The Left’s empty threats may have made a chicken out of Governor Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), but it’s certainly not slowing down other states. In Mississippi, Governor Phil Bryant (R) isn’t about to tuck tail and run when liberals try to blackmail leaders into killing religious liberty bills or “lose business.” That may have worked in Indiana and Georgia, but Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas know better. In fact, the Magnolia State is so unconcerned with the Big Business bravado that they haven’t just passed any religious freedom bill — but the best, most robust version yet.

This week, the House and Senate gave broad approval to a measure that wouldn’t just protect churches (which Governor Deal refused to), but public officials, businesses, and faith-based organizations from state-sponsored persecution for their beliefs. As far as Mississippi is concerned, anyone with a natural view of marriage, gender, and sexuality should be just as free to live out their convictions as the LGBT crowd that attack them. To the Left’s familiar — and false — arguments, state officials remind everyone: “[H.B. 1523] takes no rights away from anyone. It gives protection to those in the state who cannot in good conscience provide services for a same-sex marriage.” After sailing through the Senate 31-17, the “Religious Liberty Accommodations Act” goes back to the House to reconcile a few differences, and then on to Governor Bryant’s desk. Like North Carolina’s Governor Pat McCrory (R), conservatives in Mississippi understand that corporate and liberal bullies will keep going down this path until they get pushback from voters and state leaders.

And pushback is exactly what Governor McCrory is giving to totalitarians like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), who was so adamant that grown men should be able to shower with our daughters that he’s banning “non-essential” city employee travel to North Carolina in protest! That’s interesting, McCrory fired back on this morning’s “Fox & Friends” since New York doesn’t have that law on their own books!

“It’s demagoguery at its worse,” he said. “I don’t think the state of New York has such a law, [forcing] businesses to force people of one gender to be able to use the restroom and shower facilities in their businesses. So [Cuomo] might need to boycott his own state at this point in time.” Not to mention, McCrory pointed out, the New York governor just got back from the Cuban regime. “Is this the kind of democracy we’re going to have? You’re going to go to Cuba, and then tell people not to come to North Carolina? There’s a lot of hypocrisy.”

At its core, he explained, if “you have the anatomy of a man, you shouldn’t use the women’s restroom, shower or locker room facility. It’s basic common sense. It’s etiquette of privacy that we have had for decades. And it’s amazing that the national politically correct police have descended on my state and unfairly smeared my state.” As to the threats from sports leagues and other businesses, he shrugs them off. “[Houston] rejected the exact same ordinance by 61 percent of the vote by the people… and there are no protests or boycotts of Houston, Texas during the Final Four basketball tournament — nor should there be. So none of these corporations that are now criticizing North Carolina, they’re all going to be advertising during the NCAA championship, and there’s a lot of corporate and political and media elite hypocrisy about this.”

Watch the full interview below, but our hats go off to Governor McCrory for showing other states that the best way to beat bullies is to ignore them! For more on the Left’s march for special privileges, check out Travis Weber’s new piece in Public Discourse, “Freedom of Conscience and New ‘LGBT Rights’ in International Human Rights Law.”

Originally published here.

Trump Tries to Clear the Err

In case anyone was wondering, Donald Trump is an equal opportunity offender. The Republican front-runner made that abundantly clear yesterday when he managed to insult people on both sides of the abortion debate with his ill-informed comments. As part of a taped town hall, Trump told Chris Matthews that the answer to abortion is “that there has to be some form of punishment… People in certain parts of the Republican Party, conservative Republicans, would say, ‘Yes, it should,’” “For the woman?” Matthews asked. “Yes,” Trump replied, “there has to be some form.”

As soon as the leaked statement hit newswires, the campaign was facing a media firestorm, as Americans from across the political spectrum lashed out at the idea of holding women criminally liable for their decision, which comes at a time of emotional distress. Like almost everyone else, FRC was stunned. As I said last night on Fox Business (video below), I don’t know a single conservative Republican who thinks that we should punish women for having an abortion. Most of the movement, FRC included, has spent decades arguing that U.S. laws should hold the abortionists accountable — never the woman. Abortion is devastating to mothers — physically, emotionally, and psychologically. And the idea that we treat them as villains, not victims, runs counter to everything pro-lifers stand for.

After facing a circular firing squad, Donald must have gotten the message. The Trump camp scrambled to clarify — making three statements within three hours. Ultimately, it landed on the position that pro-lifers always held: “the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman.” Hillary Clinton wasted no time pouncing on the gift Donald Trump gave her, insisting that “the Republicans all line up together,” suggesting that this is the secret position of every Republican. It was an unfortunate moment for the liberals’ dream opponent. There isn’t enough airtime for all of the attack ads the Left could run on Trump’s soundbites. And while people admire the mogul’s bluntness, it’ll be difficult to find many who agree with him on this one.

We’re grateful he corrected himself, but this whole incident suggests that Donald should spend more time with pro-life conservatives to gain a better appreciation of what their goals and objectives really are. Instead, he’s still using the talking points the Left uses to malign conservatives — and that does significant harm, not just to his campaign but to conservatives as a whole. As our own Ken Blackwell told USA Today, “Trump has been all over the map on issues of principle. He has established a pattern that is indicative of his inexperience.” Dr. Ben Carson, meanwhile, who the Trump campaign tapped to help clean up the mess, went on CNN and made matters worse. “Bear in mind,” the former candidate said, “I don’t believe he was warned that the question was coming, and I don’t think he really had a chance to think about it.” But here’s the issue most conservatives have with Trump: You shouldn’t have to “expect” a question to know the issue or your position.

His opponent, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), pointed to this fundamental mistake as part of a troubling trend. “It’s the latest demonstration of how little Donald has through about any of the serious issues facing this country. I am pro-life. Being pro-life means standing and defending the unborn. But it also means defending moms. Defending women. And defending the incredible gift women have to bring life into the world. And Donald’s comments, they were unfortunate, they were wrong, and I strongly disagree with it.”

No wonder Ted leads Trump with Wisconsin’s female Republicans 39-24 percent! He understands that creating a culture of life also means creating a culture that respects women. And while Donald Trump has been amazingly resilient though months of mistakes and inconsistencies, it will be interesting to see how the country responds to another botched answer. The presidency is serious business. And the last thing conservatives need is an apprentice on core values like life.

Originally published here.

A Word for the Wise

President Obama may not think America is a Christian nation — but the majority of people want it to be. According to the Barna Group’s annual “State of the Bible” report, most Americans think the country would be better off if they read and applied God’s word to daily life. And that includes politicians. More than half of Americans think our elected officials would be “more effective” if they read Scripture every day. In an election cycle when we’ve witnessed some of the worst personal attacks of any campaigns, it would certainly add some civility to the race. Despite the significant cultural shift in the country, 80 percent still see the Bible as sacred literature — which, the majority believes, has too little influence on society.

“From the Ten Commandments to the Golden Rule, the Bible certainly contains principles for political discourse — even for the non-Christian,” said a Barna spokeswoman. “And for Americans, who are steeped in both a historical and present Christian cultural influence, the Bible remains an important moral document, not just a religious one.” So if a majority of Americans think the Bible and its teachings would have a positive influence on our public life, why have we allowed a vocal minority to purge it from public life? If our country truly is “of the people, by the people, and for the people” isn’t it time to do something about that? Stand up for what you believe in! As an American, it’s your right — and as a Christian, it’s your responsibility.

Originally published here.