AMERICA STILL SHOUTS 'NO!' TO HATE BILL
By Rev. Ted Pike
6 Aug 07
Last Monday morning a representative of Sen. Gordon Smith (co-sponsor
with Kennedy of the federal “anti-hate” bill) told me
that if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got the chance he wanted
to pass the hate bill before the Senate disbanded for summer. Reid’s
chance didn’t come. A tight-packed legislative calendar may
have stopped him from introducing the divisive and time-consuming
hate bill.
Also, the American people again protested. By Monday night, I had
been interviewed on nine national radio broadcasts, warning that
the hate bill might not be delayed till September but might be introduced
as early as Tuesday. Quickly, this threat topped discussion on alternative
talk radio nationwide.
On Pat Kiley’s “Follow the Money” (90 affiliates)
the message went primarily to evangelicals. On the largest talk show
website in the world, www.rense.com (15 million visits monthly),
as well as Rense’s radio program and its many affiliates, my
call to protest was heard by patriots, largely of the religious and “far” right.
Prominent voices from alternative talk radio broadcast the threat;
they included Jack Blood and Dr. Stanley Monteith of Genesis Radio
Network and John Stadtmiller and Rick Adams of the Republic Network.
As a result, thousands of calls reminded senators that Americans
don’t want the hate bill and will vote out politicians who
approve Orwellian restrictions on freedom.
Unlike several weeks ago (when the evangelical right learned that
Sens. Kennedy and Smith were attempting to attach the hate bill to
the federal Arms Reappropriations Bill), conservative Christian leaders
didn’t join this fight. They were probably concerned that Reid
hadn’t made his intentions explicit, nor had the Republican
leadership in the Senate. Also, they may have wanted to save evangelicals’ limited
powers of protest for a massive push when Congress reconvenes in
September.
However, I was free to take action because of the audiences of
alternative talk radio. At least a half a million Americans tune
in to shortwave or internet radio for truth unavailable elsewhere.
Alternative talk radio serves a much higher concentration of thinkers
and activists than mainstream religious media. I knew that, as a
force unto themselves, they would heed my call. They did. The calls
from alternative talk radio audiences functioned powerfully to restrain
possible hate bill introduction.
Most members of the Senate had no idea why they were besieged against
the hate bill again during the last hours of this session. The message
was clear: Americans care greatly and take no chances with the hate
bill. This powerfully teaches Reid, Kennedy and Smith that they won’t
be able to swiftly and quietly slip in the hate bill before Republican
senators have a chance to marshal opposition. Republican senators
were also reminded of the pulsating outrage their voters feel about
the hate bill; we expect them to battle it on the Senate floor at
any time.
Thus, last week’s protest may have decisively convinced pro-hate
bill leaders that the issue was too problematic and would incite
Republican debate, filibuster, vote on cloture, etc. - bringing the
Senate to a possible standstill in its last hours of the session.
Thank you, faithful listeners and talk show hosts—especially
you of alternative talk radio—for standing up for freedom in
this jeopardous time! The federal hate bill is by far the most dangerous
legislation ever to come before Congress. Its threat is of such magnitude
that if we err it should be on the side of over-vigilance.
You are a fighting force that does not weary of hearing the whole
truth or of being roused to battle. I’ll call on you again
in September.
Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watch dog organization.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they
have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal
it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase
this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at www.truthtellers.org for
$24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this
topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
