Will Sanders Again Question Trump Nominee's Faith?

Today on Capitol Hill, important confirmation hearings begin for
Russell Vought, the president's nominee for director of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  While the OMB may seem a
bit out of our scope, the nominee - in this case - is
certainly not.

Russell Vought has served as the acting director of the Office of
Management and Budget since January 2019.  (He took over for Mick
Mulvaney when he became President Trump's acting chief of
staff.)  Before that, Vought was the deputy director of OMB.
 But it is his experience prior to OMB that is particularly of
interest and importance to us: Vought previously served as vice
president of Heritage Action (the lobbying arm of The Heritage
Foundation), policy director of the House Republican Conference under
then-Rep. Mike Pence, and budget director and executive director of
the Republican Study Committee - the largest conservative caucus
in Congress.

Russell Vought
Some may remember Vought's name from a big news story in June
2017 when confirmation hearings were held in the Senate for his
nomination to deputy director of OMB.  During those hearings,
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) attacked Vought for his Christian
faith.  Specifically, Sanders called into question an article
Vought had written in 2016 in The Resurgent regarding a matter at his
alma matter, Wheaton College.  In the article, Vought described
Muslim theology as deficient and said, "They do not know God
because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand
condemned."

While Vought's statement accurately represents Christian
theology and is shared by millions of believers across America and the
world, Sanders called it hateful and Islamophobic and said 
Vought was "really not someone who is what this country is
supposed to be about" and therefore, he'd vote no. 
Sanders' sentiment spread and, in the end, nearly cost Vought
the nomination.

The final Senate vote on Russell Vought's nomination to deputy
director of the Office of Management and Budget was 49-49. 
Vought's confirmation was not in jeopardy due to questionable
experience or qualifications for the job (which are plentiful), but
rather, due to an expression of his Christian faith.  Thankfully,
Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Vought
to the position in February 2018.

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states, "no religious test
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public
trust under the United States."  Vought came as close as
anyone in history to being rejected for public office due to his
religious faith.

As he takes the microphone again and comes before two Senate
committees - the Homeland Security and Government Affairs
Committee began this afternoon, with the Budget Committee slated for
tomorrow afternoon - will he face similar treatment?  We
pray the answer is no, and we invite you to join with us in praying
for fair hearings for Mr. Vought.

Won't you also contact your senators and ask that they vote yes
to confirm Russell Vought to be the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget?  

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You can quickly send a message to both of your senators in your FPA
Action Center.

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For religious freedom,


John Paulton
Mobilization Manager

 


Take Action

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