Republican Leader McConnell on Obamacare Mandate: “First Amendment Rights of the American People Must Be Protected” (Video)
Posted by Jim Hoft on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 7:57 PM
Republican leader Mitch McConnell weighed in on the Obamacare mandate today on the Senate floor.
McConnell promised today that Congress will act if the Obama Administration does not reconsider their monumental mistake.
“Throughout my Senate career, I’ve spent a lot of time to defending the First Amendment.
“Most of it I’ve spent defending one particular clause of that amendment, the one relating to the right of free speech. But recent events have shown, quite unexpectedly, the urgent need to defend another clause in the First Amendment. I’m referring, of course, to the right of the free exercise of religion.
“Make no mistake: the Obama Administration’s decision to force religious hospitals, charities, and schools to comply with a mandate that violates their religious views is abhorrent to the foundational principles of our nation. No one in the United States of America should ever be compelled by their government to choose between violating their religious beliefs or be penalized for refusing. Yet that’s precisely what this mandate would do.
“One out of six patients in America is treated at a Catholic hospital.
“Catholic Charities is the largest private provider of social services to poor children, families, and individuals in America.
“The Catholic Church runs the largest network of private schools in the country.
“These institutions have thrived because they’ve been allowed to freely pursue their religious convictions in a country that, until now, respected their constitutional right to do so.
“But this ruling should send a chill up the spine of people of all religious faiths — and even those with none at all.
“Because if the state is allowed to violate the religious rights of one religion, then surely it can violate those of others.
“If the rights of some are not protected, the rights of all are in danger.“Isn’t that what history clearly teaches?
“Isn’t that what the Constitution is all about?
“The Obama administration has crossed a dangerous line.
“The Founders knew that the right of religious belief is inviolable. They gave this God-given right the pride of place they knew it deserved so that Americans would never have reason to fear its loss.
“Unfortunately, because of the actions of this Administration Americans now do.
“This is a huge mistake that I hope the administration is currently reconsidering. And if they don’t, Congress will act.
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Published May 23, 2012 at 11:51 pm - 52 Comments
darcy commented:
Like how? Like drawing up the articles of Impeachment which should have been done many usurpations ago?
Sarge commented:
McConnell is spineless. Sure he talks a good game, but, actions speak louder than words. I’m not holding my breath.
Mad Hatter commented:
Ok, that’s great, but now what?
All we’ve gotten out of McDonnell, and Boehner are speeches. Correct me if I’m wrong, but neither of them have spoken out, and pressured Obama on Fast and Furious, Solyndra, and the lawsuit against Arizona.
Sickofobama commented:
What a laugh. Congress won’t act. The GOP are the biggest wussies in the world.
http://www.westernjournalism.com/john-boehner-to-halt-fast-and-furious-investigation-sell-out-to-holder-and-white-house/
bg commented:
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“First Amendment Rights of the American People Must Be Protected”
no kidding dick tracy, z……….
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gail commented:
Google “French Hugenots.”
Ryan commented:
I’m not much of a McConnell fan, but I will give him credit for hitting the nail on the head hear.
Granny commented:
Well said. Now, Congress – get off your backsides and ACT. Immediately. This is unconscionable. Do not dither until this stands by default.
Adi commented:
McConnell will be very angry and write a letter, telling how angry he is.
bg commented:
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OPEN WIDE -
February 7, 2012
Harry Reid: Architect of the police state
[But why are they so obsessed with controlling the Internet?
It is simple: liberals do not like freedom. Oh, they want freedom of
speech for their ideas and their causes, but not for anyone else’s.
Just look at what liberals do when someone disagrees with them.
If someone disagrees with a liberal, they must be silenced. Just
look at the demands to silence Fox News, back when Fox News
was conservative. Liberals went after Pat Buchanan on MSNBC,
forcing him off of that network because of his opinions.
Why debate opinions when you can just silence them?
This is the great problem of liberalism today. It wants total
conformity. More than that, liberalism wants total power.]
NOW SWALLOW -
The Internet Bureau of Over-Regulation and Crony Socialism
[The cyber security legislative overreach in question is California
Republican Dan Lungren’s HR 3647 – the PrECISE Act. A similar
Senate bill will be proffered on February 17 – by the very awful
Senate Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Lungren’s bill makes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the
decision-making hub for all things cyber security. For the government
– AND the private sector.
The government would take the lead role in developing, implementing,
and conducting on-going tests of cyber incident response plans.
And we all know how well the government
does when taking the lead on things.
Lungren’s bill creates a whole new level of bureaucracy – in a nonprofit
entity called the National Information Sharing Organization (NISO). And
it sounds an awful lot like some of the criss-cross-government personnel
monstrosities created by ObamaCare (and others). And is a Crony
Socialist and Media Marxist nightmare mess waiting to happen.]
GOOD LITTLE PEONS -
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Blacque Jacques Shellacque commented:
This guy’s about as worthy as John Boehner.
Ghost commented:
Sheds new light on George Stephanopolous’ absurd. awkward and embarrassingly relentless questioning about contraception during one of the last debates… doesn’t it? The Democrat hack, partisan, operative, and exposed ‘journolist’ knew what was coming and (obvious now) tried to gain unwitting support from Republicans.
So, next time something puzzling comes from the Democrat side that seems just silly, expect Dark Forces to be revealed later. Just another lesson- not the first, not the last. Gotta get smart, gang.
StrangernFiction commented:
Words, just words.
Gride commented:
If there was a mandate that forced Muslims to do something they didn’t want, you know that would be scrapped faster than you can say “Obama is a S.C.O.A.M.F”
mbecker908 commented:
So I’m guessing that Congress will act on this about the same time the Senate goes to Federal Court to invalidate the recent recess appointments…
bg commented:
++
February 7, 2012
Speaker Boehner: Where’s the Leadership on “Fast and Furious?
[“As for yesterday . . . (it was) a plea bargain of sorts where both sides save face. The Committee will accept the scalps of Breuer and Wienstein, DOJ will release enough of the (documents) to condemn them, claim cooperation (thus giving the appearance of recognizing congress’s oversight authority), and Holder will survive – looking like a “leader” for offering them up (along with a few lower level ATF and DOJ folk). The Committee will chalk one in the “Win” column for oversight and holding people accountable. DOJ will have the same for cooperating and accountability. All sides win, all checks and balance intact and working fine, all powers respected and then they move on to the next act of political theatre. The only ones left to sweep up the mess, are the American and Mexican peoples – ignorantly secure in our beliefs that the system works and that our government is actually for us, by us, and of us.”]
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Sasja commented:
Looks as though the Air Force has caved. Perhaps they need to hear from the citizens who also protest this move.
http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/air-force/209289-lawmakers-protest-removal-of-god-reference-from-air-force-patch
darcy commented:
“[McConnell's] but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: [his] is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
Macbeth
William Shakespeare
bigL commented:
This abortion force is a con, it is a scam. It is psychology- We the Junta will stick it to the Catholics. However if we back off then we want 77 million votes.
And the Bishops and Cards go back to the monestery, except for the ‘Vote for Obama letter’ to be read in the parish.
Obamas regulation destroy jobs commented:
I guess the nudging worked with Obooma…get rid of Xmas in schools…crosses..prayer…sex in K-6 then attack the food…in schools…gays in the military…sodomy/beastiality approved…on & on
now all the atheists..pedophiles…are fighting to get rid of religion..and your tax dollars PAY for all abortions..
Lead by Jarrett/Obama/Axelrod/democrats
bg commented:
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Sasja #18 February 7, 2012 at 9:39 pm
GOP lawmakers protest removal of ‘God’ from Air Force unit’s patch
my dearly departed Dad was AF, i know he’s rolling over in his grave..
and God only knows how many more will be once God is dishonorably
discharged from Country..
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David Kramer commented:
Ghost, #12, good call. Steph was just doing her due diligence to get across the message.
Obama's Magic Elixir commented:
Sasja you are too smart to be working for the running dogs of Wall Street and exposing Obama’s deeds to the mindless peasants. If you defect to the dark side we offer you all the smoked goose liver you can stuff in your pockets, all the foodstamps you can put in yourpocketbook and a Ipod with the collected speeches of Obama.
Now2 you must stoip this and work for the Ministry of Truth. You are too good at what you do.
FU#K OBAMA commented:
Today I became Catholic too! If we don’t stand individually against this evil onslaught on the basic foundation of our Republic we will go down together. This is basically straight out of Hitlers play book as observed and lived by George Soros, ‘The Puppet Master’ of progressive’s across America.
FU#K OBAMA commented:
McConnell is spineless as is Boner, together they will just slap(but not too hard) the hand of Imam Obama and tell him not to do it again. The GOP leadership is more interested in getting a President who will just get along than one who will confront the progressive enemy within. Spineless is the best word to describe them. The time to fight is now because if they don’t our Republic is doomed. I for one will NEVER vote for the GOP’s pick Romney, he and Imam Obama are one in the same.
Buster commented:
The WSJ had an editorial this morning by Senators Shaheen, Murray, and Boxer defending the contraceptive mandate. Many points that could be attacked, but their argument boils down to to saving women $600 a year on contraceptives.
They think it is justified to violate the consciences of millions of people so that women can save $600 a year.
Arch commented:
McConnell is teeing this issue up for November. If the republicans try to bring a bill to the floor and are denied by Reid & Co., it will be a huge problem for the 23 democrat senators up for reelection in 2012.
BTW, do not think for a second that the economy is recovering or that unemployment id down. BLS cooked the books, removing 1.2 million from the work force. Foreclosures and Green company collapses will peak this summer. The donks are in huge trouble.
squeaky commented:
i hope obama’s house of cards collapses at the worse time for him. i say this because i have skin in the game as he has said and i expect that those who have no skin in the game and who benefit from the labor of others would take exception. obama’s everyone isn’t exactly everyone. obama’s house is a jerry-built house.
jer·ry-built /ˈdʒɛriˌbɪlt/ Show Spelled[jer-ee-bilt] Show IPA
adjective
1. built cheaply and flimsily.
2. contrived or developed in a haphazard, unsubstantial fashion, as a project or organization
Hoser commented:
I’m sorry, this McConnell guy frosts my arse.I understand perfectly the trampling of rights on religious folks that are effected by Obama care but why on Earth has it taken the right of conscience of religious people to get Congress to “act”.
The damn bill tramples the rights of ALL Americans.Why all of the sudden “act”, they should have been acting the second that the ridiculous bill was past, night and day 24/7, 365.
This is a perfect example of do nothing Republicans who only poke their heads out from underneath a rock when political opportunity can be had.
RedBeard commented:
Words are cheap, Mitch, and mean NOTHING without action. Save the speeces for AFTER you act decisively on the issue. Then maybe I’ll feel like giving you more than a polite golf gallery clap.
RedBeard commented:
Speeces… nuts. We really need an edit function. I do, anyway.
Skandia Recluse commented:
In making the argument that this Obamacare mandate violates the religious rights of Catholics, you are also making the argument that prohibiting polygamy violates the religious rights of the followers of Mohamed (and Joseph Smith).
but you know that….right?
Blacque Jacques Shellacque commented:
Then maybe I’ll feel like giving you more than a polite golf gallery clap.
Given the Republican record so far, he doesn’t even deserve that.
bg commented:
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Skandia Recluse #36 February 8, 2012 at 9:50 am
it’s more complex than that..
however, Sharia Law is the final goal..
Islam is poligious.. aka: a body politic & religion,
ergo, no separation between Mosque & State..
[i highly advise reading the definition now, before it too is totally deleted
from the net/ along with anything negative or revealing related to Islam]
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