Print 
PDF
The executive director of the Allegheny County Democratic Party has been forced out for his expression of love for God and country.
Franklin Graham says he can hardly believe the positions the Democratic Party is taking.
An elderly woman in New York, who also publicly expresses her love of God and country, tells NBC News where they can go if they don't like it---and it isn't where you may be thinking.
The former executive director of the Allegheny County Democratic Party in Pennsylvania says he was forced out because of a Facebook post that showed a picture of him and his wife with the words: "I stand for the flag, I kneel at the cross."
The formal executive director, Mark Salvas, says he has no regrets, after all, he's a veteran of the Gulf War and he loves the Lord.
He told KDKA TV in Pittsburgh, "I'm not ashamed of my patriotism, not one bit. I fought for this country, I think I have a right to have a voice and be patriotic."
He said,
"I was asked by the chair of the county Democratic Party to resign due to the controversy that was taking place on social media, and I did. It's never easy when people you have never met accuse you of things and call you names, and you've never met them."
He wasn't even objecting, as many of us do, to the fact that NFL players continue to disrespect the flag and our country with their anti-American tantrums---sitting, snarling, kneeling, mocking and walking away---during our National Anthem.
He says, "I fought for their right to do that."
Pennsylvania state Rep. Ed Gainey spoke for his Democrat Party saying, "Salvas' post offended many Democrats."
Why is loving your country and loving God offensive to Democrats?
Here's why. Gainey says,
"To put that up on Facebook was, to me, insensitive, also to African Americans, who, as you know, have backed the Democratic Party for quite a long time, and everybody knows that it was insensitive. If you're going to be executive director of the Democratic Party, you have to be sensitive to things like that."I'm trying to be sensitive. What does that mean?
Does it mean African Americans don't love the country and God, so to be sensitive, we too must not love our country or God? Or if we do, we should remain silent about it?
Or does it mean that most football players are black and we must not tamper with their fragile sensibilities?
Perhaps it means it's okay to love God as long as we don't imply we are striving to become a more perfect union, asking God to help us, because the country should forever be guilty for past sins and social injustice, as Professor Obama taught us.
Maybe I'm not able to grasp the nuances of secular progressivism.
Apparently, Franklin Graham isn't getting it either.
Franklin took to social media, expressing to his millions of followers his concern, questioning the motivation taking over the blue party---one that most of us see moving farther and farther to the Left.
Democrats did not see this as a "misstatement"---when the public began to push back, the Democrat leaders doubled down.
Democratic Chairwoman Nancy Mills Fox News' Todd Starnes: "We have zero tolerance for sexual harassment or racism of any kind." She said, "I think Eileen Kelly made the right decision once she was aware of the issues."
You may recall, several years ago at the 2012 Democratic National Convention before President Obama's second term---a similar issue arose when Democrats booed when it was announced that God was being reintroduced into their party's platform.
In fairness, it's likely that not all Democrats agree with giving Mark Salvas the boot, nor did all agree with their party's response to the notion of recognizing God in their political party back in 2012.
Both instances do, however, reflect the existing and growing disdain toward any acceptance of God or patriotism toward our country within the Democratic Party.
In regard to their national convention in 2012, the leadership realized they had a perception problem and went forward with a voice vote that clearly did not pass. However, the leadership declared it did pass, over the shouting objections of those participating in the convention, and squeezed God (and a mention of Jerusalem) back into the party---sort of---all to avoid the fallout within their own leadership structure.
The leadership did not want to be seen by the public as anti-God and anti-American.
Now, it seems, they have moved beyond the concern of public perception. They don't care what anyone else thinks.
Franklin Graham was clear in his remarks:
"This is not merely about politics. In regard to the great division in our country," he said, "neither Party has the answer. Only God can fix it. The Republican Party's not going to fix the problems of this country, or the state...neither are the Democrats---they're not going to do it."
In the meantime, a woman described by NBC as "elderly" may have a temporary solution to the more immediate problem of division in our country.
NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff was interviewing Republican Rep. Dan Donovan in a grocery store in Staten Island recently when a woman appeared in the small crowd gathered, wearing a t-shirt that read, "Stand for the flag, kneel for the cross."
Reporter Soboroff and politician Donovan walked over to the "elderly" woman named Jenny. As Donovan shook her hand, Soboroff said to her, "What does it say there? Stand for the flag and kneel for the cross?"
"Absolutely," she responded. "And if you don't like it, go to Venezuela."
As Jenny turned to continue her shopping, she turned toward Donovan and said, "If you want me to come around and campaign for you, I most certainly will."
I think she's onto something. The far Left Democratic Party doesn't have to test their far Left secular progressive, socialist policies on our country. They can spend the winter in Venezuela, then reevaluate their dream for America.
I agree with Franklin. Only God can fix our nation.
In the meantime, a productive step in the right direction would be: "Stand for our flag. Kneel for the cross.
And Jenny would say, "If that doesn't work for you, go to Venezuela."
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Steadfast. Pray. Vote.