LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, July 29, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Coalition of Pro-Life Groups Tell FDA to Not Approve Ella Abortion Drug
• Congressional Research Service Report: Health Care Bill Allows Abortion Funding
• Judicial Watchdog Wants Elena Kagan Disbarred Over Abortion Distortions
• Jeb Bush Won't Run Against Pro-Abortion Barack Obama, John Thune a Maybe
• New Planned Parenthood Board Members Have Union, Soros, Democrat Ties
• Archbishop: Can't Be Pro-Abortion Catholic, No Communion for Abortion Backers
• Pro-Abortion Senate Leader Reid Now Leads Pro-Life Sharron Angle in Nevada
• Arkansas Abortion Center Where Pro-Lifers Nearly Ran Over Closes Down
• Colorado Senate Race Sees Pro-Life Buck and Norton Still Leading Democrats
• Mary Fallin Wins Oklahoma Governor Primary, Another Pro-Life Woman Advances
• Alaska Planned Parenthood Reworks Ads Against Parental Notification
---> Is your pro-life group or pregnancy center looking for an affordable speaker? Need a speaker for a conference, convention, church presentation or on short notice? Consider LifeNews.com Editor Steven Ertelt. Email us for details.
Coalition of Pro-Life Groups Tell FDA to Not Approve Ella Abortion Drug
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of pro-life groups is sending a letter to the FDA and Drug Administration asking it to not approve the new abortion drug Ella that backers have mislabeled as a morning after pill. The drug works days after conception to essentially cause an abortion of a unique human being.
In June, the FDA Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs gave its approval to the early abortion drug on two 11-0 votes.
The panel said the "investigational emergency contraceptive pill" known as ulipristal, that would potentially be sold under the name ella in the United States, is safe and effective at preventing pregnancy.
Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America has organized the Ella Causes Abortions coalition -- a collection of national pro-life groups and leaders (LifeNews.com is also a member) designed to inform the FDA, lawmakers, and the public that ella acts as an abortion drug and not a contraceptive.
Make no mistake about it, ella is a dangerous abortion drug. The FDA advisory panel which approved it for sale within the U.S. has not done its job protecting women and is planning on intentionally misleading women by calling ella a mere contraceptive," Hawkins told LifeNews.com today.
She said she hopes the coalition "will help educate Americans about ella and encourage the FDA Commissioner not to give final approval for the new abortion drug. Full story at LifeNews.com
Congressional Research Service Report: Health Care Bill Allows Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Congressional Research Service has released a new report verifying the analysis the pro-life movement gave about the national health care bill President Barack Obama signed into law. The CRS report affirms the national health care program will contain abortion funding despite protests to the contrary.
The report indicates one of the provisions of the ObamaCare law allowing abortion funding is the one setting up new health insurance exchanges by 2014.
Before those go into effect, states are setting up state-based high risk health insurance pools operated with federal funds to cover people with pre-existing conditions who may not otherwise qualify for most health care plans.
The CRS report indicates the supposed limits on taxpayer funding of abortions "would not appear to apply specifically to the funds made available for high risk pools by section 1101."
The report concurs with what pro-life groups have said throughout the debate, namely that the executive order Obama issued that supposedly prevents taxpayer funding of abortions does not sufficiently do so. The order, CRS said, "does not specifically address high risk pools and the funds provided under section 1101 of (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)."
Further, the report says the Health and Human Services department is responsible for promulgating the guidelines the high risk health insurance pools but the guidelines issued to date "neither explicitly provide the authority to cover elective abortions with federal funds, nor do they specifically prohibit the use of federal funds." Full story at LifeNews.com
Judicial Watchdog Wants Elena Kagan Disbarred Over Abortion Distortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Larry Klayman, the judicial watchdog who is the founder of Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch USA, says he is filing papers to have Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan disbarred. He says he wants to see that happen because he believes Kagan misled the Senate Judiciary Committee during her hearings.
Klayman agrees with pro-life groups that say Kagan was not forthright when she downplayed the extent to which she lobbied two medical organizations to change their opinion on when partial-birth abortions are medically necessary.
Kagan's lobbying resulted in the Supreme Court, in a case striking down state partial-birth abortion bans, eventually relying on the opinion of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that, after Kagan's prodding, changed its opinion to say some abortions may be medically indicated.
Yet, during the confirmation hearings, Kagan dismissed questions about memos she wrote during the Clinton administration, saying "My only dealings with ACOG were about talking with them about how to ensure that their statement expressed their views."
Klayman told WorldNetDaily he plans to file an ethics complaint to get Kagan disbarred from practicing before the Supreme Court and possibly subjected to criminal prosecution.
He says Kagan's testimony represents "conspiracy to defraud the Supreme Court." Full story at LifeNews.com
Jeb Bush Won't Run Against Pro-Abortion Barack Obama, John Thune a Maybe
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When pro-life voters look for a candidate to run against pro-abortion President Barack Obama in 2012, pro-life former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will not be one of their choices. On the other hand, they may be able to consider pro-life South Dakota Sen. John Thune.
Although speculation has continued to focus on whether Bush would follow the trail of his father and brother by mounting a White House bid, he told a television reporter he is not a candidate.
"I am not running for president," he told a Kentucky television station while in the state campaigning for pro-life Senate candidate Rand Paul.
He followed up the comment with an email to the Wall St. Journal, in which he said he didn't know why speculation has increased in recent months because he has said consistently since leaving his Florida post in 2007 that he is not interested.
I haven't a clue. I have not been running for a while and answer the question the same way every time," he said.
Meanwhile, Sen. John Thune, who some political observers say looks the part of a future president and who has been actively helping candidates for other offices given his automatic re-election bid, is keeping his 2012 options open. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Planned Parenthood Board Members Have Union, Soros, Democrat Ties
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business, has added five new board members of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, its political arm. The new members have curious ties to unions, left-wing billionaire George Soros, and the Democratic Party.
The new members include names that people intimately involved in the abortion debate may not know, but they are heavy hitters that link the abortion business to key political players.
One of the top Planned Parenthood recruits is Michael Vachon, an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University s School of International and Public Affairs who is an advisor to billionaire left-wing political activist George Soros.
Minyon Moore heads the state and local affairs practice at the Dewey Square Group but she is also the former CEO of the Democratic National Committee and was an assistant to pro-abortion President Bill Clinton as director of White House Political Affairs.
Irma Esparza is the chief of staff for Washington, D.C. councilmember Kwame Brown but she was previously associated with the labor union AFSCME. Full story at LifeNews.com
Archbishop: Can't Be Pro-Abortion Catholic, No Communion for Abortion Backers
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The head of the Archdiocese of St. Louis says it is "clear and unambiguous" that Catholics who want to remain in good standing with the Church can't support abortion. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson also says those who support legalized abortion should voluntarily opt out of receiving community.
In an opinion column he wrote for the St. Louis Review, Carlson says the Catholic Church takes very seriously violations of the Fifth Commandment, and that abortion is a violation of it.
"Since the first century, the Church has addressed the moral evil of abortion and the killing of a defenseless baby in the womb. People who are casual about the sin of abortion and who choose to view it as a political issue rather than the serious moral issue that it is are guilty of violating the Fifth Commandment," he says.
"You cannot be 'pro-choice' (pro-abortion) and remain a Catholic in good standing," he added. "That's why the Church asks those who maintain this position not to receive holy Communion."
Carlson says that request of abortion backers to refrain from receiving the sacrament is not "mean or judgmental" but the Catholic Church is "simply acknowledging the fact that such a stance is objectively and seriously sinful and is radically inconsistent with the Christian way of life. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Senate Leader Reid Now Leads Pro-Life Sharron Angle in Nevada
Carson City, NV (LifeNews.com) -- Harry Reid, the pro-abortion leader of the Democrats in the Senate, now leads pro-life Senate candidate Sharron Angle in Nevada. Following her primary election victory, Angle cruised out to a sizable lead over Reid, but now a new Rasmussen Reports poll finds Angle trailing.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Nevada finds Reid with 45% of the vote, while Angle earns 43% support. Seven percent favor another candidate while four percent are undecided.
The problem for both candidates is a large percentage of Nevada voters have negative views of them -- with 48% of the state s voters having a very unfavorable view of Reid and 40 percent saying the same thing about Angle.
Overall, 55% have at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of Reid and 56% view Angle at least somewhat unfavorably.
Sixty-two percent describe the longtime Democratic senator as a liberal, and 50% characterize his views as extreme, but Angle fares no better. She is seen as a conservative by 81% of the state s voters and 58 percent say she holds extreme views.
"Not surprisingly, Democrats tend to see Reid s views as mainstream and Angle s views as extreme. Republicans hold the opposite perspective. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 55% consider Reid s views extreme while 52% say the same about Angle," pollster Scott Rasmussen noted. Full story at LifeNews.com
Arkansas Abortion Center Where Pro-Lifers Nearly Ran Over Closes Down
Fayetteville, AR (LifeNews.com) -- The Fayetteville Women's Clinic abortion business located in this northwest Arkansas city that is the home of the University of Arkansas is closing down. The abortion facility is the site of an incident that saw a man attempt to run over pro-life advocates outside the building with his vehicle.
According to news reports, the Fayetteville Women's Clinic will be closing its doors at the end of the month as the owner has announced his retirement.
"This will be the sixth abortion center at a location where 40 Days for Life's peaceful prayer vigils have been conducted to go out of business," said Shawn Carney, the campaign director of 40 Days for Life, a national pro-life event.
"It is truly an answer to prayer that abortions will no longer be carried out at this facility," he told LifeNews.com.
The announcement comes as 40 Days for Life is accepting applications to host 40-day campaigns of prayer, fasting, vigil and outreach this fall from September 22 to October 31. This will be the seventh coordinated campaign.
Juliet Cassell, Fayetteville coordinator for 40 Days for Life, responded to the closing, saying, "We rejoice over the babies that will be saved and the parents who will be spared from a lifetime of regret." Full story at LifeNews.com
Colorado Senate Race Sees Pro-Life Buck and Norton Still Leading Democrats
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- Ken Buck and Jane Norton, the two Republican candidates vying for the primary nod against Sen. Michael Bennet or his Democratic challenger Andrew Romanoff, both still have leads against both candidates. A Rasmussen Reports poll shows Buck doing better against Romanoff but Norton faring better against Bennet. Buck now earns 48% support against both Democratic contenders -- with a 48-42 percentage point lead against either candidate.
Norton does better than Buck in the matchup with the pro-abortion incumbent, leading 48-39 percent, but she has a lower lead against Romanoff than Buck, at 44-40 percent.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters shows little change for Norton, the former lieutenant governor, and Buck, the county prosecutor, from previous surveys despite a dustup involving Buck's comments about Tea Party activists.
"There s been little change in these numbers for months, with both Democrats generally earning support in the high 30s and low 40s, while the Republicans hover in the mid-40s," pollster Scott Rasmussen noted on Tuesday.
In all four matchups, 10% to 15% of voters prefer some other candidate or are undecided, Rasmussen noted. "Voters not affiliated with either party prefer the Republicans by double-digit margins to their Democratic opponents." Full story at LifeNews.com
Okahoma City, OK (LifeNews.com) -- Another pro-life woman is posed to win a major election this November in what is quickly becoming a year in which pro-life women candidates are poised to win new seats in Congress and across the country. U.S. Representative Mary Fallin, yesterday, surged to victory over her primary opponent in the race for the Republican bid for governor in Oklahoma.
That sets her up for a campaign against Democratic candidate Jari Askins in the race to replace Governor Brad Henry, who has vetoed some pro-life legislation.
This latest win for an authentic, pro-life woman candidate continues the momentum that is making 2010 the year of the pro-life woman, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund. In Congress, Rep. Fallin has been a vocal advocate for the unborn and their mothers."
With Mary Fallin in office, Oklahoma will have the opportunity to sign into law much of the pro-life legislation now being vetoed under current Gov. Brad Henry, said Dannenfelser. 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. |
Alaska Planned Parenthood Reworks Ads Against Parental Notification on Abortion
Juneau, AK (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood has drawn criticism for how it is helping to finance a now $600,000 campaign to persuade Alaska voters to oppose a ballot measure that would allow parents to know when their minor daughters are considering an abortion. Now it is changing those ads to comply with state law.
Alaskans for Parental Rights has filed a formal complaint with the Alaska Public Offices Commission against the Planned Parenthood-affiliated Alaskans Against Government Mandates for reportedly violating state law while campaigning against Ballot Measure 2.
A new state law requires ballot groups to identify their current top three contributors in all broadcast campaign messages and Jim Minnery, chair for Alaskans for Parental Rights, says Alaskans Against Government Mandates has violated this statute in radio ads which began airing on July 19.
Alaskans for Parental Rights has requested that the ads be pulled immediately and the appropriate fines be imposed. This statute provides for voters to have a clear understanding of any possible interest groups backing initiatives, he said. As long as these ads are broadcast while not in compliance, voters are not given full knowledge of interest groups, knowledge which has been deemed necessary through the passage of SB 284. It is also with this in mind, that Alaskans for Parental Rights has requested an expedited review of this complaint. Full story at LifeNews.com
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