Tag Archives: Politics

Iran Nuclear Deal Now Virtually Unstoppable

A 34th Democratic Senator has announced they will stand behind President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, assuring that a Presidential veto of a measure of disapproval will be upheld.

Retiring Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski announced her support of the deal Wednesday.

“No deal is perfect, especially one negotiated with the Iranian regime,” Mikulski said in a statement. “I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb. For these reasons, I will vote in favor of this deal.”

The victory for the White House came on the same day Secretary of State John Kerry gave a major speech in Philadelphia defending the deal.

“President Obama and I are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the framework that we have put forward will get the job done,” Kerry said.

The White House is now expected to try and obtain 41 senators to support the deal so they can stop the resolution of disapproval from ever reaching the President’s desk and forcing a veto.  It was unclear if the House or Senate will pick up the resolution first after the August recess.

Norwegian Youth Camp Attacked by Terrorist Reopens

A Norwegian youth camp where terrorist Anders Behring-Breivik killed 69 people four years ago has reopened.

“It’s good to be home again at Utoya,” the president of the Labor Party youth organization, Mani Hussaini, told a crowd sitting on a hill.

The camp’s organizer told media outlets before the opening they will not allow “that dark day to overshadow the nice and bright” memories of the camp.

The island is owned by the political party and is used every year for youth camps where the students learn about the party’s beliefs and values.  Breivik, who said at his trial he considered the youths at the camp traitors to Norway, took a ferry to the island dressed as a police officer and then began his massacre.

“To have the summer camp here again with all the tents reminds me a lot of walking here together with the friends who are not here anymore,” said Runar Kjellstad Nygaard, 23, who had left the camp just before the murders.

“It was actually the plan to stay and sleep here, but then I dropped it because they warned of bad weather,” he explained.  “I’m very happy for that today, but it is a very strange feeling to sit at home and get text messages from your best friend saying ‘things are happening out here’”.

Memorials have been placed on the island with the names of most of the victims of the attack.  The assault was the worst killing spree in the country since World War Two.  Breivik had also set off a car bomb in a nearby city earlier in the day, killing eight people.

Republican Candidates Take Aim at Abortion; Planned Parenthood

Abortion and Planned Parenthood were two of the hot topics during the two Republican presidential primary debates held Thursday in Cleveland.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was asked about gaining support for President while supporting things like a Constitutional amendment banning abortion.

“I disagree with the idea that the real issue is a constitutional amendment. That’s a long and difficult process. I’ve actually taken the position that’s bolder than that,” Huckabee said. “A lot of people are talking about defunding Planned Parenthood, as if that’s a huge game changer. I think it’s time to do something even more bold. I think the next president ought to invoke the Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, now that we clearly know that that baby inside the mother’s womb is a person at the moment of conception.”

“The reason we know that it is because of the DNA schedule that we now have clear scientific evidence on,” Huckabee continued. “And, this notion that we just continue to ignore the personhood of the individual is a violation of that unborn child’s Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights for due process and equal protection under the law.”

Florida Senator Marco Rubio made comments very similar to those of Huckabee in saying that he is pro-life in all situations and that laws need to protect life at all stages.

“In fact, I think that law already exists. It is called the Constitution of the United States,” the 44-year-old Rubio said. “And let me go further. I believe that every single human being is entitled to the protection of our laws, whether they can vote or not. Whether they can speak or not. Whether they can hire a lawyer or not. Whether they have a birth certificate or not.”

Rubio also said that future generations will be appalled by abortion, adding they will “call us barbarians for murdering millions of babies who we never gave them a chance to live.”

When the topic of Planned Parenthood and the recent undercover videos by the Center for Medical Progress that show the selling of parts from aborted babies, both former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and current Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker talked about how they defunded the group in their states.

“I’m pro-life, I’ve always been pro-life, and I’ve got a position that I think is consistent with many Americans out there in that I believe that is an unborn child that’s in need of protection,” Walker said.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was very blunt in his comments about Planned Parenthood.

“Planned Parenthood had better hope that Hillary Clinton wins this election because I guarantee that under President Jindal, January of 2017, the Department of Justice, and the IRS, and everybody else will be consenting, and the federal government will be going into Planned Parenthood,” Jindal asserted. “This is absolutely disgusting and revolts of conscience of the nation. Absolutely, we need to defund Planned Parenthood.”

Major Jewish Senator Announces Opposition to Iran Nuclear Deal

Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who is in line to become the next leader of the Democrats in the senate after the retirement of Sen. Harry Reid, has announced that he will not support the nuclear deal with Iran.

“After deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval,” Schumer wrote in a 1,600-word post on the website Medium.

“I will vote to disapprove the agreement, not because I believe war is a viable or desirable option, nor to challenge the path of diplomacy,” he added later. “It is because I believe Iran will not change, and under this agreement it will be able to achieve its dual goals of eliminating sanctions while ultimately retaining its nuclear and non-nuclear power.”

Sen. Schumer also said he would vote to override a veto by President Obama to Congress voting to reject his Iran deal.

Schumer is the latest Jewish member of Congress to oppose the deal.  Last week, Rep. Steve Israel of New York, most senior Democrat in the House, said he would oppose the deal.  The ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, also said she would oppose the Iran deal.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, downplayed the announcement of Schumer and other Jewish New York congressional members whose constituents see a connection between terror attacks in New York City and Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism around the world.

“There was no one in their constituency who had not been directly impacted by the attacks of 9/11,” Mr. Schiff said of New York lawmakers, “It had a real impact in the New York Jewish community.”

President Obama Interview: “More difficult to defend Israel”

During a recent interview with an Israeli television station,  President Obama  said that the international community is not convinced that Israel is serious about a two state solution, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has placed so many conditions to its establishment that it is unrealistic to think it could come into existence in the near future.

“Subsequently his statements have suggested that there is a possibility of a Palestinian state, but it has so many caveats, so many conditions, that it is not realistic to think that those conditions will be met anytime in the near future,” Obama told Channel 2.

Obama also said Netanyahu’s stand would make it more difficult for the U.S. to “defend Israel” around the world.

“If in fact there is no prospect of a peace process, if no one believes there is a peace process, it becomes more difficult to argue with those who are concerned about settlement construction, more difficult for me to say, ‘Be patient, we have a process here.’”

Obama explained that he does not at this point believe there is a likelihood for any kind of framework agreement between the sides to emerge, but that he hopes to work with them to find a way to move from what appears to be a hopeless situation, back to one where there is some hope.

“That is going to be hard work, because right now there is not a lot of confidence in the process.”

The President also addressed the ongoing nuclear negotiations claiming that  he cares very much  about the Israeli people. Obama said that he understands – given the realities of the region and the nature of Israel’s enemies – why Israelis are so concerned about security.

“I care very much about the people of Israel as well, and in my mind it is very much in Israel’s interest to make sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, and I think that I can demonstrate, not based on any hope, but on facts, evidence and analysis, that the best way to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon is a verifiable tough agreement. A military resolution will not fix it, even if the United States participates, it would temporarily slow down an Iranian nuclear program, but not eliminate it.”

The President then directed his thought to the Israeli leadership, saying that just like he had to do some changes after taking office due to the Iraq war where he felt America “lost our values”, that Israeli leaders need to do the same.

“I respectfully suggest that Israel has to do that same self-reflecting, because if it doesn’t, then there are things that you can lose that don’t just involve rockets.”

Hillary Clinton Says Religious Beliefs On Abortion Must Be Changed

“Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will and deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”

Those were the words of Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a speech at the “Women in the World” summit in New York. Clinton shared her pro-abortion views in her speech.

“Far too many women are denied access to reproductive health care and safe childbirth, and laws don’t count for much if they’re not enforced,” Clinton said. “Rights have to exist in practice—not just on paper.”

Clinton specifically mentioned Hobby Lobby and claimed that Hobby Lobby’s not being forced to pay for abortion drugs took away a woman’s right to obtain those drugs on their own.

“America moves ahead when all women are guaranteed the right to make their own health care choices, not when those choices are taken away by an employer like Hobby Lobby,” she asserted.

“There are those who offer themselves as leaders … who see nothing wrong with denying women equal pay, who offer themselves as leaders who would de-fund the country’s leading provider of family planning,” Clinton said, referring to Planned Parenthood, “and want to let health insurance companies once again charge women just because of our gender.”

 

Committee Votes To Overturn Abortion “Non-Discrimination” Act

A bill to overturn a law that bans religious groups from being able to enforce their beliefs in their organization regarding abortion has advanced in a Congressional committee.

The D.C. City Council passed a bill in 2014 called the “Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act” that amended a 1977 law to prohibit pro-life organizations from discriminating against any employee who has an abortion.

The bill means that faith-based groups that believe abortion is murder would not be able to fire an employee for violating the faith of the group in regards to abortion, sex outside of marriage or adultery even if the employee signed a document they agree to live by Biblical standards.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) swiftly condemned the measure.

“The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014 prevents religious institutions, other faith-based employers, and pro-life advocacy organizations from making employment decisions consistent with their sincerely held religious beliefs or their moral and ethical views about the sanctity of human life,” an ADF letter stated.

Senators Ted Cruz and James Langford introduced measures in the Senate to void the D.C. law and Rep. Diane Black presented one in the House.  The House measure passed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee 20-16.

President Obama would have to sign the measure for it to void the D.C. law.

Republicans Compromise On Language In Human Trafficking Bill

Republicans in the Senate changed language in a human trafficking bill that caused Democrats to not pass the bill.

The Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act had been proposed last month by Senator John Cornyn of Texas and sought to significantly increase penalties for those convicted of exploiting children, engaging in human smuggling or holding women as sex slaves and forcing them into prostitution.

The bill also included a statement that money collected from fines could not be used for abortions.  Democrats said that part of the bill was expanding federal prohibitions beyond the Hyde Amendment and thus blocked the bill.

The revision of the bill has two separate funds where the fines will go to non-medical issues related to helping the victims of trafficking including legal representatives and increased law enforcement.  The second fund comes from appropriations already set aside for community health centers which falls under the Hyde Amendment.

“I’m thrilled we were finally able to come together to break the impasse over this vital legislation, and I look forward to swift passage in the Senate so we can ensure victims of human trafficking receive the resources they need to restore their lives,” Senator Cornyn said.

A spokesman of the Family Research Council stated in 2013 there is a strong connection between human trafficking and the abortion industry.

“Abortion and human trafficking are evils every thoughtful Christian should oppose. Virtually all evangelicals would agree with that statement. What is not always considered, however, is the troubling relationship between these things and how they build upon one another in a growing cascade of moral horror,” Rob Schwarzwalder wrote.

Christians Counter Wiccan Prayer At Iowa Legislature

A group of Christian legislators refused to attend the opening of Thursday’s session for the Iowa Legislature because a Wiccan priestess gave the invocation.

Wiccan Deborah Maynard, who says she’s a “Unitarian Universalist”, prayed to the universe and the earth.  Democratic Representative Liz Bennett of Cedar Rapids who invited the Wiccan speaker said she wanted people to know the statement made by Maynard would be “inclusive.”

The chamber was half empty for Maynard’s talk as Christian legislators attended a prayer rally.

“We feel that this is completely out of sync with the traditions of our state and our nation to seek guidance from the occult,” Michael Demastus, pastor of Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, told reporters. “We believe it is just not a good idea.”

He said that as Maynard spoke, “I was praying for her salvation. I was praying that she would come to know the one true God.”

One Christian legislator said he stayed in the chamber but turned his back on the priestess while she delivered her talk.

“I thought to myself, ‘What would Jesus do?’” Rep. Rob Taylor (R-West Des Moines) stated. “Jesus would be in the chamber from my perspective. He would passively protest and then He would seek that individual out and have a peaceful conversation with them about why His way was the best way, and so that is what I did today.”

Taylor said he offered to Maynard the chance to learn about the one true God.

President Obama: Weakened Israel Would Be Failure For Presidency

President Obama gave an interview to the New York Times that was published Sunday saying that he would consider it a failure if the nation of Israel was more vulnerable because of his actions as president.

“Look, Israel is a robust, rowdy democracy. … We share so much. We share blood, family. … And part of what has always made the U.S.-Israeli relationship so special is that it has transcended party, and I think that has to be preserved,” the President told the Times’ Thomas Friedman.  “There has to be the ability for me to disagree with a policy on settlements, for example, without being viewed as … opposing Israel. There has to be a way for Prime Minister Netanyahu to disagree with me on policy without being viewed as anti-Democrat, and I think the right way to do it is to recognize that as many commonalities as we have, there are going to be strategic differences. And I think that it is important for each side to respect the debate that takes place in the other country and not try to work just with one side. … But this has been as hard as anything I do because of the deep affinities that I feel for the Israeli people and for the Jewish people. It’s been a hard period.”

The President even said he took things personally when people would comment he and his administration were trying to undermine Israel.

“It has been personally difficult for me to hear … expressions that somehow … this administration has not done everything it could to look out for Israel’s interest — and the suggestion that when we have very serious policy differences, that that’s not in the context of a deep and abiding friendship and concern and understanding of the threats that the Jewish people have faced historically and continue to face,” the President said.

The agreement has been met with scathing criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who says the deal paves the way for Iran to have a nuclear bomb.  Netanyahu also alluded to the idea that the deal was not done with Israel’s interested in mind.

President Obama acknowledged that Netanyahu and the Israeli people “have every right to be concerned about Iran. This is a regime that at the highest levels has expressed the desire to destroy Israel, that has denied the Holocaust, that has expressed venomous anti-Semitic ideas and is a big country with a big population and has a sophisticated military. So Israel is right to be concerned about Iran, and they should be absolutely concerned that Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon.”

The President continued to say the United States’ interest in the region is not oil but rather that all nations in the area live together in peace.