It was supposed to be a hearing about the Office of Management and Budget. But the only deficit people are talking about is the Left’s deficit of tolerance. Russell Vought, Donald Trump’s choice for the agency’s second-in-command, was in for a surprise Wednesday when his confirmation was debated in the U.S. Senate. The conversation, which should have been about Vought’s economic experience, turned fiercely personal, thanks to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I). Instead of big-picture financials, the debate became a firefight over Vought’s Christian faith — the latest proof that eight years of Obama’s religious hostility still lingers. At issue was a column Vought wrote last year suggesting that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. Quoting the piece, Sanders launched his first missile:

Sanders: “‘Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ, His Son, and they stand condemned.’ Do you believe that that statement is Islamophobic?”

Vought: “Absolutely not, Senator. I’m a Christian, and I believe in a Christian set of principles based on my faith…”

Sanders: “…Forgive me, we just don’t have a lot of time. Do you believe people in the Muslim religion stand condemned? Is that your view?”

Vought: “Again, Senator, I’m a Christian, and I wrote that piece in accordance with the statement of faith at Wheaton College…”

Sanders: “I understand that. I don’t know how many Muslims there are in America. Maybe a couple million. Are you suggesting that these people stand condemned? What about Jews? Do they stand condemned too?”

Vought: “Senator, I’m a Christian…”

Sanders (shouting): “I understand you are a Christian, but this country [is] made of people who are not just — I understand that Christianity is the majority religion, but there are other people of different religions in this country and around the world. In your judgment, do you think that people who are not Christians are going to be condemned?”

Vought: “Thank you for probing on that question. As a Christian, I believe that all individuals are made in the image of God and are worthy of dignity and respect regardless of their religious beliefs. I believe that as a Christian that’s how I should treat all individuals…”

Sanders: “…Do you think that’s respectful of other religions?… I would simply say, Mr. Chairman that this nominee is really not someone who this country is supposed to be about.”

Actually, Russell Vought is exactly what this country is about. He’s exercising the belief that America was founded upon: that we are one nation, under God. The ability to voice that belief — even in the public square — is the same vision that brought the Pilgrims to America. Honestly, it doesn’t get any more central to America’s identity than that. But after two terms of trying to drive Christianity underground, the Left isn’t about to declare a cease fire. If Bernie Sanders’s comments are any indication, they’re more determined than ever to wipe men and women of faith off the public service map.

Like so many of us, the Washington Times’s Cheryl Chumley couldn’t believe her ears. “When it comes to Christians standing firm in their faith, that’s discriminatory. When it comes to Muslims standing firm in their faith — however murderous that stand might become — that’s freedom of religion.” Apparently, in this age of “diversity,” the only group that it’s acceptable to attack is Christians.

Just because Christians believe what Jesus said about man’s spiritual destiny (“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”) doesn’t mean they think other faith groups have no rights. On the contrary, Christians are the most consistent defenders of religious liberty for all. Still, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) insisted that Vought’s comments “suggest a violation of the public trust.” That’s ridiculous. Being a Christian doesn’t disqualify you from public office, running a business, or even selling fruit at a local market. In fact, the Founders were so worried about this kind of religious litmus test that they put an article in the U.S. Constitution to stop it!

“In a democratic society,” Sanders’s office said later, “founded on the principle of religious freedom, we can all disagree over issues, but racism and bigotry — condemning an entire group of people because of their faith — cannot be part of any public policy.” But that’s exactly what the Sanders did! It just so happens that the entire group he condemned was Christian. That’s not only unconstitutional, it’s un-American. Sign our petition calling on Bernie Sanders to apologize for his religious bigotry and ask the Senate to evaluate nominees based on their competence — not their convictions.

Originally published here.

HHS Has a Sense of Huber…

The Department of Health and Human Services is shaping up to be a huge headache for the radical Left. This week, the administration is adding another solidly pro-life, pro-abstinence leader to a roster that’s already a who’s who of the conservative movement. Valerie Huber, a longtime leader in sexual risk avoidance circles, is taking a job as the chief of staff for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS.

Most of us know Valerie from her work at Ascend, formerly the National Abstinence Education Association, which empowers teenagers to make positive choices about sex. While conservatives cheered the move, the Left fired off a series of angry press releases, accusing Huber of being everything from anti-woman to anti-science. It’s almost comical. How are conservatives anti-science when we actually believe what research says about gender, conception, life, the environment, and creation? The Left is so confused about basic biology that it doesn’t even know which bathroom to use!

If liberals are upset with Valerie’s approach, they’ll have to take it up with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which just validated her holistic approach in a sweeping study of its own. In a revealing report, CDC officials make it clear that teaching kids to save sex for marriage might just spare them from a long list of other health risks. Students in grades 9-12 who made positive decisions about sex were just as likely (or more!) to avoid other dangerous behaviors. “Virginity among teenagers of all ages correlates closely with the presence of married parents. Each change in family structure during adolescence (from married to divorced, from single to married, or from divorced to stepfamily) increases the risk of initiation of sexual intercourse for many of the teenage children in these unions.”

Valerie has a long history of promoting healthy lifestyles, especially for women and children. I can’t think of anybody better for the job. Congratulations, Secretary Tom Price, on another stellar pick!

Originally published here.

Show-Me State Shows Them!

Locals have walked for 87 years under the shadow of Neosho, Missouri’s, 60-foot cross. And despite a legal threat to the display, they’re determined to make it 88. That’s not what the Freedom from Religion Foundation was hoping to hear when it sent a letter demanding the display come down. “The government’s permanent display of a Latin cross on public land is unconstitutional,” FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert wrote in a letter to Mayor Ben Baker. “The cross has an exclusionary effect, making non-Christian and non-believing residents of Neosho political outsiders.”

That’s interesting, Baker says, because not a single townsperson has complained about the display. “The cross is not going to go anywhere,” Mayor Ben Baker told Fox News’s Todd Starnes. “We are taking a stand. It’s the best thing to do and it’s the right thing to do.” And the city council doesn’t just agree — it unanimously agrees, voting to stop the atheist activists from destroying a longtime Neosho tradition. “It is the opinion of the city council that the City of Neosho will not remove the cross or take any other actions which in any way compromises the long standing history of our city,” members said in a statement. “It’s frustrating to us because you have an outside organization that makes these demands and stirs things up and they have no connection to the town,” Mayor Baker explained to Todd.

But if the city’s response is any indication, Freedom from Religion Foundation is about to regret picking a fight with these Missourians. If these atheists thought they could bully Neosho into picking up their cross and following them, they were mistaken! Let that be a lesson to every city facing an outside attack on their constitutional rights. Stand your ground — and you’ll be surprised how quickly liberals retreat.

Originally published here.

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This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.