Posted on 08/23/2012 2:17:18 PM PDT by Ranald S. MacKenzie
The Republican National Convention may not be officially opening until Monday, but the hard work of finalizing the GOP platform – often referred to as its mission statement – is now under way in Tampa, Fla. Christians are paying particular attention to this year's committee meetings given the fact that the Democrats have voted to include same-sex marriage in their platform for the first time in history.
"Overall it's been smooth sailing for Christians and social conservatives," J.P. Duffy, V.P. of Communications at the Family Research Council, told The Christian Post on Tuesday.
Duffy, along with Tony Perkins, who heads up the FRC, is in Tampa keeping a close eye on what committee members are proposing and voting on. The behind-the-scenes dance takes place every four years and even the smallest amendment could alter the outcome or meaning of an issue.
"What happens over these next two days could dramatically impact the direction of – not just the presidential campaign – but the entire Republican Party and the country," wrote Perkins in an email update to supporters. "We've already witnessed the power of the platform on the Democrats' side, as they wrestle with the fallout of making same-sex "marriage" an official party goal. Unlike the Left, conservatives aren't interested in straying from the GOP's roots – but that doesn't mean Left-leaning groups won't try."
Perkins, who resides in Louisiana and was a former state legislator in the Bayou state, is also an official delegate to the RNC and therefore can serve as a sitting member of the platform committee and subcommittees.
Two of the issues the committee addressed on Monday were the Obama administration's decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act that bars recognition of same-sex marriage and supporting a federal amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman. The Restoring Constitutional Government subcommittee and the Health, Education and Crime subcommittee passed both amendments.
The Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative group that supports gay rights offered language that included the words "respect and dignity" that were adopted by the subcommittee.
"We embrace the principle that all Americans have the right to be treated with dignity and respect," the head of the Log Cabin Republicans, R. Clarke Cooper told a reporter.
However, gay rights groups quickly criticized Cooper's attempt to include the generic language as "meaningless rhetoric."
Jerame Davis, who heads up the National Stonewall Democrats, accused the RNC of simply changing the wording of statements that have been included in the party's platform for several years.
"What's even more ridiculous is the idea that this language is something new. The Republican Party platform has included similar language since at least 1996. This is just a rewording of a generic principle that few Republicans would construe to include LGBT equality. While the GOP gives lip service to the principle of dignity and respect for all, the reality of that ideal clearly escapes them."
Nonetheless, pro-family organizations have no issues supporting respect for all Americans but draw the line on language that violates biblical principles.
"We are a pro-life organization and therefore we certainly believe in respect and dignity for everyone," said Duffy. "However, that does not mean in any way that we agree that homosexuality or immoral behavior is acceptable."
On Tuesday, the Republican platform committee approved language calling for a constitutional ban on abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. The language is expected to be voted on by the full convention on Monday.
Perkins is also submitting an amendment Tuesday afternoon that will restore language from 2008 that opposes funding school health clinics that promote, participate or refer for abortion (in June a Los Angeles high school allowed Planned Parenthood to set up a clinic on school property.)
There was also stronger language adopted yesterday opposing any funding of embryonic stem cell research and calling for a ban on research that harms or destroys human embryos.
Language was added yesterday (because of the HHS mandate) defending the conscience rights of religious organizations and individuals as it relates to the health care plans that they purchase.
The platform committee is expected to wrap up its business by late Tuesday evening.
Is there no limit to what these intolerant haters will promote?
Yes it matters as I see the Republican party folding like cheap suits when they are under pressure from the DemonRats. We are being overwhelmed by both parties at this point and it aint going to get any better. The Pubbies at this point are the lesser of two evils but not by much.
There is no conviction in politics anymore.
Push “Christian values” over the economy and you hand Obama the election and All Conservatives lose, even the social ones.
It’s that simple, Obama & the Rats would love nothing better than to make this election about social issues.
I just learned that romney is not 100% prolife like he said he was. Apparently now he thinks a baby should be killed for the sins of his criminal father. He also came out AFTER the primary ended to say he for gay adoption.
Hey, where are all you people who promised to hold romney’s feet to the fire if he flipped? Remember the promises? I think a lot of romney hacks joined FR to intimidate people into voting romney. Too bad we know the truth before the general election.
They are busy guaranteeing Claire McCaskill's reelection at the moment.
Marriage is a biblical concept. Laws can be passed to redefine the term but the concept will remain. People will simply come up with a new term, such as, sacred marriage or holy marriage or some such term to differentiate from the governments legal definition.
It’s that simple, Obama & the Rats would love nothing better than to make this election about social issues.
How about obeying God over a party or a mere man? You think we are going to sell our soul for a man who lied to us during the primary, then starts coming out of the liberals closet before the convention? If he will do that, he is not to be trusted, JUST LIKE OBAMA. He wants to throw conservatives overboard, fine, we're gone. Social conservatives have nothing in common with him or obama. They both just want power and neither has a conscience or principals. That goes for the gop too.
> Hey, where are all you people who promised to hold romney’s
> feet to the fire if he flipped?
What do you think about getting Obama out of the White House and then working on Romney?
> Hey, where are all you people who promised to hold romney’s
> feet to the fire if he flipped?
What do you think about getting Obama out of the White House and then working on Romney?
I think a man who lies, cheats, buys endorsements already, is going to be just as bad as Obama. If Romney ALREADY flipped to keep real conservatives from winning the primary, he deserves nothing from those he cheated and lied to. Tomorrow I am changing to Independent.
> Tomorrow I am changing to Independent.
Congratulations on making a decision. Do you think that you’ll see an Independent in the Oval Office within the next 20 years?
I dunno.
Do you think we'll see a conservative?
All congresscritters who profess to be Christians, but who silenly watch as their brothers and sisters are being slaughtered by Muslims abroad, will have a terrible surprise waiting for them at the moment of their deaths.
They want authority? With authority comes personal responsibility.
> Do you think we’ll see a conservative?
Yes, within 20 years. The pendulum swings.
I keep seeing this popping up. Marriage is not solely a biblical concept. The ancient Greeks had marriage, as did the Romans, the Chinese, the Japanese, Indians (of both stripes) and just about every culture from antiquity forward. Marriage predates Christianity by a wide margin, and existed in cultures that span the globe long before Christianity spread beyond the Middle East and Europe.
“We” as in “We the People”. “self-evident” as in overtly obvious to one by nature and without external data.
“that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,”
We are all born with the same rights and opportunities... that we are gifted by GOD HIMSELF “with certain unalienable rights”... which means that they are from GOD and cannot be taken away by man... we cannot be divorced from them.
“that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Governor Walker,
Can you please reconcile these first words put to paper in the form of our Constitution and the statement that you made concerning being for the murder of the most innocent amongst us. I now see why your name was never entered into serious contention for the nomination. I appreciate your fine fiscal stewardship but murder is murder and Constitutional GOD given rights are GIFTS FROM GOD. So reconcile Governor... or rethink your position.
LLS
I agree sex goes all the way back to the stone age, but the main point is that in our Christian culture marriage has always been between a man and a woman.
A pairing of mates among humans is not the definition of marriage. Marriage is derived from the Latin marÄ«tÄre meaning to provide with a husband or wife and marÄ«tÄri meaning to get married.
The word is already taken, if people of the same sex want to pair off they could call it something else.
I can’t read your Latin as strange characters didn’t translate somehow. However, since I can read the first three letters, I’m going to go ahead and say that it’s probably wrong. Matrimonium is the Latin noun that most closely translates to the English noun, marriage. There is no literal translation for the adjective form, married. One would say instead, I have a wife, or ego uxorem(wife) habere. A wife would say ego maritus(husband) habere. To get married would be uxorem ducere or to take a wife.
Either way, we’re talking about a vocabulary that specifically concerns marriage that predates Christianity.
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