NASHVILLE, TN (March 11, 2008, 11:00:00am) – President George W. Bush spoke to an assembly of approximately 500 Christian broadcasters at the 2008 National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention in Nashville today. He expressed his appreciation to God for the liberties we value in this country, emphasizing that “This organization has had many important missions, but none more important than ensuring our airways – America’s airways – stay open to those who preach the Good News.”
“The very first amendment to our Constitution includes the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. Founders believed these unalienable rights were endowed to us by our Creator.”
“I mention this because there's an effort afoot that would jeopardize your right to express your views on public airways. Some members of Congress want to reinstate a regulation that was repealed 20 years ago. It has the Orwellian name called the Fairness Doctrine.”
The Fairness Doctrine would require that equal time be allowed to dissenting viewpoints on talk radio. It is thought by many to be a Liberal response to the overwhelming success of Conservative talk radio, heard in shows such as those hosted by Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Laura Ingraham.
President Bush stated emphatically, “If Congress should ever pass any legislation that stifles your right to express your views, I'm going to veto it.”
The President went on to contrast the freedom we enjoy here in America with the lack of freedom in the Middle East. “It is no coincidence that the region of the world that is the least free is also the most violent and dangerous.”
“September the 11th, 2001, was such a day. We saw firsthand how the lack of freedom and opportunity in the Middle East directly affects our safety here at home. Nineteen men killed nearly 3,000 people because someone convinced them that they were acting in the name of God. Murder of the innocent to achieve political objectives is wrong and must be condemned.”
“These murderers were not instruments of a heavenly power; they were instruments of evil. (Applause.) And we have seen their kind before. It's important not to forget the lessons of history. We must remember the extermination of Jews in Nazi death camps were -- was evil. The crimes of Pol Pot were evil. And the genocide in Rwanda was conducted because people's hearts were hardened. This kind of enemy must be confronted, and this kind of enemy must be defeated.”
“It is the calling of our time. Generations are often called into action for the defense of liberty, and this is such a time. Since 9/11, we're on the offense. My most important duty, and the most important duty of those of us who serve you in government, is to protect the innocent from attack. And so we're on the offense. My view is, is that if we press the enemy, if we bring them to justice, if we defeat them overseas, we won't have to face them here -- is the best strategy to protect America in the short term.”
As he concluded his discussion of the war, President Bush emphasized, “The decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency; it is the right decision at this point in my presidency; and it will forever be the right decision.”
To read the entire body of President Bush’s speech go to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080311-3.html
RC Metcalf
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