Indoctrination in Our Schools

Today, on the Fox News Channel beginning at 4 p.m. (and rebroadcast at 1 a.m.) broadcaster Glenn Beck and former leftist David Horowitz will discuss the topic of indoctrination in our schools.

While the problem of indoctrination is more pronounced in certain public schools nationwide, all children in the U.S. to some degree are being affected because 1) the outcomes-based educational objectives in force in each state pursue politically correct outcomes for all students, and 2) the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) test assesses all public school students to measure students' attitudes, values, and beliefs, as well as to measure their academic attainment.

Parents will want to watch this hour-long program, or catch the rebroadcast, if at all possible.

State Loses Bid for Race to the Top Grant Funds

Today, it was announced that Oklahoma's proposal to receive Race to the Top funds for so-called education reform in Oklahoma failed to win federal approval.

Conservatives statewide should cheer this announcement since Race to the Top funds are being used by the U.S. Department of Education to transition the 50 states to increased federalization of education. Their plan also includes the creation of an electronic dangan for all students, similar to what exists now in Communist China, which will bring with it a complete loss of student privacy, as we reported in this blog just last January.

In June, the state of Oklahoma, led by Gov. Brad Henry's top education advisor Kathy Taylor, can submit anoher proposal seeking these federal funds, which it is expected to do.

Will They or Won't They?

. . . pass a health care reform proposal the American people have told Washington repeatedly they don't want?

As you know, the White House plan, portions of which President Barack Obama signaled Wednesday, is for the U.S. House of Representatives to first pass the previously passed U.S. Senate bill (the infamous Christmas Eve version) without adding any House amendments. Then, the Senate will make any amendments desired by the House members (and Senate Republicans, including Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee), will offer hundreds of amendments to slow down the legislative process). Finally, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his colleagues will supposedly pass the final health care bill by simple majority using the reconciliation process. The bill would then go to President Obama.

But, there are a lot of unresolved issues. What will House members, who will all face election in November, do? What will so-called more conservative Blue-Dog Democrats, like Rep. Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) do as a group? Will they bow to pressure from the White House and Speaker Nancy Peloski (D-Calif.) and vote for the bill? Boren says he won't "over my dead body," regardless of what pressures come his way. "They may break my arms, but they'll never get my vote," Boren said.

The President has told Congressional leaders he wants a Congressional vote by Easter, now just one month away.

The cost is surely well over $1 trillion, regardless of the President's statements to the contrary. The Heritage Foundation says it will cost $2.5 trillion. One thing we know: there's fraud about the numbers. At least $250 million dedicated to provide additional funds for doctors who serve Medicaid patients (the so-called "Doctor's fix") was not included in the health care reform bill, but rather in the so-called Jobs (AKA Stimulus) bill, which just passed the Senate. That allowed the Congressional Budget Office to score the President's bill at under a trillion dollars.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has been floating the idea that there are 9 House members who voted against health care last time who are now willing to switch their votes and vote for it this time. But, many observers suggest it's all smoke and mirrors and an effort to persuade undecided House members to side with the President.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), author of the pro-life Stupak Amendment, says he has 12 House Democrats who will vote against the Senate bill because it doesn't contain protections related to a continuing ban on federal funding of abortion as did the original House bill. That's good news!

It's going to be an interesting month. Now is NOT the time for opponents of socialized medicine to give up at all. We must all redouble our efforts! Americans shouldn't permit the round hole of the best health care system in the world to be forced into accommodating the square peg dreams of Progressive, utopian, big government, European-style socialists.

To read a conservative analysis of the President's health care reform proposal prepared by The Heritage Foundation, click here.

Perkins Says President's ‘New’ HC Proposal Funds Abortion

Today, in a 20 minute speech, President Barack Obama introduced the most recent health care reform proposal and called on Congressional leaders Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid to schedule a final vote in the next few weeks.

In response, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

This new White House health care statement completely undermines President Obama's claim last week dismissing charges that the Senate bill would fund abortion as mere 'talking points.' President Obama's legislation not only maintains the Senate abortion funding provisions; it would make them worse by increasing federal funding for community health centers that could be used directly to kill unborn babies.

Ignoring the only bi-partisan provision that passed, the Stupak amendment that prevents abortion funding, the President's bill to amend the Senate bill leaves several abortion provisions in place. In Section 1303 it allows tax credit subsidies for plans that include abortion and leaves the abortion surcharge in place. It maintains the proposal to create a multi-state plan that includes abortion in Sec. 1334. Even worse, it would increase the Senate bill funding from $7 billion to $11 billion for community health centers in Sec. 10503 without any abortion funding restrictions.

"If this bill becomes law," Perkins says, "this Congress will oversee the largest ever expansion of abortion on demand at taxpayer expense."

Leaders Invited to Breakfast March 9 and Discuss Strengthening Fatherhood

Dr. Carey Casey, president of the National Center of Fathering in Kansas City, will be the speaker March 9 at an important breakfast in Oklahoma City for pastors, community leaders, youth leaders, and nonprofit executives.

Dr. Casey will lead attendees in a discussion of ways we can network and creatively address the problem of fatherlessness, absent fathers, and family fragmentation in Central Oklahoma.

This community-wide, nondenominational breakfast is being sponsored by the National Center for Fathering, Fairview Baptist Church, and Oklahoma Family Policy Council.

The breakfast, which begins at 7:00 a.m. and should conclude by 9 a.m., is free, but you must RSVP to attend. To RSVP, call Oklahoma Family Policy Council at (405) 787-7744.

Churches to Meet Thursday for Premarital Training Workshop

Tomorrow, Marriage Network Oklahoma will again present its quarterly workshop -- this time to train Oklahoma churches in how to effectively prepare couples for successful marriage.

More premarital preparation needs to be done since between 43 percent to half of all first-time marriages will end in divorce. As recently as the late 1990's, only 25% to 33% of couples attended any relationship education prior to marriage.

Today, comprehensive assessments like PREPARE help couples indentify and resolve likely conflicts prior to the marriage. Premarital classes help couples learn about common areas of concern (communication, sex, finances, children). Marriage Mentors serve as experienced guides to help newly married couples negotiate the well-worn trail of marriage.

If your church is not presently partnering with MNO, we invite you to ask your church leadership to investigate MNO and consider how we might work together (http://www.marriagenetworkok.net/).

D.C. Begins Issuing Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples

Today, officials in the District of Columbia, for the first time ever, began issuing so-called "marriage" licenses to same-sex couples. In Maryland, officials also said they would do the same.

Last night, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts refused to intervene to stop the pending issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in D.C.

Chief Justice Roberts' refusal to act perhaps signals that the U.S. Supreme Court expects to address the same-sex marriage issue soon, probably via California's Proposition 8 case, which is now working its way through the federal courts.