LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, August 7, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Poll: Voters in Key States Oppose Candidates Who OKd Pro-Abortion Health Care
• Opponents of Pro-Abortion Elena Kagan's Supreme Court Bid Find Silver Lining
• Late-Term Abortion Practitioners Dump Licenses to Avoid State Prosecution
• African Union Bows to Pressure to Back Abortions to Reduce Maternal Deaths
• North Carolina Pro-Life Senator Richard Burr Leads Elaine Marshall in New Poll
• Senator Lindsey Graham Says "Golden Rule" Inspired Vote for Pro-Abortion Kagan
• Alaska Mother Mourns Her Daughter's Secret Abortion, Ballot Vote in Late August
• Brazil Police Charge Soccer Player Bruno for Killing Girlfriend Refusing Abortion
• UK Announces Plan to Push Abortion "Rights" on Developing Nations Worldwide
• Pro-Life News: California, Abortion, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Texas
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Poll: Voters in Key States Oppose Candidates Who OKd Pro-Abortion Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- New polling data released today by the Susan B. Anthony List shows voters in key states and congressional districts oppose candidates voted for the pro-abortion health care bill. The poll puts some of the "pro-life" Democrats who supported the bill and its abortion funding in jeopardy.
The voter poll, taken in districts of Democrats who oppose abortion but voted for the pro-abortion health care bill, gauges November election implications for incumbents.
Conducted by the Polling Company firm, the survey found two-thirds of voters are less supportive of the ObamaCare law knowing that it will lead to taxpayer funding of abortion.
At least 74 percent of voters are still against taxpayer funding of abortion and more than 66 percent believe their representative was wrong to betray his or her pro-life principles and vote for the health care bill.
For the Susan B. Anthony List, this election cycle has turned out to be dramatically different from the one in which we began. Members of Congress we thought were our allies have now become our top targets for defeat, SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com.
Before the health care vote, we conducted polling and launched a media tour in these Democrats districts in an effort to support the pro-life convictions of these Democrats. Then, they voted for the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade," she said. "This latest polling shows that five months of a long, hot summer have not burned off any voter intensity on the issue." Full story at LifeNews.com
Opponents of Pro-Abortion Elena Kagan's Supreme Court Bid Find Silver Lining
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- From the outset of President Barack Obama's nomination of pro-abortion activist Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, her confirmation was virtually guaranteed. Today, the day after the Senate approved the nomination, Curt Levy of the Committee for Justice tries to find the silver lining.
With Democrats controlling nearly 60 votes, the ability of pro-life advocates and their Republican allies in the Senate to stop the nomination was difficult from the start.
But Levy, one of the top conservatives monitoring judicial nominees, says there is a silver lining that bodes well for those opposed to judicial activists who may be appointed to the high court in the future.
"Although the reality of 59 Democratic senators meant that the confirmation of Elena Kagan was never really in doubt, believers in the rule of law have several things to cheer in the Kagan confirmation battle," he writes in an op-ed in today's Daily Caller.
"Republican senators mounted their strongest opposition in more than century, sending strong signals to the White House about future Supreme Court picks, while teeing up important issues for this fall s Senate races," he said. "The confirmation fight also saw the continuing repudiation of the Left s living Constitution philosophy and the solidification of a profound change in the politics of judicial confirmations." Full story at LifeNews.com
Late-Term Abortion Practitioners Dump Licenses to Avoid State Prosecution
Albuquerque, NM (LifeNews.com) -- Two New Mexico-based late-term abortion practitioners who formerly practiced in Kansas have abandoned their medical licenses there to avoid prosecution by the Kansas medical board. Their decision came after the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts said it would discipline another practitioner for problems.
Last month, the board filed an eleven-count recommendation that late-term abortion practitioner Ann Kristin Neuhaus be disciplined.
She allegedly violated the Healing Arts Act concerning abortion referrals she made to late abortion practitioner George Tiller.
Now, abortion practitioners Shelley Sella and Susan C. Robinson have dumped their Kansas medical licenses -- placing, them outside the disciplinary jurisdiction of the board.
Sella canceled her Kansas license the same week the KSBHA announced its potential disciplining of Neuhaus. And Robinson voluntarily put her Kansas license on "Inactive" status a month after Tiller's abortion business closed following his shooting death.
"The move to voluntarily terminate their medical licenses in Kansas puts Sella and Robinson outside the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts," said Operation Rescue president Troy Newman. "That action says a lot about their legitimate concerns that they could also have faced discipline for abortion abuses in which they may have participated while in Kansas." Full story at LifeNews.com
African Union Bows to Pressure to Back Abortions to Reduce Maternal Deaths
Kampala, Uganda (LifeNews.com) -- The African Union (AU) finished its annual summit last week with governments agreeing to make maternal and child mortality a continent-wide priority.
The summit ended with Member States extending the controversial, non-binding Maputo Plan of Action (PoA) for an additional five years and expanding new initiative called the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction on Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA).
Pressure was placed on the AU from UN agencies and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGO).
While United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) executive director Thoraya Obaid, called on delegates to focus on non-controversial interventions to reduce maternal deaths such as skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care the very next day in a speech at Makerere University in Kampala Obaid focused instead on "unsafe abortion," "reproductive rights," "reproductive health services" and "sexuality education." Full story at LifeNews.com
North Carolina Pro-Life Senator Richard Burr Leads Elaine Marshall in New Poll
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, a pro-life advocate, continues to hold a lead in his re-election bid over Democrat Elaine Marshall. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters shows Burr capturing 49% support, while Marshall earns 40% of the vote.
Another three percent of Tar Heel State voters support another candidate and eight percent remain undecided.
Burr gets 85% of the GOP vote in the state, while Marshall picks up 71% support among Democrats. Voters not affiliated with either party prefer the Republican by 16 points.
"Burr has been ahead most of the year. However, while enjoying a bounce following her victory in a Democratic Primary runoff, Marshall pulled even temporarily. Last month, the incumbent enjoyed a double digit lead," the polling firm noted.
With the exception of the post-primary poll, Burr s support has remained in the narrow range of 48% to 52% all year. Marshall in those same surveys has earned 32% to 40% of the vote.
Rasmussen showed 71 percent of the state's voters consider Burr a conservative. Marshall is seen as a liberal by 37% and a moderate by 30%.
"Conservative plays a little better with the North Carolina electorate since 45% place Burr s views in the mainstream, while 30% regard his views as extreme. Thirty-nine percent (39%) think Marshall is in the mainstream, but nearly as many (34%) say her views are extreme," the polling firm said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Senator Lindsey Graham Says "Golden Rule" Inspired Vote for Pro-Abortion Kagan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is coming under heavy fire today for his vote in favor of pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Graham, who typically votes pro-life, is being chastised for comments he made on the Senate floor saying the Bible's "Golden Rule" inspired the vote.
Graham is one of just five Republicans to vote for Kagan, the second pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee President Barack Obama has put forward.
But at the end of the day, those of us in the Senate have to understand that every branch of government includes human beings and there is a rule that stood the test of time, he said, according to a CNS News report. I didn't make this one up. It was somebody far wiser than I am, somebody far more gifted than I ever hope to be, somebody I put a lot of trust in."
It is called the Golden Rule, Graham added. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That is probably one of the most powerful statements ever made. It is divine in its orientation, and it is probably something that would serve us all well if we thought about it at moments such as this." Full story at LifeNews.com
Alaska Mother Mourns Her Daughter's Secret Abortion, Ballot Vote in Late August
Juneau, AK (LifeNews.com) -- In Alaska, body piercing practitioners aren't allowed to prick the belly button of a 13-year-old girl without her parent s consent and presence. Public schools won't transport 12-year-olds to the Anchorage Museum on a field trip without parental permission. But abortionists may anesthetize and perform surgical abortions on those same girls without telling their parents.
For the last year, Alaskans across the state have worked to change state law to strengthen parental rights. Due to their efforts, an initiative will appear on the Aug. 24 primary election ballot, asking voters to decide whether abortionists should be required to notify the parent of a minor girl under age 18 before performing an abortion on her.
Parents have a right to be involved in their minor daughters lives and those girls are owed their parents, one Proposition 2 supporter and parent told the Catholic Anchor.
Those who keep parents in the dark about children s abortions are infringing on parents rights, explained the mother who asked to be referred to as Anna. Full story at LifeNews.com
Brazil Police Charge Soccer Player Bruno for Killing Girlfriend Refusing Abortion
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- Brazilian police have charged one of the country s biggest soccer stars with planning the murder of 25-year-old student Eliza Samudio, his pregnant girlfriend who refused an abortion. Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza is the captain and goal-keeper of the Rio de Janeiro team Flamengo.
The team is one of the most popular in the South American nation and has tens of millions of fans.
Married with children, Bruno reportedly had an affair with Samudio and is believed to have gotten her pregnant. She attempted to prove Bruno's paternity of her unborn son, who she called Bruninho (Little Bruno).
Bruno, who was not on the Brazilian World Cup squad, reportedly coaxed Samudio into his car and three of his friends forced her to take the ulcer drug Cytotec that is misused to cause a miscarriage.
Police formally charged Bruno, his wife and another reported lover, along with eight others, on Wednesday.
Led from a vehicle to the courtroom, Bruno told reporters that he had a clear conscience. In the future, I'll be able to laugh at this, Bruno said. Full story at LifeNews.com
UK Announces Plan to Push Abortion "Rights" on Developing Nations Worldwide
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Last week the United Kingdom (UK) announced a new maternal health initiative with an "unprecedented focus on family planning" for the developing world. The plan includes the promotion of abortion and sexual rights for children.
The UK's Department for International Development (DFID) chief, Andrew Mitchell, presented the plan called Choice for Women Wanted Pregnancies, Safe Births at a public consultation forum hosted by DFID and attended by development experts, health professionals, and the general public.
Mitchell said, The UK Government is to put family planning at the heart of its approach to women s health in the developing world. The DFID will now have an unprecedented focus on family planning, which will be hard-wired into all our country programs.
The first two of three key proposals detailed in the UK initiative are Scaling-up access to family planning and Addressing unsafe abortion. Only the third listed proposal, Making birth safe, includes plans for addressing the primary causes of maternal mortality, which are hemorrhaging and sepsis, complications from hypertension and other medical disorders. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life News: California, Abortion, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Texas
Fontana, California Teen's Body Found in Landfill After She Refuses Abortion
Fontana, CA -- Missing teen Anyssia Escamilla was discovered by a cadaver-sniffing dog in a landfill in Fontana, California late Thursday afternoon, according to Associated Press reports.
Dallas, Texas Abortion Center Employee Tells Pro-Life Advocates She Quits
Dallas, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The Catholic Pro-Life Committee in Dallas indicates youth members of the Pro-Life Boot Camp, more than 100 kids in all, arrived at an abortion center in two buses to pray.
South Carolina Abortion Center Now a Place for Pregnant and Parenting Teens
Greenville, SC -- An old abortion clinic on Laurens Road in Greenville had a new tenant on Wednesday, according to WYFF-TV.
Pittsburgh Police Selectively Enforce Abortion Protest Buffer Zone
Pittsburgh, PA -- Pittsburgh police selectively enforce the city's 15-foot health clinic buffer zone against "known abortion protesters," a man claims in Federal Court, CNS reports.
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