Write: FREEDOM In a recent speech delivered in the U.S. House of Representa- tives, Congressman Joe Wilson said Ameri- cans were “fed up” with high-energy prices, and he called for oil drilling in ANWR. He also stat- ed that the “American people demand and deserve action.” SUPPORT FREEDOM Help Us Reach 10,000 Homes Monthly December Issue 2005 and businesses, they will pass that increase on to the consum- er,” Wilson explains. 507-355-1429 Only $25.00 per year! Subscribe to FREEDOM
IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 1 MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENT VISIONS ON TAXES AMERICANS 'FED UP' WITH HIGH ENERGY PRICES PAGE 2 & 3 TESTIFYING OF GOD'S HEALING POWER PROPHESY WATCH PAGE 4 & 5 MOVIE REVIEW PASTOR'S CORNER PAGE 6 & 7 WALLBUILDERS PAGE 8 & 9 BUSH TO INSPECT IOWA FLOOD DAMAGE KIDS ZONE PAGE 10 & 11 PRINCIPALS OF PROSPERITY TEEN SPOT PAGE 12 MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENT VISIONS ON TAXES Subscribe to FREEDOM Only $25.00 per year! Write: FREEDOM 108 E. Oakland Ave. Austin, MN 55912 SUPPORT FREEDOM Help Us Reach 10,000 Homes Monthly 1. You can advertise a product, service, business, or make an announcement with FREEDOM. Our rates are very reason- able. Call us at: 507-355-1429 2. You can become a FREEDOM partner by giving a tax deductible one time dona- tion or a monthly tax deductible donation to: FREEDOM PUBLICATIONS 108 E. Oakland Ave. Austin, MN 55912 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT December Issue 2005 Make more than $250,000 a year? Watch out. Barack Obama wants to raise your income taxes. Social Security tax- es, too. Run a corporation? Lucky you. John McCain wants to cut your business taxes. Those positions illustrate pieces of two vastly different approaches to the economy, FREEDOM 108 E. Oakland Ave. Austin, MN 55912 an issue at the forefront of voters’ minds given that the country is teetering on the brink of-if not already in-a recession as gas prices soar and layoffs rise amid a credit crisis and a housing slump. A Publication of Rory Synoground Ministries International www.rsmifreedom.org June 2008 F REEDOM Inspiring Hope and Faith FREE NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID AUSTIN, MN PERMIT NO. 3 MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENT VISIONS ON TAXES Liz Sidoti - 6/17/2008 Obama, the Democrat, seemingly has a traditional liberal outlook of taxing the rich more while hav- ing the government help people of more modest means through tax breaks. McCain, the Republican, advocates a classic con- servative vision of cutting taxes-many geared toward businesses-to promote competition within a free- market system. Neither plan is cheap. The Tax Policy Center, a non- partisan joint project of the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, gives AMERICANS ‘FED UP’ WITH HIGH ENERGY PRICES A Republican con- gressman may have been pointing out the obvi- ous when he told mem- bers of the House that Americans are “fed up” with rising energy prices. In a recent speech delivered in the U.S. House of Representa- tives, Congressman Joe Wilson said Ameri- cans were “fed up” with high-energy prices, and he called for oil drilling in ANWR. He also stat- ed that the “American people demand and deserve action.” Wilson then called into ques- tion the so-called plan Dem- ocrats had to lower energy costs – a plan that Speaker Nancy Pelosi touted back in 2006. “When they became CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 a majority, in fact, gas prices have gone up almost 100 per- cent and indeed past $4. They did not have a plan,” Wilson contends. However, when Democrats in- troduced a plan to tax windfall profits from big oil, Republi- cans blocked the measure. “All of us know that when you in- crease taxes on corporations and businesses, they will pass that increase on to the consum- er,” Wilson explains. Wilson says a more com- mon sense approach to this energy crisis is to promote more domestic production such as off- shore drilling and open- ing up ANWR – some- thing Democrats are currently trying to stop. “On issue after issue, over 90 percent of the Republicans have voted to provide more fuel and energy for our coun- try, and over 90 percent of the Democrats have voted against it,” Wilson adds. The South Carolina Republican encourages people to contact their representatives and urge them to pursue sound energy policies that would increase do- mestic production. Pete Chagnon - OneNewsNow - 6/13/2008
Transcript
IN THIS ISSUEPAGE 1
MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENTVISIONS ON TAXES
AMERICANS 'FED UP' WITH HIGH ENERGY PRICES
PAGE 2 & 3
TESTIFYING OF GOD'SHEALING POWER
PROPHESY WATCHPAGE 4 & 5
MOVIE REVIEW
PASTOR'S CORNERPAGE 6 & 7
WALLBUILDERSPAGE 8 & 9
BUSH TO INSPECT IOWA FLOOD DAMAGEKIDS ZONE
PAGE 10 & 11
PRINCIPALS OF PROSPERITYTEEN SPOTPAGE 12
MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENTVISIONS ON TAXES
Sub
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FRE
ED
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108
E. O
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N 5
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SUPPORT FREEDOMHelp Us Reach10,000 Homes
Monthly1. You can advertise a product, service, business, or make an announcement with FREEDOM. Our rates are very reason-able. Call us at:
507-355-14292. You can become a FREEDOM partner by giving a tax deductible one time dona-tion or a monthly tax deductible donation to:
FREEDOM PUBLICATIONS108 E. Oakland Ave.
Austin, MN 55912
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
December Issue 2005
Make more than $250,000 a year?
Watch out. Barack Obama wants to raise your income taxes. Social Security tax-es, too.Run a corporation? Lucky you. John McCain wants to cut your business taxes.Those positions illustrate pieces of two vastly different approaches to the economy,
FRE
ED
OM
108
E. O
akla
nd A
ve.
Aus
tin, M
N 5
5912
an issue at the forefront of voters’ minds given that the
country is teetering on the brink of-if not already in-a recession as gas prices soar and layoffs rise amid a credit crisis and a housing slump.
A Publication of Rory Synoground Ministries International www.rsmifreedom.org June 2008
FREEDOMInspiring Hope and Faith
FREE NO
NPRO
FIT
ORG
US P
OSTA
GE P
AID
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IN, M
N PE
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NO.
3
MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENT VISIONS ON TAXES
Liz Sidoti - 6/17/2008 Obama, the Democrat, seemingly has a traditional liberal outlook of taxing
the rich more while hav-ing the government help people of more modest means through tax breaks. McCain, the Republican, advocates a classic con-servative vision of cutting taxes-many geared toward businesses-to promote competition within a free-market system. Neither plan is cheap.
The Tax Policy Center, a non-partisan joint project of the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, gives
AMERICANS ‘FED UP’ WITH HIGH ENERGY PRICES A Republican con-
gressman may have been pointing out the obvi-ous when he told mem-bers of the House that Americans are “fed up” with rising energy prices. In a recent speech delivered in the U.S. House of Representa-tives, Congressman Joe Wilson said Ameri-cans were “fed up” with high-energy prices, and he called for oil drilling in ANWR. He also stat-ed that the “American people demand and deserve action.” Wilson then called into ques-tion the so-called plan Dem-ocrats had to lower energy costs – a plan that Speaker Nancy Pelosi touted back in 2006. “When they became
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
a majority, in fact, gas prices have gone up almost 100 per-cent and indeed past $4. They
did not have a plan,” Wilson contends.
However, when Democrats in-troduced a plan to tax windfall profits from big oil, Republi-cans blocked the measure. “All of us know that when you in-crease taxes on corporations
and businesses, they will pass that increase on to the consum-er,” Wilson explains.
Wilson says a more com-mon sense approach to this energy crisis is to promote more domestic production such as off-shore drilling and open-ing up ANWR – some-thing Democrats are currently trying to stop. “On issue after issue, over 90 percent of the Republicans have voted to provide more fuel and energy for our coun-
try, and over 90 percent of the Democrats have voted against it,” Wilson adds. The South Carolina Republican encourages people to contact their representatives and urge them to pursue sound energy policies that would increase do-mestic production.
Pete Chagnon - OneNewsNow - 6/13/2008
Page 2 FREEDOM
TESTIFYING OF GOD'S HEALING POWER
ASK US AND WE WILL PRAY FOR YOUGOD IS READY ARE YOU?
CALL US TODAY AT 507-355-1429JESUS SAVES
JESUS HEALS
HEALING FOR MY SOUL
At the age of 2 I was raped by my Dad, who was in
a drunken stupor. I buried this memory so deeply ,
that it took receiving a dream from God a few months
ago, to know that it actually happened.
I went into the Prayer & Healing Center and con-
fessed this dream. As I did I came to realize the
judgements that I had made against my Dad. I felt
very hurt, confused, angry even unbelieving and
doubtful as I tried to process this as an adult.
During prayer I confessed my sin of judgements
against my Dad, and against all men. I was able to
forgive my Dad. As a result the pain I had held onto
all these years was taken from me. I wept many tears
from very deep within as God comforted me. I saw
God take me and sit me down upon His lap, and hold
me in His arms.
Without knowing, I had shut God out too, when I
had buried everything so deep within, but He never
left me.
He revealed this to me when He knew I was ready to
receive from Him the love I had always wanted.
Now, I am beginning to know my Daddy God's love
for me and also how much he loved my earthly Dad
as well.
Jesus went to the cross for a person's soul to be healed
too. I did not know this kind of healing could take
place. I knew and experienced physical healing for
my body many times. But this is type of healing is
new to me.
Now, I believe when one is healed in the soul this
could bring physical healing as well.
I thank my Daddy God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Pas-
tor Rory, and my prayer partner for speaking the
truth of Gods Word to me in love.
Gods love conquers all!
I am learning to trust God now, and I an not afraid
to take His hand and let Him lead me.
I know He will never let go! Thank You Daddy!!
HEARING RESTORED!
I came to the Prayer & Healing Center
today not being able to hear out of one
of my ears. Since I could not hear out of
that ear, it upset me to tears.
During Praise & Worship my ear sud-
denly popped. I instantly could hear.
When Praise & Worship ended Pastor
Rory stood up to preach, & I could hear
every word He said. I was so happy.
After the service was over, I still could
hear perfectly out of that ear. PRAISE
THE LORD!
PSALMS 103:2-3
"Bless the Lord
O my soul, and
forget not all His
benefits; Who
forgiveth all thine
iniquities; Who
healeth all thy
diseases."
ALL THE PAIN LEFTDuring a Saturday Night Service,
my right foot was in extreme pain, so painful I did not want to stand on it.
After the service, the altar was opened for prayer.
A man went forward. As Pastor Rory was praying for him, I was drawn to listen, for he also had pain in his foot.
After praying for the man, Pastor Rory told the man to stamp his foot on the floor. So I stamped my foot on the floor.
As I did all the pain left. Then I be-gan to run in the sanctuary. I also jumped up and down as well.
There was no more pain. Jesus took the pain! Glory to God!
Do You Need Prayer? Healing? Love?
ASK US & WE WILL PRAY FOR YOU!
The Prayer & Healing CenerPURPOSE
This ministry is here to serve the community, the local Church, and the Body of Christ while contend-ing for all that Christ promised the
church would operate in. "..the works that I do shall
he do also and greater works thatn these shall he do..."
(John 14:12)
WE OFFER:•The Salvation Message.
•The Healing Word•An Anointing that Empowers the
Word•Prayer & Delieverance of the
Sick•An Impartation for Healing to the
Local Church•A Healing School
HEALING CENTER HOURSTuesdays & Wednesdays
10:00am- 2:00pm
Healing School HoursFridays 11:30- 1:30pm
Prayer & Healing Center108 E. Oakland Ave
Austin MN 55912507-355-1429
FREEDOM Page 3
PROPHECY WATCH
“I invited you to My throne and you said, ‘Oh no, Lord, I’m not qualified.’ I invited you into My very own life, and health and you said, ‘Oh no, Lord, I’m unworthy.’ I shed My blood and gave you an invitation to come boldly and sit on the throne of grace, and find mercy and grace to help in a time of need, and you said, ‘Oh no, not me Lord, I’m just so unworthy, oh no, I could never do that.’ How long will you insult My cross and My Word? I have called you and raised you up togeth-er with Me. I put My blood in the heavenly Holy of holies, so that you could be called af-ter My name, and you hardened your heart. And you hardened heart, and you hard-ened your heart and you made little songs up about it—how unworthy you are—and how you just grum-bling around through the dirt of life, like worms in some ungodly fashion. I defeated the worms in the dirt so you could stand and sit on a throne. You were unworthy and I did it anyway. You were unrighteous and I bore your unrighteousness. Don’t you ever come before Me and grovel around in the dirt calling yourself unworthy. You stand upright on your feet, you humble yourself unto the mighty hand of God, not by humiliating yourself and humiliating your name. I never said that. I told you to humble yourself unto the mighty hand of God, casting all of your cares over on Me. I will take your cares. I will take care of it. It’s when you try to carry your own cares that you foul up and mess up in a royal manner. I never cre-ated you to bear cares. I never created you to bear sickness
and disease. I certainly never created you for poverty.
“I created wealth for you, I created you for wealth. Far more than the human mind can conceive, not so you can just walk in pride. But, so that you could bless the entire earth.
“I’ve given you My name and I’ve given you My spirit. I’ve given you My Word, and I’ve shed My blood, and poured it out and confirmed a forever oath. And I will per-form it,” saith the Lord. “But, I need you not to harden your heart when I in-vite you to come sit with Me. ‘Cause I love you, and I care for you and these are
our days. And if you’ll listen to Me, I’ll cause you to walk in places that you haven’t even dreamed you could go. I’ll bring you in the presence of kings, and I’ll cause you to walk in places where poverty is so rampant. And people will fall in love with you, because I will put My love in you and on you. And you’ll carry My name, and you’ll carry the healing power and you’ll carry prosperity with you wherever you go. And people will know you as the one that brought Je-sus to the neighborhood.
So give the Lord praise and give Him thanksgiv-ing. For these are the days to rise up out of the dirt, and the smoke, and come to that place and rejoice, because the Lord your God has saved you.”
TESTIFYING OF GOD'S HEALING POWER
Prophecy given by Kenneth Copeland
March 7, 20082008 Branson
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Intense ... my short and simple answer to the question: What
did you think of the new Narnia movie?
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Cas-pian released in theaters nationwide. This highly anticipated blockbuster is the second motion picture installment of The Chronicles of Narnia films from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media. The movies are based on the beloved seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis.
Prince Caspian is a follow-up to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which re-leased in theaters in December 2005. The second movie picks up one year after the first movie ends. The Pevensie siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy – who became the Kings and Queens of Narnia in the first film, suddenly find themselves back in Narnia where they discover that more than 1,300 years in Narnia time has passed.
The Golden Age of Narnia, the blissful time in which they ruled, no longer exists due to a take-over by the Te lmar ines . The delight-fully magical world is now very dark under the rule of the evil King Miraz.
The Pevensies have been summoned to help Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the Narnian throne, wage a war between good and evil in an attempt to bring back the Old Narnia. The story becomes an ex-traordinary quest to find the mighty Aslan, rescue Narnia and restore the land.
Just like each book in the series, the story that unfolds on its pages – and now on the big screen – is more than just a fairy tale. Prince Caspian is a biblical parallel to one’s journey of faith.
Lewis suffused Christianity throughout the Narnian chronicles, and in this particular story he made one’s need for Christ very apparent. The movie is a depiction of what happens when one walks away from his faith in pursuit of selfish gain. Yet, at the same time, it shows the redemptive value of clinging to a hope that is often unseen. In Peter, we see a weak and wavering faith, while a strong and steadfast faith is displayed in Lucy. Aslan – the symbolic Christ figure – returns as representation of majestic salvation.
While the Christian symbolism is no doubt in the film, the parallels are not as overt as in the first film -- at least, I didn’t think so. Because I’m familiar with Lewis and the purpose of his writings, I was able to draw spiritual conclusions from the movie. How-
ever, it may be more difficult for those unfa-miliar with Lewis and the Christian faith.
But one thing is clear for all viewers, and that is the battle between good and evil that is continually fought throughout the film. In fact, Prince Caspian exposes the dark, evil and savage side of Narnia. So beware, this movie is not a retreat to a feel-good fanta-syland. Rather, it’s a grim look at the real-ity of evil that reveals the world’s need for Light.
While there is great redemptive value in Prince Caspian, this is a movie in which the portrayal of darkness is necessary for the light to shine brighter – a point made about the first film by Michael Flaherty, president of Walden Media.
So expect a great deal of evil and violence in Prince Caspian. The movie is rated PG
for epic battle ac-tion and violence but is teetering on the edge of a PG-13 rating spe-cifically because of all the fighting and death. In one scene, a man is decapitated. The camera cuts away before the decap-itation is actually
shown, although there is no question about what’s implied. The movie is not gory even though some characters are shown bleed-ing.
Due to the ongoing battle between good and evil, the intensity level of the film in height-ened. It contains several “jump scenes” and “gasping moments.”
There is also a very disturbing scene in which the White Witch returns with two of her demonic and grotesque followers. These characters are the most evil of them all. The scene is powerful, yet uncomfort-able, in how it vividly displays the allure of sin. It made me squirm and could easily dis-turb young viewers.
Therefore, I suggest that Prince Caspian is most suitable for older children. In addition, the film opens with a woman giving birth. It also contains some immodesty, several uses of “shut up” and shows a young couple kissing. Unlike the first film, a thread of ro-mance is sown throughout this one.
But for those who are mature enough to understand evil in view of goodness, Prince Caspian is a great film. It’s stunning, enter-taining and engaging with a perfect blend of humor. The characters are so realistic as is the world of Narnia. Prince Caspian is not a fanciful escape from reality but a frank reminder about humani-ty’s pervasive sin problem and need for re-demption.
The Freedom Publication Staff
Welcomes your COMMENTS
Write To:
Freedom Publications Comments
108 E. Oakland Ave Austin, MN 55912
****MOVIE REVIEW****The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Review by Rebecca Grace - AFA Journalist
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FREEDOM Page 5
PASTOR'S CORNER
Galatians 5:19-23
“Now the works of the flesh are mani-fest, …, they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
What is carnality? Carnality is simply behaving according to the dictates
and commands of your flesh. When we behave according to the weaknesses of our flesh it will be evident. We can know if we are in the flesh, or if we are in the Spirit, by the fruit we are bearing.
For example if you are ex-periencing strife, jealousy, anger, or divisions in your life, then you are behav-ing according to the weak-nesses of your flesh. You are walking according to a godless human nature that works in those who are disobedient.
If our flesh is controlling us, then we are at-tempting to live without God in this world.
According to James 1:14 we are actually drawn away from the Father by the weak-nesses of our own flesh.
When our weaknesses take control, they produce sin, and sin separates us from the Father, the family of God that we belong too, and the Freedom He has given us.
When we are separated from the Father, we are out in this world alone, and open to the negative elements of this worlds sys-tem, such as sickness, poverty and spiri-tual death.
The only way we are going to escape the corruption that is in this world is if we chose to follow our Lords example. We need to crucify the flesh.
Romans 12:1 says “I beseech you there-fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
We are to consider our bodies a living sac-rifice. When the weaknesses in our flesh begin to tempt us we are to consider our flesh crucified, along with its desires and cravings.
By doing so, we are able to throw the
weights of sin off to the side, and run with patience the race that is set before us.
That is just great Pastor Rory, but how do we crucify the flesh?
1 Peter 2:1-2 gives us the answer. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.”
You see we need to take on a humble attitude, and desire the Word of God, just like a newborn baby desires milk from their mother.
The Bible declares here that the basic milk of Gods Word will move us from car-
nality to spirituality. The Word will move us from weakness to strength.
Think about that for a moment. It is the milk of Gods Word, that will deliver us, and make us free from the weak-nesses of our flesh.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 we see Paul teaching the Christians there the milk of the Word to overcome their carnality.
So many people think that they need to be taught the newest revelation of God, or that they need to catch that latest trend in psychology in order for them to overcome their weaknesses. God never intended it to be that hard.
In fact He made it easy for us. He gave us His Word to believe and act on.
What an awesome thought, God has said that all the weaknesses of the flesh can be overcome simply by applying the basic milk of Gods Word to our lives.
Galatians 5:16 says: “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust (weaknesses) of the flesh.”
Walking in the Spirit is walking according to the Word. The Lord makes it so easy for us to experience the freedom that He purchased for us. All we need to do is to spend time renewing our mind to His Word, and apply that Word to our life.
His Word, renewing our mind, changing the way we think, & influencing our behav-ior, will cause us to experience OVER-COMING OUR WEAKNESSES.
Rev. Rory Synoground Founder and President of
Rory Synoground Ministries International, and Pastor of
Freedom Christian Center, Austin, MN
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32
OVERCOMING OUR
WEAKNESSES
Belong, Believe, & Be Free
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���������������PART ONE / 2 CD SERIES
HOW FAITH WORKS is a teaching series that Pastor Rory ministered on at Healing School. In Part One Pastor Rory answers the question of WHY WE NEED FAITH. And He also teaches on the THREE THINGS YOU NEED to receive anything from God. These two anointed teachings will inspire you to begin living a life of Faith!
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FREEDOMPage 6
Wa l l B u i l d e r s
Much like the election of 1860, the 2008 presidential elec-
tion has generated a spir-ited debate over the correct relationship between the state and federal govern-ments. The former election debated the relationship of
“states’ rights” to the issue of liberty; the cur-rent election has resurrected the issue of “states’ rights” but this time in the areas of life and fam-ily. Several current presidential candi-dates declare them-selves to be pro-life and pro-marriage but, citing fed-eralism and “states’ rights,” they oppose either a Human Life or Marriage Amendment to the fed-eral Constitution, claiming that such issues are to be decided by the state rather than the federal government. Yet a candidate’s position on such issues actually identifies their understanding of inalienable rights rather than their commitment to federalism.
In the original governing prin-ciples set forth in the Declara-tion (and then subsequently in-corporated into the Constitution through Article VII), the right to life is one of three specifically identified inalienable rights; ad-ditional inalienable rights were subsequently enumerated in the Bill of Rights. The original documents – both the Declara-tion and the Constitution – make
clear that the primary purpose of government, at all times and in all situations, is to protect those few inalienable rights.
Some candidates believe that the right to life is inalienable only to the degree that a specific state agrees – that if a state does not believe that the right to life is inalienable, then the federal government should not force the state to protect that right. Yet protection for the few spe-cifically enumerated inalienable rights must always surpass what any particular state wishes – and this is the proper constitutional position on all inalienable rights, whether of life, private property, the right to keep and bear arms, the right of religious expression, etc. It is the duty of all government – including state governments – to protect inalienable rights. In fact, if the philosophy originally set forth in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and subse-quently secured in the Constitution is rejected – the be-lief that there is a God, that He gives inalienable rights to man, and that the purpose of govern-ment is to protect those rights at all times (even when the states refuse to do so) – then there
is no longer a unique American philosophy of government that will distinguish us from the rest of the world.
Understanding this, voices across the nation therefore asserted that what the state of Connecticut did in weakening property rights vis a vi the Kelo decision was intoler-able because our founding docu-ments specifically protected the inalienable right of private prop-erty through the Fifth Amendment; and they likewise asserted that what Washington, D. C. was doing with gun bans was wrong because it similarly violated the inalienable right to keep and bear arms se-cured to the people through the Second Amendment. Why, then, do they now believe that it is im-proper for the federal government to tell states that they must ob-serve the inalienable right to life
and traditional family set forth with equal force in the very same doc-uments?
Some candidates have even de-clared that because they are strict constructionists, they oppose amendments to the Constitution (a strict constructionist is one who supports interpreting the Constitu-tion according to its original intent). Yet, since the Founders specifi-cally included Article V in the Con-stitution to specify how the Con-stitution might be amended, then a strict constructionist must also support the part of the Constitu-tion providing for its own amend-
ment. In fact, refusing to consider a constitutional amendment does not reflect strict constructionism but rather a rejection of Article V of the Constitution.
The Founders wisely raised the bar so high as to make it is extremely difficult to pass any amendment, requiring a two-thirds approval of Congress and three-fourths approval of the states before any change could occur. Conse-quently, while there have been over 10,000 amendments to the Constitution proposed since 1789, only twenty-seven have been able to meet the constitutional
ECHOES OF 1860: IS “LIFE A
SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICEIN JULY
FREEDOM CHRISTIAN CENTERHosts Special Guest Speaker
Rev. David Baker Of
International Word Fellowship
David & His Wife Jodie have extensively travelled the World ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Starting Bible Schools, as well as Mentoring & Training Pastors!Come & receive a life changing Word from the Lord as
David shares with his unique style of ministry.Sunday Night July 13th 2008
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estimates) will continue their cur-rent abortion practices, and those states include many with the larg-est population (e.g., California, New York, Illinois, etc.). Citizens from the other 30 states will there-fore travel to one of those 20 states to get an abor t ion; so while the num-ber of abortions will un-doubtedly go down when the issue is returned to the states, it will come nowhere close to end-ing. Additionally, stopping abor-tion at the federal level will do nothing to correct the legal rulings generated in the state courts over the past 35 years as those state courts infused federal court posi-tions into their own state case law. State courts will remain hostile to state attempts to restrict abortion because state case law is now as infused with the broad “health” ex-ceptions, etc., as were the federal decisions.
A parallel legal analogy to today’s life and marriage protection con-cerns is seen in the 1860 slavery issue. At that time, even though the right to liberty was an inalienable right guaranteed in the founding documents, slavery was so deep-ly imbedded in the nation that the mere federal removal of itself from that issue vis a vi several federal statutes passed from 1861-1865 did little or nothing to change the slave culture in any of the states, either North or South – and those federal statutes certainly did noth-ing to change the bad court rul-ings that had occurred at the state level over the previous century.
Historically, the only manner in which bad case law can be com-pletely eradicated from the law books (and thus completely termi-nate a long-standing harmful na-tional practice that has permeated the states) is through a constitu-tional amendment – and a num-ber of constitutional amendments have been passed to do just that
(13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, etc.). In fact, had there been no constitu-tional amendments to secure the inalienable right to liberty that had been so egregiously violated by so many states, then there likely
would still be slavery in America today as one gen-e r a t i o n , or family, or judicial s y s t e m t ransmit -ted its er-rant be-liefs to the next. So,
too, with abortion.
The federal government should never have intruded itself into the abortion issue through the multi-ple Supreme Court decisions that opened the proverbial Pandora’s Box; however, the federal govern-ment did intrude itself. As a result, the abortion culture is now deeply implanted in America, and there are those who are as committed to that practice today as there were those who were committed to slavery a century-and-a-half ago. And abortion (like slavery before it) has become one of the nation’s biggest economic businesses; it therefore will not be eradicated from the nation by mere statutory action at the state level (or vice versa).
The Founding Fathers established federalism to preserve states’ rights, but they also placed the protection of inalienable rights far above the level of states’ rights. Candidates who desire to lead the nation should follow the Framers’ example and conform to the prin-ciples set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Consti-tution, protecting life and marriage through the constitutional process those early leaders wisely provid-ed.
standard. Of those twenty-seven, twelve were passed by the Found-ers themselves (the original “strict constructionists”) in only twenty years; in the subsequent two-hun-dred years, the nation has made just fifteen changes.
Federal constitutional amend-ments should be rare, but that does not mean they should be non-existent. States cannot be al-lowed to pick and choose which inalienable rights they will protect (although under the Constitution they are completely competent to determine virtually all other is-sues). The Constitution was writ-
ten to preserve American culture and society, not to cause citizens to stand idly by while the culture is destroyed – especially when they have in their hands the means to preserve it through a constitution-al amendment in the manner pre-scribed by the Constitution itself.
Some voices naively assert that simply eradicating abortion at the federal level and returning the is-sue to the states will correct the problem, but they are completely wrong. When the federal courts get out of the abortion issue and return it to the states, 20 states (based on both pro-life and pro-abortion
Author and historian David Barton is the Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization which distributes historical, legal, and statistical information; and helps citizens become active in their local schools and communities. WallBuilders is a name taken from the Bible book of Nehemiah. And just as Nehemiah led a grassroots movement in Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of that city and restore its strength and honor; so, too, WallBuilders seeks to energize the grassroots today to rebuild that which makes America strong—its constitutional, moral, and religious foundations.
QUESTION OF STATE’S RIGHTS?
This article is by David Barton and Rick Green
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a preliminary estimate that over the next decade, McCain’s tax proposals would reduce federal revenues $3.7 trillion while Obama’s cuts would amount to $2.7 trillion.
The center said the cuts would slice rough-ly 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the federal revenues scheduled for col-lection under current law. But the center’s estimate-seemingly the first nonpartisan comprehensive comparison of the plans-is incomplete because it doesn’t account for health care tax proposals or, at least in McCain’s case, consider how proposals to slash spend-ing would offset some costs.
A crusad-er against w a s t e f u l spending, McCain as-serts that he will veto bills that are too costly and cut the federal budget enough to make up for the costs of tax cuts and other propos-als, although he has yet to show he can save enough to do it. At the same time, the Republican says that Congress must continue to fund an Iraq war that already has cost more than $500 billion.
Obama, in turn, has proposed billions of dollars in spend-ing to create jobs and pad government programs aimed at helping the less for-tunate. He has said that the money will come from ending the Iraq war, slicing tax breaks for corporations, and raising taxes on high-income earners, efforts he says
are intended to shift more of the tax bur-den to wealthy Americans.
The two candidates have been haggling over the economy for more than a week now and seem to agree only on one point when it comes to it-that they dis-agree on just about every other point.
“On tax policy, health care reform, trade, government spending, and a long list of other issues, we offer very different choices to the American people,” Mc-Cain says at every turn.
Concurs Obama: “When it comes to the economy, John McCain and I have a funda-mentally different vision of where to take the country.”
Major changes to the tax code are at the heart of both candi-dates’ sweeping economic plans,
given that most cuts enacted since President Bush took office expire at the end of 2010 and the alternative mini-mum tax (AMT) is poised to hit much of the middle class-two years into the next president’s first term.
In 2001 and 2003 to jump-start a lack-luster economy, Bush proposed and Congress passed a series of tax cuts-including rate cuts for most taxpayers, increasing to $1,000 the per-child tax credit, relief from the so-called marriage penalty and estate tax cuts. The AMT was enacted in 1969 to make sure the wealthy paid at least some tax, but it
MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENT VISIONS ON TAXESLIZ SIDOTI - 6/17/2008
President Bush pledged housing help and other federal aid to victims of Midwest storms and said he would
inspect flood damage in a trip to Iowa on Thursday.Briefed on Tuesday by officials involved in the relief effort, Bush also said he would work with Congress on emergency legisla-tion to help replenish a federal emergency disaster fund.He told reporters there is enough in the fund to cover the most recent flooding disaster, but added: “What we’re concerned about is future disasters this year.”Bush said his administration was setting up a housing task force similar to one set up in California for wildfire victims to help get people back in their homes or find other shelter.“I fully understand people are upset when they lose their home. A person’s home is their most valued possession,” he said. “And we want to work with state and local folks to have a clear strategy to help peo-ple...get back into a place where they can
live.”He said the government was providing a variety of aid, including two million liters of drinking water for people in Iowa. “We’re in constant contact with people on the ground to help make sure that we save lives,” Bush said.The president said an assessment was still being made of damage to farms and livestock. He said federal aid would be made available to farmers and ranchers.The heavy rains have washed out millions of acres of prime farm and grazing lands, rais-ing the likelihood of higher food prices at a time when food and energy costs are already soaring.“It’s absolutely a concern,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. “It’s too early to say what the exact impact will be. It will certainly cause disruptions, in terms of the food supply coming from that region.”He said the Agriculture Department was “wait-ing for the ability to be able to go into these areas and try to make determinations as to what the crop reduction would be.”
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YES YOU CAN
This is the month we celebrate the holiday “Father’s Day.” It’s a day when we remember the dads (and other special men in our lives that we love) throughout the country.
“And so we shouldn‛t be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God‛s very own children, adopted into the bosom of his family, and calling to Him, “Father, Father.” -Romans 8:15
For our family, we will usually invite family or special church friends over for a yummy, home-cooked meal. After dinner, Dad, of course, gets to open his Father’s Day gifts. Gifts usually include a new shirt (“Best Dad in the World”), a favorite candy, and maybe some kind of tool.
Do you celebrate Father’s Day? Do you have a special man in your life that is “dad” to you? Everyone’s family is different. Some kids don’t have a dad. Sometimes our dads may not live in the same house or apartment with us.
Sometimes we may even have two dads. Wherever you live, and whomever you may have for a dad, know this: You will always have a Heavenly Dad that loves you very, very, much.
God the Father is your Heavenly Dad. He is a perfect Dad. He is kind. Patient. Fun. (Yeah!) Loving. Accepting. Strong. And dependable. Yes, God the Father is all of these things. The Bible says that if God is for us, who can be against us? Our Heavenly Father is cheering for us! Do you think God the Father wears t-shirts? Well, I really don’t think that He does, but if He did, what kind of t-shirt
could we buy for Him? What could we have printed on it?
How about “All-time Absolutely Best Dad in the Universe”? Or, how about this one, “#1 Dad”? My favorite one is, “Super Dad - Super Hero.” That’s our Heavenly Daddy. He’s #1. He is our hero. And He sure is super.
What have you done lately to show God just how much you love and appreciate Him? We don’t need to wait for a holiday once a year to wish our heavenly Father a “Happy Father’s Day.” Everyday, we should be thinking (talking and hearing!) and remembering Him. We should be praising Him!
Just as we take time to talk and receive instruction from our earthly fathers, it’s the same with our heavenly Dad too. Talk to God the Father. Listen to His Word - and obey it. Remember your heavenly Dad will always have open arms of love and acceptance. God the Father is love and He loves you, his dear child.
Daddy What does a houseboat be-come when it grows up?
A township
Why did the skeleton go to the library?
He wanted to bone-up on his studies.
Which animal keeps the best time?
A watch dog
They say change is inevitable, except here?
From a vending machine
If two is a couple and three is a crowd, then what is four and five?
Nine
What did one campfire say to another?
Shall we go out one of these nights
What did the alien
say to the gas pump?
Take your fingers out of
your ears and listen to me.
Who are the longest speakers?
Prisoners they can spend a lifetime in one sentence
How does the Man on the Moon cut his hair?
Eclipse it
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BECOMING A MAN OF GOD CRYPTOGRAMDecode the message by finding each substitute letter.
He is our
hero. And He sure is super.
Page 10 FREEDOM
Are you working for your money, or is your money working for you? If you’d like your money to work for you, the first thing you must do is turn your debt into wealth. I’ll outline the steps to this process below.
Step #1: Track Your Daily Expenses You’ve got to measure expenses & debt be-fore you can manage them. Tracking is the way to measure how you spend your money, and it is the first necessary step toward finan-cial success.
Tracking is simple. Every time you spend money, from buying a Coke to purchasing new furniture, write it down in a journal. In addition to your expenses, record ev-ery financial transaction, each deposit, check, or withdrawal. When you have kept a record of your fi-nances for a month, analyze it. Cut out those extras you don’t really need, or even use, and you’ll be amazed at the big difference in savings.
Step #2: Target Realistic Goals Targeting a goal is the second rule for man-aging your money. Goals are easy to set, but most people refuse to work toward them. This is the reason that most people have no money—they have no planning. Power comes from setting goals, and then developing a plan to achieve them. Remember these goal-set-ting principles:
Goals must be written down. Goals that are not written down are mere wishes, and—unfortunately—most wishes do not come true. Unwritten goals are too easily changed or just forgotten. Goals must be specific, and you must give yourself a deadline to complete your goal. Write down the date that you will be debt-free. Stay positive and believe in your goals. Build rewards into your goals. Every time you hit a goal, treat yourself with a reward. For Example: “In seven years I will be to-tally debt-free. Between now and seven years from now, this is what I will do:
“In 10 months, I will have my credit cards paid off. My reward for doing this will be a day at the spa and dinner with a friend to celebrate my achieve-ment.
“Within the next 19 months, I will have my Honda Accord paid for. My reward will be having my car detailed and treating myself to dinner and a movie.
“Within the next four years, I will have my condo paid for in full. I will be the first person in my family with their home paid for. My reward will be a new sofa for my home; I will pay cash for it. I will also share my testimony with three people telling them what God has done.
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“Now I will build a wisdom fund. Start a savings account with one month’s salary and build it up to six month’s salary within two years.”
Step #3: Trim Your Living Expenses Trimming away the fat in your spending is easier than you think. It will not only save you hundreds of dollars, but it will also make you lose weight! Fat will come off in both places because you will not be eating fast food every day for lunch. Listed below are some hints to help you on your trimming:
Rent videos/DVDs once per month. Let the same night be pizza night. Put your credit cards in a can of water and freeze it. Live on cash. Mow your own yard. Turn down your water heater. Cook more at home. Buy frozen pizza, and don’t touch the can with the credit cards in it. Do your own laundry instead of taking it to the cleaners. Sell what you don’t need or use, and put the money toward your debts.
Your ultimate goal should be what I call the “10-10-80 plan:” 10 percent goes to your local church, 10 percent goes to your debts, and you live on the remaining 80 percent. And then, once you are totally out of debt, you will be able to save the 10% that was going to debt!
Step #4: Train Yourself Financially Training is your ticket to the future. Become wise by understanding the pain that debt has brought upon you, and become wiser with the money that you now have.
This fourth key is all about getting your money to go to work for you and increase every year. Diversification is the way to make money work. Listed below are some investments that you can make once you are debt-free:
Wisdom Fund: One month’s income that you will grow to equal six month’s in-come. Roth IRA: Max it out every year. Mutual Fund: Open one up and feed it monthly. Stock: Read the Wall Street Journal and learn about investing. Rentals: You may have heard the worst things in the world about own-ing rental property, but it allows you to pay for your property with other people’s money. Land: They are not making any more of it. A New Home: There is nothing wrong with stepping up, if it is within your debt freedom plan. Giving: You will be able to support your local church and help others in a way that you never could. This time you will be able to teach others as you go!
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Brian Bohrer is best known for his ability to share simple and enlightening truths from the Word of God, which bring alive the revelation of Jesus throughout the Bible. He currently serves as pastor of Living Bread Church in Washington, Mis-souri. This article is used by permission from Pastor Brian Bohrer’s quarterly newsletter: Wi$domandmoney available at www.wisdomandmoney.com.
Welcomes your COMMENTSThe Freedom Publication Staff
Write to: Freedom Publications/Comments 108 E. Oakland Ave., Austin, MN 55912
TURNING DEBT INTO WEALTH
"
"And my God shall supply all your need according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
Phillippians 4:19
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Music News--www.tvulive.comSecret and Whisper announced that they will be heading overseas for the first time. Their album Great White Whale hits stores in Japan in July, plus it has a couple new acoustic tracks. They will be
heading to Japan to play the Loud Park Music Festival. Get details at the band’s MySpace. The good news if you don’t live in Japan is that the album is available now on itunes.
Page 11FREEDOM
GenerationExtreme
youth group
f r i e n d sMy New Friends Aren’t ChristiansJim Burns answers your questionsSeptember/October 1999, Vol. 58, No. 2, Page
FUN
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Q. I’ve had the same group of Christian friends for a long time. But when I started high school, I felt like I was outgrowing them. I was feeling more and more unhappy and depressed at not having really good friends. Then I got involved in the school musical and made some new, more mature friends. They make me feel good about myself, and I’m much hap-pier being with them. The prob-lem is, they aren’t Christians, and they sometimes do things they shouldn’t do, like swear. I know they’re not helping me grow closer to God. I don’t want to cut off my new friendships, but I don’t want to lose my relationship with God either. What can I do?
A. High school tends to be a time when old friendships change and new ones develop. And it’s perfectly natural and normal for you to feel close to these new friends from the musical. Because of the long hours spent in rehearsals and the inten-sity of performing together, drama and music students often become close-knit friends.
But I wouldn’t give up on your Chris-tian friends, either. You may be “outgrow-ing” a few of them, but some of them might still be a positive influence for you. This is important, because you’re going to become like the friends you spend the most time with. So you need to carefully watch how your new friends are affecting you. If you find your-self starting to swear or lose interest in your faith, you’ll obviously want to cut down on the amount of time you spend with them. And you’ll want to increase the time you spend with Christian friends.
Some students who participate in activities where there aren’t a lot of Christians find it helpful to join a Christian club or fellowship group. This kind of group helps keep them strong in their faith and holds them accountable for their actions. Try to find that smaller group of mature Christians who can help you grow in your faith and at the same time influence you with positive Christian actions. I think you’ll find these mature Christian friends are a lot of fun to be around, too.
I like this reminder from the Bible: “And what-ever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). If you’re willing to put God first as you make decisions about your life and your lifestyle, then I think you’ll make the right decisions about friendships. And you could even lead some of your new friends to Christ as you live a life that honors him. I hope you’ll do whatever it takes to keep the Lord at the center of your life.
Q. One of my friends has sud-denly decided she hates me. I don’t know what I did to her, but she’s started turning my other friends against me. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones, but she
doesn’t seem to want that. Actual-ly, I don’t really care if she and I are friends again, but I don’t want her to hate me. And I also don’t want to lose my other friends. I can’t just ignore them because some of the girls are in my youth group and in band with me. What should I do?
A. This sounds like a very painful situation. It’s never easy when a friend turns against you, especially when you don’t know why. And when a conflict pulls in a whole group of friends, it makes the situation worse. You could try talking to this girl private-ly. Write her a note and ask her to meet you after school, or to join you for lunch. If she agrees, tell her about your feelings. Try to use “I” statements, which focus on your feelings, rather than her actions. You might say, “I feel like you’re upset with me and I’m not sure why. I’d like to clear the air between us.” Then listen carefully to her response. If you need to apologize for hurting her in some way, do so. If not, tell her you’d like to put all of this in the past and start over as friends. You might find that the whole mess is just a matter of miscommunication and false assumptions. If she refuses to talk to you, or is resistant to patching things up, you may just have to move on. Frankly, you can’t control how this girl feels or what she says about you. If you’ve tried to make things right between you and she still chooses to hate you, then the problem rests with her, not with you. As hard as it may be, try to be gracious and forgiving. Don’t talk about this girl or try to turn others against her. Your friends will notice that you’re handling the conflict well and your friend isn’t. If they still side with her, they probably weren’t the right friends for you anyway.
My Friend Hates MeCampus Life, May/June 1998
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FREEEDOM CHRISTIAN CENTER108 E Oakland Ave Austin MN 55912
der any imaginable circumstance”-but the Republican has said he would consider “almost anything” as part of a compromise to save the senior citizens’ program.Both want to slice the estate tax, McCain more so than Obama.
The estate tax is phasing out and is com-p l e t e l y e l i m i -nated for 2010, but it snaps back to 2 0 0 1 l e v e l s - a 55 per-cent top rate with the first $675,000 exempt-at the end of that year. M c C a i n wants a
15 percent rate, and a $5 million exemp-tion, while Obama advocates a 45 percent rate and a $3.5 million exemption.
Overall, the Tax Policy Center said people with very high incomes would benefit the most under McCain’s proposal, while low- and middle-income taxpayers would see larger tax breaks under Obama’s plan and wealthy taxpayers would see their taxes increase.
Seeking to spur growth, McCain proposes cutting the maximum corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, and he would allow businesses to imme-diately deduct the full cost of capital busi-ness equipment in one swoop, instead of gradually over several years.
McCain also wants to increase the $3,500 income-tax exemption for dependents by $500 each year beginning in 2010 until it reaches $7,000.
Among Obama’s other proposals: rais-ing the tax on capital gains and qualified dividends. However, Obama has raised the possibility of deferring some of his tax hikes on the wealthy given the ailing economy.
To help others, Obama has offered a se-ries of tax breaks, including eliminating the income tax for senior citizens who make less than $50,000 a year and giv-ing a $1,000 income tax credit for fami-lies with income of between $8,000 and $75,000; individuals would receive half that amount. Obama also proposes a uni-versal mortgage credit that would allow people who don’t itemize their taxes to be eligible for a 10 percent tax credit of their mortgage interest up to $800.
FREEDOMnow also threatens about 20 million addi-tional taxpayers-many in the middle class-with levies averaging $2,000 if Congress doesn’t annually renew a so-called patch to fix the problem.
Making permanent Bush’s tax cuts and mak-ing sure the AMT keeps pace with inflation w o u l d have a d i r e c t cost of $ 3 . 6 t r i l l i o n over the next 10 y e a r s , accord-ing to the Joint Commit-tee on T a x a -tion and C o n -g r e s -sional Budget Office estimates, with gov-ernment borrowing costs rising more than $800 million over the same period.
McCain, a four-term Arizona sen-ator, twice voted against Bush’s tax cuts, probably the significant domestic accom-plishment of his presidency, but now em-braces them and wants to permanently ex-tend them for low-income and high-income people alike. He also long has said he would eliminate the AMT, and while some middle-income taxpayers would benefit, so would the wealthy, who no longer would have to pay it.
Obama, the first-term Illinois senator, wasn’t in the Senate when they first passed, but he’s willing to go along with permanently extending them except for their chief beneficiaries, the rich. Those who make more than $250,000 a year would see their taxes increase; Bush’s tax cuts for them would be rolled back.
In the vein of taxing the rich more, Obama also supports making some higher wage-earners pay Social Security taxes on more of their income. He has called for higher payroll taxes on wage-earners making more than $250,000 annually, a step that would affect the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans.
The 6.2 percent payroll tax is now applied to all wages up to $102,000 a year, which covers the entire amount for most Ameri-cans. Under Obama’s plan, the tax would not apply to wages between that amount and $250,000. But Obama has said all an-nual salaries above the quarter-million-dol-lar amount would be taxed under his plan.Conversely, McCain has ruled out higher payroll taxes for now-an adviser says that McCain would not consider an increase “un-
MCCAIN, OBAMA OFFER DIFFERENT VISIONS ON TAXESLIZ SIDOTI - 6/17/2008
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