Same-Sex Marriage on the Ballot

We are less than a week away until election day. Of course, my mind is constantly preoccupied with "Mittmentum" and getting that guy moved into the White House for the next four years. But there are some state races here in Washington that are turning into quite a fight. Or maybe not so much of a fight but more of a game-changer. 

R-74: Allowing same-sex couples to marry.

This is a society game-changer.

I found this WONDERFUL article today. I may be a little "out of the loop" but I haven't even heard of Dennis Prager until I stumbled upon this article. He is a conservative commentator and syndicated radio talk-show host. So, who knew? Not me? But I may look for him from now on! Here are three amazing take-aways from his article:

(1) Prager provided the best view on the other "side" (aka the pro side) that I've seen to date on this issue. He talks about the "fairness" idea within the same-sex marriage argument. All the Pro-R-74 commercials are nice people who love each other and/or family members and want them to be able to marry and be happy. And not allowing them to marry and be happy is unfair. And Prager points out that is true. It is unfair. But when standards are created, they WILL always be unfair to some. He's right. Traditional marriage is not fair for some people and that made me feel more compassion on the issue than before. Simply recognizing this fact was good for me...and maybe I felt a twinge of self-guilt that I lacked more compassion on the issue before. But even though it may be unfair, it's not enough to swing the pendulum in favor of same-sex marriage (...keep reading). 

(2) He also does a VERY FINE job debunking the myth that denying marriage to same-sex couples is equivalent to racism. When I hear this argument, the hairs on my neck literally stand on end. I am not a racist. And I am not a hater. I am moral and I have a right to an opinion on a MORAL argument. Please read his full article if you think opposition to same-sex marriage is somehow equivalent to racism. No matter where you stand on same-sex marriage, it is easy to see how this issue is anything akin to racism. 

(3) His main point is so clear; I just loved it. He essentially states gender is important - vital, in fact to our society. Allowing same-sex marriage will erase gender identifications. My own religious doctrine also coincides with the idea that gender is not an accident: "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Prager goes on to state a society that allows same-sex marriage essentially nullifies gender. Forget "motherhood", "fatherhood", mom/dad, male/female. Just watch...litigation over such titles will overflow in our judicial system (it already has...as Prager points to specific examples). He goes on to point out why this will be so destructive. 

My point is...just read this article...wherever you stand on R-74 or same-sex marriage. It is worth 5 minutes of your time. 

Full article click here.

Sources: The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Walker Recall Election: A Boost for Conservatives

For those following the Wisconsin recall, the result is a resounding success to conservatives across the nation. It renews a sense of hope that is so often dashed by the mainstream media. Do you know what happened in Wisconsin??  Two years into his term as Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker was making big changes, taking on the labor unions, which have strapped their state economy (not unlike my home state of Washington). Do you remember hearing how the state democrat legislatures fled to Illinois to avoid votes on cutting pensions and requiring unions to contribute a very moderate (and totally reasonable) amount to their benefits? (Sidenote: I think they should have all been fired. How many people who face tough choices at work can choose to just avoid it altogether and NOT show up, yet are still employed after they decide to return? It's completely ridiculous and shameful.) Walker stood up despite the critics and forced real change in his home state, he created results, his opponents (hello Big Labor) came back and forced a recall, which out of the THREE recalls ever to occur in our history, he was the first to remain in his seat.  

For a great summary article from The Heritage Foundation, click HERE.

I've highlighted a few great points below:

"...Reformers who come armed with the strength of their convictions can carry the day - even against the mobs, labor unions, Hollywood, the media, academia and everything else the left throws up these days. All reformers need to do is lead." 

"It was a historic recall election that focused nationwide attention on what has become an existential threat to state governments - the problem of public-sector employee pensions and benefits running states into the red. Walker unabashedly confronted the threat without straddling a fence or tiptoeing around Big Labor's Maginot Line.

"One of Governor Walker's reforms included giving government workers the option to choose whether they wanted to pay union dues. When given the option, tens of thousands of members chose to leave the union. And according to exit polls, a third of union households backed Walker.

"Since Walker took office, the state unemployment rate has fallen from 7.7 percent to 6.8 percent - well below the nation average of 8.2 percent. And last year, Wisconsin employers actually created 23,000 jobs.

"Walker's victory will send shockwaves across the county...[He] stood for reforms that curbed spending and got the state's budget under control - without raising taxes. Despite facing a recall election, Walker was ultimately rewarded for a job well done.

This amps me up for the elections this fall. Think twice about what you hear in the media, it is most likely tweaked to the max. All we were hearing was Walker was in trouble, and yet he won by a wide margin. To my conservative friends, don't think you are so far in the minority...most people out there care about the same things you do. We must come together to elect officials who will bring about REAL CHANGE this fall. Without change, the next four years may prove to be disastrous and bring our nation to the brink of failure. Stand up like Walker! Keep your chin up and your voice heard. Don't be discouraged, Walker just gave us a great boost.

Source: The Heritage Foundation, 06.06.12 http://blog.heritage.org/2012/06/06/morning-bell-a-historic-win-for-reform-in-wisconsin/

Message Received!

"With their voices, the American people are demanding a new way forward in Washington."

 - House Minority Leader, John Boehner

It was a success at the polls, as far as I'm concerned. Republicans taking over the House is a huge game-changing play in Washington...and it's because the people made their voices and opinions heard. 

This election is our message to Pelosi and other House members who:

(1) Rammed Obamacare down our throats,

(2) Continued to pass Stimulus packages that are having no impact on the economy, and

(3) Have grown the government and in turn our national debt to the brink of bankruptcy

And I just love how our President has been saying in recent days that should Republicans take the House, they better compromise!  Well, that's interesting, since he wasn't too interested in what Republicans had to say during the closed-door Obamacare meetings earlier this year. I hope the Republicans don't compromise. Stick to your guns, stick to your promises. It's time to make a stand.

The message to Obama and his administration is clear...we don't like what you've done, and it's time to chart a different course!

AND here in Washington state....

I'm elated on the defeat of I-1098 (the income tax initiative).

I'm elated on the passage of I-1107 (ending the candy/soda tax)

I'm elated on the passage of I-1053 (requiring 2/3 legislative majority for tax increases)

It's obvious the people, even the liberal people here in Washington, are conscious of the economy. They know Washingtonians need less taxes and more prudent spending in this State. And Governor Gregoire was doing a bit of complaining last night saying she will have to make some serious cuts. I would like to remind our Governor that IT IS YOUR JOB!  Now is the time to make the tough decisions and earn your keep...otherwise, you'll be out!

I'm off to Washington D.C. (for a personal matter), but I will probably feel a bit euphoric walking near the Capital knowing MY voice has made a difference. I hope you feel the same about yours.

Christine O'Donnell...my take.

"We've got serious issues facing our country right now and this type of stuff is a diversion.  And I want to get back on message."

 - Sen. Candidate Christine O'Donnell, R-Del

It's a media firestorm over Christine O'Donnell, the underdog tea party candidate who clinched the GOP nomination in Delaware last week.  The win was a major victory to conservatives and tea party supporters.

If you didn't know about O'Donnell a month ago, I'm sure you've heard about her now.  The national media is all over her for a comment she made about witchcraft in her high school years (I'm not acknowledging this is bizarre, but nonetheless, kids do a lot of stupid stuff in their teenage years. Is it more stupid than cocaine?  I will let you decide, since President Obama has admitted to dabbling in cocaine but that doesn't seem to bother people too much). They also attack her for getting behind on her mortgage, and "not paying her taxes".  

She had a great interview with Sean Hannity on Tuesday (click here) to clarify some of these "personal" issues, but she also talks about what I think is most important: her policies and her campaign promises. Ultimately, that's the most important thing. 

"What's important to the people of Delaware are how we're going to get jobs back, how we're going to reduce the size of government. And they're worried about the tax hikes that are coming in January."

The problem for liberals? They cannot fight her on the issues. Her opponent, Democrat Chris Coons, knows her position on taxes, government spending, accountability and jobs are what can ultimately swing the election in her favor. She is behind the American people on the issues they deem important. Liberals know they have alienated the majority of the country, so their only plan of attack are these irrelevant and false, personal attacks. 

Whether you're a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, you should be focused on what your voted representatives will DO while in office, which will ultimately determine how we live our lives. 

O'Donnell has an uphill battle in this general election, but she was 15 points behind in the primary election  a week before voting and ended up winning by 6. Don't overlook her ability to bounce back and keep the focus where it belongs: on the issues.

Sources:

Full interview with Hannity----TAKE A LOOK!

Christine on the Issues, from her website

Free Speech to ALL

Those who criticize this decision have lost sight of a basic truth: the answer to speech they disagree with is not to restrict that speech, but to answer it with more speech.

 - Hans Von Spakovsky, The Heritage Foundation

This past Thursday the Supreme Court reversed two prior court decisions related to corporations' ability to contribute on a political campaign.  The Heritage Foundation has a great article conveying how the reversal is a restoration of our basic right to free speech granted in the Constitution.

Heritage says, prior to the ruling on Thursday, "Corporate associations were prohibited under penalty of criminal and civil sanctions from expressing the views of their members in the political arena over which particular candidates should be elected to uphold the positions on important issues of public policy that their members believe in unless they complied with certain very restrictive, complex provisions."

Summary: in most instances corporations couldn't contribute on a political candidate's campaign.

Here are some great quotes supporting and defending the Supreme Court's decision:

The Court also found that free speech rights under the First Amendment do not depend on a speaker’s financial ability to engage in public discussion – the fact that some speakers may have more wealth than others does not diminish their First Amendment rights.

Speech is an essential mechanism of democracy and the means to hold officials accountable to the people. As such, political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it.

The following quote is directly from Justice Scalia:  "The Amendment is written in terms of “speech,” not speakers. Its text offers no foothold for excluding any category of speakers…Indeed, to exclude or impede corporate speech is to muzzle the principal agents of the modern free economy. We should celebrate rather than condemn the addition of this speech to the public debate.

Now, yes, some "shady" companies will take advantage of the court's ruling to finance misleading advertising, but the argument is still irrelevant.  What matters is whether the voting body chooses to be educated on the issues enough to make an informed vote.  Give the responsibility to the voter...which is where it should be in the first place.

Chalk up a win for our Constitution.  I wish I could high-five our founding fathers.

Source: http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/21/citizens-united-v-fec-a-landmark-decision-in-favor-of-free-speech/

The People Have Spoken

"This little campaign of ours was destined for greater things than any of us knew, and the message went far beyond the name on the sign."

- Scott Brown, Acceptance Speech

The last of the checks and balances came out in full force today: the people.  I was on watch most of the day and was elated when the numbers came through this evening.

 Whether or not our elected officials actually listen to the people remains to be seen. Brown had some great comments today. I wonder if our panic-stricken Congress listened in. Uncertainty abounds with respect to health care and it appears tonight the Dems have a few ideas floating around, but not a lot of direction. We'll see what the Obama-Pelosi-Reid trio have to say tomorrow.

Best case scenario: ObamaCare dies. I'm not naive...I know it will not die forever, but a girl can dream right? I hope it goes away at least until the election this fall. If "The Machine" continues on its crash course of ignoring public opinion the Tea Party movement will certainly affect the open seats and reclaim some ground in Congress. And maybe we'll see a significant stretch of time pass before health care reform can have some momentum. I said I could dream right?!

"We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises. They will be challenged again and again across this country. When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere – and now they know it." (Brown)

I've talked about the polls previously, but it's evident Obama and Congress are focusing on the wrong agenda item. Most of the country is worried about the economy and jobs. If I was unemployed I would be more worried about getting a job than my health care premiums. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave nothing away today in speculating about a GOP win in Massachusetts, but he did elude to job creation taking priority over health care.

QUESTION: What's the President's agenda for his second year in office and what's the top priority?

MR. GIBBS: I think the top priority...is to continue to work hard on getting this economy back on track and creating jobs again...his primary focus will be on creating jobs.

Very interesting.  Could Obama be getting the message?

Here's another Brown quote:

"Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I’ve heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better."

I'm hoping our country can have some economic focus. But in the economic realm Obama's lack of experience is evident. I fear Obama will push for another stimulus, which I've blogged about recently, and my opinion is "Are you freakin' kidding me?" Can someone please consider tax cuts!! Let's infuse some cash into our economy...give businesses some opportunity to hire...invest in their businesses. It's a complete no brainer. Tax Cuts = Job Creation. Maybe someone will get the message.

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In a related item...THANK YOU!! I'm so happy with how the blog is being received. Thanks for all your comments and opinions. Obviously, with this being a conservative blog, most of the input and ideas are conservative...but liberal or conservative, keep 'em coming. Let your voice be heard. What we've learned from Scott Brown and his supporters is conservatives are NOT alone. The tea party movement is not to be ignored. Conservatives abound and they WILL stand up.

Source:

Robert Gibbs Briefing 011910

Scott Brown Transcript for Acceptance Speech

MSNBC Skepticism over Obama's Agenda