Gotta have Faith

December 05, 2007

The Glenn Beck Program

GLENN BECK PROGRAM

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

GLENN: We need to learn from each other. I'm not here to defend my faith. I'm not hear to defend Romney's faith. I'm not here to defend your faith or tear it apart or anything else. A person's relationship with their God is a deeply personal thing and we need to respect that. We need to respect that in every man, woman and child. We need to respect that in every man that wants to be President. I'm glad Mitt Romney believes in God, but I don't care. So does Mike Huckabee. He's a Baptist. I like that in him. I don't have to become a Baptist if he becomes President, do we? Is he going to make us all become Baptists? Is Mitt Romney going to make us all become Mormon? No. Good! I don't care.

And you know what? Are you going to vote for Mike Huckabee because he's a Baptist? That would be pretty stupid of you, wouldn't it? That would be pretty small minded? Are you going to vote against Mitt Romney because he's a Mormon? Wouldn't that be pretty small minded? It would be just as small minded for you to not vote for Mitt Romney because he's Mormon as it would be for me to vote for him because he's Mormon.

Mitt Romney

Now the Kennedy comparison. I don't know, you know, I don't know how the media's going to spin this, but Jack Kennedy, I think people remember this Jack Kennedy speech for -- well, it's kind of like the whole Kennedy thing. You are remembering them for, you know, a lot more than he was, a lot more than this speech was. In a nutshell all that JFK said, that he wasn't the Catholic candidate for President; he was the Democratic candidate who also happened to be Catholic. Amen, brother. He didn't go into details. He just said, this is who I am and I'm proud of it. And if I were advising Mitt Romney, I would tell him to say the same thing, not even read the speech. "You know, here's what Jack Kennedy said" and then go up and deliver it.

Critics and detractors of Romney would love to have you believe that because he's a Mormon, he's too weird and spooky to be President and if you believe that, well, you know what, no speech he's going to get is going to change your mind. I get e-mails all the time, avalanches of e-mail: "I've listened to you for years, you are one of the smartest most loved guys. I agree with you on everything. But what, are you completely stupid for the Mormon thing? Oh, my gosh, you've got to run." Do you think the most important thing in my life I didn't investigate? Do you think you actually know something I haven't heard before? Do you think you know something that I haven't investigated myself? Do you think that you've got, like the -- "Oh, no, you've been duped!" Really? A guy who the last thing I wanted to be was a Mormon? Really? I was looking for escape hatches. I was looking for anything. I would have given my right arm for it not to be -- for me to have not found it true. But you know what? I did. You may not. God bless ya. That's great. That's what makes America so great.

How can it be, how can it be that we can be so different? Well, it's pretty easy. God made us all different, and we all find different things. It is in the honest seeking of answers. Unfortunately with everybody's religion, too many people's religion, you get a pack of lies. Isn't the fact that you agree with me on a lot of stuff enough proof that I'm not a weirdo cult member? A recent poll from CNN found that 77% of Americans found Romney's faith wouldn't affect their decision to vote for him. And you know what? I'm proud of us. That doesn't mean you vote for him. That means you have some perspective.

You know, just before he died, I talked to Reverend Jerry Falwell. I had a chance to interview him and ask him. He was a nice man. I think I only spoke to him twice, but he really was a kind and gentle man, and I talked to him on the air and I talked to him off the air about Mormons because I specifically asked him on the air, "What do you think? How important is a candidate's faith?" You know what he said? He said to me on the air, "Glenn, we're electing President, not a Sunday schoolteacher." That's Jerry Falwell. When I asked him off the air about the whole Mormon thing, he said, "I don't agree with the theology but every Mormon I've ever met is a good guy." Isn't that what it should be? The world is in terrible shape these days. The next election may be the most important election of my lifetime and that's only because we're getting in more and more trouble. Every four years we're worse off.

I may say this, that this is the most important election of our lifetime because we haven't corrected the mistakes of the last election and they're bigger. And you know what? In four years I'll probably say to you -- I hope I don't but I'll probably say, this is it, man, this is the most important election of our lifetime. This isn't a popularity contest. You should vote for the man you feel it going to do the best job, has the best solutions to get this great country back on track. Good heavens. Shucks! We're America. We're the United States of America and somehow or another we have allowed ourselves once again to be convinced that we can't fix the problems! We can fix the problems! But not by being small minded.

If I do decide to vote for Mitt Romney, and I don't know if I'm going to. I haven't made up my mind. I'd like to take a little piece of Mitt Romney, a little piece of Giuliani, a little piece of Mike Huckabee and stitch them all together. A big piece of Duncan Hunter, a piece of Tancredo and, yes, even a little piece of Ron Paul. I'd like to be Dr. Frankenstein, stitch my candidate together and say, it's alive! But because I can't do that, and most likely I'd be arrested and it couldn't get any worse -- well, I guess it could. It could be raining. I'll just have to decide who I'm going to vote for. But I can tell you what. Whatever candidate is I end up backing, it won't be because he's a Mormon and it won't be because he's not a Baptist, and I hope people in my audience feel the same way. I want to know a guy's character. I want to know a guy's values. I want to know how smart he is. I want to know how nimble he is and being able to speak the truth and crush lies. If Mitt Romney gets my vote, it's because I find him to be smart, thoughtful, clearheaded thinker on the issues that matter to me. I don't care if Mitt Romney is a Mormon or not a Mormon, and I plan on telling him that, you know, the next great world meeting where we plot the domination of the Earth and preselect the next winner of American Idol, in the basement of our churches. Shhh.

END TRANSCRIPT

Here are the TOP 12 states with the STRICTEST laws against abortion

Glenn just purchased the entire historical Roe v. Wade archive as a solemn reminder of our nation's past and the vital importance of honoring the sacredness of life. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, many states have been stepping up to protect both their unborn citizens AND the mothers carrying them.

Which states are doing the most to protect their most vulnerable? Here are the top 12 states with the strictest laws against abortion.

1. Alabama

Alabama has some of the nation's most protective pro-life measures, banning all abortions in the case of life-threatening circumstances for the mother. That means abortion is banned at every stage of pregnancy. Health care providers found guilty of performing abortions face a class-A felony, the most serious charge besides Capitol Murder, with the potential of carrying a life sentence in prison. However, the pill, Plan B, is classified as "contraception" rather than abortion. Taxpayer-funded Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures except in very limited circumstances.

Alabama is one of the few states to add protections within its state constitution for the unborn. The state:

Acknowledges, declares, and affirms that it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.

2. Arkansas

Like Alabama, Arkansas bans abortion at every stage of pregnancy except in life-threatening situations for the mother. However, Plan B is still considered "contraception" and is legal. Taxpayer-funded Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures except in very limited circumstances. Additionally, Arkansas added the amendment to its state constitution, declaring:

The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, to the extent permitted by the Federal Constitution.

3. Idaho

Idaho bans abortions at every stage of pregnancy with the exceptions of life-threatening situations to the mother and instances of rape and incest. The health care practitioner who gave an abortion must prove "affirmative defense," which means they have to prove in court why the abortion is necessary and meets the legal criteria. Patients approved for abortion must wait 24 hours after counseling to receive the procedure. Anyone who performs an abortion unless it's in one of the approved cases will face felony charges. Like Alabama and Arkansas, taxpayer-funded Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures.

Unlike Alabama and Arkansas, Idaho law does not include explicit constitutional or statutory protections for abortion.

4. Kentucky

Kentucky has also banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy except in life-threatening situations for the mother. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. However, abortion providers are fighting the all-out ban on abortion through appealing to the state's previous abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. The appeal is ongoing.

Though Kentucky voters voted down a proposal to add an amendment to the state constitution banning abortion, the state adopted the following policy towards abortion in 2018:

Children, whether born or unborn, are the greatest natural resource in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

5. Louisiana

Louisiana also banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. However there is an appeal to allow abortions in the case of rape and incest. Healthcare practitioners who violate this ban are subject to criminal prosecution. Moreover, Louisiana adopted an amendment in their state constitution—specifically, the Louisiana Declaration of Rights, banning the construction of any constitutional right to abortion:

To protect human life, nothing in present constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.

6. Mississippi

Mississippi bans all abortions except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest that have been reported to law enforcement. Though Mississippi did not adopt a constitutional amendment to ban abortion as a right, the Mississippi Code says:

Abortion carries significant physical and psychological risks to the maternal patient, and these physical and psychological risks increase with gestational age.

Moreover, doctors who perform illegal abortions face civil and criminal charges.

7. Missouri

Missouri bans all abortions except in the case of a medical emergency concerning the mother, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Those seeking to get an abortion must prove "affirmative defense," which means they have to prove in court why the abortion is necessary and meets the legal criteria. Minors seeking an abortion through "affirmative defense" must do so with parental consent. Moreover, those seeking an abortion must be offered an ultrasound.

Moreover, Missouri adopted the following statute protecting the unborn:

It is the intention of the general assembly of the state of Missouri to: (1) [d]efend the right to life of all humans, born and unborn; (2) [d]eclare that the state and all of its political subdivisions are a ‘sanctuary of life’ that protects pregnant women and their unborn children; and (3) [r]egulate abortion to the full extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and federal statutes.

8. Oklahoma

Oklahoma was the first state to successfully ban all abortions after conception following the overturn of Roe v. Wade and continues to lead the way as one of the toughest states on abortion. Exceptions include life-saving procedures for the mother or pregnancies resulting from "rape, sexual assault, or incest." Those who perform legal abortions can be reported and prosecuted criminally under state law HB427 and be charged at least $10,000 per illegal abortion procedure. Violations also include insurance companies or private citizens caught funding abortions.

Though Oklahoma has not adopted a state constitutional amendment concerning abortion, its Public Health Code states that it cannot be “construed as creating or recognizing right to abortion."

9. South Dakota

South Dakota bans all abortions except in life-threatening cases for the mother. There are no exceptions for rape and incest. However, it is legal to travel out of state to get an abortion. There are no state constitutional provisions protecting against abortion.

10. Tennessee

Tennessee bans all abortions except in life-threatening cases for the mother. There is currently a movement in the Tennessee state legislature to enact exceptions for rape and incest. Like Idaho and Missouri, healthcare practitioners who gave an abortion must prove "affirmative defense," which means they have to prove in court why the abortion is necessary and meets the legal criteria. Those who provide abortions illegally can be criminally prosecuted.

Tennessee's state constitution was amended to supersede a 2000 Tennessee supreme court case, which held:

A woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy is a vital part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution [and that] the right is inherent in the concept of ordered liberty embodied in our constitution and is therefore fundamental.

The new state constitutional amendment reads as follows:

Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.

11. Texas

Texas bans all abortions except in life-threatening cases concerning the mother. There is a movement in the Texas state legislature to provide exemptions for rape and incest.

Moreover, Texas received a lot of heat for its law not only criminalizing providing illegal abortions but enabled citizens to report illegal abortions. However, several cities in Texas are pushing back against the abortion ban. After Dobbs, Texas increased the penalties for performing an abortion up to life in prison, including a civil penalty of no less than $100,000 per abortion performed.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said the following:

Now that the Supreme Court has finally overturned Roe, I will do everything in my power to protect mothers, families, and unborn children, and to uphold the state laws duly enacted by the Texas Legislature.

The cities of Austin and San Antonio passed ordinances preventing city funds from being used to investigate the provision or receipt of abortion care.

12. West Virginia

West Virginia bans abortion at all stages of pregnancy, except in the case of a “nonmedically viable fetus”, ectopic pregnancy, or medical emergency. According to the West Virginia state legislature, "Nonmedically viable fetus" means:

A fetus that contains sufficient lethal fetal anomalies so as to render the fetus medically futile or incompatible with life outside the womb in the reasonable medical judgment of a reasonably prudent physician.

Victims of rape and incest can obtain abortions up to eight weeks after conception, but only if they report to law enforcement first.

In 2018, West Virginians voted to add the following language to the state constitution:

Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.

Facebook CENSORS Glenn over January 6 comments. Glenn is having NONE of it.

Glenn was CENSORED by Facebook's independent fact-checkers yesterday. Here's the scoop.

This week on the Glenn Beck Program, Glenn and Stu discussed Tucker Carlson's commentary on the newly released Jan 6 Capitol footage, specifically, the curious case of Ray Epps—the man who admitted to inciting the Capitol breach in a text message to his nephew and was let off Scott-free. There is speculation that he could be an F.B.I. plant in the crowd. Regardless of whether or not Ray Epps is an F.B.I. plant, isn't it the right of the American people to ask questions, especially about issues as consequential to our country as Jan 6?

Facebook apparently doesn't think so...

After this clip was published on Glenn's Facebook page, Facebook slapped it with a "partly false" fact-checking label.

As it turns out, the "independent" fact-checkers told Glenn that unless he corrected his narrative about Ray Epps, they would limit his visibility and distribution on Facebook. This would not only affect Glenn. It would affect the entire Blaze crew of talent and personalities. Glenn had one thing to say in response: Go screw yourself, Facebook.

Glenn had one thing to say in response: Go screw yourself, Facebook.

Glenn went on to emphasize that he will NOT be issuing a correction, even if it means his Facebook page’s distribution may suffer as a result. He's not backing down on asking the tough questions and getting to the truth, no matter the cost.

Now is more important than ever to join Glenn and Blaze Media—news and entertainment for people who love America. Big Tech has a "very impressive" track record of censorship—Twitter Files, anyone? To guarantee you have access to the content you want, click THIS link to subscribe to BlazeTV. And don't forget to sign up for Glenn's free email newsletter by entering your email below. Join the fight back against Big Tech censorship.

Are YOUR taxpayer dollars funding these 15 ESG-FRIENDLY states? Find out HERE.

Justin Sullivan / Staff | Getty Images

This week, we published a list of the top 14 states FIGHTING against ESG. Now, we are giving you the top 15 ESG-friendly states who are using YOUR taxpayer money to invest in leftist corporations.

Glenn has long warned of the dangers of ESG on American industry, and this list proves the risk. Already, multiple states on this list have divested their funds from gun manufacturers because they don't comply with their leftist agenda. Moreover, the businesses in these states who don't want to integrate left-leaning environmental, gender, and diversity standards into their business won't have any hope of investment from their government.

However, several of the states are considering ESG legislation RIGHT NOW, so there is still time to act. Glenn encouraged his audience to send THIS Utah bill to their governor's desk to protect reliable American industry. If your state is still deliberating integrating ESG standards into their investment strategy, ACT NOW. If they have already integrated ESG practices, you still have the power to fight back. Find out if YOUR state is considering ESG or already adopted ESG investment below.

Oregon

The Oregon state treasury announced that as a "fiduciary," it will engage ESG monitoring as a factor in its investment strategy:

Acting as a fiduciary, Treasury monitors and manages risks as a prudent global investor, engages as a responsible shareholder, and advocates for investor-friendly practices and regulations, such as improved identification and disclosure of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks.

In summary, that means if you are an Oregon resident, the state is using YOUR taxpayer dollars to fund liberal environmental and social agendas.

Connecticut

Connecticut's treasurer, Erick Russell, published the state's "Investment Policy for the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds" (CRPTF). The plan integrates ESG monitoring as an core value in the state's investment strategy for retirement plans:

The CRPTF supports the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in the investment decision making process, given that such factors can impact both risk and return over the long term. In most cases, the CRPTF will vote FOR shareholder resolutions that request companies to disclose non-proprietary information related to ESG issues.

If you are a Connecticut resident, how do you feel about YOUR government using retirement funds and taxpayer dollars to fund woke ESG causes?

Maryland

Like Connecticut, Maryland's "State Retirement and Pension System" uses ESG as a core investment value for their states' pension and retirement plans. In fact they have an entire ESG committee dedicated to the task.

You can read the 2022 ESG report for yourself HERE.

Maine

Maine's government also has a special branch dedicated to ESG considerations in YOUR retirement plans. The Maine PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) states:

The primary duty of MainePERS is to serve as good fiduciaries to our members. This requires considering sustainability as a vital component of successful long-term investing. We have compiled this Environmental, Social and Governance Report to outline how these factors impact our investment decisions.

Investment's main purpose should be securing the biggest return on investment--that is what investment should be about... right? At least you would hope so if someone else is managing YOUR money. Yet, this consideration takes a back seat if it comes into conflict with the state's liberal ESG standards.

California

It comes at no surprise that California is one of the original leaders in pro-ESG policy. In 2022, California's Senate passed the first bill in the U.S. requiring all companies statewide generating more than $1 billion in revenue to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The bill's author, state Senator Wiener, said:

Corporate transparency and accountability are critically important when it comes to addressing our climate crisis. Corporate emissions are a huge contributor to climate change, but frankly, we don’t yet know the scope of the problem. That’s why we need to act quickly and decisively to ensure corporations are reporting their emissions. This is a landmark bill, and today’s vote is a big step forward for California’s fight against climate change.

This bill has been incorporated into a three-bill package being considered by the California state legislature RIGHT NOW. The addition of the other two bills will give California's government the power to use YOUR retirement funds to invest in ESG-friendly businesses, like Connecticut, Maryland, and Maine.

New Jersey

New Jersey's State Investment Council announced that it would be integrating ESG into its investment practices in 2018. The Council stated:

The policy recognizes that material ESG factors are an important component of a comprehensive investment management strategy, and an analysis of these factors should be applied by the Division in connection with the investment and evaluation of the Pension Fund's assets.

If you have a state pension fund in New Jersey, then your money is being used to fund left-leaning corporations.

New York

New York's state retirement fund published a report stating:

ESG factors are a key component of the Fund’s analysis of both short- and long-term financial risks and opportunities.

That means your taxpayer dollars are funding ESG practices. New York also divested its pension funds from gun manufacturers. Unless you are a liberal-leaning business that complies with the Left's woke environmental and social standards, you will not get public investment from your state's retirement fund.

New Mexico

New Mexico's State Investment Council, which is a part of the State Investment Office, adopted ESG standards in their investment practices in 2021. Among their ESG considerations for investment include: resource conservation, climate change, sustainability, gender diversity, equity & inclusion, and others. In other words, unless your business in New Mexico complies with these leftist standards, you won't get any investment from your government. Moreover, if you are paying into New Mexico's pension program, you are FUNDING these leftist businesses.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts' Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (PRIMB) unanimously voted to recommend to the full board that pension fund managers vote against companies that:

Failed to align their business plans with the goals of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set forth in the Paris Climate Agreement, and/or that have failed to establish a plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

In addition to climate change, Massachusetts has utilized the force of its state pension fund to demand that companies adopt leftist gender and inclusion standards in order to receive funding, becoming one of the most outspoken ESG proponents.

Nevada

In 2022, Nevada's treasurer announced that his $49 billion portfolio—taxpayer dollars, mind you—will divest from all businesses that sell assault-style weapons. What other industries will they choose to divest from in the future if they don't comply with their leftist standards?

Rhode Island

Rhode Island, like California and New York, divested its state pension funds from publicly traded gun companies. The state also uses state retirement and pension funds to invest in ESG-friendly companies.

Vermont

Vermont's Teasurer’s Office and the Vermont Pension Investment Committee (VPIC) announced that they "consider financial factors and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions." They also hold companies to the climate standards put forth in the Paris Climate Agreement.

Washington

Seattle, one of the nation's most left-leaning cities, announced that its City Employees Retirement System will be taking ESG into consideration when choosing their investments. This comes as no surprise from a city in a state that is mandating "100% clean energy by 2040" and holding its first "greenhouse gas allowance auction."

Colorado

Colorado is considering a bill RIGHT NOW that would require Colorado's Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) to factor the state’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals into its investment decisions. If it passes, it would affect one out of every ten Colorado residents who contribute to the PERA fund.

Delaware

Delaware has been pushing state ESG policy since 2018. The state Senate passed a bill that enables the government—again, using the same justification as a "fiduciary"—to invest using ESG as a consideration. The state also passed a certification process in 2018. Though "voluntary," these certificates are used by the government to identify sustainable businesses. So if you don't have a certificate, you can kiss goodbye to the possibility of state investment.

Have YOU had an abortion and regretted it? Glenn wants to hear YOUR story!

PEDRE | Getty Images

Glenn just bought the ENTIRE Roe v. Wade archive from Linda Coffee, the original lawyer behind the landmark abortion case. As a pro-life activist, Glenn doesn't want the lives of the 60 million+ babies who died between Roe v. Wade in 1973 and the Dobbs decision in 2022 to go unforgotten. He purchased the archive so that it wouldn't be treated as a relic of abortion in someone else's collection, but rather as a historical reminder to never sacrifice human life for the sake of freedom EVER again.

But there are two parties in abortion that need to be protected: the baby AND the mother. Glenn wants to honor the mothers who regret their abortions just as much as the babies who lost their lives to the procedure. If YOU had an abortion and regret it, or if you were planning on having an abortion and decided not to, Glenn wants to hear from YOU and honor your story.

If you feel inclined, write your story down on paper, send it to the below P.O. box, and Glenn will include it in his historical vault surrounding the history of abortion. If you would be comfortable with us sharing your story, please sign your name. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can leave your name off of the story. We ask that you include your phone number so that can verify you as a source.

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