Buzzflash: Franklin Graham’s Nascent McCarthyism
March 24, 2011- He's the son of the Rev. Billy Graham and he'd love to inherit his father's unofficial mantle as "America's Pastor." The organizations he heads have relief projects galore, aimed at both helping those in need and proselytizing the suffering and vulnerable. He sees Christians as victims, and he appears to be flirting with a twenty-first century brand of McCarthyism, epitomized by claims that the Obama administration has been infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Is Franklin Graham delusional or is he merely uninformed? He heads up Samaritan's Purse and is the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association . Samaritan's Purse does important charity work around the world. These days, the organization is gathering and delivering relief supplies to the people of Japan devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami which destroyed a good chunk of the northeastern part of the country several weeks back.
Des Moines Register: Threats cause Iowa community to cancel controversial anti-terror training
March 25, 2011- Plans for an anti-terror drill on Saturday in western Iowa that would have involved fictional school shootings by white supremacists have been canceled because of threats received by the Treynor public schools, Pottawattamie County officials said today.
“During the last 24 hours, the Treynor school system has received threats to their employees and buildings due to the planned “active shooter” exercise, " county officials said in a statement. “After consultation with the Treynor School District and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, we have jointly decided to cancel the exercise due to these threats which we must consider viable. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department is now actively investigating the threats.”
Minnesota Independent: Franken contributes to ‘It Gets Better’ book
March 23, 2011- Sen. Al Franken is a contributor to a book urging LGBT youth not to commit suicide because of bullying. “It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living,” by columnist Dan Savage contains an essay by Franken as well as fellow politicians President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, British Prime Minister David Cameron and celebrities Perez Hilton, Ellen Degeneres and Suze Orman. The book is based on a video project of the same name in which thousands of people have lent their voice in support of LGBT youth.
Franken isn’t the only Minnesotan to appear in the book. Mark Hanson, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is also a contributor.
Think Progress: Indiana Official Reportedly Advised Scott Walker To Stage A Phony Violent Attack By Union Supporters
March 24, 2011- During the intense public battle with public employee unions last month, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) received an intriguing email from an admirer claiming to be a deputy prosecutor from Indiana. The email suggested that Walker should fake an attack on himself, in order to create sympathy for his cause and damage the reputation of the unions. The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism has the email:
RAW Story: Fringe conservative group claims U.S. Muslims have no free speech rights
March 24, 2011- The right to freedom of religion guaranteed in the United States Constitution doesn't apply to Muslims, according to a blogger writing for a conservative Christian organization.
Bryan Fischer, a blogger for the ultra-conservative American Family Association (AFA), declared Thursday that Muslims have no First Amendment rights in the United States.
"The First Amendment was written by the Founders to protect the free exercise of Christianity," he wrote in his column at Renew America. "They were making no effort to give special protections to Islam. Quite the contrary."
"Islam has no fundamental First Amendment claims, for the simple reason that it was not written to protect the religion of Islam. Islam is entitled only to the religious liberty we extend to it out of courtesy," Fischer continued.
Crooks & Liars: Racist letter read by Arizona lawmaker to state Senate may have been a hoax
March 23, 2011- Two Arizona lawmakers set off charges of racism after one instructed the other to read a controversial letter on the state Senate floor last week during a debate over five immigration bills.
The letter, allegedly from a man who works as a substitute teacher in Glendale, said that Hispanic students "hate America" and only want to become "gang members and gangsters," according to ABC News.
Talking Points Memo: Bryan Fischer: Muslims Have No First Amendment Rights
March 24, 2011- Bryan Fischer, the "Director of Issues Analysis" for the social conservative group the American Family Association, says that when it comes to Islam, the First Amendment is a privilege, not a right. "Islam has no fundamental First Amendment claims, for the simple reason that it was not written to protect the religion of Islam," Fischer wrote today.
"The First Amendment was written by the Founders to protect the free exercise of Christianity. They were making no effort to give special protections to Islam. Quite the contrary," Fischer wrote on his Renew America blog.
He continued:
