Shays described the rationale behind his vote in a statement: “I voted against [the Akin bill] because I have faith in our Constitution and do not believe we should preclude judges from hearing issues of social relevance, simply because we may disagree with their ultimate decisions.”



Shays described the rationale behind his vote in a statement: “I voted against [the Akin bill] because I have faith in our Constitution and do not believe we should preclude judges from hearing issues of social relevance, simply because we may disagree with their ultimate decisions.”

NRCC goes after Dems who rejected pledge bill
GOPers highlight recent floor vote on Akin’s legislation
By Elizabeth Fulk

Republican strategists are targeting vulnerable House Democrats who voted against legislation that would strip courts of their jurisdiction to review cases involving the Pledge of Allegiance.

Calling it “an issue voters understand and respond to on a visceral level,” the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a coordinated effort last week attacking select Democrats for voting against the Pledge Protection Act.

The Hill was provided a list of 10 Democratic incumbents the NRCC is targeting on the pledge bill, including Reps. Dennis Moore (Kan.), Baron Hill (Ind.) and Michael Michaud (Maine).

“This is an opportunity for Congress to say we want the people of America to decide they want ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance instead of having activist federal judges decide the matter,” said NRCC spokesman Bo Harmon.

The bill was introduced by Missouri Rep. Todd Akin (R) and passed the House on a 247-173 vote. If enacted, the bill would take power away from the courts in hearing cases involving the constitutionality of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and allow states to decide the matter.

Some political observers note that the bill has little chance of passing the Senate this year and say House lawmakers scheduled the vote in order to win political points so close to the Nov. 2 elections.

“The only reason [House Republicans] did this is so they could run 30-second ads on it,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). “I don’t think the NRCC cares a thing about this vote actually passing. They just hoped their Democratic opponents would vote against it so they could attack them.”

A survey conducted this summer by the First Amendment Center and American Journalism Review magazine found that 70 percent of Americans said that the words “one nation, under God” in the pledge did not violate the First Amendment.

[Excerpt]

Six House GOP lawmakers voted against the bill, while 34 Democrats voted in favor of it. Democratic strategists say they have a chance of defeating Rep. Christopher Shays (Conn.), one of the six Republicans who rejected the Akin bill.

Shays described the rationale behind his vote in a statement: “I voted against [the Akin bill] because I have faith in our Constitution and do not believe we should preclude judges from hearing issues of social relevance, simply because we may disagree with their ultimate decisions.”

Shays challenger Diane Farrell told The Hill, “Once again it points to the ineffectiveness of Chris’s vote in Congress. He understands what the sentiment in his district would be on this issue and he’s attempting to have it both ways. ... Chris can vote however he wants, but it’s really Tom DeLay’s (R-Texas) game.”

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Schwarzenegger praises PC at Convention Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny?

Peace Corps: One of the Best Faces of America Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and can you come up with a Political Funny?

Read the stories and leave your comments.