New Blog Address

My blog is now officially located at www.lauraechevarria.com. I finally figured out how to set up a WordPress.org blog. Check out the new site!

It's Official, My Blog Has Moved

As of September 1, 2009, the new URL for my blog is www.lauraechevarria.wordpress.com . You can also type in www.lauraechevarria.com or www.cultureandpoliticstoday.com and reach the new blog.

Robert Schindler, Sr., RIP

Yesterday, the father of Terri Schindler Schiavo, Bobby Schindler and Suzanne (Schindler)Vitadamo passed away. He and his wife, Mary, went through so much trying to save Terri. I was priviledged to have met him on several occasions during that time and my deputy press secretary was even loaned out to them for a little while to help handle all the press they were getting.

The blessing is that, while he will be missed, he is finally with Terri and I’m quite sure he is rejoicing at the reunion. In fact, I’m surprised we couldn’t hear it.

May God bless the family during their grief; my prayers are with them.

Blog Talk Radio

Today's Blog Talk Radio episode was about Ted Kennedy's liberal legacy and the Democrats push to pass Obamacare in his memory. Listen by clicking on the player on the right.

Senator Kennedy, RIP

Though I disagreed with him on just about everything, his death is still a loss. Though his death was expected by his family, mourning is no easier. My prayers are with them during this time of loss.

Mmmm. . .New York Times Admits Rationing of Health Care Could Happen

Robert Pear, writing in the New York Times on the 20th, discovers that conservative concerns about the rationing of health care, if reform should pass, are legitimate.

Wow, what will the Times think of next...maybe they can pursue actually investigating conservative concerns before publishing stories that rubber-stamp the White House line?

h/t Newsbusters

"Death Panels"

Michael Cannon of the Cato institute writes in the Detroit Free Press and defends Sarah Palin's assertion that a universal health care plan would create death panels.

She is not the only one to believe this. Most universal health care systems like Canada's or Great Britain's use a QALY-like system to determine whether or not someone will receive treatment.

To give an example:

Under QALY, say you are 80 years old and you need a hip replaced. The surgery is slated to cost $30,000 but you are expected to live maybe only another five years (based on government estimates, of course), "experts" would take the number of your life-years remaining and amortize the cost of the surgery over that time. In other words $30,000/5 = $6,000 per year. They may decide the cost is too great for the return of only five more productive years.

However, if you are 55 years old and need a hip replacement, you are likely to have 30 years left to live. So the "expert" again takes $30,000 and divides this time by thirty. This stretches the cost out to $1,000 per year and from a cost/benefit analysis makes sense so the "expert" signs off on the surgery.

QALY stands for Quality-adjusted life year and is more complicated than what I just described. For example, if you are in a wheelchair you likely would get only .5 years adjusted for every year you have left because you are not in "full" health, etc.

The QALY systems basically looks at cost/benefit analysis but it's not for experimental space planes or vortex cannons, we are dealing with living, breathing human beings, not things.

h/t Sister Toldjah

Bob Novak, RIP

The conservative columnist Bob Novak died earlier today. He was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. He was 78.

When I first began working at National Right to Life, someone from Mr. Novak's office would call at least once a week to fact check or get the latest on a piece of legislation.

Mr. Novak's columns skewered the Left and sometimes the Right. He was a member of the old-school of reporters and journalists and he will be missed.

Bob Novak, RIP

Blog Talk Radio

Be sure to join me tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. for "Politics and Culture," my radio show on Blog Talk Radio.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, RIP

It was announced this morning that Eunice Kennedy Shriver has died at the age of 88. She was the sister of Ted Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy and the mother of Maria Shriver. The link to CNN's webpage has more about her life as the founder, along with her husband Sargeant Shriver, of Special Olympics but what they fail to note were her pro-life convictions. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was unapologetically pro-life and I had the honor of just being in the same room with her on several occasions at the National Right to Life Proudly Pro-Life Awards Dinner held in New York City. I can't honestly say that I met Mrs. Shriver, I believe I did once, briefly, but my job was to keep the press at bay so I usually stayed away from the top level guests unless an interview was requested.

She was also one of many important Democrats who protested the party's pro-abortion platform.

My prayers are with the family as they mourn the loss of this wonderful woman.

The Snitch List?

Michelle Malkin writes about the latest coming out of the office of one of the many White House czars:

This week, President Obama's health care overlord, Nancy DeParle, launched a taxpayer-funded initiative to recruit an Internet Snitch Brigade that will combat "disinformation about health insurance reform." As the White House explained in a special online bulletin:

"These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain e-mails or through casual conversation. Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help. If you get an e-mail or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

What will health care czar DeParle do with this information? Where will it be stored? Who has oversight of the czar's powers, budget and personnel? Concerned citizens, alas, will have a hard time tracking down the "Office of Health Care Reform" created by executive order in April. There is no central website for the office, no direct channel for transparency and no congressional accountability.

Czars report directly to the president, and as Malkin points out, they have no accountability to Congress only to the president. This is troubling especially in light of the villification ordinary citizens are experiencing if they oppose ObamaCare.

Supporter of ObamaCare Strikes Back--Literally

Not surprising ya'll...


h/t Sister Toldjah

Blog Talk Radio Show Tomorrow AM

Don't forget--I will be broadcasting live at 7:30 a.m. for 15 minutes. I will be looking at health care reform and in particular the fact that the Associated Press reported what we knew all along: ObamaCare includes abortion. If you can, please listen in. If you are unable to join me live, I'll be posting the link on this website.

Robert P. George on DOM and the Link to Abortion

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal featured an opinion piece by Robert P. George on traditional marriage. George is the professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University and founder of the American Principles Project. He writes about the dangers of redefining marriage:

If marriage is redefined, its connection to organic bodily union—and thus to procreation—will be undermined. It will increasingly be understood as an emotional union for the sake of adult satisfaction that is served by mutually agreeable sexual play. But there is no reason that primarily emotional unions like friendships should be permanent, exclusive, limited to two, or legally regulated at all. Thus, there will remain no principled basis for upholding marital norms like monogamy.

Now before anyone gets excited and argues that gay marriages would be monogamous, Professor George is talking about the basis for marriage in general. His major argument is that marriage is designed to have the potential for procreation. Not that every marriage will result in children or that every sexual act in marriage will result in children but that the institution of marriage is designed for the creation and rearing of children. He also points out:

Candid and clear-thinking advocates of redefining marriage recognize that doing so entails abandoning norms such as monogamy. In a 2006 statement entitled “Beyond Same-Sex Marriage,” over 300 lesbian, gay, and allied activists, educators, lawyers, and community organizers—including Gloria Steinem, Barbara Ehrenreich, and prominent Yale, Columbia and Georgetown professors—call for legally recognizing multiple sex partner (“polyamorous”) relationships. Their logic is unassailable once the historic definition of marriage is overthrown.

Is this a red herring? This week’s Newsweek reports more than 500,000 polyamorous households in the U.S.

Now all of these arguments are to point out the dangers of the Supreme Court ruling against California's Proposition 8 that is likely to go before the Court following a federal lawsuit that was filed.

Professor George notes the relationship between a potential decision creating a "right" to gay marriage and the "right" to abortion created in Roe v. Wade:

By short-circuiting the democratic process, Roe inflamed the culture war that has divided our nation and polarized our politics. Abortion, which the Court purported to settle in 1973, remains the most unsettled issue in American politics—and the most unsettling. Another Roe would deepen the culture war and prolong it indefinitely.

Some insist that the Supreme Court must invalidate traditional marriage laws because “rights” are at stake. But as in Roe, they are forced to peddle a strained and contentious reading of the Constitution—one whose dubiousness would undermine any ruling’s legitimacy.

Professor George, as always, writes well-reasoned, informative articles and opinion pieces. This one is no different and certainly makes the case that our generation could see another Roe ruling.

By removing decisions like abortion from the democratic process, the Court created an issue that troubles America's very core and divides us today--over 35 years later.

If Sotomayor is confirmed, would they have the votes to do it again with the definition of marriage?

Townhall Meeting?

Well, looks like the Dems are discovering that America is not happy with the fast-track version of ObamaCare. Take a look. Many thanks to Family Research Council for the video link:

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers Will Introduce Amendment to Make Health Care a "Right"

Oh, brother, the Dem philosophy is "if it ain't in the Constitution, and we like it, let's put it in."

I missed this early this week so many thanks to CNSNews.

Leave It to the Dems to Start Name Calling

As usual, when Democratic leaders can't take the heat they start name-calling. For Nancy Pelosi, it's not "lets debate the facts" it's more like "he took my ball and he's a big meannie." I mean really, come on, all of America knows it for what it is (whining) and it just makes the Dems look like that have nothing substantial to talk about.

Science Czar Co-Authored Textbook Claiming that Babies (Already Born!) Will "One Day" Become Human Beings

Sounds ridiculous and something one would expect out of someone believing the earth is still flat but it's true.

Nancy Pelosi Tries to Sidestep Questions on Abortion in Health Care Reform

John King does a great job trying to nail down an answer from Nancy Pelosi on this issue.

Nurse Forced to Participate in an Abortion Against Her Beliefs

Alliance Defense Fund is representing a nurse in Brooklyn who claims that Mount Sinai Hospital forced her to participate in an abortion against her beliefs and wishes. Other hospital staff in supervisory positions allegedly lied to the nurse about the seriousness of the situation.

Obama's Science Czar Once Called for Population Control through Sterilization and Abortion

In 1977, John Holdren, the president's science czar, authored a book with along with Malthus enthusiasts, Paul and Anne Ehrlich, that called for population control measures involving sterilization and abortion. See this column in the Washington Examiner by David Freddoso.

The Washington Post Thinks the President is Misleading the Public on Health Care?

My first response was to gasp, then to shake my head in wonder--today's Washington Post criticizes (yep, I'm still shocked) the president for misleading the public on the true cost of healthcare reform.

Just Horrible...

This story of a gang-rape of an 8-year-old Liberian refugee by four Liberian refugee boys ages 9 to 14 comes out of Phoeniz, AZ. My heart goes out to this little 8-year-old girl. My daughter is only ten so the horror of what happened to this little girl in Phoenix really hits home.

The situation is made all the more difficult by her family's rejection of her. In Liberia, women are traditionally blamed for rape although great strides have been made in changing these cultural attitudes.

h/t Newsbusters

Blog Talk Radio

I managed to finally do my test program and-- I'm still laughing. I didn't go on air on schedule, I hit the wrong key and tried to close down my internet connection, etc. But I finally figured everything out and went on for my test for about a minute or two. I may have to do another test just to figure out how to fade out my intro music. That or re-record my intro music to get it to fade down and out.

Now, my biggest problem may be that I used to work in radio as an announcer and using a phone for a mic is rather bizarre and feels unnatural. I'll make another announcement soon about an actual show date. I think I want to do one more test first.

Thanks to all of you who are interested in it!

Red State Offers This Look at Health Care Rationing in Oregon

Over at Red State, they take a look at what happens in Oregon when patients choose the "public option" for their health care.

The Senate Doctors Show

Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. and John Barasso, M.D. make up The Senate Doctors Show. They answer questions about health care reform. Check out the program of the only doctors in the Senate.

CBO Director's Blog Post on the Effect of the Health Care Bill on the Deficit

Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf wrote in his blog Saturday about the effect of H.R 3200 on the deficit

House Votes Against Amendment to Defund Planned Parenthood

In a vote of 247-183, Mike Pence's (R-Indiana) amendment to stop federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood failed. There just weren't enough Democrats joining Republicans to pass the amendment. LifeNews.com has more.

Mikulski Inserts Abortion Coverage in Senate Health-Care Bill

This happened last week but I find it interesting. Here is the video, courtesy of CNS News:



FYI, note that Senator Casey (D-Penn.) says in the video that he would oppose the bill because of this amendment.

Mike Pence Working to Defund Planned Parenthood

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a billion dollar non-profit entity. Yes, you read that correctly--one billion. It receives over a third of it's money from federal and state government grants.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) has introduced an amendment to cut off federal funds to Planned Parenthood. In a press release yesterday, he noted:

"It is morally wrong to destroy innocent human life through abortion, but it is also morally wrong to take the tax dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use them to promote or perform abortions at home or abroad. The largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funds under Title X.

"Americans who cherish the right to life should be heartened to hear that my amendment to deny federal funding through Title X to Planned Parenthood will receive a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow. Federal funding should reflect the values of the majority of the American people and this House now has the opportunity and obligation to close this offensive loophole.

"The right to life is not a partisan issue, it is a moral one. The time has come for this Congress to come together in a bipartisan way to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the taxpayer; The time has come to deny any and all federal funding for the Planned Parenthood."

Amen and amen.

The vote on the Pence Amendment is scheduled for some time today.

Mary Katherine Ham Points Out that Obama Doesn't Know What's in His Health Care Legislation

This was funny in a sad, bizarre, ironic way.

Pruden on Franken

Wesley Pruden, bless him, says what needs to be said about Al Franken's new position of U.S. Senator.

Harry Reid Says No Senate Vote on Health Care Until the Fall

The Washington Times is reporting that Senator Reid is saying "no" to a health care vote in the Senate until after the August break. This doesn't mean that things are going to let up. The Senate fight won't be pretty and we would do better to kill it in the House.

This is going to be dicey folks.

Stop the Abortion Mandate

At 9:00p.m. tonight, pro-life leaders from across the nation will be participating in a webcast and answering your questions about the abortion mandate that would occur if Barack Obama gets his way and successfully inplements some kind of universal health care plan.

Visit www.stoptheabortionmandate.com and sign up for tonight's webcast. The program is being recorded so if for some reason you can't make it to your computer in time, you can listen to the recording later. (You can also participate by phone.)

Don't miss this, every pro-life group with influence on the Hill will have a representative on.

Contact Your Representative

It is imperative that you contact your representative and tell him or her to say no to abortion in any Obama Care plan. Please call 202-224-3121 and tell the operator the name of your representative in Congress. If you don't know, just tell the operator your zip code. Please call.

Where to start....

I'm really not sure where I should start. More importantly, I don't know where all of this will end.

This week the pro-life movement and conservatives in general have been hit from nearly every angle. A new senator takes his place representing Minnesota and the joke is on us, Sotomayor has managed to make it through the confirmation hearings nearly intact (granted the dirt-digging groups that have destroyed or nearly destroyed the reputations of other appointees are sitting behind this nominee so that helps her) and ObamaCare will signal the death knell for the excellent health care and research we enjoy in this country.

I'm still surprised by how many people think universal health care is a great idea. There isn't a single country in the world with socialized health care that works even remotely as well as our system. Add to that the fact that our health care industry accounts for a large lump of our nation's industry ratio that would then be under the 'care' of the U.S. government and...well, we know how that goes.

It is imperative that you call your representative and senators and let them know that they need to vote against universal health care. Our system isn't broken, it just needs tweaking to help those who fall through the cracks. We can tweak it without destroying it.

The number for the capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. If you don't know the name of your representative, just give the switchboard operator your zip code and he or she will connect you with the proper office. Here is a link to Roll Call's instructive page on how to communicate with your representatives and senators.

Many thanks to GOP senators for not backing down on Sotomayor.

Sarah Palin is not seeking re election. This looks to be the beginning of the next presidential campaign.

Al Franken is now a Senator from Minnesota. I hope those who voted for him quickly realize that they will bear the brunt of this joke too.

Back From Orlando

We are back from visiting the happiest place on earth. Granted, my husband and I had to apologize to each other at least once a day for getting snarky. But, hey, family vacations are more stressful than we think, aren't they? Especially in the Disney World where you pay a fortune to relax in 100 degree heat and eat food that could be better-- if you want to pay $15.99 an entree for the kids and $39.99 an entree for the adults. And you want to get every last bit out of it and that means being tired, hungry and grumpy for part of the time. Also, we had two special needs children in tow so worrying about getting separated from them or whether they were disturbing others (we have one that doesn't recognize personal space) was a concern.

Of course, while we were in the happiest place on earth, several things happened, including a number of celebrity deaths that were startling to say the least. In addition, it seems that ObamaCare is heating up.

There are a number of problems with ObamaCare and yet health care reform is being rammed down our throats anyway. For some reason people think dealing with a federal health care system will be easier than dealing with their current insurance company. Let me ask, when was the last time you had to wait in line at the DMV to get sorted so you could stand in another line to get what you need?

Folks, there has to be some kind of mathmatical formula for the ratio between wait time and the number of federal bureacrats involved. If anyone knows that is, let me know.

Not surprising that ABC endorsed ObamaCare

On Vacation

We are on a family vacation in Orlando but I will try posting something later this evening.

NRLC '09

The National Right to Life Convention is underway and if you want to see photos and comments about what is happening don't miss the NRLC Communications Blog.

Catholic Votes' New Ad

Many thanks to Ryan Bilodeau for posting this on his Facebook page. This is the new ad by Catholic Vote. They brought us the ad with the video of a baby in utero and the phrase "Life: Imagine the Possibilities" captioned next to a picture of Barack Obama.

I love this campaign--it's a top notch production and the ads are relevant without being over the top.



h/t Ryan Bilodeau

ABC Again

Here's the deal. ABC is apparently not accepting any paid advertising during the ObamaCare show so that means opposing viewpoints can't buy any airtime. Conservatives for Patients' Rights tried to buy airtime and couldn't. They released the following statement:

Rick Scott Statement On ABC News's Decision To Reject Paid Ads For White House Health Care Program
By CPR Staff on June 17, 2009 3:28 PM
ABC News is refusing paid ads for its health care program at the White House. Conservatives for Patients Rights (CPR) inquired about purchasing ad time and was willing to do so. As of now, ABC is not accepting paid advertising, thus they're refusing even a paid-for alternative viewpoint. Here is statement from Rick Scott, chairman of Conservatives for Patients Rights. We remain hopeful ABC News will reconsider.

"It is unfortunate - and unusual - that ABC is refusing to accept paid advertising that would present an alternative viewpoint for the White House health care program. Health care is an issue that touches every American and all potential pieces of legislation have carried a price tag in excess of $1 trillion of taxpayers' money. The American people deserve a healthy, robust debate on this issue and ABC's decision - as of now - to exclude even paid advertisements that present an alternative view does a disservice to the public. Our organization is more than willing to purchase ad time on ABC to present an alternative viewpoint and our hope is that ABC will reconsider having such viewpoints be part of this crucial debate for the American people. We were surprised to hear that paid advertisements would not be accepted when we inquired and we would certainly be open to purchasing time if ABC would reconsider."

ABC Refuses to Run Opposition Ads During "ObamaCare" Infomercial *cough* Report

RedState reports that ABC is doing an infomercial, um, report on ObamaCare and opposition ads cannot be purchased. Well, I'm not surprised.

Radio Program to Air on July 4th

Somehow it seems appropriate that the first airing of my online radio program should begin on July 4th. This first show will only run 15 minutes at 7:30 a.m. EST. And since it's not all that interesting to hear myself talk, I'm keeping it short for that first episode. I hope the show picks up speed and ends up with listeners who call in. Please tune in to Blog Talk Radio for my show.

Thanks!

NRLC '09

National Right to Life's annual convention begins tomorrow in Charlotte, North Carolina and I am sorry I can't be there. It becomes more difficult to do things that involve travel because of our sons' autism. Even though there is daycare, it's difficult to ask someone to watch two children who need more specialized care.

I will be there in spirit and looking forward to hearing about the great time everyone had!

Blog Talk Radio

I have set up a radio program through Blog Talk Radio and for those of you unfamiliar with the format, it runs just like a regular talk show except that you listen to it on the internet. You can join live and call-in as you would a radio talk show or you can listen to it later by pulling a program from the archives.

I haven't taped any programs yet. While I have been a member of Blog Talk Radio for a while, I signed up to host my own program only yesterday so I'm still getting my feet wet--so to speak.

Keep an eye out for updates--I'll be posting more soon.

Dr. J.R. Faulkner, 1914-2009

I had the privilege of working for Dr. Faulkner while I was a student at Tennessee Temple University. He was the president emeritus of the university and former pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was Dr. Lee Roberson's right-hand man for many, many years. Dr. Faulkner was a great artist, teacher and leader and I was honored to work for him and his secretary, Mildred Eifert, while at TTU as a student. It is with great sadness that I report his passing last night at the age of 95.

However, there is also joy. Dr. Faulkner was a frail 95 and from what I understand, legally blind. But he was truly a man of God-- gentle, kind and with a smile that could light up a room.

I found this video of Dr. Faulkner on You Tube. Many thanks to the family who made it. It shows Dr. Faulkner at age 93-- nearly bald, without his trademark glasses and bent from age but his mind still bright and alert. He was known for having the ability to recite poems he had memorized many years before and he does so here as a tribute to his wife (seated next to him) who passed away last year.

Jaime Thietten-- And Amazing Voice and Message

This video and song are moving. Also, see The Story Behind the Song for more about Jamie.

George Tiller

I apologize for not posting in the last few weeks. We've been busy with exams and now cleaning up our classrooms, posting grades, etc.

I did want to comment on George Tiller's death. I had hoped that it wouldn't be someone claiming to be "pro-life" but that is not the case.

George Tiller's murder was wrong. Period. And my condolences go to his family. You cannot claim to be pro-life and then accept that because of who someone is or what he or she does means that they are the "exception" to the rule.

"The pro-life movement works to protect the right to life and increase respect for human life. The unlawful use of violence is directly contrary to that goal."

Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone on His Day at Notre Dame

Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, led a vigil at the Notre Dame commencement. He wrote about the experience which was published at LifeSiteNews.com:

Fr. Frank Pavone Writes "My Day at Notre Dame"

By Father Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, May 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - There was an eerie stillness and silence across the Notre Dame campus as my colleagues, a few of the seniors and I walked across the campus very early on the morning of Commencement Day. It was the calm before the storm of what we knew was an historic day.

I started with a national Foxnews interview along with Fr. Richard McBrien. We were asked our views of the Commencement. My message was: Everyone can imagine people they would protest speaking at a commencement: an avowed racist, anti-Semite, or advocate of terrorism. So the failure to object to one who is unwilling to call for an end to abortion is the failure to see that abortion is as bad or worse than those other evils. We have to stop trivializing abortion.

Moreover, the university gave the President an honorary law degree. Law exists to protect human rights; but this president has admitted that he doesn’t know when a child receives human rights. How can he defend human rights when he doesn’t know who has them?

After speaking to various media, I greeted people on campus who were coming from all over the country to stand with the courageous students who boycotted their own commencement and invited me to lead them in an alternate ceremony.

After I greeted and blessed the demonstrators who were at the campus entrance, and concelebrated a special Mass for Life, I led the Class of 2009 Vigil for Life. We meditated on the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, on the victory of life over death, and on the fact that Jesus is King over every nation, over the courts, the Congress, and the White House. As I gave the students and their families reflections on these truths, the current occupant of the White House was calling the graduates to have “open minds, open hearts” and a spirit of dialogue.

Now dialogue with our opponents on this issue is something we at Priests for Life specialize in. I maintain friendships with abortion advocates and practicing abortionists. The clarity of our own convictions never means we despise, demonize, or shut out other people. And yes, we are willing to collaborate with others in morally legitimate ways to reduce the numbers of abortions.

But the President’s remarks had a glaring omission. While willing to dialogue and to promote adoption, he gave no indication of any willingness to protect the children in the womb. And that’s the crux of the issue. In his remarks, he referred to the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation. Certainly, his call for open minds does not include openness to reconsider the segregation issue. There’s a right answer to it, period.

So it is with the protection of the unborn. And as quiet again descended on campus at the end of the day, I reflected…Open minds, yes, but for the purpose of eventually firmly closing upon the truth! And isn’t that supposed to be the purpose of Catholic universities?

Notre Dame and Barack Obama

I'm not Catholic and didn't attend Notre Dame but I am outraged that faithful pro-life Catholics who attended the university had to watch this farce unfold.

Notre Dame is supposed to still stand for faithful Catholicism but, alas, inviting a vehemently pro-abortion president and awarding him an honorary degree flies in the face of all of that.

Barack Obama talks about discussing abortion reasonably. When? Where? With whom? Has he invited pro-life groups to the White House? Has he reached out to them in various venues to discuss the issue? The closest he has come to rubbing elbows with pro-lifers is at events like the Notre Dame commencement. Being in the same room with pro-lifers does not a conversation make.

I won't believe anything he says about a "reasonable" discussion on abortion until I see the White House announcement of a summit at which legitimate pro-life groups are invited to discuss the abortion issue. I won't believe it until I see the White House take reasonable positions on abortion-related issues. I won't believe it until I see Barack Obama leave alone protective legislation and laws such as the Hyde Amendment.

Until then, Obama's promises are just smoke in the wind.

Tax-funded Abortions in D.C?

The following press release comes from National Right to Life:

National Right to Life Slams Obama White House for Urging Repeal of
Ban on Tax-Funded Abortion-on-Demand in Nation's Capital
The following statement was released by the nation's largest pro-life organization, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), soon after today's release by the White House of President Obama's first detailed budget recommendations to Congress. The White House document is intended to guide lawmakers as they craft spending bills for the new federal fiscal year that begins on October 1. NRLC is the federation of the right-to-life organizations in all 50 states.

"Some wide-eyed journalists and various political shills for the Obama Administration continue to write fairy tales about how President Obama wants to pursue policies that would reduce abortions," said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). "That is a political scam. In reality, President Obama is pursuing a step-by-step strategy to expand access to abortion, and today's step is to urge Congress to authorize the funding of abortion on demand in the nation's capital, with funds appropriated by Congress."

Today's White House budget submission explicitly urges the House and Senate -- which the President's party currently controls with nearly three-fifths majorities -- to repeal a law (sometimes called the Dornan Amendment) that has prevented tax-funded abortion in the District of Columbia for many years.

Article I of the U.S. Constitution says that Congress holds complete legislative authority over the District of Columbia ("exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever"). That is why the entire budget for the District of Columbia (including revenues generated by local sources) must be appropriated by Congress through an annual appropriations bill.

For many years, the annual D.C. appropriations bill has contained a provision to prevent the use of any congressionally appropriated funds for abortions (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest). The White House budget document released today (on Appendix page 1209) asks Congress to repeal the ban on the use of congressionally appropriated funds, and replace it with a meaningless bookkeeping requirement that would apply only to funds specifically contributed for federal program purposes.

"If Congress goes along with the Obama proposal, the predictable result will be tax funding of several thousand elective abortions annually, including roughly 1,000 abortions annually that would not otherwise occur," said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for NRLC. "Any member of Congress who votes for a bill that contains the White House proposal is, in reality, voting for tax-funded abortion on demand with congressionally appropriated funds."

From 1988 until 1993, Congress annually included the ban on the use of any appropriated funds to pay for abortions (with narrow exceptions). The ban was temporarily lost early in the Clinton Administration, but it was restored in 1996 (although the city government illegally continued to pay for abortions for two subsequent years, according to press reports), and has been in continuous effect ever since.

During the period prior to enactment of the Dornan Amendment, and during the time it was suspended in the Clinton Administration, the city government paid for elective abortion on demand with congressionally appropriated public funds. During the congressional debates of that era, evidence was cited that indicated that the city's abortion-funding policy was among the most permissive in the nation, and was not even limited to Medicaid-eligible clients. Elizabeth Reveal, D.C. budget director at the time, "confirmed that the District's government has a policy of funding abortion on demand and does not attempt to determine the circumstances of the pregnancy." (Philadelphia Inquirer, August 1, 1985.) In 1994, then-Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly authorized the use of $1,000,000 from the Medical Charities fund, which was originally set up to help indigent AIDS patients, to pay for abortions.

Pro-abortion groups periodically publish academic studies that demonstrate that policies that bar tax-funded abortions actually prevent one-third or more of the abortions that would otherwise occur among the covered populations.

"The abortion industry's own studies suggest that many thousands of residents of the nation's capital are alive today because of the abortion funding ban that President Obama now proposes to repeal," said NRLC's Johnson.

"Today's White House action is one more evidence that President Obama is trying to pull off a massive policy scam -- he generates a smokescreen of soothing rhetoric about seeking 'common ground' and 'abortion reduction,' while step by step advancing concrete policies that will substantially increase the number of abortions -- and pay for abortion on demand with everyone's taxes," Johnson concluded.

The next step, Johnson suggested, would be "an attempt to smuggle vast expansions of abortion into law through health care reform legislation."

Barack Obama met with Planned Parenthood in 2007 and promised that mandatory abortion coverage would be "at the center, the heart of" his health care reform legislation. In an April 30, 2009, National Public Radio report, Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, confirmed that "health care reform is going to provide a platform" for ensuring that "all women . . . regardless of their income, can get access to the full range of health care options . . ."

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is a national federation of nonsectarian right-to-life organizations, governed by a board elected by the state right-to-life organizations and by members at large.

Changes in abortion pill protocol increase chances of surgical intervention.

Can Barack Obama Become Pro-Life?

First Things looks at whether the Commander-in-Chief can be converted.

Transcript of the Abortion Question During the First 100 Days POTUS Press Conference

CNN's Ed Henry asked:

Q: Thank you, Mr. President. In a couple of weeks, you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame. And, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion.

As a candidate, you vowed that one of the very things you wanted to do was sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which, as you know, would eliminate federal, state and local restrictions on abortion. And at one point in the campaign when asked about abortion and life, you said that it was above — quote, above my pay grade.

Now that you've been president for 100 days, obviously, your pay grade is a little higher than when you were a senator.

Do you still hope that Congress quickly sends you the Freedom of Choice Act so you can sign it?

OBAMA: You know, the — my view on — on abortion, I think, has been very consistent. I think abortion is a moral issue and an ethical issue.

I think that those who are pro-choice make a mistake when they — if they suggest — and I don't want to create straw men here, but I think there are some who suggest that this is simply an issue about women's freedom and that there's no other considerations. I think, look, this is an issue that people have to wrestle with and families and individual women have to wrestle with.

The reason I'm pro-choice is because I don't think women take that — that position casually. I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day. And I think they are in a better position to make these decisions ultimately than members of Congress or a president of the United States, in consultation with their families, with their doctors, with their clergy.

So — so that has been my consistent position. The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion, or at least considering getting an abortion, particularly if we can reduce the number of teen pregnancies, which has started to spike up again.

And so I've got a task force within the Domestic Policy Council in the West Wing of the White House that is working with groups both in the pro-choice camp and in the pro-life camp, to see if we can arrive at some consensus on that.

Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's — that's where I'm going to focus.

Talk about a non-answer answer. BTW, I don't know of pro-life groups who are working with the White House-- to my knowledge none have been invited. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.

nrlc: Reflections on Obama's First 100 Days
http://tinyurl.com/d6wlpq

Tip: Reply with 'whois nrlc' for more info.

Senate Approves Kathleen Sebelius for Health Secretary

Well, nuts.

Arlen Specter Changes Party But Not His Beliefs

Yesterday, RNC Chair Michael Steele wrote in an e-mail to supporters that Arlen Specter's defection from the Republican Party should cause outrage among Republicans for two reasons:

First--Specter claimed it was philosophical--and pointed his finger of blame at Republicans all over America for his defection to the Democrats. He told us all to go jump in the lake today.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe a word he said.

Arlen Specter committed a purely political and self-serving act today. He simply believes he has a better chance of saving his political hide and his job as a Democrat. He loves the title of Senator more than he loves the party--and the principles--that elected him and nurtured him.

Second--and more importantly--Arlen Specter handed Barack Obama and his band of radical leftists nearly absolute power in the United States Senate. In leaving the Republican Party--and joining the Democrats--he absolutely undercut Republicans' efforts to slow down Obama's radical agenda through the threat of filibuster.

Facing defeat in Pennsylvania's 2010 Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record, and an end to his 30 year career in the U.S. Senate, he has peddled his services--and his vote--to the leftist Obama Democrats who aim to remake America with their leftist plan.

As recently as April 9th, Senator Specter said he would run in the Pennsylvania primary next year as a Republican. Why the sudden change of heart? Clearly, this was an act based on political expediency by a craven politician desperate to keep his Washington power base--not the act of a statesman.

His defection to the Democrat Party puts the Democrats in an almost unstoppable position to pass Obama's destructive agenda of income redistribution, health care nationalization, and a massive expansion of entitlements.

Arlen Specter has put his loyalty to his own political career above his duty to his state and nation.

Amen.

Specter has never been the best of Republicans. He has voted with the Democrats on many occasions and his position on issues like embryonic stem cell research and abortion are in complete opposition to the Republican Party Platform.

Many in the GOP supported Specter to prevent control of the Senate by the Democrats-- this is now moot.

nrlc: "No Matter Where You Stand on the Abortion Issue, That Ought to Bother You"
http://tinyurl.com/dgxblu

Specter changes party but not his stripes.

Bait and Switch on Stem Cells

First, my apologies again. Between my school schedule and our obnoxious home computer, I've barely been able to check e-mail let alone post on my blog.

There has been a great deal going on lately and Obamamania has not let up. Of course, things like Notre Dame inviting Barack Obama to speak for graduation have been in the news for quite some time. What is new is the latest on stem cell research. National Right to Life sent out a Congressional letter on Friday regarding this issue. The letter can be found at NRLC's website.

"Grotesque"

William Saletan says that from a pro-life viewpoint, this story is "grotesque" and from a "pro-choice" viewpoint it is "agonizing."

The story involves a couple in Japan who underwent in vitro fertilization only to be told that it was possible that the baby growing inside the woman (about 8 weeks along) was not theirs. The couple aborted. The other couple who were the possible biological parents of the child had also been undergoing in vitro. The woman was older (40) and she wasn't told that her baby was possibly aborted until two and a half months later.

Obviously, for pro-lifers, a baby lost his or her life and the families involved will always be haunted by this horrific sequence of events.

Now, my question for the pro-abortion side would be why would this be an "agonizing" situation for pro-abortionists? If a fetus is just a "blob of tissue" or the "products of conception" then this should be a non-issue or at most a dispute over property rights. Is it "agonizing" because it points out all the errors in judgment and the fallacies that pro-abortion groups use in justifying abortion? Or is it agonizing because the reality is that a fetus is more than a "blob of tissue"?

The truth is our gut instinct is to recognize that there is more here than just malpractice issues or property rights.

Kmiec in Denial

Douglas Kmiec, the widely recognized Catholic who supported Barack Obama during the election and claimed that Obama was pro-life, still believes this.

I think that instead of maintaining any Catholic supporters who believed the falsehood that Obama was pro-life, Kmiec is hurting his own credibility by continuing to promote the lie. Despite all the pro-abortion policy Obama has signed, Kmiec still says Obama is pro-life.

Maybe in an alternate universe, but not this one.

Obama Signs Order Allowing Embryo-destroying Stem Cell Research

It's official. LifeNews.com notes that Congress may have something to say.

President Obama Set to Reverse Federal Funding on Embryo-Killing Stem Cell Research

President Obama is doing a great job fulfilling all of his campaign promises: to pro-abortion groups.

Tonight, Obama signed an executive order overturning Mexico City Policy which banned U.S. funds from going to groups that perform or promote abortion overseas. Monday, Mr. Obama will sign an executive order overturning the Bush Administration's ban on federal funding for embryo-killing stem cell research.

And for all of you pro-lifers who voted for him, congratulations for buying into the Douglas Kmiec-hype about Obama "really" being pro-life. Next time, please listen to the rest of us pro-lifers who have been in the trenches. When we say someone is pro-abortion to the gills and Planned Parenthood likes them, well then, it's pretty safe to say that they are for abortion on demand.

'Nuff said.

Universal Health Care-- Redux

It may not be called the "Clinton" Health Care Plan but it's guaranteed to be just as expensive, just as cumbersome and just as pro-abortion.



So, we're headed for even more economic woes and we're going to throw federal monies and bureaucracy into the health care system?!

As for pro-abortion: don't believe me? Look at his speech before Planned Parenthood Action Fund in July 2007 (go ahead, I'll wait, the transcript is on the right, yup, just there...) At the end of the transcript, Barack Obama is asked some questions by three audience members. The first question is how "reproductive rights" and Planned Parenthood fit into a universal health care plan. Barack Obama's answer:

Well, look, in my mind reproductive care is essential care--basic care--so it is at the center, the heart of the plan that I propose. . . .

But, essentially, what we are doing is to say that we’re going to set up a public plan that all persons and all women can access if they don’t have health insurance. It’ll be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services, as well as mental health services and disease management services. [scattered applause]

. . .

Now, I know I’m limited on time but I just want to expand on that second part of your question which is the role that organizations like Planned Parenthood play. . . .my hope is that we still have non-profit participation under my plan.

But, in the meantime, what I’ve said is that I believe we can have universal health care in this country by the end of the next president’s first term. By the end of my first term as president [applause] of the United States of America.

[Italics mine]

In pro-abortion parlance "reproductive healthcare" doesn't just mean pre-natal care (by the way, check out the "pre-natal care" section of a recent Planned Parenthood Annual Report and you'll notice that they don't do a lot of that.) The foundation of "reproductive healthcare" is abortion on demand. To sum up:

Obama Health Care Plan = abortion-on-demand with your tax dollars

Say It Ain't So, Sam!

Sam Brownback looks likely to vote for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for HHS Secretary.

Now he may be wanting to get her out of Kansas but the rest of us don't want her!

National Right to Life notes how the Sebelius nomination moves the Obama abortion agenda forward.

Pro-abortion Plans

A friend of mine forwarded a copy of an article that appeared on The New Republic website yesterday. While it's probably one of the worst cases of a "chasing your tail" argument I've ever seen, it does give insight into what pro-abortion groups may be thinking on FOCA.

The Future of the Hyde Amendment

W. James Antle, III, the associate editor of The American Spectator, writes about the danger the Hyde Amendment faces in this congress.

Alleged Assisted-Suicide Ring Arrested

This falls under the "shocking-but-true" category. Pro-life groups have long fought the legalization of assisted suicide for a variety of reasons. One of the scariest concerns is the possibility that a person may change their mind and someone "helping" prevents them from stopping the suicide at the last moment.

Most people seeking assisted suicide (at least 95 percent) are clinically depressed and should receive medical attention for depression.

Obama Administration Plans to Rescind Conscience Clause

The Times-Picayune is running an AP story about the administration's plans to reverse a Bush administration rule that protected doctors and nurses who refused to perform abortions because of moral reasons.

Big surprise.

Those impacted the most by this decision will be Catholic hospitals.

Family Research Council has more.

Up and Running at School

I am finally able to access my blog from my workplace so look for more postings. I'll be using my lunch to keep the blog up-to-date.

Roger Simon of Pajamas Media "Blacklisting Myself"

National Review published a book review of "Blacklisting Myself," the book by Roger Simon. Reading the review and knowing that Simon is a co-founder of Pajamas Media has me longing to run to the local bookstore and pick up a copy.

Visit John J. Miller's interview with Simon for National Review's "Between the Covers."

Thirty Pro-Life Organizations Ask for a Review of Obama Nominees

A letter signed by the leaders and representatives of thirty pro-life organizations was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee asking for a review of Obama nominees.

NBC Rejects Pro-Life Ad Because It's "Political"

NBC has rejected the following ad because it is too "political" and an "advocacy ad." NBC has refused to run it during the Super Bowl. See the story in the Washington Times:



The ad was produced by CatholicVote.org

The strange thing is that the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA also planned to run an ad. Apparently it was graphic and instead of outright rejecting it, NBC asked for eight (!) edits. PETA refused and NBC is not running the ad.

PETA's ad was obviously issue advocacy just like CatholicVotes--but NBC has a double-standard when it comes to issue ads. If it's liberal, they like it. If it's not, then it's a political ad and they don't do those.

NBC should just admit that it's a shill for liberal causes and be done with it.

Congratulations to Michael Steele, New Chairman of the GOP

Michael Steele, a former lieutenant governor of Maryland, won the vote for the new chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Steele is a conservative African-American and is strongly pro-life. He has been a great friend of the pro-life movement so I am very excited about the prospect of Steele leading the GOP.

Congratulations to Mr. Steele!!

Mexico City Policy

Again, my apologies but I couldn't access my website at school on Friday so I couldn't comment about the executive order reversing Mexico City Policy.

For anyone unfamiliar with Mexico City Policy, MCP was established under President Reagan in Mexico City during UN meetings. The policy was issued by executive order and states that U.S. funds cannot go to groups that perform or promote abortions overseas. Pro-abortion groups call it the "Global Gag Rule."

Funding abortions overseas is a form of Western Imperialism and steps on the sovereignty of nations whose laws may explicitly oppose abortion.

Mexico City Policy was continued under President George H.W. Bush, overturned under Bill Clinton and reestablished under George W. Bush. Contrary to assertions otherwise by some very naive, supposedly pro-life Obama supporters, no one in the know doubted that the very pro-abortion Barack Obama would make this one of his priorities. The pro-life movement fully expected that reversal of the policy would be one of the first pro-abortion acts by the new President Obama.

We just hate to be right.

I know, I know

I had every intention of posting blog entries this past month but we're still working out the kinks involved with my website being available at school so I can write posts during my lunch hour. The site is currently blocked by parental controls and, although I submitted a request, the URL wasn't quite right (my fault!) and it is still not accessible.

In addition, I have to be honest and say that, to some degree, I was off in the corner licking my wounds.

I mean, really, President-I'm-for-FOCA-Obama?

Well, it's a done deal and his proclamation today declaring his support of Roe was not at all surprising. I was just glad that President Bush was able to issue his proclamation declaring January 18, 2009 "Sanctity of Human Life Day." It was the last in a long line of pro-life initiatives, laws, executive orders and proclamations promoted or authored by the Bush White House.

Today, on this 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we will miss having our champion, President George W. Bush, in the White House. God bless you, sir, and God bless the United States.