{"id":2144,"date":"2012-01-25T17:52:00","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T22:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/faithandjustice\/?p=2144"},"modified":"2012-01-25T17:53:17","modified_gmt":"2012-01-25T22:53:17","slug":"jay-sekulow-the-presidents-silence-on-obamacare-speaks-volumes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2012\/01\/jay-sekulow-the-presidents-silence-on-obamacare-speaks-volumes.html","title":{"rendered":"Jay Sekulow: The President’s Silence on ObamaCare Speaks Volumes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>If there was any doubt that President Obama was Campaigner-in-Chief last night with his State of the Union address, consider this. Just two hours before his speech, his campaign launched a re-election email<\/a> touting the upcoming speech and soliciting campaign contributions.<\/p>\n

The speech<\/a>, itself, rehashed many of the failed programs he has pushed in the past, actually using many of the same words and phrases he did one year ago<\/a>. And, the Associated Press<\/a> conducted a “fact check” of the speech. The headline says it all: “Obama pushes plans that flopped before.”<\/p>\n

In his bid to convince the nation that he needs four more years in the White House, what the president did not do was focus on what’s been described as the crowning achievement of his first term – ObamaCare. In fact, there was barely a mention of health care at all – a couple of vague references. The speech went on more than an hour, topped out at just under 7,000 words.<\/p>\n

This was the sum total of his mention of ObamaCare. Three sentences. 78 words:<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage or charge women differently from men. . . . I’m a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more. . . . That’s why our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a Government program.”<\/p>\n

During his State of the Union address in 2010<\/a>, as the Congressional battle was underway regarding ObamaCare, the president used his speech to push hard for ObamaCare. He launched a significant sales pitch, urging Congress and America to buy into his health care measure.<\/p>\n

But, this year, just a passing reference. And, we’re now learning about an 11th hour decision by the president to eliminate a specific reference to what the White House had hoped would be an ObamaCare “success” story, as reported by Politico.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n

”\u00a0. . . .Obama spent so little time on the law that he didn\u2019t even acknowledge an audience member the White House had brought to the speech \u2014 a cancer survivor who could have been an example of someone with a pre-existing condition who was helped by the law.<\/p>\n

The White House announced earlier Tuesday that Illinois resident Adam Rapp would be sitting in the first lady\u2019s box in the House chamber during the speech. He would have lost his health insurance when he was diagnosed with cancer without the Affordable Care Act, the White House said. Rapp was not mentioned during the speech.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Campaigner-in-Chief ignored ObamaCare for one good reason. It is extremely unpopular and will not help his re-election campaign. A majority of Americans have consistently opposed ObamaCare, with only 29% of Americans supporting it<\/a>. And, efforts are moving forward in Congress to repeal<\/a> the flawed measure.<\/p>\n

And, there’s another reason, too. ObamaCare is pro-abortion, representing the largest expanse of taxpayer-funded abortion<\/a> since Roe v. Wade<\/em>. The president knows he has the pro-abortion crowd. Planned Parenthood<\/a> applauded the president’s address. And, of course, the National Organization for Women<\/a> (NOW) is pleased with the president’s policies and wants the president to do even more – to clear the way for more abortions. While President Obama is committed to using our tax dollars to expand abortion, a majority of Americans<\/a> take a pro-life position on abortion.<\/p>\n

No, you didn’t hear much from the president on ObamaCare during his address. He won’t use it on the campaign trail. He doesn’t want to call attention to it.<\/p>\n

But we are certainly calling attention to this deeply flawed, pro-abortion law – and we will continue to do so.<\/p>\n

We’re facing a critical opportunity. With the Supreme Court preparing for oral arguments on the constitutionality of ObamaCare in March, we’re putting the finishing touches on our new brief to be filed at the high court in two weeks.<\/p>\n

More than\u00a0175,000 Americans<\/a> have signed on to our amicus brief urging the high court to reject ObamaCare.<\/p>\n

There’s still time to add your name<\/a>. Do it today.<\/p>\n

Jay Sekulow<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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He is also Chief Counsel of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ). Jay Sekulow is one of the leading defenders of constitutional rights and religious liberties in the United States. Over the past 25 years, Jay Sekulow has amassed an unparalleled record of accomplishment, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court on 12 occasions. His aggressive litigation strategy before the Supreme Court has led to many landmark First Amendment victories. In his first case before the Supreme Court, Jews for Jesus, Jay Sekulow secured the right of religious groups to pass out tracks in airports. In Mergens, Jay Sekulow successfully protected the right of students to form Bible clubs and prayer groups on public school campuses. In Lamb\u2019s Chapel, Jay Sekulow cleared the way for churches to have equal access to public facilities in the same way that other groups are permitted to utilize those facilities. In the Bray and Operation Rescue cases, Jay Sekulow protected the free speech rights of pro-life advocates to be free from criminal prosecution for conveying their pro-life message. In McConnell v. FEC, Jay Sekulow protected the right of young people to engage in the political process by donating to the campaign of their choice. In Pleasant Grove, Jay Sekulow paved the way for governments to be able to display Ten Commandments monuments, and other monuments of their choosing, in public parks. Through the ACLJ, Jay Sekulow engages the political, legal, and cultural battles facing America today. He routinely works with Members of Congress, advising them on proposed legislation and representing them in critical legal matters. Jay Sekulow has also testified before Congress on the constitutionality of proposed legislation. Also, in addition to being a successful Supreme Court advocate, Jay Sekulow is a highly respected broadcaster. Jay Sekulow is the host of Jay Sekulow Live! which airs each weekday on over 850 radio stations nationwide, in addition Sirius and XM satellite radio. He brings insight and education to listeners daily through this national call-in radio program. He is also the host of the ACLJ This Week, the ACLJ\u2019s weekly television program. Jay Sekulow regularly appears on major media outlets, including FOX News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC, where he is sought out for his vast experience in constitutional law and his unique insight into many of the pressing legal and political issues facing America today. He is frequently quoted in the nation's leading newspapers and often contributes opinion editorials to national publications. Jay Sekulow has also published numerous law review and other scholarly articles. Jay Sekulow has received numerous honors for his groundbreaking legal work in the area of free speech and religious liberties. The Legal Times has named Sekulow one of \u201cThe 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years\u201d and the National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \u201c100 Most Influential Lawyers\u201d in the United States. In addition, TIME Magazine listed Jay Sekulow as one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America. Jay Sekulow\u2019s legal work in defense of religious liberties and human rights extends beyond the United States, having founded the ECLJ in Strasbourg, France, which maintains consultative status with the United Nations. He has also opened offices in Pakistan, Africa, and Jerusalem, Israel. Jay Sekulow is a staunch defender of Israel, presenting arguments before the International Criminal Court at the Hague. His efforts in support of Israel\u2019s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks have been commended by Israeli government officials, one official stating, \"Jay was instrumentally-involved in projects that the President of Israel and the Prime Minister put on our national agenda.\" Jay Sekulow also has a passion for educating the next generation of religious liberty advocates. He is a member of the Regent University Law School Faculty as a Distinguished Professor of Law and routinely teaches courses on constitutional law and presents guest lectures. Jay Sekulow has also started educational programs in international human rights law in Strasbourg, France and at Handong University in South Korea. Jay Sekulow is a graduate of Mercer University, earning both a bachelor\u2019s degree and doctor of jurisprudence. Sekulow served on the editorial staff of the Mercer Law Review and graduated cum laude. He later earned a Ph.D. from Regent University, writing his dissertation on American Legal History. Jay Sekulow also serves on the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, D.C. Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsels full biography and video. Jay Sekulow on Facebook. Jay Sekulow on Twitter. Jay Sekulow on YouTube.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/author\/jay_sekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2144"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2151,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions\/2151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}