Senate Stalls As Shutdown Looms 

As expected, Friday afternoon the Senate rejected the House's resolution to keep the government open while defunding Obamacare. But House conservatives stuck to their guns. They worked through the weekend, doing their part to avoid a partial government shutdown at midnight tonight, while taking a second shot at Obamacare. 

The House passed another funding bill to keep the government open, and it attached two amendments to the resolution: one repealing Obamacare's tax on medical devices and another amendment delaying implementation of Obamacare for one year. 

There was only one problem: Senate Democrats had left town for the weekend. In response, Speaker Boehner issued a blistering statement Sunday: 
 

• "The House worked late into the night Saturday to prevent a government shutdown, and the Senate now must move quickly, today, to do the same. If the Senate stalls until Monday afternoon … it would be an act of breathtaking arrogance…  

  "They will be deliberately bringing the nation to the brink of a government shutdown for the sake of raising taxes on seniors' pacemakers and children's hearing aids and plowing ahead with the train wreck that is the president's health care law."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to reconvene the Senate until 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, and he refused even to consider the House bill. Senate Democrats tabled the resolution, rejecting it without any debate or consideration. 

What Happens Next? 

The stock market has been down all day, reflecting the unease around the country with the gridlock in Washington. As I write, there is talk of a one-week extension with no strings attached, giving congressional leaders more time to negotiate a solution. 

There is also a report that the House may try to pass another funding bill with amendments delaying Obamacare's individual mandate and repealing the waiver Obama granted to members of Congress and Capitol Hill staff. 

If nothing is agreed to, a partial government shutdown takes effect at midnight. What does that mean? Initially, most Americans probably would not notice. 

Social Security checks would continue to go out. Your mail would continue to be delivered. Veterans' hospitals would not close. On the other hand, vacationers to national parks and the monuments and museums in Washington, D.C., would likely have to make other plans. 

But the longer it goes on, the worse it could get. When the government shuts down, the president, as head of the executive branch, has tremendous discretion to decide what gets shut down and what stays open. 

The Right's Circular Firing Squad 

Research shows that when a battle is being waged in the air waves, the side that runs the most ads with its message almost always wins. What we are seeing right now with Obamacare and the government shutdown are a lot of free "ads" from the liberal media establishment touting the liberal line. 

Most Americans don't watch conservative media. As a result, they are getting their information through the media's liberal filter. On that basis alone, liberal politicians are confident that they can prevail in this "shutdown showdown." 

I'm glad we are having this fight. The American people need to know what is wrong with Obamacare and what is at stake when it comes to the size and scope of government. 

It's no secret that there divisions in both parties. Of course, reasonable people can disagree, and there has been no shortage of conservatives who disagree with the current strategy of attempting to defund Obamacare. 

Unfortunately, this division has spilled out into the public debate. They are calling people like Ted Cruz and others "nuts," "dumb" and "bizarre." At the same time, some activists are accusing some of the most conservative members of Congress of being sellouts. 

For example, I know Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK). He is one of the most stalwart pro-life, pro-family, fiscally conservative senators ever elected. However, he strongly disagrees with this defunding strategy. But it is inaccurate and unwise for conservatives to call Tom Coburn a "sellout." 

The mutual name-calling is music to the ears of the liberal media, which always cheers whenever conservatives start forming a circular firing squad. 

I have a suggestion for the two sides in this disagreement: When you go on a talk show, whether you're part of the Tea Party movement or the Washington establishment, simply say: 
 

• "Look, we have a disagreement about strategy. But we have no disagreement about the dangers of Obamacare. We are furious and brokenhearted about what these misguided policies are doing to America's middle class. But I won't come on your TV show to attack another conservative. We didn't cause this mess. We are trying to stop it from doing any more damage to our economy and hardworking families."

State Marriage Laws Under Siege 

The Supreme Court's summer decision striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act has opened a flood gate of litigation against state marriage laws. Friday, a federal judge ordered the state of New Jersey to recognize same-sex "marriage." Governor Chris Christie has promised to appeal.

Today's Washington Post reports, "There are dozens of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts," seeking to force same-sex "marriage" on every state of the union. Even voter-approved constitutional amendments are coming under attack. Virginia's marriage protection amendment, passed by 56% of the voters in 2006, is facing two legal challenges, according to the Post. 

The outcome of this fight is far from certain. While the Supreme Court struck down the law defining marriage in federal statutes, it did not declare same-sex "marriage" to be a right under the U.S. Constitution. For now it left the definition of marriage to the states. 

But the left is not content with letting the people decide. That is why it is once again turning to unelected judges to force its morality on the American people. In the meantime, men and women of faith cannot give up as the issue will continue to be fought at the state level, with tremendous repercussions for religious liberty.