20 minute video prepared by the Chaldean Church. More information is available at www.christianrefugees.blogspot.com

VISIT OUR INTERNET STORE

OUR INTERNET STORE - We have lots of great Christian themed products at our Internet store. Not only are there books and CD's, but everything from candy to jewelry. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. Please take a look. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com.
Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.