Retaliation, Boehner-Style: Tea Party Rebels Stripped of Leadership, Benefits

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By Alex Pappas. Speaker of the House John Boehner is apparently punishing Republicans who voted against his re-election Tuesday, despite previously saying he would not do so.

Reps. Daniel Webster and Richard Nugent are both losing their seats on the House Rules Committee, Politico reported Tuesday evening. Both Florida Republicans voted for Webster instead of Boehner earlier in the day.

Such moves seem to contradict recent statements made by Boehner and his office.

We asked last week if any Republicans who voted against Boehner would be punished, spokesman Michael Steel told The Daily Caller by email: “Boehner has said publicly that there will be no retribution for ‘no’ votes.” (Read more about how Boehner is punishing the tea party rebels HERE)

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Strange Twist: Boehner’s Re-Election Assured by Mario Cuomo’s Death

By Dana Milbank. John Boehner won reelection as speaker of the House on Tuesday with the help of an unlikely ally: Mario Cuomo, the former Democratic governor of New York.

Astute readers may have noticed that Cuomo is currently deceased. He died on New Year’s Day and was buried Tuesday — and thus, quite inadvertently, did he help to stack the deck for the Ohio Republican to keep the speaker’s gavel in the 114th Congress.

Dana Milbank writes about political theater in the nation’s capital. He joined the Post as a political reporter in 2000. View Archive

Twenty-five conservatives — more than 10 percent of the Republican caucus — rebelled against their leader on the first day of the new Congress. It was the largest revolt against a House speaker in more than a century, and the rebels were within striking distance of the 29 votes they would have needed to deny Boehner the speakership — if all sitting members of the House voted.

But more than two dozen were missing when Congress convened at noon, a few because of snow-related travel delays but most of them Democratic members of the New York delegation who were attending Cuomo’s funeral. Because the speaker is elected based on the majority of those voting, this reduced the number of votes Boehner needed from about 218 to 205 — and the conservative rebellion fizzled before it ever had a chance. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Agent Defends Ben Carson Against Plagiarism Charges

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On Tuesday, BuzzFeed posted an article showing similarities between Carson’s book, which he wrote with his wife Candy, and a variety of other sources, including from material published in 2002 by a website called SocialismSucks.net.

Entire paragraphs, word for word, like this from SocialismSucks.net appeared in Carson’s book: “Anytime you give to government the responsibility and authority to provide government-made jobs, old-age financial security, ‘free’ health care, and ‘free’ education and indoctrination of children, it will control the lives of the people who live under its jurisdiction, and individual liberty and freedom of choice are sacrificed.”

BuzzFeed noted how Carson’s book also apparently lifted material from authors Cleon Skousen and Bill Federer, a CBS News article and other works.

Speaking by phone, Yates, the literary agent, said he and the Carsons were in the process of trying to fully understand the situation. . .

Armstrong Williams, an aide to Carson, declined to make the former neurosurgeon immediately available for an interview, explaining Carson wants to wait before speaking out. (Read more from “Agent Defends Ben Carson” HERE)

Persecution: Atlanta Fire Chief Fired Because He is a Bible-Believing Christian

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Photo Credit: Fox News
Kelvin Cochran was five-years-old when he realized that he wanted to be a firefighter. . .

But now Chief Cochran’s storied career is up in smoke – all because of a book he wrote for a men’s Bible study group at his Baptist church.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Tuesday that Cochran had been fired. The announcement came on the same day Cochran was supposed to return to work following a 30-day suspension.

“The LGBT members of our community have a right to be able to express their views and convictions about sexuality and deserve to be respected for their position without hate or discrimination,” Cochran told me in an exclusive interview. “But Christians also have a right to express our belief regarding our faith and be respected for our position without hate and without discrimination. In the United States, no one should be vilified, hated or discriminated against for expressing their beliefs.”

Cochran had been suspended in November because of a passage he wrote about homosexuality in a book titled, “Who Told You That You Were Naked?” The book’s theme is about biblical morality [and was used in his church’s men’s bible study group]. (Read more about the persecution of this Atlanta fire chief HERE)

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Secret Past of Mayor de Blasio Comes to Light

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By Aaron Klein. Largely unreported in the news coverage of the recent race-related demonstrations is that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has a history of working with extremist activist groups to stir protests.

Further, de Blasio has a largely unreported history with the controversial Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN.

ACORN’s renamed group, the New York Communities for Change, is one of the organizations helping to lead the protests over the death of Eric Garner, who was killed by police in July.

De Blasio has been accused by critics, including New York police officers, of helping to fuel racial tension between police and protesters.

One of the major anti-police protests in New York that received media attention was an attempt to shut down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue shopping district before Christmas. (Read more from “The Past of Mayor de Blasio Comes to Light” HERE)

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De Blasio Boots Judge Who was Tough on Criminals

By Jamie Schram. A Manhattan judge known for being tough on criminals has been booted from the bench by Mayor Bill de Blasio — even against the ­advice of his own vetting team, law enforcement sources told The Post on Tuesday.

The move comes on the heels of de Blasio’s reappointment of Brooklyn Judge Laura Johnson, who set free without bail two men who threatened to kill cops just days after a double police assassination.

The booted judge, Diana Boyar, “was fair, knowledgeable and ran the courtroom professionally,” a stunned source said. (Read more from this story HERE)

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White House Advisers Recommending Veto of Keystone Bill

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By Reuters. President Barack Obama’s advisers will recommend he veto a House bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline if the legislation reaches his desk, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday.

Republican senators started the new U.S. Congress on Tuesday with legislation to approve TransCanada Corp’s pipeline from Canada to the United States and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama would not sign it. (Read more about the threatened veto of Keystone Bill HERE)

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Obama Blasted for Veto Threat on Keystone

By Fox News. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted President Obama on Wednesday for vowing to veto the first bill of the new, Republican-controlled Senate — legislation to approve the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline.

In his first major floor speech as majority leader, the Kentucky Republican pushed for bipartisan cooperation on major issues but said it could “only be achieved if, if, President Obama is interested in it.”

He added: “And I assure you, threatening to veto a jobs and infrastructure bill within minutes of a new Congress taking the oath of office — a bill with strong bipartisan support — is anything but productive.”

McConnell’s top lieutenants echoed his concerns, with Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, calling the “premature” veto threats “deeply irresponsible and troubling.”

The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto two pieces of legislation being produced by the new Congress — one related to ObamaCare and the economy, and the other on the Keystone pipeline. On Wednesday, the White House issued formal statements vowing to veto the bills. (Read more about this story HERE)

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Veterans Suspect VA is Creating Federal Gun Registry With Free Gun Lock Offer

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Photo Credit: Scott Olson / Getty As President Obama dodges a reminder of the veterans’ health-care scandal this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs is offering free gun locks to veterans if they provide details on the number of guns they own and their home address, raising concerns about a government-run gun registry.

Some veterans have received a form letter in recent days from the VA offering gun locks if they return a completed form listing their name, address and number of guns in the home.

“As your partner in healthcare, we are committed to keeping you and your family safe,” states the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times. “Gun locks have been shown to greatly reduce death and injury caused by firearms in the home. If you own a gun, we hope you will request and use a gun lock.”

The letter said agency officials “hope to reach all our veterans with this offer.” The VA said it will mail the locks to the address provided by a veteran.

One veteran who received the letter said it raises concerns about “a gun registry in disguise.” (Read more about the concerns along with the free gun lock offer HERE)

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Hillary Clinton is Enlisting People for 2016 Run

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Photo Credit: Frederic J. Brown, AFP/Getty ImagesHillary Clinton is beginning to put together the pieces for a likely campaign, tapping two top strategists — including President Barack Obama’s pollster — to work with her in the lead-up toward an ultimate decision.

Robby Mook, who worked on Clinton’s 2008 campaign and is widely expected to be Clinton’s campaign manager, and Joel Benenson, Obama’s pollster who had for months been eyed for a role on her team, have been working with her as she makes a final decision and begins to put together a framework for a staff, according to people close to the former Secretary of State.

But, if he is hired, Benenson’s presence in the campaign would mark a major departure for Clinton, who stayed in her comfort zone in her previous campaigns using Mark Penn, the pollster and message guru who had worked for her husband. After she shook up her campaign in the second half of the 2008 primaries, Clinton made Geoff Garin her main pollster.

Obama’s campaign used Benenson as part of a team of pollsters, an approach Clinton is said to be considering for her next effort. And he would come to her off two successful presidential races.

Mook, who won Obama aides’ respect for the job her did out-organizing them in a string of states in the 2008 primaries, has been holding meetings with people, according to multiple sources, to begin planning for a likely campaign. (Read more on Hillary Clinton enlisting people HERE)

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Ruling Class Gives Boehner 3rd Term; Glenn Beck Unloads on GOP; Here are the 25 Patriots Who Voted Against Boehner

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By Melissa Quinn. Today, members of the U.S. House of Representatives elected Ohio Republican John Boehner to his third term as speaker of the House. . .

Of the Republicans casting votes, 24 did not vote for Boehner — the most “no” votes against a speaker in the last century. One voted “present.” Republicans needed 29 defectors to prevent Boehner from getting reelected. . .

Leading up to the start of the 114th Congress, Boehner was expected to be elected to his third term as the House’s No. 1 Republican. However, a late bid from Webster garnered support from conservative lawmakers. . .

Other lawmakers who earned votes were: Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio — who received two votes — Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, Kevin McCarthy of California. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jeff Sessions of Alabama received nods, as did former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Two years ago, a dozen conservatives protested Boehner as speaker and voted against him. However, this year showed a more coordinated effort as speaker-hopefuls formally declared. (Read more from “Boehner Re-Elected” HERE)

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Here are 25 Republicans Who Did Not Bow to the Ruling Class and Vote for Boehner

By Melissa Quin. Here are the 24 GOP lawmakers who did not vote for Boehner, as well as Babin [who voted “present”].

1. Rep. Justin Amash, Mich.
2. Rep. Rod Blum, Iowa
3. Rep. Dave Brat, Va.
4. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Okla.
5. Rep. Curt Clawson, Fla.
6. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, Tenn.
7. Rep. Jeff Duncan, S.C.
8. Rep. Scott Garrett, N.J.
9. Rep. Chris Gibson, N.Y.
10. Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas
11. Rep. Paul Gosar, Ariz.
12. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Kan.
13. Rep. Walter Jones, N.C.
14. Rep. Steve King, Iowa
15. Rep. Thoma Massie, Ky.
16. Rep. Mark Meadows, N.C.
17. Rep. Rich Nugent, Fla.
18. Rep. Gary Palmer, Ala.
19. Rep. Bill Posey, Fla.
20. Rep. Scott Rigell, Va.
21. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Ind.
22. Rep. Randy Weber, Texas
23. Rep. Daniel Webster, Fla.
24. Rep. Ted Yoho, Fla.
25. Rep. Brian Babin, Texas

(Read more from this story HERE)
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Glenn Beck Unloads on GOP Who Voted for Boehner

By Red Flag. Glenn Beck on Tuesday tore into Congressman Chris Stewart (R-Utah) over his decision to vote for John Boehner as speaker of the House, saying he believes Stewart — who has been his friend for years — is losing his soul.

Beck asked the congressman whether it was Boehner’s decision to fund Obamacare, his support of the CRomnibus bill, or his decision to continually delay any action in opposing President Barack Obama’s agenda that garnered his support. . .

“You told, us, Chris, to come down on you like a bag of bricks if we ever felt you were losing your soul. This is bag of bricks time. We think you’re losing your soul” . . .

“You don’t think we can do better, Chris?” Beck’s co-host Stu Burguiere added. “You don’t think we can do better than John Boehner?”

. . .Beck told Stewart that people are “done” with the kind of games he is playing, and that he will not be re-elected if he continues playing politics against the interests of the American people. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Mom Facing Child Abuse Charges for Showing Kids Pro-Life Video

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Photo Credit: Life News By Amanda Read. A few days before Christmas, a U.K. mother of two reached out to Christian radio show program Stand Up For Truth with a plea for prayers and support. She had been notified that Child Protection Services would be contacting her because she had permitted her children to watch the pro-life documentary 180.

The controversy began when the mother (who wishes to remain anonymous) included Gospel tracts and a card advertising the 180 movie in party favor jars for a Christmas fair. She distributed these favors at the Church of England Primary School her children attend, and where she was employed at the time. The U.K. mother noted in her letter to the radio program:

I was immediately suspended and told not to reveal any of the details to anyone. I was made to attend an investigative meeting with strict instructions that no legal representation was allowed. The school leadership and the HR representative were pressing…that the film “180” was horrific, had it been watched by a child, even a child who is 10 to 11.

The mother turned in her resignation, but that did not end the investigation. The school’s Board of Directors allegedly equated the parental discretion of showing the pro-life film – which displays nothing more graphic than what one would see on the History Channel – with potential child abuse. (Read more about the pro-life video story HERE)

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Church Hosting Planned Parenthood Event Celebrating 42 Years in Service

By Steven Ertelt. An Episcopal Church in Wichita, Kansas is hosting an event sponsored by the Planned Parenthood abortion business to celebrate 42 years of legalized abortion. The United States marks the grim anniversary on January 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand.

Why would a church support the nation’s largest abortion business?

One pro-life person called the church and a representative said Planned Parenthood doesn’t do abortions.

The abortion giant Planned Parenthood has released its 2013 annual report and the new numbers indicate it did more abortions than the year before — killing 327,653 babies in abortions while taking in millions in taxpayer funds. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Religious Freedom Violated When a Teacher Bans Student from Using Bible

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By Billy Hallowell. Parents are accusing a teacher of violating their child’s First Amendment rights by allegedly refusing to allow him to read his Bible in school.

They claim that their son, Loyal Grandstaff, a middle school student at Bueker Middle School in Marshall, Missouri, was told by his teacher that he couldn’t read the book after he brought the Bible in and silently studied it during free time.

“I feel like it violated his freedom of religion but also his freedom of speech,” Justin Grandstaff, the 12 year old’s father said.

Loyal said that he wasn’t being loud and that he wasn’t sharing the book with his peers at the time.

“I like to read my Bible because it’s a good book,” the 7th grader told the outlet. “I was just reading, just reading because I had free time. A time to do what I wanted to, so I just broke it out and read.” (Read more about “Religious Freedom Violated” HERE)

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EEOC Says School is Wrong for Firing Teacher Who Gave Student Bible

By Todd Starnes. A New Jersey school district violated the law when it fired a teacher who handed a Bible to a student, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled on December 15, 2014. The ruling was made public Tuesday.

The EEOC determined there was reasonable cause to believe the Phillipsburg School District discriminated against Walt Tutka, a substitute teacher. The EEOC also said religion and retaliation played a factor in Tutka’s firing.

“This is a great indication the EEOC is taking religious liberty seriously and they are going to enforce the law — and in this case make sure Walt’s rights are protected,” Liberty Institute attorney Hiram Sasser told me.

“This sends a message to school districts that their natural allergic reaction to religion is misplaced, and not only is it wrong — but it’s also an egregious violation of the law,” Sasser said. (Read more from this story HERE)

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