LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama 2010 Election Video Rallies Blacks, Hispanics, Youth; But They're Pro-Life
• Pro-Abortion Gov. Granholm: Obama Should Seek Non-Judge for Supreme Court
• Governor Brewer Makes Arizona First to Drop Abortion Funding in Health Care
• Britain Issues Apology to Pope Benedict Over Memo on Abortion, Condoms
• Georgia NAACP Withdraws Support for Bill Stopping Abortions Based on Race
• Candidate Blasts Pro-Lifers at Indiana Tea Party Event, Loses Endorsement
• Claims Questioned On Vaccines Using Cells From Abortion Leading to Autism
• Oklahoma House Votes to Override Veto of Ultrasound Before Abortion Bill
• Minnesota Democrats Back Pro-Abortion Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor
• Aurora, Illinois Officials Continue Battling Pro-Life Group Over Abortion Business
• New Jersey School Shouldn't Have Barred Student From Pro-Life Event Court Says
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Obama 2010 Election Video Rallies Blacks, Hispanics, Youth; But They're Pro-Life
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has recorded a new video Democrats are using to launch their 2010 election efforts and to mobilize key constituencies. Obama says he wants to reconnect with black, Hispanic and young adult voters but those pro-life groups all may be turned off by Obama's pro-abortion record.
The Democratic National Committee released the video this morning, which shows Obama talking up the goal of "reconnecting" with voters.
He specifically wants to reach out to those who voted for the first time in the 2008 presidential election. Obama mentions a coalition of "young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 [to] stand together once again."
"A few months ago, we asked you to help us set our priorities for 2010, and let us know how you thought we could win elections at all levels of government," Obama says. "You told us your first priority was to make sure the same people who were inspired to vote for the first time in 2008 go back to the polls in 2010. So that's what we're going to do."
In the video, Obama touts his signing of the new government-run health care bill that contains massive taxpayer funding of abortions.
However, some of the voters who supported Obama in 2008 may be turned off by him and his pro-abortion colleagues in Congress because of the pro-abortion health care bill and his abortion record -- and some polls are already showing that's the case.
A recent Rasmussen Reports poll finds support for repeal of the recently-passed national health care plan is proving to be just as consistent as opposition to the plan before it was passed. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Gov. Granholm: Obama Should Seek Non-Judge for Supreme Court
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, who is said to be on the short list of potential Supreme Court nominees, tooted her own horn a bit over the weekend. She said pro-abortion President Barack Obama should consider naming someone who is not currently a judge to the high court vacancy.
Obama reportedly has a list of about 10 people he is considering to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens.
The list includes Judges Diane Wood of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Merrick Garland of the United States Court of Appeals for the District Circuit.
But it also includes people like Granholm, pro-abortion Solicitor General Elena Kagan, pro-abortion Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and Martha Minow, dean of Harvard Law School.
In an interview that aired Sunday on CNN s State of the Union program, Granholm said I think it's a very wise move to consider experience that is not just from the judicial monastery."
And, you know, for somebody to experience and see what everyday people are feeling and experiencing out there, I think is an important thing to consider, Granholm added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Governor Brewer Makes Arizona First to Drop Abortion Funding in Health Care
Phoenix, AZ (LifeNews.com) -- State legislators in Tennessee may have beaten their colleagues in Arizona in passing a law to allow the state to opt out of some of the abortion funding in the government-run health care bill President Barack Obama signed. But Governor Jan Brewer made Arizona officially the first to have the bill become law.
As pro-life advocates in Tennessee wait for Governor Bredesen to decide if he will sign the bill there into law, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer wasted little time signing her state's version.
On Saturday at the Center for Arizona Policy Family dinner before 1600 guests, Brewer signed SB 1305 to opt Arizona out of abortion coverage in any insurance exchanges created by the new federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The first-in-the-nation law further clarifies current Arizona law prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion by prohibiting state and local governments from offering abortion insurance coverage in employee benefit plans.
Arizonans, like most Americans, do not want their tax dollars paying for elective abortions, said Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod. With this new law, Arizona is leading the charge to protect our right not to pay for abortions, a procedure most find morally reprehensible. Full story at LifeNews.com
Britain Issues Apology to Pope Benedict Over Memo on Abortion, Condoms
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Britain's foreign ministry hastily apologized to Pope Benedict XVI after the publication of an embarrassing internal memo. The memo saw a junior British official joking that, during an upcoming visit, the Pope could open an abortion clinic or launch a line of condoms.
The memo was seen by pro-life advocates as the latest example of disrespect aimed at the Catholic Church.
The document became public knowledge when it was leaked to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper and it also included proposals for Pope Benedict to bless a gay marriage during his expected visit to England in September.
The newspaper said the ideas, which came in a memo after a "brainstorm" session, were the subject of an apology from Britain's ambassador to the Vatican, who apologized to senior Church officials.
"This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect U.K. government or FCO policy or views," a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said, according to the paper. "Many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful." Full story at LifeNews.com
Georgia NAACP Withdraws Support for Bill Stopping Abortions Based on Race
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- The Georgia chapter of the NAACP has withdrawn its support for a bill advancing in the state legislature that would ban abortions done specifically because the child is African-American. Although the civil rights organization opposes racial discrimination, that apparently doesn't extend to abortions.
The Georgia NAACP had originally endorsed SB 529, which also targets abortions done because the unborn child is a girl.
The Georgia House Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 on Wednesday to support the bill and send it to the Rules Committee, but it now won't have the support of the black group.
Edward DuBose, chapter president, issued a statement withdrawing the support, saying, "Earlier this month, the Georgia NAACP submitted a letter to support Senate Bill 529. We now fully understand the intention of this legislation and wish to retract our support for it."
"At the time, we were of the understanding that this bill would work to benefit the women in our community. However, after many conversations with membership and constituents, we now realize that this is nothing more than using women s health as a political tool," he said, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper. "Women of color in Georgia need more than divisive messages and deserve better access to health care." Full story at LifeNews.com
Candidate Blasts Pro-Lifers at Indiana Tea Party Event, Loses Endorsement
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Indiana Right to Life has withdrawn its endorsement of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Behney after he attacked pro-life advocates at a tea party rally. The conservative activist lost support from the pro-life group's PAC after speaking to an Indianapolis Tea Party event for candidates.
At the event, Behney made the wild accusation that top pro-life leaders are more concerned about themselves than stopping abortions.
"One of the things I'm most disappointed about in running for the United States Senate - I've met many people here - I've met many of these leaders - pro-life leaders - here in our state," Behney said. "And I'm convinced as sure as I'm standing here that they are more concerned with their egos and with their jobs than with saving lives."
Behney didn't give any examples of pro-life groups or leaders to back up his accusations.
Mike Fichter, the chairman of the Indiana Right to Life PAC took exception to Behney's statement.
"Mr. Behney's comment reveals an uninformed and cynical view of what drives Indiana's pro-life leaders to invest their lives in the most selfless of causes by speaking on behalf of unborn children," he told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com
 On April 29th Wisconsin Right to Life will be tweeting LIVE from heir Annual Education Fund Dinner featuring Senator Rick Santorum. Make sure you log onto Twitter and search for #wrtlsantorum after 6:30pm to receive LIVE comments and reactions from former Senator Santorum s keynote address. |
Claims Questioned On Vaccines Using Cells From Abortion Leading to Autism
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Claims from a pro-life organization and pro-life blogger who say a new study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency shows a correlation between the use of cells from babies in abortions in vaccines to an increase in autism rates, are drawing questions and criticism.The study, published in February in the publication Environmental Science & Technology, confirms 1988 as a change point in the rise of Autism Disorder rate.
The 1988 date is significant because that's when the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices added a second dose of the MMR vaccine, containing fetal cells from aborted babies, to its recommendations.
The study found two other change point dates: 1981, two years after MMRII was approved in the United States with fetal cells, and 1995, when the Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute says the chickenpox vaccine using aborted cells was approved.
That led Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League, and pro-life blogger Jill Stanek to suggest there is a link between the use of fetal cells from abortions in vaccines and autism.
But the study's author, Mike McDonald, and others, question that claim.
McDonald responded to an email from the Opposing Views web site, responded to the question and said the claims "incorrectly represent, and far overreach, our study findings." Full story at LifeNews.com
Oklahoma House Votes to Override Veto of Ultrasound Before Abortion Bill
Oklahoma City, OK (LifeNews.com) -- The Oklahoma state House today overrode vetoes by Governor Brad Henry on two pro-life bills. One would allow women considering an abortion to have a chance to view an ultrasound beforehand and the second.
The second bill fosters respect for babies with disabilities by disallowing wrongful-life lawsuits that claim a baby would have been better off being aborted and that a physician should have suggested an abortion.
House members voted 81-14 Monday to override the veto of the ultrasound measure and voted 84-12 to override the veto of the wrongful life lawsuits.
At least 76 votes, or three-quarters of the 101-member House, are needed to override a veto. For the full override to be successful, the state Senate must also sign off on it and senators may vote on Tuesday if they clear other votes on unrelated bills first.
Henry said the first measure would create another expensive battle in the courts and didn't contain an exception for women who would abort their unborn children after a rape or incest. Full story at LifeNews.com
Minnesota Democrats Back Pro-Abortion Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor
St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) -- Minnesota Democrats used their state party convention to select House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher as their gubernatorial candidate. But the head of the state's prominent pro-life organization says Kelliher has a long pro-abortion record and pro-life voters should look elsewhere. Kelliher edged out Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak on the sixth ballot to win the DFL endorsement.
She also enjoys the backing of EMILY s List, the radical pro-abortion group that only supports candidates who back taxpayer funding of abortions and oppose a ban on partial-birth abortions.
Scott Fischbach, the director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, told LifeNews.com over the weekend that "Kelliher has a long history of toeing the line for the radical fringe of the abortion movement."
"She has consistently opposed commonsense limitations on abortion and been a staunch advocate for forcing Minnesota taxpayers to fund abortion, even while opposing aid for pregnant women," he said.
Kelliher has cast 90 pro-abortion votes compared with just one pro-life vote since 1999, MCCL notes. Full story at LifeNews.com
Aurora, Illinois Officials Continue Battling Pro-Life Group Over Abortion Business
Aurora, IL (LifeNews.com) -- Officials in this Illinois city will continue battling a pro-life group at a hearing today where both sides will re-engage in a two-year legal battle over the new massive Planned Parenthood abortion business. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society will appear in court on Monday for a hearing on whether they can proceed in their zoning case.
The legal wrangling regards the opening of the abortion center, which pro-life advocates say was done using the wrong zoning requirements and that others were ignored so the abortion business could be built.
They bought the case against the Planned Parenthood facility, and the Thomas More Society alleges it disregarded zoning laws and violated numerous Aurora laws when it was built in 2007.
The pro-life legal group also claims the City of Aurora continues to refuse to apply the correct zoning ordinance to Planned Parenthood, even after it admitted that its outside attorneys applied the wrong ordinance to the facility during their legal review in September 2008.
The various defendants have filed three separate motions, including motions to dismiss and for summary judgment. Full story at LifeNews.com
| Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com editor Steven Ertelt is a low-cost speaker who can entertain and educate your audience as well as help you with a fundraising pitch if necessary. He can also speak on any pro-life topic. For more information, email news@LifeNews.com. |
New Jersey School Shouldn't Have Barred Student From Pro-Life Event Court Says
Camden, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- A court ruled last Thursday that a New Jersey student should not have been prevented from participating in a national pro-life event along with hundreds of thousands of her peers. A federal court ruled the Bridgeton Board of Education shouldn't have interfered with the Bridgeton High School student.
The student hoped to participate in the sixth annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity, which took place in October.
But, the student was prohibited from participating in the Stand True Ministries-sponsored event by distributing pro-life literature during non-instructional times.
She also wanted to wear a red armband with the word LIFE written on it, but school officials told the student that nothing religious is allowed in public schools. They also feared the student s arm band could cause disruptions.
The Alliance Defense Fund came to the defense of the student and filed a lawsuit, and the district court said the school can't stop students from expressing a religious viewpoint.
Pro-life students shouldn't be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs, ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman told LifeNews.com today. Full stories at LifeNews.com
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