Witnessing the Fundamental Transformation Pt. 2

"We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America."
Barack Obama, 5 days before Election Day, 2008

THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Barack Obama's fundamental transformation of the United States of America includes an assault on our Constitution; several amendments have been the object of challenge and attack in the past few years. This post will focus on the First Amendment, which has been under threat in so many ways.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH -  Since the beginning of his presidency, it was apparent that Obama wanted to stifle the speech of those who disagreed with him. He singled out radio personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, and he called out Fox News as a network which didn't support him. During the last few years, we have further seen the attempted suppression of speech, whether it was the IRS intimidating Tea Party members, witnesses in the Benghazi case who were told not to speak up, or whistleblowers at the NSA threatened with their livelihoods.

The latest example is the White House telling insurance company executives to shut up about why their companies are cancelling policies despite Obama promising Americans they could keep their plan; the simple fact is that due to Obamacare's new mandates and regulations imposed on the companies, it makes it impossible for them to continue to offer the same plans they had been providing.  According to a report by CNN, "insurance executives are being told to keep quiet...they feel defenseless against the White House PR team...the White House is exerting massive pressure on the industry, including the trade organizations, to keep quiet.  The sources are telling us they fear White House retribution."

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS - This administration's effort to control the press came to public light when we found out the Justice Dept. had seized phone records from the Associated Press and that one of the Fox News reporters had emails and phone calls hacked into by the government.  In an investigation by an advocacy group called The Committee to Protect Journalists, it was revealed that the tactics of the Obama administration "include unprecedented use of the Espionage Act in prosecuting media leaks, classifying government documents as secret when no harm could come from their release, increased government surveillance that jeopardizes the safety of news sources, Freedom of Information Act violations, and White House-produced content that can't substitute for independent, accountability journalism."
"AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll said in a statement that the the Committee to Protect Journalists report "highlights the growing threats to independent journalism in the United States, a country that has for two centuries upheld press freedom as a measure of a democratic society."
Even the chief Washington correspondent for the very supportive New York Times said, "this is the most closed, control freak administration I’ve ever covered." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/obama-press-freedom-cpj_n_4073037.html
This administration has tried stifling conservative talk radio via resurrecting the "fairness doctrine" which requires both viewpoints in every broadcast, they proposed "diversity" in radio station ownership, which would cut into conservative talk; and they introduced "net neutrality" in an attempt to control internet content.
This year, the FCC is conducting a study which will require all news agencies to inform the government which stories are being covered, if there is a diversity of views, if people are being 'properly' informed about the environment and other topics important to the government.  They will start defining and regulating what are 'critical information needs' and this, will no doubt lead to a loss of freedoms, as the government intrudes into the broadcast and print media to determine which stories should be covered and how. http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/11/04/FCC-Laying-Grounds-for-New-Fairness-Doctrine

 
FREEDOM OF RELIGION - During the reign of this president, there has been quite an extensive movement to clamp down on religious expression in many facets of our society. In many hostile acts towards religion, Christians and Jews have been faced with having to defend their rights to religious conscience. One very egregious and obvious example has been that of Obamacare, which will not protect freedom of conscience when it forces religious institutions to provide health insurance that includes coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortions.  There are many, many examples of the diminution of religious expression in the military.  According to Rep. John Fleming of LA, "The bottom line is the military is bending over backwards to remove – even in the case of chaplains – expressions of faith and conscience."  "Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, called the Obama Administration's edict a 'chilling suppression of religious freedom.'"   http://townhall.com/columnists/toddstarnes/2013/06/12/obama-strongly-objects-to-religious-liberty-amendment-n1618769

Even in his speeches, Obama reveals his agenda with religion: he omits Creator when quoting the Declaration of Independence, he omits God from his Thanksgiving speech, he was the first president to include non-believers in his inaugural address, at the (Jesuit) Georgetown University he asked that all symbols and signage behind the stage be covered when he spoke there. The list goes on and on and on.  The Wallbuilders website features a listing of all the actions taken by this administration regarding its Judeo-Christian views. The list is long and stunning. http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=106938

While his Judeo-Christian politics are evident, apparently his pro-Islamic politics are evident as well. In 2010, Obama required that all government documents be rewritten to eliminate any references to jihad, terrorists, radical Islam and anything that may be deemed offensive to Muslims. While he will not host a National Day of Prayer at the White House, he will host White House dinners in honor of Ramadan. At one point during his reign, Obama's Muslim advisers blocked access of Middle Eastern Christians to the White House. And, his silence over the persecution of Christians around the Middle East has been deafening.  Also, it has been well documented that Muslim Brotherhood operatives (the umbrella group which includes several radical Islamic groups) are working in our government and looking to infiltrate all levels. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/october/muslim-brotherhood-gaining-foothold-in-us-government-/ 

Since Obama took office there have been several attempts to control our freedoms, basic freedoms which are foundational to this country. In future posts we will witness many other ways in which this President and his administration are fulfilling his promise of fundamental transformation.