LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Federal Funds May Be Involved in Abortion Coverage for North Carolina Students
• Bus Tour Opposing Abortion in Health Care Raises Ire of "Pro-Life" Democrats
• Americans Say Obama More Liberal Than They Are, But He Leads GOP 2012 Foes
• ObamaCare Backlash May Yield Election, Legislative Victories for Pro-Life Groups
• Barack Obama's Image in Kenya Tarnished by Abortion-Constitution Battle
• Republican Party Can't Support Mitch Daniels' Truce on Key Abortion Issues
• Abortion Practitioner James Pendergraft Loses Florida License a Fourth Time
• Missouri Pro-Life Senate Candidate Roy Blunt Tops Robin Carnahan in Polling
• Washington, DC Declares Sidewalk Outside Planned Parenthood Public Property
• Wisconsin Pro-Life Gov Candidates Scott Walker, Mark Neumann Lead Barrett
• Organization of American States Promoting Abortion in Latin America
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Federal Funds May Be Involved in Abortion Coverage for North Carolina Students
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The response to a national controversy -- generated with a pro-life student group uncovering information showing students who attend public universities in North Carolina will be forced to pay for abortions via their required student health care plan -- has been swift.
Students for Life of America discovered the North Carolina Board of Governors will require all students enrolled in a University of North Carolina public institution, starting with the 2010-2011 school year, to have health insurance.
Students who do not already have private health insurance are required to buy a state selected policy from Pearce & Pearce, Inc -- and it covers up to $500 toward elective abortions and has 80% PPO coverage for elective abortions.
Following SFLA's national outcry, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors announced that they will allow students opposed to abortion to "opt-out" of paying for abortion coverage.
"Effective fall 2010, the University of North Carolina is implementing a 'hard waiver' student health insurance policy that requires students on our 16 university campuses to have creditable health care coverage," the board said. "What our students are required to do is have a health insurance plan that provides creditable health care coverage."
"Any student may choose to purchase health insurance elsewhere that does not provide elective abortion coverage. Students have until September 30 to waive coverage under the University-sponsored plan by providing evidence of other coverage," they said.
Bus Tour Opposing Abortion in Health Care Raises Ire of "Pro-Life" Democrats
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The bus tour the Susan B. Anthony List is sponsoring through the Midwest to highlight the way in which some "pro-life" Democrats voted for the pro-abortion health care bill is raising the ire of the House members from Indiana and Ohio. They are responding to the criticism with assertions pro-life groups aren't pro-life.
The SBA List is today continuing a 23-city bus tour, Votes Have Consequences, in the districts of six congressional Democrats who say they are pro-life but voted for a bill that virtually every pro-life group agrees will ultimately result in abortion funding.
Former Colorado Rep. Marilyn Musgrave is leading the tour because she says voters in the districts, some of whom will be casting ballots in key toss-up elections that could decide who controls Congress, need to know the new law represents the largest expansion of abortion funded by our tax dollars since Roe v. Wade.
Perhaps they thought that the executive order would give them some cover, Musgrave said, referring to the disputed executive order President Barack Obama signed that merely restates the unworkable and ineffective limits on abortion funding in the bill. Not working.
Some of the members of Congress targeted in the bus tour have responded to it but Steve Fought, a spokesperson for Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, went further than others by accusing the SBA List and pro-life groups of not being pro-life and opposing the bill merely because Obama signed it than because it funds abortions.
I think these so-called pro-life groups I think their complaint is more with who s signing the executive order than the executive order itself, Fought told Human Events. I think what it points to is, simply, they have a political agenda. Their political agenda, anti-Obama, is stronger than their belief in consistency when it comes to pro-life issues. Full story at LifeNews.com
Americans Say Obama More Liberal Than They Are, But He Leads GOP 2012 Foes
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Two new polls out today show Americans believe pro-abortion President Barack Obama is more liberal than the beliefs they espouse. Yet they appear unwilling to support any of a slate of potential Republican presidential candidates over him in potential 2012 matchups.
Most voters in the country now believe President Obama and the average Democrat in Congress are more liberal, politically speaking, than they are -- according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely voters.
The survey shows 57% of likely voters say Obama is more liberal than they are, and 56% say the same of the average Democratic member of Congress.
Twelve percent of voters say the president is more conservative than they are, and 13% think the same of the average Democrat in Congress. Just 26% of voters think Obama shares the same political views they have and only 23 percent say they about the pro-abortion Democrats who control Congress.
It is remarkable how similar the response is to both the president and his party in Congress. While many in official Washington highlight the differences between the two, voters see a broadly consistent agenda," says pollster Scott Rasmussen.
Yet, the good news for Democrats is that only 26% also think the average Republican in Congress has about the same views politically as they do. Full story at LifeNews.com
ObamaCare Backlash May Yield Election, Legislative Victories for Pro-Life Groups
by Michael New
It is no secret that the upcoming 2010 midterm elections will in part be a referendum on the health care reform legislation that was passed this spring. However the enactment of Obama care will have some important policy and political implications that will last well beyond 2010. This is especially the case for the pro-life movement in America.
From a policy perspective, the passage of Obama care is clearly a setback
for pro-lifers. However, the damage is not irreversible.
If Republicans make substantial gains in the 2010 midterm elections, the repeal of Obama care may well be a salient issue heading into the 2012 Presidential election. Furthermore, Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) have already sponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act which would prevent federal funding of abortion through Obamacare. Since every year Congress passes the Hyde Amendment, there is a good chance Congress could pass this piece of legislation as well.
Politically, even in defeat, the health care debate demonstrated the growing strength of the pro-life movement.
During the debate over Clintoncare in 1993 and 1994, the most effective opposition came from fiscal conservatives. However, throughout the past year, the pro-life movement offered the most effective opposition to Obamacare. Because of the interlocking nature of Obamacare s many rules and regulations, supporters of health care reform had the unenviable choice of either effectively banning abortion coverage in health insurance plans or using tax dollars to subsidize abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
Barack Obama's Image in Kenya Tarnished by Abortion-Constitution Battle
Nairobi, Kenya (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Barack Obama s sterling image among Kenyans has dimmed in the wake of a $23 million U.S. campaign to promote a draft constitution that included abortion rights. The U.S. promoted the new constitution as a way to stop gross presidential power and corruption. Opponents say that same power and corruption were used to convince many Kenyans, falsely, that the document was pro-life.
The constitution passed with 67% in favor on August 4th.
In a word, we were against a most formidable government machinery that took total control of the message and denied access to the truth to its own people with the help of foreign regimes, one Kenyan observer told the Friday Fax.
In July, Nairobi s Catholic bishop told Church faithful to vote NO due to the abortion clause.
On August 2nd a full-page ad appeared in the Daily Nation said that, The Draft Constitution does NOT legalize abortion, due to a clause stating life begins at conception. The ad went on to accuse Church leaders of continuing to propagate outrageous and inflammatory falsehoods which deliberately misrepresent the proposed new laws. Full story at LifeNews.com
Republican Party Can't Support Mitch Daniels' Truce on Key Abortion Issues
by Tom Glessner
Public opinion polls and the political pundits seem to now agree that if the November elections were held today the Republican Party would win an historic landslide victory. Indeed, the agenda of the Obama administration has been dominated by far left policies that have deepened the current economic recession and has pursued a radical social agenda, which includes a steadfast commitment to abortion on demand.
Public discontent with these policies is intense and the winds of political change are blowing mightily throughout the nation. The Tea Party movement has galvanized political dissension against the Obama agenda from all segments of society, and political commentators are telling us that the stage is being set for a political tsunami in November that sweeps out the old and brings in the new.
The Republican Party is confidently gearing itself up for taking over the reins of power in Washington D.C. and thus, bringing about corrective change that will reverse the present course of the country.
However, the pro-life movement must inquire of the Republicans if legal protection for the fundamental right to life will be on the forefront of these political changes to come. Will the Republicans who are swept into power because they espoused correct political rhetoric turn their backs on the pro-life movement once political power is obtained? Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Practitioner James Pendergraft Loses Florida License a Fourth Time
Orlando, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Embattled Florida abortion practitioner James Pendergraft recently saw his medical license suspended for a fourth time by the Florida Board of Medicine. on Saturday, the board suspended his license for one year and placed it on probation for three years after that.
Pendergraft, who has subjected women to botched legal abortions, was ordered to pay $10,000 fine and take a course on record keeping.
The medical board suspended his license after it found Pendergraft had allowed an unlicensed employee to order and administer drugs even though she was unqualified and had a known history of drug abuse. Pendergraft also was disciplined for prescribing steroids to her for unknown reasons.
"This is a case that should outrage everyone," said Operation Rescue president Troy Newman, who brought the suspension to the attention of LifeNews.com.
"Here is a proven quack that has served three previous license suspensions, yet continues to offend," he said. "Even a stint in prison hasn't helped Pendergraft amend his ways. Nevertheless, the Board will allow this man to continue the practice of medicine after he serves his fourth suspension. It is irresponsible to place women at repeated risk from this guy."
According to news reports, Aaron Liberman, the chairman of the Department of Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida, agreed with Newman in objecting to the leniency the board showed the abortion practitioner. Full story at LifeNews.com
Missouri Pro-Life Senate Candidate Roy Blunt Tops Robin Carnahan in Polling
Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) -- Just one week after Missouri voters may it abundantly clear they strongly oppose the pro-abortion health care bill President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies pushed through Congress, a new poll shows pro-life Senate candidate Roy Blunt leading pro-abortion Robin Carnahan.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Missouri shows Blunt with 50% support, while Carnahan earns 43% of the vote.
That's an uptick of one percent for Blunt following both candidates clinching their primary election nods last week. Two weeks ago, Blunt posted a 49% to 43% lead over Carnahan, Missouri s current secretary of state.
Blunt has run slightly ahead of Carnahan in surveys all year, with support ranging from 45% to 50%. She, in turn, has picked up 41% to 45% of the vote in those same surveys.
In the new poll, three percent prefer some other candidate and four percent remain undecided. Both candidates earn high levels of support from voters in their own party. Voters not affiliated with either of the major parties favor Blunt by nearly 20 points.
The pro-abortion health care bill President Barack Obama signed received a major blow from voters in Missouri. They voted overwhelmingly to reject a federal mandate to purchase health insurance -- important because some of the plans in the program will pay for abortions with federal funds. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC Declares Sidewalk Outside Planned Parenthood Public Property
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Officials in the nation's capital have declared a sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood abortion business as public property. The decision is important because a prominent pro-life advocate was arrested when he attempted to pray outside the abortion facility recently.
For years, pro-life advocates have been able to pray and counsel women heading to the Planned Parenthood abortion center.
That changed when the abortion business built a fence around the center and posted signs saying those who went beyond the fence were trespassing.
Patrick Mahoney, a pastor who heads the Christian Defense Coalition, challenged those signs, but was arrested.
The American Center for Law and Justice, who is representing Mahoney, met with Washington city officials who confirmed the sidewalk still remains public.
"We have learned today that the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General has concluded that the location is, in fact, public property and is available for use by the public," James Matthew Henderson, Sr, a top attorney with the ACLJ, told LifeNews.com Thursday morning. Full stories at LifeNews.com
Wisconsin Pro-Life Gov Candidates Scott Walker, Mark Neumann Lead Barrett
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- Republican front-runner Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann, the other GOP hopeful, both lead pro-abortion Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the race to be Wisconsin s next governor. Both pro-life candidates hold leads in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of likely voters.
Walker holds an eight-point lead over the abortion advocate -- picking up 49% support, while Barrett earns 41% of the vote. Three percent support another candidate and six percent are undecided.
Walker, the county executive of Milwaukee County, reached 50% support for the first time two weeks ago against Barrett, who had 43% support in that poll.
Barrett remains in a virtual tie with Neumann, who is seek as less likely to get the Republican nod to face him. Neumann picks up 45% to Barrett s 43%. Two weeks ago, the race was 45% to 44% in favor of Barrett.
"Walker has consistently proven to be the slightly stronger GOP candidate against Barrett, with support back to early February in the narrow range of 46% to 50%. In those same surveys, support for Barrett has ranged from 40% to 44%," Rasmussen pollster Scott Rasmussen said. "Neumann has picked up 43% to 47% of the vote against Barrett, who has earned 39% to 46% in those matchups." Full stories at LifeNews.com
Organization of American States Promoting Abortion in Latin America
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A recently-released document, revives concerns that the Washington DC-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is becoming yet another venue for the promotion of abortion, under the guise of reproductive health, and family planning.
The release of Access to Maternal Health Services from a Human Rights Perspective coincides with the new international human right to maternal health recently asserted by abortion activists at the UN-backed Women Deliver 2 conference which took place in Washington DC in June of this year.
The new report cites the American Convention on Human Rights for the proposition that [t]he right of every person to physical, mental, and moral integrity without discrimination is enshrined in the American Convention. The American Convention is the only international treaty that enshrines the right to life from the moment of conception though this is not cited in the new report. Full stories at LifeNews.com
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