Virginia Watchmen Council and America’s Black Robe Regiment join Fredericksburg Virginia patriots in disapproval and censure of U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Gade

FAITH NEWSWIRE – In recent debates involving the three Republican candidates vying for the US Senate seat of incumbent Mark Warner, were U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Gade, Army reservist Tom Speciale and Nottoway County teacher Alissa Baldwin. All were asked a series of questions, to which they had already responded in a written survey. In live debate, the Virginia Watchmen Council and America’s Black Robe Regiment found Mr. Gade’s responses on important policy questions, to be vague and contradictory to his previous survey responses.

One such question involved the religiopolitical doctrine known within Islam as “Shari’ah.” Mr. Gade was asked, “Should Shari’ah be excluded from American Law and Jurisprudence?” Mr. Gade’s response left much to be desired. He responded by impugning the question as “misleading, in failing to respect the fact that the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land,” and “there is no other, uh, there’s no religious law, there is no, you know, the Bible is not the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution of the United States is, and for that reason sharia law is not going to be a threat in that way…”

Gade continued, “But I also want to push back a little bit on some of the tone of what I’ve heard here tonight because remember the religious people who happen to be Muslim who are living in Virginia now peacefully going to church … these are deeply religious people they’re pro-life, they’re pro-marriage they’re pro-small government; don’t they just want to be left alone? So, what we need to do … we need to be doing as much outreach to these communities as possible to those who are willing to live under the supreme law of the land the Constitution of the United States.”

Mr. Gade also revealed another area of ignorance when he falsely stated that, “The Virginia legislature just passed something that on the Federal level is called the equality act which forces the churches and places of worship and things like that … other places of worship to accommodate people who are transgender and their bathroom preferences, and such …” Written statements of faith and hiring policy were specifically exempted in the legislation. The exemption is found in § Section E, Virginia Code 2.2-3905, which is unambiguous, “The provisions of this section shall not apply to the employment of individuals of a particular religion by a religious corporation, association, educational institution or society to perform work associated with its activities”

For these and other reasons, we have withdrawn our approval for the candidate, and herewith disapprove and censure him. If there are additional questions, please contact Rev. Michael Hirsch at the phone numbers below:

The Virginia Watchmen Council
Rev. Michael Hirsch
Chairman
(540) 295-4872

America’s Black Robe Regiment
Rev. Bill Cook
Founder & CEO
(703) 986-8096