Last week’s election has been called everything from a “tsunami” for Republicans to an “ebb tide” for Democrats.
Whatever oceanic metaphor one chooses, it’s clear that the GOP won big. As of January, it will hold at least 53 Senate seats and 244 in the House. The Republicans will hold 31 governorships and “(control) 68 out of 98 partisan state legislative chambers -- the highest number in the history of the party.”
Heady stuff, right? As a congressional staffer during the early days of the 1995 “Republican Revolution,” I recall once speaking with then-Speaker Gingrich’s press secretary, the late Tony Blankley, about the stunning GOP victory of November 1994. Decrying past Republican efforts to “conservatize” government, Tony said, “It’s not gonna be like Reagan.” Pumping his fist in the air, he enthused, “This time, we’re gonna do it!”
Our mutual elation turned to electoral worry as the months went on. And while there were some genuine successes, conservative Republicans failed to transform America. Just as Barack Obama has.
Should we throw in the towel and give up? Of course not! To abandon the public square would be to leave it to harmful policies and opportunities to make a positive difference. But neither politics nor politicians, however honorable, are the answer.
The Psalmist warned, “Put not your trust in princes … in whom there is no salvation. Instead, he counsels, “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.”
So, let’s work hard. But let’s trust fully only in Him.
Sincerely,
Rob Schwarzwalder
Senior Vice-President
Family Research Council
P.S. For insightful analysis of last week’s election, watch FRC President Tony Perkins’ interview key conservative leaders on our nationwide webcast.
Education
- Secret Cameras rekindle privacy debate at Harvard, New York Times
- Insiders Analyze Education in Midterm Elections, Whiteboard Advisors
- Treasury Department Endorses Student Loan Deals Slammed by Elizabeth Warren, Huffington Post
- The Union that Devoured Education Reform, City Journal
- “New AP History Curriculum Emphasizes Negative View of U.S. History, Principles,” Heartland Institute
- “For a Free Society, Promote School Choice,” Heartland Institute
- “How Republicans Can Improve Higher Education,” Washington Post
- “I Did Not Come to College to Read” – American Thinker
Common Core
- “Common Core Spurs Increase in Homeschooling in North Carolina,” Heartland Institute
- NewArizona Schools chief says win is a Common Core Mandate, Arizona Daily Star
- “Common Core Loses at the Ballot Box” Heritage Foundation
- “Study: Common Core Disserves Math, Science Students,” Heartland Institute
Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life
- Will court force March for Life to pay for abortion pill coverage?, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Is California Forcing Churches to Pay for Abortions?, Religion News Service
- Life, Suffering, and Dignity: The Courageously Mundane Faithfulness of Kara Tippetts, Breakpoint
- “2014: Incremental Pro-Life Victories” - Aleteia
Marriage & Family
- “Transtopia: Transgender people who regret their sex changes typically get buried in venom rather than loved” – The Federalist
- “Perkins on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation:’ Social Science Does Show Children Do Best With a Mom and a Dad” – Christian Post
- “NY Farm Owners Fined $13,000 for Refusing to Host Same-Sex Wedding” – Breitbart.com
- It’s the Culture, Stupid: Welfare Programs Can’t Solve Economic Gap Created by Marriage Decline, Heritage Foundation
- Marriage, the Surest Economic Stimulus, Heritage Foundation
- “The Latest Targets of Sexual Radicalism” – Crisis
Pornography
- “Pornography, Obscenity and the Administration’s Failure to Prosecute” – Canon and Culture
- “Boys, Porn, and Education” - Crisis
- “Boys, Porn and Education: What Can Be Done?” – Crisis
Same Sex “Marriage”
- No Constitutional Right to Same-Sex Marriage, Circuit Court Rules, Heritage Foundation
- “The Gospel, Homosexuality and the Future of Marriage” – Alliance Defending Freedom
- “U.S. Circuit Court Upholds Marriage and Democracy” – Family Research Council
- “A Biblical Vision of Marriage” – First Things
Religious Liberty
- “Evangelicals: Get Used to Being Called Names” – Christian Post
- “Is This the End for Mideast Christianity?” – Christianity Today
- “Nine Things You Should Know About Military Chaplains” – The Gospel Coalition
- “Pastors Don’t Need to Enter Politics – They’re Already In It” – First Things
- Two Ministers Ordered to Perform Same-Sex Weddings Face Jail, Fines, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Your Voices Were Heard: Houston Mayor Withdraws Subpoena of Pastors’ Sermons, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Florist to Court: Dismiss Washington AG’s Attack on Religious Freedom, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Federal Court: New HHS Mandate does not protect people of faith, Becket Fund
- “Misreading Jefferson on Church and State” – Townhall.com
- “First Principles on Election Day 2014” – Townhall.com
- “Notre Dame and Federal Contraception Rules” – Becket Fund
Other important articles
- “On Social Issues, Let Democrats Be the Crazy Ones” – The Federalist
- “Demographics and Election 2014” – American Enterprise Institute
- “Life in France? Now Is Our Winter of Discontent?,” The Telegraph
- “Are Appeals to Natural Law and Right Reason Still Effective?” – Crisis
