Scandals in the US government

If you have paid much attention to news in the USA the past several weeks, you noticed many stories about scandals and possible coverups of misdeeds by federal government officials.

Here are a few items:

27 May 2013

Three ongoing controversies have hurtled the GOP – particularly its furthest-right faction – back onto Washington’s boxing ring, giving it legs to stand on after being crippled by years’ worth of infighting and the accompanying perception that its members were becoming ever-more “rigid” and “extreme.”

Long-peddled questions about how the administration handled an attack last Sept. 11 in Benghazi, Libya, were recently joined by news that the Justice Department secretly subpoenaed reporters’ phone records. And then there was the conservatives’ crown jewel: An inspector general’s report that showed members of the Internal Revenue Service targeted tea party groups for excessive review of their tax-exempt status. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57586259/empowered-by-scandals-gop-renews-campaign-era-rhetoric-against-obama/

The Internal Revenue Service has admitted to singling out conservative political groups for heightened scrutiny in recent years. The IRS is a politically-independent agency within the Treasury Department, which is headed by a member of the president’s Cabinet. ..

“What we do now know that, for roughly two years, the IRS was targeting Americans based on their political beliefs,” he said. “So we are going to continue this investigation to get to the bottom of this: who knew [about the scandal]? When did they know? Why did they do this? How high up in government did it go?”

Speaking on the Fox News Sunday television program, Ryan dismissed last week’s assertion by the IRS’ former acting commissioner that the targeting of certain political groups constituted errors and “poor customer service”.

“People deserve a government they can trust, that is honest, impartial. To try and suggest that this is just bureaucratic snafus [mistakes] – we already know that that is not true,” he said.

In addition to the IRS scandal, Congress has been probing the administration’s actions during and after last year’s attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans, including the ambassador, and whether the Justice Department acted properly in secretly seizing phone records form the Associated Press. http://www.voanews.com/content/white-house-unaware-of-irs-misdeeds-us-official/1664109.html

May 27, 2013

According to two former diplomats who spoke with PJ Media’s Roger Simon, more Benghazi whistleblowers will emerge and blow a giant hole in the Obama administration’s already shaky narrative regarding the deaths of four Americans. Their revelations will focus on two subjects: the real purpose of Ambassador Christopher Steven’s mission in Libya, and the pressure put on former AFRICOM commander Gen. Carter Ham to stand down from any attempt to rescue those under attack. What emerges could be devastating for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. http://frontpagemag.com/2013/arnold-ahlert/more-benghazi-whistleblowers-ready-to-step-forward/

FWIW, I heard a commentator on a news/commentary program state that if the truth about Benghazi had been properly covered by more of the media that Mitt Romney, and not Barack Obama, would now be President of the USA. And while that may very well be, I always felt (since at least 2009, if not late 2008) that since God determines who leads, this combined with the moral decline in the USA suggested that somehow Barack Obama would be re-elected, and of course he was.

Notice also the following:

17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17)

Note: This does not mean that I directly or indirectly endorsed Mormon Mitt Romney, as I did not. But, I did feel that an Obama re-election fit more with various scriptures.

And while there has long been corruption and coverups in governments, the latest ones are embarrassing for the Obama Administration and certainly taint its claim that it would be the “most open Administration” in recent history.

Furthermore, notice something that US President Barack Obama has posted at the official White House website:

Transparency and Open Government

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

SUBJECT: Transparency and Open Government

My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government…

I direct the Chief Technology Officer, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Administrator of General Services, to coordinate the development by appropriate executive departments and agencies, within 120 days, of recommendations for an Open Government Directive, to be issued by the Director of OMB, that instructs executive departments and agencies to take specific actions implementing the principles set forth in this memorandum. The independent agencies should comply with the Open Government Directive.

This memorandum shall be published in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/TransparencyandOpenGovernment

Perhaps he did intend his Administration to be the most open and transparent one. Recent news reports suggest that many in his Administration did not follow the presumed intent of that memo.

Notice that the Bible teaches the following about leaders, debt, and end time destruction:

12…Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).

Now, the real cause of all of this scandal is sin. The USA has moved away from traditional marriage, expanded homosexual “rights,” increased its tolerance for pornography, exports entertainment with lower and lower standards, has violence in the land, encourages/engages in violence elsewhere, seeks to expand abortion, does not truly value truth, and basically is turning further and further away from biblical morality.

The Bible teaches:

20 ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Deuteronomy 5:20)

8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. (John 8:44-47)

Yet, last summer, the US Supreme Court backed up the constitutionality of lying (Supreme Court Protects ‘Right to Lie’). Some believe they did so to allow people to lie about matters such as adultery as that was a concern a few months before that decision (see Supreme Court Divided About Lies). So, it is little wonder that scandals and coverups are part of the political landscape, perhaps even more than they were before.

And while this is true for some other lands as well, the USA, with its earlier respect for certain Judeo-Christian values should know better. The New Testament clearly teaches:

48 For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required (Luke 12:48).

The U.S.A. and its Anglo-allies have been given much. The three “most sinful nations” according to a 2010 BBC report based on the classic ‘seven deadly sins’—lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride’— were Australia, the United States, and Canada (‘The Most Sinful Nation on Earth,’ February 2010, p. 30). The United Kingdom was 6th on that list. And while one can argue if other nations should be ahead of them on a sin-list, the reality is that the Anglo-nations promote a lot of sin. And they accept more and more sin.

Despite its military strength (which is getting affected by the debt situation as well as homosexuality, etc.), destruction is coming to the USA (Daniel 11:39).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
CG7 on Pornography This is an article excerpt from the Church of God, 7th Day-Denver about the pre valance of pornography.
British and American Moral Decay Public nudity is becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-lands. What are some of the consequences?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.