December 17, 2004

Peggy Noonan to Dems: Stop the War on Religious Expression in America

A friend of mine was at his daughter’s grade-school Christmas party today. He said that it seemed more like they were celebrating the Winter Solstice than Christmas.

This country has a Judeo-Christian heritage, and we have the freedom to show our appreciation of it. The Left and the ACLU are seeking to shut down our freedom of expression on this subject.

From Peggy Noonan:

I know something the Democratic Party can do right now that will improve its standing and increase its popularity. It can be done this week. Its impact will be quick and measurable.

It is this: Stop the war on religious expression in America. Have Terry McAuliffe come forward and announce that the Democratic Party knows that a small group of radicals continue to try to “scrub” such holidays as Christmas from the public square. They do this while citing the Constitution, but the Constitution does not say it is wrong or impolite to say “Merry Christmas” or illegal to have a crche in the public square. The Constitution says we have freedom of religion, not from religion. Have Terry McAuliffe announce that from here on in the Democratic Party is on the side of those who want religion in the public square, and the Ten Commandments on the courthouse wall for that matter. Then he should put up a big sign that says “Merry Christmas” on the sidewalk in front of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on South Capitol Street. The Democratic Party should put itself on the side of Christmas, and Hanukkah, and the fact of transcendent faith.

This would be taking a stand on an issue that roils a lot of people, and believe me those people don’t think conservatives are scrubbing America of Christmas, they think it’s liberals; and they don’t think it’s Republicans, they think it’s Democrats. Confound them, Terry! Come forward with a stand.

...Do this, Democrats. Announce you will apply pressure to antireligious zealots throughout the country. You have nothing to lose but a silly and culturally unhelpful reputation as the party that is hostile to religious expression. What you could gain is respect and gratitude. Pick up that Christmas tree, Terry, take it outside and put a star on top, stand next to it, yell Merry Christmas and ring a bell.

The Left and the ACLU take the position that this is a free country with the exception of any freedoms they wish to curtail for the rest of us based on their own beliefs. Seriously, that has got to go. It is not acceptable for them to seek to curtail the freedom of others in this manner.

From Dick Morris: An Inside Look at Yushchenko’s Campaign

Dick Morris consulted for Viktor Yushchenko during the Ukraine presidential campaign. He provides an inside look at the campaign’s dramatic developments.

When it became clear that the Ukrainian people would not be fooled by the phony state-controlled media and Yushchenko continued to lead by 15 points in the polls, the ex-KGB types in the opposition campaign resorted to attempted assassination, once running Yushchenko’s car off the road and then poisoning him with dioxin.

At first, we thought Yushchenko had a stroke. The entire right side of his face and body was paralyzed. A Ukrainian hospital diagnosed it as a stroke. Then Yushchenko went to Vienna, where they unearthed the poisoning. By then, the candidate had regained use of his face and limbs, but a horrible rash distorted and discolored his entire face.

The campaign faced a tough decision as to whether or not to show the candidate, once handsome and charismatic, on TV. Risking it, they did – and that face soon became a symbol of the lengths to which the old communists would go to stop Yushchenko and a badge of honor that underscored why it was crucial to elect him.

Read the whole thing.