Quote of the Day

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . ."

Declaration of Independence

The Mueller Meltdown

Thursday, July 25, 2019

By Gary Bauer

The Mueller/Media Meltdown
 
During yesterday's hearings, the fake news commentators had to observe in real time what everyone else was seeing with our own eyes.  Robert Mueller was melting down and so too were the left's impeachment delusions. 
 
As the hearings progressed we began to hear the Trump-haters lamenting Mueller's performance.  Here are some examples:
 

• Left-wing law professor Laurence Tribe tweeted, "This morning's hearing was a disaster. . . the tired Robert Mueller sucked the life out of [his report]."

• Michael Moore declared Mueller to be "A frail old man, unable to remember things, stumbling, refusing to answer basic questions."

• NBC's Chuck Todd said, "On optics, this was a disaster."

• ABC's Terry Moran declared, "Impeachment's over."

• Even Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who forced a vote on impeachment last week, conceded, "Some persons were hoping for a . . . 'wow' moment. It didn't happen." 

 
But if you were like most Americans who didn't watch the hearings and only turned on the evening news or opened your morning newspaper today, here's the "news" you likely heard or read: "Mueller did not exonerate Trump." 
 
That's the best possible spin the left could come up with, but it is totally absurd.
 
In our system of justice, prosecutors or special counsels do not announce they have or have not exonerated someone.  You are either guilty or not guilty, and juries make that determination. 
 
That was the key point Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), a former federal prosecutor, drove home during yesterday's hearing. 
 
Ratcliffe asked Mueller, "Which Department of Justice policy sets forth a legal standard that an investigated person is not exonerated if their innocence is not conclusively determined?" 
 
When Mueller couldn't answer the question, Ratcliffe answered it for him, saying, "You can't find it because . . . it doesn't exist."
 
Prosecutors and special counsels either find there is enough evidence to issue an indictment or that there is not enough evidence to issue an indictment.  Mueller found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.  That should have been the end of it.
 
The Real News
 
If we actually had a functioning media with real journalists dedicated to reporting facts, then every American would know what yesterday's big news was.  And it was this:  Robert Mueller was clearly unfamiliar with the Mueller Report.
 
There are now serious questions about whether Mueller was used as a prop while a team of Clinton loyalists attempted to do what Hillary Clinton could not -- get Donald Trump out of the White House.
 
It would take a small book to outline all the episodes that occurred yesterday raising questions about who really ran this investigation, but here are just a few.
 
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) asked Mueller, "Who wrote the nine-minute comments that you read at your May 29th press conference?"   Mueller refused to answer, leading Gohmert to reply, "So that's what I thought.  You didn't write it."
 
It should have been an easy question to answer unless Mueller didn't want to answer it, and he clearly did not. 
 
Here's something else:  Millions of Americans know that Fusion GPS is the opposition research firm hired by the Clinton campaign to dig up dirt on Donald Trump.  Fusion GPS worked with foreign spies and Russians to produce the unverified Steele dossier, which the FBI used to spy on the Trump campaign. 
 
As Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) noted: 

 
"There is collusion in plain sight. . . The Democrats colluded with Russian sources to develop the Steele dossier and Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya colluded with the dossier's key architect, Fusion GPS head Glenn Simpson."

 
Yet, when Mueller was asked about Fusion GPS, he was clueless even though Fusion GPS was included in his report and was a central player in this scandal.
 
And that leads us to this big news. 
 
Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel because a dossier full of lies was circulated throughout Washington.  It was paid for by the Clinton campaign and sourced by Russians, yet Mueller claimed it was not within his purview to examine the dossier. 
 
The origin of evidence is a fundamental issue in our justice system.  Evidence makes or breaks a case. 
 
Yet in this case it seems the special counsel wasn't interested in looking at all of the evidence involving Russian interference in our elections.  Maybe that's because Andrew Weissmann and Aaron Zebley were still working for Hillary Clinton.
 

Attorney General William Barr has a lot on his plate.  But he really should look into who ran the Mueller investigation.  The man we saw yesterday was not capable of controlling dozens of partisan lawyers and producing an unbiased report.

Trump vs. The Squad

July 16, 2019

By Gary Bauer

Trump vs. The Squad
 

If there has been a consistent theme in these daily reports lately, it has been the growing anti-Americanism of the left.  President Trump took it on in recent days and now the left is howling in fits of rage.
 
As you undoubtedly know by now, the president tweeted over the weekend that "loud and vicious voices" on the progressive left were attempting to dictate how the U.S. should be run.  He suggested that they "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."
 
Yesterday, amid mounting criticism, the president doubled down, saying, "As far as I'm concerned if you hate our country, if you're not happy here, you can leave." 
 
The four members of the progressive Squad -- Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley -- held a press conference yesterday afternoon.  They accused the president of being a racist, of pushing a "white nationalist agenda," of dividing the country and committing various crimes.
 
Pressley refused to refer to Trump as "president," and called him "the occupant of the White House."  She claimed that the Trump Administration was putting children in cages at the border. 

 

Ilhan Omar accused the president of committing human rights abuses at the border and forcing women to drink out of toilets.  She accused Trump of "multiple crimes," including colluding with Russia, and she called for his impeachment.
 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused the president of ripping families apart at the border.
 
Rashida Tlaib accused Trump of "utter disregard and disrespect for the Constitution."  She too urged Trump's impeachment.
 
Allow me to correct the record.
 

• Those so-called "child cages" were built by Obama and they are meant to protect children from random adults in the detention facilities.

• There is zero evidence that women in border detention facilities were told to or forced to drink from toilets. 

• As for separating children from their families, that's what happens when you break the law.  Any time a citizen breaks the law and is arrested, he is separated from his children.  Moreover, many of these so-called "families" are not families at all.  The children are being used to exploit loopholes in our weak immigration laws, which the Squad refuses to fix.

• Robert Mueller and his team of Clinton-supporting lawyers found no evidence that Trump colluded with Russia.

• As for disrespecting the Constitution, it is the left that routinely assaults the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion and our Second Amendment rights.

• As for Omar, the House was forced to vote on a resolution condemning her repeated anti-Semitic remarks and yesterday she refused to condemn Al Qaeda.

• And when it comes to dividing America, that's all the left does.  It's all about identity politics.

 
Once again, these progressives seemed far more committed to helping illegal immigrants than to helping American citizens.  AOC, who wants to abolish ICE, led the fight to stop Amazon from bringing thousands of jobs to New York. 
 
Omar spent the Fourth of July belittling America.  She later said she was "ashamed" of America "continuing to live in its hypocrisy," whatever that means. 
 
And don't forget that just last week they were accusing Nancy Pelosi of racism.
 
 
 
What's Next?
 
These four women have risen to the top of the progressive movement by attacking America, attacking law enforcement, smearing our border guards and pushing extreme policies.  They are increasingly driving the agenda of the left.
 
In a strange twist, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suddenly been forced to rally around AOC and Omar, yet her caucus is divided on how to respond.  Pelosi wants a simple resolution, while others are demanding a formal censure.  Progressives won't do anything to stop the crisis at the border, but they will spend time on resolutions condemning Trump. 
 
Moreover, Pelosi has been struggling to keep a lid on the progressive push for impeachment.  It came up repeatedly at yesterday's press conference, and now Rep. Al Green (D-TX) is vowing to force an impeachment vote on the House floor.

Quote of the Day

"Governor Ralph Northam called for the special session and the enactment of previously defeated bills only four days after the horrific Virginia Beach murders. He called for the special session before any real investigation of the tragedy because he saw an opportunity for political rehabilitation after his own party had demanded his resignation. At Boys State, the Governor acknowledged that none of his recycled proposals are actually related to stopping the tragedy.

]Yesterday, I joined my Republican colleagues in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates in voting to adjourn the special session until November. In the Senate Education and Health Committee meeting I was part of a bipartisan majority that voted to send the bills before us to the bipartisan Crime Commission for professional review. These actions will allow for law enforcement to conduct important investigations and for thorough consideration by the professionals at the Crime Commission. Then, the General Assembly will have the ability to give serious consideration to evidence-based solutions."

David Suetterlein

7/10/19

Statement of House Speaker Kirk Cox on Virginia being named Best State for Business by CNBC

July 10, 2019

Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox released the following statement Tuesday after CNBC awarded Virginia with the top spot as the nation's Best State for Business:

"There's no secret behind Virginia's climb to the top of the rankings this year. Our highly-educated workforce, our business-friendly regulatory environment, low taxes, and our ongoing commitment to education make our Commonwealth a great place for any business, from a mom-and-pop startup to the Fortune 500."

"CNBC specifically cited Republican initiatives in their report. We provided nearly $1 billion in tax relief to working families, championed the bi-partisan legislation to cut burdensome business regulations by 25 percent, gave our teachers a 5 percent raise, put the brakes on college tuition hikes for the first time in 20 years, and put an emphasis on workforce training and college degrees that businesses actually need.  

"The ranking comes despite policy proposals from Democrats that would have set Virginia back. We blocked more than $17.9 billion in bad business bills that would have killed 156,000 jobs, including an energy tax scheme that would significantly increase electricity rates and the Democratic bill to repeal the right-to-work law that protects employees from mandatory union membership.  

"The stakes are high for Virginia. The narrow, 51-49 Republican majority in the House of Delegates is the only thing standing between the Commonwealth and unchecked Democratic control of state government. They will enact policies that cost Virginia its top business ranking, while Republicans will continue to promote an agenda that creates good paying jobs, lifts people out of poverty, and fortifies our already strong economy."

To read CNBC's full analysis click here.

Family Research Council Video Ad Campaign Calls out Disney, Amazon, and Netflix for Hypocrisy

July 12, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC -- A new video released by Family Research Council is calling out big entertainment companies Disney, Amazon, and Netflix for their virtue signaling and hypocrisy. All three companies--Disney, Amazon, and Netflix--do business in China -- where serial human rights abuses occur, while claiming they cannot do business in U.S. states that pass pro-life laws. Family Research Council pointed out this hypocrisy in a social media ad, titled "It's All an Act."

Below is a transcript of the ad:

"You can't believe everything you see on TV... Big entertainment corporations like Disney, Amazon, and Netflix are claiming support for what they call 'women's rights.' They're threatening boycotts of states like Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ohio, Missouri, and other states because of pro-life bills passed this year.

"It's all a show. Many of these same companies do business in places with even stronger pro-life laws -- countries like Ireland, Bolivia, Croatia, Egypt, and Jordan. They do business in China... where the government detains Christians, locks up Muslims in prison camps, harvests organs from political prisoners, and kills millions of baby girls through forced abortions.

"But Hollywood big business doesn't care. It's a charade... driven by money... not morality. Hollywood corporations have partnered with the Chinese communist government for years in its lucrative market, ignoring their long history of human rights abuses. Yet, big entertainment would have you believe they just can't do business in pro-life states. So, remember... for big business like Disney, Amazon, and Netflix... it's all an act," the ad concludes.

The ad can be viewed in full here.

Family Research Council Applauds the State Department's Formation of a Commission on Unalienable Rig

July 8, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Family Research Council President Tony Perkins applauded the State Department for announcing today the formation of a Commission on Unalienable Rights. The Commission will advise Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on how to advocate for human rights in international diplomacy according to America's founding principles.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins commented:

"With today's announcement President Trump's State Department has taken a historic, meaningful step in advancing human rights around the world. The rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, the freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly, and other principles upon which our nation was founded are not merely American rights; they are human rights that we are compelled to protect and promote for all people of all nationalities. It is encouraging to see the United States take such a strong leadership role in promoting these unalienable rights around the world.

"For decades, the international consensus on human rights has been eroded, as human rights abusers like China, Iran, and Cuba have wormed their way onto 'human rights commissions' in their search for international legitimacy. The world's worst actors have used international platforms to shape policy on an issue of dignity that they neither value nor practice. Other special interest groups have sought to expand the definition of a 'human right' to include virtually anything. If everything is a human right then the term begins to have little meaning," continued Perkins.

"Most importantly, this commission will help further the protection of religious freedom, which is the foundation for all other human rights, and one which every government has a moral obligation to protect. In light of the increasing attacks on religious freedom around the world today, this comes as especially good news," concluded Perkins.

Nike & The Flag

July 2, 2019

By Gary Bauer

Nike had a great idea to celebrate America's upcoming 243rd birthday with a new shoe design sporting a patriotic look by featuring the Betsy Ross flag.  Unfortunately, you can't buy it.
 
Nike pulled the shoes from store shelves after Colin Kaepernick complained.  Sources say that the original NFL kneeler found the flag "offensive." A company spokesman told the Wall Street Journal, "Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag."
 
In my opinion, this is just an excuse.  I suspect Kaepernick would have objected to any version of the flag, old or contemporary.
 
This is just another example of the left's hatred of America.  Any historical reference about America pre-1860 is considered by some to be so evil that it cannot be displayed.  Monuments to our Founding Fathers are routinely vandalized and at risk of being torn down.
 
And now the left claims that the Betsy Ross flag is a symbol of slavery and oppression rather than freedom and independence from Great Britain.
 
Sadly, a spoiled ingrate like Colin Kaepernick is in a position to tell a conglomerate like Nike what is appropriate.  Yet Kaepernick will never come close to being as important to America as Betsy Ross.

 
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is reportedly canceling state tax incentives for Nike, tweeting:
 

"Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision.  I am embarrassed for Nike. . . Nike has made its decision, and now we're making ours. . . Arizona's economy is doing just fine without Nike. We don't need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation's history."
 

The Nike flag flap comes as a new Gallup poll reveals a continuing decline in the percentage of Americans who are proud of our country.  The decline in patriotism is most pronounced among self-identified liberals and our nation's youth.  And that is no coincidence.
 

The vast majority of educators, teachers and college professors, identify as liberals or progressives.  And too often these ideologues are teaching our children anti-American history.