The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has never been much interested in hosting honest discussion of the jihad terror threat. I was on a panel there in 2003, and in 2007 debated both Dinesh D’Souza and “moderator” Suhail Khan on Islam and the jihad threat (partial video here). I was on various AFDI panels while we were still able to have them there, but I haven’t been back since Suhail Khan flew into a hysterical rage at CPAC 2012 when I challenged him to debate, except for an appearance on Breitbart’s “Uninvited” panel in 2013.
Not only has CPAC consistently dissembled about the nature and magnitude of the jihad threat, but it has also shown a disturbing tendency to dance to the tune of the Left. Saul Alinsky’s 13th Rule for Radicals is “‘Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.‘ Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.” The Left consistently does this; in the case of counter-jihadis (including me), it presents our statements, however correct and demonstrable, as egregious and individual to us — that’s freezing and personalizing the target. Then Leftists move to “cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy,” demanding that others on the Right disavow and condemn, or at very least shun, the target. And establishment conservatives have always willingly played along, allowing their associations and allies to be dictated by their enemies.
I’ve been the recipient of both the Alinsky treatment and the shunning from caitiffs on the Right, including CPAC, for years, but I’ve never seen a more nauseating example of CPAC’s cravenness, cowardliness and dishonesty than what has played out with my colleague Pamela Geller over the last ten days. Since last September, Geller has been trying to get a room at CPAC for an AFDI event, even offering to pay sponsorship fees, which are pricey, since sponsoring organizations are given a room in which they can hold an event. CPAC stonewalled and ran out the clock. Finally on February 14, she submitted a proposal for a panel discussion entitled “Suppression of Conservative Views on Social Media: A First Amendment Issue.” She added a list of proposed speakers, including James Damore, Google whistleblower; Harmeet K. Dhillon, renowned free speech attorney; Dan Gainor, Vice President for Business and Culture, Media Research Center; Jim Hoft, Editor-in-Chief, Gateway Pundit; James O’Keefe, Project Veritas; and Marlene Jaeckel, Tech Entrepreneur. I know this because I consulted with Pamela Geller at the time about the focus of this panel and who the speakers should be, before she submitted this proposal to CPAC.
CPAC’s Dan Schneider and Matt Schlapp approved this panel, but would not let it be an AFDI event. Schneider and Schlapp insisted that the panel be sponsored by the American Principles Project (APP), which neither Geller nor I had ever heard of. Otherwise, however, they made no changes — until shortly thereafter, when Hoft enraged the Leftist establishment by noting what has been likewise observed by many people — that the pro-gun control students speaking out in the wake of the Florida school shooting appeared coached. As condemnations rained down on Hoft from the likes of Chelsea Clinton and Paul Krugman, CPAC again rushed to do the Left’s bidding. APP top dog Terry Schilling, a board member of the American Conservative Union (ACU), which hosts CPAC, demanded that Hoft be dropped from the panel. Geller refused to play lapdog for the Left, and so Schilling and CPAC canceled the panel.
And then they stole it.
Today at CPAC there is a panel entitled “Suppression of Conservative Views on Social Media: A First Amendment Issue” and featuring Damore, Dhillon, Gainor, O’Keefe, and Jaeckel. Hmmm, where did they get the idea for such an event? CPAC claims that it was all their idea. CPAC officials issued CPAC staffers talking points on various issues, so that they would march in lockstep in the media (very conservative, that). One of these talking points stated: “CPAC sponsor APP is hosting a panel discussion on conservative voices being silenced on the internet. APP invited Pamela Geller to participate on the panel. She initially accepted but she then made her participation contingent on APP including another person who was obviously a poor choice. Pamela is actively promoting a version of events that are intentionally inaccurate designed to mislead and mischaracterize the construction of this presentation. She is no longer a participant, her claims that the panel is cancelled are false and the panel will move forward as intended.”
This is, to put it politely, a pack of lies. APP did not originate this panel. It did not invite Geller to participate. She did not make her participation contingent on anyone else being included. She is not promoting a false version of event; they are. In reality, Geller originated the panel. APP was added on by CPAC. Hoft was on the panel from the beginning, with CPAC’s agreement. When CPAC insisted that Hoft be dropped because the Left was angry with him, Geller refused, whereupon CPAC canceled the panel. I know all this because I have been involved with this imbroglio at every step of the way.
I knew CPAC brass, including Dan Schneider, Matt Schlapp, and Terry Schilling, were cowardly. I didn’t know they were a bunch of liars and thieves. But they are: this panel is going on today, with Geller’s title and Geller’s speakers. CPAC stole the whole thing.
CPAC’s attendance has been declining over the years. We can only hope it will keep on zooming down, all the way to zero, or that CPAC will soon get a complete overhaul in leadership, to bring in some people with some integrity.
RonaldB says
I remember Robert’s report of his encounter with Suhil Khan. It was obvious at the time, and continues to be obvious, that CPAC is a lavishly-funded event, totally dependent on the largess of its financial sponsors, fat, lazy and sloppy. You can look to CPAC for original contributions as much as you can look to the majority of cable and broadcast “news” stations, in reality a sedate branch of the entertainment industry.
You simply can’t depend on an organization or movement that spends itself into dependence on its contributors.
Fox News does have some decent news reporters and commentators, but even an iconoclast like Tucker Carlson has to remain within obvious boundaries to continue his show.
Diane Harvey says
CPAC did this to the John Birch Society years ago.
Wellington says
I am no fan of CPAC, indeed I think it should be called FCPAC (Faux Conservative Political Action Conference), but as bad as CPAC is, the John Birch Society is even worse. To the great credit of a true conservative like William Buckley, Jr., who passed away ten years ago, he helped rid the conservative movement of any association with the John Birch Society which is not conservative but reactionary, paranoid and loony-tune. Reconsider.
Mac-101 says
Research Democrat US Represenative Larry McDonald and KAL/007!
Mac-101 says
Also look and see if Larry McDonald being interviewed by a young Pat Buchanan in 1983 is still on U-Tube!!!
Light_n_Fluffy says
Mac-101 – Wow, thanks for pointing out that video. Back then I never missed Crossfire but I was always firmly on Braden’s side. Assuming I saw this originally, I would have thought that McDonald was a nutter. In hindsight though, pretty well everything he said is coming to pass. One slight thing I would disagree on is I think we’re headed towards a socialist NWO rather than a communist one but other than that, it’s happening. The nation state is an absolute evil in the minds of the globalist elite and they are determined to abolish them.
Mac-101 says
Thanks Light. I haven’t seen that video for about 12 years. I was in Iraq and we had AFN in the TOC. They had an interview with the President of the JBS and he was so hokey I figure out it had to be a joke. I spent a week or so and tracked down the establishment of the JBS. That’s when I saw the books/articles that layed out the JBS creation and Rockefeller backin of it to be used as a tool to discredit the Right.
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Please spend about 4 hours and Research Larry McDonald and KAL 007. That was the second shock of my life seeing what THEY will do to silence a person, even a sitting Congressman and kill almost 300 people to do so! The realization that a VAST Conspiracy backed the killin of JFK and the cover up for 50+ years was the first!
DBM echo says
If I’ve learned anything from Robert it’s to go to original sources. Which I did for this BIrch Society. Nothing I’ve read in the website gives me any cause for alarm. Obviously I haven’t had the time to go through everything, but what I did see I agree with.
Where should I be looking?
Mac-101 says
Look at the above I mentioned. Larry McDonald was the second president of the JBS and was directing it to NOT only fight communism but to fight Globalization and the lost of sovereignty of the USA. HE dies o KAL 007. I very good read. It will take about 4 hours of research to git totally sick to your stomach about KAL 007!
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About 10 years ago I researched it’s founding pretty extensively and it looked like Rockefeller financed it big time through his numerous fake organizations to keep tabs on the right wing of the Republican party. The RePug party has always been divided between the Country Club Elites and the grass root Independents!
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Some say the JBS threw the election of Barry Goldwater on purpose for their Secrete Rockefeller Puppet masters by comin out with some really crazy stuff at the end. The proverbial October Surprise!
Wellington says
Nothing should give you cause for alarm about the John Birch Society? Here’s something that should give you cause for alarm: The founder of the John Birch Society, Robert Welch, accused Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States of America, of being pro-Communist and guilty of treason. To this very day, at least to my knowledge, the John Birch Society has NEVER repudiated this charge of one of the finest Americans of all time, the George Washington of 20th-century America.
This helps explain in part why a true conservative like William F. Buckley, Jr. did a great service to the conservative cause by exposing and then extirpating the John Birch Society from main-stream modern conservatism.
If one wants to fight what Islam intends for us all, a stupid way of doing so is to embrace the John Birch Society as a positive. Does the JB Society sometimes stumble into the truth (e.g., about the UN)? Of course. But this doesn’t add up to supporting this organization. Indeed, one gravely harms the fight against Islamic supremacism when one looks to an organization like the John Birch Society for inspiration.
For God’s sake, fighting Islam requires being as smart and informed as one can be. Does anyone with any kind of sense think that describing Eisenhower as a tool of the Communists and guilty of treason represents in any way being as smart as one can be?
I am angry here. Loon material accepted and endorsed does NOT advance the cause what Islam intends for us all. Indeed, it aids said cause. LEARN.
Wellington says
Correction: “Loon material accepted and endorsed DOES advance the cause which Islam intends for us all.”
Damn, I do hate how incorrectly writing a negative (or sometimes not writing a negative) accomplishes an unintended 180.
So, let me be as clear as I am capable of being: The John Birch Society, which accused Eisenhower of treason, is not the kind of society that one should endorse if one is keen on thwarting Islam’s many nefarious intentions. Quite the contrary in fact (gee, I do hope I have my negatives, or lack thereof, in proper order this time).
gravenimage says
Yes, Wellington–I was just going to mention the bizarre charge that staunch conservative Eisenhower was a tool of the Communists and guilty of treason.
Even Barry Goldwater, who could be critical of the Eisenhower admistration, realized this was ridiculous calumny and distanced himself from the John Birch Society.
On of their biggest bugaboos now is the existance of the Federal Reserve System, and they do not believe that any amendments to the Constitutions are legal.
While I am certainly cautious about amendments, if these were all invalidated we not have the Bill of Rights–and I’m not sure any reasonable person can argue Americans would be better off without them.
While I do agree with the John Birch Society on a few discrete matters like the US withdrawing from the United Nations, overall I regard them with a very jaundiced eye.
Frank Scarn says
Goldwater
Rockefeller
Eisenhower
some guy named McDonald (who?)
Is someone living in the past? What’s all this got to do with today. Are these commentators trying to bring back the 1950s, which is like a million years ago. One of them mentioned something about loons. Maybe so.
Mac-101 says
If you follow history there has been a trend to centralize ALL National Banks under certain Elites. Our government has significantly changed since the establishment of the FED. I surely have NO time now to researched past events. But if you do read books “The Creature for Jenkel Island” is a great old book that explains the purpose of the FED. All decisions in our country and the world is based on Money and Power.
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Another dead ole White man, FDR said “Nothing in Politics happens by accident”. It is ALL planed out.
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The JBS society has many initials financial links that can be traced back to Rockefeller. To understand the Republican Party of Today one must understand the dynamics of the Republican Party in the past. The Progressives/Neo Bolsheviks/Commies always establish and control the opposition. As Wellington said, in the heat of the 1964 Presidential Election the JBS said Eisenhower was a Commie. This really took the sails out of the Goldwater campaign and insured the election of LBJ. LBJ was a definite Globalist lackey while Goldwater was a true Patriot. .
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Eisenhower was extremely liked and respected General and President and the JBS KNEW it would hurt Goldwater extensively.
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US Represenative Larry McDonald was the Second President of the JBS and was NOT controlled by the Globalist. The Agency most likely directed KAL 007 the furthest ever a passenger airliner ever penetrated the USSR directly over a Top Secret Soviet Airbase while a Tip Secrete Test was being performed. The Russians attempted to intercept the aircraft over an hour prior to them shootin it down killin almost 300 people.
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The JBS went back to being a comic relief organization after McDonalds death. Mission Accomplished.
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How this matters today? Numerous ways. One is that Trump very while may be controlled Opposition since he and his son-in-law have benefited in the hundreds of millions from SOROS! It’s the ole game of Good Cop/Bad Cop. If he is he is playin the role exceptionally well.
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PS: Some people claim that the CEO of the Russian firm who was involved in the Uranium 1 deal was on the Russian aircraft that went down with 70+ people. Almost the entire Polish Government a few years back went down in an aircraft. The Clinton’s also have a record of problems goin down in aircraft.
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The future belongs to people who understand the present through the past.
Emilie Green says
Well, the loons have shown up. Check.
Mac-101 says
Ms Emile, so you believe our Elites are just ignorant of the behavior of and the risk the Muslim hordes are to Western Civilization. They welcome them into Europe just due to their stupidity?
Lydia Church says
You know how it goes. When you know stuff, you are never believed, it’s all over their heads, and they label you a ‘conspiracy theorist.’ I don’t know all the details but I know the big picture and what you say chimes true. As if there are never any conspiracies, so why bother theorizing about them anyway? On that note, we can toss out all scientists, detectives, intellectuals of all varieties, because they are simply too inconvenient to the powerful who don’t need them spilling the beans. After all, the elite already know what is going on, that it is true anyway, and why should all the uninformed masses be educated? Let them remain ignorant, it helps their cause…. so they just label anyone who knows stuff as a ‘conspiracy theorist.’ Just like those who oppose islam are ‘islamophobes.’ The list goes on…
Thanks for sharing, some of us get it.
StellaSaidSo says
Well said, Lydia. It’s not a ‘theory’ when there really is a conspiracy.
Debra says
President Trump yesterday at CPAC referred to the jihadist at the Chattanooga attack a “maniac”. It’s a not-so-insignificant change in language and should not be overlooked.
Mac-101 says
Thank u Ms Lydia, Stella and Debra. I am the first to state I do NOT know the full story. But observing the “Transformation” of America for the last 65 years I can put forth a reasonable hypothesis. Almost all of the individual statements I make can be backed up, even in MSM. When you put them ALL together it is NOT a Purdy picture and points to only one thing.
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Let me recap the main point covered in JW. Massive Muslim Immigration into Western Countries is by PLAN and is not in anyway beneficial to the majority of the citizens in those countries. The majority of the Elites will suffer also if even the best plans of controlling Islam and using it for their control measures over the populace work out as planned. And as we know, plans never work out exactly as planned!
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Second let me use only ONE current event. The Russian probe. Trump and his campaign staff’s possible involvement is minuscule compared to the out right documented Shenanigan’s of the Obama/Clinton tem and the Clinton Crime Foundation. Let alone NO ONE has the courage to bring up Podesta’s “Hacked”, in reality mostly likely leaked, emails contents and Seth Rich’ murder!
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And there is the little matter of hundreds of Millions of Oil Tick, Chi-Com and RUSSIAN money made it’s way into the Clinton Crime Foundation, including Uranium 1’s payoff!
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Lastly Hillary committed major criminal actions in her use of an unsecured server and improperly handling classified, let alone Above Top Secret Documents and was NOT prosecuted and imprisoned! To top it off she was responsible for and created guidance on the proper handling of these documents which she flagrantly disregarded which resulted in numerous compromising of classified data and supposedly a few deaths of our operatives!
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There is NO Conspiracy?
Philip McDonald says
Current panel should be aware of these details!
PRCS says
Likely afraid a knowledgeable speaker will tell them–on live television, even–that no Muslim practices “radical” Islam–as there’s no such thing, and that every “radical Islamic terrorist is a devout Muslim supremacist, and that only the uninformed and the deceitful use the word “Islamophobia”.
don vito says
Very disappointed to read what goes on behind the scenes at CPAC. Pamela Gellar, along with Robert Spencer are the gold standard, the go to people when it comes to freedom of speech issue.
RichardL says
I can’t begin to feel the frustration that Robert and Pamela must feel. For that alone they have my sincere gratitude.
Larry Singleton says
Rotten Scum. CPAC blocked my comments. You can tell who the “real” people are when they don’t block your comments. Pretty despicable considering they dare to call themselves “conservatives”. No better than the fascist Left.
https://www.facebook.com/CPACNews/
https://www.facebook.com/ACUConservative
Surprisingly the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC) hasn’t blocked my many comments although they may have removed/deleted/censored a few. Unfortunately I can’t get any to engage me on any of the issues I’ve brought up.
Letter to the Islamic Center of Southern California 1-4-18
My name is Larry A. Singleton. I live in Riverside California. This morning I read a Daily Caller article: California Prosecutes Man for Posting Anti-Muslim Messages on Facebook by Anders Hagstrom.
And this evening I just finished a long draft of a letter just before watching the video by Dr. Maher Hathout (ICSC member) on “Islamophobia”. I thought I’d post some preliminary thoughts here and see what happens.
I was encouraged by what he said at the beginning but finally saw what it was all about when he started going on about a “counter (counter-propaganda) campaign” and going to the US Congress to “demand” that they hold hearings on “Islamophobia”.
As far as I’m concerned this “Friday sermon” or whatever it was, was targeted towards those with little knowledge of Islam and little knowledge that Muslims have already had an unfortunately, wildly successful, “Islamophobia” campaign going on courtesy of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) for years.
I noted that Dr. Hathout said that they should “have a counter campaign of truth and face the campaign of hate with a campaign of openness and love. Determination to open up and reach out.”
Really?
The first thought that popped up in my head was how many times I have also been blocked when I’ve “reached out” to Muslims to help explain some of the negative things I learned about Islam. Especially in the beginning……
gravenimage says
Larry, I would not count on your ever hearing back from the Islamic Center of Southern California. It is generally better to work to educate Infidels about the threat from Islam than to expect pious Muslims to engage you.
Generally, they have spouted a lot of Taqiyya about Jihad terrorism.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
It’s easy to look good when you avoid the difficult subjects. It’s easy to look conservative when you avoid the greatest challenges to conservative principles. Shame on Matt Schapp. I’ll never be able to look at him the same when appears on Fox RINO. But this is the normal circumstance. Sigh.
gravenimage says
CPAC censors, hijacks AFDI free speech panel
Today at CPAC there is a panel entitled “Suppression of Conservative Views on Social Media: A First Amendment Issue”
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So CPAC is hosting a panel on the suppression of conservative view on social media, after having suppressed the conservative views of the person who put the panel together? Good grief.
There was a time when I thought CPAC was a potentially important venue in the fight against Jihad; now, they don’t even seem good on general conservative issues.
And leaving all politics aside, their treatment of Pamela Geller would be shameful in any context. So sorry to hear this.
Sam says
Disappointing but not surprised. Political correctness is not a liberal disease only. Conservative orgs and republican party are not immune to PC. Shame on those who say they promote freedom of speech and do just the opposite and lie.
We have to have an effective strategy to fight Islam but I don’t know what it is. Educating the ignorant is a tough endeavor and my experience is that it does not work in the short run.
God please help the infidel!
Vann Boseman says
Yes, no one should be surprised that CPAC would do this. I think that we are lucky that they even bothered to have a panel that they entitled.”Suppression of Conservative Views on Social Media: A First Amendment Issue.” At least they recognized that it was an idea worth stealing. CPAC is about big money and marketing ideas to win elections in a kind of, at least ostensibly, conservative image.
For me, I am here because I walk my talk concerning free speech and believe that I am protected in that way here.
I believe one great strategy against Islam, perhaps among many, is education. Islam, apparently knowingly, suffers from the light of day. From the Koran to the origin of the word Islamophobia, it is built on lies. Education pursued in a redundant manner is a great weapon. One person saying that the emperor has no clothes is one person saying the truth that all can see and say. But often that one person is needed to point out the obvious. Do say the truth, loud and often. FB, even though it supports the lies of Islam still allows speech supporting the truth much of the time. It is not my place to complain and go away just because they do not support freedom of the speech all the time, or in principle. It would be great if FB was beyond reproach, but that is not the case.
It is hard to know for sure what is accepted as true by the people you may contact in any sort of way. Simply, do not EVER stand for lies concerning Islam to stand. I know that my silence can be confused with consent and submission. I try to be clear. That is best for me morally and as a strategy.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Mr Spencer, Jihad fighting is a threat to world oppressors and Can only end when True jesus descends and ends oppression by defeating the Dujjal.
boakai ngombu says
itace, when the TRUE JESUS appears, it will be the END, and, unless you turn from the way of the allah god of islam (unknowable; the best of all deceivers) and its exemplar to humankind, muhammad (laterly contrived; full of lusts; having no compassion), you shall stand condemned to HELL.
so, try to know the GOD/MAN – Jesus, as presented in the BIBLE. He would bless the repentant heart with LIFE and sends the Holy Spirit to grant you assurance of that.
don vito says
itace, my how your nose grows. -40.237
Ed Lee says
All these labels, Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, left, right, are all contrived devices to confuse us and obfuscate the true purpose of politicians, which is the consolidation of power. ALL politicians are lying, deceitful, untrustworthy people. We are going to have to fight to win our freedom back. Get prepared!
vlparker says
Yeah, CPAC is utterly useless. The panel on islam last year with Sebastian Gorka, Mike Waltz and Zuhdi Jasser was a joke. They are utterly clueless about islam and they are put forth as experts. The only reason to have such a panel is to purposefully obfuscate.
The panelists should have refused to speak.
mortimer says
CPAC should do the right thing and call Pamela Geller, apologize and invite her to attend for free. Then offer her a platform to speak.
Conservatives are the targets of RED-GREEN AXIS of EVIL and they will find that they need to be INFORMED about what is going on between their ATTACKERS.
The LEFT and MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD BOTH USE THE SAME DECEITFUL and DEVIOUS TACTICS and so they get on well as long as they have a common enemy.
Lydia Church says
Platforms for freedom of speech? They are all falling like dominoes.
Freedom of speech will amount to us out there with a picket sign like in the Flintstone era.
It matters not what is on paper in the Constitution.
1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment… whatever.
If they can convince and persuade the masses against it, or smother it, practically…it does not exist.
(Existentially it does, it just won’t be recognized as our right.)
Mac-101 says
Well stated Sista. The Satanic Elite Tech Scum are workin hand in hand with the Chi-Coms to shut down the Internet like in China. It will be game over and we ALL will become mushrooms!
MFritz says
Don’t take the CPAC serious. Too many RINOs and they promplty threw out Milo when the press lied their ASSES off about him being a “pedophile”. They’re mostly a bunch of lazy opportunists and would pander to islam as much as the Democrats if it only gave them better ratings.
Mac-101 says
Does Grover Norquest still make the rounds givin out Oil tick money wrapped up and hidden behind the Tax Reform and NRA banner?
John Stefan Obeda says
Dear Robert and dear Pamela, you see how difficult it is to spread the truth. But, as you Mr. Spencer like to say at the end of your speeches: “We know that we will win because we have and we speak the truth.” In spite of His own disappointments while He was here on earth, Jesus continued on and He still does so now, as you know. So, as He continues, so may God help you to continue your good work to preserve our liberty.. “God, help them and all others who see the truth to continue on in spite of many disappointments.” In fact, the truth is even more important than our feelings and life, isn’t it? Jesus died and so have many others died for the sake of the truth. God help us.
carpediadem says
Why is CPAC against AFDI?
I would have thought they have similar aims.
Alinsky’s 13th rule is practiced mercilessly on Israel and Israelis by the Left and projihad Muslims.