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Annotations & Elucidations

“Stylistic” Election Coverage

The Communications Department didn’t come up with much from conventional news sources today, but I dug around and found, in of all places, in-depth election coverage and post mortems from Richmond’s too-old-to-be-hip-anymore weekly freebie, Style Weekly, which now delves into the business of the serious. It’s done a decent job, too. Of particular interest are the hat-tips to Republicans by Democrat guru-strategist Paul Goldman and the whining of Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, Equality Virginia’s lobbyist. University of Richmond Professor Daniel Palazzolo harangues Governor Tim Kaine and Scott Bass gets about half of it right. It’s funny when liberals try to manipulate conservative mandates by telling us what they want the results to mean is fact, and then fratricidally turn on themselves (a sure sign that their interpretation of the results is a disingenuous attempt to water down the victory).

Elsewhere, Republican Ron Villanueva was declared the winner in the closest House of Delegates race, but it’s only one step toward resolution, and will go on still longer, for sure. Attorney General Bill Mims is doing what all former attorneys general do (especially those who fill out a term of an elected one), and that is sign on with a big bucks power law law firm, while Senator Edd Houck (D-17, Spottsylvania) makes the news for the second day on the trot, describing a dour picture of state funding to localities. Nationally, the Washington Post reports that pro-abortion activists are trying to muzzle the free speech rights of pro-life clinics and information centers.

News:

Misaligned: How Virginia Democrats overestimated the power of Obama and underestimated the importance of independent voters. (Style Weekly)

Villanueva declared winner in 21st District race (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Houck paints dire budget picture to city and Spotsy (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Attorney General to join Hunton and Williams (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Kaine Takes a Hike (Style Weekly)

National News:

Disclaimer proposed for anti-abortion clinics (Washington Post)

Analysis:

McDonnell, Picture Perfect (Paul Goldman/Style Weekly)

Presumptive Politics (Paul Goldman/Style Weekly)

McDonnell’s Power Surge (Scott Bass/Style Weekly)

Democratic Downers (Margaret Edds/Style Weekly)

Commentary:

Shilling For Bob (Claire Guthrie Gastañaga/Style Weekly)

Losing Legacy (Daniel Palazzolo/Style Weekly)

Editorial Comics:

“For Whom the Bell Tolls” (Glenn Foden/Townhall.com)

“A Year Later . . .” (Scott Stantis/Townhall.com)

U.S. Senator Jim Demint (R-S.C.) spoke on the Senate floor last night during the debate on the “hate crimes” legislation. He was one of the few to brave the Politically Correct — that is, Intolerant — liberal Senate mob. It is worth the view. He also blogged about it. Check out his blog, here.

Senator Jim Demint tells liberals what they don’t want to hear — the truth about their big government control grab, intolerance, and their curtailing of First Amendment religious freedom and free speech rights.

Here’s the news release we issued last week regarding the on-going state police “chaplain-gate” controversy. We’ll post more on this shortly and over the next few days. 

Family Foundation Urges Grassroots Action in Response to State Policy Prayer Policy

- Pro-family group reviewing legal and legislative remedies -

RICHMOND — The Family Foundation of Virginia today announced that it is mobilizing its members to urge Governor Tim Kaine (contact here) and State Police Superintendent W. Steven Flaherty (contact here) to reverse a new policy that forbids chaplains from praying according to their conscience. The pro-family organization is also exploring the possibility of legislative and legal action should the policy remain in place.

“The birthplace of religious freedom in America, Virginia, should not become a graveyard for religious expression,” said Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation. “This policy decision by the state police is extremely concerning and we believe may be unconstitutional. We are working to seek a solution that protects the religious liberty and free speech rights of those involved.”

The Family Foundation has notified its members and the members of its pastors outreach arm, Pastors For Family Values, and urged them to contact Governor Kaine and Superintendent Flaherty. E-mail alerts to both groups went out over the past two days.

When informed of the prayer decision last week, The Family Foundation contacted Alliance Defense Fund, a nationally recognized law group that specializes in religious liberty cases. Representatives from ADF then contacted one of the troopers involved. They are reviewing the facts of the case to consider what action may be appropriate.

“A prayer at public events shouldn’t be banned or censored just because a Christian or religious person delivers it. The First Amendment allows public officials to acknowledge our nation’s religious heritage and to pray according to the dictates of their own consciences,” said Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson. “The practice of opening public meetings with uncensored prayer dates back to the First Congress. The Constitution clearly protects public officials and appointed chaplains who choose to invoke divine guidance and blessings upon their work.”

“There is no doubt that Virginians are very concerned that the precious right to religious liberty is being reduced on an almost daily basis,” added Cobb. ”We urge Governor Kaine and Superintendent Flaherty to reverse this policy decision immediately and restore the right of conscience of the troopers involved. Forbidding chaplains to pray to the God of their faith in the name of political correctness, as this policy does, violates everything this Commonwealth was founded upon.”