August 14, 2009 - Washington, DC

Obamama-care and abortion ./ Obama says government health care will be like post office / Fewer jets for globetrotting Congress? / The August recess / Rightwing extremist report from Homeland Security was produced by surfing the web / Christian women tortured in Iranian jail / Christian orphanage workers beheaded / Ariel, Samaria is threatened / Justice for Ami

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA CARE AND ABORTION -TV and the print media have zeroed in on the town hall meetings held by Senators and congressmen on the health care issue pushed by President Obama. Usually angry demonstrators talking about "socialized medicine" are featured, but those who come to the town hall meetings to talk about our taxes paying for abortion are ignored. For social conservatives the core issue with Obama care should be the abortion mandates that have been written in for the abortion industry. Under the current House provisions the "public option" would pay for abortions. In addition, the government could force private insurance to make abortion coverage a requirement. For social conservatives there is also the issue of paying for sex-change operations with taxpayer dollars. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) admits publicly that abortion is covered under Obama-care.

OBAMA COMPARES HIS PLAN TO POST OFFICE - What a gaff, but don't expect to hear about it from NBC News. Trying to convince the public that government run health insurance would not unfairly compete with private insurance, he compared his plan to the Post Office. He told a live audience that "Fed-X and UPS are doing just fine" and that it is "... the Post Office that's always having problems." This was about the most honest statement he has made to date about his health care agenda. Unlike lean insurance companies competing against each other, the government run option would be operated like any other bureaucracy. Just last year Medicare made over $10 billion in improper payouts that it learned about only later. How many billions of dollars were actually wasted by Medicare will never be known. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. Actual video of Obama's comment.

THE CONGRESS

FEWER GLOBE-TROTTING JETS FOR CONGRESSMEN - Last week I mentioned that the House had authorized the purchase of six new luxury jets for themselves before leaving for the August recess. The outcry of voters has caused them to scale the order back to just two jets, one as big as a 737. Average cost of use will be about $6,000 a hour.

THE AUGUST RECESS - Both the House and Senate have now gone into August recess and will not return until after Labor Day, which falls on September 7th this year.

HATE CRIMES "AMENDMENT - There was no way to stop the Thought Crimes legislation pushed by radical Democrats in Congress .... BUT ... Senator Sam Brownback was able to add an amendment in the Senate to protect religious speech. Without his amendment it could literally be against the law to quote the Bible on issues of homosexuality. The Brownback amendment was agreed to by an overwhelming majority of the Senate, with a vote of 78-13. Although passed in the Senate, his amendment is not in the House version of the bill. That means it is up to a House-Senate conference committee to decide if it will be in the final bill. Because "Hate Crimes" legislation was attached to a defense authorization bill it is important to contact members of the House Armed Services Committee, both Democrat and Republican, on this issue. Contact List Let them know how you feel about the Brownback Amendment to "Hate Crimes."

CULTURE AND RELIGION

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SURFING THE WEB FOR RIGHT-WING THREATS? - One of the first acts of Homeland Security under Obama was to issue a report on the "dangers of rightwing extremist groups". The report targeted "single issue" groups such as those opposing abortion. Americans for Limited Government filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Homeland Security, asking for the supporting evidence they had used to compile the report. What they got back was a list of website URL's to various media reports. There was absolutely no substantiating evidence to back up the report. See full story.

ALL NEW AUGUST CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new August 5, 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 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.

CHRISTIAN WOMEN TORTURED IN IRAN

Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh, have been imprisoned and tortured in one of Iran's most brutal prisons because they converted to Christianity. In a hearing on August 10th, they were offered the opportunity to recant their faith in Jesus. Their response: "We will not deny our faith." There has been virtually no reporting by the mainstream media on the arrest of these two young women or their condition in jail. Assyrian News Agency, Also see WND.com

INTERNATIONAL

CHRISTIAN ORPHANAGE WORKERS BEHEADED - Four Christian aid workers kidnapped by Muslims in Somalia have been beheaded. The "apostates" were told they could save their lives by returning to Islam. After they refused the offer, they were beheaded for "apostasy." A spokesman for the murderous Islamic group called Al-Shabaab, said the bodies would be returned because "Somalia does not have cemeteries for infidels." Read more. More than 250 other innocent civilians and aid workers have been murdered by Muslims in the last seven days in nations such as Russia, India, Jordan, Thailand, Iraq and Afghanistan. See list.

OUR ARIEL MISSION THREATENED - Just before he had a fatal stroke, I talked with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. At the time he made a promise about the town of Ariel in Samaria (some call Samaria the West Bank.) He promised me that Ariel, where we support missions work, would continue to be a part of Israel. Under the Bush presidency that appeared to be true, but President Obama is pushing hard for Israel to not only give up Ariel, but to shrink itself to an area smaller than the city of Houston, Texas. Currently Obama wants construction halted inside of Ariel. See Jerusalem Post article.

JUSTICE FOR AMI - Soon the Religious Freedom Coalition will participate in a petition drive asking the Ambassador of Israel to seek justice for Ami Ortiz. Ami is the son of David and Leah Ortiz who operate a mission to both Israeli and Palestinian Christians in Ariel. Ami was severely injured by a bomb planted by some radical ultra conservative Jews, because the Ortiz family are Messianic Christians. Ami spent many months in the hospital. The police are not cooperating with the investigation and the family is seeking pressure to be put on the Israeli government by evangelicals. Read Ami's story.

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqichristianrefugees.org.

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.

August 8, 2009 - Washington, DC

Is Obama caring or aloof? / Obama's "Mandate" / Obama and the murdered Christians / The White House snitch system / Pelosi's Nazi claims are bogus / New luxury jets for Congress / Hate Crimes / Obama care will pay for sex changes / The August recess / New Chairman's report / More Christians murdered in Pakistan

THE PRESIDENCY

A CARING PRESIDENT -The White House "beer summit" was supposed to bring together the "stupid" white police officer and the elderly black professor he arrested. The final result was a telling photograph that shows President Obama walking away from his old friend as the cop, who had been declared a racist by Obama's allies, helps the elderly black gentleman down the stairs. The body language of the photograph shows a self-centered and aloof president. Click here or on photo is see larger image at the White House site.

OBAMA'S MANDATE - Last November the nation's financial systems were broken and average Americans did not believe the system could be fixed by an elderly Senator who was a Washington insider. The people gave a mandate to Barack Obama to try to fix the economy. But Obama thought otherwise. He saw his victory as a mandate for homosexual marriage, abortions paid for by taxpayers and a radical social agenda that includes censorship of ideas he does not accept. In the "health reform" battle he is suddenly faced with the reality that the majority who voted for him do not support his radical socialist agenda that even Europe has abandoned. His reaction has been to put in place at the White House a system to spy on the citizens. He has requested that his "true" followers send an e-mail to a special address at the White House to report on anyone who is "fishy" about health care reform. The definition of "fishy" is anyone who disagrees with the radical Obama/Pelosi agenda.

NOT A WORD TO PAKISTAN ON MURDERS - President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, have not said a word about the massacre of Christians in Pakistan on August 1, 2009. Not wanting to offend Muslims, it seems that Barack Obama has decided that the murder of Christians in Muslim nations is not something that is of any concern to him. More in International section

THE CONGRESS

IS NANCY PELOSI JUST FLAT OUT NUTS? - On a taped interview Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that those opposing the radical nationalized health care system she supports had worn "Nazi swastikas" to congressional town hall meetings. This is of course a lie. Some people have carried signs that say they don't want the Nazi type legislation Nancy Pelosi proposes. Far from promoting Nazism, they want to stop the fascist agenda that is emanating from Washington, DC. See Examiner story.

NEW JETS FOR GLOBE-TROTTING - Before leaving town on their August recess the Congress ordered up six more aircraft to joy ride on that the military didn't want. Apparently congressmen and Senators have the need for speed to travel overseas and don't have time for commercial flights ... Just a few months ago congressmen and Senators were berating CEO's for using corporate jets. Congress also recently upped its expense allowances. The Wall Street Journal had the best story on this, but it is a paid service. Read the Fox News take on it here.

THE AUGUST RECESS - Both the House and Senate have now gone into August recess and will not return until after Labor Day which is September 7th this year. Many congressmen and Senators are holding town-hall meetings in their districts and they are getting an earful about health care. What went wrong? The people learned the truth. Barack Obama said he wanted to provide health insurance for those who did not have it.Most people agreed with that until they learned that they would probably have to give up their own policies and pay higher taxes. His plan also reduces the care for the elderly by dismantling Medicare Advantage and then reducing allowable expenditures for the nation's senior citizens.

HATE CRIMES AMENDMENT - There was no way to stop the Thought Crimes legislation pushed by radical Democrats in Congress .... BUT ... Senator Sam Brownback was able to add an amendment in the Senate to protect religious speech. Without his amendment it could literally be against the law to quote the Bible on issues of homosexuality. The Brownback amendment was agreed to by an overwhelming majority of the Senate, with a vote of 78-13. Although passed in the Senate, his amendment is not in the House version of the bill. That means it is up to a House-Senate conference committee to decide if it will be in the final bill. Because "Hate Crimes" legislation was attached to a defense authorization bill it is important to contact members of the House Armed Services Committee, both Democrat and Republican, on this issue. Contact List Let them know how you feel about the Brownback Amendment to "Hate Crimes."

CULTURE AND RELIGION

OBAMA CARE TO PAY FOR SEX CHANGES? - At a hearing this week Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT) asked if President Obama's helath care plan will mandate taxpayer funded abortions. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said yes. She said that it will require "any service deemed medically necessary or medically appropriate." "Medically appropriate" will cover more than abortion on demand. It will also include "gender reassignment" surgeries for both U.S. citizens and illegal immigrants. For those who do not understand the language of government, "gender reassignment" means "sex change operation" at a cost of about $50,000 per procedure. This cost does not include the hormone treatments that are required for life that will also be paid for with our taxes.

STEALING THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD - In Europe radical environmentalists and animal rights advocates have been burning the homes of executives of drug companies. They have vandalized the cars of employees and even attacked businesses that buy their products. One executive's home was burned and his cremated mother's ashes stolen. Read more. Because they radicals refuse to accept God's plan in the Bible they choice the "green religion" that permits acts of violence towards humanity.

ALL NEW AUGUST CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new August 5, 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 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.

INTERNATIONAL

MORE CHRISTIANS MURDERED IN PAKISTAN - Just days ago Christians in Pakistan were attacked by Muslim mobs and eight were burned to death in their homes according to the media. E-mails I have received from pastors there say 14 people were burned to death including wome n and children. More than 50 homes were burned down.

The Pakistani government did little until European leaders demanded intervention. President Obama said nothing. There was no comment from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the burning of Christian homes, the beatings, or the murders. There was no comment from conservative leaders in Congress and there was no comment about the massacre from America's Christian leaders.

President Obama is about to take yet another tour of Africa and I am sure he will talk about his "respect" for Islam as he did during his last trip to northern Africa. Apparently his "respect" for Islam is so great that his eyes are closed to the suffering of Christians in Muslim nations such as Pakistan. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and apparently conservative leaders as well, see Pakistan as an "ally" rather than the breeding ground for terror that it is. See news feed

FACEBOOK FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The Religious Freedom Coalition has a Facebook page to expose the crisis faced by Iraqi Christians. If you have a Facebook account, please become our friend at this link. You can help Iraqi Christians directly by making a donation at the Facebook cause page! Learn more here!

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqichristianrefugees.org.

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 July 31, 2009 - Washington, DC

Obama's approval rating drops to under 50% / Obama has 39% who "strongly disapprove" of him / President's "science adviser" doesn't think babies are human beings / Democrat leader has "You pay but I don't" tax morality / Brownback's Hate Crimes Amendment must stay / August recess and the "blue dogs" / Brothels in Rhode Island / Egyptian children on TV say "kill Jews"

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA'S POLL NUMBERS DROP HARD - -According to Rasmussen's daily tracking polls, Barack Obama had an approval rating of 65% on January 21st. That has now dropped to just 48%. Not only do 52% disapprove of his performance as president, but those that "strongly disapprove" outnumber those who "strongly approve." As of today only 28% "strongly approve" of Barack Obama's performance as president, while 39% "strongly disapprove." In the "strongly" category he is at a minus 11 points! Most of this is due to his extreme positions on abortion, homosexuality, environmentalism and socialized health care.

HOW NUTS ARE OBAMA'S CZARS? - Obama's science czar made the proclamation that sometime after a baby is born it "will ultimately develop into a human being." John P. Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, not only believes that unborn babies are not human beings, be doesn't even believe babies are human beings after birth. Read more To make matters worse, Barack Obama has appointed many "czars" to oversee a wide range of issues including health and energy. Congressman Jack King (R-GA) has prepared an interesting video on "Czarist America."

THE CONGRESS

MORALITY AND TAXES - Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel, is leading the charge for a new 5.4-percent income tax surcharge. He calls it "the moral thing to do." However, his own morality when it comes to taxes is in question.

Rangel purchased a rental property in 1987 at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic. Thing is, Mr. Rangel has apparently not been reporting rental income from the luxury beach-front villa. The villa is rented out most of the year at $500 a night in the low season and over $1,000 a night in the high season. For the years 2004 and 2005, he reported no more than $5,000 in rental income per year, and in 2006 and 2007 no income at all from the property.

Chairman Rangel also reported a home in Washington, DC as his primary residence, instead of his home in New York, to escape property taxes. He rents four apartments for himself in New York at special "controlled" rates that were intended to allow those in poverty to be able to hold on to apartments in that expensive city. He is considered a "hardship" case to receive the rates. He maintains an office in one of the apartments which is against the "rent control" rules.

When Rangel leaves Congress, we will pay him a six figure retirement figure each year while he lounges in his villa in the Dominican Republic. But don't worry, he is making sure that you and I pay our fair share of taxes to support him. Congressman Rangel has a leading role in increasing taxes to pay for Barack Obama's extreme socialist agenda. See WSJ editorial

HATE CRIMES "AMENDMENT - There was no way to stop the Thought Crimes legislation pushed by radical Democrats in Congress .... BUT ... Senator Sam Brownback was able to add an amendment in the Senate to protect religious speech. Without his amendment it could literally be against the law to quote the Bible on issues of homosexuality. The Brownback amendment was agreed to by an overwhelming majority of the Senate, with a vote of 78-13. Although passed in the Senate, his amendment is not in the House version of the bill. That means it is up to a House-Senate conference committee to decide if it will be in the final bill. Because "Hate Crimes" legislation was attached to a defense authorization bill it is important to contact members of the House Armed Services Committee, both Democrat and Republican, on this issue. Contact List Let them know how you feel about the Brownback Amendment to "Hate Crimes."

THE AUGUST RECESS - The House should adjourn today for their annual August recess. The Senate should adjourn next Friday. Most congressmen will spend most of the recess in their districts holding "town-hall' meetings and raising funds for their reelections next year. We can only pity the 56 "blue dog" Democrats in the House who were elected in conservative districts. Most have voted for the extreme radical agenda placed before them by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They must face the fact that the "health reform" pushed by Democrat leaders uses tax dollars not only to pay for abortions, but for the extremely expensive sex change operations for the mentally unstable.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

BROTHELS IN RHODE ISLAND - Salon 657 is located in Middleton, Rhode Island behind the Gateway Barber Shop at 657 W. Main Road. It is located next to a pizzeria and family restaurant, Tito's Cantina.

Salon 657 advertises in the "adult entertainment" section of the Providence Phoenix. Services offered are $100 per hour, which includes "a complementary cocktail. Make no mistake; this is not a massage parlor, it is a brothel. Prostitution is legal in two states, Nevada and Rhode Island. There are numerous brothels in Rhode Island including Spa81 in Providence. While the two I mentioned offer "American women," most are operated by Asians and the prostitutes are most likely forcibly trafficked. The legality of prostitution in this small state has only come to light recently after a prosecuting attorney there agreed to allow 16 year old girls to perform in strip clubs -- as long as they got off work by 11:00 PM on school nights! Read analysis

ALL NEW JULY CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new July 15, 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 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 view

INTERNATIONAL

CHILDREN ON EGYPTIAN TV WANT TO KILL JEWS - The United States gives hundreds of millions of dollars to the "moderate" government of Egypt. It was in Egypt that Barack Obama declared his "respect" for Islam earlier this year. So, let's take a look at a children's program in Egypt. View clip here. It is astonishing to see young children calling for the "annihilation" of an entire race, yet this is also done in most of the mosques in America as well. Click here to see a list of other clips from Egyptian TV.

FACEBOOK FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The Religious Freedom Coalition has a Facebook page to expose the crisis faced by Iraqi Christians. If you have a Facebook account, please become our friend at this link. You can help Iraqi Christians directly by making a donation at the Facebook cause page! Learn more here!

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqichristianrefugees.org.

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.