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

/2 Comments/in , /by

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Secret Past of Mayor de Blasio Comes to Light

/4 Comments/in , /by

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)

________________________________________________

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

White House Advisers Recommending Veto of Keystone Bill

/1 Comment/in , /by

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)

________________________________________
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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

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

/2 Comments/in , /by

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Hillary Clinton is Enlisting People for 2016 Run

/3 Comments/in , /by

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

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

/7 Comments/in , /by

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)

_______________________________________________

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)
________________________________________________

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

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

/6 Comments/in , /by

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)

_____________________________________________

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Religious Freedom Violated When a Teacher Bans Student from Using Bible

/3 Comments/in , /by

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)

_____________________________________________

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)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Former Governor Bob McDonnell Gets Two Years in Prison

/2 Comments/in , /by

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is vowing to keep fighting the bribery accusations that on Tuesday landed him a two-year prison sentence.

Outside the federal courthouse in Richmond, the Republican said he was “deeply, deeply sorry” for the actions that led to his conviction on 11 felony public corruption charges, but that he “never, ever betrayed my sacred oath of office.”

McDonnell and his attorneys vowed to appeal the convictions immediately.

The two years was a much shorter sentence than the 10 to 12 years that prosecutors had started the day asking for. But it was enough to rock McDonnell’s children, family and friends, many of whom gasped as it was read and were left wiping away tears. When McDonnell left, his wife, Maureen McDonnell, who could face a similar sentence herself, remained in the courtroom, sobbing.

His sentencing was the culmination of the dramatic downfall of the Republican governor once heralded as a rising star — tapped to give the party’s 2010 rebuttal to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union, and a fixture on short lists for national office. (Read more about former Governor Bob McDonnell HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.

Obama Administration Pushed Through $181.5 Billion in Regulations Last Year

/1 Comment/in , /by

Photo Credit: WNDBy Fox News. The Obama administration pushed through $181.5 billion in regulations last year, according to a new report from a conservative think tank that claimed the rules will lead to higher energy bills, more expensive consumer goods and fewer jobs.

The new rules mostly focus on clean energy and vehicle regulations, said the American Action Forum, which issued the report Monday. The state that was hit the hardest by new regulations was California, which was slapped with $7.9 billion in new rules, followed by Texas ($6.5 billion) and Ohio ($3.4 billion).

“What do these huge sums mean for individuals? Higher energy prices, pricier household goods, a more expensive mortgage, and the promise of yet another year of unrelenting regulatory growth,” concludes the report, which was authored by Sam Batkins, the group’s director of regulatory policy. “No one can accuse the president of abandoning his promises on regulation in 2014.” (Read more about the money Obama Administration used HERE)

______________________________________________

Obama has Threatened to Veto Keystone Pipeline Approval

By The Wall Street Journal. The Obama administration said Tuesday it would veto legislation that would authorize the Keystone XL pipeline or make a change Republicans want to the Affordable Care Act, hardening battle lines on top GOP priorities the day the party took control of both chambers of Congress.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama would veto legislation approving TransCanada Corp. ’s proposed pipeline, which would send up to 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada’s oil sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast. Mr. Earnest also said the president wouldn’t sign a potential tweak to the health law to alter its definition of a full-time worker, a move that would allow businesses to cover fewer workers.

Congressional Republicans consider Keystone XL’s approval one of their top legislative goals and placed it at the front of their agenda as the 114th Congress opened on Tuesday. (Read more from this story HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.