Friday, October 11, 2019

Friday, October 11, 2019

Values Voter Summit
 
The 2019 Values Voter Summit, the year's premier gathering of social conservatives, is underway! 
 
For those who could not join us in person, you can watch the proceedings live online at valuesvotersummit.org.
 
If you missed my address to the Summit this afternoon, you can watch it here.

American Values is a proud sponsor of the Values Voter Summit.  Your generous support is the only thing that makes our work possible.  Please help keep us fighting on the front lines for faith, family and freedom!

 
 
Deal Or No Deal?
 
President Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu are meeting today to discuss trade issues.  There is considerable hope that the two men can iron out some sort of a deal, even a partial deal.  And the Chinese are clearly eager for one.
 
One of the communist regime's main propaganda outlets printed an editorial today declaring:
 
"A partial deal is a more feasible objective, and one that would be in the common interests of both sides.  Not only would it be of tangible benefit by breaking the impasse, but it would also create badly needed breathing space for both sides to reflect on the bigger picture. . ." 
 
Whether there is a deal or not, this much is clear:  The president would have been much more successful if he only had to deal with the Chinese communists.  Unfortunately, he has also had to contend with a big swath of U.S. capitalists. 
 
Whenever a Chinese delegation came to the U.S., they often flew into New York City first, where they would meet with Wall Street CEOs.  As they headed to Washington, the CEOs would start lobbying on China's behalf. 
 
As Lenin reportedly said, "The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."
 
 
 
Iranian Tanker Hit
 
There are bizarre reports today indicating that an Iranian oil tanker in the Red Sea was attacked, hit by two missiles or rockets near the port of Jeddah on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. 
 
The reports are coming from Iranian media, and so far there has been no independent verification of the attack.  As the BBC put it, "This story is as clear as mud. It seemed to change."
 
The BBC notes that Iranian reports identified two ships as being hit, yet "both tankers are currently steaming at full speed in their different directions so there is no evidence that either vessel has been impaired in any way."
 
It's possible the Iranian reports are totally false and meant as propaganda for domestic consumption only to portray Iran as a victim.  Early reports also accused Saudi Arabia of "terrorism." 
 
It's possible that the tanker was attacked by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who mistook it for a Saudi tanker.  I can also think of several other possible explanations.
 
Whatever the truth happens to be, the reports are just more evidence of the growing volatility in the Middle East, with Iran at the center of the mayhem. 
 
In related news, the Pentagon announced today that it is deploying additional troops, fighters and Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia in order to counter Iranian aggression.
 
 
 
Threatening Religious Liberty
 
For the second time in as many months, several progressive presidential candidates held a town hall dedicated to LGBTQ issues.  Among other things, we learned it was "violence" to mispronounce a transgendered individual's name.
 
It is important to note here that American Values does not support or oppose candidates for public office.  But we do care tremendously about the issues making headlines, especially religious liberty.
 
One of the many topics discussed last night was whether religious organizations that oppose same-sex marriage should lose their tax-exempt status.  One of these so-called "progressives" unequivocally answered, "Yes." 
 
This issue has always been a battering ram to marginalize and attack the church and men and women of faith.  We predicted this years ago.  If normal marriage is defined as bigotry, then no traditional faith-based group is safe. 
 
Justice Samuel Alito raised the specter of religious institutions losing their tax-exemptions during the 2015 case that legalized same-sex marriage.  The Obama Administration attorney replied, "It's certainly going to be an issue. . .  I don't deny that." 
 
My friends, you see what is at stake in America's culture war today.  Religious liberty is at risk.  The right of pastors and rabbis to preach what God teaches about marriage is at risk.  The right of parents to instill their values in their children is at risk.
 
Please make your best donation to American Values right now.  
 
Help us protect religious liberty!
 
 
 
"Season of our Rejoicing!"
 
Carol and I wish all of our Jewish friends and supporters a blessed Sukkot as they celebrate God's providence.