The Religious Right, aka The Christian Right or Evangelical Right has been trying to change its image, by labeling itself "social conservatives." The problem with this sobriquet is that it suggests a kind of bland, almost innocuous ideology. But look around you. Look at your pastor in the pulpit (or on television). He's been anything but innocuous. He's beyond the old "fire and brimstone." He carelessly throws out threats to politicians and blatantly wishes them all ill will.
The buildup to today's firebrand political preacher has been long, but steady. Pat Robertson would proffer his smarmy smile at the thought that he had started it all, but he would be wrong. Father Charles Coughlin broadcast anti-Semitic and anti-Roosevelt rants for years long before Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald buried his kind in a thick gooey syrup of wisdom and loving kindness (Going My Way, 1944).
After another incident of a fanatic bringing a gun to a town hall event, last week, an Arizona man named Chris Broughton brought an assault rifle and a handgun to an event where President Obama himself was in attendence. Broughton had the day before this event attended Faithful Word Baptist Church, where Pastor Steven Anderson delivered an hour-long sermon devoted to nothing but describing in extreme and vitriolic detail the depths to which he hates Barack Obama, appropriately titled "Why I Hate Barack Obama." Further, Anderson went out of his way to explain that he doesn't just hate Obama's values or politics, but everything about him and that, according to Anderson, so does god. Also in the sermon, Anderson repeatedly emphasized how he planned to pray for Obama's death, how Obama was going to burn in Hell, and how he wanted Obama to "melt like a snail."
Yes, this man is exceptionally ignorant even by Southern Baptist standards since he proudly states on the church's website:
Pastor Anderson holds no college degree but has well over 100 chapters of the Bible committed to memory, including almost half of the New Testament.
Whoopee. He's a half-savant. His problem, however (and ours, too) is that he sincerely believes his little flock to be even more ignorant than he is. (Of course, if they are actually supporting his church with donations, they are most definitely mentally challenged). His "doctrinal statement" is, in a sense, scary.His video on "dynamic preaching", however, is a hoot: much of the video's hour (!) consists of him stumbling over the words in the KJB to what seems to be an empty room (complete with echo).
The crassness of today's clergy has recently come to the fore with the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, for like most funerals, the one for the late Senator brought out the best and the worst in some people:
Way to go, Benny!(But of course, he was at one time the Vatican's chief Inquisitor.)
Vitriol and invective from the likes of the Wiley Drake and his "imprecatory prayers" for the death of President Obama, to the haughty silence of the Vatican aimed at an iconic statesman.
Distortions, Lies Perpetuated By Family Research Council
Heaven Forbid! The Family Research Council misrepresents someone or ...ah...something?!
OMG!
Yes, FRC is encouraging churches to conduct and promote their own "Townhall" meetings. Of course, even though the purpose of town hall meetings is to gather together all diverse aspects of the community and debate (besides Q&A) important issues, we all know that an FRC/Christian-only Town Hall meeting will only be an Obama-bashing party. Health Care? Everyone will be predisposed to thumbs-down the proposed HR 3200 because they've read Prof. Mathew Stevor's 128-point brief that we've been debunking now for the last week.
Of course, it's easy for churches to hold meetings like this, but FRC is making it easier by providing each participating church with a "kit" that includes the following intro to a prototype "press release":
Help Organize a Health Care Townhall with Included Kit August 25, 2009 | Share with Friends
All concerned citizens are invited to attend this townhall meeting which will address many concerns over the use of their tax dollars, the way medical care will be provided to their unborn babies, their elderly loved ones, and even the conscientious objections of health care professionals who refuse to dispense abortaficient drugs. Churches have always played a leading role in helping Americans understand the moral aspects of public policy, and given the abortion and end-of-life provisions of the President’s plan, their counsel to conscientious citizens is essential.
Ah yes, churches and townhall meetings are a wondrous thing when brought together. Remember that little incident in Salem that went down in history as "The Great Debunking Of Moral Rectitude"? Of course, at that time the church WAS the town hall! Oh for the days when the clergy were the judges and officials! The problem today, you see, is the demoralized people who attend them and who are most uncivil:
Townhall Breaks Into Jeers
(NYT headline: Townhall Breaks Out With Idiocy Virus)
Reston, Va.–Last night, health care reform was on the minds of many, as Rep. James Moran held a Congressional townhall meeting with Howard Dean, former Vermont Governor at South Lakes High School. In a packed auditorium, Moran and Dean attempted to dispel the myths about Congress’s proposed health care plan, in addition to informing those in attendance about the plan. However, many were not buying the responses from both Moran and Dean, as evidenced in this video, and through many of the responses from C-SPAN.org.
O.K. BE HONEST. Yes, there are obvious "plants" in the audience (masquerading as vegetables), but would you want to attend a meeting with ANY of these people?
O.K., let's get down to the worst of the worst in terms of lying about the Health Care Bill (HR 3200).
"Rationing!"
"Pulling The Plug On Granny!"
"Government Will Tell you what wheelchair to buy" (!?)
"The Government gives you no choice!"
"The Government MANDATES everything!"
After covering the first 100 pages (20 normal paperback book pages) of castigating the Health Care Bill, Prof Mat Stevor, at this point, acts totally clueless as to what the Bill actually says. Maybe he can't read. Maybe he's a functional illiterate. (The Dean of Liberty University School of Law illiterate? - Hey, it's possible!).
Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Ben Levels 4 Plans. #AARP members - Your Health Care WILL be rationed . This section only mentions Basic, Enhanced and Premium Plans 3 Plans, not four, no mention of rationing.
Pg 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individual will be automat.enrolled in Medicaid.. No choice. Who wouldn’t want to be in as many insurance programs as possible, if that’s what it take to get complete coverage?! And only those who have not opted for one of the other plans will be automatically enrolled. I call that consideration on the government’s part.
Pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue Govt on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly. The Government has already stated that increases will be based on the Consumer Price Index.
Pg 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will tell YOU what you can make. Payment rates are established, yes, but the government is not FORCING doctors to join in the plans.
Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public opt plan. NO CHOICE . The employer provides for enrollment, not mandates enrollment. Provides simply means that enrollment is an option they might prefer.
Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families. Which page is he on? This is a section on health care providers (of which I’m one) their qualifications and pay scale. This guy is WAAAAAAY OFF BASE!
Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll 400k & above who does not prov. pub opt. pays 8% tax on all payroll. Here’s the actual wording:
SEC. 313. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF COVERAGE. IN GENERAL.—A contribution is made in accordance with this section with respect to an employee if such contribution is equal to an amount equal to 8 percent of the average wages paid by the employer during the period of enrollment . Does it say anything about 400k. What it does say is that the employer wants make contibution in lieu of coverage, the compensation must equal 8% of the employee’s average wages.
Pg 150 Lines 9-13 Biz w payroll btw 251k & 400k who doesn’t provide public opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Again, there is NO TAX mentioned in pg. 150. Distortion: individual pays 2.5% of the EXCESS of the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over ‘the amount of gross income specified in 4 section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.
Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay). Do NONRESIDENT Aliens pay any taxes at all? No. That’s because they’re most likely visitors. Do we actually tax tourists according to their incomes?
Pg 195 Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial and personal records. NO. They may have limited access to establish and verify the appropriate amount of any affordability credit. And this does NOT apply to all Americans
Pg 203 Line 14-15 HC - “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that. Yes, just before:
"...imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55.’’.
Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected. It talks about physicians’ fees, not services. It says NOTHING about Medicaid, senior, etc. Stevor has his head up his ass on this one.
Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, it does not matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same. Not Necessarily: these lines refer to “service categories” and not fees.
Pg 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr’s time, prof judg, etc. Literally value of humans. So this is where the stupid rumor about arbitrarily evaluating humans started! This section actually talks about MISvaluing and not Devaluing. In a sense, it is careful to value the SERVICES provided to the insured.
Pg 265 Sec 1131Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries. It doesn’t “control” productivity in any way. Instead, it monitors productivity making sure that certain hospitals and doctors give high quality service.
Pg 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs. It amends the already existing terminology in Social Security from “power driven wheelchairs” to striking ‘‘power-driven wheelchair’’ and inserting ‘‘complex rehabilitative power-driven wheelchair recognized by the Secretary as classified within group 3 or higher’’. This is not regulating purchase or rental fees.
Pg 272 SEC. 1145. Treatment of certain cancer hospitals – Cancer patients - welcome to rationing! This section amends the Social Security Act by comparing the expenses of cancer hospitals to other hospitals and making the necessary adjustments. No mention of patients, no mention of rationing at all! NOTE: since this critique of the proposed health care reform is bent on destroying it, it obviously does not point out all the good points of the Act, one of which is:
SEC. 1146. MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT FUND. Section 1898(b)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(A) the period beginning with fiscal year 2011 and ending with fiscal year 2019, $8,000,000,000.”
Page 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmissions. (Incentives for hospital to not treat and release.) I can personally state what this section actually means. I am an in-home caregiver. In the past several years, there have been at least five times when my charge was hastened out of the hospital, only to come back (usually to emergency). Those returns were highly unnecessary if the hospitals had taken care of his illness in a more serious and professional manner. Why should the taxpayer pay for the hospital’s mistake?
Pg 298 Lines 9-11 Drs, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission-Govt will penalize you. See above. Ditto for doctors.
Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own. This applies only to doctors owning a percentage of the hospital or medical facility. Sad to say: there are doctors (not many) who have a conflict of interest going.
Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand. Hospitals CAN expand upon application to expand and show the need for such expansion. What the bill limits is hospitals expanding immediately after the bill is enacted.
pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!! Can you say STUPID ASSUMPTION? Professor Stevor would have you believe that ACORN was in a conspiracy with Al Queda and 9/11!
Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates established of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.Total assumption.
Pg 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans (Part B), HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan. Ahem. Prof. Stevor: Medicare is run by the U.S. Government (the last time we checked). HC bill is, in a sense, an expansion of Medicare. Disqualification only occurs when the Plan has deficiencies for that patient.
Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! This section EXTENDS an enrollment restriction ALREADY IN PLACE in Social Security. The extension is from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2013.
Pg 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. HC by phone/Internet? This, again, is an extension of an existing service; one that has served the RURAL communities quite well. Maybe the professor doesn’t “stevor” (sorry) HC to farmers.
Pg 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance [Death] Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life. WTF?!? Advance care does NOT equal death! It requires the physician to do the most compassionate thing: inform the patient and family of all resources, therapies, and responsibilities including mention of the advanced care clearing houses funded by the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory! What is it with the word “mandatory”? Does this guy think only in terms of force? The Govt does not instruct, but the DOCTOR does. Another personal example: when my mother was in the hospital with multiple myaloma (a condition of the bone marrow), the hospital social worker made an appointment with me to instruct me how to place my mother in a nursing home (costs, time, emotional pressure, etc.) I was very, very grateful that the hospital had such a service. At no time did we discuss “pulling the plug.”
Pg 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Gov’t provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. No one “guides” you in death. ALL decisions are to be made BY THE INDIVIDUAL. There are, in fact, many people who wished they had had this informationThis is a recommendation by the government to explain: living wills, durable power of attorney, what a health care proxy is, lists of STATE-specified resources to help families with a health care plan.
Pg 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Gov’t has a say in how your life ends. How do you get that out if this:
‘‘… distributes or makes accessible such orders to physicians and other health professionals that (acting within the scope of the professional’s authority under State law) may sign orders for life sustaining treatment;
Pg 429 Lines 1-9 An “adv. care planning consult” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates. It states NOTHING OF THE SORT!!‘‘ A consultation under this subsection may include the formulation of an order regarding life sustaining treatment or a similar order. For purposes of this section, the term ‘order regarding life sustaining treatment’ means, with respect to an individual, an actionable medical order relating to the treatment of that individual that…
Pg 429 Lines 10-12 “adv. care consultation” may incl an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOV . That’s STATE government to you!
Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.NO.
PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of lifeNO.
(NOTE FROM RJ: The above really does give the government the authority to determine who lives and dies, and when. A government bureaucrat really will be making this decision for you and your loved ones.) This is absolutely ridiculous. Read:
“effectively communicates the individual’s preferences regarding life sustaining treatment, including an indication of the treatment and care desired by the individual; is uniquely identifiable and standardized within a given locality, region, or State (as identified by the Secretary)
Repeat Repeat Repeat: the doctor is requested to tell the patient and family ALL the options for cases like terminal illness: extended care, nursing home, etc. "Treatment and care desired by the individual" is taken into account at every point along the way. Absolutely nobody is "pulling the plug" on anyone.
Just when you think the birthers have gone too far...they go FURTHER! Going after Obama's citizenship is one thing, but going after his penis is another! I can see the Halloween costumes now: one giant penis being chased by a birther (perhaps a baby in diapers - better double entendre).
Friday, August 21, 2009 Barack Obama Show US Your Penis
The fine Real Americans at the Free Republic have found Obama's achilles heel: his Long Dark Staff of White Insecurity.
hoosiermama: The only other thing that hit me was that Sinclair said BO was not circumcised. When my son was born in a hospital that was done as a matter of routine without even consulting us. Would the same be for Hawaii? OTOH People born at home or in some other cultures are not circumcised.
thecodont: A relative of mine was born (in a hospital) a couple of years after BO's alleged birth date. He was circumcised also (as a matter of routine, not according to any family request).
afraidfortherepublic: My son was born in June of 1961 in a hospital in CA, and the nurses released us because of miscommunication in a day and a half before the circumcision was done. We had to go back to the doctor’s office to have it done a week later, and the doctor was NOT HAPPY. My second son was born in the same hospital 4 years later. I don’t remember them asking me about it. Routine procedure for little boys.
I know it's a sin to be so blasphemous, but Jesus H. Christ! can't Christofascists read? Don't they understand words of more than one syllable? Do they always depend on someone else to transcribe the English language into baby talk?
Evidently, they do. And it's super impressive if that person has an "Rev." before his name or a luminous "J.D." after it. The fact that congressmen have to explain H.R. 3200, the Health Care Bill, is bad enough, but that people would believe what their pastor "translates" is idiotic in the extreme. Sure the bill is 1000+ pages, but those pages consist of less than 175 words each and the margins are big enough for your doodles in crayon. No, it's not Gone With The Wind and they won't make a film out of it starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, but it's IMPORTANT. It concerns health care for the entire nation!
Over the web I've been reading about all of the protesters' objections to the bill which they proffer as "the truth." Ask any one of them if they've actually read the bill and especially the questionable clauses and they will say that someone else told them. Someone very trustworthy.
Right.Okay, so here's where I go head-to-head and toe-to-toe with all the "Men of God" who say that this bill is "evil." With all the conservatives who want to see President Obama fail at a major proposal. With all the pundits whose income is derived from as much fear and loathing as they can muster.
This is the first part of a three-part post that annotates the screed of one such person, Professor Mat (only one "t" - so maybe he knows Michele-one-"l"-Bachmann) Stevor, Dean of Liberty University School of Law (Jerry Falwell's ghost resides there) and founder of Liberty Counsel (a "we-defend-only-persecuted-Christians" kind of legal aid association).
Besides the 128 talking points of Prof. Stevor, however, this "brief" that I'm addressing has a devastating forward by the (in)famous Pastor Rick Joyner of "MorningStar Ministries" and MorningStar Fellowship Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Much of his ministry is based upon his actual encounter with Jesus and some of the saints (which ones he can't say). Suffice it to say that the adjectives he most often uses in his urgent forward are: "diabolical," "sinister," "evil," and "totalitarian," while the most pronounced nouns are "Hitler," "Stalin," "ACORN" and "Obama administration."
Before reading the sturm und drang referred to as a "brief" I want to set forth some points:
Much of the Bill consists of amendments to Medicare. Medicare is run by our government. It is not something SEPARATE from the government. Much of what this bill does is EXTEND Medicare. To harp on the fact that any proposed health care program will be run by the government, therefore Orwellian is ludicrous.
Look up the contested sections of the bill HERE. This is the actual bill HR 3200. Split screen this post with the actual bill and compare. I could be wrong about these sections, but reading them (okay, you may have to read them several times over!) will set your mind at ease about the bill's intent.
Decide for yourself whether or not Prof. Stevor's points are fact or mere conjecture. Prof. Stevor's favorite word is, without a doubt, "MANDATORY." When you look at the document, however, you will be hard-pressed to find the word or anything close to it. His other favorite word is ACORN, because, as we all know, ACORN was the evil organization that helped Pres. Obama get elected. ACORN is the root of all evil!
The purpose of Professor Stevor's "brief" is to give you a right-wing rundown of a bill that will turn everyone into an Obama "zombie". It does not allow you to think that, if enacted and proved unhealthy to American citizens, it can be repealed. Everything in this bill, according to Prof. Stevor, is pushing you down the slippery slope to DOOM!
There will be sections where I will vent my frustration in an unseemly manner. Sorry. Get over it.
Prof. Stevor makes too many of his assumptions look like obvious fact. They aren't. Writing comments like "Can you say ACORN?" is ridiculous coming from someone who supposedly has a legal mind. In a debate, I would simply say, "Prove it!"
Okay. Let's look at the first 100 pages. Ready? Let's GO!!
HR 3200 currently under consideration in the House of Representatives
Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit the books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!! Huh? It requests that a STUDY be done of self-insured vs. other kinds of health insurance. It doesn’t even say that all employers will be studied. It says NOTHING about “auditing” books!
Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get. It’s an ADVISORY Committee established to RECOMMEND covered benefits and “essential, enhanced, and premium plans.
Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!! There is absolutely no mention of rationing at all! What this section does is talk about the limit of co-payments and that increases in payments will not exceed the Consumer Price Index each year.
Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice! Wrong! The Commissioner’s primary duty is to help set plan standards.
Pg 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal otherwise. Is that what you get from THIS?: “all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services."
Pg 58HC Bill – Gov’t will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Health care card will be issued! I have a MediCal card from the State of California. I assume people who have Medicare also have a card. “Individual’s finances” are limited to whether or not you have to make a co-payment. Big deal! Whenever you swipe your debit card to buy a (lousy) dinner at The Olive Garden, the same thing is being done. Does that mean that The Olive Garden wants to monitor your finances?
Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for electronic funds transfer. And if you work for the government, you can request direct deposit. BFD
Pg 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community orgs (ACORN). This section deals with reimbursement and reinsurance of retirees. If you see ACORN, Union, community organizations mentioned at all, you’re reading the Rick Joyner/Mat Stevor fictional version.
Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring priv HC plans under Govt control. Just listing and making available other possible plans is not placing them under government control.
Pg 84 Sec 203 HC bill - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private Health Care plans in the Exchange. NO. It merely wants to be there for more choices. It does not “mandate” anything.
Pg 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare! Definition of health care plans is NOT rationing. Where does this guy get this stuff?
Pg 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Carping about illegal immigration. The Government “offers, not “mandates.”
Example - Translation for illegal aliens. Actual wording: “The entity shall provide for culturally and linguistically appropriate communication and health services.” Example, my Czech grandmother might actually get to know her benefits. It means the government is trying to be fair. What a novel idea!
Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan. This section never discusses ACORN, Americorps or any other group. It merely states that the commissioner must do outreach.
Remember that this is written by one of the most "outstanding" pastors of our time. Rick Joyner (wikipedia):
...Joyner claims [in his book The Final Quest] to have been transported to heaven and to have had extended conversations with Jesus as well as with past Saints. The book speaks of spiritual warfare and an impending 'civil war' within the church where the true and faithful Saints continue forward and those who are deadweight fall away. It also speaks of the 'throne room' where Joyner saw saints in different positions, some as 'foolish virgins' who resided far back from the throne, and others as 'overcomers' who were on thrones near the throne of Jesus. It became obvious to Joyner that many of those he considered great Christian leaders on earth were actually the least in the sight of God, and some who he considered to be 'nobodies' were actually the greatest kings in God's kingdom.
THE HEALTH CARE BILL and why it MUST BE DEFEATED.
This was sent to me in an email but because it explains a lot in terms most people can understand I hope you will read it.. I know it is long but PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS LEGISLATION THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INFLICT UPON THIS NATION AND OUR CITIZENS.. AND IT IS DEADLY IN SO MANY WAYS.. WE MUST UNDERSTAND IT IN ORDER TO FIGHT IT AND DEFEAT IT.. we MUST ALL STAND AGAINST THIS NOW or the consequences described below will be a reality in our lives.
NATIONAL HEALTH SCARE By Rick Joyner When I read the briefon what was contained in the National Health Care bill that is now being presented before Congress, I could not believe I was reading something that was actually being considered in the United States of America. This is not about money or government mismanagement—this is about something far more diabolical than that. As incomprehensible as it may seem, this is about euthanasia, the power to determine who lives or dies in America. Hitler and Stalin would have loved to have had a means such as this for dispatching the millions they killed—it would have made their job much easier, and probably given them the ability to kill many more than they did. THIS BILL IS THAT SINISTER. This is not a joke—this is actually the nature of what is being proposed in the National Health Care legislation, and it is the obvious reason why the Obama Administration wants to ram it through Congress before anyone gets a chance to read it. I have resolved to always be as generous as I can toward people with opposing views of my own. I do this because I believe it is the mandate of I Corinthians 13 to always believe the best about people, rather than the worst. I know this opens me up to be misled by some, but I consider that a small price to pay to not become cynical. I also do it because I think it is wise to always try and understand the position of my opponents—to be open to consider their positions and not be too rigid or inflexible to change because we all “see in part,” and “know in part.” Because of this, I have been chided for being too generous by giving those I do challenge grace by believing that they had not thought through the consequences of their proposals, or had other good intentioned reasons for doing what they were doing. However, after reading the brief on this health care bill, I don’t see how anyone could not see that there is profound evil and evil intent at work here. I just do not see any way to be any more generous with those who proposed this bill than that. It is that bad. This bill is obviously designed to put the authority to determine who lives and dies in America into the hands of government bureaucrats. As outrageous as that seems, it is true—you can read it yourself. It even gives the government access to all of your accounts, and the authority to make withdrawals. I know this is hard to believe, but you can read it yourself. Do you want a government bureaucrat to determine if your mother or father can receive treatment, even in life and death cases? Would you want a government bureaucrat to determine if your child, or you, could receive treatment, even when it means life or death? Think of the best experience that you ever had working with a government bureaucrat, and then think about them having the power to make a potentially life or death choice for your child, your parents, or for you. This is actually what is being proposed. Add to that chilling thought the fact that this bureaucrat does not have to know one thing about medicine to be in that position. In fact, this bill proposes letting the government define what quality health care is and impose that definition on health care workers. Nowhere does it even specify what training, expertise, or qualifications this all-powerful government bureaucrat has to have to be placed in the position to make such ultimate decisions for the health, well-being, and even the lives of Americans. Am I being too hard on bureaucrats, or the Obama Administration’s intentions? Certainly there are many bureaucrats who are sincere and true public servants. I agree that such are deserving of our appreciation and respect. The modern world could not exist without them. Think of the most noble and conscientious there are. What kind of position would we be putting them in to have to go to work every day and decide who is going to get treatment, who is going to have to go on a waiting list and for how long, and who are they going to have to just let die? Who could live with such a job? There are many who could, who would just see it as paperwork, and those are the ones who would be in that position because the truly noble ones could not endure it. Hitler found many who could dispatch thousands each day, and then go home and enjoy their own families at night. There are people with that kind of moral disconnect. These jobs will be filled and by the very ones we would never want in such positions. It is beyond anything I thought I would ever see in my lifetime that such a bill could ever be seriously considered in the U.S. Congress. This bill has the potential for totalitarian control to be imposed on America to a degree that Hitler and Stalin could not have even imagined. With the technology available now, totalitarian control can very quickly be imposed to a degree far beyond what was attained by either the Nazis or the Communists, and this bill has provisions in it for just that. It mandates the sharing of all of your personal information, from just about every conceivable source, with the new health care bureaucracy being set up to implement this national health care system. The penalties for trying to escape this web are serious. This would actually make America into a national concentration camp, and we can be sure that ultimately it will be a national death camp. You do not have to take my word for it—read it for yourself. Below I will include a brief on this bill so that you can look it up, chapter and verse. I am a pastor and a watchman, and I therefore have a mandate to watch out for the people, and to sound the alarm when I see a threat. I have never seen one like this before. Even so, I have prayed for restraint and calm as I address this, and do not want to exaggerate anything. In spite of this terrible evil that is manifesting itself through the Obama Administration, I am resolved to pray for our government leaders, and I try to pray for the President every day. My sincere hope is for a spiritual awakening for him and for those in every government position, and for the Lord to give them wisdom and help for the most difficult task they have. However, with all due respect (and I mean this), what is coming out of the Obama Administration is evil, more evil than anything I thought I would ever see in America. It is time to call it what it is. In the early 1990s, myself and a few other prophetic friends were all shown separately, but at the same general time, that the same evil that gained access to Germany in the 1930s was going to seek access to America. I have shared this often since then, and have made many trips to Germany to seek to understand what happened there. Col. Eugene Bird became one of my dearest friends, and I spent many days with him listening to what he had learned about this, which was considerable. Col. Bird was the U.S. Commandant of the Spandau Prison that held the Nazi war criminals, and ultimately became the one many considered to be the foremost authority on Nazi Germany. Bird’s insight into how evil can gain entry into the human soul and into governments was remarkable, but I always had trouble seeing a connection that would allow what happened there to actually happen in America. Bird often chastised me for this, warning that it could easily happen in America (Col. Bird lived most of his life in Germany, where he became loved and esteemed by that nation, but he remained a patriotic American to the end). Bird often explained how the evil spirit of death that took over Germany gained entry through its health care system. Now it is easy to see what he was talking about in what is being proposed by the Obama Administration. In Germany, the National Socialists (Nazis) gradually desensitized the nation to death beginning with abortion. Then they quietly, seemingly with the most noble intentions, rounded up the retarded and insane, claiming that the state could take much better care of them, but no one ever saw or heard from them again. Then they did the same with the elderly. As word slipped out that they were being euthanized, it was explained that war made it necessary to eliminate all of the “useless eaters” so that the troops could be fed, as well as those who worked for the war machine. By that time, the grip of control was too strong for anyone to protest or they would also be sent to the camps. Life became cheaper and cheaper, people became more and more depraved, and millions were slaughtered in the death camps. America is following a parallel course. If Hitler had a tool such as the health care bill that is being proposed by Congress, along with the technology of control now available, it would have made his task much easier and more effective, and probably resulted in many millions more having been easily murdered. I have had Presidents, candidates, senators, and congressmen and congresswomen from both parties tell me they have read and appreciated my writings. I have maintained for many years that an eagle needs both a left wing and a right wing to fly, and believe that there are excellent men and women of true conviction in both parties. I realize that by writing with this tenor, I risk being considered an extremist, and maybe risk many relationships, but I cannot be concerned about that. With such an extreme evil threatening our country, I would have a difficult time standing before the Lord on that great judgment day if I did not speak up as boldly, as clearly, and as loudly as I can. Call me an alarmist and I will agree with you—I am going to do my best to sound the alarm against evil in every way that I can, and I don’t think I have ever seen anything with the potential for evil like this national health care bill. I pray that senators and congressmen from both parties who have courage and conviction will stand up against this terrible impending holocaust and stop this bill. I expect that it will be hard for many who read and understand what this Democratic Administration has proposed not to refer to the Democratic Party as the Death Party from now on, but let’s wait and see how the Democrats in Congress respond to this before condemning them, too. This bill is criminal—it opens the door for a crime against humanity on a level that could easily surpass what happened in the last century. We must hold accountable all who have written, proposed, and sided with this bill—and determine that with all the resources we are given, they will never be elected again for anything. I pray that every Christian will wake up and rise up to take their stand against what is happening in our country now. If we do, we can stop this. If we don’t, we will have to stand before the Judge having let this happen on our watch. We can expect persecution and even death for standing against such a bold and obvious attack of the spirit of death, but no Christian should fear death, and no Christian will want to live in the world that is now taking shape if we do not become the salt and light we are called to be. We are in need of the courage and resolve of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, who stood before the huge and terrible Balrog demon and declared—“YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” The demon was stopped, and even though it was able to grab and drag Gandalf down with it, Gandalf returned with a new level of authority. It does not matter what the consequences are for standing for truth, as Christians we must stand because it is our basic duty. As the first apostles demonstrated, to be persecuted and to suffer shame for our God and His truth is one of the greatest honors. However, we must do it for more than honor—we must also do it for our children and their children. Last night on Fox News, a former Clinton Administration council to the President stated courageously that this bill was not just about money, it was about euthanasia. The money part does not make any sense at all, but now that the real evil that is driving this can be clearly seen, we can understand that the Administration really does not care about saving money or providing health care for everyone; rather it is about control. There is already talk about this being about saving money by being able to euthanize the baby boomers so they will not have to be paid social security, or weigh down the health care system with their needs. I’m not ready to go that far, but that is obviously why the Florida congressman declared that this bill was a death sentence for the elderly. That is true. The only commandment with a promise that it will go well with us, and that we may live long, is the commandment to honor our fathers and mothers. This commandment is found in both the Old and New Testaments (see Ephesians 6:2-3). Killing them when they can no longer be productive, as Hitler and Stalin resolved to do, is the most dishonorable thing we could ever do, and we can be sure will bring the opposite to the blessing promised. As you read the bill, and see how excessively long they stay on the point of being able to determine what and if any care is given to the elderly, you will see it really is chilling. It is obvious this is a primary purpose of those who wrote this bill. I know this sounds far-fetched, and I would not have believed it myself a few days ago, but just read it for yourself. The following is a brief outline of this bill put together by Mat Staver of the Freedom Foundation and Liberty Counsel (contact info is at the end). The comments by the brief are Mat’s, except where I have noted my own by putting them in italics. The bold is also mine. After reading, please do not wait to contact your representatives to protest this. If you don’t get through, keep calling, send emails, but do not stop until you know your voice has been heard.
Hooray for WAL-MART!! Hooray for Wal-Mart! Someone in the stands is shouting Hooray for Wal-Mart! 1,2,3,4 Who you gonna cheer for WAL-MART that's who!!
Poor Glenn Beck, (and poor FOX News Channel).
You know, it wasn't long ago that a news commentator (not necessarily a journalist) could get to say certain things about important people, say, such as Pres. Barack Obama. For instance: think of what might have happened to that staunch citizen who stood near a town hall meeting if his scribbled sign had said, "Death to Bush, Laura and her two stupid kids." But nowadays you can say just about anything, write anything, report anything and be listened to - even believed! Hey, remember "Dijongate?"But the American public, being a very fickle lot, have chosen not to endorse the idea that President Obama is, according to Glenn Beck, a racist - one who hates white people.
Eight more companies — including Allergan, Ally Bank, Best Buy, Broadview Security, CVS, Re-Bath, Travelocity, and Wal-Mart — have agreed to stop advertising on Glenn Beck’s Fox News show. Their announcements are in response to a ColorOfChange campaign after Beck said that President Obama is a “racist” with “a deep-seated hatred for white people.” A total of 20 companies have now pulled their advertising. “We support vigorous debate, especially around policy issues that affect millions of Americans, but we expect it to be informed, inclusive and respectful, in keeping with our company’s core values and commitment to diversity,” explained Carolyn Castel, Vice President of Corporate Communications for CVS Caremark.
As in all things American, the underdog gets more cheering than the blow-hard leader. That's why the situation with Glenn Beck calling President Obama "racist" has created a firestorm of criticism against Beck and FOX "News" Channel. In this instance, they consider Obama the underdog. Rep. Rick Larsen at a town hall meeting in Everett, WA:
Now folks will say that’s not true, but I’ve got facts on my side and you’ve got Glenn Beck on your side.It’s just not going to play off that way.
From Daily Kos:
According to the Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll, only 34 percent of respondents said Fox News was a reliable source, compared to the 41 percent who called it unreliable. Its competitors, CNN and MSNBC, didn't fare much better in the poll. CNN matched its 44 percent reliability rating with a 44 percent unreliability rating, and MSNBC raked in a 23 percent reliability rating compared to a 17 percent unreliability rating.
Poor Glenn Beck, Poor FOX News Channel. PC has come back to haunt them.
The divide between right and left has never been wider. Why? Maybe because hatred has found a voice through the liberty of free speech. Here in America we can say anything about anyone if we refer to it as our "opinion." We can call someone a killer just as long as we put "alleged" in front of "killer." And even if someone is too stupid to put caveats before their statements, they might not be called out. Here we have two videos showing people who are obviously self-righteous in their ideals. Self-righteous enough, that is, to think that offensive name-calling and portrayals of President Obama as Hitler will be given the same platform as the subject at hand: universal health care coverage.
So who are these people who have taken the chance of an open forum to demonstrate their anger to the detriment of those who want to exchange with their congressman or senator ideas of great national importance?
Some people think it's all the same people. But conservatives continue to deny they are orchestrating this stuff even though all of the crowds seem to have one thing in common.
It's pretty much an all-white constituency, which means it's not reflective of the people who voted Obama into office. Even reasonable Republicans acknowledge they haven't made inroads with minorities, which is the main reason Obama won, along with drawing a significant number of white voters, too.
I've been reading the health care bill and will attempt to come up with some form of annotation to a Christofascist's screed point by miserable, tedious, but still-lucid point. It's difficult: my annotations sometimes wind up being longer than the contended part of the bill. And I feel the need to make every statement as clear as possible, sometimes even writing in parables and metaphors (hmmm, sounds familiar) because, let's face it, many of the protesters (most of whom haven't even read the bill) have the cumulative I.Q. of a dead flashlight battery.
Eugene Kane Cont'd:
The crowds for town hall protests, tea parties and the birther movement are largely segregated by race which means those movements are not reflective of the majority of American voters right now.
My advice to the birthers, tea partiers and the town hall folks - who all might have reasonable complaints about Obama's policies - is this: Get yourself some color and you might get taken more seriously.
Sorry, Gene, but even if they wanted to take in some tokens, they couldn't yank them in fast enough. Since they don't associate with birther, tea partiers and town hall harpies, that means they're smarter than them. The Civil Rights movement of the 60s involved a certain amount of focus. The gay rights movement has (some) focus. But by showing that they'll grab onto anything, no matter how pointless and screwy it is shows that uber-right wingnuts have an enormous lack of focus as well as downright stupidity.
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.
Mark Twain
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Whoopee. He's a half-savant. His problem, however (and ours, too) is that he sincerely believes his little flock to be even more ignorant than he is. (Of course, if they are actually supporting his church with donations, they are most definitely mentally challenged). His "doctrinal statement" is, in a sense, scary. His video on "dynamic preaching", however, is a hoot: much of the video's hour (!) consists of him stumbling over the words in the KJB to what seems to be an empty room (complete with echo).
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