Week Ending March 7, 2008 - Washington, DC

Huckabee departs with dignity / McCain makes his case to conservatives / Global Aids bill moves to the Senate / Pelosi's do nothing Congress / California court outlaws home schooling / Muslims in Gaza celebrate murder of children. (See Video) / NOTE: This update was distributed late because of my participation in various meetings including the John McCain speech to CNP in New Orleans.

TWO NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The January 25, 2008 and February 13, 2008 issues of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report is now available online. These new issues contain information on Pledge petition deliveries to the Senate and details of the Democrat party drive to turn the Global AIDS fund into a honey pot for abortion groups. Includes more stories about "freedom" in Saudi Arabia. Both new reports are in PDF format.

THE PRESIDENT

MCCAIN TO LEAD GOP - I was in Dallas, Texas with Gov. Mike Huckabee when he announced with dignity and honor that he had done his best, but McCain had won the required delegates to become the Republican nominee for the presidency. The 71 year old Senator McCain, whose mindset is somewhere between the Nixon and Reagan eras, will now lead the party to a probable defeat in November unless the Democrat primary drags on and somehow Clinton and Obama can destroy each other. Read about my meeting with Mike Huckabee and my take on his conceding the election by clicking here.

MCCAIN AND THE CONSERVATIVES - Shortly after obtaining enough delegates to claim the 2008 Republican nomination for the presidency, John McCain spoke at the luncheon for a premier conservative group, the Council on National Policy (CNP). I was there when he had 40 minutes to win over both economic and social conservatives who have huge differences with him on policy as defined by his voting record in the Senate and public pronouncements. The question of his relationship with the Deity was also addressed. Click here for my on-the-site personal report of his speech and the discussion that followed.

THE HOUSE

NOT MUCH HERE - Radical leftist Speaker Pelosi has turned the House into a platform of political attacks for election year and not much is getting done. There have been over 70 votes on pulling our troops out of Iraq. Each votes requires debate, taking huge amounts of time. She now plans a variety of hearings she hopes will assist the Democrats in winning elections in November.

THE SENATE

GLOBAL AIDS - The PEPFAR bill that covers spending of billions of dollars moves from the House to the Senate this week. The House version, while better than it was, eliminates protected abstinence funding (33% of prevention funds), replacing it with a non-binding, undefined mush that gives no clear direction on abstinence. There is dissension among social conservatives whether the "mush" is better than nothing and if a fight should be waged in the Senate.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

CALIFORNIA OUTLAWS HOME SCHOOLERS- In an astonishing court decision, the state of California has made 166,000 home school parents outlaws. The California teachers' union cheered the decision as a way to defeat "religious people" and properly teach the young about sex. Click here for complete details.

TWO NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The January 25, 2008 and February 13, 2008 issues of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report is now available online. These new issues contain information on Pledge petition deliveries to the Senate and details of the Democrat party drive to turn the Global AIDS fund into a honey pot for abortion groups. Includes more stories about "freedom" in Saudi Arabia. Both new reports are in PDF format.

INTERNATIONAL

HONORED FOR MURDER - Gaza's streets filled with joyous crowds of thousands following a terror attack at a Jerusalem rabbinical seminary in which eight young students were killed, among them a 16 year old American and a 15 year old French boy. Muslims in Gaza City and northern Gaza went to perform the prayers of thanksgiving In mosques as armed men fired in the air in celebration. Free sweets where passed out in the streets as part of the celebration of the murders of the young students. The response in Europe has been to warn Israel not to retaliate for the crime. (Watch the 3 minute video of the celebration on Youtube.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.