Hobby Lobby CEO Endorses Trump, Cites Religious Liberty

"Religious liberty laid the foundation for America."


9.2.2016
News
Paul Bois





Hobby Lobby CEO David Green has endorsed Donald Trump for President, basing his entire decision on religious liberty through his Supreme Court appointments.

Alongside "Little Sisters of the Poor," the arts & crafts outlet Hobby Lobby became the symbol of religious freedom in Obama's America when they protested against the Obamacare mandate requiring their business to pay for abortifacient contraceptives in their employee health plans. Thankfully, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby, declaring that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 ensures that "closely-held" businesses have the right to create policy according to their beliefs.

Writing for USA Today, David Green explains how a Hillary presidency would essentially spell the end for religious liberty in America should she get her desired SCOTUS appointment. He also explains how his businesses freedom to conduct themselves according to their Christian beliefs has brought tremendous benefits to their employees and local communities, which could all come crashing down if Hillary got her way.

On Donald Trump, Green states that he has promised to "uphold the Constitution" in this regard, which the real-estate mogul backed up with his list of potential SCOTUS nominees that also included ardent pro-lifers. The full-text of Mr. Green's statement can be read below:

Since the birth of our nation, religious liberty has laid the foundation for America to become the freest society in the history of mankind.

This spirit of freedom began when the pilgrims fled to the New World to practice their faith freely. It continued when America’s founding fathers ratified the Bill of Rights, which begins with the declaration that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It was strengthened when Congress almost unanimously adopted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, ensuring that interests in religious freedom are protected. And it thankfully endured through the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.

At issue in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby was the Affordable Care Act’s Health and Human Service Mandate, which would have required our family business to provide and facilitate four potentially life-terminating drugs and devices in our health insurance plan, against our religious convictions, or pay severe fines of $1.3 million a day. Unlike the 16 contraceptives we do provide, these four drugs can take effect after conception, which is where we believe life begins.

Just as religious liberty laid the foundation for America, my family’s Christian beliefs laid the foundation for our business. First and foremost, as Christians, we are called to love people. As individuals and business owners, we try our best to be true to that calling. We provide excellent benefits to our 30,000 employees and a starting wage for full-time hourly employees that is more than double the federal minimum wage. We have also donated half a billion dollars to philanthropic endeavors. Our Christian beliefs also guided my family’s decision not to pay for the termination of life.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby in 2014, but it’s frightening to think that we — and all Americans — were just one judge away from losing our religious freedom.

Make no mistake, the vacancy left by Justice Scaliaand the subsequent appointment to fill his seat makes this presidential election one of the most significant in modern times. During a 2015 speech at the Women in the WorldSummit, Hillary Clinton declared that religious beliefs “have to be changed.”

What I fear she really means is that the beliefs of people of faith across our nation will be discounted, and those people will be forced to violate their conscience under her presidency — a philosophy that would be carried out by anyone she nominates for the Supreme Court.

The Constitution was created for the express purpose of protecting certain fundamental rights — not just when they’re aligned with the current administration’s policies, and not just when they’re convenient — but as the highest priority for our lawmakers and elected officials.

Clinton has made no secret she believes government interests supersede the protection of religious liberty.

In contrast, Donald Trump has been steadfast in expressing his commitment to uphold the Constitution, and his list of possible Supreme Court nominees inspires confidence that there is hope in my future — and in my grandchildren’s future — for a country that will value those most fundamental rights.

America’s foundation of religious liberty is already at risk. With Hillary Clinton as president, our foundation will surely crumble. For Americans who value freedom of religion, we must elect a president who will support a Supreme Court that upholds not only this freedom, but all that have emanated from it. That president is Donald Trump.


Hobby Lobby CEO Endorses Trump, Cites Religious Liberty