http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/114638888359910.xml&coll=2 – This provides a  listing of all contributions of $250 or more to the candidates running for governor.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/114638872059910.xml&coll=2 – Immigration advocates hope that Monday’s planned activities will reflect economic contributions of Hispanic community.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/114638893659910.xml&coll=2 – A glossary of major Alabama PACs.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/114638867759910.xml&coll=2 – Siegelman trial set to begin Monday.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/114638878759910.xml&coll=2 – Editorial reflects on recent polling showing majority of both Democrats and Republicans favor proposed constitutional convention, and calls for legislators to listen to constituents rather than special interests when considering matter.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/jkennedy.ssf?/base/opinion/114604353415560.xml&coll=2 – Joey Kennedy’s commentary on federal court monitor’s report that 30% of counties – including Jefferson – have failed to sustain improvements  required in child welfare case.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/elard.ssf?/base/opinion/1145784170271170.xml&coll=2 – Eddie Lard’s commentary on the need for leaders to bridge gap between those transit dependent citizens and those who are not.

http://www.dailyhome.com/opinion/2006/dh-editorials-0430-editorials-6d29v1425.htm – Bill praises measure that will require web posting of members of state’s boards, commissions, task forces, etc.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/060430/running.shtml – 43 Alabama legislators running without major party opposition.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060430/NEWS02/604300324/1009 – State looks at paying premiums, deductions for Part D Medicare to provide medications for AIDS patients.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060430/NEWS/604300349/1012/editorial1 – “Alabama Exposure,” Dana Beyerle’s weekly political roundup for the NYTimes regional papers.

FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:

Insight

Is the Christian Coalition really Christian?

By Robert Leslie Palmer

04-30-2006

Jesus warned us: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 (NIV). Alabama Christians should keep these words in mind when considering the recent attack ad mailed to Alabama households by the so-called Christian Coalition and its president, John Giles, whose fruits betray them as modern-day disciples of the Pharisees rather than of Christ.

In the ad, Giles says “trial lawyers are one of the biggest threats to the erosion of our U.S. Constitution, traditional family values and religious freedoms in Alabama and America today.” Ironically, this is the same John Giles who has been linked to convicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his illicit Indian gambling money. Who, then, should we believe is a threat to our family values?

The truth is that the so-called Christian Coalition is nothing but a godless front for powerful corporate interests that have slyly cloaked themselves in priestly garb in order to persuade the citizens of this state to vote against their own interests. Indeed, it is the so-called Christian Coalition that is one of the biggest threats to the erosion of our constitutional liberties, for in attacking trial lawyers, this corporate front is really attacking the constitutional right to trial by jury.

For years, the powerful corporate interests controlling the Christian Coalition have spent enormous sums of money to make the very term “trial lawyer” a perjorative term, when in reality trial lawyers are simply those attorneys who represent people rather than corporations. But those who slander my noble profession I refer to Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

Because these powerful corporate interests have invoked the name of God, I feel compelled to remind them that God can never be hijacked or deceived, and that injustice and oppression stand high on the list of things that He detests. He has commanded us, in Amos 5:22-24, to “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

This is the goal of trial lawyers, who daily represent the poor and oppressed. Like my brothers and sisters of the Alabama Bar who have answered the noble calling to become trial lawyers and represent ordinary people rather than enormous corporations, I seek to obey God’s command, given in Isaiah 1:15-17, to “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”

The people of this state need their trial lawyers to protect them from the wealthy and powerful business corporations that cheat and abuse them, a problem that was known by the prophets of the Old Testament: “The merchant uses dishonest scales; he loves to defraud.” Hosea 12:7. “They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.” Amos 2:7 . “You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.” Amos 5:12.

But in their efforts to pervert justice, the wealthy and powerful corporations have been thwarted by the right to trial by jury, guaranteed by the very U.S. Constitution that Giles says trial lawyers seek to erode. Thus, these wealthy and powerful corporations have embarked on a campaign to slander not only trial lawyers, but also the noblest institution created by our Constitution, the jury. But this is nothing new, for the biblical forebears of these wealthy and powerful corporations also perverted their own legal system in order to continue their evil and unjust practices: “The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” Habakkuk 1:3-4.

The powerful corporate interests represented by the so-called Christian Coalition do not fear God or think that He sees their evil plans. But scripture warns against that arrogant attitude: “To deprive a man of justice — would not the Lord see such things?” Lamentations 3:36. Indeed, not only does God see this iniquity, but He promises to judge “those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me.” Malachi 3:5. “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” Isaiah 10:1-2.

Christians of Alabama, do not be deceived, and do not let the so-called Christian Coalition further pervert justice in this state! “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.” Exodus 23:6.

As for John Giles, the so-called Christian Coalition and the wealthy and powerful corporate interests that they represent — “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23.

Robert Leslie Palmer is a Christian trial lawyer. He may be contacted by e-mail at WaveHoya@charter.net.