Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer Only minutes after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the White House website, once filled with pages promoting family values and the culture of life, now contains an extensive collection of programs advocating the culture of death such as promotion of abortion, gay rights, and the repeal of family friendly laws such as the Defense of Marriage Act – all at the taxpayer’s expense. Under the banner, “Change Has Come to America,” the new website contains a complete list of the President’s agendas on everything from Health Care to Social Security. For a President whose campaign rhetoric was so passionate about uniting America, his agenda is one of the most divisive in history, appealing to only the small minority of Americans who consider themselves to be liberal. Conservative and moderate points-of-view, which represent the majority of Americans, are not represented or even acknowledged. For instance, when it comes to social issues, Obama’s liberal agenda for the promotion of homosexual rights is the most extensive in history. Carefully disguised under the heading of “Civil Rights” it includes expansion of controversial hate crimes legislation designed to protect lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) persons from violence. While it is always in the public interest to protect citizens from such crimes, conservative and moderates oppose this kind of legislation because it opens the door to suppression of speech, particularly that of religious expression, as well as establishing “thought crimes” which make an offense more or less illegal based on a person’s thoughts or belief system. Obama’s agenda also supports the Employment Non-Discrimation Act (ENDA), a proposed law which would expand existing anti-discrimination laws in the workplace to include the LGBT community. This is another controversial law embraced by the liberal elite that could force employers such as Christian book stores to hire employees who do not share the teachings of the faith. Even though an amendment was introduced that would provide a religious exemption to the law, many argue that “sexual preference” is a free choice and that any such law would be the equivalent of creating a protected class that promotes homosexuality. While President Obama’s agenda does not call for recognition of same-sex marriage, he calls for the equivalent by establishing “full civil unions” and federal rights for LGBT couples that would give these couples the same rights as married couples. In order to accomplish this, however, he is calling for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act so that LGBT couples can receive the 1,100+ 1,100+ legal rights currently given only to married heterosexual couples. The President also made known his opposition to any Federal Marriage Amendment which would define marriage as between a man and a woman. An expansion of adoption rights to homosexual partners is another item on the agenda. In spite of a plethora of research outlining the many serious problems that arise in children raised in same-sex households, opponents say this kind of policy change will be based on nothing more than biased studies conducted or funded by homosexual researchers and advocacy groups rather than on impartial research. The result will be a law that could be used to force even faith-based agencies to give children to same-sex couples or lose critical government funding.   This extensive liberal agenda goes on to call for the repeal of the “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” policy that bars homosexuals from the military. “The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve,” the President states.   His agenda for HIV/AIDS protection calls for “age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception” and “distributing contraceptives through our public health system.”  Rather than educating people on the proven health risks of this lifestyle, opponents say this policy will not only enable it, but do so at the taxpayer’s expense. In stark contrast, the president’s agenda on women’s rights is surprisingly brief. “President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him,” he states. “However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.” He followed this statement with a paragraph expressing support for the Prevention First Act which calls for legislation to expand access to contraception to reduce unintended pregnancies. Shrouded in the typical liberal double-speak about how this law will “end insurance discrimination against contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims,” what it really does is increase funding to family planning programs such as Planned Parenthood that promote abortion. It will also mandate health coverage of contraception and force religious-based hospitals to provide emergency contraception.   Also tucked into this page is a statement of his intention to support embryonic stem cell research on embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. “These embryos must be deemed in excess and created solely for the purpose of fertility treatments.” In reality, all the progress – and promise – for cures is coming from research in the field of adult and pluripotent  stem cells which do not require the destruction of human life.   Even though this administration seems poised to promote secularism and vice rather than faith and family values, we mustn’t waste time on discouragement. The thing to do now is prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for a long and envigorating fight, always remembering that with God on our side, all things are possible. As Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council said, “This city may have changed overnight, but our values are enduring. We will continue to advance faith, family, and freedom in the next four years.” © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly/Women of Grace. http://www.womenofgrace.com