I just wrapped up a really lovely holiday season with friends and family. I cut back on baking and decorating, doled out home-made preserves and truly enjoyed the season. I snapped a picture on Christmas day of my parents, husband, son and dog around the Christmas tree and it just warmed my heart. I keep thinking over and over, “Everything I ever wanted I already have.” That’s truly the way I feel. Now, just because I’m filled with gratitude and good feelings, doesn’t mean I don’t have room for some disgust over the hypocrisy of people who call themselves Christians

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Senator Jim DeMint is a disingenuous, political ideologue who acts like a douche bag. Today in my in-box I received a tribute to our veterans on veterans day from Senator DeMint. The body of the e-mail paid tribute to the valor and heroism of our veterans which of course I agree with, included also was a photo of a smiling Jim DeMint posing with World War II veterans during an honor flight to Washington D.C. DeMint finishes his missive to his constituents with a reference to God.

The irony of receiving this communication from DeMint is that only yesterday, our senator had an opportunity to not only honor veterans for their service but reward businesses for hiring them. The bill passed yesterday by the senate in a vote of 94 to 1 would offer tax credits to companies who hire unemployed veterans. Senator Jon Tester, called it “the most significant piece of veterans’ jobs legislation in several years.”

The lone no vote came from Senator Jim DeMint who argued on the senate floor that there’s no evidence that offering tax credits to boost employment actually spurs hiring. “By using a politically sensitive group the day before Veterans Day, the Democrats are hoping they can trick Republicans into further complicating the tax code” DeMint said. The other Republicans in the senate were apparently convinced that it would work and actually set aside their animus for President Obama long enough to pass the bill to help more veterans find jobs and reward businesses for hiring them. I am disgusted, appalled and embarrassed by DeMint’s obnoxious partisanship but oddly not surprised. DeMint is so poisoned by his partisanship that he can’t be rational and do what’s right for the people of South Carolina. I’ve almost grown numb to his antics.

Updated on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 11:08AM by Roxanne Walker

Updated on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 04:27PM by Roxanne Walker

I spent 16 years as a volunteer advocate for abused children. I was a trained guardian ad litem and as such I interviewed adults and children about sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as neglect. When children are taken away from their parents for any or all of the above, the case is taken up by the Department of Social Services and a volunteer guardian ad litem is appointed by the court to represent the minor child or children in the family. During my years as a GAL, I read thick case files for hours on end at DSS, I accompanied the DSS caseworkers on home visits, I observed, I agonized, I wrote up a report, I appeared in Family Court and the cases kept piling up without pause. I’ve seen close up the damage inflicted by child abuse and I can testify that it is devastating, long lasting and extremely difficult to treat. That’s why reading about the sexual abuse charges leveled against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is so disturbing to me.

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