By Rev. Ted Pike
This week, President Bush said that if the Senate in September approves the Kennedy/Smith hate bill as an amendment to the military reappropriations bill, he will veto it. He’ll send both bills back to the Senate in order to have the hate bill removed. He will not be bullied into passing a hybrid gay rights/arms bill.
Bush’s statement is powerful evidence that mounting grassroots anger against hate crimes legislation is encouraging him to stand and fight. The President’s attitude is in marked contrast to most politicians, both state and federal, in previous years. They feared that being against a bill that ostensibly wanted to end hate would be perceived by their constituents as being “pro-hate.” Result: defeat in the next election.
All this is changing. As the public becomes aware of how hate laws have taken away free speech in many countries, and intend to do so here, it sees through the deception of hate law rhetoric. The claim that “anti-hate” laws are against hate is now widely recognized as just as hollow as the abortionist’s claim to be “pro-choice.” What is true is that hate laws persecute Christians. With the President’s popularity at a record low, he clearly perceives that those who oppose hate laws are becoming a significant power bloc – a group well worth satisfying. But this is not a time for lovers of freedom to rest on their accomplishments. Rather we must continue pressure on members of the Senate to vote against the Kennedy/Smith amendment in September. Bush’s cooperation with the wishes of the people can be greatly encouraged during the next month – calling Senators at their home offices and attempting to meet with them in small groups. (See, http://truthtellers.org/alerts/havehatebillmeeting.htm for the phone number.
If we continue the offensive there is the real possibility that Bush, increasingly alienated from anti-war Democrats, may desire to realign himself more firmly with his original right-wing supporters. In that case, he might be persuaded to also veto other very dangerous pending speech crime legislation, particularly ENDA, “The Employment Non-Discrimination Act.”
This is a golden moment which we must take advantage of to the fullest. If we take action NOW, we can not only guarantee our own freedom but begin to roll back evil legislation which will oppress and enslave our children. With God behind us, and truth as our shield, we can yet hold back the darkness.
Let’s roll!
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Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative watch dog organization.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith teach you how they have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike’s Hate Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at http://www.truthtellers.org for $24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas, OR 97015