Free Republic

Two of the country’s most powerful and politically influential labor unions are backing President Obama in the recent court challenge to his 2014 executive action on illegal immigration, saying they support the president’s effort because "undocumented workers" need more workplace protection and their participation helps the U.S. economy. The AFL-CIO and the National Education Association on Monday each filed so-called amicus briefs in a federal appeals court case in which Texas and 26 other states are challenges the president’s 2014 memorandum on illegal immigration. The memorandum essentially expands work authorization and delayed-deportation programs for illegal immigrants. And it provides similar...

As a declared presidential candidate, Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) should generate even bigger headlines when he addresses black audiences, as he has at Howard University and other venues. When he was executive of mainly Democratic Milwaukee County, Governor Scott Walker (R., Wis.) appealed to black voters; his reelection majorities consistently increased. These and other Republicans should ask black Americans for their votes from now through November 2016. They should do so by challenging blacks to ask themselves an honest question: “What, exactly, have you gained by handing Obama 95 percent of your votes in 2008 and 93 percent in...

Only days after Indiana rushed through a change in its state law amid a backlash led by homosexual-rights groups and Arkansas reacted by modifying a similar law before it was adopted, voters in Springfield, Missouri, have moved the opposite direction. The city repealed an “anti-discrimination” law adopted only months ago.

Let me start by saying "God Bless You" to all the parties I mention in this post. I sincerely wish peace and serenity, sanity and sobriety in the lives of everyone. I get a sense from emails I've received and comments on radio talks shows etc. etc. that the old "Beltway Conservative" machine is revved up to portray Republican politicians who have caved to the bad guys as good guys. I heard Mark Levin speak of Governor Mike Pence of Indiana as a "decent man". I've been told Governor Pence is a good guy in other places, too. I won't...

There’s Beyoncé and Madonna, Cher and Prince. And now Hillary. It may not be exactly the same as the long list of celebrities known by their first names. But Hillary Clinton has become known simply as Hillary in bumper stickers and headlines, on Twitter and Facebook, around water coolers and in coffee shops. Yet some Americans, mostly women, don’t think the former secretary of state, U.S. senator from New York and first lady should be called by just her first name.

This week on 102.9 KARN , Little Rock, AR’s “The Doc Washburn Show,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) was asked about the theology of the Iranian Ayatollahs who believe world chaos will start the “end of days,” which will bring a Shia messiah, called the “Twelfth Imam” to establish a global Islamic caliphate more dangerous then the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Cotton replied, “As evil and wicked as the Soviet tyranny was, we could always count on Soviet leadership to be dedicated to national survival of mother Russia. I don’t think we can count on the Ayatollahs of Iran...

Dear Bill and Ann, I deeply appreciate both of you calling out Christian leaders in recent days, challenging our courage and our willingness to stand for what is right. I too have been grieved over the moral capitulation of so many professing Christians, from pastors to politicians and from congregants to congressmen. In fact, I posted this on my Facebook page just this morning: I am so deeply grieved over what I have witnessed this week in Indiana, Arkansas, and Georgia, as governors and legislators suddenly caved the moment the threats and shouts came their way. Where are the men...

The hullabaloo over false information being propagated about Indiana’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA) reveals a much more serious underlying problem in America. Morality according to the 3 Percent (the gay community in America) is defined by imposing conformity, control, coercion, and oppression over those who disagree with their definition of equality, fairness, tolerance, or even love. The 3 Percent’s “outrage” cannot be about equal rights, as same-sex couples already benefit from civil unions, domestic partnerships, marriage, adoption and fostering children, in addition to receiving health benefits and other legal rights. Nor can it be about fairness. I recently...

Christianity’s tent is not big enough to accommodate both the supporters of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Rutgers professor Brittney Cooper, who in a Wednesday piece for Salon blasted both the state’s pre-fix RFRA and the religious right in general. “This kind of legislation is rooted in a politics that gives white people the authority to police and terrorize people of color, queer people and poor women,” declared Cooper. “That means these people don’t represent any kind of Christianity that looks anything like the kind that I practice…This white, blond-haired, blue-eyed, gun-toting, Bible-quoting Jesus of the religious right is...

Former Rep. Asa Hutchinson, a consultant of the National Rifle Association, discusses the findings and recommendations of the National School Shield Program at the National Press Club in Washington in this April 2, 2013, file photo. Republican Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson rejected a religion bill he had said he would sign into law, reversing course after a firestorm of criticism assailing such legislation as discriminating against gays and lesbians, on April 1, 2015. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Indiana and Arkansas revised on Thursday new religious freedom acts that had drawn criticism from rights groups and U.S. companies that assailed them...

Does anyone know if Indiana or Arkansas have Gubernatorial recall options?

It was 1970 and the leftist fueled anti-Vietnam War protests were in full swing. The anti-war protestors liked to show up and shout down their opponents much like the brownshirted thugs would go after adversaries of the Nazi Party in Germany around 1930. The anti-war crowd disrupted politicians of all stripes when they tried to speak. Just like the LGBT protestors of today call the religious conservative opponents of gay marriage "bigots", "Nazis" or "KKK" the anti-war crowd called their opponents "fascists" and "storm troopers" On March 19, 1970 the anti-war protestors came to Santa Barbara, California to disrupt an...

Corporate support for same-sex rights presents Cruz a chance to blast two movement conservative enemies at once. Credit Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, with this: He’s doing what he can to lock down first-mover advantage in the Republican presidential sweepstakes. Last week, he was first in what promises to be a crowded GOP field to officially announce his White House bid. Yesterday, he launched what Politico has already termed the backlash to the corporate backlash to Indiana’s controversial “religious freedom” law. Addressing a crowd of 300 in Sioux City, Iowa, Cruz laced into the big business leaders who have jumped into...

Republican presidential hopefuls are united in blasting President Obama for his chaotic enforcement of marijuana laws, but the unity quickly breaks down when they are asked how they would handle things if they were in the White House. Some have sent mixed signals, saying state decisions should be respected while questioning how Mr. Obama has respected those decisions. Others have refused to say how they would wield the federal bureaucracy against marijuana. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is one of the few potential candidates to take a firm stance, saying he would insist on following federal statutes that outlaw the drug....

John Paul Hammerschmidt, who defeated Bill Clinton in the future president’s first political campaign and was the first Republican congressman from Arkansas since Reconstruction, died on Wednesday in Springdale, Ark. He was 92. The cause was heart and respiratory failure, said his son and only survivor, John Arthur Hammerschmidt.

The major retail chain Walmart has declined to say what specific part of the state's controversial religious freedom bill it opposes.Walmart CEO Doug McMillon released a statement Tuesday denouncing the Arkansas legislature's passage of House Bill 1228, which he claimed was anti-gay."Today's passage of HB1228 threatens to undermine the spirit of inclusion present throughout the state of Arkansas and does not reflect the values we proudly uphold," stated McMillon."For these reasons, we are asking Governor [Asa] Hutchinson to veto this legislation."The Christian Post reached out to Walmart for further comment on the reasons for this opposition, as well as their...

To no one’s surprise, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Walmart) caved on the state’s RFRA. Excerpt: Facing a backlash from businesses and gay rights advocates, Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas on Wednesday called on state lawmakers to either recall or amend legislation billed as a religious freedom measure so that it mirrored a federal law approved in 1993.

On one side is the CEO of the world's largest company, the president of the United States and a growing chunk of the Fortune 500. On the other side is a solo wedding photographer in New Mexico, a 70-year-old grandma florist in Washington and a few bakers. One side wants the state to conscript the religious businesswomen and men into participating in ceremonies that violate their beliefs. The other side wants to make it possible for religious people to live their own lives according to their consciences. Yet somehow, the Left and most of the mainstream press paint the current...

Connecticut's governor is blasting the governor of Indiana for signing the state's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, calling it discriminatory against the gay community and asking for its repeal. The Indiana measure, which Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed last week, prohibits state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of "person" includes religious institutions, businesses and associations. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Tuesday that the law is covering "outright bigotry" in Indiana. "The reality is, the governor is not a stupid man, but he’s done stupid...

PLAINFIELD, Ind. - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Wednesday expressed concern about Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. "ISNA welcomes the protection of an individual's right to free exercise of religion being given the legal 'strict scrutiny' standard, but has serious concerns about the extension of those rights to corporations as well as the protections against civil liability for discrimination by protected corporations against individuals. "For example, if a corporation refused to hire a person because they were a Muslim and their religious beliefs did not permit them to hire Muslims, then the prospective employee could not succeed in...