Family Research Council (FRC), a coalition of groups concerned about religious liberty, and Members of Congress participated in a Capitol Hill news conference earlier today urging support for Rep. John Fleming’s (R-LA) military religious freedom amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Speakers included Reps. Fleming, Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX); FRC President Tony Perkins; and FRC Executive Vice President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin.

South Dakota District 19 State Representative Stace Nelson announced today the formation of an exploratory committee for a possible run for federal office. “South Dakotans want the opportunity to support an actual fiscal and social conservative to represent them in Washington. My record of service as a Marine, federal agent, and legislator shows I am committed to fighting for South Dakota families and their values,” said Nelson.

Five hundred years ago, the British poet, John Donne, said “…therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.” Our culture would do well to reflect on the truth of Donne’s observations. The ACLU is correct when they say that undermining the rights of one vulnerable group undermines the rights of us all. Would that they actually believed it.

Call it the Keynesian fallacy — an absurd hubris of politicians and pundits — who assume that government spending, because it is included in the measure of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is somehow a meaningful indicator of national economic well being.

The Paula Deen affair isn’t about what Paula Deen said decades ago—or even yesterday. Besides being a handy distraction from Barack Obama (or whatever his name is) and the crimes and scandals of his administration, this is about the steady, incremental conditioning of the people in our nation to accept the deranged shackles of “political correctness.” This is about our taking a lesson from observing the swift media trial and execution of Paula Deen’s career.