Too many Republicans still part of the problem

Far too many Republicans in Congress are still very much a part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

You might think they got a wake-up call this year as a result of the stunning primary election rejection of business as usual and their go-along-to-get-along attitude toward Barack Obama's radical social agenda and his the-Constitution-be-damned policies.

Not so.

Here's just one example of many.

Last week, 43 Republican members of the House of Representatives joined Democrats in affirming in legislation Obama's transgender-mania.

The vote was on what is being called "the Maloney amendment," which ratified into law Obama's 2014 executive order barring private businesses that do contract work with the federal government from engaging in what Obama calls "discrimination" on the basis of "sexual orientation and gender identity" in their private employment policies.

What does that mean?

By the standard the government is now using, it could be as innocent as having a bathroom policy based on biological sex rather than how the employee feels about himself-herself on a particular day.

How do those Republicans explain their vote?

Some of them claim the Maloney amendment merely affirms existing law. But that is an admission that Obama's sweeping order is legitimate and valid. That attitude is even more dangerous in its constitutional implications than forcing private employers to embrace Obama's radical transgender mission, which has since been mandated for every public school in the country.

What all Republicans should have done was to reject the Maloney amendment because no president has the constitutional power to legislate by executive order. Instead of taking that principled, constitutional position, these 43 Republican House members effectively codified Obama's action as law.

Experience more of Joseph Farah's no-nonsense truth-telling in his books, audio and video products, featured in the WND Superstore

Let me ask you a simple question: Are we still a nation of representative constitutional government? If so, when have the American people had the opportunity to weigh in on this radical social agenda? What Obama has done in his eight years in office is to abuse his presidential power to restrict the freedom of Americans who disagree with him about controversial issues like "transgenderism."

I would argue not even Congress has any business punishing individuals or private businesses for not falling in line with Obama's absurd moral code. Congress, too, is limited by the Constitution as to its actions. Ask yourself: Has the Constitution been rewritten lately to make bathroom policies and attitudes toward "transgenderism" matters for national legislation?

A vote for the Maloney amendment would punish as "discrimination" those who believe we're created male and female, and that male and female are created for each other. It represents one more stake in religious freedom – which is specifically protected by the Constitution.

But it's hardly just religious people who object to these "transgender" laws. There are plenty of non-religious people who object to them on other grounds – privacy, safety, common sense, not being forced to hire people because of the way they feel about their sexual identity.

Let me close with the complete list of the 43 Republican House members who voted for the Maloney amendment:

Justin Amash, Mich.
Susan Brooks, Ind.
Mike Coffman, Colo.
Ryan Costello, Pa.
Carlos Curbelo, Fla.
Rodney Davis, Ill.
Jeff Denham, Calif.
Charlie Dent, Pa.
Mario Diaz-Balart, Fla.
Bob Dold, Ill.
Daniel Donovan, N.Y.
Tom Emmer, Minn.
Michael Fitzpatrick, Pa.
Rodney Frelinghuysen, N.J.
Chris Gibson, N.Y.
Joe Heck, Nev.
Will Hurd, Texas
Darrell Issa, Calif.
David Jolly, Fla.
John Katko, N.Y.
Adam Kinzinger, Ill.
Leonard Lance, N.J.
Frank LoBiondo, N.J.
Tom MacArthur, N.J.
Martha McSally, Ariz.
Pat Meehan, Pa.
Luke Messer, Ind.
Erik Paulsen, Minn.
Bruce Poliquin, Maine
Tom Reed, N.Y.
David Reichert, Wash.
Jim Renacci, Ohio
Tom Rooney, Fla.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Fla.
John Shimkus, Ill.
Elise Stefanik, N.Y.
Fred Upton, Mich.
David Valadao, Calif.
Greg Walden, Ore.
Mimi Walters, Calif.
David Young, Iowa
Todd Young, Ind.
Lee Zeldin, N.Y.

Obviously, some of them have already begun feeling the pain of that vote. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., issued a statement a day later saying his vote was "recorded incorrectly." "My position on this issue has not and will not change," Shimkus said in a statement. "I've consistently defended religious liberty and I always will. During a series of 14 votes on the House floor, I accidentally cast a 'yea' vote for the Maloney Amendment when I intended to vote 'nay.' I regret the mistake."

It's time that a few more of these members hear from their constituents.

Hasn't the Republican-dominated Congress done far too much already to aid and abet the criminal Obama regime?

Are you sick of all the bathroom bullies? Sign WND'S petition and say NO to transgender bathroom and locker room madness!

Media wishing to interview Joseph Farah, please contact [email protected].