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Well, this is going to be a very interesting weekend.

I just spoke with Philip Berg, the lawyer who filed the the lawsuit in Pennsylvania contesting Obama's citizenship qualifications to run for and become the President of the United States. In our conversation I learned that more verifiable information will be posted on Obama Crimes in the coming 48 hours furthering, if not proving, the case.

I posited to Mr. Berg that if his information was bogus, would it not be logical for the Obama campaign to "publicly squash his efforts?" He agreed. I asked if the Obama campaign or lawyers had been in contact with him? He said, "No one has been in contact with me."

I don't know about you, but the fact no one has been in contact with Mr. Berg - especially since a lawsuit is pending - is a bit curious.

I asked if the Republicans have been in contact with him and he said, "No." I asked about the 'fact checker' sites that dispelled his claims and Mr. Berg said, "They are wrong and do not know what they are looking at." In fact Mr. Berg said that a simple review of the difference between a Certificate of Marriage and a Certificate of Live Birth (the former, albeit altered, is what Obama's campaign is displaying) would readily reveal the "blatant lies" coming from the Obama campaign.

The lawsuit is attached: 

berg_v_obama.pdf

Berg v. Obama

Filed Friday in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Philip Berg.

RED COUNTY
You have addressed an array of issues in your capacity as Prince William County's (PWC) Chairman At-Large ranging from illegal immigration to parking at mass transit sites. Of all the issues you've engaged in, the most controversial topic has been that of enforcing the laws vis-a-vis illegal immigration and its impact on the local community. As a result of your leadership you have been demonized, called a racist, and been subjected to innumerable attacks; yet, you've stood fast on your principles when many in similar positions would have caved-in to the pressure. Given all you've endured & looking back, would you do things any differently? What advise would you give to other city and county leaders across the country confronting illegal immigration and the resultant pressures on city and county infrastructures and society?  

CHAIRMAN STEWART
First, regarding the Rule of Law Resolution crafted to address the adverse effects of the presence of large numbers of illegal aliens in our jurisdiction:  Looking back would I have done things differently?  

Well, sure.  We now have the benefit of hindsight.  Remember, Prince William County has been the national trailblazer on this issue.  Through the process of finding the points of balance on this important policy topic, it is inevitable that there will be some trial and error moments.  Trailblazers usually discover they could have found a less difficult way.  Localities that follow our lead will have an easier go of it than we did.  But, having said that, where we have ended up is exactly where we wanted to be.  

We have a fair but firm policy in place that is sending a clear message that if you are arrested, your legal presence status will be verified, and if you are in the country illegally, once you have completed the judicial process, rather than being released back into the community, you will be deported.  Period.  The results of that policy have made the County a much better place to live:

● an astonishing 19.30 % drop in the rate of crime against persons (For a large county like Prince William, with 400,000 residents, that is a massive drop in the rate);

● a 62% drop in housing overcrowding complaints;

● anecdotal evidence of shorter lines at hospital emergency rooms and fewer non-paying self-pay patients; and

● a decrease by over 600 students in the limited-English speaking student population in our schools.

What advice would I give other localities on this issue?  First and foremost, I would say that localities do have the ability to deal with this issue in a fair and effective manner.  Those who say it's a federal problem and there is nothing that states or localities can do are simply wrong.  We have proved that here in Prince William County.  By working with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Service, through the 287(g) program, localities can get the job done.  I would encourage localities to do the hard work to take back their communities, especially from the activities of criminal gangs like MS13, which are populated mostly by illegal aliens, by attacking the problem head on.  

RED COUNTY
Have federal authorities been supportive of PWC's initiatives regarding you law enforcement efforts regarding illegal immigrants?

CHAIRMAN STEWART
Federal law enforcement authorities have been very helpful and supportive of our efforts.  Federal and local enforcement personnel had a little bit of a learning curve to climb in actually implementing the 287(g) program last year, but it wasn't onerous and it is working well.  Federal elected officials, especially Congress, on the other hand, have done nothing meaningful to help address the problem of illegal aliens in the country.  This is the fact on the ground that forced our hand to deal with it ourselves.  

RED COUNTY
The illegal immigration issue aside, what do you consider as Prince William County's Chairman to be your top 3 priorities?

CHAIRMAN STEWART
The number one priority right now, aside from standing firm on the Rule of Law Resolution, is to bring balance back to our county budget.  For decades Prince William County has allowed, even encouraged, out of control residential development without adequate public facilities or infrastructure.  Even worse, we have not done what we have needed to do to bring commercial development to the County on pace with residential growth.  Non-residential development should account for between 25 - 30% of the county's revenues.  Right now it only accounts for about 14%, and it has been heading in the wrong direction for years.  We need to reverse that trend by encouraging commercial growth in a business friendly environment, while at the same time tampering down residential growth and making sure that what residential growth is approved pays its own way rather than being subsidized by taxpayers.  

The second priority is to continue to address transportation needs in the county.  Prince William County had done more than just about any other locality in the state to try to deal with our transportation needs rather than just waiting for the state to fix the problems.  We have made very significant progress in this area but there is still a lot more to do.

My third priority is to get county government spending under better control.  Last year, my first budget year as Chairman, we accomplished what I have been told is unprecedented in the county.  We actually passed a budget that expanded the police force, expanded spending for schools including healthy pay raises for teachers, and met all our other spending priorities while actually reducing citizens' tax bills.  That's not a reduction in the cosmetic tax rate, which some politicians use to divert attention from the fact that actual dollar amounts in the tax bills are increasing.  We actually cut tax bills in real dollar amounts.  That was quite an accomplishment.  I was not happy with the way the budget unfolded this year.  We can do a much better job of putting a reign on spending and I expect during the next budget cycle that will be our main focus.

RED COUNTY
What is next after your term as PWC's Chairman At-Large?

CHAIRMAN STEWART
My current term as Chairman runs through 2010.  It's really too early to make any firm plans but there are many options.  I could run for another term as County Chair.  Last year I took a look at running for Lieutenant Governor, though I was committed to supporting Gov. Bolling if he decided to seek re-election, which he did.  That remains an option for the future.  I think Virginia is a wonderful commonwealth and I am confident that when the time comes, I will have much to bring to the table, much to offer our citizens in terms of experience, energy, and new ideas for our future.   I am very optimistic about the future of Prince William County and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  I want to help make that future the best it can be for us, our children, and for generations yet to come.

Robert M. (Mike) Duncan, a 30-year political strategist and veteran of Republican politics, was elected as the 60th Chairman of the Republican National Committee in January 2007.

1. The 2008 Presidential election is critical for national security, the economy, and faith & values, etc., all of which transcend across national and state concerns.  What single issue do you foresee as most impacting on state and local politics?

As you say, the 2008 election will have far-reaching consequences for Americans in areas including national security, the economy, and faith and values.  I personally believe that pocketbook issues will have the deepest impact on state and local politics, though. 

Americans are concerned about ensuring future economic growth, creating more and better jobs, and guaranteeing greater prosperity.  Americans are also hurting right now and they expect solutions.  I'd add that there's a bright-line distinction at the national level between John McCain, who is offering solutions to bring down gas prices, economic policies that would drive job creation, and a plan to keep taxes low for working families while Barack Obama is focused on higher taxes and bigger government, and really has very little to offer where energy is concerned.  Whether you live in Reston or Richmond, that contrast can't be missed. Voters will remember it in November.

2. Given the recent decisions of the Supreme Court and the fact its partisanship is more evident than ever, how big a role do you see the issue of judges playing in the 2008 election?

Judges are always important, but that's especially true this year.  If Barack Obama is elected, he'll likely have the option of nominating at least one, but probably two, Supreme Court justices.  It's clear that he would nominate activists with pre-determined agendas, and we'd see more legislating from the bench.  Although Obama spoke positively about the court's decision on the D.C. handgun ban, and negatively about its decision regarding the ability of the death penalty to be used in cases of child rape, the fact is that he has said he would nominate justices like those who favored upholding that handgun ban, and who ruled that the death penalty could not be used in child-rape cases.  Those positions are not consistent with the provisions of our Constitution; nor are they consistent with Virginian values.

3. Our dependence on foreign oil is more evident today than ever, what can state legislatures do to mitigate this dependency?

We really need a comprehensive, national plan to guarantee our energy independence, but there's plenty that state legislatures can do to move the ball forward, too.  For example, John McCain wants to make the federal R&D tax credit permanent to help develop new energy-efficient technologies and clean, alternative sources of energy.  State legislatures could focus on offering similar incentives.  In addition, John McCain has proposed lifting the moratorium on domestic exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf, and allowing states to have more control over offshore parcels.  A bill already has been introduced this year in the Virginia Legislature to allow offshore exploration.  If the moratorium is lifted, then Virginia and other states will be able to act to increase energy exploration and production, which would in turn reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  Coal also is an abundant resource in states like Virginia, and legislators can take steps to promote development of clean coal technology.  That is, incidentally, something that John McCain supports, whereas Barack Obama proposes taxing coal and has talked about banning traditional coal facilities -- policies that would not help us achieve energy independence or help Virginians.

I have thought long and hard about whether or not to write about this topic. But I cannot let this pass without comment.

I am a pastor of an Eastern Orthodox parish in Northern Virginia. I have the best of parishes and situations any priest could ask for. I minister to 15 different nationalities at our parish: Carpatho-Russian, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Antiochian, Egyptian, Lebanese, Palestinian, French, Sicilian, Macedonian, Irish, Bulgarian, Serbian, American, and a few Greeks. All of our services are traditionally in English - although we do toss in a few languages on occassion.

More importantly, nearly half of my parishioners are immigrants to our great nation. The remainder are first and second generation Americans.

One of the joys I am blessed to share with my parishioners is when they receive their Green Card...and when they are selected to receive American citizenship. I have received joyous phone calls - a joy that I cannot describe adequately on this page - when Green Cards are received in the mail.

The voices on the other end of the phone are elated to the point of tears - elated to the point of relief, thanks, and glorifying God. Dreams do come true.

I remember greeting a young couple - a beautiful Indian and Romanian, both PhDs educated in America -  after divine liturgy. I had officiated at their marriage about 9 months earlier and had only seen them intermittently since the ceremony given their residence was in Maryland.  They showed up a unexpectedly, much to my delight.

When I asked them how they were doing, they said: "Father, we wanted to come to church today to tell you we've received our Green Cards!" Their emotion...the joy on their faces...the sheer excitement within them could barely be contained. They were living the American dream.

I have also received the phone calls from parishioners who wanted to inform me that they were going to the immigration office for an interview - an interview regarding their citizenship. They asked me to pray for them. If a person could sweat blood, it was these parishioners who had waited so long and worked so hard.

One particular family comes to mind. Their history is long. Their family was originally from Turkey - albeit they are not Turkish. They had to leave when the Ottomans took control and began 'encouraging' Christians to depart. The family fled from Turkey to Syria - taking only that which could be carried on their backs.

Then Syria was taken over by a dictator and once again the family had to flee, this time to Lebanon. They settled in Beirut, develop a prosperous business, had a wonderful home, and proceeded to raise their family.

But this was for nought. The Lebanese civil war broke out, they spent nights in the cellar with other families avoiding the bombs, mortars, and snipers. The war drove them from Lebanon to Cyprus, a place of refuge and, yet, isolation.

In Cyprus, because they were not citizens, they were not allowed to work - at least not legally. The husband struggled to carry-on in Lebanon and with work outside the country. The wife and children struggled to survive in Cyprus.

The family applied to immigrate to America while in Cyprus. They followed the American immigration rules and they waited and waited and waited. They waited about 7 years and when approved to immigrate, they once again left all they had accumulated and brought only that which they could carry - just as their grandparents had done when leaving Turkey and Syria.

The one constant they had throughout their journey was their church and faith. From Turkey, to Syria, to Lebanon, to Cyprus, to Virginia - they had the church, their beloved church, their life's touchstone.

It was within the last three years, I remember receiving their phone calls, that they were interviewed for and ultimately received their citizenship. They were so proud. So proud that they had a celebration at home to share their joy at becoming U.S. citizens. Their dream was realized. They love America and they thank God daily for allowing them to become Americans.

This was a joy they shared with me. It was my blessing to be a part of their lives.

You might ask, why am I sharing this with you. I will tell you why. On July 4th of this year, at Monticello, President Bush welcomed 72 men and women who were to become U.S. citizens. They hailed from 30 countries. The President referred to the event as an "incredible journey." He is precisely correct.

It was to be a joyous day. I know that type of joy, as I said, I have seen it and shared in the experience. But that joy was interrupted by callousness and liberal self-righteousness that showed no concern for the men and women and their incredible journey.

The Americans who sought to disrupt this event ought to be ashamed, but I suspect they are not. The Americans who did disrupt this incredible journey, I suspect, have no idea what they have done. Their ignorance befits their acts. While the disrupters are, no doubt, not ashamed, they have shamed their nation. They have committed the 'crime' of indifference akin to that which caused my parish family to leave Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. The disrupters simply did not and do not care enough to show respect for people on an incredible journey. Do we really believe they will care more for our fellow man when they assume political power?