Second Recent Poll Shows President Barack Obama's Approval Rating at New Low
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The second recent poll within a week is showing pro-abortion President Barack Obama's approval rating at a new low since he took over the White House. Rasmussen has Obama's approval rating dipping down and he also saw new lows in a recent survey conducted by the respected Gallup polling firm. The Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll for Monday revels a very divided public assessment of Obama's track record and his lowest showing what it calls a Presidential Approval Index rating. The poll shows that 33 percent of Americans now strongly approve of Obama's performance but that is offset by the 34 percent of Americans who strongly disapprove. That gives Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of negative one as the rating tracks how Americans with the most intense feelings one way or the other feel about Obama's job approval. Overall, 54% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance so far, according to the Rasmussen survey, while 45 percent disapprove. Among those who are politically liberal, 64 percent strongly approve, 40 percent of moderates strongly approve while 61 percent of conservatives strongly disapprove. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The second recent poll within a week is showing pro-abortion President Barack Obama's approval rating at a new low since he took over the White House. Rasmussen has Obama's approval rating dipping down and he also saw new lows in a recent survey conducted by the respected Gallup polling firm. The Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll for Monday revels a very divided public assessment of Obama's track record and his lowest showing what it calls a Presidential Approval Index rating. The poll shows that 33 percent of Americans now strongly approve of Obama's performance but that is offset by the 34 percent of Americans who strongly disapprove. That gives Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of negative one as the rating tracks how Americans with the most intense feelings one way or the other feel about Obama's job approval. Overall, 54% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance so far, according to the Rasmussen survey, while 45 percent disapprove. Among those who are politically liberal, 64 percent strongly approve, 40 percent of moderates strongly approve while 61 percent of conservatives strongly disapprove. Full story at LifeNews.comSenate GOP Sees Little Reason for Big Anti-Sotomayor Push, Pro-Life Groups Do
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In new interviews, leading Senate Republicans say they are seeing little reason for an all-out campaign against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. However, top pro-life advocates say more evidence is cropping up showing how Sotomayor will be a solid abortion advocate on the high court. A handful of senators spoke with Politico and said they're not seeing the same level of opposition or fervor related to Sotomayor as the opposition Democrats produced when the Senate considered John Roberts or Samuel Alito. “She doesn't have the punch out there in terms of fundraising and recruiting, I think — at least so far,” pro-life Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said. Thune said the response has been muted in part because Sotomayor is replacing pro-abortion Justice David Souter and not one of the pro-life members of the Supreme Court. “When one of the conservatives leaves the court, then I think you'll have a huge fight, and I think that will be very galvanizing,” Thune said. However, pro-life advocates are beginning to ramp up their opposition to Sotomayor, especially with the latest information showing her pro-abortion credentials. Americans United for Life has launched a new campaign called “Worse Than Souter” that seeks to persuade members of the Senate to oppose her nomination. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In new interviews, leading Senate Republicans say they are seeing little reason for an all-out campaign against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. However, top pro-life advocates say more evidence is cropping up showing how Sotomayor will be a solid abortion advocate on the high court. A handful of senators spoke with Politico and said they're not seeing the same level of opposition or fervor related to Sotomayor as the opposition Democrats produced when the Senate considered John Roberts or Samuel Alito. “She doesn't have the punch out there in terms of fundraising and recruiting, I think — at least so far,” pro-life Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said. Thune said the response has been muted in part because Sotomayor is replacing pro-abortion Justice David Souter and not one of the pro-life members of the Supreme Court. “When one of the conservatives leaves the court, then I think you'll have a huge fight, and I think that will be very galvanizing,” Thune said. However, pro-life advocates are beginning to ramp up their opposition to Sotomayor, especially with the latest information showing her pro-abortion credentials. Americans United for Life has launched a new campaign called “Worse Than Souter” that seeks to persuade members of the Senate to oppose her nomination. Full story at LifeNews.comObama Scraps President's Bioethics Council After Forcing Embryonic Tax-Funding
by Dr. David Prentice
The President's Council on Bioethics is no more. With a one-day notice, the members were told in a letter from the President that their services were no longer required. Pack up, get out. Forget the fact that they had a couple of interesting reports coming out soon, one more meeting, and that the Council's tenure would expire come this September. Peter Lawler, member of the now-defunct Council, notes that he is reassured when the letter states that "President Obama recognizes the value of having a commission composed of experts on bioethical issues to provide objective and non-ideological advice to his Administration." Maybe it's because the President wants to change to bioethics. Maybe it's because he's smarting a bit because, when he issued his new executive order opening the door to more human embryo research and cloning, 10 of the 18 current Council members criticized his new policy. But a more likely reason is that he needs a philosophical, well-stacked bioethics rubber stamp. The National Institutes of Health, as directed by the President, is crafting new guidelines for federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research. After a short period soliciting comments on their proposed guidelines, they are scheduled to release the final guidelines no later than July 7. It would be embarrassing to have another round of criticism from an existing "President's Council." Better to show them the door. Full story at LifeNews.comSenate Committee Defeats Pro-Life Amendment to Stop Health Care Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate HELP Committee on Monday defeated a pro-life amendment that would help stop the rationing of health care in the Kennedy restructuring bill. The amendment concerned the section on comparative effectiveness research, which pro-life advocates say prompt euthanasia concerns. Critics say the section would allow the government to create an arbitrary means to determining when medical treatments are allowed or could receive government funding. Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, sponsored a pair of amendments to curb the problem but they were defeated during the HELP Committee markup of the Kennedy bill by a party-line vote. "President Obama promised that under his health reform proposal, every American who had coverage that they liked could keep it. This bill fails to deliver on that promise," Enzi said. Enzi said the provisions in the bill "provide the government with an unprecedented role in the doctor-patient relationship. Government bureaucracy will end up dictating the treatment that we can and cannot have, and the result will be a delay and a denial of health care services." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate HELP Committee on Monday defeated a pro-life amendment that would help stop the rationing of health care in the Kennedy restructuring bill. The amendment concerned the section on comparative effectiveness research, which pro-life advocates say prompt euthanasia concerns. Critics say the section would allow the government to create an arbitrary means to determining when medical treatments are allowed or could receive government funding. Sen. Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, sponsored a pair of amendments to curb the problem but they were defeated during the HELP Committee markup of the Kennedy bill by a party-line vote. "President Obama promised that under his health reform proposal, every American who had coverage that they liked could keep it. This bill fails to deliver on that promise," Enzi said. Enzi said the provisions in the bill "provide the government with an unprecedented role in the doctor-patient relationship. Government bureaucracy will end up dictating the treatment that we can and cannot have, and the result will be a delay and a denial of health care services." Full story at LifeNews.comACTION: Go to http://help.senate.gov/About.
National Catholic Bishops Back Pro-Life Bishop D'Arcy Over Notre Dame Scandal
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops on Monday issued a strong statement supporting Bishop John D’Arcy, who publicly opposed the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor pro-abortion President Barack Obama and allow him to give the college's commencement address. In March, the northern Indiana Catholic leadersaid he would not attend the Catholic college's commencement because it invited such a strong abortion advocate and would give him an honorary degree. "The bishops of the United States express our appreciation and support for our brother bishop, the Most Reverend John D'Arcy," the statement reads. "We affirm his pastoral concern for Notre Dame University, his solicitude for its Catholic identity, and his loving care for all those the Lord has given him to sanctify, to teach and to shepherd," it adds. The bishops expressed their appreciation for Bishop D'Arcy during their spring General Assembly, June 17-19, saying they "expressed their solidarity" with his handling of the scandal and noting his "care and concern for the University of Notre Dame," which resides in his diocese. Full story at LifeNews.com
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops on Monday issued a strong statement supporting Bishop John D’Arcy, who publicly opposed the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor pro-abortion President Barack Obama and allow him to give the college's commencement address. In March, the northern Indiana Catholic leadersaid he would not attend the Catholic college's commencement because it invited such a strong abortion advocate and would give him an honorary degree. "The bishops of the United States express our appreciation and support for our brother bishop, the Most Reverend John D'Arcy," the statement reads. "We affirm his pastoral concern for Notre Dame University, his solicitude for its Catholic identity, and his loving care for all those the Lord has given him to sanctify, to teach and to shepherd," it adds. The bishops expressed their appreciation for Bishop D'Arcy during their spring General Assembly, June 17-19, saying they "expressed their solidarity" with his handling of the scandal and noting his "care and concern for the University of Notre Dame," which resides in his diocese. Full story at LifeNews.comChris Smith Motivates Pro-Life Advocates, Tags Obama's Abortion Record at NRLC
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Chris Smith, the pro-life hero from New Jersey, gave a rousing speech at the closing banquet of the National Right to Life convention Saturday night. During his talk, which was delayed by a lengthy standing ovation, he encouraged pro-life advocates and tagged President Obama's pro-abortion record. Smith, who came out of the pro-life movement as the director of New Jersey Right to Life, to become a well-respected congressman, says the pro-life community is a "selfless expression of love for the truth." Concerning Obama, Smith repeatedly called him the "abortion president" and said it is "an ominous cloud, the pro-abortion agenda he has unleashed.""President Obama talks inclusion but he practices exclusion," Smith explained, saying "the White House is a subsidiary of the abortion industry." Obama "has done much harm and is capable of inflicting much more." While Obama has talked about supposed common ground on the issue of abortion, Smith says "common ground is a snare for the nominally and gullibly pro-life" and that common ground "means giving more money to Planned Parenthood, which has done millions of abortions to date." Full story at LifeNews.com
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Chris Smith, the pro-life hero from New Jersey, gave a rousing speech at the closing banquet of the National Right to Life convention Saturday night. During his talk, which was delayed by a lengthy standing ovation, he encouraged pro-life advocates and tagged President Obama's pro-abortion record. Smith, who came out of the pro-life movement as the director of New Jersey Right to Life, to become a well-respected congressman, says the pro-life community is a "selfless expression of love for the truth." Concerning Obama, Smith repeatedly called him the "abortion president" and said it is "an ominous cloud, the pro-abortion agenda he has unleashed.""President Obama talks inclusion but he practices exclusion," Smith explained, saying "the White House is a subsidiary of the abortion industry." Obama "has done much harm and is capable of inflicting much more." While Obama has talked about supposed common ground on the issue of abortion, Smith says "common ground is a snare for the nominally and gullibly pro-life" and that common ground "means giving more money to Planned Parenthood, which has done millions of abortions to date." Full story at LifeNews.comMike Huckabee Blasts False Notion That Common Ground Exists in Abortion Debate
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In an interview with Jon Stewart of the "Daily Show" on Comedy Central last week, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee blasted the false notion that common ground exists in the abortion debate. The notion that there is common ground on killing children and hurting women has been repeatedly taken to task by pro-life advocates. Huckabee said that abortion advocates don't want to give an inch in the abortion debate by accepting even modest limits on abortion such as parental notification, which would allow parents to know when their daughters are considering the life-altering decision. Huckabee added that there can be no common ground on abortion just as there was no common ground on the issue of slavery. "I think one of the fundamental questions that we would have to come to is does a person have a right to own another person. That really is the issue. Can a person own another person? Can a mother totally own the child? Can the father totally own the child?" he asked. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In an interview with Jon Stewart of the "Daily Show" on Comedy Central last week, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee blasted the false notion that common ground exists in the abortion debate. The notion that there is common ground on killing children and hurting women has been repeatedly taken to task by pro-life advocates. Huckabee said that abortion advocates don't want to give an inch in the abortion debate by accepting even modest limits on abortion such as parental notification, which would allow parents to know when their daughters are considering the life-altering decision. Huckabee added that there can be no common ground on abortion just as there was no common ground on the issue of slavery. "I think one of the fundamental questions that we would have to come to is does a person have a right to own another person. That really is the issue. Can a person own another person? Can a mother totally own the child? Can the father totally own the child?" he asked. Full story at LifeNews.comPrayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life outreach has started a new prayer campaign hoping for the conversion of pro-abortion Catholic politicians to the pro-life perspective. The web site and outreach OneNationUnderGod is starting the effort today, the feast day of St. Thomas More. Pope John Paul II proclaimed More the patron saint of statesmen and politicians, so June 22 appears to be an appropriate time for prayer for Cahtolic lawmakers who deviate from the Catholic Church's longstanding pro-life teachings. Lisa Correnti talked with LifeNews.com about the new effort. "In the 1995 encyclical Evangelium vitae, John Paul II reiterates what the Catholic Church has always taught: that lawmakers have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that contradicts humanity's fundamental right to life," she explained. "Months ago, we discovered that 50 percent of Catholic politicians serving in the 111th Congress have accepted large donations from pro-abortion lobby groups while reinforcing their support for abortion rights legislation," she added. "These elected officials are deeply confused about Catholic teaching on the morality of abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life outreach has started a new prayer campaign hoping for the conversion of pro-abortion Catholic politicians to the pro-life perspective. The web site and outreach OneNationUnderGod is starting the effort today, the feast day of St. Thomas More. Pope John Paul II proclaimed More the patron saint of statesmen and politicians, so June 22 appears to be an appropriate time for prayer for Cahtolic lawmakers who deviate from the Catholic Church's longstanding pro-life teachings. Lisa Correnti talked with LifeNews.com about the new effort. "In the 1995 encyclical Evangelium vitae, John Paul II reiterates what the Catholic Church has always taught: that lawmakers have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that contradicts humanity's fundamental right to life," she explained. "Months ago, we discovered that 50 percent of Catholic politicians serving in the 111th Congress have accepted large donations from pro-abortion lobby groups while reinforcing their support for abortion rights legislation," she added. "These elected officials are deeply confused about Catholic teaching on the morality of abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com| Looking for a Pro-Life Speaker? |
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Marie Stopes International Global "Safe Abortion" Conference Risks Women's Lives
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A year-and-a-half after the "Global 'Safe Abortion'" conference took place in London, abortion advocates Marie Stopes International and Ipas just released the conference report detailing the abortion movement's worldwide strategy. While organizers claimed that the primary objective of the conference was to "save women's lives and reduce maternal mortality," the report reveals that participants prioritized a so-called "right" to "safe and legal abortion" above all else – dismissing any evidence of its harmful effects on women and even denying the right of conscientious medical professionals to object to participating in abortions. The 800 conference participants, culled from the world's major abortion advocacy groups, crafted and signed the "Global Call to Action for Women’s Access to Safe Abortion" demanding that women everywhere "have full access to legal, voluntary, safe, and affordable abortions as part of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care." Full story at LifeNews.comTeenager From Ohio Wins National Pro-Life Oratory Contest With Abortion Speech
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- A teenager from Ohio won the national pro-life oratory contest sponsored by the National Right to Life Committee over the weekend. Elizabeth Trisler, after placing first in the statewide contest sponsored by Ohio Right to Life, bested fellow students from more than two dozen states to take home top prize. Trisler competed against students from California to Pennsylvania at the contest at the 37th annual National Right to Life Convention in Charlotte. Students gave memorized speeches of several minutes in length on pro-life topics ranging from abortion to euthanasia to bioethics issues like human cloning and stem cell research. "Abortion means pain, anguish, death," Trisler began in her speech. "This one word holds 50 million silent screams. But, since 1973, it's just becoming a normal word in America, describing a 'quick, harmless procedure' to fix a 'little mistake.'" Full story at LifeNews.com
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- A teenager from Ohio won the national pro-life oratory contest sponsored by the National Right to Life Committee over the weekend. Elizabeth Trisler, after placing first in the statewide contest sponsored by Ohio Right to Life, bested fellow students from more than two dozen states to take home top prize. Trisler competed against students from California to Pennsylvania at the contest at the 37th annual National Right to Life Convention in Charlotte. Students gave memorized speeches of several minutes in length on pro-life topics ranging from abortion to euthanasia to bioethics issues like human cloning and stem cell research. "Abortion means pain, anguish, death," Trisler began in her speech. "This one word holds 50 million silent screams. But, since 1973, it's just becoming a normal word in America, describing a 'quick, harmless procedure' to fix a 'little mistake.'" Full story at LifeNews.comPro-Lifer Advocates Prevail on Abortion at Geneva Human Rights Council Meeting
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC), meeting this month in Geneva, Switzerland, has adopted a resolution on maternal mortality and human rights that relieves concerns pro-lifers had during the early stages of negotiations. The battle over the final text concerned two points: how broad a reference to "sexual and reproductive health" would the document contain, and whether member states would retain oversight over a report on maternal mortality from the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) called for by the resolution. As Patrick Buckley, who covered the Geneva conference on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told the Friday Fax, the reference to "sexual and reproductive health" is qualified by placing it in the context of the right to enjoy "the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health," and does not expand the meaning of the phrase nor create any new rights.Member states have consistently rejected attempts to include a right to abortion within the term "reproductive health." Full story at LifeNews.com
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC), meeting this month in Geneva, Switzerland, has adopted a resolution on maternal mortality and human rights that relieves concerns pro-lifers had during the early stages of negotiations. The battle over the final text concerned two points: how broad a reference to "sexual and reproductive health" would the document contain, and whether member states would retain oversight over a report on maternal mortality from the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) called for by the resolution. As Patrick Buckley, who covered the Geneva conference on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told the Friday Fax, the reference to "sexual and reproductive health" is qualified by placing it in the context of the right to enjoy "the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health," and does not expand the meaning of the phrase nor create any new rights.Member states have consistently rejected attempts to include a right to abortion within the term "reproductive health." Full story at LifeNews.comOhio Gov. Ted Strickland Looks Vulnerable to Challenge From Pro-Life John Kasich
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- New polling data in Ohio shows pro-abortion Gov. Ted Strickland looks vulnerable to a challenge from pro-life former Congressman John Kasich. The potential contest between the two could be one of the marquee races in 2010 and would be one with clear contrast on pro-life issues like abortion. A new survey conducted by the Public Policy Polling firm shows Strickland holding only a 44 percent to 42 percent lead with 14 percent undecided when asked about the potential race. The PPP survey shows the pro-abortion governor with a narrow 43-42 percent approval-disapproval rating with 15 percent undecided. Kasich has a similar 31 percent to 30 percent approval rating but has the potential to reach voters given that 39 percent are undecided. Many Ohio voters don't know him because he served in the House and did not have an opportunity to connect with all state residents. The survey also found Strickland receives just a 70 percent approval rating from Democrats, a drop from 62 percent in the most recent PPP survey, and Republican disapproval of his performance has risen from 59 percent earlier this year to 72 percent. Full story at LifeNews.com
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- New polling data in Ohio shows pro-abortion Gov. Ted Strickland looks vulnerable to a challenge from pro-life former Congressman John Kasich. The potential contest between the two could be one of the marquee races in 2010 and would be one with clear contrast on pro-life issues like abortion. A new survey conducted by the Public Policy Polling firm shows Strickland holding only a 44 percent to 42 percent lead with 14 percent undecided when asked about the potential race. The PPP survey shows the pro-abortion governor with a narrow 43-42 percent approval-disapproval rating with 15 percent undecided. Kasich has a similar 31 percent to 30 percent approval rating but has the potential to reach voters given that 39 percent are undecided. Many Ohio voters don't know him because he served in the House and did not have an opportunity to connect with all state residents. The survey also found Strickland receives just a 70 percent approval rating from Democrats, a drop from 62 percent in the most recent PPP survey, and Republican disapproval of his performance has risen from 59 percent earlier this year to 72 percent. Full story at LifeNews.comEncourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
