‘The Abrams Report’ for Aug. 8

 ‘The Abrams Report’ for Aug. 8

Below is the transcript from Flip’s appearance on the Abram’s Report concerning Judge Moore and the Ten Commandments.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT: I would never disregard my conscience. I would never forsake my oath. I would never neglect my duty. But if I could do all these things, I would never disacknowledge God. I have no plans to remove the monument.
(END VIDEO CLIP)

      ABRAMS: Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore who is now considering violating a federal judge’s order. He’s been at the center of a controversy since he ordered a 10 Commandments monument moved into the rotunda of the State Judiciary Building two years ago. Almost immediately some Alabama lawyers sued, saying the monument violates the separation of church and state. A U.S. district court agreed and after Moore’s appeal was denied, he was ordered to remove the two-ton monument by August 20 or subject the state, the taxpayers, to daily fines of $5,000. Moore remains defiant though and he issued this statement.

      “This is judicial tyranny by a federal district court calculated to intimidate and cause the chief justice of Alabama to violate its oath of office to uphold the Constitution.”

      What is he talking about? A chief judge saying he’ll consider violating a federal judge’s order, somehow that is a protection of the Constitution? Reverend Flip Benham is the director of Operation Save America and he joins us now.

      Reverend, this judge is not seriously considering violating this judge’s order, is he?

      REV. FLIP BENHAM, OPERATION SAVE AMERICA: No, what this judge is doing is keeping the law of almighty God and what has happened is a federal judge is violating the law of God. You know, our Constitution is based upon the 10 Commandments...

      ABRAMS: Right.

      BENHAM: ... and based upon biblical principles.

      ABRAMS: But...

      BENHAM: So our judge, Judge Moore is a law keeper. This federal judge, Myron Thompson is a lawbreaker and he needs to be dealt with.

      ABRAMS: All right. So, but shouldn’t he be dealt with by God and you know, why...

      BENHAM: He is being...

      ABRAMS: Right. But why doesn’t he abide by here-you know, abide by the judge’s ruling and then deal with the issue on another plane.

      BENHAM: And that’s a fair question. For the very same reason that we could not abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling in 1857 when they declared our black brothers and sisters not fully human. You know the Bible says in Proverbs 28:4 that those who forsake the law praise the wicked and those who keep the law resist them. What we are seeing in our federal courts are those courts that are praising the wicked, praising the abortionists...

      ABRAMS: All right, all right...

      BENHAM: ... praising homosexuality...

      ABRAMS: All right, all right, all right, all right...

      BENHAM: ... praising false religions. No, it’s true.

      (CROSSTALK)

      BENHAM: The law keepers must resist.

      ABRAMS: Every single one of our guests wants to get in. I know it. They’re all chomping at the bit... 

      BENHAM: They can chomp...

      ABRAMS: I know. All right...

      (CROSSTALK)

      BENHAM: ... but they’ve got to deal with almighty God.

      ABRAMS: All right. They’re going to deal with God after the show, but...

      BENHAM: No, they need to deal with him now.

      ABRAMS: All right. Well they may have to deal with him now, but for right now I’m going to let John Burris respond. Go ahead John.

      BURRIS: It has nothing to do with God. The man is a judicial officer. He is a law enforcement person. Another judge has said to him, a higher authority that you must not do this. His responsibility and duty is for him to follow the rules and commandments of the court...

      BENHAM: All right, let me answer the question.

      BURRIS: ... it has to nothing to do with God.

      (CROSSTALK)

      BENHAM: No, it has everything to do...

      (CROSSTALK)

      BENHAM: ... because William Kelly told his people in Pinkville to go ahead and wipe out citizens...

      ABRAMS: All right...

      BENHAM: ... and people had a responsibility...

      ABRAMS: Paul thinks...

      BENHAM: ... not to obey...

ABRAMS: v thinks...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Paul, let me-look, here’s the problem. I mean I think that it is appalling that the chief justice of Alabama is threatening to not only do what he believes is in his conscience, but as a result of it, the taxpayers of the State of Alabama are going to have to foot the bill in fines.

BENHAM: Let me just tell you...

ABRAMS      : Hang on. Let me let Paul Pfingst respond.

BENHAM: ... the taxpayers of the State of Alabama, they’d be happy...

ABRAMS: I would guarantee you.../lsuo

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: ... I’ll guarantee you if there’s a vote as to whether they want to pay the $5,000 every day versus keeping that monument there, you’re going to lose that one even in public opinion.

BENHAM: There are Christians from all over...

ABRAMS: All right. I know there are...

BENHAM: ... the country...

ABRAMS: All right. Paul Pfingst, jump in...

BENHAM: ... going to gather there in Montgomery...

ABRAMS: Paul, go ahead.

(CROSSTALK)

PFINGST: If this judge...

BENHAM: ... stand with Judge Moore...

PFINGST: ... the chief justice of the state, cannot follow other judges’ rules, then how can we expect the rest of the country to follow his rules?

(CROSSTALK)

PFINGST: How can he expect the people in his state to follow his rules?

(CROSSTALK)

PFINGST: If he wants to engage in a personal act of civil disobedience, then he should resign. If he wants to...

(CROSSTALK)

PFINGST: ... be a judge, he has to oblige and follow the rules of other judges. He’s not immune from them.

BENHAM: Understand that in the Supreme Court of the United States of America over the chief justice’s head is Moses and the 10 Commandments. My friend, do you want to take Moses and the 10 Commandments off of that wall in the Supreme Court of the United States of America? I think your answer is absolutely not. This judge is obeying the law. He is a law keeper; the federal court is the lawbreaker. And it’s going to face a major problem with Christians.

BURRIS: Yes, but then two courts have said you’re wrong on that-the district court and the appellate court.

(CROSSTALK)

BENHAM: ... that little baby boys and girls in their mother’s wombs...

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: It has nothing to do...

(CROSSTALK)

BURRIS: You can’t-this is apples and oranges.

BENHAM: The Supreme Court ruled 1857 that blacks were not human. It was wrong.

ABRAMS: All right, let me let...

BURRIS: I don’t think it has anything to do with that.

ABRAMS: Gary Casimir...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Gary Casimir.

CASIMIR: First of all, I don’t think this has anything to do with the law. I think the chief justice has made a decision that on a-this is why I don’t like elected judges to a certain extent. The chief justice has made a decision that this is more favorable to fight in the public than in the courts. He could have asked for a stay of this judge’s decision. He could have asked on an appeal-a direct appeal to the 10th Circuit and pending leave to the Supreme Court. He’s still choosing not to do that, not to go through the process, which he is there...

(CROSSTALK)

CASIMIR: ... wait-which he is there to defend.

(CROSSTALK)

CASIMIR: He is there to defend...

BENHAM: ... he’s gone through the process.

CASIMIR: He’s not. He could appeal...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Just...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: ... just to make sure...

BENHAM: ... God and upon the oath of his office...

(CROSSTALK)

CASIMIR: The point I’m making is I don’t believe this judge is going to follow the law. I believe it’s a question of his personal conscience...

BENHAM: He is following the law...

ABRAMS: All right...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Just to make sure that all of our guests...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Reverend, just to make sure that all of our guests get a chance to debate with you, Shawndya your chance.

SIMPSON: OK. Thank you. I think that what we’re all forgetting is the purpose of the First Amendment and the establishment clause and that was to prohibit a national religion. Now, I’ve entered many courtrooms and you do see the presence of the word God. However, God is a neutral word. It doesn’t pertain to any religion.

When you start bringing in symbols that symbolize a certain religion, you’re taking it to a different level. Now, I consider myself very religious and spiritual and I abide by the 10 Commandments, but not everyone else follows that law, and that’s what you have to keep in mind, Reverend. This is a world with many ethnicities and many religions...

(CROSSTALK)

SIMPSON: ... and they do not abide by that.

(CROSSTALK)

SIMPSON: And when you put something in a public forum and in...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Reverend, you get the final...

(CROSSTALK)

ABRAMS: Reverend, you get the final 15 seconds.

SIMPSON: Put it in your court, in your chambers.

BENHAM: Let me just say you know...

ABRAMS: Fifteen...

BENHAM: ... what made this nation great is because our God has a name. Its name-his name is Jesus Christ...

(CROSSTALK)

BENHAM: ... and that is why this nation has been an asylum for many, many other...

(CROSSTALK)

BENHAM: ... because our God is chief.

ABRAMS: Reverend Flip Benham, thank you very much for joining us. It’s tough to have a debate when you have legal on one side and you have religious on the other side. But, anyway that’s the problem. That’s, you know, that’s the issue in this case.

All right. Thanks to all of my guests, Reverend Flip Benham, our panel, John Burris, Gary Casimir, Paul Pfingst...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you...

ABRAMS: ... and Shawndya Simpson.

(CROSSTALK)

SIMPSON: Thanks Dan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless...