Category Archives: Radio Commentaries

February 19, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Beware of the National Popular Vote Movement

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 19, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

I cringe every time I hear someone say the United States is a democracy. It is NOT a democracy. It is a representative republic where law is supreme and everyone is subject to the law, including leaders.

A democracy is different from a republic, because the majority rules in a democracy. Whatever the majority wants, a majority can vote for and get.

Recently, a bill surfaced in the General Assembly that would be a better fit for a democracy. H.B. 929 introduced by Representative Earl Ehrhart is an Agreement among the States to elect the president by national popular vote. The national popular vote is a movement to by-pass the Electoral College and elect the president by a majority of votes cast throughout the country.

Some say that sounds like a good idea, but they might not know what the Electoral College is and why it was established as the best way to elect our most powerful officials.

The Electoral College is a process to which each state appoints electors to equal the state’s number of senators and congressmen. Meaning, Georgia has 16 electors – one for each of 14 congressmen, plus two more – one for each of our U.S. senators. Electors may be appointed at state party conventions, central committees or they may be listed on the ballot. Georgia’s 16 electors will meet with other state electors at a time and date set by Congress and all 16 votes may or may not be cast for the candidate that got the majority vote in Georgia. Continue reading →

February 12, 2016 Radio Commentary

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More Marijuana Bills

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 12, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Two more marijuana bills have been introduced this session. S.B. 254 reduces to a misdemeanor the penalty for possessing any amount of marijuana, which could mean a year in prison or a $1,000 fine, or both. This would repeal the law against unlawful possession, but growing or buying or selling marijuana would continue to be illegal.

H.B. 704 concerning the cultivation of industrial hemp is a problem, because hemp and medical cannabis are derived from the same marijuana plant that could be legally grown in Georgia if Representative Allen Peake’s 25-page H.B. 722 passes this session. The hemp-producing marijuana plant is listed as a hallucinogenic drug in the Controlled Substance Act.

The difference between hemp and marijuana is the amount of THC in the plant. Industrial hemp contains no more than three-tenths of one percent of THC on a dry weight measure. But, finding the right seed to cultivate is a major complication in the production of industrial hemp. Since available seed is not certified to produce plants with a THC content as low as necessary for hemp, no viable hemp seed has been documented or legally imported in decades. Continue reading →

February 5, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Two Subjects: (1) Parental Rights and (2) Marijuana

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 5, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

H.B. 713 was pre-filed in December and officially introduced January 13th by Representative Raffensperger. It changes three sections of Georgia law – the Juvenile Code, domestic relations, and adoptions. It amends the (a) Juvenile Code to allow termination of parental rights if conception results from rape, incest or trafficking for sexual servitude.

It amends the (b) domestic relations Code concerning with whom parental power lies. When a termination of parental rights petition is received, the superior court, currently, decides the case, considering whether the child was abandoned, or the parent cannot be located, or is absent, insane, incapacitated, or disabled. To that list of circumstances to consider, H.B. 713 adds rape, incest and trafficking, so domestic relations law and the Juvenile Code will use the same standard when terminating parental rights.

(c) H.B. 713 also makes the same change in adoption law, but all such changes require clear and convincing evidence that rape, incest, or trafficking caused that conception. Call Representative Tom Weldon at 404 656-5105 and ask him to pass H.B. 713 out of his committee.

During the 2015 legislative session, Representative Allen Peake’s H.B. 1 passed and with it came Georgia’s list of eight medical conditions that qualified patients for treatment with low THC cannabis oil. Continue reading →

January 29, 2016 Radio Commentary

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Franklin Graham, Religion & Marriage Law

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 29, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Have you heard the good news? Billy Graham’s son Franklin began his Decision America Tour in Des Moines, Iowa on January 5th. His sixth stop is planned for Atlanta, where the program of Christian music, prayer for the nation and an evangelistic message is free-of-charge and open to the public, at Liberty Plaza, directly behind the State Capitol, at noon Wednesday, February 10th. So, come, bring your friends, and wear your most comfortable walking shoes (regardless of how they look.)

Meanwhile, please work on Representative Kevin Tanner’s two new religious liberty bills introduced January 14th. H.B. 756 is okay. It affirms the right of businesses to provide services and products without compromising their religious beliefs. Call Judiciary Chairman Willard at 404 656-5125 and ask him to pass H.B. 756 out of committee.

But Section 1 of H.B. 757 is not okay. In the introductory paragraph of Section 1, H.B. 757 repeals Georgia marriage law in Code Section 19-3-3.1 that (a) defines marriage as between a man and a woman, (b) prohibits same-sex marriage in Georgia, and (c) prohibits the recognition of same-sex unions performed elsewhere. Then, it replaces Georgia’s current marriage law with the following:

“No minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination, when acting in his or her official religious capacity, shall be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion under the Constitution of this state or of the United States.” Continue reading →