rightwingwatch--2020-10-07--Trump ‘Prayer Warriors’ Team Up to Push Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation

White House aide Paula White ’ s One Voice Prayer Movement merged its monthly prayer call with a gathering of Intercessors for America ’ s pro-Trump  ” prayer warriors “ Tuesday .
IFA ’ s Dave Kubal was joined by Todd Lamphere , introduced as “ chief of staff for senior adviser to President Trump pastor Paula White.
” Also helping lead the call was Jonathan Hamill , whose Lamplighters Ministry was booted from a planned 2018 event at Museum of the Bible after publicity about the group stirred controversy among museum ’ s board members .
Despite Lamphere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the call that OVPM is a nonpartisan project , it functions as an unofficial political arm of the White House and vehicle for promoting the voices of dominionist leaders who see Donald Trump as anointed by God .
Intercessors for America is ardently pro-Trump and mobilized “ spiritual warfare “ on behalf of conservative candidates in the 2018 midterms .
Hamill praised Trump ’ s “ courage ” in nominating Amy Coney Barrett to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court .
“ We thank you , Lord , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window that we have been prophesying and proclaiming and praying for has literally opened to shift America into an expression of life from a covenant with death and hell itself , ” he prayed .
Hamill said it was “ no coincidence ” that “ this onslaught of COVID hit the administration ” just after that announcement , suggesting it was a sign of evil spiritual powers at work .
He expressed gratitude , perhaps prematurely , for  Trump ’ s “ victory over COVID , ” while asking for healing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other members of the administration who have contracted the virus .
Lamphere expressed disgust over reporters who asked Trump , as he left the Walter Reed Medical Center , about how many of his staff had been infected .
Lamphere said that people , including some Christians , have expressed hope that Trump would die , which he said showed “ how rotten the soul of America has become.
” “ We should never pray for the hurt and harm of anybody , ” Lamphere said , adding that it “ hurts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch can not recall Lamphere making a similar plea during the many times that pro-Trump prayer warriors have prayed that God would “ remove ” pro-choice Supreme Court justices .
Lamphere also pushed Trump administration talking points about the urgency of filling the Supreme Court vacancy in case the court needs to decide the outcome of the presidential election , an urgency that was never expressed by conservative Christians during the year-long vacancy created by Republicans ’ refusal to even consider President Barack Obama ’ s nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ominous position for America to be in , ” Lamphere claimed .
He continued : The reality is , no matter what side of the debate you ’ re on , we still have a vacancy that needs to be filled .
And that has some very , very strong implications , particularly if the situation with voting extends into the Supreme Court .
We would at that point need to have a full court in order to be able to do that , and to make sure that that takes place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coney Barrett .
Lamphere prayed for “ a hedging of protection ” over Barrett and for senators to remain healthy so that they can confirm her .
A continual theme heard at religious-right gatherings is that the country ’ s cultural decline can be blamed on pastors not preaching more aggressively about moral and political issues .
Lamphere ended the call with what he called a “ stern warning ” for preachers in the weeks ahead : I ’ ve got a very stern warning for the people in the pulpits of God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out about righteousness .
This isn ’ t about being a Republican .
It ’ s not about being a Democrat .
This is about God ’ s principles .
It ’ s about God ’ s rules and principles laid out in his Word .
God said himself , ‘ I have set before you this day , life and death , blessing and cursing .
Therefore , choose life.
’ That ’ s not a political statement , Dave .
That is a biblical mandate .
Lamphere told listeners to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supernatural boldness to be able to preach and teach and to do what shepherds do—they guide , they protect , they provide information .
But what they don ’ t do is they don ’ t stand idly by.
” He said that if pastors “ powerfully proclaim the words of God , ” they won ’ t have to explicitly tell people who to vote for because “ God will show it to you .
”

White House aide Paula White’s One Voice Prayer Movement merged its monthly prayer call with a gathering of Intercessors for America’s pro-Trump ”prayer warriors“ Tuesday. IFA’s Dave Kubal was joined by Todd Lamphere, introduced as “chief of staff for senior adviser to President Trump pastor Paula White.” Also helping lead the call was Jonathan Hamill, whose Lamplighters Ministry was booted from a planned 2018 event at Museum of the Bible after publicity about the group stirred controversy among museum’s board members.
Despite Lamphere’s unconvincing assertion at the beginning of the call that OVPM is a nonpartisan project, it functions as an unofficial political arm of the White House and vehicle for promoting the voices of dominionist leaders who see Donald Trump as anointed by God. Intercessors for America is ardently pro-Trump and mobilized “spiritual warfare“ on behalf of conservative candidates in the 2018 midterms.
Hamill praised Trump’s “courage” in nominating Amy Coney Barrett to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. “We thank you, Lord, that you have shifted us, that the window that we have been prophesying and proclaiming and praying for has literally opened to shift America into an expression of life from a covenant with death and hell itself,” he prayed.
Hamill said it was “no coincidence” that “this onslaught of COVID hit the administration” just after that announcement, suggesting it was a sign of evil spiritual powers at work. He expressed gratitude, perhaps prematurely, for  Trump’s “victory over COVID,” while asking for healing for Trump, the first lady, and other members of the administration who have contracted the virus.
Lamphere expressed disgust over reporters who asked Trump, as he left the Walter Reed Medical Center, about how many of his staff had been infected. Lamphere said that people, including some Christians, have expressed hope that Trump would die, which he said showed “how rotten the soul of America has become.”
“We should never pray for the hurt and harm of anybody,” Lamphere said, adding that it “hurts the heart of God.” Right Wing Watch cannot recall Lamphere making a similar plea during the many times that pro-Trump prayer warriors have prayed that God would “remove” pro-choice Supreme Court justices.
Lamphere also pushed Trump administration talking points about the urgency of filling the Supreme Court vacancy in case the court needs to decide the outcome of the presidential election, an urgency that was never expressed by conservative Christians during the year-long vacancy created by Republicans’ refusal to even consider President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016.
“To have an open vacancy is an ominous position for America to be in,” Lamphere claimed. He continued:
The reality is, no matter what side of the debate you’re on, we still have a vacancy that needs to be filled. And that has some very, very strong implications, particularly if the situation with voting extends into the Supreme Court. We would at that point need to have a full court in order to be able to do that, and to make sure that that takes place, we want to pray for Amy Coney Barrett.
Lamphere prayed for “a hedging of protection” over Barrett and for senators to remain healthy so that they can confirm her.
A continual theme heard at religious-right gatherings is that the country’s cultural decline can be blamed on pastors not preaching more aggressively about moral and political issues. Lamphere ended the call with what he called a “stern warning” for preachers in the weeks ahead:
I’ve got a very stern warning for the people in the pulpits of God, those who are afraid to speak out about righteousness. This isn’t about being a Republican. It’s not about being a Democrat. This is about God’s principles. It’s about God’s rules and principles laid out in his Word. God said himself, ‘I have set before you this day, life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life.’ That’s not a political statement, Dave. That is a biblical mandate.
Lamphere told listeners to “beg” that God give pastors “supernatural boldness to be able to preach and teach and to do what shepherds do—they guide, they protect, they provide information. But what they don’t do is they don’t stand idly by.”
He said that if pastors “powerfully proclaim the words of God,” they won’t have to explicitly tell people who to vote for because “God will show it to you.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-07--Rick Joyner Assures His Viewers ‘It’s Gonna Be Pretty Much Business as Usual’ During the Coming Civi

Rick Joyner Assures His Viewers ‘It’s Gonna Be Pretty Much Business as Usual’ During the Coming Civil War

Right-wing pastor Rick Joyner posted a video on his Facebook page Friday in which he told viewers not to worry about the looming civil war that is supposedly coming to the United States because even though there will be violence and bloodshed , it ’ ll mostly be confined to the inner cities , and life will be “ pretty much business as usual ” for everyone else .
Joyner , who has been warning for years that the United States is heading for civil war and martial law and recently declared that God had “ seeded our country ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urban warfare to head up “ good militias , ” assured his viewers that they would most likely be minimally impacted by the coming conflagration .
“ Everyone , when they hear civil war , they think , ‘ Oh no , every city , community , everybody ’ s gon na be in battles , ' ” Joyner said .
“ Think about it : Only a tiny percentage of the population of America was engaged in the first Civil War .
Really it was 1 or 2 percent of the actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battles in the Civil War .
The rest of the country went on with business as usual.
” “ Now , I believe this one is going to be of a different nature , ” he continued .
“ It ’ s not gon na be pitched battles with armies .
I believe it is going to be inner cities .
I believe it ’ s gon na be a lot of militias engaged .
I believe it ’ s going to be difficult , no doubt about it , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still , in most of the country , it ’ s gon na be pretty much business as usual .
”

Right-wing pastor Rick Joyner posted a video on his Facebook page Friday in which he told viewers not to worry about the looming civil war that is supposedly coming to the United States because even though there will be violence and bloodshed, it’ll mostly be confined to the inner cities, and life will be “pretty much business as usual” for everyone else.
Joyner, who has been warning for years that the United States is heading for civil war and martial law and recently declared that God had “seeded our country” with military veterans who are experienced with urban warfare to head up “good militias,” assured his viewers that they would most likely be minimally impacted by the coming conflagration.
“Everyone, when they hear civil war, they think, ‘Oh no, every city, community, everybody’s gonna be in battles,'” Joyner said. “Think about it: Only a tiny percentage of the population of America was engaged in the first Civil War. Really it was 1 or 2 percent of the actual population of the country were engaged in battles in the Civil War. The rest of the country went on with business as usual.”
“Now, I believe this one is going to be of a different nature,” he continued. “It’s not gonna be pitched battles with armies. I believe it is going to be inner cities. I believe it’s gonna be a lot of militias engaged. I believe it’s going to be difficult, no doubt about it, but it’s going to be different. But still, in most of the country, it’s gonna be pretty much business as usual.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-07--Michele Bachmann Complains That Minnesota Is Being Ruined by People Who ‘Embrace False Gods’

During her Sept. 18 appearance on pastor Todd Coconato ’ s “ Bombshell ” podcast , right-wing former Rep. Michele Bachmann complained that her home state of Minnesota had long been “ one of the happiest places on Earth ” but is now being transformed because of an influx of people who worship “ false gods.
” Bachmann , upon being asked her thoughts regarding the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May , regaled Coconato with tales of Minnesota ’ s wonderfulness , declaring that “ there ’ s really no place like it on Earth.
” Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a great education infrastructure and economic stability , Bachmann said , which she credited to the fact that the state was founded by people “ who had a very strong biblical ethic.
” “ That has changed beyond my wildest dreams to where we are today , I ’ m sorry to say , ” Bachmann lamented .
When asked what has caused such a change , Bachmann replied that “ people embrace false gods ” and those who “ are not believers of the Book ” have moved to the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not Christian , ” she said .
Minneapolis and St. Paul have become a hub for Muslim immigrants from Somalia in recent years .
“ I would say probably the main thing is , ” Bachmann said , “ a loss of reverence for God and of the things of God , and a loss of reverence for his word and the truth of his word , and turning away from the truths of his words to our own ways .
And that brings us to a place of emptiness , ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s happened here in Minnesota as well.
” “ Also , the embrace of false gods , ” she continued .
“ Many people have come to the Minnesota area that are not believers of the Book .
They ’ re not Jewish or not Christian .
That ’ s not to say that God doesn ’ t love all people .
He does .
But when people embrace false gods , that brings an element into your society .
You know , 30 years ago we could say that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t worship them .
Today , it seems like we ’ re not allowed to say that because that ’ s considered not inclusive or not diverse enough .
But the fact is the word of God says that there ’ s only one God to whom we serve , and there are false gods now here in the state of Minnesota .
”

During her Sept. 18 appearance on pastor Todd Coconato’s “Bombshell” podcast, right-wing former Rep. Michele Bachmann complained that her home state of Minnesota had long been “one of the happiest places on Earth” but is now being transformed because of an influx of people who worship “false gods.”
Bachmann, upon being asked her thoughts regarding the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, regaled Coconato with tales of Minnesota’s wonderfulness, declaring that “there’s really no place like it on Earth.” Minnesota is a highly educated, family-oriented area with a great education infrastructure and economic stability, Bachmann said, which she credited to the fact that the state was founded by people “who had a very strong biblical ethic.”
“That has changed beyond my wildest dreams to where we are today, I’m sorry to say,” Bachmann lamented.
When asked what has caused such a change, Bachmann replied that “people embrace false gods” and those who “are not believers of the Book” have moved to the state. “They’re not Jewish or not Christian,” she said.
Minneapolis and St. Paul have become a hub for Muslim immigrants from Somalia in recent years.
“I would say probably the main thing is,” Bachmann said, “a loss of reverence for God and of the things of God, and a loss of reverence for his word and the truth of his word, and turning away from the truths of his words to our own ways. And that brings us to a place of emptiness, ultimately sorrow and sadness. And I think that’s happened here in Minnesota as well.”
“Also, the embrace of false gods,” she continued. “Many people have come to the Minnesota area that are not believers of the Book. They’re not Jewish or not Christian. That’s not to say that God doesn’t love all people. He does. But when people embrace false gods, that brings an element into your society. You know, 30 years ago we could say that there are false gods and that we shouldn’t worship them. Today, it seems like we’re not allowed to say that because that’s considered not inclusive or not diverse enough. But the fact is the word of God says that there’s only one God to whom we serve, and there are false gods now here in the state of Minnesota.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-08--Right Wing Round-Up: The Plot to Liberate Michigan

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rightwingwatch--2020-10-08--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Bad at Being Black


rightwingwatch--2020-10-08--Bevelyn Beatty Calls Lori Lightfoot a ‘Disgusting Homosexual Demon’

Bevelyn Beatty is a radical Christian activist who became a hero to the religious right after she was arrested this summer for defacing Black Lives Matter murals in New York City .
In August , Beatty was again arrested , this time for protesting outside the home of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot .
Beatty appeared in court Monday on the charges stemming from her August arrest , where she learned that instead of simply facing a fine , she could potentially spend up to 180 days in jail .
Upon leaving the courthouse , Beatty promptly filmed a video attacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God would punish her for daring to “ touch God ’ s anointed.
” “ Let me tell you something , you reprobate-minded , disgusting , homosexual demon , ” Beatty sneered .
“ You ’ re nasty .
You lay in a bed with the same sex , yet you try to make laws of righteousness .
You ’ re vile .
You ’ re disgusting .
You ’ re wicked.
” “ The only thing that could revive you was Christ Jesus because you ’ re ugly from the inside out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing as you refuse to accept him as your Lord and Savior and you want to come and try to touch God ’ s anointed ones , get ready , because I got my eyes on you .
The Lord ’ s got his eyes on you .
So , I want you to hit us with your best shot , you nasty devil .
Try your best .
You could never beat God .
You could never stop God ’ s anointed from moving , and you ’ re vile !
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t follow the laws ; you try to do your own thing .
You don ’ t stand in justice , righteousness , or truth .
You ’ re disgusting , and you ’ re gon na see me .
So , you go ahead and get your best little lawyers you can get , and you try your best .
You ’ re gon na see me , and I promise you that .
You ain ’ t gon na touch the Lord ’ s people .
”

Bevelyn Beatty is a radical Christian activist who became a hero to the religious right after she was arrested this summer for defacing Black Lives Matter murals in New York City. In August, Beatty was again arrested, this time for protesting outside the home of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Beatty appeared in court Monday on the charges stemming from her August arrest, where she learned that instead of simply facing a fine, she could potentially spend up to 180 days in jail. Upon leaving the courthouse, Beatty promptly filmed a video attacking Lightfoot for being gay and warning that God would punish her for daring to “touch God’s anointed.”
“Let me tell you something, you reprobate-minded, disgusting, homosexual demon,” Beatty sneered. “You’re nasty. You lay in a bed with the same sex, yet you try to make laws of righteousness. You’re vile. You’re disgusting. You’re wicked.”
“The only thing that could revive you was Christ Jesus because you’re ugly from the inside out,” she continued. “But seeing as you refuse to accept him as your Lord and Savior and you want to come and try to touch God’s anointed ones, get ready, because I got my eyes on you. The Lord’s got his eyes on you. So, I want you to hit us with your best shot, you nasty devil. Try your best. You could never beat God. You could never stop God’s anointed from moving, and you’re vile! You’re vile. You don’t follow the laws; you try to do your own thing. You don’t stand in justice, righteousness, or truth. You’re disgusting, and you’re gonna see me. So, you go ahead and get your best little lawyers you can get, and you try your best. You’re gonna see me, and I promise you that. You ain’t gonna touch the Lord’s people.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-09--Right Wing Round-Up: Trump’s Two-Hour Rant


rightwingwatch--2020-10-09--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: The Prophetic Fly

Rick Wiles blames Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer for the militia plot to kidnap her : “ What are you @ @ @ @ @ , law-abiding , tax-paying citizens to think about kidnapping you ?
” every type of @ @ @ @ @ confusion has been unleashed upon the nation ” heading into the election : “ I @ @ @ @ @ the spirit realm , we would be both surprised and I believe frightened to observe @ @ @ @ @ spirits that have been unleashed upon America , and the church , in this season @ @

Rick Wiles blames Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for the militia plot to kidnap her: “What are you doing that drives middle class, law-abiding, tax-paying citizens to think about kidnapping you?”
every type of demonic spirit of hate and confusion has been unleashed upon the nation” heading into the election: “I
f we could see into the spirit realm, we would be both surprised and I believe frightened to observe the large number of evil spirits that have been unleashed upon America, and the church, in this season.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-09--Dave Daubenmire Says Executing Hillary Clinton Would Be ‘The Greatest Example of Love’

On his “ Pass The Salt Live ” broadcast Thursday morning , radical right-wing activist Dave Daubenmire declared that publicly executing Hillary Clinton would be “ the greatest example of love.
” During the program , Daubenmire read from his recent column in which he proclaimed that “ Hillary should hang from the neck until dead.
” “ I do not believe that there has ever been a more corrupt American politician than Hillary Clinton , ” Daubenmire said .
“ Her public life has been one slimy action after another .
The demonic left loves her .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is under control of very dark forces .
Spiritual forces .
Demonic forces .
Gates of hell forces .
Hillary Clinton is a child of the devil.
” “ The greatest example of love is discipline , ” he added later in the program .
“ The greatest example of love is to kill those traitors , so others learn never to do it.
” “ Why are men today [ too ] squeamish to go put a noose around Hillary ’ s neck ?
” Daubenmire asked .
“ Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s round ’ em up .
Let ’ s publicly execute ’ em so everybody else realizes this ain ’ t ever going to happen again .
”

On his “Pass The Salt Live” broadcast Thursday morning, radical right-wing activist Dave Daubenmire declared that publicly executing Hillary Clinton would be “the greatest example of love.”
During the program, Daubenmire read from his recent column in which he proclaimed that “Hillary should hang from the neck until dead.”
“I do not believe that there has ever been a more corrupt American politician than Hillary Clinton,” Daubenmire said. “Her public life has been one slimy action after another. The demonic left loves her. There is no doubt in my mind that she is under control of very dark forces. Spiritual forces. Demonic forces. Gates of hell forces. Hillary Clinton is a child of the devil.”
“The greatest example of love is discipline,” he added later in the program. “The greatest example of love is to kill those traitors, so others learn never to do it.”
“Why are men today [too] squeamish to go put a noose around Hillary’s neck?” Daubenmire asked. “Let’s round up that whole cabal. Let’s round ’em up. Let’s publicly execute ’em so everybody else realizes this ain’t ever going to happen again.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-09--Glenn Beck Falsely Claims Obama Left 1,500 Judicial Vacancies Because He Was Too Lazy to Fill Them

Right-wing radio host Glenn Beck absurdly claimed during his radio program Thursday that former President Barack Obama had left 1,500 judicial vacancies empty at the end of his presidency because he just didn ’ t care enough to bother filling them .
Beck said that Democrats are only contemplating the possibility of expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court because President Donald Trump has been so successful in packing the lower courts with his judges .
But , Beck said , that is largely Obama ’ s fault for leaving so many vacancies for Trump to fill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
Fifteen hundred judgeships open ?
It was some ungodly sum that he just didn ’ t care , he just didn ’ t appoint them , ” Beck said .
“ So Donald Trump , Mike Lee , Ted Cruz , they got together and they have filled all of those .
And he ’ s still filling them .
That ’ s not packing , that ’ s just not leaving it empty .
Your job as president is to appoint judges to lower courts and to the higher court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an election .
Barack Obama left all those judgeships open .
I guess he shouldn ’ t have .
It was his choice.
” Literally everything Beck said is wrong .
First of all , there are only 890 federal judgeships , making it a little difficult for Obama to have left 1,500 vacancies .
When Obama left office , there were 105 judgeships vacant because Senate Republicans had engaged in an unprecedented obstruction campaign against his nominees , especially during the final two years of his term .
The 114th ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years of the Reagan , Clinton , and Bush administrations .
Then , as in 2015-16 , the other party controlled the Senate .
The 114th Senate both confirmed far fewer judges than its recent other-party predecessors and stopped confirming them at a much earlier point .
Some of the 2016 vacancies Trump inherited occurred after any confirmation clock would have stopped .
Still , of the 21 circuit vacancies he ’ s filled as of late May and others he soon will , up to seven could have had Obama appointees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 71 of the district vacancies he inherited and has only begun to fill could have had Obama appointees .
According to the Congressional Research Service , over 70 percent of Obama ’ s judicial nominees were returned at the end of the 114th Congress , having never received a vote from the Republican-controlled Senate .
So , it was not that “ Obama left all those judgeships open , ” as Beck claimed , but rather that Senate Republicans systematically and intentionally refused to confirm his nominees .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so proud of this fact that he openly brags about it .
As Right Wing Watch reported in 2019 : Some of the loudest cheers went for the smugly self-satisfied Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , whom Reed introduced as a “ total hero ” for blocking Senate consideration of President Obama ’ s Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland—and for using the power of his office to ram Trump ’ s judicial nominees through the Senate .
McConnell bragged about having done the opposite under President Obama , slowing Senate action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would come into office with plenty of vacancies : “ There were a lot of vacancies left when President Obama left office .
I was the majority leader the last couple of years he was president , ” he said , pausing for comic effect before adding to laughter and applause , “ We didn ’ t have a lot of time.
” McConnell said that about one-fourth of U.S. circuit judges serving on the bench today comprises Trump nominees who were confirmed by the Senate in the past two-and-a-half years , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years younger , on average , than Obama ’ s nominees .

Right-wing radio host Glenn Beck absurdly claimed during his radio program Thursday that former President Barack Obama had left 1,500 judicial vacancies empty at the end of his presidency because he just didn’t care enough to bother filling them.
Beck said that Democrats are only contemplating the possibility of expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court because President Donald Trump has been so successful in packing the lower courts with his judges. But, Beck said, that is largely Obama’s fault for leaving so many vacancies for Trump to fill.
“Barack Obama left, what was it? Fifteen hundred judgeships open? It was some ungodly sum that he just didn’t care, he just didn’t appoint them,” Beck said. “So Donald Trump, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, they got together and they have filled all of those. And he’s still filling them. That’s not packing, that’s just not leaving it empty. Your job as president is to appoint judges to lower courts and to the higher court. That’s a consequence of an election. Barack Obama left all those judgeships open. I guess he shouldn’t have. It was his choice.”
Literally everything Beck said is wrong.
First of all, there are only 890 federal judgeships, making it a little difficult for Obama to have left 1,500 vacancies.
When Obama left office, there were 105 judgeships vacant because Senate Republicans had engaged in an unprecedented obstruction campaign against his nominees, especially during the final two years of his term.
The 114th’s record pales when compared to the final two years of the Reagan, Clinton, and Bush administrations. Then, as in 2015-16, the other party controlled the Senate. The 114th Senate both confirmed far fewer judges than its recent other-party predecessors and stopped confirming them at a much earlier point. Some of the 2016 vacancies Trump inherited occurred after any confirmation clock would have stopped. Still, of the 21 circuit vacancies he’s filled as of late May and others he soon will, up to seven could have had Obama appointees under pre-2015 norms. So too, up to 71 of the district vacancies he inherited and has only begun to fill could have had Obama appointees.
According to the Congressional Research Service, over 70 percent of Obama’s judicial nominees were returned at the end of the 114th Congress, having never received a vote from the Republican-controlled Senate. So, it was not that “Obama left all those judgeships open,” as Beck claimed, but rather that Senate Republicans systematically and intentionally refused to confirm his nominees.
In fact, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is so proud of this fact that he openly brags about it. As Right Wing Watch reported in 2019:


rightwingwatch--2020-10-09--Anti-Equality Forces See Amy Coney Barrett Nomination as Key to Reversing LGBTQ Progress

As a gay man who is happily married to the love of my life , it may seem strange that I welcomed a recent statement from hard-right Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito calling for the court ’ s 2015 marriage equality decision to be reversed .
I don ’ t agree with their position , of course , but I ’ m glad they made it clear .
It will help Americans understand just how eager anti-equality forces are to reverse our progress—and how desperately they want to get Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Care Act , overturn Roe v. Wade , and criminalize abortion .
Let ’ s start by recognizing that a supermajority of Americans supports marriage equality for same-sex couples and legal protections for LGBTQ Americans from discrimination .
Anti-equality activists are demanding , and now eagerly anticipating , that a Supreme Court dominated by right-wing ideologues will undermine the fundamental and popularly supported principle of equality under law when it comes to LGBTQ people .
It doesn ’ t take a lot of tea-leaf reading to understand that marriage equality is vulnerable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dissented angrily from the court ’ s 2015 marriage equality ruling , suggesting the issue should have been left to the states .
She has also suggested that laws against sex discrimination don ’ t protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity .
At the now infamous White House event announcing her nomination , Barrett called the late anti-gay Justice Antonin Scalia her mentor , and said , “ His judicial philosophy is mine , too.
” Scalia was a notorious opponent of the idea that LGBTQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal civil rights laws , so that statement is alarming by itself .
The threat is even clearer when you look at what equality opponents are saying .
Jenna Ellis , a Trump campaign attorney and a fellow at Liberty University ’ s Falkirk Center , was thrilled with the Thomas-Alito slam on Obergefell , tweeting , “ First day of Supreme Court term and Justice Thomas is lit. ” Ellis is an enthusiastic booster of Barrett ’ s confirmation .
Brian Brown , president of the anti-equality National Organization for Marriage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling her a “ perfect pick ” and telling his supporters , “ We ’ ve never had a bigger opportunity to advance our cause.
” Brown ’ s colleague Frank Schubert , a political operative behind an ugly string of campaigns that portrayed marriage equality as a threat to children , used similar rhetoric after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , saying in an email that another Trump justice would “ pave the way for the restoration of marriage to our laws and scrapping the illegitimate , anti-constitutional imposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation.
” If you ’ re not someone who spends a lot of time reading anti-LGBTQ publications or attending religious-right events , you might be surprised to find out that five years after the Obergefell ruling , many anti-gay activists don ’ t consider marriage equality to be settled law .
They have never accepted the ruling as legitimate , and they are aggressively seeking to undermine and overturn it , the way they have battled for decades to undermine and overturn Roe v. Wade .
One of the right-wing groups Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Heritage Foundation , whose senior research fellow Ryan Anderson is one of the most vocal opponents of legal equality and legal protections for LGBTQ people and their families .
Anderson has urged social conservatives to treat the Obergefell decision as fundamentally illegitimate and published a road map for overturning it .
His mentor , Princeton University professor Robert George said at the time , “ We must reject and resist an egregious act of judicial usurpation.
” The continuing resistance to LGBTQ progress does not end with marriage equality .
Anderson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equality movement , rejecting nondiscrimination laws even if they include broad religious exemptions .
But even that is not as far as Anderson goes .
He is impatient with fellow anti-equality activists who have strategically reframed legal arguments about equality as questions of “ religious liberty ” but don ’ t want to engage directly on the substantive issues , writing , “ They prefer the safer , more respectable , less icky ground of religious liberty.
” Conservative legal victories won via that strategy are good , he argues , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants people with traditional views on sexuality and gender to wage a campaign to “ evangelize ” people with “ the truth about the human person and human sexuality.
” To paraphrase Anderson , in the long run , if you want law to protect your right to act on the belief that same-sex relations are unnatural and unworthy of recognition or respect—and that it ’ s wrong to accept transgender people ’ s gender identity—than you have to make that case in public and not just fall back on religious liberty arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a return to a time when gay people were disfavored in law and demonized in popular culture from Trump ’ s religious-right backers , like those who gathered on the National Mall recently for “ The Return.
” They say Americans ’ embrace of marriage equality is a sin requiring national repentance .
They blame it on Hollywood promoting tolerance of “ perversion ” and on preachers who they say haven ’ t been aggressive enough in preaching that acceptance of homosexuality is evil and invites God ’ s wrath on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-dates the marriage equality movement .
Religious conservatives have opposed every advance in cultural acceptance and legal recognition of the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people , including efforts to protect us in laws targeting violent hate crimes , allow us to teach or work for the federal government and serve openly in the military , and prevent us from being discriminated against in the workplace .
Religious-right groups even fought to uphold state laws that made gay people de facto criminals , laws that were used to take people ’ s jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Less than 20 years ago , Anderson ’ s mentor Robert George , an intellectual godfather to the anti-equality movement , wrote the legal brief filed by Focus on the Family and the anti-LGBTQ hate group Family Research Council in the Lawrence v. Texas case urging the Supreme Court to uphold state laws criminalizing consensual homosexual conduct .
Its argument that such laws were about protecting marriage uniquely defined as a relationship between one man and one woman are echoed in Anderson ’ s writings today .
Scalia , whose judicial philosophy Barret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court ’ s rejection of sodomy laws , comparing them to laws against bestiality and accusing the majority of having embraced “ the so-called homosexual agenda.
” After the Supreme Court recognized the right of same-sex couples to marry , Anderson and other right-wing activists pledged that they would wage a generation-long battle to reverse it if necessary , the way that they have fought for decades to undermine and reverse Roe v. Wade .
But with Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filling the federal courts with narrow-minded judges—and attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bench through a rushed and illegitimate political power play—they are hoping they won ’ t have to wait very long to celebrate same-sex couples and their families being stripped of legal recognition and protections .

Opinion
As a gay man who is happily married to the love of my life, it may seem strange that I welcomed a recent statement from hard-right Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito calling for the court’s 2015 marriage equality decision to be reversed.
I don’t agree with their position, of course, but I’m glad they made it clear. It will help Americans understand just how eager anti-equality forces are to reverse our progress—and how desperately they want to get Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court to make it happen, demolish the Affordable Care Act, overturn Roe v. Wade, and criminalize abortion.
Let’s start by recognizing that a supermajority of Americans supports marriage equality for same-sex couples and legal protections for LGBTQ Americans from discrimination. Anti-equality activists are demanding, and now eagerly anticipating, that a Supreme Court dominated by right-wing ideologues will undermine the fundamental and popularly supported principle of equality under law when it comes to LGBTQ people.
It doesn’t take a lot of tea-leaf reading to understand that marriage equality is vulnerable. Barrett sided with the right-wing justices who dissented angrily from the court’s 2015 marriage equality ruling, suggesting the issue should have been left to the states. She has also suggested that laws against sex discrimination don’t protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
At the now infamous White House event announcing her nomination, Barrett called the late anti-gay Justice Antonin Scalia her mentor, and said, “His judicial philosophy is mine, too.”
Scalia was a notorious opponent of the idea that LGBTQ people are protected under the Constitution and federal civil rights laws, so that statement is alarming by itself. The threat is even clearer when you look at what equality opponents are saying.
Jenna Ellis, a Trump campaign attorney and a fellow at Liberty University’s Falkirk Center, was thrilled with the Thomas-Alito slam on Obergefell , tweeting, “First day of Supreme Court term and Justice Thomas is lit.” Ellis is an enthusiastic booster of Barrett’s confirmation.
Brian Brown, president of the anti-equality National Organization for Marriage, greeted Barrett’s nomination with excitement, calling her a “perfect pick” and telling his supporters, “We’ve never had a bigger opportunity to advance our cause.”
Brown’s colleague Frank Schubert, a political operative behind an ugly string of campaigns that portrayed marriage equality as a threat to children, used similar rhetoric after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, saying in an email that another Trump justice would “pave the way for the restoration of marriage to our laws and scrapping the illegitimate, anti-constitutional imposition of same-sex ‘marriage’ on the nation.”
If you’re not someone who spends a lot of time reading anti-LGBTQ publications or attending religious-right events, you might be surprised to find out that five years after the Obergefell ruling, many anti-gay activists don’t consider marriage equality to be settled law. They have never accepted the ruling as legitimate, and they are aggressively seeking to undermine and overturn it, the way they have battled for decades to undermine and overturn Roe v. Wade.
One of the right-wing groups Trump has relied on to vet potential judicial nominees is the Heritage Foundation, whose senior research fellow Ryan Anderson is one of the most vocal opponents of legal equality and legal protections for LGBTQ people and their families.
Anderson has urged social conservatives to treat the Obergefell decision as fundamentally illegitimate and published a road map for overturning it. His mentor, Princeton University professor Robert George said at the time, “We must reject and resist an egregious act of judicial usurpation.”
The continuing resistance to LGBTQ progress does not end with marriage equality. Anderson opposes virtually any compromise with the LGBTQ equality movement, rejecting nondiscrimination laws even if they include broad religious exemptions.
But even that is not as far as Anderson goes. He is impatient with fellow anti-equality activists who have strategically reframed legal arguments about equality as questions of “religious liberty” but don’t want to engage directly on the substantive issues, writing, “They prefer the safer, more respectable, less icky ground of religious liberty.” Conservative legal victories won via that strategy are good, he argues, but they’re not nearly enough. Anderson wants people with traditional views on sexuality and gender to wage a campaign to “evangelize” people with “the truth about the human person and human sexuality.”
To paraphrase Anderson, in the long run, if you want law to protect your right to act on the belief that same-sex relations are unnatural and unworthy of recognition or respect—and that it’s wrong to accept transgender people’s gender identity—than you have to make that case in public and not just fall back on religious liberty arguments.
You can hear a similar desire for a return to a time when gay people were disfavored in law and demonized in popular culture from Trump’s religious-right backers, like those who gathered on the National Mall recently for “The Return.” They say Americans’ embrace of marriage equality is a sin requiring national repentance. They blame it on Hollywood promoting tolerance of “perversion” and on preachers who they say haven’t been aggressive enough in preaching that acceptance of homosexuality is evil and invites God’s wrath on the nation.
Of course, this hostility pre-dates the marriage equality movement. Religious conservatives have opposed every advance in cultural acceptance and legal recognition of the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people, including efforts to protect us in laws targeting violent hate crimes, allow us to teach or work for the federal government and serve openly in the military, and prevent us from being discriminated against in the workplace. Religious-right groups even fought to uphold state laws that made gay people de facto criminals, laws that were used to take people’s jobs and even children away from them.
Less than 20 years ago, Anderson’s mentor Robert George, an intellectual godfather to the anti-equality movement, wrote the legal brief filed by Focus on the Family and the anti-LGBTQ hate group Family Research Council in the Lawrence v. Texas case urging the Supreme Court to uphold state laws criminalizing consensual homosexual conduct. Its argument that such laws were about protecting marriage uniquely defined as a relationship between one man and one woman are echoed in Anderson’s writings today.
Scalia, whose judicial philosophy Barret says is her own, dissented from the court’s rejection of sodomy laws, comparing them to laws against bestiality and accusing the majority of having embraced “the so-called homosexual agenda.”
After the Supreme Court recognized the right of same-sex couples to marry, Anderson and other right-wing activists pledged that they would wage a generation-long battle to reverse it if necessary, the way that they have fought for decades to undermine and reverse Roe v. Wade. But with Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filling the federal courts with narrow-minded judges—and attempting to force Amy Coney Barrett onto the bench through a rushed and illegitimate political power play—they are hoping they won’t have to wait very long to celebrate same-sex couples and their families being stripped of legal recognition and protections.


rightwingwatch--2020-10-13--Right Wing Round-Up: The Long Con

Right Wing Round-Up: The Long Con


rightwingwatch--2020-10-13--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: The Orange Mask Assassination Code


rightwingwatch--2020-10-13--Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Evangelizes for Trump

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association , now led by Billy Graham ’ s right-wing-activist son Franklin Graham , has turned the October issue of its “ Decision ” magazine into a virtual 38-page campaign brochure for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party .
Franklin Graham hosted a “ prayer march ” on the National Mall on Sept. 26 , the same day a group of End Times “ prophets ” hosted a rally calling for national repentance and revival .
The over-the-top propagandistic tone is set on the cover , which features a heroic image of Trump and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a lost puppy look on his face .
Franklin Graham introduces the issue with a column under the headline , “ Blessed in the nation whose God is the Lord , ” a scriptural quote used often by Christian nationalists who insist the U.S. must “ return ” to God .
Graham describes the Trump presidency as a “ wonderful season of progress for the cause of religious freedom and the moral and Biblical values we hold dear , ” and he warns that if Trump loses , all that “ wonderful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversed .
The magazine warns that religious freedom is on the ballot , asking , “ Will Christians remain free , or will the government impose a godless , immoral social agenda upon them ?
” Al Mohler , president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , contributes a “ What ’ s at Stake ” column .
“ In 2020 , America ’ s Christians must realize that our two political parties represent two radically different visions of the nation and its future , two different understandings of the role of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Constitution and even two different moralities , ” Mohler writes .
For the record , millions of Christians don ’ t share Graham and Mohler ’ s outlook .
More than 1,600 faith leaders have endorsed Biden .
Among groups active in Biden ’ s campaign are Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden and Catholics for Biden .
Mohler ’ s catalogue of issues is predictable .
He rails against legal abortion and claims that the nation is “ confronting the reality of legal infanticide.
” He claims government has a responsibility to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man and a woman .
He calls the movement for LGBTQ equality “ a revolt against human nature.
” He claims that the Democratic Party ’ s support from secular Americans means that “ America ’ s cherished First Freedom is at stake in this election.
” And he says the future of the federal courts is at stake , warning that progressives have tried to “ transform the courts into engines of moral and cultural revolution.
” The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association turns to legal giant Alliance Defending Freedom for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leader of the religious right ’ s effort to redefine religious liberty into a culture-war weapon to resist legal equality for LGBTQ people .
In their column , ADF ’ s Kristen Waggoner and Jessica Prol Smith praise the Trump administration for aligning with ADF on religious liberty issues and judicial nominations .
Kelly Shackelford , president of First Liberty Institute , devotes a column to the court .
Written before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the column said the 2020 election is a chance for conservatives “ to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come ” and ensure “ a judiciary returning to the original language of the Constitution.
” Anti-choice activist and POTUS Shield member Alveda King contributes a column on abortion .
She lavishes praise on Trump administration actions to restrict access to legal abortion and dramatically expand the scope of the “ global gag rule ” to ban any U.S. foreign aid funds from going to groups that support access to abortion .
She , too , weighs in on the courts , praising Trump for placing “ pro-life ” justices on the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges , adding , [ [ . ] ] “ Most of these jurists are young people whose lifetime appointments will offer protection from the Democrat-appointed activist judges who have perverted our Constitution for decades.
” Trump adviser Johnnie Moore devotes a column to praising the Trump administration ’ s support for international religious freedom ; he acknowledges that the Obama-Biden administration appointed an ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom and a special envoy to combat anti-Semitism , but he claims the Obama administration was too “ cautious ” in advancing those values .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference , contributes a column that says the American family is under attack and calls for “ restoring God ’ s Biblical blueprint for the family.
” Rodriguez told Latino evangelicals in 2016 that getting an anti-abortion court was more important than immigration or other issues .
He portrays himself as a supporter of “ the Lamb ’ s agenda ” —the  ” Lamb ” referring to Jesus—and has helped the Koch brothers ’ Libre Initiative promote the idea that the Bible supports right-wing economic policies .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ The Lamb ’ s agenda leads us to reject socialistic and communistic ideals that threaten personal freedoms and to speak Biblical truth to our culture and our leaders.
“ The magazine includes an article on the “ Biblical foundation for proper political engagement , ” which is excerpted from The Family Research Council ’ s “ Biblical Worldview Series ” by FRC ’ s David Closson .
When American Christians vote , Closson writes , “ they are delegating their ruling authority to others ” and therefore , “ failure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority.
” Closson writes that Christians “ must engage Biblically , ” adding , “ This requires that we be prepared to grapple with the moral issues of our day , the reality of our two-party system , and follow our Christian convictions to their logical end by voting for candidates and parties that support clear Biblical values.
” Anti-LGBTQ activist and author Michael Brown contributes a column claiming that LGBTQ activists and others on the “ radical left ” seek to marginalize and intimidate Christians , by violence if necessary .
Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General William Barr ’ s support for churches resisting state public health restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The magazine ends with “ America at the Crossroads , ” an article bylined by the late Billy Graham .
While the magazine doesn ’ t explain its origin , a tiny indication at the end of the article says it was copyrighted by BGEA in 1958 .
In that 1958 article , Graham drew a parallel between the decline of the Roman Empire and the situation of the U.S. In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation once dedicated to the worship of God and the pursuit of the Christian life , ” he wrote , “ We can not believe that a person can be happy without a refrigerator or a television .
We can not believe that there are moral and spiritual principles more important than even a plate of food.
” ( These comments call to mind historian Kevin Kruse ’ s reporting that Billy Graham was among corporate titans who recruited religious leaders to evangelize on behalf of unrestricted capitalism .
Kruse noted that Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eden was a paradise with “ no union dues , no labor leaders , no snakes , no disease.
” ) The magazine includes a staff-produced side-by-side guide to the Republican Party and Democratic Party platforms and positions on the same issues addressed in its columns , along with national defense , economic empowerment , sexual orientation and gender identity laws , and Israel .
It also includes a brief report on congressional and state races , noting House Democrats ’ resistance to religious-right legislation , state legislatures ’ role in congressional redistricting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in confirming Trump ’ s judicial nominees .

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, now led by Billy Graham’s right-wing-activist son Franklin Graham, has turned the October issue of its “Decision” magazine into a virtual 38-page campaign brochure for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Franklin Graham hosted a “prayer march” on the National Mall on Sept. 26, the same day a group of End Times “prophets” hosted a rally calling for national repentance and revival.
The over-the-top propagandistic tone is set on the cover, which features a heroic image of Trump and a photo of Democratic presidential Joe Biden caught with a lost puppy look on his face.
Franklin Graham introduces the issue with a column under the headline, “Blessed in the nation whose God is the Lord,” a scriptural quote used often by Christian nationalists who insist the U.S. must “return” to God. Graham describes the Trump presidency as a “wonderful season of progress for the cause of religious freedom and the moral and Biblical values we hold dear,” and he warns that if Trump loses, all that “wonderful” progress could be quickly and permanently reversed.
The magazine warns that religious freedom is on the ballot, asking, “Will Christians remain free, or will the government impose a godless, immoral social agenda upon them?”
Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, contributes a “What’s at Stake” column. “In 2020, America’s Christians must realize that our two political parties represent two radically different visions of the nation and its future, two different understandings of the role of government, two very different ways of reading the U.S. Constitution and even two different moralities,” Mohler writes.
For the record, millions of Christians don’t share Graham and Mohler’s outlook. More than 1,600 faith leaders have endorsed Biden. Among groups active in Biden’s campaign are Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden and Catholics for Biden.
Mohler’s catalogue of issues is predictable. He rails against legal abortion and claims that the nation is “confronting the reality of legal infanticide.” He claims government has a responsibility to respect marriage only as the union between a man and a woman. He calls the movement for LGBTQ equality “a revolt against human nature.” He claims that the Democratic Party’s support from secular Americans means that “America’s cherished First Freedom is at stake in this election.” And he says the future of the federal courts is at stake, warning that progressives have tried to “transform the courts into engines of moral and cultural revolution.”
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association turns to legal giant Alliance Defending Freedom for a column on religious liberty. ADF is a leader of the religious right’s effort to redefine religious liberty into a culture-war weapon to resist legal equality for LGBTQ people. In their column, ADF’s Kristen Waggoner and Jessica Prol Smith praise the Trump administration for aligning with ADF on religious liberty issues and judicial nominations.
Kelly Shackelford, president of First Liberty Institute, devotes a column to the court. Written before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the column said the 2020 election is a chance for conservatives “to solidify the high court for decades to come” and ensure “a judiciary returning to the original language of the Constitution.”
Anti-choice activist and POTUS Shield member Alveda King contributes a column on abortion. She lavishes praise on Trump administration actions to restrict access to legal abortion and dramatically expand the scope of the “global gag rule” to ban any U.S. foreign aid funds from going to groups that support access to abortion. She, too, weighs in on the courts, praising Trump for placing “pro-life” justices on the Supreme Court and appointing more than 200 federal judges, adding,[[.]] “Most of these jurists are young people whose lifetime appointments will offer protection from the Democrat-appointed activist judges who have perverted our Constitution for decades.”
Trump adviser Johnnie Moore devotes a column to praising the Trump administration’s support for international religious freedom; he acknowledges that the Obama-Biden administration appointed an ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom and a special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, but he claims the Obama administration was too “cautious” in advancing those values.
Samuel Rodriguez, head of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, contributes a column that says the American family is under attack and calls for “restoring God’s Biblical blueprint for the family.” Rodriguez told Latino evangelicals in 2016 that getting an anti-abortion court was more important than immigration or other issues. He portrays himself as a supporter of “the Lamb’s agenda”—the ”Lamb” referring to Jesus—and has helped the Koch brothers’ Libre Initiative promote the idea that the Bible supports right-wing economic policies. In his “Decision” column, he wrote, “The Lamb’s agenda leads us to reject socialistic and communistic ideals that threaten personal freedoms and to speak Biblical truth to our culture and our leaders.“
The magazine includes an article on the “Biblical foundation for proper political engagement,” which is excerpted from The Family Research Council’s “Biblical Worldview Series” by FRC’s David Closson. When American Christians vote, Closson writes, “they are delegating their ruling authority to others” and therefore, “failure to vote is a failure to exercise God-given authority.” Closson writes that Christians “must engage Biblically,” adding, “This requires that we be prepared to grapple with the moral issues of our day, the reality of our two-party system, and follow our Christian convictions to their logical end by voting for candidates and parties that support clear Biblical values.”
Anti-LGBTQ activist and author Michael Brown contributes a column claiming that LGBTQ activists and others on the “radical left” seek to marginalize and intimidate Christians, by violence if necessary. Brown praises Trump administration judicial nominees and Attorney General William Barr’s support for churches resisting state public health restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The magazine ends with “America at the Crossroads,” an article bylined by the late Billy Graham. While the magazine doesn’t explain its origin, a tiny indication at the end of the article says it was copyrighted by BGEA in 1958. In that 1958 article, Graham drew a parallel between the decline of the Roman Empire and the situation of the U.S. In railing about the decline of “a nation once dedicated to the worship of God and the pursuit of the Christian life,” he wrote, “We cannot believe that a person can be happy without a refrigerator or a television. We cannot believe that there are moral and spiritual principles more important than even a plate of food.” (These comments call to mind historian Kevin Kruse’s reporting that Billy Graham was among corporate titans who recruited religious leaders to evangelize on behalf of unrestricted capitalism. Kruse noted that Graham told revival attendees that the Garden of Eden was a paradise with “no union dues, no labor leaders, no snakes, no disease.”)
The magazine includes a staff-produced side-by-side guide to the Republican Party and Democratic Party platforms and positions on the same issues addressed in its columns, along with national defense, economic empowerment, sexual orientation and gender identity laws, and Israel. It also includes a brief report on congressional and state races, noting House Democrats’ resistance to religious-right legislation, state legislatures’ role in congressional redistricting, and the Republican Senate’s role in confirming Trump’s judicial nominees.
.


rightwingwatch--2020-10-13--Robert Henderson Says Trump Was Chosen by God and ‘Should Never Be Criticized’

Trump-loving right-wing pastor Robert Henderson streamed a video on his YouTube channel Friday night in which he declared that President Donald Trump was chosen by God and therefore “ should never be criticized.
” Henderson , who claims to have secured Trump ’ s 2016 victory by beseeching “ the courts of Heaven ” and asserts that he has been called by God to serve as Trump ’ s spiritual running mate in 2020 , warned that Christians who are criticizing Trump are bringing “ a curse upon our nation.
” “ I promise you there is a curse on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world speaks against President Trump , but because the Christian world does , ” Henderson said .
“ We are violating the laws of God , and we are violating the ways of God by rising up and speaking evil against President Trump .
People may not like his mannerisms , they may not like the way he does things , they may question his motives , but here ’ s the reality : He sits in the seat of the president of the United States of America , and because of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he should never be spoken evil of , he should never be criticized.
” “ I pray that all the negativity that has been spoken against President Trump , that it would not be held to our account , ” Henderson wept , “ and that the Lord would be merciful to large portions of the church that thinks that we have a right to our opinion .
”

Trump-loving right-wing pastor Robert Henderson streamed a video on his YouTube channel Friday night in which he declared that President Donald Trump was chosen by God and therefore “should never be criticized.”
Henderson, who claims to have secured Trump’s 2016 victory by beseeching “the courts of Heaven” and asserts that he has been called by God to serve as Trump’s spiritual running mate in 2020, warned that Christians who are criticizing Trump are bringing “a curse upon our nation.”
“I promise you there is a curse on our nation, not because the secular world speaks against President Trump, but because the Christian world does,” Henderson said. “We are violating the laws of God, and we are violating the ways of God by rising up and speaking evil against President Trump. People may not like his mannerisms, they may not like the way he does things, they may question his motives, but here’s the reality: He sits in the seat of the president of the United States of America, and because of that, he should never be reviled, he should never be spoken evil of, he should never be criticized.”
“I pray that all the negativity that has been spoken against President Trump, that it would not be held to our account,” Henderson wept, “and that the Lord would be merciful to large portions of the church that thinks that we have a right to our opinion.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-14--Right Wing Round-Up: The Five Freedoms

Right Wing Round-Up: The Five Freedoms


rightwingwatch--2020-10-14--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Assassination by COVID-Weaponized Miniature Drone


rightwingwatch--2020-10-14--E.W. Jackson Says Nancy Pelosi’s Prayers Are ‘A Blasphemy Against God’

On Friday ’ s episode of his “ The Awakening ” radio program , right-wing pastor E.W .
Jackson railed against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and declared that her prayers are “ blasphemy against God.
” Jackson was outraged by Pelosi ’ s proposal to establish a congressional commission that would have the power to remove a president from office under the 25th Amendment .
“ Can Nancy Pelosi get any crazier ?
” Jackson fumed .
“ Nancy Pelosi is wasting everybody ’ s time with this nonsense.
” “ Out of the abundance of the heart , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoting a passage from Luke 6 .
“ A good person out of the good treasure of their heart brings forth good things , and an evil person out of the evil treasure of the heart brings forth evil things .
I think we can say case closed as to what is in Nancy Pelosi ’ s heart.
” “ She talks about when she prays for the president , ” he continued .
“ Folks , as far as I ’ m concerned—I ’ m serious about this—I wouldn ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really wouldn ’ t .
I really wouldn ’ t because I just believe that ’ s a blasphemy against God .
I ’ m serious about that .
I believe that ’ s just a blasphemy against God .
You better pray for yourself and ask God to forgive you .
That ’ s what you better do .
And ask God to cleanse you of all that mess in your head and in your heart .
That ’ s what you better do .
You better ask Jesus to save you @ @

On Friday’s episode of his “The Awakening” radio program, right-wing pastor E.W. Jackson railed against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and declared that her prayers are “blasphemy against God.”
Jackson was outraged by Pelosi’s proposal to establish a congressional commission that would have the power to remove a president from office under the 25th Amendment.
“Can Nancy Pelosi get any crazier?” Jackson fumed. “Nancy Pelosi is wasting everybody’s time with this nonsense.”
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speak,” Jackson added, quoting a passage from Luke 6. “A good person out of the good treasure of their heart brings forth good things, and an evil person out of the evil treasure of the heart brings forth evil things. I think we can say case closed as to what is in Nancy Pelosi’s heart.”
“She talks about when she prays for the president,” he continued. “Folks, as far as I’m concerned—I’m serious about this—I wouldn’t want Nancy Pelosi praying for me. I really wouldn’t. I really wouldn’t because I just believe that’s a blasphemy against God. I’m serious about that. I believe that’s just a blasphemy against God. You better pray for yourself and ask God to forgive you. That’s what you better do. And ask God to cleanse you of all that mess in your head and in your heart. That’s what you better do. You better ask Jesus to save you.”


rightwingwatch--2020-10-14--David Barton Claims the Use of Ankle Monitors Violates the Third Amendment

While speaking at Cornerstone Church in Texas last weekend , right-wing pseudo-historian David Barton claimed that government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to wholesale violations of the Bill of Rights , including the Third Amendment , which prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes .
Barton made the comment in passing , so he never explained exactly how the Third Amendment had supposedly been violated in recent months .
But while speaking at Crosspoint Community Church in Missoula , Montana , this Sunday , Barton made this claim again , and this time , he explained what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument was absurd even by his standards .
“ The Third Amendment says , essentially , that the government can ’ t set up shop in your house , ” Barton said .
“ And now we ’ ve seen , particularly in states like Virginia and elsewhere , ‘ Oh , we ’ ve heard that you ’ ve been exposed to COVID .
We ’ re going to put an ankle bracelet to make sure you can ’ t leave your house .
We ’ re going to monitor everywhere you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s Third Amendment stuff .
The government can ’ t set up shop in my house.
” The Third Amendment states that “ no soldier shall , in time of peace be quartered in any house , without the consent of the owner , nor in time of war , but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
” Even Barton ’ s own “ Founder ’ s Bible ” admits that the Third Amendment pertains to the banning of “ the forcible quartering of soldiers in houses except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , the use of ankle monitors is hardly the same thing .

While speaking at Cornerstone Church in Texas last weekend, right-wing pseudo-historian David Barton claimed that government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to wholesale violations of the Bill of Rights, including the Third Amendment, which prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes.
Barton made the comment in passing, so he never explained exactly how the Third Amendment had supposedly been violated in recent months. But while speaking at Crosspoint Community Church in Missoula, Montana, this Sunday, Barton made this claim again, and this time, he explained what he meant.
Not surprisingly, his argument was absurd even by his standards.
“The Third Amendment says, essentially, that the government can’t set up shop in your house,” Barton said. “And now we’ve seen, particularly in states like Virginia and elsewhere, ‘Oh, we’ve heard that you’ve been exposed to COVID. We’re going to put an ankle bracelet to make sure you can’t leave your house. We’re going to monitor everywhere you go, everything you do.’ No, that’s Third Amendment stuff. The government can’t set up shop in my house.”
The Third Amendment states that “no soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” Even Barton’s own “Founder’s Bible” admits that the Third Amendment pertains to the banning of “the forcible quartering of soldiers in houses except by consent of the owner.”
Needless to say, the use of ankle monitors is hardly the same thing.


rightwingwatch--2020-10-15--Right Wing Round-Up: The Face of God

Right Wing Round-Up: The Face of God


rightwingwatch--2020-10-15--Right Wing Bonus Tracks: Don’t Believe David Barton


rightwingwatch--2020-10-15--Lance Wallnau Calls on God Not to Let Trump ‘Be Ingloriously Beaten and Embarrassed by Your Enemies’

Trump-loving evangelist Lance Wallnau spoke at Ignited Church in Lakeland , Florida , Sunday night , where he prayed that God would ensure the reelection of President Donald Trump so Trump will not be “ embarrassed ” and mocked by “ the heathens.
” Echoing a passage from Numbers 14 in which Moses convinces God not to destroy the Israelites by arguing that doing so will cause the nations of the world to question why God would lead his people out of Egypt only to wipe them out in the desert , Wallnau likewise called on God not to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
“ Father , in the name of Jesus , we believe that you ’ re going to have mercy on America , ” Wallnau declared .
“ I believe Donald Trump has unfinished business in the nations .
And I believe you will not let someone who has stood with Israel and stood with Christians , you will not let them be ingloriously beaten and embarrassed by your enemies .
Because your name is part of this , Lord .
What would the heathens say ?
What would the radicals say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who stands with you so conspicuously does not have a friend in high places watching over them ?
But I believe you are going to watch over this president .
”

Trump-loving evangelist Lance Wallnau spoke at Ignited Church in Lakeland, Florida, Sunday night, where he prayed that God would ensure the reelection of President Donald Trump so Trump will not be “embarrassed” and mocked by “the heathens.”
Echoing a passage from Numbers 14 in which Moses convinces God not to destroy the Israelites by arguing that doing so will cause the nations of the world to question why God would lead his people out of Egypt only to wipe them out in the desert, Wallnau likewise called on God not to allow Trump to be humiliated by losing the election.
“Father, in the name of Jesus, we believe that you’re going to have mercy on America,” Wallnau declared. “I believe Donald Trump has unfinished business in the nations. And I believe you will not let someone who has stood with Israel and stood with Christians, you will not let them be ingloriously beaten and embarrassed by your enemies. Because your name is part of this, Lord. What would the heathens say? What would the radicals say? What would the communists say when someone who stands with you so conspicuously does not have a friend in high places watching over them? But I believe you are going to watch over this president.”