Israel vs. The IRS

Governing is about making decisions. Sometimes the decisions are easy, and sometimes they are tough. 

Last night, Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives faced, in my opinion, a very easy decision – aid to our ally Israel to fight the terrorists of Hamas or more money for more IRS agents to harass hard-working Americans.  (Remember, Democrats gave the IRS an extra $80 billion last year!)

Republicans overwhelmingly chose to support Israel with an additional $14.3 billion in emergency aid. They paid for this emergency wartime aid by cutting $14.3 billion from Joe Biden’s bloated IRS. But House Democrats overwhelmingly chose the IRS. 

The vote was 226 to 196 – with 99% of Republicans backing aid to Israel and 94% of Democrats backing the IRS.

There was another important vote last night, and I’m pleased to report that there was much more agreement this time. 

The House overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning the support for Hamas on our university campuses that is creating an atmosphere of hate and bigotry aimed at Jewish students.

The vote was 396 to 23. It should have been unanimous, but it’s telling that 96% of the “No” votes came from Democrats.

Democrats Demand A Cease-fire

Emboldened by Joe Biden’s call for Israel to “pause” its military operations against Hamas, 13 Senate Democrats yesterday issued their own statement demanding a cease-fire. Meanwhile, 17 House Democrats have introduced a resolution demanding a cease-fire in “occupied Palestine.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv today to pressure the Israeli government to accept a “pause” or cease-fire. Again, make no mistake about it – the Biden White House is being driven by fear of losing states like Michigan and Minnesota.

Demands for a cease-fire or pause are absurd and counterproductive. Can you imagine the response of the American people, if just one month after 9/11, any other nation had demanded that we stop fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban? 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the pressure from the Biden White House, but seemingly opened the door to the possibility of a cease-fire if the hostages are released. 

Well, that can’t be goal of this military operation. The goal was to wipe out Hamas to ensure that Hamas could never again launch another attack like October 7th.

Why is Israel the only nation that is supposed to give in to terrorism or restrain itself in the face of such evil? And where is Israel’s “peace partner”? 

The latest poll of Palestinians continues to find overwhelming support for Hamas and overwhelming opposition to the idea of a “two-state” solution with Israel (two states – Israel and a Palestinian state – living side-by-side in peace).

The September poll found that 67% of Palestinians oppose the “two-state” solution; 58% support armed violence against Israel; and the same percentage of Palestinians (58%) would vote for the terrorists of Hamas over the Fatah Party, led by Holocaust denier Mahmoud Abbas, if new elections were held.

The Culture War Matters

As we have reported, the Biden Administration and some states are attempting to force adoption agencies run by faith-based organizations to violate the teachings of their faith in order to receive any kind of federal assistance. 

They are requiring that adoptive and foster parents, even Christian parents, accept radical LGBTQ ideology and “affirm” whatever gender delusions the children placed in their homes may be struggling with.

I’m pleased to report that two members of the House of Representatives – Reps. Josh Breechen (R-OK) and Mary Miller (R-IL) – have introduced legislation to stop this. 

While this bill might pass the House, there is no way it will pass Chuck Schumer’s Senate. And even if it did, Joe Biden would veto the bill. 

This is yet another reminder to Christian leaders that the longer you push the myth that Christians shouldn’t be involved in politics, you’re guaranteeing that Christians will be relegated to living in cultural slums, completely isolated from the mainstream of American life.

Left-wing Lunacy

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified this week that Hamas’s attack against Israel has inspired the greatest terrorist threat to America since ISIS. He clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. 

The “experts” at the liberal media outlet Salon published an article yesterday setting the record the straight: “MAGA And Christian Nationalism: Bigger Threat To America Than Hamas Could Ever Be.” 

Of course, the article was another insane smear against Speaker Mike Johnson and conservative Americans.

Hamas just decapitated and murdered 1,400 Israelis. Its supporters in the streets of major cities around the world and on our university campuses are calling for another Holocaust.

What are Speaker Johnson and MAGA supporters doing? 

They are demanding protections for free speech and religious liberty. They are fighting for the sanctity of life. 

They are demanding secure borders and secure elections. They want to end endless wars that are bankrupting our country. 

They want to protect Jewish students from harassment. They are fighting to ensure that our children are taught about American exceptionalism and the idea that God’s hand was in the creation of our country.

But Salon and the neo-Marxist left think those beliefs are dangerous and a threat to America greater than Hamas. If their worldview succeeds, it will result in normal conservatism being criminalized.

Break Glass Now!

At a recent event for the James Dobson Family Institute, several speakers, including me, noted that conservatives are often asked to donate to a variety of good causes and ministries. At the same time, donors want to make sure they have enough savings for their family and their retirement. 

That’s laudable and very wise. But these are not normal times, and the hour is late indeed.

I and the other speakers also noted that if the neo-Marxist and increasingly anti-Semitic, neo-fascist left consolidates more power in America, you won’t need to worry about your money – because you won’t be allowed to keep it.

They will accuse you of stealing it, ripping off the hard work of others, and they will demand reparations.  They’ll say something like, “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that!” 

Sadly, too many Americans still don’t get it. They don’t realize just what time it is. This is an emergency. It’s time to break the glass.

Pray For the Persecuted Church

This Sunday, November 5th, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  Hundreds of millions of Christians around the world live in nations where they face severe persecution for their faith.

As a former Trump appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, I am all too aware of the dangers many Christians endure for a right far too many Americans take for granted.

For example, Nigerian Christians are routinely slaughtered by militant Islamists.  Christians in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip are frequently attacked and discriminated against. And as I have repeatedly warned, China is waging war against all faiths, including Christianity.

Chinese Christians are being forced to take down pictures of Jesus and worship the communist dictator instead.  The Chinese Communist Party is even rewriting the Bible!

Click here for more information on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

If your pastor does not mention Christian persecution overseas this Sunday, please encourage him to make it a priority in future sermons, and to plan early for next year's International Day of Prayer.

Defending Faith, Family & Freedom

In this week’s “Defending Faith, Family, and Freedom” podcast for the James Dobson Family Institute, I celebrate the election of Rep. Mike Johnson as the new Republican Speaker of the House and debunk the left-wing smears against his faith.

Other Headlines

• Representatives Ken Buck and Kay Granger announced this week that they will not seek reelection in 2024.  

• Crypto conman Sam Bankman-Fried, a top donor to progressive causes, was convicted on multiple criminal fraud charges. He’s facing 115 years in jail.

• A federal judge temporarily blocked the Biden Administration from dismantling border barriers erected by the state of Texas.

• Homeschooling is the fastest growing form of education in America, up 51% over the past six years, while government-run school enrollment is down 4%.

• Nine governors sent a letter to the NCAA demanding a fair environment for female athletes.

• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin fired Eventbrite for sympathizing with Hamas and banning Riley Gaines. You should boycott Eventbrite, too!