Fox News: Tony Perkins on the Kermit Gosnell trial
by FRC Media Office
May 13, 2013
Yesterday, May 12 2013, Tony Perkins appeared on the Fox News show America’s HQ to discuss with host Shannon Bream the Kermit Gosnell trial:
Author archives: frc-media-office
Audio of Rear Admiral Lee Addressing Regulations Restricting Religious Liberty
by
FRC Media Office
May 6, 2013
In an emotional moment at last week’s National Day of Prayer service, Coast Guard Rear Adm. William D. Lee stood at the microphone and said that he had 10 minutes of carefully prepared remarks ready but decided to “speak from the heart” instead. He told the story of so many servicemen searching for reasons to live, and talked about one 24-year-old who had tried to commit suicide and failed. Despite the protocol, Lee said he felt strongly that he should give the soldier a Bible. “The lawyers tell me that if I do that, I’m crossing the line,” he told the crowd. “I’m so glad I’ve crossed that line so many times.” To a standing ovation, Admiral Lee promised not to back down from “my right under the Constitution to tell a young man that there is hope.”
Listen to the audio
Join Us Tonight at 7 p.m. EDT for our Stand with Scouts Sunday Simulcast
by
FRC Media Office
May 5, 2013
Tonight at 7 p.m. EDT, FRC will be hosting the “Stand with Scouts Sunday” simulcast. Learn more about what you can do to preserve Scouting as its founders envisioned it - as a resource for young men to develop in morally, mentally, and healthy ways, free to be boys and teens without the invasion of cultural controversies.
Speakers include:
- Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
- Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas)
- Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.)
- Pastor Robert Hall, Calvary Chapel Rio Rancho
- Zina Hackworth, Moms of Boy Scouts
You can watch the live simulcast TONIGHT at 7 p.m. EDT by visiting the Stand with Scouts Sunday website.
Security footage: Hero thwarts terrorist shooter at Family Research Council
by
FRC Media Office
April 25, 2013
In an age when it seems heroes are hard to come by, it’s stirring to see a genuine hero in action. Last August, FRC building manager Leo Johnson was temporarily manning the front desk at our Washington headquarters when a now-confessed terrorist intent on killing everyone in the building entered with a handgun and 100 rounds of ammunition. As he drew his gun, Leo courageously charged the attacker into oncoming gunfire. Even after sustaining a direct hit to his forearm, he subdued the attacker and wrestled the gun away from him.
Leo Johnson’s heroism saved countless lives that day. Now you can see the never-before released security footage that shows just how quickly tragedy was averted. Please share this video with friends, and help pay tribute to a true hero.
Tony Perkins interview on the SPLC
by
FRC Media Office
April 23, 2013
FRC President Tony Perkins was interviewed via Skype yesterday on Tom Trento’s show regarding the rise of the anti-Christian Southern Poverty Law Center — a group that has been linked with terrorism in federal court. The audio is a little rough in places, but this is the first part in a series by Trento exposing the SPLC:
Guest Post: Media Distort Coverage In Favor Of Gay Marriage
by
Katie Yoder
March 29, 2013
Below is a guest post from Newsbusters that provides a brief overview of the past week’s media coverage on marriage.
Media Distort Coverage In Favor Of Gay Marriage
From networks to news sites, reporters set liberal agenda.
By Katie Yoder
As thousands trekked across the country this week to protest at the Supreme Court while justices heard arguments on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA), the media did the same by voicing their own opinions. From the networks to online news sites, so-called neutral journalists twisted coverage in support of gay marriage.
CBS led the network pack and focused a one-sided light on Tuesday evening reports, the night of the first Supreme Court arguments. CBS went personal March 26 as reporter John Blackstone, during “Evening News,” highlighted a story of lesbian couple Torri and Sunnie. The program showed at least 12 different video or photo clips of gay weddings and quoted two gay marriage advocates – with one traditional marriage supporter.
Tuesday morning wasn’t much better, with four voices advocating for gay marriage, and one counter. Wednesday’s “This Morning” devoted over three minutes to David Boies, an attorney who argued at the Supreme Court against Proposition 8 with no one to offer a counter argument during the segment.
ABC followed suit in the Tuesday evening reports without any counter argument as anchor Terry Moran quoted two separate people whose family members sued for gay marriage. As Moran put it, ““For the two gay couples at the heart of the case … this was their family’s moment.”
NBC reporter Kristen Dahlgren flooded her report with TV gay icons, from Ellen DeGeneres to “Modern Family.” She acknowledged the media’s power on the issue though: “Over the years, television has changed the conversation about American sexuality.” She continued to say, “what happens in Hollywood doesn’t stay there.” What she left out of her report was her own network’s pro-gay advocacy with the show “The New Normal.”
The one-sided coverage attracted even the attention of the liberal Huffington Post, which published a headline reading, “The Supreme Court May Be Divided On Gay Marriage, But The Media Isn’t.” In it, HuffPo media editor Jack Mirkinson noted major news outlets’ support of gay marriage and said, “Gay marriage is different. It is no longer all that controversial for many in the media.”
It wasn’t like another side to the story didn’t exist. Traditional marriage supporters made themselves hard to ignore March 26 by attending the National Organization for Marriage (NOM’s) March for Marriage. According to NOM’s Thomas Peters, 15,000 marchers attended as the networks stood silent even during the next day’s morning shows. The Washington Post decided to cover the event though – even if they did shrink 15,000 attendees into a ‘few dozen.’
When the media decided to cover traditional marriage supporters, reporters didn’t play nice. ABC’s Wednesday “Good Morning America” illustrated the tug-of-war on marriage’s definition as the “21st century social movement” of gay marriage versus the elderly “downright perplexed” justices.
CNN contributor and GOP strategist Ana Navarro sang a similar tune and proclaimed gay marriage opponents must “get into the 21st century.” While urging Republicans to push the hot issue into the background, she lectured opponents that “folks who are in denial about this that have to get out of the closet. They have to wave goodbye to the GEICO caveman and step out gingerly and carefully into the brave new world.”
But then, according to the media, gay marriage already won the hearts of Americans. Just look at the upcoming TIME magazine showcasing two different covers – one of a lesbian couple kissing, one of a gay couple kissing – while advertising an article by David von Drehle titled, “Gay Marriage Already Won: The Supreme Court hasn’t made up its mind – but America has.” TIME magazine’s Joe Klein, on March 26’s “Morning Joe,” commented on how rapidly the issue of gay marriage changed: “My God, I haven’t seen anything like it … To my kids, it’s just mystifying that anyone would be opposed to it.”
The Washington Post boasted a similar headline to TIME magazine that read “Political debate on same-sex marriage is over.” Writer Chris Cillizza explained, “[N]o matter how the high court rules later this year on California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, one thing is already clear: The political debate over gay marriage is over.”
Those who thought the gay marriage debate still exists were in for a brutal media bash. After citing GOP strategist Karl Rove on the possibility of a 2016 Republican presidential candidate who supports same-sex marriage, CNN’s Carol Costello asked Alliance Defense Fund’s Austin Nimocks, “Austin, you heard what Karl Rove just said. Are you on the wrong side of history?” CNN zeroed in on traditional marriage supporters as host Piers Morgan and openly gay anchor Don Lemon smashed opponents as “homophobic” and likened them to segregationists.
When asked about fair coverage by social conservative Peter LaBarbera, MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer pulled race into the argument and bluntly replied, “You know what’s so funny about this? When we’re talking about racism, nobody ever says, ‘Do you think there’s fair coverage for racists?’ That’s my feeling about the matter.”
MSNBC personality Luke Russert unleashed his opinion on FRC’s Tony Perkins during Wednesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” and asked, “What do you fear so much” about gay marriage? When Perkins replied that he didn’t fear anything, Russert challenged, “Then why are you opposed?” He later charged Perkins with equating homosexuality with polygamy, after Perkins stated that the basis of marriage requires more than merely loving someone.
Those who did rally for gay marriage became heroes. New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg showered favor upon Mary Bonauto, a lawyer for Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAAD), and gushed, “Ms. Bonauto is too busy juggling legal briefs, homework and piano lessons to see herself as a woman making history.” During March 27 “World News,” Diane Sawyer praised an 83-year-old lesbian involved in the case against DoMA and explained, “Edith Windsor received a hero’s welcome when she emerged from the Supreme Court, saying it’s time to take a stand for marriage equality.”
That left one to ponder how DoMA ever passed the first place – but the media held the answer to that too. Former President Bill Clinton signed it due to sleep deprivation and pressure from his 1996 opponent Bob Dole, according to The New York Times’ Peter Baker.
On the bright side, gay marriage reportedly benefits the economy. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos cited an 8-year-old study Thursday and stated that legalizing gay marriage “could bring in up to $1 billion a year – so, a net benefit for the Treasury from gay marriage.” He explained, “if gay or lesbian couples are married and they have about equal income, they would actually pay more in taxes than if they were single.” CBS anchor Charlie Rose agreed, saying on Thursday’s “This Morning” that “if it’s [DOMA is] struck down, it may not be a financial windfall for same-sex couples. The case has centered on federal benefits. If they become eligible for the benefits, they would also have to pay higher taxes.”
It was scary enough when NBC’s Reporter Kristen Dahlgren admitted “what happens in Hollywood doesn’t stay there.” But a more frightening thought is to realize that what happens in the networks – on the news sites – doesn’t tend stay there either.
Tony Perkins on Bill Bennett’s Morning in America
by
FRC Media Office
March 28, 2013
FRC President Tony Perkins appeared on Bill Bennett’s Morning in America radio show this morning to discuss the Supreme Court’s hearings on marriage this week.
Tony Perkins on CBS Face the Nation
by
FRC Media Office
March 25, 2013
FRC President Tony Perkins appeared on CBS News Face the Nation Sunday, March 24, 2013 to discuss the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing of oral arguments on same-sex “marriage” cases.
Matt Salmon: We’ve got to show the American people that we’ve got heart, we’ve got backbone
by
FRC Media Office
March 15, 2013
Tony Perkins: Fiscal matters are front and center here in Washington, at least recently. And a few seem to be on the same page. Now last week House Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution, which the Senate is now considering, and Paul Ryan released his budget proposal yesterday, as we talked about just a few moments ago. The White House and its allies in Congress clearly refused to take the fiscal state of the nation seriously. But there is a growing number of conservatives in the House who are saying “enough is enough!” And one of those leaders is Congressman Matt Salmon. Congressman Salmon was elected to represent Arizona’s 5th district in November. But, it isn’t his first time here inWashington. It’s not his first rodeo. He previously served 3 terms and left Congress in 2000, honored a self-imposed term limit. After the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act and the expansion of government regulation during an economic crisis, Congressman Salmon answered the call to serve and we’re grateful that he did because he’s stirring things up and he’s joining me now to talk about that right here on Washington Watch. Congressman, welcome to the program.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Tony, it’s an honor beyond measure to be on your show, thank you.
Tony Perkins: Well, thank you and let me tell you what a breath of fresh air you are and you’ve given your experience, I’ve just seen it as I’ve talked to other freshman and even sophomore members who, you know, kind of kept at bay by not knowing the system. You’ve come in and you’ve provided a little context and experience and I’m beginning to see some stuff gel…
Rep. Matt Salmon: Oh, you will…
Tony Perkins: And I think, I think folks need to hear this because to me it’s encouraging. Tell us what’s happening.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Well, what’s happening is for the last couple of years I think that the cadre of new recruits that came into Washington D.C., most of them via the Tea Party, came in ready to change the world and stand up for conservative principles across the board. And what they quickly found was that many times they would vote by their own Republican leadership on a lot of things but, more particularly on fiscal issues, and I’ve just kind of tried to let them know unequivocally that it doesn’t have to be that way. When I was in Congress before, we were very vocal about fighting for Conservative principles and when our leadership strayed, we did everything that we could to pull them back into the fray and that included sometimes voting against bad rules. Let me explain that, Tony, because what most Americans don’t understand, it becomes very much an inside the insider’s game or inside the beltway dialogue. But I want people to understand that every bill that comes to the U.S. House floor has to first have a rule passed by the Rules Committee when the bill can come to the floor. The rule determines what amendments can be available or allowed, if any. It determines the length of debate, determines the rules of engagement. And what happens all too often is that a rule has passed that basically ensures that the bill is going to stay a certain way and so what members will do because it’s kind of sacrosanct almost that you just don’t vote against Republican rules, that you just don’t do that. And so they vote for the rule and then vote against the bill. Well, why do that? We should, if we have an opportunity to kill the bill by voting against the rule and it’s a bad bill, then let’s use every tool in the tool box to stop bad legislation from happening. Last week, an example was the Continuing Resolution. There were a lot of good things about the Continuing Resolution, but one of the things we conservatives wanted to offer was an amendment to that Continuing Resolution which would have defunded ObamaCare. And that was disallowed. In fact, the rule that was passed in the Rules Committee basically was a closed rule which disallowed any amendments and so now Ted Cruz on the Senate side is picking up the fight and trying to fight against funding ObamaCare in the Continuing Resolution, but we conservatives in the House never even got an opportunity to vote. Now I’m going to tell you, Tony, had we got a chance to vote for that amendment it would have passed overwhelmingly and we would have sent to the Senate a bill that defunded Obamacare and we would have, I think, advanced the debate that all, pretty much all of our congress believes in and if we’re going to win, you have to be on the offense, you can’t play defense and win a basketball game or a football game or anything. It’s the same in Congress, if you’re not on the offense, you can’t win and we’ve got to show the American people that we’ve got heart, we’ve got backbone, and that we stand for what we believe in.
Tony Perkins: You’re absolutely right and you wrote about that in an op-ed that was published this past Monday in Washington Times. I thought it was great. I thought it was a bold declaration long-overdue to get this out there. Most people don’t, as you said it’s kind of inside baseball. There’s so many instances like that that have occurred. There was previously…well let me stop for a minute. I want to get your take on this because I often say this on this program because many of your colleagues up there have been good friends of mine over the last 10 years and I think we have, in terms of the membership, we have one of the most conservative Congresses…
Rep. Matt Salmon: We do!
Tony Perkins: In our history…
Rep. Matt Salmon: We do. In fact, it’s far more conservative than the Republican House that I served in back in the 90’s and even with that Congress we balanced the budget for the first time in 40 years. We were able to pass meaningful welfare reform that has cut the roles of welfare by over 50 percent. I mean, good things were accomplished, but by and large I think that the Congress now is far more conservative and that’s why it’s so quizzical to me that they’re not willing to fight on some of these rules. Because, we’re going to keep getting bad stuff if we don’t stand up and tell the leadership unequivocally “We are going to stand for limited government. We are going to stand for Republican conservative principles and if you’re not going to adhere to that, then we’re going to take the rules down.” And that’s the op-ed that I penned on Monday with the Washington Times and I’ll tell you, Tony, it’s gone viral. I mean, all these different conservative groups acrossAmerica said, “Finally, you know, we’ve got an idea that we can all get behind.” So, in fact, several groups have said “In our endorsement process, we’re going to ask them: Do you support that concept?” They’re now calling it the “Salmon Rule.” I don’t care what it’s called, but the idea is: “Are you willing to have a backbone and stand up for conservative principles?” Because the American people that got us here, they’re not partial to the elephant over donkey, they are partial to what we stand for and if we don’t stand for that, they’re not going to put us back in office again.
Tony Perkins: I agree 100 percent with you. Let me ask you though, what’s been the response on the Hill from your colleagues a, and b, the leadership?
Rep. Matt Salmon: Well, the leadership, predictably, is not too excited about it.
Tony Perkins: (laughing)
Rep. Matt Salmon: You know, [they] don’t like to have to take their medicine. We’re practicing a little bit of “tough love” here. But the rank in file, I’ve gotten extremely positive comments. In fact, on the Continuing Resolution last week with a very minimal effort we were able to get sixteen “no” votes on the rule. One more vote, 17, and we[’d] beat the rule. And so I think this is going to reach a critical mass. I think, Tony, if groups like Family Research Council and other conservative groups out there start telling the members of Congress: “Get behind this idea. We need to change the way things are inWashingtonD.C. We cannot let President Obama keep advancing his agenda. We’ve got to stop it at every turn. You are the last bastion of freedom for this country and we’re counting on you, so use every tool in your toolbox.”
Tony Perkins: Yeah, what I have seen is that the Republicans seem to be too concerned about keeping the majority than using it.
Rep. Matt Salmon: And you know, if that’s where we’re at, then you will lose it. And the Parable of the 10 Talents in the Bible, the one that buried up his talents and was afraid, you know, that he would lose them, you know, lost everything in the end. And that’s the way we do anything in life. If we’re not willing to be bold and stand on correct principles and do whatever it takes, then we lose. And if we’re not willing to risk… You think about what the founding fathers risked when they started… There are a lot of examples, but the founding fathers, when they went in and signed the Declaration of Independence, they risked everything that they had. They risked their life, their liberty, their families, their possessions, everything that they had for what they believed in. If all that I have to risk is losing an election, that’s nothing compared to what they had to risk. And the last thing that I’d like to say is that you never win when you play “just to not lose.”
Yesterday (Thursday, March 14), Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) joined FRC President Tony Perkins for the Washington Watch with Tony Perkins radio show. Below is a transcript of the interview.
Tony Perkins: Absolutely, I’ve said that so many times. What I see in Congress right now, going back to what we talked about a few moments ago, about how this is the most conservative Congress, in terms of the membership-House in modern time. It’s like there’s been new wine put into old wineskins, and there needs to be a change and I think what you’re doing is sparking either a course correction from the leadership or possibly a change of leadership. And I just, I think that people are frustrated all across the country and when they hear folks like you, and I can tell you our phone lines are lit up because when they hear folks like you they get encouraged and it gives them a reason to stay engaged and stay involved so I want to send you kudos from all of our folks across the country.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Tony, it’s their prayers and their goodness and their kindness that keep us going here in Congress more than they know and I’ve been approached many times at conferences and speeches and people set in place, and I want them to know that there’s nothing more powerful in the entire universe than the power of prayer and we appreciate it.
Tony Perkins: Let me, speaking of speeches, let me extend to you an invitation to join us in October at the Values Voter Summit here in Washington where we’ll have a few thousand conservatives from across the country gathered here and I think they need to hear your message because I think they will be energized and it will cause them to get more engaged.
Rep. Matt Salmon: I will be honored to do that. You can count on me.
Tony Perkins: Alright. Matt, thank you so much for being with us and, again, thanks for your leadership on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Thank you.
Join FRC for the Marriage March
by
FRC Media Office
February 26, 2013
On March 23, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in the Hollingsworth v. Perry case, which will determine if California’s Proposition 8 measure is constitutional. This will determine whether “same-sex marriage” will become recognized and whether Americans will have the right to protect marriage.
With the legal arguments being heard, FRC has various resources available on marriage from religious, legal, and cultural perspectives. Visit our Why Marriage Matters site to learn more and to find out how you can educate others about the importance of traditional marriage.
Additionally, FRC will be joining other organizations to promote traditional marriage through participating in the Marriage March on March 26th. Marriage March 2013 will feature various speakers that will empower and motivate you to promote the values of traditional marriage within your community. Click here to learn more about the Marriage March and to find out how you can get involved.
Audio of Rear Admiral Lee Addressing Regulations Restricting Religious Liberty
by FRC Media Office
May 6, 2013
In an emotional moment at last week’s National Day of Prayer service, Coast Guard Rear Adm. William D. Lee stood at the microphone and said that he had 10 minutes of carefully prepared remarks ready but decided to “speak from the heart” instead. He told the story of so many servicemen searching for reasons to live, and talked about one 24-year-old who had tried to commit suicide and failed. Despite the protocol, Lee said he felt strongly that he should give the soldier a Bible. “The lawyers tell me that if I do that, I’m crossing the line,” he told the crowd. “I’m so glad I’ve crossed that line so many times.” To a standing ovation, Admiral Lee promised not to back down from “my right under the Constitution to tell a young man that there is hope.”
Listen to the audio
Join Us Tonight at 7 p.m. EDT for our Stand with Scouts Sunday Simulcast
by FRC Media Office
May 5, 2013
Tonight at 7 p.m. EDT, FRC will be hosting the “Stand with Scouts Sunday” simulcast. Learn more about what you can do to preserve Scouting as its founders envisioned it - as a resource for young men to develop in morally, mentally, and healthy ways, free to be boys and teens without the invasion of cultural controversies.
Speakers include:
- Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
- Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas)
- Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.)
- Pastor Robert Hall, Calvary Chapel Rio Rancho
- Zina Hackworth, Moms of Boy Scouts
You can watch the live simulcast TONIGHT at 7 p.m. EDT by visiting the Stand with Scouts Sunday website.
Security footage: Hero thwarts terrorist shooter at Family Research Council
by FRC Media Office
April 25, 2013
In an age when it seems heroes are hard to come by, it’s stirring to see a genuine hero in action. Last August, FRC building manager Leo Johnson was temporarily manning the front desk at our Washington headquarters when a now-confessed terrorist intent on killing everyone in the building entered with a handgun and 100 rounds of ammunition. As he drew his gun, Leo courageously charged the attacker into oncoming gunfire. Even after sustaining a direct hit to his forearm, he subdued the attacker and wrestled the gun away from him.
Leo Johnson’s heroism saved countless lives that day. Now you can see the never-before released security footage that shows just how quickly tragedy was averted. Please share this video with friends, and help pay tribute to a true hero.
Tony Perkins interview on the SPLC
by FRC Media Office
April 23, 2013
FRC President Tony Perkins was interviewed via Skype yesterday on Tom Trento’s show regarding the rise of the anti-Christian Southern Poverty Law Center — a group that has been linked with terrorism in federal court. The audio is a little rough in places, but this is the first part in a series by Trento exposing the SPLC:
Guest Post: Media Distort Coverage In Favor Of Gay Marriage
by Katie Yoder
March 29, 2013
Below is a guest post from Newsbusters that provides a brief overview of the past week’s media coverage on marriage.
Media Distort Coverage In Favor Of Gay Marriage
From networks to news sites, reporters set liberal agenda.
By Katie Yoder
As thousands trekked across the country this week to protest at the Supreme Court while justices heard arguments on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA), the media did the same by voicing their own opinions. From the networks to online news sites, so-called neutral journalists twisted coverage in support of gay marriage.
CBS led the network pack and focused a one-sided light on Tuesday evening reports, the night of the first Supreme Court arguments. CBS went personal March 26 as reporter John Blackstone, during “Evening News,” highlighted a story of lesbian couple Torri and Sunnie. The program showed at least 12 different video or photo clips of gay weddings and quoted two gay marriage advocates – with one traditional marriage supporter.
Tuesday morning wasn’t much better, with four voices advocating for gay marriage, and one counter. Wednesday’s “This Morning” devoted over three minutes to David Boies, an attorney who argued at the Supreme Court against Proposition 8 with no one to offer a counter argument during the segment.
ABC followed suit in the Tuesday evening reports without any counter argument as anchor Terry Moran quoted two separate people whose family members sued for gay marriage. As Moran put it, ““For the two gay couples at the heart of the case … this was their family’s moment.”
NBC reporter Kristen Dahlgren flooded her report with TV gay icons, from Ellen DeGeneres to “Modern Family.” She acknowledged the media’s power on the issue though: “Over the years, television has changed the conversation about American sexuality.” She continued to say, “what happens in Hollywood doesn’t stay there.” What she left out of her report was her own network’s pro-gay advocacy with the show “The New Normal.”
The one-sided coverage attracted even the attention of the liberal Huffington Post, which published a headline reading, “The Supreme Court May Be Divided On Gay Marriage, But The Media Isn’t.” In it, HuffPo media editor Jack Mirkinson noted major news outlets’ support of gay marriage and said, “Gay marriage is different. It is no longer all that controversial for many in the media.”
It wasn’t like another side to the story didn’t exist. Traditional marriage supporters made themselves hard to ignore March 26 by attending the National Organization for Marriage (NOM’s) March for Marriage. According to NOM’s Thomas Peters, 15,000 marchers attended as the networks stood silent even during the next day’s morning shows. The Washington Post decided to cover the event though – even if they did shrink 15,000 attendees into a ‘few dozen.’
When the media decided to cover traditional marriage supporters, reporters didn’t play nice. ABC’s Wednesday “Good Morning America” illustrated the tug-of-war on marriage’s definition as the “21st century social movement” of gay marriage versus the elderly “downright perplexed” justices.
CNN contributor and GOP strategist Ana Navarro sang a similar tune and proclaimed gay marriage opponents must “get into the 21st century.” While urging Republicans to push the hot issue into the background, she lectured opponents that “folks who are in denial about this that have to get out of the closet. They have to wave goodbye to the GEICO caveman and step out gingerly and carefully into the brave new world.”
But then, according to the media, gay marriage already won the hearts of Americans. Just look at the upcoming TIME magazine showcasing two different covers – one of a lesbian couple kissing, one of a gay couple kissing – while advertising an article by David von Drehle titled, “Gay Marriage Already Won: The Supreme Court hasn’t made up its mind – but America has.” TIME magazine’s Joe Klein, on March 26’s “Morning Joe,” commented on how rapidly the issue of gay marriage changed: “My God, I haven’t seen anything like it … To my kids, it’s just mystifying that anyone would be opposed to it.”
The Washington Post boasted a similar headline to TIME magazine that read “Political debate on same-sex marriage is over.” Writer Chris Cillizza explained, “[N]o matter how the high court rules later this year on California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, one thing is already clear: The political debate over gay marriage is over.”
Those who thought the gay marriage debate still exists were in for a brutal media bash. After citing GOP strategist Karl Rove on the possibility of a 2016 Republican presidential candidate who supports same-sex marriage, CNN’s Carol Costello asked Alliance Defense Fund’s Austin Nimocks, “Austin, you heard what Karl Rove just said. Are you on the wrong side of history?” CNN zeroed in on traditional marriage supporters as host Piers Morgan and openly gay anchor Don Lemon smashed opponents as “homophobic” and likened them to segregationists.
When asked about fair coverage by social conservative Peter LaBarbera, MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer pulled race into the argument and bluntly replied, “You know what’s so funny about this? When we’re talking about racism, nobody ever says, ‘Do you think there’s fair coverage for racists?’ That’s my feeling about the matter.”
MSNBC personality Luke Russert unleashed his opinion on FRC’s Tony Perkins during Wednesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” and asked, “What do you fear so much” about gay marriage? When Perkins replied that he didn’t fear anything, Russert challenged, “Then why are you opposed?” He later charged Perkins with equating homosexuality with polygamy, after Perkins stated that the basis of marriage requires more than merely loving someone.
Those who did rally for gay marriage became heroes. New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg showered favor upon Mary Bonauto, a lawyer for Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAAD), and gushed, “Ms. Bonauto is too busy juggling legal briefs, homework and piano lessons to see herself as a woman making history.” During March 27 “World News,” Diane Sawyer praised an 83-year-old lesbian involved in the case against DoMA and explained, “Edith Windsor received a hero’s welcome when she emerged from the Supreme Court, saying it’s time to take a stand for marriage equality.”
That left one to ponder how DoMA ever passed the first place – but the media held the answer to that too. Former President Bill Clinton signed it due to sleep deprivation and pressure from his 1996 opponent Bob Dole, according to The New York Times’ Peter Baker.
On the bright side, gay marriage reportedly benefits the economy. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos cited an 8-year-old study Thursday and stated that legalizing gay marriage “could bring in up to $1 billion a year – so, a net benefit for the Treasury from gay marriage.” He explained, “if gay or lesbian couples are married and they have about equal income, they would actually pay more in taxes than if they were single.” CBS anchor Charlie Rose agreed, saying on Thursday’s “This Morning” that “if it’s [DOMA is] struck down, it may not be a financial windfall for same-sex couples. The case has centered on federal benefits. If they become eligible for the benefits, they would also have to pay higher taxes.”
It was scary enough when NBC’s Reporter Kristen Dahlgren admitted “what happens in Hollywood doesn’t stay there.” But a more frightening thought is to realize that what happens in the networks – on the news sites – doesn’t tend stay there either.
Tony Perkins on Bill Bennett’s Morning in America
by FRC Media Office
March 28, 2013
FRC President Tony Perkins appeared on Bill Bennett’s Morning in America radio show this morning to discuss the Supreme Court’s hearings on marriage this week.
Tony Perkins on CBS Face the Nation
by FRC Media Office
March 25, 2013
FRC President Tony Perkins appeared on CBS News Face the Nation Sunday, March 24, 2013 to discuss the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing of oral arguments on same-sex “marriage” cases.
Matt Salmon: We’ve got to show the American people that we’ve got heart, we’ve got backbone
by FRC Media Office
March 15, 2013
Tony Perkins: Fiscal matters are front and center here in Washington, at least recently. And a few seem to be on the same page. Now last week House Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution, which the Senate is now considering, and Paul Ryan released his budget proposal yesterday, as we talked about just a few moments ago. The White House and its allies in Congress clearly refused to take the fiscal state of the nation seriously. But there is a growing number of conservatives in the House who are saying “enough is enough!” And one of those leaders is Congressman Matt Salmon. Congressman Salmon was elected to represent Arizona’s 5th district in November. But, it isn’t his first time here inWashington. It’s not his first rodeo. He previously served 3 terms and left Congress in 2000, honored a self-imposed term limit. After the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act and the expansion of government regulation during an economic crisis, Congressman Salmon answered the call to serve and we’re grateful that he did because he’s stirring things up and he’s joining me now to talk about that right here on Washington Watch. Congressman, welcome to the program.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Tony, it’s an honor beyond measure to be on your show, thank you.
Tony Perkins: Well, thank you and let me tell you what a breath of fresh air you are and you’ve given your experience, I’ve just seen it as I’ve talked to other freshman and even sophomore members who, you know, kind of kept at bay by not knowing the system. You’ve come in and you’ve provided a little context and experience and I’m beginning to see some stuff gel…
Rep. Matt Salmon: Oh, you will…
Tony Perkins: And I think, I think folks need to hear this because to me it’s encouraging. Tell us what’s happening.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Well, what’s happening is for the last couple of years I think that the cadre of new recruits that came into Washington D.C., most of them via the Tea Party, came in ready to change the world and stand up for conservative principles across the board. And what they quickly found was that many times they would vote by their own Republican leadership on a lot of things but, more particularly on fiscal issues, and I’ve just kind of tried to let them know unequivocally that it doesn’t have to be that way. When I was in Congress before, we were very vocal about fighting for Conservative principles and when our leadership strayed, we did everything that we could to pull them back into the fray and that included sometimes voting against bad rules. Let me explain that, Tony, because what most Americans don’t understand, it becomes very much an inside the insider’s game or inside the beltway dialogue. But I want people to understand that every bill that comes to the U.S. House floor has to first have a rule passed by the Rules Committee when the bill can come to the floor. The rule determines what amendments can be available or allowed, if any. It determines the length of debate, determines the rules of engagement. And what happens all too often is that a rule has passed that basically ensures that the bill is going to stay a certain way and so what members will do because it’s kind of sacrosanct almost that you just don’t vote against Republican rules, that you just don’t do that. And so they vote for the rule and then vote against the bill. Well, why do that? We should, if we have an opportunity to kill the bill by voting against the rule and it’s a bad bill, then let’s use every tool in the tool box to stop bad legislation from happening. Last week, an example was the Continuing Resolution. There were a lot of good things about the Continuing Resolution, but one of the things we conservatives wanted to offer was an amendment to that Continuing Resolution which would have defunded ObamaCare. And that was disallowed. In fact, the rule that was passed in the Rules Committee basically was a closed rule which disallowed any amendments and so now Ted Cruz on the Senate side is picking up the fight and trying to fight against funding ObamaCare in the Continuing Resolution, but we conservatives in the House never even got an opportunity to vote. Now I’m going to tell you, Tony, had we got a chance to vote for that amendment it would have passed overwhelmingly and we would have sent to the Senate a bill that defunded Obamacare and we would have, I think, advanced the debate that all, pretty much all of our congress believes in and if we’re going to win, you have to be on the offense, you can’t play defense and win a basketball game or a football game or anything. It’s the same in Congress, if you’re not on the offense, you can’t win and we’ve got to show the American people that we’ve got heart, we’ve got backbone, and that we stand for what we believe in.
Tony Perkins: You’re absolutely right and you wrote about that in an op-ed that was published this past Monday in Washington Times. I thought it was great. I thought it was a bold declaration long-overdue to get this out there. Most people don’t, as you said it’s kind of inside baseball. There’s so many instances like that that have occurred. There was previously…well let me stop for a minute. I want to get your take on this because I often say this on this program because many of your colleagues up there have been good friends of mine over the last 10 years and I think we have, in terms of the membership, we have one of the most conservative Congresses…
Rep. Matt Salmon: We do!
Tony Perkins: In our history…
Rep. Matt Salmon: We do. In fact, it’s far more conservative than the Republican House that I served in back in the 90’s and even with that Congress we balanced the budget for the first time in 40 years. We were able to pass meaningful welfare reform that has cut the roles of welfare by over 50 percent. I mean, good things were accomplished, but by and large I think that the Congress now is far more conservative and that’s why it’s so quizzical to me that they’re not willing to fight on some of these rules. Because, we’re going to keep getting bad stuff if we don’t stand up and tell the leadership unequivocally “We are going to stand for limited government. We are going to stand for Republican conservative principles and if you’re not going to adhere to that, then we’re going to take the rules down.” And that’s the op-ed that I penned on Monday with the Washington Times and I’ll tell you, Tony, it’s gone viral. I mean, all these different conservative groups acrossAmerica said, “Finally, you know, we’ve got an idea that we can all get behind.” So, in fact, several groups have said “In our endorsement process, we’re going to ask them: Do you support that concept?” They’re now calling it the “Salmon Rule.” I don’t care what it’s called, but the idea is: “Are you willing to have a backbone and stand up for conservative principles?” Because the American people that got us here, they’re not partial to the elephant over donkey, they are partial to what we stand for and if we don’t stand for that, they’re not going to put us back in office again.
Tony Perkins: I agree 100 percent with you. Let me ask you though, what’s been the response on the Hill from your colleagues a, and b, the leadership?
Rep. Matt Salmon: Well, the leadership, predictably, is not too excited about it.
Tony Perkins: (laughing)
Rep. Matt Salmon: You know, [they] don’t like to have to take their medicine. We’re practicing a little bit of “tough love” here. But the rank in file, I’ve gotten extremely positive comments. In fact, on the Continuing Resolution last week with a very minimal effort we were able to get sixteen “no” votes on the rule. One more vote, 17, and we[’d] beat the rule. And so I think this is going to reach a critical mass. I think, Tony, if groups like Family Research Council and other conservative groups out there start telling the members of Congress: “Get behind this idea. We need to change the way things are inWashingtonD.C. We cannot let President Obama keep advancing his agenda. We’ve got to stop it at every turn. You are the last bastion of freedom for this country and we’re counting on you, so use every tool in your toolbox.”
Tony Perkins: Yeah, what I have seen is that the Republicans seem to be too concerned about keeping the majority than using it.
Rep. Matt Salmon: And you know, if that’s where we’re at, then you will lose it. And the Parable of the 10 Talents in the Bible, the one that buried up his talents and was afraid, you know, that he would lose them, you know, lost everything in the end. And that’s the way we do anything in life. If we’re not willing to be bold and stand on correct principles and do whatever it takes, then we lose. And if we’re not willing to risk… You think about what the founding fathers risked when they started… There are a lot of examples, but the founding fathers, when they went in and signed the Declaration of Independence, they risked everything that they had. They risked their life, their liberty, their families, their possessions, everything that they had for what they believed in. If all that I have to risk is losing an election, that’s nothing compared to what they had to risk. And the last thing that I’d like to say is that you never win when you play “just to not lose.”
Yesterday (Thursday, March 14), Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) joined FRC President Tony Perkins for the Washington Watch with Tony Perkins radio show. Below is a transcript of the interview.
Tony Perkins: Absolutely, I’ve said that so many times. What I see in Congress right now, going back to what we talked about a few moments ago, about how this is the most conservative Congress, in terms of the membership-House in modern time. It’s like there’s been new wine put into old wineskins, and there needs to be a change and I think what you’re doing is sparking either a course correction from the leadership or possibly a change of leadership. And I just, I think that people are frustrated all across the country and when they hear folks like you, and I can tell you our phone lines are lit up because when they hear folks like you they get encouraged and it gives them a reason to stay engaged and stay involved so I want to send you kudos from all of our folks across the country.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Tony, it’s their prayers and their goodness and their kindness that keep us going here in Congress more than they know and I’ve been approached many times at conferences and speeches and people set in place, and I want them to know that there’s nothing more powerful in the entire universe than the power of prayer and we appreciate it.
Tony Perkins: Let me, speaking of speeches, let me extend to you an invitation to join us in October at the Values Voter Summit here in Washington where we’ll have a few thousand conservatives from across the country gathered here and I think they need to hear your message because I think they will be energized and it will cause them to get more engaged.
Rep. Matt Salmon: I will be honored to do that. You can count on me.
Tony Perkins: Alright. Matt, thank you so much for being with us and, again, thanks for your leadership on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Matt Salmon: Thank you.
Join FRC for the Marriage March
by FRC Media Office
February 26, 2013
On March 23, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in the Hollingsworth v. Perry case, which will determine if California’s Proposition 8 measure is constitutional. This will determine whether “same-sex marriage” will become recognized and whether Americans will have the right to protect marriage.
With the legal arguments being heard, FRC has various resources available on marriage from religious, legal, and cultural perspectives. Visit our Why Marriage Matters site to learn more and to find out how you can educate others about the importance of traditional marriage.
Additionally, FRC will be joining other organizations to promote traditional marriage through participating in the Marriage March on March 26th. Marriage March 2013 will feature various speakers that will empower and motivate you to promote the values of traditional marriage within your community. Click here to learn more about the Marriage March and to find out how you can get involved.