Sen. Trent Lott , who has led U.S. Senate

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From: Mike Jestes, OFPC Executive Director and David Dunn, OFPC Research and Project Director
To:   OFPC Board of Directors, Key Supporters, and Friends
Date: December 19, 2002
(1)        SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DON NICKLES?
    Sen. Trent Lott, who has led U.S. Senate Republicans since 1996, now is likely to lose his power because of
allegedly racist statements he made at a birthday party for 100-year-old retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond. Lott
said the nation would have been better off, had it in 1948, elected Thurmond as president. Thurmond was then
running as a Dixiecrat segregationist. Lott has apologized several times, but G.O.P. senators, concerned about the
impact of Lott’s remarks on both their political party and on the president’s agenda, want a chance to choose a
new leader. Because of the courageous, high-stakes leadership of Oklahoma’s own Sen. Don Nickles, who may
want to run for the post, they will get their chance on January 6. What’s at stake in this leadership fight will affect
every pro-family Oklahoman.
    Palace intrigue is at a high level. The White House, while feigning disinterest in the outcome, has distanced
itself from Lott and is said to favor Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a moderate. Conservative support is split between
Nickles and Sen. Mitch McConnell, the incoming majority whip. Oklahoma’s Sen. Jim Inhofe and Eagle
Forum President Phyllis Schlafly publicly favor Nickles, while conservative strategist Paul Weyrich has men-
tioned McConnell as his favorite. Meanwhile, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., thinks Lott will survive. Nickles
hasn’t even officially said he is running; no doubt he is gauging his likely support.
    The Jan. 6 outcome will have a tremendous impact on the conservative, pro-family agenda—that is, if Repub-
licans even remain in control of the Senate. Yes, because of hurt feelings, Sen. Lott could resign and, unbeliev-
ably, set off a chain of events that might put Sen. Tom Dacshle or another colleague back in charge as majority
leader. Just as likely, a pro-family conservative such as Nickles or McConnell could become leader, to advance
conservative issues like a ban on partial-birth abortion, school choice, conservative judicial nominations, etc.
More than ever, with a razor-thin balance of power between the political parties, citizens need to pray for God’s
intervention and His blessing—and, yes, for a large amount of senatorial wisdom from the upper body. [OFPC’s
Web-site (www.okfamilypc.org) contains many news stories and columns about this developing issue.]

(2)        DISNEY WORLD ENDS CHURCH SERVICES FOR VISITORS
    Walt Disney World, the Orlando, Fla.-based resort and theme park, began offering regular, weekend church
services inside the park in 1975, but corporate officials have recently announced they are ending the practice,
allegedly because of space concerns. Disney is now advising Christian guests to find other places of worship,
some of which are miles outside of the Magic Kingdom’s boundaries. Some people don’t believe their story.
    “I’m sure Walt Disney is crying from his grave when he sees what the current owners are doing to his basic
belief system by saying, ‘the inn is full. There’s no more room for the baby Jesus,’” said the Rev. Lou Sheldon,
chairman and founder of the Traditional Values Coalition. Sheldon believes the Walt Disney Company’s decision
to suspend its Christian church services is an attempt to appease its increasingly diverse clientele. Disney has been
the focus of a multi-year boycott because of a change in its historical pro-family emphasis, the marketing of
questionable films, and its strong support of anti-family policies, such as special rights for homosexuals.

NOTE: Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of Oklahoma Family Policy Council, Inc., its directors, or as an attempt to aid or hinder the
passage of any bill, initiative, referendum or other proposal, or to further any political campaign. Information is provided for educational purposes only.