LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thurssday, April 8, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama Administration Pressures Kenya to Adopt Constitution Legalizing Abortion
• Democrat Won't Halt Hearing on Pro-Abortion Obama Appeals Court Pick Liu
• Obama Supporter Krugman Admits "Death Panels" in Health Care Allow Rationing
• Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Increases, Polls Show GOP Ahead for 2010
• Pro-Life Group Denies All Democrats Endorsement Over Abortion Funding
• Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Official Defends Obama's Pro-Abortion Record
• Bart Stupak May Retire From Congress After Massive Abortion-Health Care Battle
• Tennessee House to Vote on Bill to Opt out of Abortion Funding Under Health Care
• Italian Hospital to Become the First Today to Distribute Dangerous Abortion Drug
• Pro-Life News: Indiana, Arizona, North Carolina, NARAL, Abortion, Health Care
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Obama Administration Pressures Kenya to Adopt Constitution Legalizing Abortion
Nairobi, Kenya (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama wasted little time after his election in promoting abortion abroad by overturning the Mexico City Policy and forcing Americans to pay for abortions and abortion promotion in other nations. Now the Obama administration is attempting to get Kenya to legalize abortion.
As LifeNews.com has reported, the African nation of Kenya saw its parliament approved a draft Constitution that would overturn its historic prohibition on abortions.
Although the draft contains language advocating the right to life for unborn children, it contains a section with a health exception that essentially opens the nation to unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy for any reason.
Before the revised constitution can come into force, it must be approved by popular vote -- expected in July.
While pro-life groups have been working directly with local pro-life advocates in Kenya to urge the nation's residents to reject the proposed constitution when it comes up for a vote, the Obama administration is working for its adoption.
US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger is calling on Kenya's political leaders to rally the people to pass the referendum.
According to the Capital News service, Ranneberger issued a statement praising the Kenya parliament for passing the proposed constitution and urging President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to rally support for it.
The leaders of the coalition government have sent a clear and positive message to the Kenyan people that the implementation of a new Constitution is critical to achieving political reform, the Obama administration official said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Democrat Won't Halt Hearing on Pro-Abortion Obama Appeals Court Pick Liu
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has said he has no plans to delay the hearing on the abortion advocate President Barack Obama selected for an appeals court position. Sen. Patrick Leahy made the decision even though Goodwin Liu failed to complete 117 items on his Senate questionnaire.
As LifeNews.com reported yesterday, Senate Republicans called on Leahy and committee Democrats to delay the hearing because of the lack of a response.
Leahy replied in a statement today, saying At the time of Professor Liu s twice-rescheduled hearing, Committee members will have had more than seven weeks to review the nominee s record, and two weeks to review the materials submitted to the Committee on April 5."
I see no reason to further delay this nominee s opportunity to appear before the Committee and respond to the questions its members may have," he added, chastising Republicans for refusing to "put political rancor aside."
The planned hearing for April 16 will now likely move ahead as planned.
If confirmed by the Senate, Liu would serve on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers pro-life legislation and lawsuits related to California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii and Montana. Full story at LifeNews.com
Obama Supporter Krugman Admits "Death Panels" in Health Care Allow Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Now that President Barack Obama has signed the pro-abortion health care bill into law, a supporter of his has admitted the rationing components in it. During an appearance on ABC's "This Week" Paul Krugman admits some of the concerns that pro-life groups pointed out during the debate.
Krugman claims accurately that the cost/benefit board established over private medicine by the new health care program will be able to impose more or less binding judgments refusing care.
He said these judgments will save a lot of money in the context of treating the elderly and people with disabilities and terminal illnesses.
Krugman also said the panel will prevent treatment that isn't medically useful.
Wesley J. Smith, an author and attorney who is a bioethics watchdog, noticed the interview.
"No, the money won't be taken out of the hide of patients who want physiologically useless treatment, it will come at the lethal cost to patients whose treatment will be refused because it could work, based on the invidious judgment that the patient s life is not worth the money to support," he said in response. Full story at LifeNews.com
Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Increases, Polls Show GOP Ahead for 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Several new polls out today show opposition to the pro-abortion health care bill President Barack Obama signed into law increasing. Meanwhile, they show that opposition is making it so Republicans have a distinct advantage over Democrats heading into the November mid-term elections.
A new Pollster compilation of polls finds a 51.1 percent majority oppose the pro-abortion health care bill while just 39.9 percent support it.
The spread has widened since it passed Congress and Obama signed it.
Philip Klein of the conservative American Spectator says "the idea that once the public becomes aware of the actual details of the bill, they'll like it more, hasn't quite panned out yet."
"Maybe President Obama will be vindicated over time. But at the very minimum, we can say for now that passage of the law -- and the triumphant media coverage that followed -- has not made a dent in the overwhelming public opposition to the bill, and actually made it worse," he observed.
In the wake of the strong public opposition to the pro-abortion health care bill, Republicans, who generally tend to be pro-life, are ahead of Democrats, who trend pro-abortion, in the coming congressional elections. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Group Denies All Democrats Endorsement Over Abortion Funding
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- A statewide pro-life group in Indiana has set a national precedent by adopting a new policy resolution denying its endorsement to any Democrats. With three Democratic members of Congress once considered pro-life Democrats voting for the pro-abortion health care bill, Indiana Right to Life is striking back.
The Indiana Right to Life political action committee informed LifeNews.com today that it formally adopted a resolution denying endorsements to all Democratic candidates as a direct result of recent passage of the bill.
Indiana congressmen Brad Ellsworth, Joe Donnelly, and Baron Hill all joined Congressman Bart Stupak in voting for the bill despite their stated opposition to abortion and requiring taxpayers to finance abortions.
"Our leadership anguished over this decision," Indiana Right to Life director Mike Fichter told LifeNews.com.
"Had Democrats like Brad Ellsworth held firm in opposing federal funding for abortion in the health care bill, we likely would have rewarded such action with a bipartisan endorsement policy," he said. "Ellsworth's collapse under pressure from the White House and Speaker Pelosi, as well as the collapse of his colleagues Joe Donnelly and Baron Hill, leaves us with no alternative." Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Official Defends Obama's Pro-Abortion Record
by Deal Hudson
"The president is not pro-abortion, the president is pro-choice. I think they are two very different things." This is a mantra we often hear from Catholics who support pro-abortion politicians, but this time they were uttered in support of President Obama.
The words came from Sr. Anita Baird, the founding director of the Office of Racial Justice at the Archdiocese of Chicago.
She was being interviewed by Kathleen Gilbert on the upcoming event honoring Chicago priest, Fr. Michael Pfleger, publicly announced Obama was "the best thing to come across the political scene since Bobby Kennedy." He was serving at the time as a volunteer adviser to the Obama campaign and a member of the Catholics for Obama Committee.
Cardinal George, Pfleger's ordinary in Chicago, suspended him from his parish for two weeks after his outburst praising Obama. Sr. Baird told LifeSiteNews.com Fr. Pfleger's public support for Obama was "not an issue here," since he had served a two-week suspension from his parish, St. Sabina's.
One wonders whether Fr. Pfleger's fondness for Obama "is not an issue" in the Archdiocese of Chicago simply because he accepted his punishment for endorsing a candidate publicly in violation of the Church's non-status. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Bart Stupak May Retire From Congress After Massive Abortion-Health Care Battle
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Bart Stupak, the formerly respected pro-life Democratic leader from Michigan, is reportedly considering retiring from Congress. Stupak is said to be so exhausted, along with his family, from the bruising repercussions of the abortion and health care debate he may consider quitting. Stupak had been holding his finger in the dam for months standing with several pro-life Democrats against the health care bill and its massive abortion funding.
But when he and a few of his colleagues decided to trade their votes for an executive order from President Barack Obama that claims to stop abortion funding but doesn't, Stupak incurred the wrath of the pro-life movement.
Now, MSNBC reports Stupak may be on the brink of calling it quits.
"The Democrat best known this year as the Democrat who delivered the winning margin of votes for the president's health-care reform bill is said to be simply exhausted. The criticism he received -- first from the left, and then from the right -- has worn him and his family out," the television news station reports. "And if he had to make the decision now, he'd probably not run." Full story at LifeNews.com
Tennessee House to Vote on Bill to Opt out of Abortion Funding Under Health Care
Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- The Tennessee state House on Thursday will vote on a bill that would have the state opt out of using state tax money to pay for abortions in state health care exchanges. The bill responds to the federal legislation Congress approved and President Barack Obama signed into law.
The state pro-life bill is sponsored in the House by state Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough.
"The state has to take action on it to opt ourselves out of it so our tax money isn't used for (abortion), he said previously. I feel it is extremely necessary because ... we can continue to ensure our Tennessee tax money does not go to fund abortions at the federal level."
The legislation has the support of Tennessee Right to Life.
"House Bill 2681 would keep our state from being forced to pay for abortion services through the new federal health care exchange program," the group told LifeNews.com today. "This will help protect our tax dollars but most importantly it will help protect many women from pain of abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
Italian Hospital to Become the First Today to Distribute Dangerous Abortion Drug
Bari, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- An Italian hospital in this city is expected to become the first in the nation to distribute the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug that has potentially killed 30 women. The decision came after regional government officials in three locales said they would not allow the abortion drugs to be disseminated.
Doctors at Bari's Policlinic Hospital have said they accepted 10 boxes of the abortion drugs and they already have a 25-year-old woman ready to subject herself and her unborn child to them.
The drug, also known as known as mifepristone, was supposed to be available last week at hospitals but some officials and the Catholic Church were opposed.
The implementation of the new regulations allowing the abortion drug will move forward as pro-abortion doctors meet to implement them.
"Next week there will be a meeting of gynaecologists who do not object to the RU 486 pill to lay down guidelines for its correct use," the southern Puglia region's health counselor, Tommaso Fiore, told Adnkronos. "It's not up to politicians to decide such issues." Full story at LifeNews.com
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Pro-Life News: Indiana, Arizona, North Carolina, NARAL, Abortion, Health Care
Indiana Becomes Latest State to File Lawsuit Against Pro-Abortion Health Care
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) -- Indiana became the latest state to file a lawsuit against the new pro-abortion health care program President Barack Obama signed into law. The state's Republican attorney general, Greg Zoeller, said Sunday on Fox News that Indiana would join several other states in filing suit.
NARAL Endorses Pro-Abortion Congressional Candidates for 2010 Elections
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The national pro-abortion group NARAL announced its political action committee's latest round of endorsements focuses on five candidates in key House races where it thinks it can pick up pro-abortion seats.
Pro-Life Group Susan B. Anthony List Endorses Sue Myrick in North Carolina
Raleigh, NC (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-life women's group Susan B. Anthony List has issued an endorsement for Rep. Sue Myrick in her campaign to defend her North Carolina congressional seat. Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser commented on the endorsement.
Arizona Right to Life Backs David Schweikert for GOP Congressional Primary
Phoenix, AZ (LifeNews.com) -- The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee today announced its endorsement of David Schweikert in the Republican Primary for the fifth congressional district seat. The pro-life group said its PAC endorsed Schweikert "based on his strong pro-life voting record while in the Arizona legislature along with a long history of support and involvement in the pro-life movement."
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