Conflict Of Interest (COI)

"If we ever pass out as a great nation we ought to put on our tombstone 'America died from a delusion that she had moral leadership'." — William Penn Adair Rogers (Better known as: "Will" Rogers)

A Conflict Of Interest (COI) describes the circumstance we find ourselves in when one of our activities, private interests, moral and/or official or professional responsibilities can be advanced only at the expense of our other activities, private interests, moral and/or official or professional responsibilities. The recent arrest of Washington's District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray is a case in point. On Monday, April 11th, 2011, Mayor Gray along with six (6) city council members were arrested on Capitol Hill. ¹ They were demanding that Congress re-institute the availability of U.S. Taxpayer dollars to kill unborn Black children While At The Same time demanding that Congress kill federal funding of school choice which rescues Black children from failing public schools. Ryan Scott Bomberger, Chief Creative Officer of the Radiance Foundation asks The question: "How does one reconcile supporting the needless death of its citizens while denouncing desperately needed educational resources for precious children once they're born?" ² The answer is: You can't. This is not reconcilable. This is a classic example of a Conflict Of Interest (COI) in the public square.

Competition Of Interest (COI)

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!." — Isaiah 5:20-23 (King James Version)

Conflict Of Interest (COI) is sometimes termed Competition Of Interest (COI) rather than "conflict", emphasizing a connotation of natural competition between valid interests rather than violent conflict with its connotation of victimhood and unfair aggression. This year's Washington Examiner article written by Harry Jaffe, entitled: "D.C. bleeding millions a week in lost Medicaid funds" ³ is a case in point. Over the past decade the D.C. Mayor and City Council have failed to collect "$347.4 Million" in Medicaid reimbursements. According to Jaffe, "the inability to collect Medicaid funds is neck and neck with the public school system's miserable record of educating our children for scandalous government dysfunction." ⁴ Medicaid which is only available to low-income individuals and families makes it possible for low-income individuals and families to get the health care they need. However, according to TBD's Amanda Hess, "28 women who had scheduled Medicaid-Funded Abortions at a District Planned Parenthood clinic today have been left without a means to pay for the [abortion] procedure." ⁵ According to D.C. Abortion Fund President Tiffany Reed, D.C. City Councilman Jim Graham personally pledged $250 to help pay for medicaid abortions and even pulled an "All-Nighter" in hopes of drumming up enough donations to cover one day's worth medicaid abortions (i.e., about 28 procedures) for one Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. ⁶ Apparently some view the competition between the demand for the health care needs of low-income individuals and families and the demand for killing children in the wombs of low-income mothers as a natural competition between valid interests. However, Abortion Is Not Health Care. And when I reflect on the fact that 85% of D.C. Medicaid enrollees are Black, I struggle to believe that the D.C. Abortion Fund and the D.C. Mayor and City Council have the best interest of low-income individuals and families at heart.

Conflict, Competition and Christ

"So shall you purge the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord." — Deuteronomy 21:9 (Amplified Bible)

It has been my experience that an abortion minded mother has been lied to regarding the veracity of birth control, exploited by a rabid abortion industry that profits financially from performing abortions, abandoned by the father of her child, her immediate family, her church family, close friends and in some cases, even her job. It is my position that: "The Mother Is Abortion's Second Victim" and in the spirit of John 8:10,11 ⁷ she deserves our unconditional love. As men of God, charged with shepherding God's people, contending for the faith and competing for the souls of men and women for Christ's sake, I wonder what conflicts with and/or competes with saving the lives of women and children. After thirty-eight (38) years of legalized abortion which is responsible for the brutal death of over 50 million babies, terminated in the womb of their own mothers, I cannot help but wonder if we are suffering from the same COI at work in Washington's District of Columbia. Let's be clear. Abortion Is Wrong. Ending Abortion Is Right. So what do we do, is a question that I have been repeatedly asked by leaders around the nation. I Thank God For His Answer. God used Moses, His Law Giver, to teach us that we can purge the guilt of innocent blood from among us, when we do what is right in the sight of the Lord. End Abortion Now!

Brothers, we really need to talk.

Reference(s):
1. "Washington Mayor Arrested in Protest", April 11th, 2011, New York Times, (http://bit.ly/fBBeh3).
2. "D.C. Wants To Kill its own", April 12th, 2011, TooManyAborted.Com (http://bit.ly/eAqA8p).
3. "D.C. Bleeding Millions A Week In Lost Medicaid Funds", Harry Jaffe, January 31st, 2011, Washington Examiner (http://bit.ly/fFvXhw).
4. Ibid.
5. 28 D.C. Women Seek Abortion Funding As Medicaid Coverage Expires (http://bit.ly/eDygVW).
6. Ibid.
7. "When Jesus had lifted Himself up and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?' She said, 'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.'" (21st Century King James Version).

Note(s):1. "DHCF Addresses Medicaid Reimbursement Problem", D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, March 16th, 2011, (http://bit.ly/gUmZat).