Guest: Attorney Michael Tarrio

"Under pressure from the ACLU and other groups, parental authority within the home is being challenged, and here's proof: In Washington State, two young men knocked an elderly woman to the ground and stole her purse. A 17-year old was convicted because he called his 14-year old girlfriend and bragged about it. The girl's mother was listening in on the conversation and testified against the young man. But the Washington State Supreme Court has overturned the conviction, ruling the teenagers had a right to privacy when talking on the phone. So if you suspect your child is talking with a criminal, you can't eavesdrop. There's much more to this than just a legal decision. All state-dominated societies--from the Soviet Union to Nazi Germany to Red China to Cuba--try to diminish parental power because it's easier to mold young minds. So if progressives can succeed in eroding parental influence at home, it becomes easier to influence American children to embrace a secular point of view. And once again the courts are helping the progressives. It is simply chilling to realize you cannot monitor the behavior of your children. Incredible and dangerous."

How will the Washington State decision affect parents? Attorney Michael Tario, who represented the young man whose conviction was overturned, defended the ruling. "Parents can still monitor their children," Tario told The Factor. "Parents have the right to say don't use the phone. But they don't have the right to do it FBI-style. If a parent can eavesdrop and snoop for one reason, they can do it for every reason." The Factor expressed outrage at both the crime and the court ruling. "Your client was convicted of knocking an old lady to the ground and stealing her purse. Now he's out. This is a chilling decision preventing all parents from knowing what their children are doing."

Guest: Fox News analyst Michelle Malkin

The New York Times portrays itself a champion of diversity, but nine employees at a Times printing plant claim they were the victims of racial and religious discrimination. Fox News analyst Michelle Malkin outlined the case. "According to the workers, it was a hostile work environment where anti-Semitic and racial epithets were the order of the day." Malkin conceded that workplace complaints are common and easy to file, but suggested this one may be warranted. "The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found there is merit in this case. I find it flabbergasting because the Times has held itself up as a paragon of diversity, but if the facts are true what they practice is far from what they preach. And you will not read about this case on the front pages of the New York Times."

Guest: Ray Flynn, former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

Traditional Christmas symbols are under attack in many parts of the Western World. Even in predominantly Catholic Italy, some schools have removed nativity scenes to avoid offending Muslim students. Former US Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn said the culprits are the same on both continents. "It's a small group of well-connected, well-educated people who don't believe in these values of faith and family. They feel threatened by these values." Flynn called on national leaders to speak out. "When was the last time we heard a prominent Catholic politician stand up and defend the faith? They're intimidated, they're afraid of a backlash from the elites in the media."

Guest: John Henry Westen, editor, LifeSiteNews.com

The notorious North American Man-Boy Love Association is on the defensive in the United States, but apparently finds Canada less threatening. John Henry Westen of LifeSiteNews.com explained the current situation. "In Canada there are two organizations that are offshoots of NAMBLA, men who want to have sex with young boys." According to Westen, this is one more indication of Canada's liberal social trends. "Society seems to be moving in this direction. We have an age of sexual consent of 14, one of the youngest in the world, but at the same time you have to be 18 to buy cigarettes. And folks who have conservative moral values are being squelched."

The Village Voice newspaper has written a critical article about the personal life of former Presidential candidate Al Sharpton. Sharpton claimed the attacks are political payback from rivals in the Democratic Party. "It's always a source of desperation when people look into your personal life. We helped reshape the party, and some people are angry." Looking to the future, Sharpton wouldn't rule out another run for the White House. "Our party needs to reconnect with the hip-hop generation, has to reconnect with the church. If I run for President, it will be to give voice to people who don't have one."

Guest: Dr. Raul Hinojosa, UCLA

An organization in Los Angeles is calling for a boycott of gasoline stations each Monday as a protest against a move making it more difficult for illegal aliens to obtain drivers licenses. Professor Raul Hinojosa explained the action. "This boycott is innovative because it makes an important point," Hinojosa said. "In California you have many undocumented people building the economy of this state. We need driver's licenses for everybody. The boycott is sending a message--we want everyone to recognize you can't have people contributing to the economy, and not treat them with respect."