thestream--2020-11-11--How You Can (Almost) Understand and Answer the Very Strange Claim, ‘There’s No Evidence of Fraud’

You ’ ve heard it , right ?
“ What are you Republicans even talking about ?
There ’ s no evidence of voter fraud.
” And you shake your head , dumbfounded .
Of course there ’ s evidence .
Still they deny it , as Vanessa Taylor just did in mic.com , to name a recent example .
But how ?
It ’ s such a strange claim .
How can they make it ?
Easy .
Some who say this are undoubtedly lying .
Some parrot the line mindlessly .
More often , though , I suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manifesting in a strange block in their understanding of what the word “ evidence ” means .
I ’ ve seen it before .
Time after time , actually .
The same strange mental block appears in atheists who say there ’ s no evidence for God .
I ’ ve seen a lot of it , but that doesn ’ t mean I can explain it fully .
To me it ’ s fully strange .
Maybe I can at least normalize it to some extent , though , not normal in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things ought to be , but normal in the sense that it ’ s not so unusual .
People are strange everywhere .
Let me illustrate from that long experience with atheists .
Not all atheists do this , mind you ; but when they do , I ’ ll ask them questions about Christian evidences .
And they ’ ll answer something like you see here : • What about the Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled ?
Nah , that ’ s all just coincidence , or it got re-written afterward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not evidence .
• What about the historical and archaeological evidence confirming fact after detailed fact in the New Testament ?
Just because the Bible got some things right , it doesn ’ t mean it got everything right .
So that ’ s not evidence .
• What about the universe ’ s fine-tuning for life ?
Oh , who knows ?
There might be an infinite number of universes .
Science doesn ’ t say it ’ s impossible !
And maybe we ’ re one that happens to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else did you think we ’ d be ?
So no , that ’ s not evidence , either .
• What about the evidence increasing year by year that life requires an intelligent designer ?
You don ’ t really believe that , do you ?
You call it evidence ?
Hah !
• What about the overwhelming evidence that the universe had a beginning ?
The universe could have created itself .
So there !
You done trying yet ?
There ’ s no evidence for God , I tell you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , right ?
They ’ ve got a special definition for “ evidence.
” It goes like this : If they can offer some other explanation — any explanation at all — then what you ’ ve got isn ’ t evidence .
If they can laugh it off , it ’ s not evidence .
It ’ s not “ evidence ” for them unless it ’ s full-on proof — proof good enough to persuade the most resistant skeptic .
This is exactly what anti-Trump people are doing when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It ’ s not that they haven ’ t heard the evidence , it ’ s that they won ’ t call it evidence until it ’ s proof .
And it really is a dance .
They don ’ t use the same definition everywhere , I ’ m sure .
This kind of scene would never play out in real life : Atheist dad sees cookie crumbs on the counter .
“ You ’ ve been in the cookie jar , haven ’ t you ?
” he demands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s learned to take after Dad in ways Dad never intended , says , “ What ?
I have no idea what you ’ re talking about .
There ’ s not a bit of evidence here !
” Dad points at the crumbs .
“ Oh , that , ” says the boy .
“ You know , Mom could have left it that way before she went out this afternoon .
So like I said , those crumbs aren ’ t evidence of anything !
” And atheist Dad says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sorry , you ’ re right .
I don ’ t see any evidence here at all.
” Dancing Only When Their Interests Are Really at Stake They don ’ t do that with cookie crumbs , they don ’ t do it with business analyses , and they don ’ t do it in law .
They only do it where their atheist or anti-Trump interests are at stake .
That ’ s when they do the definition dance : If there ’ s another explanation , then there is no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s how atheists can reach their conclusion , “ no evidence for God.
” ( Again I emphasize , this is not every atheist .
Just some of them . )
It ’ s how Vanessa Taylor can tell us so emphatically , “ In fact , a team of 28 international election observers said they found no evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
” The Judge Is Laughing in Chambers But how then do you answer when someone tells you there ’ s “ no evidence for fraud ” ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ frame of mind , you could start with a more technical definition for evidence .
( It ’ s okay , it ’ s not as complicated as it looks . )
Where did “ S ” come from , you ask ?
That ’ s just the usual abbreviation .
( It stands for “ Subject ” Not that it matters much . )
Let me illustrate and the rest will come clear .
Suppose the evidence ( E ) is the gardener ’ s fingerprint on a gun found in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential conclusion ( C ) would be that the gardener did the deed .
The fingerprint on its own doesn ’ t prove the conclusion , but it does make it more likely .
That ’ s good enough .
Evidence is one thing , proof is another ; and if it makes the conclusion more likely , it counts as evidence .
The story continues : The police gather more clues , and the gardener goes on trial .
The state ’ s attorney calls the fingerprint expert as his first witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be entered as evidence .
And then the atheist defense counsel — or the writer who insists there ’ s no absolutely evidence of election fraud — erupts , shouting , “ Objection !
That fingerprint doesn ’ t prove the state ’ s whole case , so they can ’ t place it in evidence.
” The judge calls an immediate emergency recess , covers her mouth with both hands , and rushes to chambers .
Outside the door , the bailiff hears her laughing and laughing and laughing … But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , and I apologize .
No atheist attorney would do that .
No progressive Biden supporter would embarrass himself that way .
They only make that mistake in their anti-theology ( on the one hand ) or their anti-Trump politics ( on the other ) .
It ’ s still the same mistake , though .
Getting Practical : How You Can Answer “ There ’ s No Evidence ” How then , should we respond to the “ No evidence for fraud ” charge ?
Sometimes you can safely ignore it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor worth the time .
When you do need to answer , just ask them kindly if they would alter it slightly , to , “ There ’ s no legal proof of fraud at this point.
” Ask them , “ We can agree on that much , right ?
” Then relax , and let the conversation flow .
Give them some of the facts , such as those I linked to in the first paragraph above .
If they push back on you , just stand and be confident .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , as if it were some kind of challenge , “ The burden of proof is on you to prove it.
” My answer was an easy , “ We ’ re fine with that.
” Someone might say , “ You have no guarantee you ’ ve going to win in court , you know.
” I would answer , “ That ’ s right , I do know that.
” No need to be defensive .
Trump has lawyers doing that work ; we don ’ t have to .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
!
You don ’ t even have evidence !
” then I suggest you do what I ’ ve done more than once with atheists .
You sigh , you say to yourself , “ I tried ; I honestly tried !
” And you walk away — far enough so they won ’ t be able to tell whether you ’ re crying or laughing .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books , including the recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

You’ve heard it, right? “What are you Republicans even talking about? There’s no evidence of voter fraud.” And you shake your head, dumbfounded. Of course there’s evidence. Still they deny it, as Vanessa Taylor just did in mic.com, to name a recent example. But how? It’s such a strange claim. How can they make it?
Easy. Some who say this are undoubtedly lying. Some parrot the line mindlessly. More often, though, I suspect it’s just old-fashioned denial, manifesting in a strange block in their understanding of what the word “evidence” means. I’ve seen it before. Time after time, actually. The same strange mental block appears in atheists who say there’s no evidence for God.
I’ve seen a lot of it, but that doesn’t mean I can explain it fully. To me it’s fully strange. Maybe I can at least normalize it to some extent, though, not normal in the sense that it’s how things ought to be, but normal in the sense that it’s not so unusual. People are strange everywhere.
Atheists and “Evidence”
Let me illustrate from that long experience with atheists. Not all atheists do this, mind you; but when they do, I’ll ask them questions about Christian evidences. And they’ll answer something like you see here:
What about the Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled? Nah, that’s all just coincidence, or it got re-written afterward to look like fulfilled prophecy. It’s not evidence.
What about the historical and archaeological evidence confirming fact after detailed fact in the New Testament? Just because the Bible got some things right, it doesn’t mean it got everything right. So that’s not evidence.
What about the universe’s fine-tuning for life? Oh, who knows? There might be an infinite number of universes. Science doesn’t say it’s impossible! And maybe we’re one that happens to work for us, because hey, where else did you think we’d be? So no, that’s not evidence, either.
What about the evidence increasing year by year that life requires an intelligent designer? You don’t really believe that, do you? You call it evidence? Hah!
What about the overwhelming evidence that the universe had a beginning? The universe could have created itself. So there! You done trying yet? There’s no evidence for God, I tell you!
The Definition Dance
You see what’s going on, right? They’ve got a special definition for “evidence.” It goes like this: If they can offer some other explanation — any explanation at all — then what you’ve got isn’t evidence. If they can laugh it off, it’s not evidence. It’s not “evidence” for them unless it’s full-on proof — proof good enough to persuade the most resistant skeptic.
This is exactly what anti-Trump people are doing when they say, “No evidence for fraud.” It’s not that they haven’t heard the evidence, it’s that they won’t call it evidence until it’s proof.
And it really is a dance. They don’t use the same definition everywhere, I’m sure. This kind of scene would never play out in real life:
Atheist dad sees cookie crumbs on the counter. “You’ve been in the cookie jar, haven’t you?” he demands of his ten-year-old. The boy, who’s learned to take after Dad in ways Dad never intended, says, “What? I have no idea what you’re talking about. There’s not a bit of evidence here!”
Dad points at the crumbs. “Oh, that,” says the boy. “You know, Mom could have left it that way before she went out this afternoon. So like I said, those crumbs aren’t evidence of anything!” And atheist Dad says, “Oh, I’m sorry, you’re right. I don’t see any evidence here at all.”
It’s not “evidence” for them unless it’s full-on proof — proof good enough to persuade the most resistant skeptic.
Dancing Only When Their Interests Are Really at Stake
They don’t do that with cookie crumbs, they don’t do it with business analyses, and they don’t do it in law. They only do it where their atheist or anti-Trump interests are at stake. That’s when they do the definition dance: If there’s another explanation, then there is no evidence. Absolutely no evidence.
That’s how atheists can reach their conclusion, “no evidence for God.” (Again I emphasize, this is not every atheist. Just some of them.) It’s how Vanessa Taylor can tell us so emphatically, “In fact, a team of 28 international election observers said they found no evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election.”
The Judge Is Laughing in Chambers
But how then do you answer when someone tells you there’s “no evidence for fraud”? If you’re of a certain frame of mind, you could start with a more technical definition for evidence. (It’s okay, it’s not as complicated as it looks.)
Any fact, finding, artifact, etc. E is evidence for some potential conclusion C, if knowing E to be true should lead some reasonable person S to consider C more likely to be true.
Where did “S” come from, you ask? That’s just the usual abbreviation. (It stands for “Subject” Not that it matters much.) Let me illustrate and the rest will come clear.
Suppose the evidence (E) is the gardener’s fingerprint on a gun found in a ditch just outside the estate. The potential conclusion (C) would be that the gardener did the deed. The fingerprint on its own doesn’t prove the conclusion, but it does make it more likely. That’s good enough. Evidence is one thing, proof is another; and if it makes the conclusion more likely, it counts as evidence.
They only make that mistake in their anti-theology (on the one hand) or their anti-Trump politics (on the other). It’s still the same mistake, though.
The story continues: The police gather more clues, and the gardener goes on trial. The state’s attorney calls the fingerprint expert as his first witness, and he asks for the print to be entered as evidence.
And then the atheist defense counsel — or the writer who insists there’s no absolutely evidence of election fraud — erupts, shouting, “Objection! That fingerprint doesn’t prove the state’s whole case, so they can’t place it in evidence.”
The judge calls an immediate emergency recess, covers her mouth with both hands, and rushes to chambers. Outside the door, the bailiff hears her laughing and laughing and laughing …
But of course I’m being unfair here, and I apologize. No atheist attorney would do that. No progressive Biden supporter would embarrass himself that way. They only make that mistake in their anti-theology (on the one hand) or their anti-Trump politics (on the other). It’s still the same mistake, though.
Getting Practical: How You Can Answer “There’s No Evidence”
How then, should we respond to the “No evidence for fraud” charge?
Sometimes you can safely ignore it, knowing it’s neither true nor worth the time. When you do need to answer, just ask them kindly if they would alter it slightly, to, “There’s no legal proof of fraud at this point.” Ask them, “We can agree on that much, right?” Then relax, and let the conversation flow. Give them some of the facts, such as those I linked to in the first paragraph above. If they push back on you, just stand and be confident.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
A commenter here said yesterday, for example, as if it were some kind of challenge, “The burden of proof is on you to prove it.” My answer was an easy, “We’re fine with that.” Someone might say, “You have no guarantee you’ve going to win in court, you know.” I would answer, “That’s right, I do know that.” No need to be defensive. Trump has lawyers doing that work; we don’t have to.
But if they say, “Proof?! You don’t even have evidence!” then I suggest you do what I’ve done more than once with atheists. You sigh, you say to yourself, “I tried; I honestly tried!” And you walk away — far enough so they won’t be able to tell whether you’re crying or laughing.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the recently released Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-11-10--Mayor Bill de Blasio Says New Yorkers Should Avoid ‘Big Meals Together’ as COVID-19 Cases Spike

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city ’ s residents should avoid “ large meals together ” as the area experienced a recent uptick in coronavirus cases .
“ The holidays we associate with travel and the holidays we associate with big indoor gatherings , big meals together — that , unfortunately , this year can ’ t be the case , ” de Blasio said in a Monday press conference .
The Democrat warned that the city is “ dangerously close ” to seeing a “ second wave ” of the virus in the boroughs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City ’ s positivity rate has exceeded 2 % in the media briefing .
“ We see the presence of the coronavirus in this city and it ’ s trying to reassert itself , ” the mayor said in the briefing .
“ We need to do everything in our power to stop the coronavirus from reasserting in New York City .
We have to stop a second wave from happening here , it is getting dangerously close.
” “ We ’ re seeing household transmission , ” he continued .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re seeing things we have not seen in a long time — and we have to stop them.
” Residents of the city gathered en masse to celebrate after numerous media outlets called the presidential election for Joe Biden on Saturday .
De Blasio maintained that the biggest virus threat to the boroughs is indoor gatherings .
“ But again , the key problem here is indoors and not wearing masks , ” he said in the briefing .
“ Let ’ s really emphasize that if people avoid indoor gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be crucial to turning this around.
” The Democrat said it ’ s “ not yet time ” for broader restrictions to combat COVID-19 , as the city continues to implement 25 % indoor capacity limits at restaurants , according to the New York Post .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s residents should avoid “large meals together” as the area experienced a recent uptick in coronavirus cases.
“The holidays we associate with travel and the holidays we associate with big indoor gatherings, big meals together — that, unfortunately, this year can’t be the case,” de Blasio said in a Monday press conference.
The Democrat warned that the city is “dangerously close” to seeing a “second wave” of the virus in the boroughs. De Blasio also indicated that New York City’s positivity rate has exceeded 2% in the media briefing.
“We see the presence of the coronavirus in this city and it’s trying to reassert itself,” the mayor said in the briefing. “We need to do everything in our power to stop the coronavirus from reasserting in New York City. We have to stop a second wave from happening here, it is getting dangerously close.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“We’re seeing household transmission,” he continued. “We’re seeing community spread. We’re seeing things we have not seen in a long time — and we have to stop them.”
Residents of the city gathered en masse to celebrate after numerous media outlets called the presidential election for Joe Biden on Saturday.
De Blasio maintained that the biggest virus threat to the boroughs is indoor gatherings.
“But again, the key problem here is indoors and not wearing masks,” he said in the briefing. “Let’s really emphasize that if people avoid indoor gatherings and wear a mask, that’s going to be crucial to turning this around.”
The Democrat said it’s “not yet time” for broader restrictions to combat COVID-19, as the city continues to implement 25% indoor capacity limits at restaurants, according to the New York Post.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-11-10--Thoughts in a Dark Time

Thoughts in a Dark Time

As there is too much to say in the space of one column , I will simply offer some thoughts on the state of the country a week after the 2020 elections .
No .
1 : While I am not certain the reported election results are dishonest , I suspect they are .
Worse , about half this country believes this , too .
This is unprecedented in American history .
One might counter that this is not unprecedented , that this was precisely what half the American electorate felt in 2000 , when many Democrats rejected the 2000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot counting .
But that was entirely different .
No one alleged widespread Republican fraud in the election of George W. Bush .
The issue in that extremely close election involved a faulty voting system that resulted in hand recounts using differing ballot-counting standards from one jurisdiction to the next .
Liberal justices joined the 7-2 vote in ruling for Bush that the recounts could not constitutionally go forward .
Therefore , the fact that nearly half the country is far from certain that Joe Biden was honestly elected is unprecedented .
Half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that if Democratic Party officials believe they can get away with cheating , they will do so .
Aside from the Democrats having a history of ballot-manipulation , there is an even more compelling reason to believe Democrats would cheat .
For four years , they have been telling the nation and telling one another that President Donald Trump is a dictator , a fascist and a white supremacist .
Therefore , if a leftist considers himself a moral individual and works in tabulating election results , and he can help prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dictator , wouldn ’ t he do so ?
Wouldn ’ t he be morally obligated to do so ?
No .
2 : For four years , the mainstream print and electronic media waged daily , indeed hourly , vicious attacks on Trump as a human being .
Rarely did they attack his policies , since they were so beneficial to America ( some of the greatest economic figures in memory and the lowest black unemployment rate ever recorded ) and to the world ( a major weakening of Iran and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Worse , the media and the Democratic Party immersed the country in a three-year lie about Trump campaign collusion with Russia .
Yet , 70 million Americans still voted for Trump .
The Democrats lost seats in the House and will probably not gain control of the Senate , despite the larger number of Republican incumbents who were up for reelection .
Americans watched Democratic governors and mayors do nothing as left-wing thugs burned their cities .
And then they watched Democratic mayors and city councils defund their police departments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly .
No .
3 : The mainstream media is now perceived as fraudulent by half of America .
This has never been the case .
But from The New York Times ‘ mendacious claim that America ’ s true founding was in 1619 and was founded in order to preserve slavery — for which the equally dishonest Pulitzer Prize committee awarded the paper a Pulitzer Prize — to the entire mainstream press ’ s ignoring of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal , only left-wing Americans now believe the mainstream media .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tech companies shut down conservative voices .
The more people hear non-left ideas , the more they gravitate away from the left .
As a result , for the first time in American history , free speech is seriously threatened — not by government , but by private companies .
Free speech is the most important freedom of all .
If we lose it , it is the end of our country .
What may happen then is the division of America , either formally or informally , into two nations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own schools .
No .
5 : Despite four years of being accused of racism and xenophobia , Trump increased both his black and Latino vote .
If Trump lost honestly , it was due to his loss of the white male vote — from +31 in 2016 to +23 in 2020 .
No .
6 : The Democratic Party was once liberal .
It is now leftist .
And the left , everywhere in the world , suppresses dissent wherever it takes over — from Lenin to the modern American university to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No .
7 : Liberals loved America .
The left loathes it .
Therefore , since the left governs American education , America-hatred dominates the education system from kindergarten to graduate school .
You are risking the poisoning of your children ’ s minds , souls and consciences by sending them to most American schools and nearly all American colleges .
Don ’ t .
Home-school , or find a school that teaches rather than indoctrinates .
No .
8 : Hydroxychloroquine , one of the safest and oldest medications known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost anyone as soon as the individual develops symptoms or tests positive with COVID-19 , prevents death and even hospitalization in the overwhelming majority of cases .
History will likely note that the politicians and scientists who opposed hydroxychloroquine have a lot of blood on their hands .
No .
9 : Those who can work from home are far more likely to support lockdowns than those who can not work from home .
As a rule , the former are more likely to be Democrats and more likely to be wealthier than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All over the country , stores in big cities were boarded up solely to protect themselves from left-wing rioters should Trump have won .
When Biden was declared the winner , the boards came down .
Because everyone knows that conservatives don ’ t riot .
No .
11 : If Biden wins , more and more non-left Americans will lose their reputations , their businesses and their freedom to speak .
All of which plausibly renders the Georgia runoffs for U.S. senator the most important elections in American history .
Dennis Prager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and columnist .
His latest book , published by Regnery in May 2019 , is The Rational Bible , a commentary on the book of Genesis .
His film , “ No Safe Spaces , ” was released to home entertainment nationwide on September 15 , 2020 .
He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com .

As there is too much to say in the space of one column, I will simply offer some thoughts on the state of the country a week after the 2020 elections.
No. 1: While I am not certain the reported election results are dishonest, I suspect they are. Worse, about half this country believes this, too.
This is unprecedented in American history.
One might counter that this is not unprecedented, that this was precisely what half the American electorate felt in 2000, when many Democrats rejected the 2000 Supreme Court decision regarding Florida’s ballot counting. But that was entirely different. No one alleged widespread Republican fraud in the election of George W. Bush. The issue in that extremely close election involved a faulty voting system that resulted in hand recounts using differing ballot-counting standards from one jurisdiction to the next. Liberal justices joined the 7-2 vote in ruling for Bush that the recounts could not constitutionally go forward.
Therefore, the fact that nearly half the country is far from certain that Joe Biden was honestly elected is unprecedented.
The Democrats Will Cheat
Half this country believes, with good reason, that if Democratic Party officials believe they can get away with cheating, they will do so. Aside from the Democrats having a history of ballot-manipulation, there is an even more compelling reason to believe Democrats would cheat. For four years, they have been telling the nation and telling one another that President Donald Trump is a dictator, a fascist and a white supremacist. Therefore, if a leftist considers himself a moral individual and works in tabulating election results, and he can help prevent the reelection of a white supremacist fascist dictator, wouldn’t he do so? Wouldn’t he be morally obligated to do so?
No. 2: For four years, the mainstream print and electronic media waged daily, indeed hourly, vicious attacks on Trump as a human being. Rarely did they attack his policies, since they were so beneficial to America (some of the greatest economic figures in memory and the lowest black unemployment rate ever recorded) and to the world (a major weakening of Iran and a major strengthening of Israel and Israel-Arab peace). Worse, the media and the Democratic Party immersed the country in a three-year lie about Trump campaign collusion with Russia.
Yet, 70 million Americans still voted for Trump. The Democrats lost seats in the House and will probably not gain control of the Senate, despite the larger number of Republican incumbents who were up for reelection.
Americans watched Democratic governors and mayors do nothing as left-wing thugs burned their cities. And then they watched Democratic mayors and city councils defund their police departments. That is one reason Democrats fared so badly.
The Fraudulent Mainstream Media
No. 3: The mainstream media is now perceived as fraudulent by half of America. This has never been the case. But from The New York Times‘ mendacious claim that America’s true founding was in 1619 and was founded in order to preserve slavery — for which the equally dishonest Pulitzer Prize committee awarded the paper a Pulitzer Prize — to the entire mainstream press’s ignoring of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, only left-wing Americans now believe the mainstream media.
No. 4: That is one reason the tech companies shut down conservative voices. The more people hear non-left ideas, the more they gravitate away from the left. As a result, for the first time in American history, free speech is seriously threatened — not by government, but by private companies. Free speech is the most important freedom of all. If we lose it, it is the end of our country. What may happen then is the division of America, either formally or informally, into two nations, each with its own media and its own schools.
No. 5: Despite four years of being accused of racism and xenophobia, Trump increased both his black and Latino vote. If Trump lost honestly, it was due to his loss of the white male vote — from +31 in 2016 to +23 in 2020.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
No. 6: The Democratic Party was once liberal. It is now leftist. And the left, everywhere in the world, suppresses dissent wherever it takes over — from Lenin to the modern American university to Twitter and the rest of Big Tech.
No. 7: Liberals loved America. The left loathes it. Therefore, since the left governs American education, America-hatred dominates the education system from kindergarten to graduate school. You are risking the poisoning of your children’s minds, souls and consciences by sending them to most American schools and nearly all American colleges. Don’t. Home-school, or find a school that teaches rather than indoctrinates.
No. 8: Hydroxychloroquine, one of the safest and oldest medications known to man, when given with zinc to almost anyone as soon as the individual develops symptoms or tests positive with COVID-19, prevents death and even hospitalization in the overwhelming majority of cases. History will likely note that the politicians and scientists who opposed hydroxychloroquine have a lot of blood on their hands.
No. 9: Those who can work from home are far more likely to support lockdowns than those who cannot work from home. As a rule, the former are more likely to be Democrats and more likely to be wealthier than the latter.
No. 10: All over the country, stores in big cities were boarded up solely to protect themselves from left-wing rioters should Trump have won. When Biden was declared the winner, the boards came down. Because everyone knows that conservatives don’t riot.
No. 11: If Biden wins, more and more non-left Americans will lose their reputations, their businesses and their freedom to speak.
All of which plausibly renders the Georgia runoffs for U.S. senator the most important elections in American history.
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. His latest book, published by Regnery in May 2019, is The Rational Bible, a commentary on the book of Genesis. His film, “No Safe Spaces,” was released to home entertainment nationwide on September 15, 2020. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-11-10--What Would It Take to Convince You The Election Was Rigged?

Yesterday I laid out , with the help of the BBC and State Department , the six signs to look for when determining if an election was stolen .
There is some indisputable evidence — and many very suggestive indications — that each of those conditions for concluding fraud in this election has been met .
But many still refuse to even entertain the idea that this election was as crooked as a witch ’ s nose .
After she ’ s been in 100 MMA fights .
And fell from her broom flat onto her face .
The media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to crush the evidence .
So a lot of people don ’ t even know what is being alleged in sworn affidavits .
I desperately want to believe that people , if presented the evidence , will accept it .
Or at the very least be open to it , awaiting further confirmation .
Please tell me my belief is not unfounded .
But before we get there , I want to ask a simple question : Remember that a ) lying in a sworn affidavit to a court is a crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen as helping Trump will subject you to all manner of hell .
In light of that , do you believe the countless witnesses who now have sworn to seeing illegal activity leading up to and through the election would lie ?
Would Any of This Be Right ?
Now , for those fair-minded people who support Biden , may I ask a few questions ?
Do you believe • It would be wrong for election supervisors to coach workers to correct mail-in ballots for Biden , but not for Trump ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election workers to coach voters to vote for Biden and Democrats , and follow them to the ballot station ?
• It would be wrong for poll workers to go out to a Biden-Harris van in the middle of the night and fill out ballots ?
• That it would be likewise wrong for poll workers to fill in the names of people who hadn ’ t yet voted when a “ voter ” comes in who is not on the voter rolls ?
• That it ’ s wrong for counting centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots ?
• It was wrong for Philadelphia Democrats to ignore a court order that demanded poll watchers have their rightful access ?
• That it ’ s wrong for a Democratic- controlled ballot-counting center Fulton County , Georgia to tell GOP observers they were done counting for the night … then resume counting the minute the observers left ?
• It was wrong for Nevada voting officials to fabricate proof of residence data for non-eligible voters ?
• That it was likewise wrong for postal supervisors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late arriving ballots , so it would falsely appear they arrived on time ?
• It is wrong to cast ballots using the dead ?
• That it is wrong to count ballots from people ineligible to vote in a particular state ?
• It is wrong for a state supreme court to ignore state law and the U.S. constitution to change the voting rules right before an election ?
Rules guaranteed to make the process more susceptible to fraud ?
Each of those statements is asserted in 131 sworn affidavits from poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened in broad daylight .
So please answer me honestly : How many of these wrongs laid out in lawsuits are you willing to outright dismiss ?
Doesn ’ t fairness dictate you at least listen to what these people have to say ?
How many people must swear under penalty of imprisonment for perjury before you acknowledge the vote tallies are horribly tarnished ?
Would Any of This Be Suspicious ?
Now , my Biden-supporting ( or Trump-hating ) friends , can we do a little gut check ?
Aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Tens of thousands of ballots suddenly appearing from out-of-state with only the presidential race filled out … and all filled out for Joe Biden ?
• Hundreds of thousands of votes popping up overnight election night … after the inexplicable halt in counting … in some places , 100 % for Joe Biden ?
• Philadelphia , a city notorious for election fraud , absolutely refusing to let Republican observers anywhere near the people handling mail-in ballots ?
• In several states , piles of Trump votes suddenly getting taken from him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popping up for Biden ?
• Dominion , the company behind the election system used in these states , being connected to the Clinton Foundation and George Soros ?
• Dozens of states accepting Dominion ’ s system , despite its security weaknesses being so evident that Texas rejected it three times ?
• The Associated Press reporting just last year that Dominion and its sister companies “ had long skimped on security in favor of convenience and operated under a shroud of financial and operational secrecy despite their critical role in elections.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on evidence of a ballot harvesting operation at Pennsylvania nursing homes which could have netted Biden 25,000 votes ?
( Ballot harvesting is illegal in Pennsylvania . )
• Biden vote totals in specific swing cities … and nowhere else … exceeding Obama ’ s by up to 40 % ?
• Vote tallies for Biden in Milwaukee exceeding Obama ’ s 2008 landslide … despite Milwaukee having fewer people than it did in 2008 ?
( And despite Donald Trump greatly increasing his share of the minority vote . )
• Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except in a couple crucial swing state cities … and only after counting in those states was halted ?
• Joe Biden handily losing bell-weather states Florida and Ohio , but somehow defying history and won ?
This despite very little campaigning , a non-existent ground game , and a campaign message that ran counter to the economic interests of the American people .
Honesty is the Path to Unity Yes , it is possible a good percentage of people could go , “ I don ’ t care .
Orange Man Bad.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority of Biden voters will be honest enough to check their dislike of Trump long enough to acknowledge the reality of all the smoke , and the possibility of fire .
That they would rather have an honest count of legitimate — and only legitimate — votes .
And they would want to see those who have committed fraud punished .
I hope they agree that the only path to re-unifying the country is the assurance of an honest count .
And it is worth a few weeks of time to check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Man is Bad , a Stolen Election is far , far worse .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Yesterday I laid out, with the help of the BBC and State Department, the six signs to look for when determining if an election was stolen.
There is some indisputable evidence — and many very suggestive indications — that each of those conditions for concluding fraud in this election has been met. But many still refuse to even entertain the idea that this election was as crooked as a witch’s nose. After she’s been in 100 MMA fights. And fell from her broom flat onto her face.
The media and Big Tech sensors are working overtime to crush the evidence. So a lot of people don’t even know what is being alleged in sworn affidavits. I desperately want to believe that people, if presented the evidence, will accept it. Or at the very least be open to it, awaiting further confirmation. Please tell me my belief is not unfounded.
But before we get there, I want to ask a simple question:
Remember that a) lying in a sworn affidavit to a court is a crime. And b) doing anything that is seen as helping Trump will subject you to all manner of hell. In light of that, do you believe the countless witnesses who now have sworn to seeing illegal activity leading up to and through the election would lie?
Would Any of This Be Right?
Now, for those fair-minded people who support Biden, may I ask a few questions? Do you believe
It would be wrong for election supervisors to coach workers to correct mail-in ballots for Biden, but not for Trump? That it would also be wrong for election workers to coach voters to vote for Biden and Democrats, and follow them to the ballot station? It would be wrong for poll workers to go out to a Biden-Harris van in the middle of the night and fill out ballots? That it would be likewise wrong for poll workers to fill in the names of people who hadn’t yet voted when a “voter” comes in who is not on the voter rolls? It’s wrong for poll workers to ignore matching signature requirements? That it’s wrong for counting centers to keep Republican poll watchers from observing hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots? It was wrong for Philadelphia Democrats to ignore a court order that demanded poll watchers have their rightful access? That it’s wrong for a Democratic- controlled ballot-counting center Fulton County, Georgia to tell GOP observers they were done counting for the night … then resume counting the minute the observers left? It was wrong for Nevada voting officials to fabricate proof of residence data for non-eligible voters? That it was likewise wrong for postal supervisors in several states to order workers to pre-date late arriving ballots, so it would falsely appear they arrived on time? It is wrong to cast ballots using the dead? That it is wrong to count ballots from people ineligible to vote in a particular state? It is wrong for a state supreme court to ignore state law and the U.S. constitution to change the voting rules right before an election? Rules guaranteed to make the process more susceptible to fraud?
Each of those statements is asserted in 131 sworn affidavits from poll workers, poll watchers and whistleblowers or happened in broad daylight.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So please answer me honestly: How many of these wrongs laid out in lawsuits are you willing to outright dismiss? Doesn’t fairness dictate you at least listen to what these people have to say? How many people must swear under penalty of imprisonment for perjury before you acknowledge the vote tallies are horribly tarnished?
Would Any of This Be Suspicious?
Now, my Biden-supporting (or Trump-hating) friends, can we do a little gut check? Aren’t you a little bit queasy about …
Tens of thousands of ballots suddenly appearing from out-of-state with only the presidential race filled out … and all filled out for Joe Biden? Hundreds of thousands of votes popping up overnight election night … after the inexplicable halt in counting … in some places, 100% for Joe Biden? Philadelphia, a city notorious for election fraud, absolutely refusing to let Republican observers anywhere near the people handling mail-in ballots? In several states, piles of Trump votes suddenly getting taken from him, then the same exact number suddenly popping up for Biden? Dominion, the company behind the election system used in these states, being connected to the Clinton Foundation and George Soros? Dozens of states accepting Dominion’s system, despite its security weaknesses being so evident that Texas rejected it three times? The Associated Press reporting just last year that Dominion and its sister companies “had long skimped on security in favor of convenience and operated under a shroud of financial and operational secrecy despite their critical role in elections.” Lindsay Graham’s report on evidence of a ballot harvesting operation at Pennsylvania nursing homes which could have netted Biden 25,000 votes? (Ballot harvesting is illegal in Pennsylvania.) Biden vote totals in specific swing cities … and nowhere else … exceeding Obama’s by up to 40%? Vote tallies for Biden in Milwaukee exceeding Obama’s 2008 landslide … despite Milwaukee having fewer people than it did in 2008? (And despite Donald Trump greatly increasing his share of the minority vote.) Joe Biden underperforming Hillary Clinton almost everywhere … except in a couple crucial swing state cities … and only after counting in those states was halted? Joe Biden handily losing bell-weather states Florida and Ohio, but somehow defying history and won? This despite very little campaigning, a non-existent ground game, and a campaign message that ran counter to the economic interests of the American people.
Honesty is the Path to Unity
Yes, it is possible a good percentage of people could go, “I don’t care. Orange Man Bad.” But I want to believe that a majority of Biden voters will be honest enough to check their dislike of Trump long enough to acknowledge the reality of all the smoke, and the possibility of fire.
That they would rather have an honest count of legitimate — and only legitimate — votes. And they would want to see those who have committed fraud punished.
I hope they agree that the only path to re-unifying the country is the assurance of an honest count. And it is worth a few weeks of time to check it all out.
Even if Orange Man is Bad, a Stolen Election is far, far worse.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-11-10--Letter From Twitter Jail

Letter From Twitter Jail

I ’ m tempted , just to be cheeky , to model this column closely on Rev .
Martin Luther King , Jr. ’ s “ Letter from Birmingham Jail.
” I ’ m good at mimicking rhetoric , and the outcome would be funny .
But I won ’ t do that .
I ’ d judge it wrong on several counts .
First of all , Dr. King was brutalized by racist sheriffs and always in fear of his life ( which he finally lost to an assassin ) .
He and his followers braved open violence day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of angry racists .
I certainly don ’ t mean to pretend that I ’ ve faced any such treatment .
Yet .
But what are Christian conservatives of any color to think of leftist rhetoric today ?
Former Clinton administration officials like Robert Reich demand a “ truth and reconciliation ” commission to investigate Trump officials .
Reich pretends they ’ d imposed a system like Apartheid on Americans .
Instead of just , you know , winning an election they weren ’ t meant to win .
Former sane adult and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blacklist .
Its goal ?
To prevent anyone who served the duly elected president from ever working again .
Leftist media are even making enemies lists of U.S. senators : Fox News Is Now on Antifa ’ s Side Fox News switched sides with Stalinist precision on election night .
It started calling states for Biden , while refusing to call them for Trump .
Judge Jeanine Pirro had her show canceled for two days when she tried to speak about voter fraud .
( She has since been fired outright . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House Press Secretary ( as several networks did from the president himself ) when the subject turned to voter fraud .
That means no large national network will even present the views of half of America .
What we ’ re seeing right now is not an American election , circa 2020 , but more like a Polish , East German , or Hungarian election circa 1948 .
That ’ s when the Communists stole the votes .
And the state-run media duly reported that the Communist candidates had all won fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say otherwise were swiftly and sternly punished .
Social media companies with billions in assets and almost monopoly control over the dissemination of news wield their power .
They label the president ’ s Tweets as “ false.
” That makes a joke of their claim to be neutral platforms , not publishers .
Google ’ s algorithms routinely get tweaked to shut out dissident sites like Breitbart.com .
And countless conservatives got deplatformed for making legitimate arguments about public policy .
Are we supposed to pretend that none of this is dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recall how pro-slavery forces in the antebellum South outlawed abolitionist newspapers .
Then gathered mobs at the homes of anti-slavery activists , driving them out with violence .
If this election ran so honestly , why do billion-dollar corporations have to collude to stop the recounts ?
Are our arguments that it was stolen so bankrupt ?
Then why not let people read them and conclude that for themselves ?
Instead , the whole media universe is turning into some snowflake college campus , where ideas that make rich kids “ feel unsafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America might turn into would prove even uglier , and more dangerous , than the pre-Civil Rights South .
I say this with all due respect for what Dr. King and his courageous disciples suffered , and what they accomplished .
If anyone has the right to speak for Dr. King ’ s legacy , it ’ s his niece Alveda King , whose father ( Martin ’ s brother , A.D. King ) was also a civil rights leader .
And as of yesterday she was at the White House with President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other evangelical advisors for an honest outcome of this crisis .
The Twitter Stasi Came for Me But now let me tell you why I sit in Twitter jail , for a total of seven days .
I read the following news : Hours after Commissioner Dan Ryan cast the deciding vote against gutting the Portland police budget by $ 18 million , a group of protesters showed up at his Oregon house , shattering glass , smashing a flower pot and throwing things at the home .
Protesters , who have for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in demonstrations that frequently turned violent , arrived at a dark house and lit flares at the start of the mayhem , the Oregonian reported .
Ryan said in a statement , “ I appreciate that members of our community are passionate .
But trespassing at the home I share with my fiancé , disrupting and intimidating my neighbors and me — and vandalizing my property — is not a productive or safe way to express opinions .
I have elderly neighbors and I fear for their safety and well-being.
” Reading that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerate violent attacks on lawmakers in America .
But of course , Democrats allowed and enabled riots aimed at millions of Americans all through the spring of 2020 — only using police to arrest citizens like the McCloskeys , or Kyle Rittenhouse , who dared to resist .
The Theory and Practice of Anarcho-Tyranny In doing so , the Democrats exposed their true ideology .
It isn ’ t liberalism or even socialism , it ’ s Anarcho-Tyranny .
That ’ s the theory that the government can and should enable mob violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use law enforcement to silence dissenters .
Joe Biden went along with it for month after month after month .
That was the theory underlying the Kristallnacht attacks on Jews in 1938 , and before that the violence of lynch mobs used to intimidate black Americans under Jim Crow .
And if we let this election get stolen , Anarcho-Tyranny will have won .
After reading what happened to Commissioner Ryan — projectiles getting thrown at his windows , which could have killed him or others — I did indeed write on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And that got me banned for a week for “ inciting violence.
” See how this works ?
This is the new America you ’ ll live in , with federal authorities backing the rioters too , if Biden slides into the White House on a trail of slimy fake ballots .
Not on my watch .
Not if I can help it .
God save us and grant us victory .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

I’m tempted, just to be cheeky, to model this column closely on Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I’m good at mimicking rhetoric, and the outcome would be funny. But I won’t do that. I’d judge it wrong on several counts. First of all, Dr. King was brutalized by racist sheriffs and always in fear of his life (which he finally lost to an assassin). He and his followers braved open violence day in, day out at the hands of angry racists. I certainly don’t mean to pretend that I’ve faced any such treatment.
Treating Trump’s Staff Like Apartheid Criminals
Yet. But what are Christian conservatives of any color to think of leftist rhetoric today? Former Clinton administration officials like Robert Reich demand a “truth and reconciliation” commission to investigate Trump officials. Reich pretends they’d imposed a system like Apartheid on Americans. Instead of just, you know, winning an election they weren’t meant to win. Former sane adult and conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin calls for a blacklist. Its goal? To prevent anyone who served the duly elected president from ever working again.
Leftist media are even making enemies lists of U.S. senators:
Fox News Is Now on Antifa’s Side
Fox News switched sides with Stalinist precision on election night. It started calling states for Biden, while refusing to call them for Trump. Judge Jeanine Pirro had her show canceled for two days when she tried to speak about voter fraud. (She has since been fired outright.) Fox News actually cut away from the White House Press Secretary (as several networks did from the president himself) when the subject turned to voter fraud. That means no large national network will even present the views of half of America.
Fox News cuts away from the Trump campaign press conference with Neil Cavuto saying that they “can’t in good countenance continue showing this” when @PressSec says that Democrats are “welcoming fraud and welcoming illegal voting” in the election pic.twitter.com/0d5B5cJ0D8 — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 9, 2020
Soviet Bloc-Style Rigged Elections
What we’re seeing right now is not an American election, circa 2020, but more like a Polish, East German, or Hungarian election circa 1948. That’s when the Communists stole the votes. And the state-run media duly reported that the Communist candidates had all won fair and square. People imprudent enough to say otherwise were swiftly and sternly punished.
Anarcho-Tyranny: the theory that the government can and should enable mob violence to accomplish political goals, and only use law enforcement to silence dissenters
Social media companies with billions in assets and almost monopoly control over the dissemination of news wield their power. They label the president’s Tweets as “false.” That makes a joke of their claim to be neutral platforms, not publishers. Google’s algorithms routinely get tweaked to shut out dissident sites like Breitbart.com. And countless conservatives got deplatformed for making legitimate arguments about public policy.
Are we supposed to pretend that none of this is dangerous? Or an un-American power-grab? I recall how pro-slavery forces in the antebellum South outlawed abolitionist newspapers. Then gathered mobs at the homes of anti-slavery activists, driving them out with violence.
Who’s Afraid of Transparency?
If this election ran so honestly, why do billion-dollar corporations have to collude to stop the recounts? Are our arguments that it was stolen so bankrupt? Then why not let people read them and conclude that for themselves? Instead, the whole media universe is turning into some snowflake college campus, where ideas that make rich kids “feel unsafe” get dissenting students expelled.
What America might turn into would prove even uglier, and more dangerous, than the pre-Civil Rights South. I say this with all due respect for what Dr. King and his courageous disciples suffered, and what they accomplished. If anyone has the right to speak for Dr. King’s legacy, it’s his niece Alveda King, whose father (Martin’s brother, A.D. King) was also a civil rights leader. And as of yesterday she was at the White House with President Trump, praying with him and his other evangelical advisors for an honest outcome of this crisis.
Watch Alveda King peek out..💕 https://t.co/0275ConQ6C — Sabrina De Sousa (@Sadiso) November 9, 2020
The Twitter Stasi Came for Me
But now let me tell you why I sit in Twitter jail, for a total of seven days. I read the following news:
Hours after Commissioner Dan Ryan cast the deciding vote against gutting the Portland police budget by $18 million, a group of protesters showed up at his Oregon house, shattering glass, smashing a flower pot and throwing things at the home. Protesters, who have for months demanded steep cuts to the police in demonstrations that frequently turned violent, arrived at a dark house and lit flares at the start of the mayhem, the Oregonian reported. … Ryan said in a statement, “I appreciate that members of our community are passionate. But trespassing at the home I share with my fiancé, disrupting and intimidating my neighbors and me — and vandalizing my property — is not a productive or safe way to express opinions. I have elderly neighbors and I fear for their safety and well-being.”
Reading that outraged me. We shouldn’t tolerate violent attacks on lawmakers in America. But of course, Democrats allowed and enabled riots aimed at millions of Americans all through the spring of 2020 — only using police to arrest citizens like the McCloskeys, or Kyle Rittenhouse, who dared to resist.
The Theory and Practice of Anarcho-Tyranny
In doing so, the Democrats exposed their true ideology. It isn’t liberalism or even socialism, it’s Anarcho-Tyranny. That’s the theory that the government can and should enable mob violence to accomplish political goals, and only use law enforcement to silence dissenters. Joe Biden went along with it for month after month after month.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
That was the theory underlying the Kristallnacht attacks on Jews in 1938, and before that the violence of lynch mobs used to intimidate black Americans under Jim Crow. And if we let this election get stolen, Anarcho-Tyranny will have won.
After reading what happened to Commissioner Ryan — projectiles getting thrown at his windows, which could have killed him or others — I did indeed write on Twitter, “He should shoot them.”
And that got me banned for a week for “inciting violence.” See how this works? This is the new America you’ll live in, with federal authorities backing the rioters too, if Biden slides into the White House on a trail of slimy fake ballots.
Not on my watch. Not if I can help it. God save us and grant us victory.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”


thestream--2020-11-10--HHS Secretary Azar Secures Trump Healthcare Victory

Who said President Trump didn ’ t have a health plan ?
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is implementing the president ’ s healthcare agenda and improving the way health insurance companies operate by requiring more price transparency .
This will likely prove to be the most effective healthcare reform ever enacted .
“ We want every American to be able to work with their doctor to decide on the healthcare that makes sense for them , and those conversations can ’ t take place in a shadowy system where prices are hidden , ” he said when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change healthcare for virtually all Americans , and change it for the better .
The finalized rule change requires private health insurers to disclose in real-time and prior to treatment the cost of medical services .
Effectively , the rule requires insurers to put a price tag on medical services so consumers can shop around and plan accordingly .
The rule also requires private insurers to disclose the exact dollar amount they pay healthcare providers for specific services .
Consumers can then gauge whether they ’ re being charged too much for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia says , “ American workers in employer-sponsored health plans will now have access to real-time , personalized cost-sharing information that empowers them to shop and compare costs between specific providers before receiving care.
” Implementing price transparency , moreover , will relieve pressure from the many Americans who have been financially hurt by COVID-19 .
Even before the pandemic , 16 percent of Americans had received a surprise medical bill , and 22 percent were scared to go to the doctor because they didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regan ’ s story shows why many Americans are afraid to seek care even during a global pandemic .
Mr. Regan went to the ER after experiencing coronavirus symptoms but , instead of receiving a COVID-19 test , he underwent a regime of unrelated diagnostic tests .
Because he never took a COVID-19 test , his insurance company tried to deny him coverage and left him with a bill for $ 3,200 .
Forcing insurers and hospitals to tell patients how much treatment costs will alleviate these types of worries and drive down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel they can go to the hospital when they need care , and we should encourage people to get tested , not hit them with surprise bills .
No one goes to the Apple Store to buy an iPhone without finding out how much the phone and its contract cost .
If a company like Apple doesn ’ t reveal its prices , it would soon go out of business .
Price tags exist when we buy a phone or eat out ; there is no reason this same basic principle shouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Empirical research shows price transparency could save the average family approximately $ 11,000 annually and cut healthcare costs by more than 30 percent .
Insurers and hospitals would have to compete with each other to offer the lowest prices .
If a patient is being charged thousands for routine tests , like an MRI , they could go elsewhere and receive the same care for less .
These savings would boost our economy while we recover from COVID-19 .
The esteemed economist Arthur Laffer argues , “ the rules will unleash a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition and choice , dramatically lowering the costs of care and coverage .
Fewer dollars going to healthcare and more going to wages , jobs and small businesses in our local communities will help boost our nation ’ s economic recovery.
” Secretary Azar has helped President Trump achieve a huge victory for the American people .
Implementing price transparency will save families thousands of dollars and bring free-market forces to bear on healthcare .
This reform couldn ’ t be more timely and wouldn ’ t have been possible without Secretary Azar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance , at the Family Research Council .
He is a member of the board directors of the Club For Growth .

Who said President Trump didn’t have a health plan?
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is implementing the president’s healthcare agenda and improving the way health insurance companies operate by requiring more price transparency. This will likely prove to be the most effective healthcare reform ever enacted.
“We want every American to be able to work with their doctor to decide on the healthcare that makes sense for them, and those conversations can’t take place in a shadowy system where prices are hidden,” he said when announcing the recent rule change that will change healthcare for virtually all Americans, and change it for the better.
Healthcare Price Transparency
The finalized rule change requires private health insurers to disclose in real-time and prior to treatment the cost of medical services. Effectively, the rule requires insurers to put a price tag on medical services so consumers can shop around and plan accordingly.
The rule also requires private insurers to disclose the exact dollar amount they pay healthcare providers for specific services. Consumers can then gauge whether they’re being charged too much for a particular procedure or treatment and look elsewhere.
As Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia says, “American workers in employer-sponsored health plans will now have access to real-time, personalized cost-sharing information that empowers them to shop and compare costs between specific providers before receiving care.”
Fewer Surprises
Implementing price transparency, moreover, will relieve pressure from the many Americans who have been financially hurt by COVID-19. Even before the pandemic, 16 percent of Americans had received a surprise medical bill, and 22 percent were scared to go to the doctor because they didn’t think they could afford it.
Timothy Regan’s story shows why many Americans are afraid to seek care even during a global pandemic. Mr. Regan went to the ER after experiencing coronavirus symptoms but, instead of receiving a COVID-19 test, he underwent a regime of unrelated diagnostic tests. Because he never took a COVID-19 test, his insurance company tried to deny him coverage and left him with a bill for $3,200.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Forcing insurers and hospitals to tell patients how much treatment costs will alleviate these types of worries and drive down prices by increasing competition. Americans should feel they can go to the hospital when they need care, and we should encourage people to get tested, not hit them with surprise bills.
No one goes to the Apple Store to buy an iPhone without finding out how much the phone and its contract cost. If a company like Apple doesn’t reveal its prices, it would soon go out of business. Price tags exist when we buy a phone or eat out; there is no reason this same basic principle shouldn’t apply when Americans shop for healthcare.
Lower Prices
Empirical research shows price transparency could save the average family approximately $11,000 annually and cut healthcare costs by more than 30 percent. Insurers and hospitals would have to compete with each other to offer the lowest prices. If a patient is being charged thousands for routine tests, like an MRI, they could go elsewhere and receive the same care for less.
These savings would boost our economy while we recover from COVID-19. The esteemed economist Arthur Laffer argues, “the rules will unleash a real market in healthcare, usher in competition and choice, dramatically lowering the costs of care and coverage. Fewer dollars going to healthcare and more going to wages, jobs and small businesses in our local communities will help boost our nation’s economic recovery.”
Secretary Azar has helped President Trump achieve a huge victory for the American people. Implementing price transparency will save families thousands of dollars and bring free-market forces to bear on healthcare. This reform couldn’t be more timely and wouldn’t have been possible without Secretary Azar’s relentless effort.
Ken Blackwell is a Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance, at the Family Research Council. He is a member of the board directors of the Club For Growth.


thestream--2020-11-10--President Trump’s Abe Lincoln Moment

President Trump’s Abe Lincoln Moment

During the Civil War battle of Chancellorsville in the spring of 1863 , young Confederate soldiers kept watch in the dark of the night .
After many hours of quiet , the sound of hoof beats focused their attention .
As the clomping became louder , the men of the South surmised that the horses were mounted by Union soldiers determined to invade their stronghold .
Without hesitation , the Confederate men opened fire on those they thought were their sworn enemies .
However , as they went to capture and subdue their adversaries , it became clear that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And more shockingly , among the wounded was their very own hero and leader , the military genius General Stonewall Jackson , who would die only a short week later .
As a result , Jackson ( and his brilliant military mind ) would not be able to join his fellow general , Robert E. Lee , at the Battle of Gettysburg .
And on the previous day , General Ulysses S. Grant of Union fame , after nearly six months and five attempts to overtake the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city which long enabled the South ’ s strategic control of the Mississippi River .
For unknown reasons , Grant ’ s troops crossed the river with unparalleled ease that day .
They landed on the Confederate shore and confidently took their very first victory of five , which led to the Union seizing control of this crucial city , and ultimately declaring triumph at the Battle of Vicksburg .
These two historic moments would play key roles in Union forces taking decisive victories at both the Battles of Gettysburg and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North ’ s overthrow of the Confederacy only two months later .
These two incidents , which happened on successive days , are linked to another important historical moment that is generally not known to the American student of history .
On the very day before Grant successfully crossed the Mississippi to his first victory at Vicksburg ( and two days before Jackson was shot ) , the American citizens had spent a day of prayer , fasting and humiliation in recognition of their national sin of slavery .
President Abraham Lincoln had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordinary secular pursuits and … keep the day holy to the Lord.
” And even more strongly , he asked the American people to pray for “ no less than the pardon of our national sins , and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country.
” Lincoln pleaded further .
“ We have forgotten God .
We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us … .
We have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace.
” The American people responded overwhelmingly to their president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fate of the nation took a strong turn on the very next day when General Grant successfully crossed the Mississippi to a decisive victory .
Had Vicksburg and Gettysburg not been won , the Confederate states would have separated , and these United States may have been lost to history forever .
Today , the country stands at a similar crossroads , where many actions will be taken and decisions made over the coming days and weeks that will determine the outcome of this election and the course of our nation .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already risen to this call , praying and fasting for God ’ s will in this election .
But perhaps it is time for a more deliberate national call to action , one that can only come from our President .
And one that , like Lincoln ’ s , acknowledges and confesses our own national sin , that of abortion .
It is this sin that has taken the lives of 60 million Americans .
It is a sin in which we as Americans have all participated , either by our deliberate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposing it .
Lincoln asked his people to “ pray for clemency and forgiveness , ” and profoundly , it seemed that their fate would change on the very next day .
So as Americans , perhaps it is time to ask ourselves , would God not also respond to a national day of prayer and repentance during these divisive times ?
Could this not also be a turning point for a nation in need of healing and restoration ?
Of course , God uses grace for what He wills .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of prayer would change the course of the election in the way that many of us would desire .
However , if many Americans respond to such a call by President Trump with generosity and humility ( as we strongly suspect they would ) , we can be confident that our Lord would respond in a big way .
And regardless of the outcome of this election , such a day of prayer and repentance would secure President Trump ’ s legacy as the most pro-life president in our nation ’ s history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States was originally consecrated to the will of God during Washington ’ s administration , a nation that has strayed from its call to be the “ shining city upon a hill.
” Who else but a President Trump could lead us in such a moment of repentance and a call to return to God as a nation ?
Who else would have the courage to call abortion by its proper name , our modern national sin ?
And even if the election doesn ’ t go to the President , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask God to “ restor [ e ] our now divided and suffering country , ” leading it “ to its former happy condition of unity and peace ” ?
Mark DeYoung is currently a trustee of the Catholic Finance Association , a membership organization that seeks to explore finance issues in light of Catholic social teaching .

During the Civil War battle of Chancellorsville in the spring of 1863, young Confederate soldiers kept watch in the dark of the night. After many hours of quiet, the sound of hoof beats focused their attention. As the clomping became louder, the men of the South surmised that the horses were mounted by Union soldiers determined to invade their stronghold. Without hesitation, the Confederate men opened fire on those they thought were their sworn enemies.
However, as they went to capture and subdue their adversaries, it became clear that they had fired on their fellow Confederate soldiers. And more shockingly, among the wounded was their very own hero and leader, the military genius General Stonewall Jackson, who would die only a short week later. As a result, Jackson (and his brilliant military mind) would not be able to join his fellow general, Robert E. Lee, at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Crossing the River with Miraculous Ease
And on the previous day, General Ulysses S. Grant of Union fame, after nearly six months and five attempts to overtake the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, made one final effort to lay hold of the city which long enabled the South’s strategic control of the Mississippi River. For unknown reasons, Grant’s troops crossed the river with unparalleled ease that day. They landed on the Confederate shore and confidently took their very first victory of five, which led to the Union seizing control of this crucial city, and ultimately declaring triumph at the Battle of Vicksburg.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
These two historic moments would play key roles in Union forces taking decisive victories at both the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, and would lead to the North’s overthrow of the Confederacy only two months later.
America Fasted and Prayed. God Responded.
These two incidents, which happened on successive days, are linked to another important historical moment that is generally not known to the American student of history. On the very day before Grant successfully crossed the Mississippi to his first victory at Vicksburg (and two days before Jackson was shot), the American citizens had spent a day of prayer, fasting and humiliation in recognition of their national sin of slavery.
President Abraham Lincoln had asked them to put off “their ordinary secular pursuits and … keep the day holy to the Lord.” And even more strongly, he asked the American people to pray for “no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country.” Lincoln pleaded further. “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us … . We have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace.”
The American people responded overwhelmingly to their president, and it would seem that the fate of the nation took a strong turn on the very next day when General Grant successfully crossed the Mississippi to a decisive victory. Had Vicksburg and Gettysburg not been won, the Confederate states would have separated, and these United States may have been lost to history forever.
A New Challenge to Unity
Today, the country stands at a similar crossroads, where many actions will be taken and decisions made over the coming days and weeks that will determine the outcome of this election and the course of our nation. Many Christians and people of different faiths have already risen to this call, praying and fasting for God’s will in this election.
But perhaps it is time for a more deliberate national call to action, one that can only come from our President. And one that, like Lincoln’s, acknowledges and confesses our own national sin, that of abortion. It is this sin that has taken the lives of 60 million Americans. It is a sin in which we as Americans have all participated, either by our deliberate consent, or through our negligence in opposing it.
Pray for Clemency and Forgiveness
Lincoln asked his people to “pray for clemency and forgiveness,” and profoundly, it seemed that their fate would change on the very next day. So as Americans, perhaps it is time to ask ourselves, would God not also respond to a national day of prayer and repentance during these divisive times? Could this not also be a turning point for a nation in need of healing and restoration?
Of course, God uses grace for what He wills. So we have no assurances that such a day of prayer would change the course of the election in the way that many of us would desire. However, if many Americans respond to such a call by President Trump with generosity and humility (as we strongly suspect they would), we can be confident that our Lord would respond in a big way.
Many Christians and people of different faiths have already risen to the call, praying and fasting for God’s will in this election.
And regardless of the outcome of this election, such a day of prayer and repentance would secure President Trump’s legacy as the most pro-life president in our nation’s history. A president who recognizes that the United States was originally consecrated to the will of God during Washington’s administration, a nation that has strayed from its call to be the “shining city upon a hill.”
Who else but a President Trump could lead us in such a moment of repentance and a call to return to God as a nation? Who else would have the courage to call abortion by its proper name, our modern national sin?
And even if the election doesn’t go to the President, who else would ever lead our nation to ask God to “restor[e] our now divided and suffering country,” leading it “to its former happy condition of unity and peace”?
Mark DeYoung is currently a trustee of the Catholic Finance Association, a membership organization that seeks to explore finance issues in light of Catholic social teaching.


thestream--2020-11-10--GOP State AGs Urge Supreme Court to Overrule Pennsylvania Court’s Election Law Changes

Republican state attorneys general say the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has jeopardized the nation ’ s constitutional balance of power by legislating from the bench and allowing late-arriving ballots to be counted .
Now , they ’ re calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene .
Three of the state attorneys general — Jeff Landry of Louisiana , Eric Schmitt of Missouri , and Mike Hunter of Oklahoma — held a virtual press conference Monday to announce the filing of an amicus brief in the Pennsylvania mail-in ballot challenge brought by the Pennsylvania Republican Party , which is before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on a case , on a writ , that has been brought to the U.S. Supreme Court in order to bring additional arguments before the court as to why we believe the court should take up this matter , ” said Landry , chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association .
In unofficial results contested by President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign , Democratic challenger Joe Biden got 49.8 % of the vote in Pennsylvania to Trump ’ s 49.1 % .
The president has not conceded the election , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after some put Pennsylvania in the former vice president ’ s column .
The matter at hand is the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allowing mail-in ballots to be received and counted in the three days following the Nov. 3 election .
Opponents appealed the move to the Supreme Court before the election , but a split 4-4 ruling by the high court let the Pennsylvania court ’ s decision stand .
“ The actions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are one of the most breathtaking abuses of judicial authority that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as attorney general , ” said Hunter , Oklahoma ’ s attorney general .
Nearly a dozen state attorneys general have come together to urge the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania ’ s court decision , which allowed late-arriving ballots to be accepted even if no proof existed that the ballot was postmarked by the end of Election Day .
Along with Landry , Hunter , and Schmitt , the attorneys general who signed the friend-of-the-court brief were Steve Marshall of Alabama , Leslie Rutledge of Arkansas , Ashley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky , Lynn Fitch of Mississippi , Alan Wilson of South Carolina , Jason Ravnsborg of South Dakota , and Ken Paxton of Texas .
The central concern of the attorneys general is that “ the Constitution is very clear that it designates to state legislatures the ability to designate time , place , and manner frameworks for elections , ” said Schmitt , who filed the brief .
The Pennsylvania Legislature determined that “ all ballots need to be received on Election Day , ” Schmitt said .
“ And the Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ We are going to give it a little bit more time for ballots to come in .
And , oh , by the way , they don ’ t even need to be postmarked by Election Day.
’ ” In the same way that referees don ’ t get to change the rules of a football game in progress , judges don ’ t get to rewrite the rules of an election , Landry said , adding that that ’ s the job of the Legislature .
“ Any ballot received after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an illegal ballot ” in Pennsylvania , according to law passed by the state Legislature , the attorney general from Louisiana said .
The state attorneys general also argue that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court not only encroached on the Legislature by lengthening the time frame in which ballots could be received but compromised election integrity as a whole .
“ Mail-in balloting is the most likely form of fraud that you will see , ” Schmitt said .
Instead of seeking to secure the integrity of mail-in votes , which are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high court loosened the restrictions .
The GOP attorneys general sought to make it clear that their amicus brief was not filed with a partisan political agenda , but out of concern for the precedent Pennsylvania ’ s Supreme Court ruling would set if it ’ s not overturned .
“ Once all legitimate votes are counted and irregularities are corrected , then irrespective of who the president is , we will continue to ensure that the rule of law is protected , ” Landry said .
Virginia Allen is the Administrative Assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Republican state attorneys general say the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has jeopardized the nation’s constitutional balance of power by legislating from the bench and allowing late-arriving ballots to be counted. Now, they’re calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene.
Three of the state attorneys general — Jeff Landry of Louisiana, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, and Mike Hunter of Oklahoma — held a virtual press conference Monday to announce the filing of an amicus brief in the Pennsylvania mail-in ballot challenge brought by the Pennsylvania Republican Party, which is before the Supreme Court.
“We are weighing in on a case, on a writ, that has been brought to the U.S. Supreme Court in order to bring additional arguments before the court as to why we believe the court should take up this matter,” said Landry, chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association.
In unofficial results contested by President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, Democratic challenger Joe Biden got 49.8% of the vote in Pennsylvania to Trump’s 49.1%. The president has not conceded the election, which major media outlets called Saturday for Biden after some put Pennsylvania in the former vice president’s column.
The matter at hand is the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling allowing mail-in ballots to be received and counted in the three days following the Nov. 3 election.
Opponents appealed the move to the Supreme Court before the election, but a split 4-4 ruling by the high court let the Pennsylvania court’s decision stand.
“The actions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are one of the most breathtaking abuses of judicial authority that I have seen in my … years as attorney general,” said Hunter, Oklahoma’s attorney general.
Nearly a dozen state attorneys general have come together to urge the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania’s court decision, which allowed late-arriving ballots to be accepted even if no proof existed that the ballot was postmarked by the end of Election Day.
Along with Landry, Hunter, and Schmitt, the attorneys general who signed the friend-of-the-court brief were Steve Marshall of Alabama, Leslie Rutledge of Arkansas, Ashley Moody of Florida, Daniel Cameron of Kentucky, Lynn Fitch of Mississippi, Alan Wilson of South Carolina, Jason Ravnsborg of South Dakota, and Ken Paxton of Texas.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The central concern of the attorneys general is that “the Constitution is very clear that it designates to state legislatures the ability to designate time, place, and manner frameworks for elections,” said Schmitt, who filed the brief.
The Pennsylvania Legislature determined that “all ballots need to be received on Election Day,” Schmitt said. “And the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rewrote that and said, ‘We are going to give it a little bit more time for ballots to come in. And, oh, by the way, they don’t even need to be postmarked by Election Day.’”
In the same way that referees don’t get to change the rules of a football game in progress, judges don’t get to rewrite the rules of an election, Landry said, adding that that’s the job of the Legislature.
“Any ballot received after 8 p.m. [on Nov. 3] is an illegal ballot” in Pennsylvania, according to law passed by the state Legislature, the attorney general from Louisiana said.
The state attorneys general also argue that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court not only encroached on the Legislature by lengthening the time frame in which ballots could be received but compromised election integrity as a whole.
“Mail-in balloting is the most likely form of fraud that you will see,” Schmitt said. Instead of seeking to secure the integrity of mail-in votes, which are already prone to fraud, Pennsylvania’s high court loosened the restrictions.
The GOP attorneys general sought to make it clear that their amicus brief was not filed with a partisan political agenda, but out of concern for the precedent Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruling would set if it’s not overturned.
“Once all legitimate votes are counted and irregularities are corrected, then irrespective of who the president is, we will continue to ensure that the rule of law is protected,” Landry said.
Virginia Allen is the Administrative Assistant for Communications at The Heritage Foundation.


thestream--2020-11-10--My Last Interview With Bishop Harry Jackson

My wonderful friend , Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. , transitioned to Heaven yesterday .
He was a fierce champion of truth , freedom and racial reconciliation .
It was a privilege to stand at his side to help launch criminal justice reform at the Potter ’ s House with T.D .
Jakes in 2015 .
This very important program ultimately passed into law in 2017 .
Bishop Jackson was the Pastor of Hope Christian Church in the Greater D.C. area and co-founder of The Reconciled Church Initiative .
His book A Manifesto : Christian America ’ s Contract with Minorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring about social change in our nation .
In this , our last interview , I asked him directly for his thoughts on President Trump ’ s character and policies , the importance of justice reform for racial equality , and the role of the Church in providing moral clarity to the nation .
My prayers are with Bishop Jackson ’ s family and Hope Christian Church .
I pray God raises up many more church and national leaders who will stand for truth and freedom as courageously and compassionately as Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s founder and publisher .
He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today .
He ’ s the author of many books , including Indivisible ( with Jay Richards ) and Living Amazed .

My wonderful friend, Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., transitioned to Heaven yesterday. He was a fierce champion of truth, freedom and racial reconciliation. It was a privilege to stand at his side to help launch criminal justice reform at the Potter’s House with T.D. Jakes in 2015. This very important program ultimately passed into law in 2017. Bishop Jackson was the Pastor of Hope Christian Church in the Greater D.C. area and co-founder of The Reconciled Church Initiative. His book A Manifesto: Christian America’s Contract with Minorities lays out a biblical agenda for how to bring about social change in our nation.
In this, our last interview, I asked him directly for his thoughts on President Trump’s character and policies, the importance of justice reform for racial equality, and the role of the Church in providing moral clarity to the nation.
My prayers are with Bishop Jackson’s family and Hope Christian Church. I pray God raises up many more church and national leaders who will stand for truth and freedom as courageously and compassionately as Harry Jackson.
James Robison is The Stream’s founder and publisher. He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today. He’s the author of many books, including Indivisible (with Jay Richards) and Living Amazed.


thestream--2020-11-10--Evangelical Adviser and Conservative Leader, Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., Has Died

Bishop Harry Jackson , Jr. , a vocal supporter of social conservative causes and an evangelical adviser to President Donald Trump , died Monday at his home in Silver Spring , Maryland .
He was 66 years old .
The cause of death is currently unknown , according to a statement provided from Hope Christian Church in Beltsville , Maryland — a church of more than 1,500 members where Jackson served as senior pastor since 1988 .
However , Jackson often mentioned that God had healed him of esophageal cancer , according to Rickardo Bodden , chief of staff at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a cancer survivor when he briefly led prayer on September 26 at the Washington Prayer March held on the National Mall .
Jackson appeared often on national radio and TV programs to advocate for pro-life issues , traditional marriage , and racial reconciliation .
He was interviewed on Meet the Press , BET Evening News , and CBS Evening News , and a frequent guest on 700 Club and Washington Watch .
His lifelong pursuit of the “ spirit of reconciliation , ” a frequent topic of his sermons , led him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On April 10 , 2020 , President Donald Trump introduced Jackson at a Good Friday prayer service held in the Oval Office .
Jackson led prayer before an online audience of hundreds of thousands .
“ God , as we face other challenges in the future , Lord , cover us by a cloud by day and a fire by night , ” he prayed .
“ We come against the spirit of division .
Lord , let E Pluribus Unum be a reality in us .
Let there be a uniting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , class , and gender.
” He had a passion for gathering diverse believers in prayer .
Jackson was often a leading voice at the evangelical-led National Day of Prayer observance in Washington , D.C .
In August 2018 , he taught and led participants in prayer at the historic One Race Stone Mountain gathering in Atlanta , Georgia .
Jackson also was integral in mobilizing evangelical Christian support for the passage of the First Step Act .
The bipartisan law enacted in December 2018 has helped thousands of incarcerated individuals face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders in diverse evangelical circles shared statements in tribute .
Christian worldview author Alex McFarland based in central North Carolina , who teaches often in Baptist churches , remembered him as “ a faithful Christian leader ” and “ a champion for God and country.
” He said Jackson twice spoke at their worldview conferences .
Darrian Summerville , who pastors at City Servants Church in nearby Manassas , Virginia , wrote : “ As a young minister of the gospel , I considered him to be an elder and one of God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarity and truth for the Church .
Make no mistake about it ; he was also a Samuel , a fierce , clear prophetic voice to the Church and nation.
” Similarly , charismatic megachurch pastor Ché Ahn of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena , California wrote : “ It is an honor to have known and learned from ( Jackson ) over many , many years .
He will be greatly missed here on Earth , I know he is now rejoicing with the Father.
” “ Bishop Jackson was well loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackson ’ s longtime pastoral associate , in a statement .
“ He has been a pillar for righteousness and justice.
” Jackson authored over a dozen popular books , including You Were Born for More ( Chosen ) and The Way of the Warrior ( Chosen ) .
He coauthored High Impact African American Churches ( Regal ) with George Barna in 2005 , which received the Silver Medallion from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .
Jackson released his latest work A Manifesto : Christian America ’ s Contract with Minorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wife , Vivian , served as pastor of Christian education at Hope Christian Center and led their women ’ s ministry .
Vivian Jackson fought a years-long battle with blood cancer and died in April 2018 .
Jackson remarried two months ago to Rosalind Lott .
He is survived by his two adult daughters — Joni Michele Jackson , who ’ s a pastor at Hope Christian Center , and Elizabeth Jackson — and his wife , Rosalind .
Editor ’ s note : Bishop Jackson was recently interviewed by Stream Publisher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his time with President Trump .
You can see their full interview here .
A graduate of the University of Colorado , Josh M. Shepherd covers culture , faith , and public policy issues for media outlets including The Stream and The Federalist .
Find him on Twitter and Facebook and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .
Originally published at The Roys Report .
Republished with permission .

Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., a vocal supporter of social conservative causes and an evangelical adviser to President Donald Trump, died Monday at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was 67 years old.
The cause of death is currently unknown, according to a statement provided from Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland — a church of more than 1,500 members where Jackson served as senior pastor since 1988. However, Jackson often mentioned that God had healed him of esophageal cancer, according to Rickardo Bodden, chief of staff at Hope Christian Church. Jackson also mentioned being a cancer survivor when he briefly led prayer on September 26 at the Washington Prayer March held on the National Mall.
Jackson appeared often on national radio and TV programs to advocate for pro-life issues, traditional marriage, and racial reconciliation. He was interviewed on Meet the Press, BET Evening News, and CBS Evening News, and a frequent guest on 700 Club and Washington Watch.
His lifelong pursuit of the “spirit of reconciliation,” a frequent topic of his sermons, led him all the way to the White House. On April 10, 2020, President Donald Trump introduced Jackson at a Good Friday prayer service held in the Oval Office.
Jackson led prayer before an online audience of hundreds of thousands. “God, as we face other challenges in the future, Lord, cover us by a cloud by day and a fire by night,” he prayed. “We come against the spirit of division. Lord, let E Pluribus Unum be a reality in us. Let there be a uniting of America. Heal the divide between race, class, and gender.”
He had a passion for gathering diverse believers in prayer. Jackson was often a leading voice at the evangelical-led National Day of Prayer observance in Washington, D.C. In August 2018, he taught and led participants in prayer at the historic One Race Stone Mountain gathering in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jackson also was integral in mobilizing evangelical Christian support for the passage of the First Step Act. The bipartisan law enacted in December 2018 has helped thousands of incarcerated individuals face reduced sentences.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
On Monday night, leaders in diverse evangelical circles shared statements in tribute. Christian worldview author Alex McFarland based in central North Carolina, who teaches often in Baptist churches, remembered him as “a faithful Christian leader” and “a champion for God and country.” He said Jackson twice spoke at their worldview conferences.
Darrian Summerville, who pastors at City Servants Church in nearby Manassas, Virginia, wrote: “As a young minister of the gospel, I considered him to be an elder and one of God’s most senior statesmen on biblical clarity and truth for the Church. Make no mistake about it; he was also a Samuel, a fierce, clear prophetic voice to the Church and nation.”
Similarly, charismatic megachurch pastor Ché Ahn of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California wrote: “It is an honor to have known and learned from (Jackson) over many, many years. He will be greatly missed here on Earth, I know he is now rejoicing with the Father.”
“Bishop Jackson was well loved and respected,” wrote Bodden, Jackson’s longtime pastoral associate, in a statement. “He has been a pillar for righteousness and justice.”
Jackson authored over a dozen popular books, including You Were Born for More (Chosen) and The Way of the Warrior (Chosen). He coauthored High Impact African American Churches (Regal) with George Barna in 2005, which received the Silver Medallion from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Jackson released his latest work A Manifesto: Christian America’s Contract with Minorities in August.
For decades, Jackson’s wife, Vivian, served as pastor of Christian education at Hope Christian Center and led their women’s ministry. Vivian Jackson fought a years-long battle with blood cancer and died in April 2018.
Jackson remarried two months ago to Rosalind Lott. He is survived by his two adult daughters — Joni Michele Jackson, who’s a pastor at Hope Christian Center, and Elizabeth Jackson — and his wife, Rosalind.
Editor’s note: Bishop Jackson was recently interviewed by Stream Publisher James Robison, where he spoke about his time with President Trump. You can see their full interview here.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story reported Jackson’s age as 66 at his passing. His date of birth has now been reported as Feb. 4, 1953. We regret the error.
A graduate of the University of Colorado, Josh M. Shepherd covers culture, faith, and public policy issues for media outlets including The Stream and The Federalist. Find him on Twitter and Facebook and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
Originally published at The Roys Report. Republished with permission.