Courts Overturn Prop. 8 (Townhall.com) February 9, 2012

The 9^th Circuit federal court has decided that California’s Proposition 8, which limited marriages to a man and a woman, is unconstitutional.  The 2-1 decision, authored by one of the Court’s most liberal judges, says there was no other purpose or effect other than lessening the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians.  The dissenting judge said there could have been a rational reason for it, based on procreation and parenting.

The case will surely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, though perhaps first to the full 9^th Circuit. No same sex marriages will be performed in the meantime.

So many questions are raised:  

• Should 2 federal judges substitute their judgment for the people’s vote?
• Should states or the federal government decide social questions?
• Will other states have to recognize California’s gay marriages?

 Only the Supreme Court can now say.

To listen to the audio please click on the link:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/634418

Federal-State Tug of War in the Supreme Court (Townhall.com) December 27, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided it should review the 9^th Circuit Court’s decision that parts of Arizona’s immigration law are unconstitutional.  This is both right and hugely important. 

We are in the midst of a major tug of war between a growing federal government and the power of the states. And now, having decided to hear both the Constitutional challenge to Obamacare and the attack on Arizona’s immigration law, the Supreme Court is correctly weighing in on two of the biggest federal power grabs in recent years.

At issue in Arizona is whether federal immigration law preempts, in effect, any state action on the matter.  Arizona argues persuasively that its law complements federal law and is essential because the feds aren’t controlling the problem. 

Both healthcare and immigration are important politically, just months before the election. But they are more important for maintaining state powers under the 10^th amendment.

To hear the audio please click here:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/631941

Obama Turns to Class Warfare (Townhall.com) December 19, 2011

President Obama traveled to Kansas recently to tell Americans that inequality is “the defining issue of our time.”   So with a nod to “occupy” protestors, Obama played the class card, calling for tax increases on the wealthy to fund programs for the middle class. 

At one level, the President is framing the big issue of the election in his favor—that our economic problem is not government spending and deficits, but income inequality.  It may not be the defining issue of our time, but he’d like it to be for his reelection.

He’s also coming down on the wrong side of the long debate in America between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.  As Alexis de Tocqueville observed in the 1800s, the French believe in equality and security whereas Americans believe in freedom. 

The President says the Republican economic approach is old school, but there’s nothing older or more inappropriate than Obama’s European style socialism and class warfare.

To hear the audio please click here:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/630301

Public Prayer Does Not “Establish Religion” (Townhall.com) November 28, 2011

For years, clergy have led prayers to open sessions of the U.S. Senate, the U.S.   House of Representatives and the Board of Commissioners in Forsyth County, North Carolina.  But according to a federal court, they can’t do that in Forsyth County anymore because it violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution’s First Amendment.

The winds of postmodernism and diversity are trying to blow God out of the public square.  Cases have challenged “under God” in the pledge of allegiance, “in God we trust” on our money, and now public prayer at county commissioner meetings. 

The point of the Establishment clause was to prevent the government from establishing state religions, not to remove God from the public square entirely.  Indeed, the Founders said that a free republic requires a virtuous people which, in turn, requires faith. 

The case has now been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where we should all hope they have a better sense of history and the Constitution.

To listen to the audio please click on the link:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/629229

No Room for a Christian Worldview? (Townhall.com) October 10, 2011

Perhaps you missed the story of the honors student in Texas who was 

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 suspended for telling a friend in German class that he was a Christian and believed homosexuality was wrong.  Apparently it’s a topic the teacher liked to bring up and the student’s comment about his beliefs was—according to the teacher—not acceptable.

The winds of postmodernism and multiculturalism are blowing over traditional values in many places, and many fail to understand that, in the end, Christian values still have a valid place at the table. The First Amendment promises freedom of religion, not freedom from it. 

When lawyers became involved, the honors student from Texas was restored to school and his alleged wrongdoing erased.  But what a shame we have teachers and administrators who could get something so wrong in the first place.  In adding new rights for people, it’s neither necessary nor proper to take rights from others, including Christians.

To listen to the audio please click here:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/624837

One Cent Solution (Townhall.com) September 19, 2011

When federal deficits get into the trillions of dollars, it’s difficult to get our minds around numbers with 12 zeroes.  So some smart people have broken it down to the level of the average family.

Imagine a family with an annual income of $50,000 that is actually spending $80,000 per year and has a credit card debt of $200,000.  Then you begin to get the idea.

And let’s be honest, despite all the hue and cry from Washington, the recent actions of Congress really only slowed the rate of increase and, by raising the debt ceiling, gave the family a new credit card to borrow more.

I like the commonsense approach of a bill introduced by Congressman Connie Mack and Senior Mike Enzi – the one percent solution.  Let’s cut every dollar the federal government spends by one penny every year for six years, and we’ll balance the budget by 2019.

One way or another, we desperately need a serious commitment to responsible federal spending.  And we need it now.

To listen to the audio please click on this link:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/617921

A Welcome Addition (Townhall.com) August 26, 2011

With President Obama’s polling numbers dropping, and his support from 

Courtesy of Townhall.com

 independent voters eroding, he certainly looks beatable in 2012.  But the race is not simply a “yes” or “no” vote on Obama.  It will take a Republican with broad appeal to win. 

Perhaps Rick Perry is a Republican who can win. First, in a party with conservatives of many stripes—fiscal, social, Constitutional and religious—Perry appears to be conservative across the board.  As a governor, he has cut spending, kept taxes low and balanced the budget.

He seems to have a message with broader appeal as well—his state has grown jobs, which is the number one issue on the minds of voters.  He is well spoken, has charisma and, as one study says is required, even has good hair!

Rick Perry is a welcome addition to a large field that, to this point, many feel had lacked sufficiently conservative credentials and star quality.

Click here to listen to the audio:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/610706