Radicals Celebrate Early 

Left-wing radicals in New York City are kicking off the July 4th holiday celebrations a bit early. A group known as Disarm NYPD plans to gather tonight at a Brooklyn park to burn the Confederate flag, a symbol of slavery, in protest of racism. It will also burn the American flag. 

Responding to criticism of tonight's event, Disarm NYPD clarified its view of America, saying, "We do not believe the ideals of America are anything to be revered. . . . So, we will burn the American flag, a symbol of oppression and genocide." 

Conservatives have warned for years that there is a visceral hatred of America among many on the left. In their warped minds, there is no difference between the Confederate battle flag and the Stars and Stripes. In case you missed it, check out my latest column at The Weekly Standard. 

Speaking of the radical left, in yesterday's report I noted the irony that many on the left were willing to sacrifice the First Amendment right of religious freedom for a so-called right to same-sex marriage that is nowhere to be found in the Constitution. 

That wasn't hyperbole on my part. In a stunning reversal, the ACLU has announced that it no longer supports the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. For the left, gay rights trump religious rights. 


Something Is Wrong 

A new poll this week seems to contradict much of elite opinion. We're being told that the public overwhelmingly supports gay marriage. We're told that Obamacare is here to stay. We're told the country is moving left, that faith is declining, and when Obama governs with his pen and his phone, our elites applaud approvingly. 

If the elites are right, then surely you would expect Americans to be happy with the direction of the country. But they are not. 

A new Rasmussen poll finds that the overwhelming majority of likely voters say our country is on the wrong track. Only 26% are happy with the direction of the country. 


The New Deadline 

As we reported, international negotiators failed to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program by yesterday's deadline. So they extended it for another week. If Iran wasn't cooperating, the U.S. and other world powers should have walked away. However, the Obama Administration refuses to do so. 

But don't miss the significance of this new deadline, July 7th. Did they just randomly decide that they needed only a few extra days to conclude Obama's capitulation? No, the date isn't random. 

If Obama submits the agreement to Capitol Hill before July 9th, Congress has only 30 days to review it. If the talks drag on, Congress gets additional time -- 60 days -- to review it. More time to thoroughly scrutinize this terrible deal would certainly be in America's best interests. 

But the administration and Tehran don't want that to happen, so now they are rushing to get it done. It's just another area where the Obama White House and the Islamic Republic can seemingly find common ground. 


Church Boycotts Israel 

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted 508 to 124 yesterday to boycott Israeli products made in the West Bank. Of the various resolutions listed on the synod's website, three focused on Israel. I didn't see one condemning ISIS or radical Islam or the Supreme Court's obliteration of marriage as God ordained it.

In a world full of oppressive governments that hate the freedoms we take for granted, the United Church of Christ has singled out the Jewish people as a target of its disgust and indignation. I would remind the church that Christ was a Jew. 

By the way, at the same time the church was voting to condemn Israel, the Obama Administration was doing everything it could to gut the law Congress passed to combat divestment campaigns against Israel.