Free Republic

Several hundred people including soldiers, families and friends gathered at a Fort Hood, Texas stadium Friday night for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of Thursday’s shooting rampage that left 13 dead and 30 wounded. An Army chaplain offered prayers for the families and the victims. Chaplain Douglas Carver told the soldiers dressed in fatigues and black berets -- to “remember to keep breathing ... keep going.” God Bless America and Amazing Grace were sung as people clung to one another and bowed their heads. It was the first community gathering since the killings.

Where is the hardest place in the world to be a Christian citizen? North Korea, perhaps? Saudi Arabia? According to Lars Widerberg of Intercessor's Network, it is the nation of Somalia. There are thought to be no more than a thousand Christians in a resident population of 8 million people, with perhaps a few thousand more in the diaspora. The Islamist Shabab militia, which controls most of southern Somalia, is dedicated to hunting these remaining Christians down and eliminating every one of them. Christian men attend mosques on Fridays, so as not to arouse suspicion. Bibles are kept hidden. There...

. TV preacher Pat Robertson’s Web site has just issued a bulletin warning Americans of the real threat we face this season: Demons may be lurking in our Halloween candy. In a column on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s Web site, writer Kimberly Daniels asserts that “demons” sneak into bags of Halloween candy at grocery stores. “[M]ost of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches,” Daniels wrote. “I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door...

Discussion of Martin Gross' book, "National Suicide: How Washington Is Destroying the American Dream from A to Z." Mr. Gross discusses 'the alarming number of government programs that waste taxpayer dollars.'

A Christian couple in England is now at risk of losing their business after being prosecuted for debating Islam with a Muslim guest. Police arrested Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang, who run the Bounty House Hotel in Liverpool, after a Muslim woman complained that she was offended by comments made to her in March. Because the legal case is ongoing the couple cannot comment publicly. According to newspaper reports, the debate at the hotel involved discussion of whether Jesus was the son of God or just a minor prophet of Islam. Newspapers also reported the debate included comments that Mohammed was...

I think he's right.

Story at link

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson underwent 10 hours of surgery to repair a heart disorder and is back in Virginia recovering, a spokesman said Monday. "He's really doing well, recovering very quickly," spokesman Chris Roslan said of the 79-year-old founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network. "He's doing great." Robertson, ... was treated Aug. 19 at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital for atrial fibrillation. He was released last Thursday, Roslan said. Robertson underwent convergent procedure, which involves cauterizing the continually beating heart muscle with heat generated by a radio frequency. The procedure is less invasive than traditional heart surgery...

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that church leaders can keep their tax-exempt status and speak out on social issues. Ad Feedback The decision comes in response to a complaint against a group of Texas pastors, but churches can still not endorse or oppose political candidates. Social and Political Issues from the Pulpit Pastor Wally Sherbon strolls the campus of Regent University each Wednesday, repairing and meditating on his Sunday sermon. But lately, he's also been thinking about what it would mean if he couldn't talk about social and political issues from the pulpit. "It's hard...

Thursday is the National Day of Prayer and major events are planned at the U.S. Capitol. But unlike the last eight years of the Bush administration, the White House will not hold a big event. The Bible reading has begun from Genesis to Revelation as hundreds have come to the U.S. Capitol this week to read the Bible cover to cover in honor of Thursday's National Day of Prayer. The event became law back in 1952. Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va. is leading events this week on Capitol Hill. How would this nation be different? How would we have weathered those...

CBNNews.com - The U.S. military says some Bibles in Afghanistan have been confiscated and destroyed, Reuters reported. Their decision to destroy them came after Al Jazeera television showed U.S. soldiers at a Bible class with a stack of Bibles translated into the local languages.It's illegal to proselytize in Afghanistan and military officials forbid troops to convert Afghans to Christianity.The military says the Bibles were brought to the Bible class by an Evangelical Christian solider who received them from his home church.

CBNNews.com - SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - It has been nearly 20 years since Somalia last had a functioning government. Islamic jihadists now control most of the country-and sharia is the law of the land. Tens of thousands of Somali refugees have resettled in America in recent years to escape the chaos of their homeland, which is located in the Horn of Africa. But the transition isn't going smoothly in one small town. Click the player to watch the report from CBN News Terrorism Analyst Erick Stakelbeck followed by comments from Pat Robertson. At first glance, Shelbyville is your typical sleepy southern...

Interviewing Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson recently for a forthcoming piece on the possibility of a Fairness Doctrine revival, I threw in a couple questions about President Obama. In a CNN appearance just before Christmas, Robertson surprised a lot of folks when said he was "remarkably pleased" with Obama and that he "has the makings of a great president."

CBNNews.com - The hermit nation of North Korea has retained its designation as the worst persecutor of Christians in the world, according to the 2008 Open Door USA "World Watch List." The country, headed up by dictator Kim Jong Il, is perhaps one of the most isolated nations and worst oppressors of its own people. Click the player to watch the Christian World News report followed by an interview with CBN News Gary Lane about the Open Door USA list.

IsraelNN.com) Christian preacher Pat Robertson has warned that the Biblical prophecy of the Battle of Armageddon will take place in Jerusalem if the next government agrees to divide the city to allow the Palestinian Authority to take over the eastern sections. The Biblical references to Armageddon are subject to wide interpretation but have become a central theme in Christian thinking. The reference is commonly thought to be above the plain of Megiddo, in the Lower Galilee between the Mediterranean Coast and the Jordan Valley. Christians prophesy that the "Battle of Armageddon" will come at the "end of times" and will...

OPINION - Pat Robertson, one of those Christian spokesmen that makes Christians cringe every time he opens his mouth, has struck again. At least he’s not calling for violence…this time. Strangely, though, this time around he is endorsing Obama and Obama’s coming socialist policies. Kurt Nimmo at Infowars reports: On December 23, the “conservative” preacher Pat Robertson told CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux that he was pleased as punch with the election of Barack Obama. “I am remarkably pleased with Obama. I had grave misgivings about him. But so help me, he’s come in forcefully, intelligently. He’s picked a middle of the...

Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, announced at his staff's annual prayer retreat that God told him Americans would embrace socialism in 2009 "in order to relieve their pain" and that the economy would rebound under an Obama administration. "The Lord said the economy of your nation will recover," Robertson told a group assembled at Founders Inn on the campus of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., a university Robertson founded. Robertson said God also declared, "The steps taken will lead to a dramatic increase in the power of government. The people will welcome socialism in order to...

With Barack Obama about to head into the general election, he’ll need to re-introduce himself to the American people. Many folks just don’t know that much about him. One thing we do know is that Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim. He talks about his Christian faith quite a bit but because of some of his liberal positions (read: abortion, civil unions) he’s going to need to really work hard to convince religious moderates and religious conservatives that they have common ground. In 2004, he gave an interview to Cathleen Falsani who was the religion reporter at the Chicago...

Monday, October 20, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was interviewed this weekend by CBNews correspondent David Brody, answering a variety of questions on matters ranging from her Christian faith to her position on a federal constitutional marriage amendment that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman. When questioned about the shots the mainstream media has been taking at her for her religious beliefs, Palin told Brody that her faith has “always been pretty personal and that was kind of a surprise in the last couple of months that people would misconstrue and spin anything...

NEW YORK – Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says she supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a break with John McCain who has said he believes states should be left to define what marriage is. In an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network, the Alaska governor said she had voted in 1998 for a state amendment banning same sex marriage and hoped to see a federal ban on such unions. "I have voted along with the vast majority of Alaskans who had the opportunity to vote to amend our Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman....

Brody had a 20 minute interview with Gov. Palin- but on the CBN website, it's broken down into 5 segments: no cable interviews, anger at the rallies, marriage amendment, Obama/Ayers. I post here one segment. Click the site- there's video and transcripts on the other segments. ***************************************************** Brody: There have been some shots taken at you…regarding your Christian faith…The Pentecostal stuff, the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Do you want to clear up exactly what you believe in and so that the record can be set straight a little bit? Because there have been some editorials and others taking shots...

CBNNews.com - In the race for president, Sen. Barack Obama labels himself as an agent for change, saying he's been a reformer for years. But some in his political hometown of Chicago are saying "not so fast." While Obama grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia, his political birthplace is Chicago - a city known for its machine politics and Illinois - a state known nationally for government corruption. Political experts say Obama has not been able to bring about fundamental reform in Illinois. In fact, he's allied with some of the state's most notorious politicos. A recent McCain TV ad...

“In this same spirit, as defenders of the culture of life, John McCain and I believe in the goodness and potential of every innocent life. I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable, or more innocent, than a child? When I learned that my son Trig would have special needs, I had to prepare my heart for the challenges to come. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. But I can...

CBN's David Brody is on the phone with CNN right now getting himself drummed out of the conservative movement. Why? Well, he's on peddling what happened at a private meeting at the Council For National Policy with regards to Palin. This is a huge no-no, guests are invited under the condition that meetings remain private to keep conversations candid and open. I've attended CNP and I know darn well to never talk about what went on. Brody has just breached the biggest rule of CNP and burned a number of bridges along the way. He's putting his own self-promotion and...

Wow. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is John McCain's pick for Vice-President. Folks, this is s close to a game changer as you can get. Let me give you some instant reaction. I can tell you that The Brody File has been talking to multiple sources in the conservative Evangelical community and the reaction has been EXTREMELY POSITIVE. As a matter of fact, I am told that when conservative leaders heard the news this morning at a meeting at the Council for National Policy, one attendee told me that there is "nothing but elation. People are giddy. They are energized and...

In 2001, Senator Barack Obama was the only member of the Illinois senate to speak against a bill that would have recognized premature abortion survivors as “persons.” The bill was in response to a Chicago-area hospital that was leaving such babies to die. Obama voted “present” on the bill after denouncing it. It passed the state Senate but died in a state house committee. In 2003, a similar bill came before Obama’s health committee. He voted against it. But this time, the legislation was slightly different. This latter version was identical to the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which by...

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is harshly accusing a pro-life group of "lying" about his record on abortion as a Illinois state senator, despite compelling evidence on the pro-lifers' side. Obama made the aggressive attack when Christian Broadcasting Network Senior National Correspondent David Brody asked Obama about documentation the National Right to Life Committee recently obtained of a 2003 committee vote on “born alive” legislation that would have required medical officials to give life-saving care to babies who survived abortion. Obama has said again and again he voted against versions of that bill as an Illinois state senator because it...

Milling around the media room after the Saddleback Forum, I learned that while John McCain was onstage talking with Rick Warren, Barack Obama was sitting down backstage to an interview with David Brody of CBN News. Brody took the opportunity to press Obama on the issue of his record of opposition to legally protecting babies who are born alive after an abortion. Obama became visibly irritated and replied to Brody: “I hate to say that people are lying, but here’s a situation where folks are lying.” Interesting choice of words. A little projection maybe? Perhaps Obama had lying about abortion...

Spokesman: Obama doesn't think McCain tried to cast him as antichrist [UPDATED] In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody last night, Obama didn't dispute the theory that McCain is portraying him as the antichrist -- though an aide said he didn't intend to respond directly to that part of the question, and that he disagrees with Democrats who think McCain's advertising campaign has sought to cast Obama as the antichrist. From the interview:

In the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama voted against the “Born-Alive Infants Protection Act” (BAIPA) bill twice in committee and once on the Senate floor. The measure was very similar to the federal BAIPA, which President Bush signed into law in 2002. New documents just obtained by NRLC, prove that Senator Obama has for the past four years blatantly misrepresented his actions on the Illinois Born-Alive Infants Protection bill. These facts should give pause to those who have unskeptically accepted Obama's claim that the Illinois BAIPA bills that he opposed in 2001 and 2002, which were modeled on the original...

It seems like Barack Obama’s heated answer about The Born Alive Infant Protection Act is making some headlines out there. The Brody File has decided to break out this clip of video by itself rather than having you sit through the whole 5 minute interview. The transcription is below. Clearly, the conversation over this bill has gotten Obama riled up. He truly believes The National Life to Right Committee is lying about this controversial infanticide bill which he opposed. He is adamant in saying that the bill he opposed in the Illinois State Senate was NOT the same as...

Attention Brody File readers. I was just granted an exclusive one on one interview with Barack Obama here at the Saddleback Civil Forum. CBN News was the only media outlet to go behind the scenes and conduct an interview. It happened literally two minutes after Obama walked off the stage. Video of the interview is now posted above. Read the transcript below. I had five minutes and I asked him about the McCain handshake, his toughest question during the forum and whether the McCain campaign is purposely using imaginary to scare people about him. He got pretty heated when I...

Speaking with CBN’s David Brody after Saturday’s forum, the Senator responds forcefully when asked about the “Born Alive Infant Protection Act.” Click above to watch. Says his opponents are “out and out misrepresenting my position repeatedly.” “I hate to say that people are lying, but here’s a situation where folks are lying.” Also says the McCain camp is intentionally pigeonholing him as “a celebrity” in its advertisements: “They’re not spending a whole bunch of money to make me out as a good guy.”

Speaking with CBN’s David Brody [immediately] after Saturday’s forum, the Senator responds forcefully when asked about the “Born Alive Infant Protection Act.� Link to video: http://thepage.time.com/cbns-brody-speaks-with-obama/ Transcript by midnight ---------------------------------------- Note from David Brody: Attention Brody File readers. I was just granted an exclusive one on one interview with Barack Obama here at the Saddleback Civil Forum. CBN News was the only media outlet to go behind the scenes and conduct an interview. It happened literally two minutes after Obama walked off the stage. Video of the interview is now posted above. The transcription will be posted by midnight eastern...

QOM, Iran -- Iran's president believes Allah has chosen him to prepare the world for the coming of an Islamic 'savior' called the Mahdi. But before the Mahdi's return, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes there must be global chaos - even if he has to create it himself. Whether it's his belief that Israel should be wiped off the map, denials of the Holocaust, obsession with going nuclear, or support for radical Islamic terrorist groups, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a man on a divine mission. To understand him, and that mission, you have travel to the small dusty village of Jamkaran tucked in...

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has promised he would not make his GOP rival John McCain’s wife a political issue, but at least one of his television surrogates is trying to make her personal wealth a major campaign issue. “I would never consider making Cindy McCain a campaign issue and if I saw people doing that---I would speak out against it,” Obama said in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on June 18. Now, less than a month later, an Obama loyalist deployed by the Democratic National Committee to various television shows for the purpose of promoting Obama’s candidacy...

Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr tells the Brody File that when it comes to judges John McCain cannot be trusted. Basically what he is saying is that voters shouldn’t just accept the line that McCain will nominate judges like Roberts and Alito. Watch above [link in post #2]. Read below. Bob Barr: “I know that many conservatives for example say well we have to vote for McCain even though we don’t like him because he’ll give us better judges. Well, ask people to think a little bit about what they’re saying. John McCain gave us McCain/Feingold which is the most...

CBNNews.com - John McCain is making a new effort to rally Christian conservatives. Political analysts believe McCain will need their strong support to win the White House in November. The presumptive Republican Presidential nominee met with conservative Christian leaders Thursday in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the hour-long meeting, the leaders urged McCain to talk more about social issues. "If he doesn't start talking about the social issues, I don't see how he can possibly win Ohio," said Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values. The Arizona senator asked the leaders how he could win more conservative support. "We made it...

CBNNews.com - The primary race is officially over but neither Barack Obama nor Hillary Clinton are taking a break. Today the two spoke at a Washington conference sponsored by American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobby. Both candidates affirmed a strong defense of Israel against terrorists and rogue nations. "We know that we cannot relent, we cannot yield. And as president I will never compromise when it comes to israel's security," Obama said. "We stand with Israel because Israel demonstrates that democracy can flourish in the most difficult conditions. Because it's very existence is a stinging rebuke to...

The Brody File’s good friend, Dan Gilgoff over at Beliefnet.com has a great interview with Evangelical Public Relations Executive Mark DeMoss. DeMoss has a good read on the climate among Evangelicals. He’s well respected. He believes Barack Obama could get up to 40 percent of the Evangelical vote this November. Read below and then get my take. Gilgoff: Barack Obama is trying hard to win evangelical voters. Does that effort stand a chance? DeMoss: If one third of white evangelicals voted for Bill Clinton the second time, at the height of Monica Lewinsky mess—that’s a statistic I didn’t believe at...

He's considered to be America's biggest gay donor. And his out-of-the-box political strategies are reshaping public policy in the areas of marriage, family and gay rights. Gay Activism Goes UndercoverYou probably haven't heard the name Tim Gill. And that's just the way he wants it.Carrie Earll, Senior Director of Issues Analysis for Focus on the Family explains, "Tim Gill is stealth. He's under the radar. When he goes after a candidate he doesn't make homosexuality the issue. He picks something else because he knows the issue of homosexuality is still risky among the electorate."A Colorado native, Gill still calls Denver...

The gay magazine “The Advocate” sat down with Barack Obama to explore his views on a number of issues. Read the interview here. Below is an interesting segment where he talks about what he’ll try to get done as President: Question: If you were elected, what do you plan to do for the LGBT community -- what can you reasonably get done? Obama: I reasonably can see “don’t ask, don’t tell” eliminated. I think that I can help usher through an Employment Non-Discrimination Act and sign it into law. Question: You think it’s transgender-inclusive? Obama: I think that’s going to...

Rush Limbaugh, who has been critical of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), embraced him Thursday now that they have a common enemy: The New York Times. Limbaugh and other conservative commentators rushed to defend McCain on Thursday against a potentially damaging article in The New York Times, embracing a maverick they have often attacked. "You're surprised that Page Six-type gossip is on the front page of The New York Times?" Limbaugh asked as he began his radio show. "Where have you been? How in the world can anybody be surprised?" Limbaugh said earlier in an e-mail to Politico that the Times...

Few American icons are as universally loved as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His struggle for civil rights remains fresh in the minds of many, and today of all days, we're reminded of his work to promote racial equality. In addition to having his own federal holiday, King will soon have his own monument in Washington, DC, joining the elite ranks of Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, World War II Veterans, and other honored Americans. But King's monument won't be designed by an African American, or even an American sculptor, and it won't be carved from American granite. The new Martin Luther...

Karin Quade, a terrific German who is a stalwart supporter of the United States and the U.S. military personnel serving in Germany, has been threatened with death in an online video. As of this writing, the video was still online. It refers to her as "The Bush activist" and shows the route to her home. It features a song with the lyrics, “I used to love her, but I had to kill her.” Karin writes about it in her blog anti-anti-americanism.com. She appeared in my piece on anti-Americanism in the European media. Karin believes she has been targeted for her...

In a state where the economy and cars rule the day, it was all business in Michigan and the businessman won.With his win in Michigan Tuesday night, Romney proved that not only is he not going anywhere, but he's a force to be reckoned with. The last time I checked, he now has two gold and two silver medals.  That is not only a great olympic performance but it shows that Team Romney has always been built for a 50-state haul and winning the most delegates.Let's remember something here. It was Mitt Romney who was campaigning in Michigan when...

One problem. He doesn't have the degree.From World Net Daily (Dec. 14, 2007): Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told the Christian Broadcasting Network he had a theology degree, he told voters in Iowa he had a theology degree, he repeated the claim in last month's CNN YouTube debate ... but, his campaign now says, it was not true.

Mike Huckabee, the Presidential candidate and ordained Baptist Minister may be leading in the polls down in crucial South Carolina, but Fred Thompson plans to have a say about that. He went down there before New Hampshire was finished and started his bus tour through the state. South Carolina is a make or break state for Thompson. He must either win or do very well to stay in contention. I don't think you can look at it any other way. Thompson received a key endorsement last month from Judge Paul Pressler. If you're a Southern Baptist, you know who he...

David Brody: You don't believe he's a conservative? Fred Thompson: You're talking about Huckabee? No. He's pro life and of course I received the endorsement of the national pro life group and several of the state groups we share that strong conviction. But in terms of social policies taxes and illegal immigration and in terms of his view as how the world works, as best as I can determine it, we don't share those views at all. I think we have a different vantage point on that.

Waterloo, IA - When Fred Thompson burst on the scene in September many were hoping he'd save the Republican Party. But those hopes quickly faded. He was accused of being "lazy," and not wanting the presidency "bad enough." Has that changed? Watch a portion of David Brody's recent interview with Fred Thompson. Click the play button above. "All the pundits can have their opinion," he said addressing his critics at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa Tuesday night. "We've had endorsements almost every day… we feel good about what we're doing." Thompson is on a bus tour of Iowa, a place...