The Rachel Report
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
Issue #7
Dear Liberty-Lovers,
May has arrived! Can you believe it? I sure can’t. That means we are t-Minus 15 days to primaries! I was asked last week at an event, “so when will you stop campaigning?” I said “May 17th.”
We are in this fight 100% until it’s all over.
I have to confess- it is 12:45am Monday morning that I am writing this email. It was a full day today door knocking, answering calls, prepping for the week ahead, and filming our Liberty Talk tonight with Miste Karlfeldt. During our interview, Miste brought up a great point that has actually been on my mind a great deal the past few years, but has especially come back up the past few months, and again last week.
So for this week’s email, I will focus on the First Amendment.
I talked about medical freedom last week, based on the conversations I was having with Idahoans while door knocking and at events. I met several people this week whose “medical exemptions” were denied and whose churches were prohibited from assembling as a result of Idaho’s Covid-19 response. We are afforded protections against such nonsense by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights, which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (to petition the government for a redress of grievances can include signing a petition or filing a lawsuit against the government).
Let’s dissect that with regards to the past few years.
During the pandemic our right to peaceful assembly was impeded and perhaps most egregiously, our free exercise of religion was infringed. If you would have told me that there would be a day in Idaho, let alone the United States of America, when churches would be prohibited from gathering or where a person would be required to “prove” their religious affiliation in order to keep their job… I would have responded with a resounding “you’re crazy.”
THIS WEEKS LIBERTY STORIES:
Last week was another great one door knocking! Again, we encountered SO many incredible Idahoans who were so excited to see people talking about the election in their area! Some of my favorite encounters and conversations were:
A partner and I door knocked a farm house way out on the corner of Greenleaf, Notus, and Caldwell. Not wanting to drive down the driveway (because we know how farmers like their privacy!), we walked the mile and a half dirt road leading to the house. Before we reached the door, we met the farmer on a bridge crossing the little stream on his property. After introducing ourselves, his expression went from confusion to surprise as I spoke. He looked beyond us and the first question out of his mouth was “how in the world did you get all the way out here?” I looked at my buddy and said we had walked from the road. He couldn’t believe that people would care enough to come all the way out to his home. After talking for a long while and taking in the beautiful sunset together over his fields, we left with handshakes, cold bottles of sparkling water, a donation, and new friends.
Another one of my favorite doors we knocked this week was someone I had met about three weeks ago at an event I spoke at. I had told them back then that we would be door knocking but when I came to their door, I was still greeted with shouts of happiness and a big hug. It lit up my day. The wife hugged me and said “I’m just so happy to see you again! Want some tea?” So we had tea on their porch and talked for about 45 minutes before I got back to door knocking.
Yesterday, my last door that I knocked for the evening left me so happy. The family was outside doing yardwork when I walked up. The man asked me great questions before his wife joined and asked a few additional. They were awesome people with such a neat outlook and deep concerns about certain legislation. My favorite part though was their daughter. She showed me how she can do cartwheels, told me her best friends name, said she’d vote for me (she was only 7 or 8 perhaps), and after I shook her parents hands, gave me a big hug. That hug made my day.
I am continually reminded how special our state is when I knock on doors.
THIS WEEKS EVENTS & MEET AND GREETS:
Tuesday, May 3rd, I will be speaking at the Ada County Liberty Dinner at Watson’s in Boise at 6:30. Tickets are $15.
Wednesday, May 4th I will have a booth at RALLY THE VOTE! This event will be full of patriots and we have the opportunity to see some incredible speakers, including Dr. James Lindsay, Stew Peters, and Lt. Col. Matt Lohmeier! This is an event you will not want to miss! It starts at 5:30pm at Kleiner Park in Meridian and is FREE! It’s also my birthday! So come see me at my booth for a birthday cookie or cupcake!
Thursday, May 5th I will be at the Capitol most of the day for our Day of Prayer. We are facing some serious spiritual opposition in our state right now and we need to combat it by speaking the Word of Truth, praying, and worshipping the Lord. It starts at 10am and lasts until 6pm that night on the 2nd floor rotunda and the Capitol steps. I’d love to see you there believers!
Door knockers! YOU ARE NEEDED! We will be going out every day this week except Tuesday, all day long. Door knockers all get T shirts! Please RSVP to me via email or text.
OUR GUN GIVEAWAY IS LIVE! Click Here to enter! Tell your friends!
I was interviewed yesterday by the amazing Miste Karlfeldt! Watch our Liberty Talk here: Click Here
Alas, it happened. And in fact, it has become “normal.” What I mean by “normal” is that people are no longer shocked to hear about religious exemptions being denied or hearing stories of people losing their jobs as a result of religiously, morally, or physically objecting to receiving a vaccine. I spoke with a woman last week currently serving in the military who is facing being discharged after seventeen faithful years serving and sacrificing for our country. She told me that many others in her circle are facing the same… and the kicker? All of these soldiers have requested religious exemptions… and all have been denied. She told me, “we did not sign away our constitutional rights when we joined [the military].” And she is correct.
What is happening is a fundamental violation of the First Amendment. And it is wrong.
There is no denying- the past two years we have seen a full-fledged attack on the First Amendment.
We have seen it via “religious exemptions” being denied, churches being prohibited from gathering, and citizens being banned from assembling peacefully in public areas.
I think most often when we hear the First Amendment invoked, it’s with regard to freedom of speech or freedom of press. Let’s not forget though about the religious and assembly aspects of it.
Without the First Amendment, our Republic crumbles.
Last week we talked about not “normalizing” injustice… Well, let’s not normalize the flagrant disregard we have seen in this country and state for our First Amendment rights.
The freedom to peacefully assemble, participate in any religious belief combined with freedom of speech and press are paramount to every other right afforded to us and is part of the bedrock of all other inalienable rights.
THIS WEEKS LIBERTY GEM:
In 1787 at the Constitutional Convention, a group called the “Anti-federalists,” led by Patrick Henry, opposed the ratification of the constitution. This group feared that the constitution afforded too much power to the federal government and did not afford civil liberties to citizens, leaving the colonies vulnerable to government tyranny. To appease the antifederalists and push through the constitution, the federalists agreed to a compromise- the Bill of Rights. Written largely by James Madison, the Bill of Rights was introduced to Congress in 1789 and was finally adopted in 1791.
We hold certain inalienable rights as humans, provided to us under natural law. In the United States, this was translated into the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment remains one of the founding principles in our Republic.
But we must fight to keep it that way.
Maximilien Robespierre wrote that: “Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.”
The very essence of a law is to protect and expand inalienable rights… not constrain them.
Let’s work to protect our First Amendment rights in our beautiful state.
Let’s keep Idaho, Idahome!
For Idaho
Rachel Hazelip
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