Thursday, January 24, 2019

CAAP Stands Behind Rep. Steve King

Rev. Owens declares need to take a stand against outrage culture

Today, Rev. William Owens, President of the Coalition of African American Pastors (CAAP), defended Rep. Steve King (R-IA), saying that remarks made by the Congressman to a New York Times reporter were twisted in an irresponsible example of "outrage journalism."

After speaking with several leaders who know Rep. King and conversing with King himself, Owens declared that the conservative Congressman has a long track record in defense of faith and family, but no history of racist behavior. Owens cited King's explanation that he and the reporter had been talking about, "the changing use of language in political discourse." In the course of the conversation, King spoke about labels increasingly used to slander conservatives by the Left, "who injected into our current political dialog such terms as Nazi, Fascist, White Nationalist, White Supremacist. Western Civilization, how did that  language become offensive? Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization … just to watch Western Civilization become a derogatory term in political discourse today?"

When printed, the Times story suggested that King didn't understand how "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" became offensive terms. However, in full context, it was clear that the Congressman was asking how "Western Civilization" became a negative term.

King said, "When I used the word 'that' it was in reference only to Western Civilization and not to any previously stated evil ideology, all of which I have denounced. My record as a vocal advocate for Western Civilization is nearly as full as my record in defense of Freedom of Speech."

Despite this reasonable explanation and the clear manipulation of the interview on the part of the reporter, Rep. King has been subject to multiple attacks on his character and position ever since. Those attacks prompted Rev. Owens to speak out in his defense.

"Rep. King has always impressed me as a man of integrity and principle," stated Rev. Owens. "While I understand that many do not agree with his politics, I cannot sit by while a man is made the subject of slander, personal attacks, and character assassination. Especially when the political motive in those attacks is so transparent."

"It is clear that our culture has lost touch with the basic principles of decency, fairness, and sympathy for others," Rev. Owens continued. "Too often, we are guilty of rushing to judgment – worse, of reveling in it and urging others to do so as well. We don't stop to think about the effect this has on the lives of those who are subjected to it."

"I will no longer sit by and allow such ugly behavior to destroy good people and poison our culture," said Rev. Owens. "I call on every American to take personal responsibility for stopping the advance of outrage culture. Don't share the stories online. Don't rush to judgment. And don't patronize media outlets that trade in this type of 'journalism.' The increasing negativity and polarization in our country has its root in these kinds of attacks. If we want that to end, we must take the first step ourselves."

Rev. Owens concluded by calling on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to restore Rep. King's committee assignments.

"We cannot let the biased media control Congress via these tactics of targeting, misquoting, and false branding. But that's exactly what has happened in the case of Rep. King," said Rev. Owens. "If we wanted to be governed by a New York Times reporter, we would have voted that way."

He concluded: "I ask Rep. McCarthy to do the right thing as Minority Leader. Issue a public apology and reinstate Rep. King to his committee assignments. If we do not stand against this media-manufactured assault today, no one will be safe from it tomorrow."

AWESOME intern program upate

Exciting news about the 2019 COAC Internship Program keeps rolling in. This week we forged yet another new relationship with an amazing group of people at an amazing school. A relationship that will bear fruit for years if not decades to come. 
 
For those who may not know, in 2017 the RMBC launched an internship program. We take black-American college students & send them to Washington to intern for one summer for conservative legislators. Its a part of our on-going effort to break down this ridiculous wall that stands between conservative & black communities. We pay for everything - transportation, housing + the internship itself is paid.
 
We sent 9 interns in 2017.  More than doubled to 20 in 2018 & right now is recruiting season for the 2019 session which will again (at least) double.
 
For months I've been working the phones developing relationships with schools across the country then traveling to campuses conducting recruiting events.  A big emphasis of the program is fostering relationships with our HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) & so far this recruiting session we've added/I've been to 3 new ones - including this week. 
   
I just returned from visiting Oakwood University in Huntsville Alabama, another HBCU in the deep south, and the visit was extremely productive.  
 
The staff & faculty at Oakwood rolled out the welcome mat in a huge kind of way.  I presented to a group of about 60 students & already we're receiving applications.

Its impossible to overstate how welcoming & accommodating the folks at Oakwood have been.  Ms. Vernice Wright (next to me in the blue blazer), Director of Career Services, set the whole thing up. I was introduced by Dr. Leslie Pollard, President of the university (blue jacket with vest) and Dr. Samuel London. Talk about class acts, Dr. Pollard took the time to not only come to the event, not only to introduce me but then stayed for my presentation. Dr. London insisted on taking me out to dinner on his dime once the event ended.
 
Everyone I met at Oakwood was not only a top-shelf individual, they went out of their way to let me know how much they appreciate me, the program & what we're trying to accomplish.  
 
The student body was equally impressive. I've yet to encounter a more bright, polished, professional group than the students at Oakwood. I'm certain we'll be placing some Oakwood students into the 2019 class then working with & recruiting from Oakwood for years to come.

We're making a difference, patriot. Slowly. One at a time. But that's the only way it can be done. If you are a financial partner - THIS is what your support is doing. If you aren't - a more worthy organization or cause to support is tough to find.

With the RMBC you know exactly where your dollars are going. They get put to use the only place it matters, on the streets! Then we take pictures and show you just what your support is accomplishing. I hope you'll consider partnering with the RMBC on one-time or monthly basis.
 
We're going places & doing things you most likely can't. It ain't easy. It ain't cheap. It is necessary.  
 
Yours in red, white and blue 
 
-derrick 
                                                        ****
 
The RMBC is a 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.

Time to Crack Down on Illegal Alien Drunk Drivers

January 24, 2019

 

 

"Good moral character is incompatible with being a public menace"

 

WASHINGTON – IRLI has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case that Acting Attorney General Whitaker has referred to himself for review from the Board of Immigration Appeals.


The Acting Attorney General sought briefing on the proper legal standard to determine "good moral character," and the impact that multiple convictions for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) should have in those determinations, which are often crucial in decisions about whether aliens are permitted to remain in the country.

 

In its brief, IRLI notes that an alien has the burden of establishing eligibility for cancellation of removal and of establishing "good moral character." That term obviously focuses on an alien's conduct, as courts have noted. IRLI argues that multiple convictions for DWI or DUI, combined with other negative factors (such as the person's unlawful presence in the United States), should prevent an alien from establishing the "good moral character" necessary to receive a cancellation of removal from the United States. 

 

IRLI acknowledges that the Attorney General has the discretion to cancel the removal of aliens under certain circumstances. The exercise of that discretion, however, often involves balancing many enumerated factors elucidating the totality of the circumstances. IRLI argues that multiple convictions for DWI or DUI, combined with a negative immigration history, should be an extremely negative factor, weighing heavily against awarding discretionary relief to an alien.

 

"Driving while drunk costs the lives of innocent people," said Ralph L. Casale, senior counsel of IRLI, who drafted the brief. "Years of campaigns by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and others have greatly raised awareness of the problem in this country. In other countries, though – especially ones from which many illegal aliens come – drunk driving is still commonplace. When an illegal alien kills someone driving drunk, that is a preventable tragedy, especially if the alien has prior drunk driving convictions and his removal was nevertheless cancelled."

 

"All we can do is punish and otherwise attempt to influence our own drunk drivers," said Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of IRLI. "We're stuck with them. But we shouldn't have to put up with the illegal presence of drunk drivers from other countries. Good moral character is incompatible with being a public menace. We hope the Attorney General recognizes this, and saves American lives by putting illegal alien drunk drivers back on the road out of the United States."

 

The case is Matter of Castillo-Perez, 27 I&N Dec. 495 (Attorney General).



Call Your Senators - Vote YES for the End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act

URGENT Alert from Heritage Action

☎️☎️☎️ CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY ☎️☎️☎️


President Trump has bundled five issues together into a compromise package in negotiation with democrats to secure the border and reopen the government. Democrats have rejected the proposal, which is both expected and bewildering.

It's expected because Democrats have been bitterly partisan during the entirety of the Trump Presidency; and it's bewildering because all five issues on the table are issues which Democrats have overwhelmingly supported in the past.

Today, the Senate will vote on the compromise proposal and Democrats are largely expected to vote "no." But here is how they have voted on each of the five components in the past:

Border Wall—In 2013, 52 Democrats voted for the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act which mandated 700 miles of fencing along the southern border.

DACA—In 2018, 46 Democrats voted for the McCain-Coons Uniting and Securing America (U.S.A.) Act which provided a permanent legal status to "dreamers."

TPS—In 2017, 23 Democrats introduced the SECURE Act, in which qualifying aliens with "TPS" status may apply to be lawful permanent residents.

Disaster Relief—In 2018, 44 Democrats voted for an appropriation bill that provided $7.4 billion in emergency funding for FEMA's disaster relief fund.

VAWA—In 2013, all 53 Democrats voted for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which expanded the 1994 bill to include more provisions for migrant women.

The bill, End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act, not only will take a first major step to secure the border, it includes policy Democrats have supported before. But, out of bitter partisanship, they are rejecting it.

And in case you still aren't convinced that's the case, let me just leave you with a sampling of Democrat quotes about immigration and the border wall that predate President Trump's request for $5.7 billion in funding:

"Let me elaborate...illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. Until the American people are convinced that we will stop future flows of illegal immigration, we will make no progress on dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants who are here now, and on rationalizing our system of legal immigration." - Sen. Minority Leader Schumer (D-N.Y.) in 2009

"I look at border security as technology, manpower, wall, fencing however you want to put it." - Sen. Tester (Mont.) 2018

"I'm deeply opposed to illegal immigration and I call on the federal government, the President, and the immigration services to stop the inflood of illegal immigrants into this country." - Sen. Kaine (Va.) in 2005

"We need to repair the wall. We'll need to build more wall. We need to do whatever we can to secure the border." - Sen. Manchin (W.V.) 2018

"The people who should be here are those who come legally at this time and for the time being we have to enforce our borders." - Sen. Feinstein (Calif.) in 1993

Call Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner today and tell them to stop playing partisan games with our country's security. Enough is enough.
Senate switchboard
+1 202 224 3121


 ☎️☎️☎️ Senate switchboard : +1 202 224 3121☎️☎️☎️

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Thank these Senators and Delegates who voted against the ERA



The Family Foundation

Celebrate Womanhood. Don't ERAse It. 

Victoria Cobb, President
Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Great news! A House of Delegates subcommittee, Chaired by Delegate Margaret Ransone (R-Westmoreland), stood strong against the barrage of "Equal Rights Amendment" (ERA) supporters by defeating all the remaining ERA resolutions this morning by a vote of 4-2This was a very encouraging development, but we still cannot be complacent, since we that ERA proponents are expected to challenge the subcommittee in the full committee, and perhaps on the House floor.

And yesterday, the Virginia Senate passed SJ 275 (R-Chase) - the "Equal Rights Affirmation" 21-19. (Watch Senator Chase's floor speech and debate HERE at 3:41:30) This resolution affirms what is already true - that men and women are equal under the law (and therefore, we don't need a new Constitutional Amendment to make it be so).  

Please join us on Thursday, January 24th, as we personally thank every Senator and Delegate who voted against the outdated and disastrous "Equal Rights Amendment" and continue to encourage them to stand strong against attempts to use the House rules to somehow bring it back! With all of the intense pressure they have been receiving from ERA proponents, it's important that they hear how grateful many are for their courageous stance. 

Join like-minded Virginians to encourage your legislators and thank them for voting NO on the ERA.
January 24 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Richmond, VA

ERA Register Button

We are planning to flood the offices of those who voted against the "ERA" (or worked behind the scenes to guide the process) with cards thanking them for the work that they have done.

ERA Thank You CardIf you're not able to make it Thursday, please reach out and thank those who voted against the ERA.

These are the Senators who voted against the ERA

Black, Carrico, Chafin, Chase, Cosgrove, McDougle, Newman, Obenshain, Peake, Reeves, Ruff, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein

These Delegates spoke at our Press Conference against the ERA:
Senator Amanda Chase
Delegate Margaret Ransone
Delegate Kathy Byron (Watch her incredible Floor Speech here.)

Delegate Brenda Pogge

These Delegates voted against the ERA and defeated it in House subcommittee:
Chairwoman Ransone
Delegate Buddy Fowler
Delegate John McGuire
Delegate Riley Ingram

Click here to send all of these legislators a note thanking them for opposing the ERA!

Victoria Cobb
Victoria Cobb
President

This message was sent to: oldautoz@gmail.com

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The Family Foundation
919 E. Main St., Suite 1110
Richmond, VA 23219
phone: 804-343-0010

Quote of the Day

"The left uses the term "woke" to describe someone who has become alert to an injustice in society.
 
"But there are many injustices that conservative Christians need to become woke to. For all of us who believe in Christian education, in the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty, we need to awaken to the well-organized, well-funded campaign being waged against us.
 
"The point of the left's campaign is not to marginalize normal, Christian education, but to make it completely unacceptable."

Gary Bauer