- There has been rejoicing among Christians/conservatives
this week - and gloom among the liberals - as a result of the spectacular
defeat of the hate crimes bill in Conference between the House and Senate.
-
- Yet, this victory does not reveal the
strategic brilliance of conservatives. As in previous hate bill victories,
it demonstrated the power of God to create confusion in the hate bill ranks.
Victory was assisted very largely by the totally unforeseen, divinely assisted
mutiny of a host of Democrats. They revolted not against the hate bill
but against an arms appropriations bill that provided no ultimatum for
withdrawal from Iraq.
-
- Let's briefly review our unprecedented
victory last week:
-
- On Nov. 16 the National Prayer Network
widely publicized a credible report that 180 House Republicans and 20 Democrats
threatened not to vote for the final conference-approved version of the
National Defense Authorization Act. (See, We Can Still Kill the Hate Bill)
The hate crimes bill was attached as a rider to it, and NPN recognized
this God-given second chance to defeat the hate bill. Through e-alerts,
posted at www.truthtellers.org and sent to new right leaders, and numerous
radio interviews, I challenged everyone to widen this rebellion against
the arms-and-hate-bill package by vigorous calling of House members. Sadly,
conservative leaders did not seize this opportunity to mobilize their followers
but waited until Dec. 4. (See, <http://truthtellers.org/alerts/conferencehungupoverhate.htm>Conference
Hung Up Over Hate Bill)
-
- At the last minute, on Dec. 4, the very
day House Democratic leaders were expected to announce whether the hate
bill would be stripped from the arms bill, Family Research Council posted
a powerful internet alert encouraging readers to demand its removal. The
same day I called Janet Folger of Faith2Action, who seemed unaware of this
opportunity. Immediately, she put me on her syndicated radio program and
posted a powerful call to protest. On 13 national radio interviews from
Monday to Wednesday, I encouraged massive phoning. On the morning of Tuesday,
Dec. 4, I sent an emergency e-mail to Bob Unruh, WorldNetDaily's hate crimes
writer, urging him to post an immediate article. By 1 o'clock Thursday
morning, only hours before the Democrats made the decision to strip the
hate bill, WND's article finally came out. It featured FRC's alert and
also quoted Janet Folger, "Philly 11" head Michael Marcavage
(whom I briefed Tuesday morning), and me. These combined efforts were powerfully
effective.
-
- On Thursday, Dec. 6, House Democratic
leadership announced they were 40 votes shy of being able to pass the hate
bill. The hate bill was stripped off the arms bill and defeated; 257 House
members had joined the rebellion!
-
- Frightening Silence
-
- The silence from most new right leaders,
however, was frighteningly reminiscent of their inaction before hate bill
passage in September. (Watch, <http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7106788155515523339>Second
Chance for Freedom: Defeating the Hate Bill) Focus on the Family, Concerned
Women for America, Traditional Values Coalition, and American Family Association
posted no internet calls to action - although I had called them Tuesday
morning, urgently explaining in detail this unique opportunity for victory!
-
- In the aftermath, it is sobering to
realize how easily this opportunity could have been missed. Most new right
leaders are not showing themselves alert dependable watchmen on the wall.
Their followers should demand that they become proactive and imaginative
in their response to this ever-mounting threat to Christianity and freedom
or lose support.
-
- Christ's Christmas Gift to America
-
- As we share gifts this Christmas, let's
pause and consider an amazing fact: This second chance to defeat the hate
bill was God's gift to America -- from the One we worship at Christmas,
Jesus Christ. It was not just we who fought against the hate bill but God
and the angels. God indeed mixes religion with politics; He has a vested
interest in opposing this anti-Christ legislation because it will outlaw
the free speech necessary to proclaim salvation through His Son.
-
- God has again magnificently done His
part. It's up to us to make sure we do ours.
-
-
|
