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Late Wednesday afternoon, amidst growing tensions on college campuses, Governor Bob McDonnell issued a “Governor’s Directive,” ordering those in the executive branch not to discriminate in their hiring practices (see here). His directive specifically referenced “sexual orientation.”

Governor McDonnell issued his directive in an apparent effort to ease the hostile atmosphere on our campuses and in the General Assembly. Four years ago, then-Attorney General McDonnell challenged Governor Tim Kaine’s executive order that added sexual orientation to the anti-discrimination policy, saying he didn’t have the authority to do so. It is still unclear exactly what legal weight, if any, a directive has, but media reports indicate that it does not have the same force of law of an executive order.

Much of the anger among college students has been generated by those who are supposed to be in authority at those schools — college presidents and administrators — who have criticized the advisory letter Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent them last week. The letter stated that public colleges and universities with anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation are in conflict with state law. Instead of providing leadership, the college presidents and administrators have provoked anger and outrage with inflamed rhetoric.

A media backlash also was fed by heated and often mean-spirited rhetoric by a handful of General Assembly members, including Senator Donald McEachin (D-9, Henrico) who, in a floor speech earlier this week, referenced Governor McDonnell’s graduate school thesis, yelling on the Senate floor, “We are being governed by the thesis!” Joining in the daily diatribes were Delegate David Englin (D-45, Alexandria) and Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-74, Henrico). It was often insinuated that anyone who disagrees with adding sexual orientation to the non-discrimination policy is hateful and bigoted. But truth has been difficult to find in this debate.

In addition, some legislators made the outrageous claim that, without a non-discrimination policy that included sexual orientation, Virginia is not “business friendly” and would not be able to attract new jobs. But several publications and organizations currently recognize Virginia as the best state in America to do business without having this policy.

Nonetheless, yesterday morning, Senator Tommy Norment (R-3, Williamsburg), in a clear conflict of interest as an employee of the College of William and Mary, one of the colleges expressing outrage over the AG’s letter, amended an economic development bill introduced by the Governor with: “The Commonwealth of Virginia maintains an ecumenical atmosphere in its sexual orientation hiring policies in the private and public workforce.”

Besides being a bizarre statement, it is a frightening overreach into the private workplace, which would include religious-based ministries and churches. Fortunately, on the floor of the Senate — because of the Governor’s directive — Senator Norment removed his amendment from the bill.

The Family Foundation has and continues to maintain that there is no need for special protections for homosexuals. As the issue was thoroughly debated and voted on multiple times throughout this year’s General Assembly, no evidence of discrimination was presented.

We absolutely agree with one statement in Governor McDonnell’s directive — that state employment should be based on “qualifications, merit and performance,” regardless of one’s immutable or unimmutable characteristics.

Over the next several days, we will consult with experts to determine the legal ramifications of this directive, but we are concerned when the Governor’s action is being heralded as a step forward by the ACLU and the state’s largest homosexual lobby, Equality Virginia (Pilot on Politics).

In a statement, Kent Willis of the ACLU said, “We hope this is only the beginning, and that the Governor’s example will inspire legislators to finally pass a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in both private and public sector employment.”

Any thought that the groups and organizations behind this effort will stop at public employment is naive. It is very clear that they want to force private businesses — including churches — to abide by their morality.

Monday, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee killed SB 56, legislation that would have restored the right of citizens invited to pray according to the dictates of their faith at government meetings. The legislation, patroned by Senator Steve Martin (R-11, Chesterfield), was defeated 9-6 on a near party line vote (see committee vote).

Last year, similar legislation was debated at length — in fact over two days, in the same committee. The proposal did not receive similar scrutiny this year as it was the final bill on the committee’s docket and was debated for only about 10 minutes as the meeting drew to a close. Despite evidence presented by The Family Foundation that no federal court case anywhere requires so-called “non-sectarian” prayers at government meetings, the majority of the committee chose to listen to the ACLU and other organizations that oppose the right of citizens to pray according to their conscience at public meetings. Similar legislation introduced this year in the House of Delegates was never debated in committee.

Annotations & Elucidations

Built From Scratch

The communications department threw in the towel today, not providing its share of material for the News Stand. What to do? Build one from scratch. Go to traditional sources for national news and for the state stuff — raid blogs! You know what? I think this is one of the best News Stands, ever. Please read it all as most are short, but with loads of enlightening info. The Post’s Virginia Politics Blog provides self-explanatory headlines. Tertium Quids was a source of much to note, including a free-market health care plan that will be introduced at this year’s General Assembly. It’s about two pages compared to the 2,000-page PelosiCare federal version. The Shad Plank connected the links in a compelling post about a possible challenger to Representative Bobby Scott (D-3rd District), which is rare. 

Elsewhere, the T-D contributes one article — about Representative Tom Perriello’s tele-townhall on his health care vote, while TQ reports on a different type of meeting in Danville between Tea Partiers and the congressman. It looks like Representative Glenn Nye committed a mortal leftist sin. We also have reports on Governor Kaine’s out-of-state fundraising while Virginia gets flooded. A VDOT land grab is chronicled in TQ. Nationally, the ACLU is trying to force a high school into allowing a same-sex prom date and the RNC is dropping staff health insurance plans that cover elective abortions. In Analysis, Bernie Quigley of The Hill’s Pundits Blog debuts here with a look at the Dems and the South, while AFA looks at naughty and nice retailers (which ones say “Merry Christmas” and which don’t).

Finally, our friends at TQ provide something we don’t know how to describe, but it has to do with Glenn Beck, so we created our first ever Feature category. Look it over for a good laugh.

News:

Perriello telephone town hall draws 8,000 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Burning Perriello Effigy (Tertium Quids)

Nye Targeted From the Left (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

A challenger for Bobby Scott? (The Shad Plank)

McDonnell heads to Austin a GOP star (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

Only 9th Street astir on quiet holiday (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

McDonnell, House Dems to meet (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

GOP criticizes Kaine for absence during storm (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog)

VDOT’s costly attempt at a land grab (Tertium Quids)

Health Care Freedom for VA? (Tertium Quids)

National News:

GOP chairman ends abortion insurance for employees (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

ACLU defends lesbian student on prom issue (OneNewsNow.com) 

Evangelist gets 175 years for sex convictions (AP/OneNewsNow.com)

Analysis:

The South has won (Bernie Quigley/The Hill’s Pundits Blog)

Retailers can be naughty or nice, too (OneNewsNow.com)

Governor’s Travels (Tertium Quids) 

Feature: 

South Park does Glenn Beck (Tertium Quids)

Annotations & Elucidations 

The Substitute

Filling in for Admin today, so the comments will be brief! In today’s news we have the White House beginning their tactical distancing from Creigh Deeds, that way the stories following November 3 are sure to say “Virginia Elections No Reflection on Obama.” But the most fun news comes from yesterday’s debate between candidates for Attorney General. Now, if Creigh Deeds is the Democrat candidate in this race that’s baffled by simple questions, and Jody Wagner is the most clueless, then clearly Steven Shannon is the angriest candidate on the ticket. I mean, seriously, I know the job of AG is important, but Steve, smile once in a while. Everyone knows that you are running for the job of the Commonwealth’s top prosecutor, even though the AG isn’t the Commonwealth’s top prosecutor, but lighten up. Yesterday Steve decided that Creigh couldn’t be the only one to run a nasty campaign, so he played the race card. I guess the only question remaining: Is anyone listening anymore?

News:

We learned today that the Chesapeake City Council caved to the bullying tactics of the ACLU and the so-called “Freedom From Religion Foundation” and changed their prayer policy to censor “sectarian” prayers, or prayers in Jesus name.

This is yet another disappointing case of overreacting to the threats of anti-religious bigots by an elected body that simply does not understand the law. According to the most recent federal appellate court that has reviewed all the case law in this area, neither the Supreme Court or any appellate court has mandated “non-sectarian” prayer at public meetings. It is another success case for the ACLU’s strategy of misleading the public on what the courts actually say.

Religious liberty loses again.

Annotations & Elucidations 

AP Truth Squad, Distilling Pelosi

After yesterday’s super-sized edition, much of today’s news is of the national variety, including some spot-on commentary. Among the most eye-catching articles are one in which the Census Bureau reports on the change in lifestyle brought on by the recession, including the delay of marriage; a Muslim girl who ran away from her parents because she converted to Christianity will have her day in court; and Florida school officials are cleared in a case brought by the ACLU over a meal blessing.

Elsewhere, the AP comes out with its second fact check in two weeks disputing claims coming directly from President Obama’s golden tongue (see first one here). Yes, Mr. President, your “reform” is a giant tax increase, even if you can get David Letterman to believe otherwise. The AP better watch itself if it keeps reporting the truth. Thomas Sowell writes about facing advantages and disadvantages in life by recounting his own upbringing. Truly inspirational and a must read.

Bryan Fischer examines the dirty connection between the National Education Association and ACORN. If you are a NEA/VEA member and still need a reason to leave this union, please take a look (or forward to someone who does)! Bobby Eberle, Jeremy Wiggins and Dick Morris take more looks at Obamacare, but from different angles (economic, medical and political); while David Limbaugh looks at the administration’s ambition to ram through legislation so vastly opposite the desires of the country. Finally, Eberle and Wiggins distill Nancy Pelosi’s crocodile tears.

News:

Bolling touts jobs during visit here (The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

New ads by Deeds use foe’s ‘89 thesis (Roanoke Times)

New Deeds ad wagers big on McDonnell’s 1989 thesis (The Daily Press)

Dems critique Hamilton’s spot on money committee (The Daily Press)

National News:

Census: Recession had sweeping impact on US life (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Political asylum suggested as remedy for Rifqa (OneNewsNow.com)

Obama, Clinton fundraiser indicted (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Senators to start work on revised health care bill (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Senators urge Treasury to end bailout program (AP/GOPUSA.com)

School Officials Cleared in Mealtime Prayer Case (Tasha Easterling/Rightly Concerned Blog)

Analysis:

FACT CHECK: Coverage requirement enforced with tax (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Commentary:

The Underdogs (Thomas Sowell/GOPUSA.com) 

Obama At Odds With Majority But Undeterred (David Limbaugh/GOPUSA.com)

NEA: Big time supporter of ACORN (Bryan Fischer/Rightly Concerned Blog)

Yes, Mr. President . . . It’s a TAX! (Bobby Eberle/GOPUSA.com)

The Cost of Government Health Care — For Doctors (Jeremy Wiggins/Rightly Concerned Blog)

Obamacare: Losing Everyone  (Dick Morris/GOPUSA.com)

Pelosi ‘Frightened’ by Free Speech (Bobby Eberle/GOPUSA.com)

Pelosi’s Crocodile Tears (Jeremy Wiggins/Rightly Concerned Blog)

The ACLU produced this a few years ago as a protest as to what it thought was an invasion of privacy by the Bush administration in its attempt to fight terrorism. However, ironic karma has it that it’s a much better prognosticator of what ObamaCare will do if it is wrought upon us. You think the health police and White House snitch Web sites (see John Rosenthal at The American Spectator)  are bad now, just try ordering a pizza in 2012. Come to think of it, why isn’t the ACLU opposing ObamaCare?

Fat taxes, instant background checks, telling you what to eat, buy and how much is good for you, brought to you (graciously, of course) by ObamaCare. It’s for your own good, after all.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Less than 24 hours after The Family Foundation and the Alliance Defense Fund provided legal information and a model prayer policy to city officials in Chesapeake, the ACLU of Virginia sent their own “opinion.” 

And guess what — they are against public prayer!

Shocking, isn’t? 

Using the same tired — and incorrect — arguments other ACLU chapters have used in losing court cases, the ACLU of Virginia is joining the “Freedom From Religion Foundation” in warning Chesapeake officials against praying at council meetings. 

The only problem is they are dead wrong. As usual.

We are actually thrilled to see the ACLU join the battle. After all, why wouldn’t we want an organization that no reasonable, thoughtful person pays any attention to in the fight? I mean seriously, the more they talk, the more we’re likely to win. 

But, for our friends at the ACLU, I’m going to write this slowly so even they can comprehend it: Sandra Day O’Conner who wrote the Turner v. Fredericksburg opinion the ACLU claims requires non-sectarian prayers, actually said in that opinion:

“We need not decide whether the Establishment Clause compelled the Council to adopt their legislative prayer policy because the Establishment Clause does not absolutely dictate the form of legislative prayer.” 

Again, in the Pelphrey case which the ACLU lost badly using the same arguments, the Eleventh Circuit dismisses their claim that the U.S. Supreme Court in Marsh requires non-sectarian prayers saying:

“Although it upheld the policy of the [Fredericksburg City] Council, the Fourth Circuit expressly declined to hold that Marsh required a policy of nondenominational prayers.”

Now, I know that quoting the actual words of the judges involved isn’t really fair to the ACLU. After all, they clearly don’t care what the courts actually say. But for everyone else, its simple. Government bodies have opened meetings with prayer since the beginning of the Republic and they can continue doing so, even including things like “God” and “Jesus” in the prayers.

This is getting fun.

So, just how far are the ACLU and their anti-Christian supporters in the courts willing to go to rid our nation of its Christian heritage? Watch this video to see:

Unreal. We actually live in a nation where judges can order a cross to be covered up! Not exactly what these veterans fought for and watched their buddies die for. Go to donttearmedown.com for more information and to sign an online petition to keep the cross.

And yet, candidates for office continue to tell us that these silly “social issues” don’t matter, are divisive and don’t win elections. All that matters is the almighty dollar.

Well, Obama is taking care of that too. No money and no freedom. God bless America.

(Thanks to our friends at the Free Market Foundation and the Liberty Legal Institute in Texas for letting us know about this case. Kelly Shackleford, the ED at Free Market, is a great friend and has often provided wise counsel to TFF. )

Since we brought up pastors events and Winning Matters 2009 last post, we thought we’d review a major event that we had a hand in from earlier this month that, in essence, was a launch to the whole idea of more civic activism from people with a Biblical perspective. The Virginia Renewal Project took place at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel on June 4 and 5, and you know it was an important event when certain groups raised hackles about it. 

More than 450 pastors from across Virginia attended, and represented every denomination and ethnicity. The hotel’s grand ballroom was packed as speakers such as historian David Barton, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke of the need to return America to its Godly heritage. 

Barton was especially moving as he related how the Founding Fathers all gave credit for their inspiration to the pastors of the day. We often hear that the Founders were a bunch of  deists and secularists, but Barton’s research and documentation convincingly proves what used to be a common notion taught in America — that this nation was founded primarily by Christians on Judeo-Christian principles. 

Pastors at the conference were encouraged to engage the culture and make a difference by being salt and light in all arenas, even in the political realm.  They were told that despite the threats of the ACLU and People for the American Way, no church has ever lost its tax-exempt status. Everyone left encouraged and inspired to make a difference in our Commonwealth and in our nation.