FRC 10/17/2013

| October 17, 2013 | Permalink The New Deal For 16 days, Republicans were trying to build a bridge to reform. Instead, they built a dam -- a $3 billion one. The last-minute add-on proved costly for the country and the Senate GOP, who will have to explain why they not only lost this fight, but added a significant bundle to the bill. Unfortunately, even the reinforced Olmsted Dam won't be able to hold back the flood of disappointment over last night's votes. By 81-18 and 285-144 , the House and Senate closed the chapter on Washington's first government shutdown in 20 years, leaving a trail of disillusionment in their wake. With one stroke of his pen, President Obama had the satisfaction of blocking any meaningful dents to his signature health care law and setting into motion the office homecoming for a half-million furloughed government employees. Hours later, traffic was back to a screeching halt, the Smithsonian had unlocked its doors, even the National Zoo's panda cam returned to charm viewers. But for all the buzz in D.C. offices, most conservative members couldn't help but feel defeated. "I don't think anyone wanted to be in the spot we're in right now," said Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.). Least of all voters, who for weeks had held out hope that Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may just be able to talk our nation out of this mess. Instead, what they got was another four months of more of the same: crippling debt, excessive spending, socialized medicine, taxpayer-funded abortion, and oppressive, freedom-crushing mandates. Under the agreement struck by Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), this latest truce is a temporary one. Congress may avoid the tough budget sledding over Christmas, but by mid-January, the House and Senate will be back to the drawing board on another patchwork deal to keep Washington's lights on and its bills paid. The current measure funds the government through January 15 and gives the Treasury Department enough credit to keep the country afloat through February 7, if not longer. Until then, the "lousy deal," as Sen. Cruz calls it, does absolutely nothing to protect the American people -- not their health, their finances, their beliefs, and, certainly not their freedom. Despite the heroic stand by so many House and Senate conservatives, the Left's attacks on conscience, the unborn, financial freedom, and religious liberty will not only continue, but intensify, under this "deal." And ObamaCare, perhaps the greatest threat to our nation in modern history, still escaped unscathed. At least for now. As Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), one of the unwavering voices for repeal, reminded us last night, "...[T]his is really just the end of the beginning. This is a fight that's going to continue." These leaders aren't giving up, and neither should we. And as frustrated as everyone is, nothing can be gained by conservatives throwing in the towel now. If anyone's going to #MakeDCListen, it's voters. Together, we must stop this sinister attempt to contain religious freedom within the four walls of the church. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), who literally stood up for conscience protections in a meeting with House Republicans, told me this morning that he's committed to finding ways to infuse conscience rights into ObamaCare. "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it," the late Margaret Thatcher said. So persevere. Even in challenging times, it's always too soon to quit! Duggar Bus Drives Home Importance of State Race Over the past few days, FRC Action's Values Bus has been tough to miss -- just like the family riding it! With FRC Action's Josh Duggar on board, the Duggar clan has been winding its way through the roads of Virginia in support of gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, Lt. Gov. candidate E.W. Jackson, and Attorney General candidate Mark Obenshain. The tour, sponsored by FRCA, started in Lynchburg, with stops in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Fredericksburg, and Woodbridge. Whether it's playing the violins, singing, or speaking, the Duggars are doing what they can to highlight the race's social conservatives -- and attracting plenty of attention doing it. Media outlets from the Washington Post to "The Huckabee Show" have tracked the bus's progress in features and interviews. To the families and homeschoolers who turned out to see the TLC stars, mom Michelle Duggar said, "I tell [my kids], we are going to be involved. We are going to make a difference for the cause of Christ," she told the crowds in Lynchburg. "And that is to stand for the values that God holds dear... And we need to get behind those candidates who believe those values and help them win." Ken Cuccinelli and his wife both joined the Duggars along the route, encouraging the family's fans to help them turn out the vote. Also, to understand why the Duggars and other conservatives are investing so much time and energy into the Virginia races, just read Ken Blackwell's new piece on Townhall, " Terry McAuliffe's Extreme Agenda ." Breaking News... On this evening's "Washington Watch," Fox News's Todd Starnes joined me to discuss new details in the Army's outrageous training briefing that identified the American Family Association as a hate group at Camp Shelby. After the initial story broke, the Army quickly backtracked, insisting it was an isolated incident. But, as I pointed out the Update yesterday, there have been too many of these "isolated incidents" not to see a problematic pattern of religious hostility. Today, Todd broke the news on "Washington Watch" that another source within the Army has verified our suspicions that Army officials have identified the anti-Christian left group, Southern Poverty Law Center, as an approved source for EEOC trainings within the Army. "[The Pentagon] said that the material used in this training briefing was not sanctioned or endorsed by the Army -- that this was something the instructor found on the Internet," Todd explained. "But Tony, we have some information that is contrary to what the military is telling us. As a matter of fact, one of the individuals whose responsibility it is to teach these diversity classes reached out to me and actually gave me a copy of the training manual that the Army uses. And Tony, we have hard evidence that the military not only endorses the Southern Poverty Law Center as a resource, but it's listed right there in their training materials!" Look for more on this story next week.