October 23, 2009 - Washington, DC

The "Chavez gene" in Obama / White House censorship of Fox News backfires / Thought crimes passes both House and Senate ... Obama to host big gay event for signing / Senator wants no illegals counted in census / The Prayer Caucus / Liberals review a conservative book that has not even been released / How the left loves to censor / Gays want names of marriage supporters in order to attack them / An "Honor Hit and Run" in Arizona / More on Iraqi Christian refugees

Make your Sunday school aware of issues they don't read about in local newspapers. Print out this update and distribute it to your class. Please consider forwarding this update to them and recommend that they subscribe.

THE PRESIDENCY

THE CHAVEZ IN OBAMA - Venezuela had a free press until just a few years ago. At first Hugo Chavez, the far left Fidel Castro-loving president of Venezuela, criticized the media that opposed him. Then his supporters arranged advertising boycotts. Then the news studios were invaded by Chavez sympathizers. Then Chavez shut down radio stations that "lied" about him. Then entire TV and radio stations had their broadcast licenses revoked. MEANWHILE: In the USA President Obama and other White House officials have been critical of Fox News and have refused to appear on any Fox News programs. Leftist supporters of Obama have called for advertising boycotts against Fox News programs such as the Glenn Beck Show. It follows a pattern, a pattern of the left which always moves to censor what it does not want the public to hear. Read more For more censorship by the left see Culture and Religion section below  
FOX CENSORSHIP BACKFIRES - I really wish I could have seen the expression on Barack Obama's face when he got the news that the liberal media would not go along with his censorship attempt against Fox News. On Thursday "pay czar" Kenneth Feinberg was made available for interviews to the White House media pool (except for Fox News). Stunned by the blatant attempt at media manipulation, the Washington bureau chiefs of the five TV networks decided that no one would participate in the Feinberg interview unless Fox News was also allowed to participate. The Obama Administration was forced to relent and include Fox News. Read more
MAKE COMMENTS - You can make comments on this and other articles in these updates at www.MurrayOnTheHill.com

THE CONGRESS

THOUGHT CRIMES PASSES HOUSE - A total of 131 Republicans voted against the Department of Defense Authorization bill because of the far left social agenda legislation in this bill, including "hate crimes" legislation. Democrats will now use the vote to claim Republicans voted against "funding the troops." We need to stand by the brave men and women who held onto their convictions and voted against a radical social agenda even though they placed themselves at political risk. Click here to view the full list of House Members who voted against the so called "hate Crimes" legislation in the DOD authorization. (HR-2647) GOP names in italics. Some Democrats voted against HR-2647 because they hate the military, not because they object to the "hate crimes" legislation. Congressman Forbes (R-VA) comments.  
THOUGHT CRIMES PASSES SENATE - Senate Democrats followed radical House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in adding "Thought Crimes" legislation to the must-pass military spending bill. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) said, "The inclusion of the controversial language of the hate crimes legislation, which is unrelated to our national defense, is deeply troubling." And Senator Jim DeMint, (R-SC) said the bill would "serve as a warning to people not to speak out too loudly about their religious views." If signed into law by Obama it will be tested by thousands of religious leaders in the United States who will preach a message that homosexuality is immoral. Let's see how many of us Obama can jail!
SENATOR SAYS NO TO COUNTING ILLEGALS - Do you want your state to lose congressmen to southern California because several million illegals live there? Senator Vitter (R-LA) has presented an amendment to a spending bill for the Census that would allow only those legally in the country to be counted. Without his Amendment, his state and several others will lose congressmen to areas with large illegal populations that don't even have the legal right to vote. Read more. WHAT CAN'T BE STOPPED: Many pro-illegal groups want the census to DOUBLE the count of Hispanics so those who "hide" will be counted. What if every legal citizen in the USA added just one non-existant" person to their census form? Would that make up for all the illegals being counted? Just a thought.
THE PRAYER CAUCUS -Congressman Randy Forbes and the Prayer Caucus consistently fight for the religious heritage of our nation. The group, led by Forbes, successfully had "One Nation Under God" placed in the new Congressional Visitor Center and has filed briefs in the Supreme Court to defend religious sites in the nation. Lean more about the Prayer Caucus.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

LIBERALS GIVE BAD REVIEWS OF BOOK BEFORE IT'S RELEASED - Check out "The Right Hook: From the Ring to the Culture War" by my friend Matt Barber at Amazon.com and you will see all sorts of negative reviews written by left-wingers. Only one problem: the conservative pro-family book has not been released yet, and those writing these reviews could not possibly have read it! Many of the attacks on the book are actually personal attacks on Barber, which figures, because liberals are incapable of debating ideas and concepts. Read more  
THE LEFT LOVES TO CENSOR - I have reported on conservative Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders and his film Fitna, which reveals the dark side of Islamic violence. He was refused entry into Great Britain because of the "hate" he exhibited by quoting verses from the Koran. (He won that case and entered the UK last month.) Liberals who support radical Islam showed up at Temple University this week to shout down and boo him. His greatest sin, as seen by liberals, was saying that "our Western culture is far better than the Islamic culture and we should defend it." Often liberals will show up at campus events for the sole purpose of censoring conservative speakers, many times with violence. Read more See related story about BBC
GAYS WANT NAMES AND ADDRESSES IN ORDER TO ATTACK PEOPLE - Homosexuals have demanded the names and addresses of those who are supporting traditional marriage in the state of Washington. They want the names to launch personal attacks and start boycotts of businesses as they did in California. This week the Supreme Court in an 8-1 vote, issued an order preventing the release of the names and personal information of over 138,000 signers of a pro-marriage referendum petition. The order will prevent homosexual hate groups from posting the information online and calling for violent acts against the signers. Read more
OCTOBER 8, 2009 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new October 8, 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 111th Congress, and also about our work on international issues. Help your Sunday School class understand these issues better. Print out and distribute the Chairman's Report to your class or fellowship this Sunday! Click here to review.

VISIT OUR GREAT INTERNET STORE

PLEASE VISIT OUR STORE - We have a great Internet store with thousands of books, CD's, DVD's, and even Christian jewelry ... OK ... We are not as cheap as Amazon, but we don't sell porn and Satanic cult materials either. Please check out or store!

INTERNATIONAL

NOT IRAQI ENOUGH? - Not wanting to admit that Iraqi Christians were persecuted, the Bush Administration gave immigration status to ten times as many Iraqi Muslims as Christians. While Christians lived in fear and poverty in Iraq, Jordan and Syria, Muslim Iraqis were given an entrance to America. THE RESULT: A Muslim Iraqi father ran down his daughter in Arizona because of her "Western values." The media in Arizona refused to refer to Islam and instead said the act was because she wasn't acting "Iraqi" enough. Hmmm. Christian Iraqis moving to the USA don't seem to have problems like this. When will the government recognize what has happened and help those who need help -- the Iraqi Christians? See story  
IRAQI CHRISTIAN REFUGEES - The persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ who fled Iraq has gotten worse since our troops left the cities. Rather than Christians returning to Iraq, more are making their way to Jordan and Syria. Our ministry is barred from operating in Syria, but our feeding and medical program continues in Jordan. A third shipment of medical supplies has been delivered, and last week we funded our feeding program in Amman for another three months. Your help is still needed.
SPECIAL IRAQI UPDATE - Our ministry partner from Jordan will be in Washington, DC in November, and arrangements have been made to visit several congressional offices. We will also prepare a large shipment of medical supplies to be sent back to the clinic we support in Jordan, enough to last through November and December. Please help financially with these projects.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE How about birthday or anniversary 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.

Week Ending February 29, 2008 - Washington, DC

Is oil up or is the dollar down? / Protect America Act still stuck in House - Security of our nation at risk / Global Aids bill (PEPFAR) deal reached / Pelosi says no to protecting America / Victories in the Senate: Indian Health bill goes pro-life / Ultrasound becomes a federal issue / One in four Americans changed their faith / Professor to be jailed and whipped for having coffee with student

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

PROTECT AMERICA - This morning I participated in a White House conference call on the Protect America Act which Speaker Nancy Pelosi has allowed to expire. White House spokesman are making it very clear to anyone who will listen that our national security is at risk. There are now reports separate from the White House that indicate our intelligence services cannot obtain information on possible terrorist activity because of the refusal of the House to extend this bill. See the House section for more details.

OIL IS NOT UP, THE DOLLAR IS DOWN - In January of 2001 as George W. Bush was being sworn in the US dollar was worth more than a Euro. A Euro could be bought for just 93 cents. As of today it takes $1.47 to buy one Euro. The price of a oil in Europe has been virtually unchanged for the last 12 months at about 65 Euros a barrel. If the value of the dollar were the same as it was in January, 2001 oil would cost less than $60 a barrel and gasoline would be under $2.00 a gallon. The Bush Administration, Wall Street and the Federal Reserve have deliberately allowed the dollar to fall to "help exports." Someone needs to explain to me how $3.00 plus a gallon gas helps drive exports.

THE HOUSE

GLOBAL AIDS BILL STAYS PRO-LIFE - With the death of committee chairman Tom Lantos the controversy of the Global AIDS Bill (known as PEPFAR) has ended. Democrat and Republican leaders have written a compromise bill that restored pro-life previsions that were so acceptable a voice vote was used to approve it in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Lantos version would have eliminated all pro-life language and made the bill a honey pot for abortion groups. Click here for summary of compromise bill. NOTE: PEPFAR is great as is, however, there is no guarantee that radical speaker Nancy Pelosi will not try to turn it back into a fund to abort little black babies in Africa.

PROTECT AMERICA? PELOSI SAYS NO - Despite intense pressure from the White House and the bipartisan passage by an overwhelming majority in the Senate radical Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refuses to allow a vote on the Protect America Act. This is not about policy, it is about cash. Trial lawyers give huge amounts of money to democrat congressmen. The Protect America Act prohibits trial lawyers from suing telephone companies that give data on terrorists to our government. Pelosi wants the trial lawyers to be able to sue the phone companies on behalf of those suspected of terror ties.

THE SENATE

INDIAN HEALTH ACT VICTORY - This week the U.S. Senate passed Senator David Vitter's amendment to S.1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, prohibiting the use of federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds for abortions, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest of a minor. On winning Senator Vitter said, "This is truly an important victory for the pro-life movement and for the unborn. We now need to work to make sure that this provision remains in the final bill as it continues to House-Senate legislative conference."

PRO-HEALTH OR PRO-ABORTION? - The Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act (S-1042) which is sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican leader McConnell may actually help abortion clinics get more clients. The bill would add numerous restrictions on the use of ultrasound that could force crisis pregnancy clinics to stop the service. The use of ultrasound machines to show women their unborn babies saves countless lives each year. Our office is working for clarification on various aspects of this "bipartisan" bill and will keep you informed.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS CHANGED THEIR FAITH?- About one in four Americans have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion. If changes from one Protestant denomination to another are included in the figures then almost one out of two have changed their faith or denomination. While atheists represent only a few percent, the number of non-churched is staggering. The PEW survey found that those unaffiliated with a particular faith is over 16% and in the ages 18-29, that number jumps to about 25%. Click here for full survey details.

OUR OTHER INTERNET SITES -have you visited my other sites? Read about and watch a video about my 2007 fact finding mission on Iraqi Christian refugees at: www.christianrefugees.blogspot.com

Which is better to stimulate the economy, tax rebates or fixing the nations roads? Check www.roadsnotrebates.com.

Would you like to make comments on these updates? They can be read and commented on at www.murrayonthehill.com.

My Political action committee site can be viewed at www.gingpac.org.

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

ISRAEL TO INVADE GAZA - New Iranian rockets smuggled into the Gaza Strip are raining down even deeper into Israel killing and maiming Israeli women and children. The response of the Western media is to show photos of a dead Palestinian child they claim was killed by Israel return fire. After nearly two years and thousands of rocket attacks Israel may finally have had enough. An invasion of the Gaza Strip that would include the arrest of HAMAS leaders and a "change in regime" could come within the next week. Click here for more.

SAUDI PROFESSOR TO BE WHIPPED - A university professor in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 180 lashes and eight months in jail for having coffee with a female student. His lawyer says the well-respected Saudi teacher of psychology at Umm al-Qra University in Mecca, was framed by the religious police. Dr Abu Ruzaiz, a married man in his late 50s did not know the student would be alone when he arrived at the coffee shop, he said. Earlier this month I reported on a 37-year-old American businesswoman who was thrown in jail for sitting with a male colleague at a Starbucks coffee shop. When we allow Sharia law in the United States the same arrests will occur here. Click here for UK story.

DEATH FOR INTERNET ARTICLE PART V - We are headed to month three since an Afghan student, Sayed Parwiz Kambakhsh, was sentenced to death for copying a paper from the Internet that the courts there deemed "blasphemous" to Islam. Advocates of religious freedom should contact their congressman and ask them for information on what is being done to save this man's life.

Visit this site: http://thereligionofpeace.com/

JUST IN - ARCHBISHOP KIDNAPPED - Gunmen have kidnapped the archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and killed three of his aides, his church says. See BBC story.

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.