PITTSBURGH, PRNewswire/ — Republican voters remain divided over which candidate they prefer in the 2016 presidential race, with three polling over 10 percent and four others close behind, according to a nationwide poll by the Robert Morris University Polling Institute Powered by Trib Total Media.
The poll showed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (15.4 percent), Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (14.6 percent) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (13.8 percent) contending to lead a crowded field. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (7.5 percent), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (7.5 percent), Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (7.1 percent) and Dr. Ben Carson (6.7 percent) — polled within 10 points of the leader.
“The big loser in this poll is Rand Paul, who only received 2.0 percent of the Republicans surveyed,” said RMU political scientist Philip Harold.
Among Democrats polled, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (55.8 percent) held what would seem to be an insurmountable lead over Vice President Joe Biden (8.0 percent), Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (4.8 percent) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (2.9 percent). The poll was completed before former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced he would seek the Democratic nomination, but he nonetheless registered support at 0.6 percent.
METHODOLOGY: The poll sampled opinions of 1,003 adults approximately proportional to state population contribution nationwide. The survey was conducted May 8-16, 2015 using an online survey instrument. The poll has a +/- 3.0 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level on a composite basis.
ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY:
Through 60 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs across five academic schools, Robert Morris University (RMU) in Pittsburgh, Pa., works to change its students’ lives so that they can go out and change the lives of others for the better. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate, nontraditional and online students from 47 states and 39 nations are enrolled at RMU, just 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. Learn more at rmu.edu.
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Only six of 54 Republican members of the Senate signed a pro-traditional marriage legal brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that was submitted on Friday. USA Todaynoted, “By contrast, 44 Democratic senators and 167 Democratic House members filed a brief last month urging the court to approve same-sex marriage. The brief included the full House and Senate [Democratic] leadership teams.”
A brief to the court filed by Liberty Counsel notes that, in the past, the Supreme Court has upheld marriage as “a foundational social institution that is necessarily defined as the union of one man and one woman.” It cites the case of Skinner v. Oklahoma, in which marriage was declared to be “fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race,” and Maynard v. Hill, in which marriage was declared “the foundation of the family and of society, without which there would be neither civilization nor progress.”
Liberty Counsel said the court is being asked to affirm a false notion of marriage based upon fraudulent data about homosexual activity in society. It said, “For the past 67 years, scholars, lawyers and judges have undertaken fundamental societal transformation by embracing Alfred Kinsey’s statistically and scientifically fraudulent ‘data’ derived from serial child rapists, sex offenders, prisoners, prostitutes, pedophiles and pederasts. Now these same change agents, still covering up the fraudulent nature of the Kinsey ‘data,’ want this Court to utilize it to demolish the cornerstone of society, natural marriage.”
The homosexual movement has long maintained that Kinsey validated changes in sexual behavior that were already taking place in society. In fact, however, the evidence uncovered by Dr. Judith Reisman shows that Kinsey deliberately exaggerated those changes in a fraudulent manner by using data from pedophiles and prisoners.
Commenting on the impact of the acceptance of the fraudulent Kinsey data, Accuracy in Media founder Reed Irvine noted, “Gradually over the years, acceptance of the Kinsey morality has grown to the point where premarital and extramarital sex raise no eyebrows, where, in some communities, out-of-wedlock births are in the majority, homosexuality is glorified and aggressively promoted in our schools and the last taboo—adults having sex with young children—is now under attack in some of our institutions of higher learning.”
Leaders of the 2012 Republican National Convention Committee on the Platform and the Republican Conservative Steering Committee filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court urging the Court to consider the societal benefits of traditional marriage as it considers whether to uphold Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky laws protecting such marriage.
The Brief argues that the states have an important interest in protecting and promoting traditional marriage and family as the foundation of a free society.
“The Republican Party has sought to protect and promote traditional marriage and family as the foundation of a free society, since the success of traditional families minimizes the need for government programs and intervention and because traditional families form a bulwark against the growth of government and its excesses. As a result, many states have protected and promoted traditional marriage in pursuit of this important government interest, often with bipartisan support, and their laws that do so are thereby constitutional,” explains attorney James Bopp, Jr., an amicus and lead counsel for all amici.
The friends-of-the-Court are members of the leadership of the 2012 Republican National Convention Committee on the Platform: Co-Chairman of the Committee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Co-Chairmen of the Subcommittees with jurisdiction over marriage and family James Bopp, Jr. (Subcommittee on We the People: A Restoration of Constitutional Government) and Carolyn McLarty (Subcommittee on Renewing American Values to Build Healthy Families, Great Schools and Safe Neighborhoods).
In addition, the Republican Conservative Steering Committee, an independent organization comprising the majority of the current members of the Republican National Committee, is also an amicus. The Steering Committee voted to approve submission of the Brief.
The Brief explains that, since its inception, the Republican Party has been the champion of equality, individual freedom and limited government and, as a result, of the family.
“The Republican Party has always stood for equality, individual freedom, and limited government, and traditional marriage and family helps ensure that,” says attorney and amicus Bopp.
“The Party’s motivation for its pro-family policies has never been about ill will towards any American and, historically, has had nothing whatsoever to do with same-sex marriage. It is quite the opposite: every American deserves the opportunity at the very best chance of success in this country, without government dependency or intrusion, and traditional marriage helps accomplish that.” Mr. Bopp continues, “State governments have a compelling reason to protect traditional marriage and family as the foundation of a free society.”
Amicus Carolyn McLarty stated. “I am honored to be an amicus or “friend-of-the court” on this Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court. This Brief has presented a fresh argument for keeping, promoting, and protecting traditional marriage as a necessity for a free society.”
Today the Republican Conservative Steering Committee launched a petition on their website so the grassroots supporters of traditional marriage can sign in support of the Amicus Brief.
Carolyn McLarty, DVM is a retired veterinarian from Woodward, Oklahoma. She is currently the Republican National Committeewoman for Oklahoma and the Chairman of the Republican Conservative Steering Committee.
To see the Petition for Republican Voters to sign in support of the Brief see www.RepublicanCSC.com. A copy of the Amicus Brief is available at this website.
If Republicans abandon traditional marriage then who will stand against the certain evils that will follow?
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/gayop.jpg343640Dr. Rich Swierhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDr. Rich Swier2015-04-18 21:22:592015-04-18 21:36:31Republican Party Elites Abandon Traditional Marriage
A newly discovered document proves that Grover Norquist, top GOP money-man, sponsored on October 23rd, 2000 an anti-Israel pro-HAMAS and pro-Hezbollah rally in front of the White House in Lafayette Park. The rally was run and led by the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi who pleaded guilty to financing terrorism and conspiracy to assassinate then-Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. Al-Amoudi is currently serving a 23 year sentence in federal prison. Al-Amoudi who is co-founder of the Islamic Institute with Grover Norquist is seen on video in the Oct 23rd rally screaming his support for al-Qaeda and Hezbollah both of which are specially designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
The newly discovered DOCUMENT FOUND on the Islamic Institutes website in their weekly Friday brief demonstrably proves that Norquist’s organization was the organizational and CONTACT body for the EVENT dubbed: “March and Rally in Washington Against Israeli Aggression,” and states:
On October 23, 2000, there will be a march and rally in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., to protest Israel’s aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its escalating use of violence toward the Palestinian people.
The march and rally are being organized by the National Task Force for the Crisis in Jerusalem (NTFCJ), a coalition of national American Muslim organizations of which the Islamic Institute is a part. The march BEGINS at 11:00 a.m. at Freedom Plaza, and will move to Lafayette Park in front of the White House where a rally will BEGIN at 12:00pm.
It is highly important that the Muslim community in the U.S. demonstrates a show of solidarity by attending this event. A strong presence will emphasize the call of American Muslims for peace and justice in Jerusalem and Palestine. Buses are being chartered nationwide to bring supporters to Washington.
For further information, CONTACT the Islamic Institute via phone or e-mail, or the American Muslim Council at (202) 789-2262.
MEMBERS of the NTFCJ are: the American Muslim Council, the American Muslim Alliance, American Muslims for Jerusalem, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Islamic Circle of North AMERICA, the Islamic Institute, the Islamic Society of North AMERICA, the Muslim American Society, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the Muslim Student Association.
When asked by Glenn Beck if he (Grover Norquist) sponsored the event Norquist replied that it was a mistake by and intern and that his organization, the Islamic Institute, had no DIRECT involvement or planning of the rally – a DIRECT contradiction of the Organizations weekly brief.
Clearly the Islamic Institute was the primary sponsor, primary planner, primary organizer and primary leader of the anti-Israel in October of 2000 and in possible violation of 18 U.S. Code § 2339A – Providing material support to terrorists.
The United West has completed a comprehensive counter-influence operation on Capitol Hill and now takes a few minutes to reflect on the successful program. Join Tom and Mark as they share some “inside” thoughts and processes which help viewers and listeners understand some elements necessary for defeating the Muslim Brotherhood in America!
On Monday April 13th and Tuesday 14th, 2015 Muslim Terrorists walking around the United States Congress demanded that our elected Representatives change federal law thereby making it harder to investigate Muslim terrorists. I know, crazy stuff, but it is happening right in broad daylight! THANK Allah that we at The United West are experts at investigating Muslim Brotherhood terrorists and exposing their influence operations for all Americans to understand and properly respond. To accomplish this we are launching a five-part investigative series entitled: “Muslim Terrorists Lobby 114th Congress.”
Our four part series focuses on what the Members of the 114th Congress should do when the terrorists ENTER their offices. And what is that? THROW THEM OUT THE DOOR! Why in the world should an elected Member of Congress give any time to KNOWN terrorists who have a written agenda that includes destroying the essence of the Capitol building in which they are meeting! Watch this show as it is FULL of critically important information to help all Americans properly, professionally and legally DEFEAT this Muslim Brotherhood political influence operation.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/grover-norquist-capital.jpg328605Defend The Borderhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDefend The Border2015-04-16 07:53:482015-04-16 07:53:48BUSTED: Grover Norquist sponsored Terror Rally
After making his 2016 presidential campaign official Monday morning, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) made a speech to supporters in Miami on April 13th, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. EST.
“The Republican Party, for the first time in a long time, has a chance in this election to be the party of the future,” Rubio told donors in a preview of his speech. “Just yesterday, we heard from a leader from yesterday who wants to take us back to yesterday, but I feel that this country has always been about tomorrow.”
“Yesterday is over,” stated Rubio.
Learn more about the Marco Rubio campaign at MarcoRubio.com.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/marco-rubio-announcement-e1429016206467.jpg423640Dr. Rich Swierhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDr. Rich Swier2015-04-14 08:57:572015-04-14 09:07:23Rubio enters GOP Presidential Primary as ‘tomorrow’s candidate’ — says Hillary is so ‘yesterday’
In the immortal words of former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, “to every man there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and mighty work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.”
The Republican Party is currently being tapped on the shoulder and being asked to do “a great and mighty work, unique to them and fitted to their talents.”
They are being tapped on the shoulder by the Black community who are begging the Republican Party to give them a reason to vote Republican in next year’s presidential election.
The Black community gave Obama 94% of its vote in 2008, not just because he was Black; but because he said he was “change we could believe in.”
Obama said he would get the U.S. out of all these “unnecessary” wars; indirectly giving Blacks the impression that he would then redirect the money spent on war to dealing with the high Black unemployment rate, the lack of access to capital for Black entrepreneurs, shoring up the failing schools within the Black community, both secondary and college.
Six and a half years after Obama was “tapped on the shoulder;” he has indeed been found “unqualified and unprepared for the moment that could have been his (and America’s) finest hour.”
By any and all objective measurements, the Obama presidency has been an abject failure for Blacks: double digit unemployment, declining home ownership, shrinking net worth, decreasing college enrollment, especially at Black colleges, and non-existent government contracting opportunities for Black businesses just to name a few.
Republicans still have time to show the Black community that the party is prepared for this moment that could be its finest hour, but time is running out.
They need to start with something very simple: tell the Black community in no uncertain terms, that they are wanted and welcomed in the Republican Party.
Then the Congressional leadership must convene a series of private meetings with “the right” Blacks in education, business, the clergy. This is not to be confused with them meeting with Blacks that they are “comfortable” with.
Republicans have a history of favoring Blacks who will tell them what they want to hear, versus Blacks who will tell them what they need to hear.
Obama has done more to destroy Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) than any other person in this country’s history with the policies coming out of his Department of Education. What are Congressional Republicans prepared to do by way of hearings and legislation to repair this damage?
Government contracting opportunities for Black entrepreneurs has all but dried up under Obama. Banks refuse to loan money to many small business owners. What are Republicans prepared to do by way of hearings and legislation to change this?
The Black church is furious with Obama over his aggressive push for homosexual entitlements and his refusal to protect their commitment to faith if they receive government funds for after school activities for their church member’s kids. What are Republicans prepared to do by way of hearings and legislation to protect a church’s right to freely practice their faith without government interference?
Obama has intentionally done everything in his power to drive a wedge between Blacks and his administration. There is no poll that can accurately measure the disappointment and frustration Blacks have with Obama.
They are literally begging the Republican Party to give them substantive reasons to vote for them. But they first must be made to feel welcomed in the party.
The party must build relationships with the more than 200 Black newspapers in the country and spend advertising dollars with them. The party must stop being afraid to challenge the NAACP and the National Urban League when they are advocating liberal policies that will continue to adversely affect the Black community.
They must establish a surrogate program of “credible Black Republicans” that can represent the party on various radio and TV shows. The party has shown an extreme amount of incompetence and a total lack of understanding when it comes to branding the party within the Black community.
During presidential elections, Republicans average about nine percent of the Black vote. That’s with doing nothing. Just imagine what can happen with a little effort. Realistically it is very doable to get between 15-20% of the Black vote next year; but only if the party starts now with constructive engagement with the Black community, Black media, and Black organizations.
What a tragedy if this moment also finds the Republican Party “unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be its finest hour.”
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Black-Business-Woman-e1631096261660.jpg413639Raynard Jacksonhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngRaynard Jackson2015-04-14 08:38:242015-04-14 08:38:24Blacks Are Begging the Republican Party
Ryan Mauro unveils newly discovered documents that Grover Norquist paved the way for Anti-American pro-terrorist organizations to gain access to the President of the United States George W. Bush on September 11, 2001.
Ryan Mauro is the National Security Analyst for ClarionProject.org, which produced the hit films, “Obsession,” “The Third Jihad” and “Iranium.” Mauro is a frequent analyst on FOX News Channel and other news outlets around the world. He is also a consultant to government agencies and an adjunct professor of homeland security. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Intelligence Studies, Master’s in Political Science, and a Graduate Certificate in Middle East Studies all from American Military University and has made over 1,000 appearances on radio and TV from both the left and the right.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/islamists-1.png345630Defend The Borderhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDefend The Border2015-04-07 07:12:232015-04-07 07:47:39VIDEO: New Documents reveal GOP Infiltrated by Islamists
An elected Combat Veterans For Congress, Congressman James Bridenstine, Lcdr-USNR (R-OK-1), is one of the principled members of Congress who votes his conscious against very bad legislation, in support of the US Constitution, and regardless of the consequence.
Regardless of the possibility of retribution, Congressman Bridenstine voted his conscious against the Omnibus Funding Bill that provided funding for the budget thru September 2015 for the Obama administration illegal Executive Order that will effectively give Work Permits and Social Security Numbers to 5 million Illegal Aliens. Cong Bridenstine also voted against re-electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives because the Speaker sought Pelosi’s help in getting her Democrat members to help the Speaker pass the Omnibus Spending Bill against the votes and will of the majority of Republican Congressmen. Following his votes of conscious, Congressman Bridenstine was removed from the House Rules Committee by the Republican leadership. That action was uncalled for and we oppose that type of vindictive retribution against a Patriotic Congressman who votes to protect and defend the US Constitution..
Please read the below article about Congressman Bridenstine, listen to his interview with Joe Miller on the Joe Miller Show. In the interview, Congressman Bridenstine refuses to back down from his principled stands and his votes to protect and support the US Constitution, regardless of future consequences. We and all Americans are fortunate to have a Representative in the House with integrity like Congressman Bridenstine representing the voters. We wish more Congressmen were as principled as Congressman Bridenstine; we will continue to support him in any way we can, and encourage all American citizens to financially support Cong Bridenstine’s re-election campaign in 2016.
In an exclusive interview with Joe Miller Show, Congressman Bridenstine talked about his stand against the GOP Leadership and the critical need to fight Obama’s unconstitutional power grab. Listen to this patriot discuss his modern day fight against the Tories of our time:
Congressman Jim Bridenstine was endorsed by the Combat Veterans for Congress and was elected in 2012 to represent Oklahoma’s First District, which covers Washington, Tulsa, Wagoner Counties plus portions of Rogers & Creek Counties. Bridenstine serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
From the start, Cong Bridenstine has been widely recognized in the House for his integrity, commitment to principles, and willingness to uphold the rule of law. He has become an effective member of Congress by focusing on three specific areas: National Security, Economic Freedom, and Constitutional Integrity. Jim supports moving toward a balanced budget through spending control, tax reform, and financial measures and policies promoting free markets.
Bridenstine has focused on the elimination of Obamacare and reform of laws and regulations that present a huge burden on the economy. He has introduced legislation and supported a strong national defense, religious freedom, protection of life, free speech and restoration of the balance of power within the branches of the federal government consistent with the Constitution.
On April 1st, Bridenstine achieved a remarkable accomplishment and became the first freshman on the Science, Space and Technology Committee to author and pass legislation this session. The Weather Forecasting Improvement Act (HR2413) will enable technology development to save lives and protect property from severe weather, including tornadoes, without adding to the budget or debt. The measure received tremendous bipartisan support and passed on a voice vote.
Bridenstine’s background includes a triple major at Rice University, an MBA from Cornell University, 9 years of active duty in the United States Navy, and he is an Eagle Scout. Cong Bridenstine began his Naval aviation career flying the E-2C Hawkeye off the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. It was there that he flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and gathered most of his 1,900 flight hours and 333 carrier arrested landings. While on active duty, he transitioned to the F-18 Hornet and flew at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN. He is currently a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve where he flew the E-2C Hawkeye in America’s war on drugs before becoming a member of Congress. He and his wife Michelle live in Tulsa with their three children, ages 7, 5, and 2.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_6721.jpg466639Joseph R. Johnhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngJoseph R. John2015-04-02 06:40:442015-04-02 06:58:02TEA Party Hero refuses to cave on GOP’s Omnibus Funding Bill [Video]
If Republicans win all three branches of government in 2016, what legislation will get passed?
Economic growth, ending middle-class stagflation, reversing the debt divide in college students, repealing Obamacare. Into the policy mix, social conservatives have an important question to ask themselves: What is it we want for our country from a potentially historic GOP victory in 2016?
Russell Moore laid down an important marker in a recent Wall Street Journalarticle, which I would translate as God Talk Is Not Enough:
In recent years candidates have assumed that they can win over evangelicals by learning Christian slogans, by masking political rallies as prayer meetings, and by basically producing a long-form new birth certificate to prove they’ve been born again. This sort of identity politics is a luxury of a past era when evangelicals were part of a silent majority in the U.S., with our First Amendment freedoms assumed and guaranteed. That is not the present situation.
Indeed it is not. Let me speak for traditionalists of all religions for a moment.
A few months before the Supreme Court is likely to rule on gay marriage, the incidents causing concern about what gay marriage will mean for dissenters (especially traditional Christians, Orthodox Jews, and Muslims) multiply:
Gordon College students are banned from tutoring public-school students, because of the college’s embrace of standard orthodox Christian rules (no sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman); the request of its college president for a religious exemption from President Obama has now triggered a possible threat to its accreditation.
Meanwhile, Marquette University (a Jesuit institution) is attempting to strip Professor Scott McAdams of his tenure and his job because he blogged critically about the way a college instructor (and grad student) treated an anti-gay-marriage student.
Kelvin Cochran, whose rags-to-riches rise from Shreveport poverty to police chief of Atlanta is as inspiring as any, was fired for self-publishing for his Bible-study class a book that contains two paragraphs exhorting his fellow Christians to live by Biblical sexual values.
In Lafayette, Calif., parents of 14-year-old public-school students are suing because their children were asked in English class whether their parents would embrace them if they were gay — and then these Christian students were publicly shamed and humiliated when they supported their parents’ values.
A Ford Motor Company worker (contractor) was invited to comment on pro-gay-rights material circulated by the company — and then fired for leaving an anti-sodomy comment on the blog.
Note the similar strategies here: invite or force public comment and then discipline those who say the “wrong” thing.
Angela McCaskill was disciplined by her federally chartered university for simply signing her name to a petition putting same-sex marriage to a vote in Maryland.
A judge in Washington State was found guilty of an ethics violation for saying privately in chambers (in response to a staffer’s question) that he would not perform same-sex marriages.
The great god of gay equality demands a sacrifice of $150,000 from Oregon bakers Melissa and Aaron Klein for the sin of refusing to bake a gay-wedding cake.
More than 70,000 people signed their names to a petition saying Mozilla founder Brendan Eich must either publicly recant his opposition to gay marriage (evidenced solely by a relatively small donation to the Prop 8 campaign) or be fired.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it points to where I think the greatest threats lie: closing down educational and work opportunities to traditionalists who dare to speak.
If the GOP would like to leave a legacy that makes a difference, I would argue for generous anti-discrimination protections for those who favor or oppose gay marriage (unless they work for an organization whose substantial purpose is to favor or oppose gay marriage).
A new poll shows 57 percent of Americans believe small-business owners should not be forced to provide wedding-related services. It also shows 44 percent of Americans favor gay marriage, 39 percent oppose it, and a whopping 15 percent are unwilling to offer an opinion in the current environment. Threatening people with losing their jobs is a very effective way to silence and intimidate.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave a high-profile press conference offering to provide substantial new protections for gay people provided that robust religious-liberty protections are part of the deal. Live and let live is the offer on the table. So far the official voices of gay rights don’t like it: James Esseks, who directs the LGBT project of the American Civil Liberties Union, toldABC news that the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom “does not give any of us the right to harm others, and that’s what it sounds like the proposal from the Mormon church would do.”
One important marker will come out of Utah, where we will find out if it is possible to craft live-and-let-live legislation or whether gay-rights supporters value legislation primarily as a club to suppress dissent.
The report on the poll includes this comment from a respondent: “Why make an issue out of one florist when there are probably thousands of florists?” asked David Kenney, who’s 59. “The gay community wants people to understand their position, but at the same time, they don’t want to understand other people’s religious convictions. It’s a two-way street.”
Not yet. If social conservatives want to be taken seriously as a political force, we need to do what a handful of Common Core moms have just done: push our concerns into the presidential race.
And for me, if I were to prioritize, the right not to lose my job or my tax exemption because I publicly oppose (or support) gay marriage should be at the top.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/cross-flag-constitution-e1650649213854.png376571Maggie Gallagherhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngMaggie Gallagher2015-02-19 15:32:372015-02-19 15:46:16What should Christians ask of the GOP nominee?
We’re in the full throes of campaign season and all the political ads running for various levels of government. I am perplexed that there’s no clear philosophical delineation presented. If you are at all aware of what’s happening in America, this election should be a hands down victory for the GOP. After all, the progressive socialist-dominated Democrat party has severely failed our Republic.
The ideas of “hope and change” and “forward” have taken us completely backwards with no real hope in sight. When we have people in charge who term the beheading at work of a 54-year-old American woman by a savage with clear intent and definition as “workplace violence” – these “leaders” are clearly incapable of their most basic responsibility: protecting American citizens.
But it is in the philosophy of governance where Americans should be able to make a clear choice in these midterm elections. Forget the ads for the moment. I’d like to share a very prescient quote from an astute, impeccable American president from Illinois in 1864:
We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name—liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names—liberty and tyranny.
Of course the president was Abraham Lincoln. Liberty is equated with the pursuit of happiness and a governing philosophy — and policies — that promote an individuals’ attainment by advancing their growth and opportunity. Tyranny on the other hand strives for a guarantee of happiness by driving the collective towards egalitarianism and predestined outcomes. It truly is the defining separation between constitutional conservatives and progressive socialists. I know, I can hear the detractors already typing away.
While Lincoln stated that true liberty is the ability of one man to do as he pleases with himself and the product of his labor, Obama of course has a completely different idea. During a speech in Roanoke, Virginia in 2012, demonstrated his perception of the rights of the individual and the indomitable entrepreneurial spirit with “you didn’t build that.” If there were ever any clearer indication of whom Barack Hussein Obama is and what he believes, it was in those four words (except for the Muslim call to prayer “is one of the prettiest sounds on Earth“). “You didn’t build that” defines Obama and his policies — which according to him are on the ballot this midterm election.
The problem with the GOP is that the party seems incapable of presenting a defined national message and drawing a philosophical difference between itself and the Democrats. The last U.S. president who did that was Ronald Reagan who stood upon the principle of advancing the growth, opportunity, and promise – in other words, liberty. Reagan won 44 of 50 states against Jimmy Carter and then 49 of 50 states against Walter Mondale — both of whom represented a far left progressive socialist agenda. Just like those two who lost to Reagan, Obama doesn’t believe in what individuals can do with the product of their labor, but believes in what others can do with the product of their labor, in other words, tyranny.
Obama’s four words are the essence of the progressive socialist psyche and its disdain for the individual and the elevation of collectivism — the guarantee of happiness – or more realistically, equal misery. Obama’s four words are a disrespectful slap in the face of hard working Americans who seek to provide for and build a better future for themselves and future generations. It’s reflective of a man and an ideology which is the antithesis of who we are in America and our Declaration of Independence.
Government doesn’t build anything. As a matter of fact, it apportions the fruits of our labor — taxes — in order to fund itself and wastefully spend. It is the individual American warrior who fights, not the government, and can we see right now how government can dork up a combat operation.
It was the intent of the Constitution to limit government’s intrusive and invasive nature and make the rights, freedoms and liberties of the individual preeminent. Sadly, progressive socialists lump everything collectively as a right simply to advance their belief that it is THEIR duty to grant — and indeed take away — those freedoms and liberties.
The simple litmus test in this midterm election cycle should be the philosophy of “You didn’t build that” — and the resulting policies. Any incumbent, regardless of party, should be asked the question, “Do you believe Americans didn’t build that?” It’s a yes or no answer — so don’t ask Kentucky Senatorial candidate Allison Lundergan Grimes — and after the politician bumbles around trying to answer, just examine the voting record.
If incumbents have voted with the policies of President Barack Hussein Obama 75 percent of the time or higher, it’s clear indicator that they don’t believe in the entrepreneurial ability of the individual. It shows they don’t really believe in your “pursuit of happiness” but rather their guarantee of happiness – dictated by them.
If you ask that question of a candidate for office make him or her declare Obama was wrong on the record in his assertion that “You didn’t build that.” When I see all the closed storefronts, it’s a direct result of what Obama believes — is that what the candidate accepts? The GOP and Mitt Romney failed to articulate the danger of Obama’s four words — and of course the leftist progressive media just did everything it could to cover, explain and even say Obama misspoke — he does that quite often, apparently.
Yes America, you did build that, and that’s why we live in the greatest nation the world has ever known. We are exceptional because of what we’ve been able to produce in 238 short years. However, we have come to a point where loud voices decry that we’re no greater than any other country. These loud voices are in the minority but are elevated by a complicit media propaganda machine, which condemns our Republic while lacking any commitment or conviction to uphold our fundamental principles and values. As a matter of fact, they are working to fundamentally transform our America.
Two years ago, Obama insulted this great nation with the statement, “You didn’t build that.” Now, two years later, we can begin correcting the mistake of believing what he said.
EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared on AllenBWest.com.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/obama-in-the-mirror.jpg458640Allen Westhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngAllen West2014-10-14 04:52:442014-10-14 04:52:44Four words that should ensure GOP victory in November
Speaker Boehner to hold fundraiser Saturday for ‘proud gay” candidate who backs homosexual “marriage” and abortion rights. San Diego Pro-Family Coalition Urges ‘Defensive Tactical Vote’ Against Carl DeMaio, Openly Homosexual Activist Republican Congressional Candidate.
Carl DeMaio (right) with his homosexual love, Johnathan Hale.
Folks, the internecine war in the Republican Party between social conservatives and libertarians who want to abandon abortion and homosexuality as major issues in the Party is bubbling to the surface. The following is an open letter signed by some leading Christian pro-life and pro-family advocates in San Diego–most notably pastor Jim Garlow, who led the victorious 2008 campaign for California’s Proposition 8 ballot initiative defending marriage. The letter urges concerned San Diego Christians to cast a “tactical vote” against openly homosexual Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio, who supports homosexuality-based “marriage” and abortion rights. DeMaio’s campaign TV ad declaring himself a “proud gay American” who eschews “divisive social agendas” (even as he embraces them) is below [more analysis follows beneath video]:
All across America, GOP leaders are walking away from or downplaying the Party’s principled pro-family and pro-life platform. Their assumption is that this will help the Party win “moderate” votes and hence elections–a plan that didn’t work out so well for 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney (who, among other dubious stances, came out for open homosexuals in the Boy Scouts). The message from GOP elites in Washington is loud and clear: social issues are a drag on the Party; ignore them to win. But few Republican big shots seem to consider this relevant political question: how many social conservatives will walk away from the GOP or simply not vote–or be far less energized to volunteer for and fund a given GOP campaign–than they would be had a well-rounded social conservative been nominated?
This is precisely what is happening in San Diego. [See this Barbwire story to learn how the San Diego GOP endorsed and favored DeMaio in the Republican primary.]
Speaker of the House John Boehner will be raising funds for DeMaio Saturday. This piece in The Hill newspaper describes the GOP’s posture of backing homosexual candidates:
Last December, Boehner shot down calls for the NRCC [National Republican Congressional Committee] to abandon gay GOP candidates, arguing the party needed to make better inroads with gays, women and minorities following the party’s poor showing in the 2012 election.
Through his various fundraising committees, Boehner has donated the maximum $14,000 to both DeMaio and [openly homosexual GOP Massachusetts congressional candidate Richard] Tisei this cycle, records show. The NRCC also is spending big in those races, pouring $2.3 million to help DeMaio in his bid to unseat freshman Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.). It’s spending another $1 million to prop up Tisei’s campaign against Democratic nominee Seth Moulton, who ousted Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.) in the primary.
“Our decisions on the Republican nominees we support will not be based on race, gender or sexual orientation, but will be based on the strength of their candidacy and their ability to defeat Democrats,” NRCC spokesman Ian Prior said.
Morally and spiritually speaking, the GOP’s new openness to homosexuality and abortion tears at the soul of principled Christians who otherwise would be naturally inclined to vote Republican. These are moral Truth voters whose first allegiance is to God–and who are grieved to watch a Party that claims to be “pro-family” and pro-God tolerate–and then champion–candidates espousing social evils like sodomy-based “marriage” and abortion-on-demand. God does not support Republican-backed homosexuality any more than He does the common Democratic variety. Sin is sin.
[See this recent speech by Gov. Mike Huckabee assailing the GOP abandonment of traditional marriage as an issue.]
From FOX News icon Brit Humeprematurely and perhaps wishfully (as a loyal Republican drinking the Kool-aid) declaring this week that the same-sex “marriage” issue is over as a political issue–to Michigan’s Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger accepting $50,000 from “gay” activist financier Tim Gill, the GOP’s capitulation on homosexuality is accelerating. AFTAH is non-partisan, so we do not get involved in elections. But we do report trends, and the GOP trend of watering down or abandoning key moral principles–and selling its soul for “gay”-friendly campaign cash–has the very real potential to drive millions of people of faith from the Party. – Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH.org; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera
Defensive Tactical Voting: Which candidate will do the least harm?
As you prepare to vote:
Christian conservatives face a moral dilemma in a key San Diego election race.
We know we have a clear choice in voting between the candidates when one of the candidates stands in opposition on issues relevant to the Christian community: life, marriage, religious freedom… Obviously we vote for the candidate who is in-line with biblically based values.
But how should we vote when both candidates share virtually the same views, and stand in opposition to those values?
Some people choose to simply abstain from voting, out of frustration with both candidates. However, staying at home on Election Day might provide the margin of victory for a candidate who will do far greater damage and harm to society.
Such a race, we believe, calls for a different type of strategy when voting. Rather than sitting out the election, and potentially allowing a candidate who will cause great damage to win an election, we suggest a strategy that we call “Defensive Tactical Voting.”
What is Defensive Tactical Voting? Simply this: voting for a candidate who, while doing some damage to society, will do less damage than the other candidate(s) on the ballot. And who will provide a greater opportunity for defeat in a future election. We are aware of the fact that this strategy cannot always be applied broadly, but only to specific races.
An example of such an election is the 52nd Congressional District in San Diego, CA. Two candidates are running: Incumbent Democrat Scott Peters, and Republican Carl DeMaio. Both candidates are pro-abortion and pro-same sex marriage. Both candidates are liberal and “progressive.” Yet one of these candidates will do far more damage to the moral fabric of our society than the other.
That candidate: the Republican candidate, Carl DeMaio.
Why is Carl DeMaio so damaging as a potential Congressman?
Here are a few reasons:
DeMaio is an avowed LGBTQ activist (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning).
The LGBTQ movement believes in a genderless society, where God’s order of male and female is denied. Their goal is much greater than that. It is to impose their views upon us, with the intent of abolishing our rights to freedom of religious conscience, coercing us to affirm homosexual practice and to forever alter the historic, natural definition of marriage. Allow us to be clear, in court cases all over America, it is now overwhelmingly evident that religious liberty and the radical homosexual agenda can not co-exist. Authentic biblical believers are losing their right to the first amendment expression whenever the homosexual agenda gets its way.
DeMaio has made it very clear that if he were elected, he would cater to the LGBTQ activists. Here is a newspaper interview comment from Carl DeMaio: “When I’m elected mayor, I will be one of the highest ranking LGBT officials in the nation. And the highest ranking Republican LGBT official. While my focus will be on fiscal and economic reform in San Diego, I also recognize the opportunity and obligation to serve as a role model for the LGBT community. We are currently evaluating several organizations and efforts to define the best way for me to serve as a role model.” Gay San Diego, Sept 7, 2012
Carl DeMaio is young, with a charismatic personality. If Carl DeMaio were elected to Congress, those within the GOP who desire to destroy historic one-man, one-woman marriage, and those who desire to destroy life in the womb, would likely attempt to increase DeMaio’s influence and stature within the Republican Party – becoming the poster child for the emerging left wing of the GOP. And as an incumbent, he would be virtually impossible to defeat.
But perhaps of greater danger is the fact that his rise in the Party would contribute greatly to a seismic shift: a loss of basic moral and family values in the Republican Party platform. DeMaio will actively advocate a platform where foundational moral and family issues would essentially be removed from discussion, looking virtually identical to those planks in the Democrat platform.
Peters wants to change the direction of our country through his Party. DeMaio wants to change the country and his Party entirely. If DeMaio is elected, he will do so. And he will leave us as biblical Christians without a political home.
If you want further proof of DeMaio’s desire to remake the Republican Party, go directly to the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, which is published by Johnathan Hale, DeMaio’s homosexual partner. (Yes, you read that right, DeMaio’s partner publishes the homosexual news for San Diego.) In this article DeMaio makes his intentions clear.
Please understand that our concerns lie not with Mr. DeMaio’s personal issues with same-sex attraction, but with his activism geared towards changing core values that protect life, the family and religious freedom.
In other words, those who hold to the sanctity of human life, the sanctity of family (meaning a biblical marriage, and two parent, one man-one woman, father and mother families), and the freedom to exercise religious conscience, would no longer have an active voice in American government.
DeMaio is a member of the Republican Party. Carl DeMaio, however, does not endorse the platform of the Republican Party–particularly the pro-life and pro-marriage planks of that platform.
A vote for Democrat Scott Peters will send a message to the Republican Party: “Defend your Party platform and its conservative values, and return to promoting and endorsing candidates who vocally support the entire platform. If you do not, we will keep voting for the opposition, and you will keep loosing elections. ”
Consider this: if you abstain from voting, that is a one vote (-1) difference. However, if you do not vote for DeMaio, but rather vote for Peters, that is a 2 vote (-1, +1) difference. Your vote for Peters could make all the difference. (Please note that we understand that some will be unable to cast a vote for either candidate, and we are not asking you to violate your conscience before the Lord.)
In the 52nd Congressional District of San Diego, we encourage a vote for Democrat Scott Peters. Why? Not because he stands for our values – he does not. We are supporting a vote for Scott Peters because he will do less damage to our nation then will his opponent: Carl DeMaio. And will allow us an opportunity to correct the situarion in two years.
As a sidenote, we would urge fellow Republicans and Independents in Massachusetts and Oregon to vote for the Democrat opponents of the two Republican candidates, who likewise oppose the Republican Platform. They are: Democrat Seth Moulton, rather than Republican Richard Tisei, (MA 6); and Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon, rather than US Senate Republican candidate Monica Wehby.
Please join this movement, in order to keep the candidate who could do far more damage, Carl DeMaio, out of Washington. Consider voting for Scott Peters in the November election. While many of us do not align with Scott Peters politically, we align even less, morally and ethically, with Carl DeMaio.
Kamal Alsawaf
Dean Broyles
Dr . Gary Cass
Chris Clark
Frank Dowse
Dr. Jim Garlow
Pat Hansen
Penny Harrington
Jim Holman
Frank Kacer
Attorney Charles Limandri
Kathryn A. Marler
Timmerie Millington
Mary Moran
Claire Reiss
Allyson Smith
John Waring
Anne Wigdahl Subia
Amy Vance
The persons listed above have signed this letter as individuals, not representing any organization, nor are they working in association with any other organization. They are private citizens who jointly signed this letter when they discovered they shared a common view. You are invited to join them by emailing going to: info@RepublicansAndIndependentsForScottPeters.com and asking for your name to be added to the list.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/carl-demaio-homosexual.jpg332590Americans for Truth About Homosexualityhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngAmericans for Truth About Homosexuality2014-10-09 16:59:492014-10-10 09:11:32GOP Selling Out on Homosexuality: Carl DeMaio Target of “Tactical Vote”
But as Sept. 5 primary nears, Tea Party activists are fighting back! How MassResistance made the difference . . .
Most people assume that the major threat to getting conservatives elected to high office is the liberal Democratic machine. In recent years there’s been another major front in that war: The Republican Party establishment –both state and national. This is fueled by millions of dollars from “progressive Republican” businessmen. And, sadly, it includes many sellout pro-family groups and politicians. [All photos by MassResistance except where noted.]
Fisher at the GOP convention:”I am a full-platform no-excuses-necessary loyal and proud conservative Republican … [Around the country] conservative solutions are the cure for liberal failures … The time has come to tear down that big liberal tent.”
This kind of talk drives the GOP establishment crazy!
But we’ve never seen anything like the Massachusetts Republican Party’s outrageous (and we believe, criminal) efforts to subvert pro-family/Tea Party candidate Mark Fisher’s campaign for governor, which we’ve detailed below.
During Fisher’s speech, former Mass. Governor Bill Weld (sitting, at right), a RINO who voted for Barack Obama, looks up at Mark Fisher and you can tell he’s not happy!
A disturbing national trend explodes in Massachusetts
Ever since the days of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, there’s been a tension between the GOP establishment — who felt they could avoid the Left’s hostile attacke by appeasing them on most “hot-button” issues — and the conservative base who vote on principle. In recent years, this has led to many high-profile battles with Tea Party backed candidates in Republican primaries, which has angered the establishment considerably.
So now we’re seeing the next step: The aggressive purging of conservative candidates for high office before they can get a foothold.
Here in Massachusetts this has turned the State Republican Party into an overtly hostile anti-family institution devoid of political principles that long-time activists no longer recognize. This year Party elites were particularly determined to avoid a primary battle for Governor that could endanger their annointed “moderate” candidate, Charlie Baker.
Fisher’s candidacy for Governor attracts a torrent of GOP hostility
The appearance of Mark Fisher in the Massachusetts governor’s race stymied the Republican establishment. He is not only a fairly solid conservative and wealthy enough to get his campaign off the ground, but he is bright and articulate and can hold his own in any debate. For example, in several head-to-head debates with GOP rival, Charlie Baker, does a much better job in our opinion.
Mark Fisher and Charlie Baker debate at Boston Globe office, which is unquestionably hostile to Fisher.See article and VIDEO of debate here.[Boston Globephoto]
From the very beginning of his campaign, Fisher became Public Enemy #1 to the Republican State Committee and their allies. Their goal was to keep him from being able to run in the primary. And they almost succeeded.
Below is a list of the efforts by the GOP and “pro-family” establishment in Massachusetts over the last year to keep conservative Mark Fisher from being able to run for Governor against the RINO Charlie Baker in the Republican primary. Even most Republicans aren’t aware what’s been going on. That’s why we’re publishing this.
Don’t be surprised if you see these things happen in other states:
A. Prior to the State convention . . .
1. Hostility at his candidacy by “pro-family” Republicans. Late last year when Fisher announced his candidacy, and it became known that he was a pro-family conservative with the means to carry on a serious candidacy, the establishment (including so-called “pro-family” people) began hounding him not to run so Baker would not have a “conservative” challenger. According to newspaper reports this included Karyn Polito (currently running for Lt. Governor), State Rep. Ryan Fattman, and GOP National Committeewoman Chanel Prunier, who also leads the Coalition for Marriage and Family. We know of many other prominent GOP politicians and pro-family “leaders” who also approached Fisher.
2. Turned down by GOP sign company. According to reports, in February Fisher was turned down by a company that regularly makes campaign signs for the GOP because the company was warned not to do business with Fisher or risk losing other GOP sign business.
B. At the March 22 GOP State Convention . . .
The Mass. GOP state convention filled Agganis Arena at Boston University.
To get on the state ballot, a candidate needed 15% of the delegates to vote for him at the state GOP convention on March 22, 2014. The Mass. GOP made an enormous effort to keep Fisher from getting that amount.
3. Outrageous fee to speak at GOP convention. In order to speak at the GOP State Convention, the Mass GOP raised the “entry fee” for gubernatorial candidates to $25,000, to deter Fisher. Candidates for other statewide offices were charged a fraction of that to speak. Fisher paid it.
4. State Committee emails telling delegates to vote for Baker. The day before the Convention, delegates received “official” looking emails from their state committee representatives telling them that to vote for Charlie Baker – and thus not have a primary by keeping Fisher off the ballot — would be the best thing for the Party.
This “official” email to delegates from their state committeewoman started off with “official” info, but then told them that voting for Baker would be best for the Party.Read it here.
5. The waiting room from hell. State-wide candidates were given nice rooms to prepare for their convention speeches. Mark and his team were given a smelly locker room with benches surrounded by toilets and shower stalls.
Going into the convention Fisher people expected to get 30%. Given that GOP activists who become delegates and actually go to the convention are generally fairly conservative, and seeing who they were on the day of the convention, it was generally believed that Fisher would get at least 30% of the vote. But no one was prepared for the high-pressure campaign that took place that day.
6. Huge pressure on delegates to vote for Baker. Throughout the day, a small army of State Party officials, State Committeemen, GOP State Reps, Town Party Chairmen, GOP candidates for office, and others put on a coordinated effort to strong-arm and harangue delegates not to vote for Fisher –- to either vote for Baker or vote “blank.” We heard about all kinds of interesting threats, mostly involving loss of GOP financial support and/or access to GOP facilities.
On the giant screen GOP national committeewoman Chanel Prunier exhorts the delegates to vote for Charlie Baker.
This delegate told us that during the convention he was pressured by his state committeeman, state committeewoman, State Rep. and even a state pro-family activist to vote for Baker.But he held out and voted for Fisher!
7. GOP won’t release video of Fisher’s convention speech. When his turn came at the convention, Fisher gave a very good speech. The GOP had set up a sophisticated video recording system in the auditorium. But later when Fisher asked for a copy of his speech, the Mass GOP refused to give it to him. Luckily, MassResistance also made a video of his speech, which we’ve allowed his website to use.
VIDEO: Fisher’s convention speech was one of the best we’ve ever seen. The GOP wouldn’t release their video of it, so we let him have OURS!
8. Delegations’ votes are publicly announced, but result is ignored.The vote tally was very public. A GOP official at the podium called out to each of the 40 delegations for their results. Each delegation, using a portable microphone from their area in the auditorium, announced their totals for Baker, Fisher, and “blanks” from their tally sheets which had the names of the delegates and how they voted. The whole thing took about 20 minutes. But at the end, the grand totals were not announced.
9. Convention halts while “re-counting” takes place. The convention immediately stopped and a group of party officials huddled around some tables in front of the stage. At first was not clear what they were doing. Finally, we were told that a “re-counting” of sorts was taking place. This went on for at least half an hour or more.
Right after the public vote. Party officials gathered around a table at the front of the hall for a “re-count.”
10. Baker is declared winner, but actual vote totals still not announced. A few minutes later, Baker was declared the “winner. ” And with a rain of balloons and confetti, and he came up and gave a speech. But what percentage did Baker get? What percentage did Fisher get? It was not announced – only that Baker won.
Even though no vote totals were announced, Charlie Baker was hailed as the “winner” with a sea of confetti. Here Baker (center) is being congratulated by Bill Weld (right).
11. “Re-counting” continues, and “results” finally announced. After Baker’s speech, party officials moved to tables in a back room area and continued their mysterious “re-counting.” After about another two hours, it was announced that Fisher had only received 14.765% of the votes, just missing the 15% requirement. Fisher’s people were not allowed to examine the tally sheets for themselves, however.
The “re-count” group then convened to a back room out of sight. Long after the convention had been gaveled to a close, people continued waiting for the results of the “re-count.”
C. After the convention . . .
12. Mass GOP announces Fisher will not be the ballot. The day after the convention, the Mass GOP announced to the press that Mark Fisher had not received the 15% requirement, and therefore would not be on the ballot. The GOP stood by its “re-count.”
13. Tally sheets still kept hidden. The Mass GOP continued to refuse to let anyone see the individual delegate vote tally sheets, which apparently added up to the GOP’s new official vote count. Several delegates expressed concern that their votes had been tampered with, miscounted, or that they were “assigned” votes when they hadn’t voted at all.
14. MassResistance video of public vote during convention shows Fisher got his 15%! During the convention, while the delegation votes were being publicly announced, no one had thought to write them down and add them up. But MassResistance videoed the entire process.When we played the video and counted the votes that were announced, we found that Mark Fisher GOT just over 15%, even if you include blank votes. We posted the video and allowed the Fisher campaign to use it, and it was reported in the Boston media. This brought up an additional question: Why were “blank” votes counted in the total, when it was apparently against the rules?
VIDEO: MassResistance video of the roll call vote at the GOP convention revealed that Fisher GOT his 15%! Thus, Fisher’s campaign got new life.
15 Fisher takes the Mass GOP to court. Why did the public vote count show that Fisher got his 15% but the mysterious “recount” by the GOP showed he didn’t? Why the difference? Obviously, an examination of the tally sheets –- which should have had every delegate’s name and how he voted — would reveal that. But the Mass GOP refused to release them, and they would not give a reason. So the Fisher campaign filed a lawsuitagainst theMass GOP in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston to examine the tally sheets and get on the ballot.
17. Court case temporarily crippled Fisher candidacy. Although Fisher won the case, it left his campaign in terrible shape. It cost Fisher’s campaign approximately $100,000 in legal fees. But also, during that 3-month period he was considered “not on the ballot,” so he could not easily raise money, nor could he attract enough volunteers to help get his required 10,000 signatures which were also needed to get on the ballot, so he had to pay professional signature gatherers. And during that time he wasn’t included in candidate forums, etc. so he lost a lot of public visibility. It was a devastating blow that almost sunk him.
18. Fisher campaign not allowed to use Mass GOP campaign resources. The Mass GOP has set up an expensive and elaborate “MassVictory” operation with offices, phone banks, etc. around the state. All GOP candidates are allowed to use those facilities -– except Fisher. They won’t let his campaign use them. It’s outrageous.
19. Fisher not listed on Mass GOP website. The State Party website currently has names and photos of all the statewide candidates on the ballot – except Fisher. The sheer hatred of Fisher by the party establishment takes them to these absurd lengths.
20. Sleazy GOP State Committee votes to keep tally sheets secret.Even after the court case subsided, the Mass GOP executives had even refused to let the 80-member elected State Committee see the tally sheets! So in July, a group of conservative State Committee members petitioned the Chairman to call a meeting so the Committee could vote to release them. The Chairman called the meeting, but it was closed to the public and held in secret. In the closed meeting, the majority of the State Committee voted not to release the tally sheets to anyone, not even to themselves! (What possible reason would there be to keep them secret . . . unless there was some criminal wrongdoing that took place?)
21. Mass GOP lavishly funding Baker, Fisher gets nothing. The Mass GOP is using its resources to raise enormous funds for the Baker campaign, but nothing for the Fisher campaign. This includes, according to the Boston Globe,paying a consulting firm to fundraise for Baker. In fact, we have been told that Republican donors are being told NOT to donate to the Fisher campaign. This has had a disastrous effect on Fisher’s fundraising capabilities.
22. Alleged threats to media by Mass GOP. A radio talk show host told us that members of the media have been threatened by GOP officials if they cover Mark Fisher to any extent, they will be persona non grata by the rest of the GOP during this election cycle.
By far the most troubling aspect of this was how easily virtually every “pro-family” GOP politician sold his soul and fell into line for Baker and against Fisher when pressured by the establishment.
We don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the Mass GOP has become a dishonest, unprincipled cesspool that good people should stay away from — and only donate money to individual candidates.
And then there’s the Frank Addivinola episode
Mark Fisher wasn’t the only pro-family candidate squashed at the convention. Frank Addivinola, a businessman and college professor, was a U.S. Senate candidate. But like Mark Fisher, he was an unabashed pro-family advocate.
Although his campaign had a booth at the convention, through a still unresolved series of events he was not given a chance to speak.
U.S. Senate Candidate Frank Dddivinola (left) at his table at the Mass. GOP convention.
But Addivinola was VERY popular among conservatives across the state and would have easily gotten his 15%. So the Mass GOP didn’t take any chances. When it came time for the nomination of candidates, the Chairman allowed the establishment candidate, Brian Herr, to be nominated, then immediately closed the nominations! So no one could even nominate Addivinola.
Even though Addivinola’s banner (for which he paid them plenty!) was right next to the podium, they pretended that his candidacy didn’t exist.
It was still possible for Addivinola to get on the ballot via signatures, since he was running for a federal office. But once the Party officially considered him a non-candidate and denied him all support, his campaign never recovered from that. Thus, Herr is now unopposed in the primary.
Tea Party groups & others rallying statewide for Fisher as Sept. 9 primary nears
Fisher’s campaign is making a surge!
None of the above adversities have stopped the Fisher campaign or its supporters statewide. Fisher continues to appear everywhere, every day, and has impressed people wherever he goes. This has only ignited Fisher’s people even more.
In mid-August a group of Tea Parties, conservative leaders, and non-establishment pro-family groups, began a furious grassroots push to energize the GOP conservative base of voters to go to the polls on Sept. 5 and vote for Fisher. Will this become another David Brat over Eric Cantor? No one knows. But the energy is there!
This is the flyer that Tea Parties across the state are handing out. You can download a copy here.
This is a favorable primary race because Democrats and independents will be drawn to the highly contested Democratic primary, and many mainstream Republican voters will likely think Baker is a shoo-in and not bother to go to the polls. Even Jeff Jacoby, the Boston Globe’s (relatively) conservative columnist, who’s a registered Independent, said he’s voting in the Democratic primary — because that’s “where the action is.”
This is a great opportunity for a possble pro-family upset – in a RINO state!If you are a registered voter in Massachusetts, you know what to do on Sept. 9.We’ll see if Massachusetts can do it!
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/mark-fisher-mass-governor-candidate-e1409656354357.jpg360640MassResistancehttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngMassResistance2014-09-02 07:12:442014-09-03 21:07:00Massachusetts: How the GOP tried to destroy Mark Fisher, conservative candidate for Governor
The Republican Party has launched a new outreach focused on Christians and Evangelicals its “biggest, most reliable voting bloc.”. In the 2012 Presidential election 1 million Christians did not vote in Florida, President Obama won Florida by less than 80,000 votes. Question: Is GOPFaith.com politically compatible with GOProud.org? Some think not.
The new website GOPFaith.com was announced in the below press release on July 4th, 2014. Danita Kilcullen, TEA Party Fort Lauderdale, forwarded the press release and commented on it to TEA Party members. Kilcullen’s comments are all [IN CAPS]:
To increase the voter turnout among evangelicals and seek support from conservative believers, the Republican Party has launched a new initiative to mobilize its “biggest, most reliable voting bloc.”
“This website is designed for faith voters like you,” says GOPfaith.com, which was launched Friday.
“GOPFaith.com is built to keep pro-faith voters up to date with how the Republican Party is fighting for religious freedom, learn how to register voters at your place of worship and mobilize them on Election Day,” says Chad Connelly, Faith Engagement Director of the Republican National Committee.
It’s “an online home for all of our efforts, all around the country,” he says in a video posted on the website, which seeks to “build an army of conservative pro-faith activists [THIS EVANGELICAL REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST WILL NOT STAND WITH REPUBLICAN SHERIFFS, COMMISSIONERS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, MAYORS, ETC., WHO ENDORSE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND MARCH IN GAY PARADES] to make the difference in the coming elections.”
“This shouldn’t be outreach, this should be who we are – it is who we are,” Connelly tells The Washington Post, describing evangelicals as “are our biggest, most reliable voting bloc.”
Connelly points to surveys that show only a third of the 89 million Americans who identify themselves as evangelical Christians voted in the 2012 election. There are “millions of pro-faith conservatives all across American who are not politically engaged,” the initiative says.
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It seeks to “identifying 100,000 pro-faith conservatives who will help identify, register, inform and mobilize America’s faith-based community to get them engaged and to vote their values.”
“The GOP’s longtime commitment to traditional values with a platform that doesn’t mind placing those values front and center has made it the natural political home for people of faith,” Connelly wrote in an op-ed in The Christian Post Friday. [REALLY? GOP WITH A TRADITIONAL VALUES PLATFORM? DOES THAT INCLUDE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE, OR WILL THE GOP CAVE TO THE NEW HOMOSEXUAL NARRATIVE OF, “WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE STRUCTURE THERE IS A HIGH DIVORCE RATE,” WHICH I AM HEARING FROM ‘REPUBLICAN’ ELECTS WHO PROUDLY MARCH IN HOMOSEXUAL PARADES.]
Up for grabs on the Election Day are 435 U.S. House seats, 36 U.S. Senate seats, 36 governorships, [GOV. SCOTT NEEDS CHRISTIAN SUPPORT FROM PASTORS AND REAL CHRISTIAN REPUBLICANS. ENORMOUS PRESSURE IS BEING PUT UPON HIM BY THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY TO CAVE TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE] 89 state legislative chambers with over 6,000 seats, and “important pro-life legislation, [TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE PROTECTION?], protecting religious liberties and getting rid of ObamaCare.”
The party is aiming at pastors, Connelly says, adding they shy away from talking about political issues.
Federal law requires that houses of worship must not endorse candidates if they want to retain their tax-exempt status. [ALL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES ARE SUCCINCTLY COVERED IN THE SCRIPTURES. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS REITERATE TO THEIR CONGREGATIONS].
“Let’s overcome that myth of the IRS saying you can’t talk about this from the pulpit,” Connelly says. “Look, if there’s no freedom of speech in the pulpit, there’s no freedom of speech. Now is the time of righteous indignation.”
It’s a time to be the “turn-the-tables-over Jesus” and not the “meek, turn-the-other-cheek Jesus,” he adds.
“Registering to vote and preaching about Biblical values in the pulpit aren’t ‘political talk’ at all. They are imperatives that help ensure that the spiritual values that built our country live on in the political institutions that give us the laws that we live by,” Connelly wrote for the CP.
Evangelicals care about issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, which might be seen as divisive by some Republicans but are still important for the party to maintain the support they receive from the bloc.
“Many Republican leaders are tired of losing, they see some real opportunities to win, and that means they have to fire on all cylinders, if you will. And this is a key constituency,” says John Green, head of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, according to Religion News Service. “They don’t have to woo them to the party as much as they need to woo them to the polls.”
EDITORS NOTE: An earlier version of this column wrongly attributed the quotes in the press release to Peter Feaman, Florida National Committeeman. That was an error. We apologize to Mr. Feaman for this error in reporting. The revised article properly attributes those comments.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/gop-faith-logo.jpg350640Dr. Rich Swierhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDr. Rich Swier2014-07-09 06:14:182014-07-09 08:50:31GOPFaith.com launched: But will Republicans truly stand with people of faith?
Republican campaign poster from 1896 attacking free silver
Tired of Republicans betraying their oath and their constituents? Here is how to solve the problem: time for bold talk. Take away “the lesser of two evils” vote.
Pitchfork Patriots reports, “Glenn Beck skewered the GOP while delivering the keynote address at a local Texas GOP’s Reagan Day dinner, contending the Republican Party hasn’t demonstrated through action that it actually believes the principles it espouses.”
“He then likened the current situation in Washington, D.C. to the nuclear disaster that occurred decades ago at Chernobyl in the Ukraine. Beck offered the solution he said was employed to end that catastrophe as a way to repair our toxic political system,” notes Pitchfork Patriots.
Beck previously warned Republicans that if they embrace establishment politicians such as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the party would eventually cease to exist.
“If the GOP wants to not just win, if the GOP expects to survive — if you embrace John McCain and John Boehner it will not happen,” he said. “If you embrace the Mike Lees and the Ted Cruzes, you win big time.”
Newly re-elected Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) on CNN’sJake Tapper show stated, “I’m a conservative. I’ve governed as a conservative in this state, and I think that’s led to some people disagreeing with me in our state, because it’s generally a left-of-center, blue state.”
But is Christie truly a conservative?
Republicans, like Christie, often quote Ronald Reagan when speaking about conservatism. In September 2011 Christie spoke at the Reagan Library, his topic was “Real American Exceptionalism“. Christie focused on Ronald Reagan’s stand against striking air traffic controllers in 1981. Christie said, “The air traffic controllers, in violation of their contracts, went on strike. President Reagan ordered them back to work, making clear that those who refused would be fired. In the end, thousands refused, and thousands were fired. I cite this incident not as a parable of labor relations but as a parable of principle. Ronald Reagan was a man who said what he meant and meant what he said. Those who thought he was bluffing were sadly mistaken. Reagan’s demand was not an empty political play; it was leadership, pure and simple.”
“We tend to still understand foreign policy as something designed by officials in the State Department and carried out by ambassadors and others overseas. And to some extent it is. But one of the most powerful forms of foreign policy is the example we set. This is where it is instructive to harken back to Ronald Reagan and the PATCO affair. President Reagan’s willingness to articulate a determined stand and then carry it out at home sent the signal that the occupant of the Oval Office was someone who could be predicted to stand by his friends and stand up to his adversaries. If President Reagan would do that at home, leaders around the world realized that he would do it abroad as well. Principle would not stop at the water’s edge,” noted Christie.
Reagan’s policies were based upon in what has become known as his “three legged stool”. Some call them the “Three Pillars of Conservatism”.
Kevin Price from Renew America writes, “If you know of Ronald Reagan, you are likely to be aware of his ‘three legged stool.’ Reagan developed a success formula to build winning coalitions that was as simple as it was brilliant. A sample of that simplicity and one of the hallmarks of Reagan’s policies was his ‘three legged stool.’ Reagan’s policies were built on three ideas; free enterprise, strong defense, and pro-family social policies. He chose these three because they, of course, reflected his own values, but he also realized that each of these ideas have enormous appeal on their own.”
Reagan was a man of principle, true conservatives are as well. Compromise on matters of principle is foreign to conservatives. Conservatives intuitively know that compromise on principles is the art of losing slowly.
J. Matt Barber from Christian News Today in his column “The Complete Conservative” writes, “I recently attended the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration hosted by the Republican Party of Virginia. It was co-sponsored by, among others, the Ronald Reagan Institute for Conservative Leadership. Michael Reagan, the oldest child of the man widely considered our greatest modern president, was the keynote speaker. Mr. Reagan said something that I think concisely sums up the core values shared by the ragtag millions who comprise the Tea Party movement. ‘People often ask me if Ronald Reagan would have supported the Tea Party,” he said. ‘Ronald Reagan was the Tea Party’.”
Speculation about who is the frontrunner for in the 2016 presidential Republican primaries has begun. The media always frames the Republican selection process as a need to run as a conservative in order to win the primary but run as a moderate in order to win the White House. That strategy was unsuccessful for both John McCain and Mitt Romney.
Price wrote, “Today, the common cry from economic conservatives is that they are the only ones with a message that matters to the voting public. After 40 years of Roe vs. Wade, we have two generations who only know a country with abortion on demand, they argue. Secondly, many conservatives have grown suspicious of ‘the military’ leg. They believe that just as the government has gotten suspicious in its domestic spending, it has also lost its bearings when it comes to defense and has found itself being internationalists with muscle. Essentially, ‘the three legged stool’ is being replaced by a pogo stick. A single area of interest and concern — the economy, being the springboard for political success.”
Price concludes, “The reality is the ‘three legged stool’ tripled the reasons why one would vote Republican. If the GOP provides the only means to protect traditional families, Christian conservatives will support it, regardless of the other legs of the stool. I think the same can be [said] of the other parts of a coalition that made the Republican Party very successful. If the stool is dead, the fortunes of the party may be also.”
Has the GOP adopted a “pogo stick” as the only path for political success? If so, losses as far as the eye can see may occur, as they did in Virginia, a state that could have elected the conservative Ken Cuccinelli.
Barry Goldwater wrote, “I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!”
It not the economy stupid, its the three legged stool!
