January 2, 2008

Pro-Life Pakistan Leader Benazir Bhutto Was a Worldwide Voice for Women by Serrin Foster

Feminists for Life remembers the contributions of the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as an international advocate for women and children, born and unborn, especially those in developing countries. A pro-life feminist, Bhutto consistently promoted a holistic approach to addressing the needs of women by emphasizing the empowerment of women. Bhutto urged world leaders to address health issues including increased nutrition and immunizations. She advocated the protection of women from domestic violence and war. And she connected the need for education of girls and women to their ability to work, and a woman's ability to work as essental to achieving economic independence. Bhutto also refused to choose between meeting the needs of women or between protecting unborn children from abortion. Bhutto called the common practice of gender selected abortions “tragic” and said it “still haunts a world we regard as modern and civilized. Bhutto’s solutions also echoed those of the great feminist organizer, Susan B. Anthony, who advocated women's rights, and who urged society to address the root causes that lead women to abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Media Silent as Pro-Abortion Activist Assaults Elderly Pro-Life Advocate by Warner Todd Huston

On December 22nd a 69 year-old pro-life activist who was standing atop his automobile and protesting in front of the Hillcrest Abortion Clinic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was physically attacked by an abortion supporter and thrown to the ground with enough force to knock him unconscious. Doctors even worried for a time that the elderly man might perish from the attack. And here, nearly 7 days out from this attack, there aren't any accounts of the attack in the mainstream media. As I searched for the story myself, I found two and only two Internet hits for it. Why the silence from the mainstream media? Can you imagine the mainstream media swarm that would have occurred if it had been a pro-lifer that attacked an abortion supporter? The cacophony would have been deafening if a pro-lifer had been the one to get violent. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards Run Neck and Neck in Iowa Poll Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com)

-- Three pro-abortion Democratic candidates are running neck and neck in several new Iowa surveys released days in advance of the caucus there. Averaging the polls together, Hillary Clinton enjoys a minuscule lead -- but at least one survey in the newest batch shows either Barack Obama or John Edwards leading. Eight different polls surveyed Democratic voters in the last few days in December and four show Clinton leading, two have Obama ahead, one has Edwards leading and a final poll has Edwards and Obama tied. Overall, Clinton has a 28.6 percent average in the Iowa polls according to Real Clear Politics while Obama is at 27 percent and Edwards in third with 25.6 percent. Abortion advocates Bill Richardson and Joe Biden are mostly out of contention at six and five percent apiece. Clinton enjoys leads in polls from CNN, Insider Advantage, ARG, and Reuters/Zogby, Obama is leading in a Des Moines Register and a Strategic Vision poll, Mason Dixon has Edwards ahead and the Quad City Times has the race tied. There is more of a disparity in the most recent New Hampshire polls as Clinton has about the support of 31 percent of Democrats there, Obama about 28 percent and Edwards about 17 percent. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Abortion Group Will Spend $500K Promoting Hillary Clinton in Iowa Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com)

-- By the time the janitors sweep the floors after Iowa Democrats conclude their party caucus meetings on Thursday night, a leading pro-abortion group will likely have spent half a million dollars promoting Hillary Clinton. That makes it one of the top handful of groups spending money backing candidates there. Emily's List, which only backs pro-abortion Democratic women who support partial-birth abortions and making taxpayers fund abortions, has been in the New York senator's corner from the beginning. The organization is one of many spending considerable sums of money in the first presidential battleground state and new reports indicate it has forked over $300,000 thus far backing Clinton. Emily's List's “You Go Girl!” campaign is designed to reach women voters in the Midwestern state who have never participated in a caucus before and to motivate them to head to the party caucus and support Clinton. “Getting someone who has not caucused to go out is the hardest effort,” Maren Hesla, director of the effort, told the New York Times. The money figures likely won't stop as Hesla told the newspaper, “we're not done spending." Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Abortion Michael Bloomberg Denies Reports He's Considering Prez Bid Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is denying news reports indicating he is mulling a possible independent presidential bid. Bloomberg has consistently drawn the ire of the pro-life movement for his abortion advocacy -- going as far as requiring medical students there to learn to do abortions. With the first vote in the presidential primary battles for both Democrats and Republicans taking place in Iowa on Thursday, Bloomberg told NY1 television during the New Year's festivities that he is not considering running. On Monday, the mayor spoke as if he has no plans to run. When a New York City councilman said at a bill signing ceremony that it was a good way to kick off a presidential race, Fox News reports that Bloomberg replied, “I’m the only one not running for anything yet." Speculation about a possible candidacy has ebbed and flowed for months and grew recently as reports surfaced that Bloomberg is attending a bipartisan political forum next week. The 69-year-old mayor ran as a Republican but is a former Democrat and his views on social issues like abortion put him squarely on the liberal side of the political fence. Full story at LifeNews.com.

California Legislature to Hear Bill on Pain Babies Experience During Abortion Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com)

-- The California legislature is expected to hold a hearing next week on a measure that would address the pain babies experience during an abortion. Backers of the bill hope it will both educate the public on the destruction of human life during an abortion and help change the minds of women contemplating one. Assemblyman John Benoit, a Republican from Riverside, introduced AB 1009 last year. The measure requires abortion practitioners to provide women considering an abortion with information about fetal pain and the ability to choose anesthesia for the unborn child if they ultimately have an abortion. Benoit pulled the bill from a hearing several months ago, according to Penny Harrington, the legislative director for Concerned Women for America of California, and it subsequently became a two-year bill. The Assembly Health Committee has scheduled a hearing on the measure for January 8 and pro-life groups in the Golden State are rallying support for it. Full story at LifeNews.com

Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee Lead Republican Race Two Days Before Iowa VoteDes Moines, IA (LifeNews.com)

-- With just two days before Iowa Republicans head to the state's caucus vote, new polls show Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee continue to lead the race there. The two former governors continue to lead the rest of the GOP field with an average of nearly 30 percent in the six most recent polls. A new Des Moines register survey released on Tuesday showed Huckabee with the backing of 3 percent of Republicans and Romney in second with 26 percent. The newspaper had John McCain in third with 13 percent and Fred Thompson and Ron Paul tied for fourth at nine percent apiece. Another new poll from Reuters/Zogby found Huckabee first with 29 percent, Romney at 25, McCain with 12 and Thompson with 10. Yet a third poll released Tuesday by CNN had Romney ahead with 31, Huckabee at 28, Thompson with 13 and McCain with 10. The surveys show a two-man race for the top spot between the two former governors, another two-man race for third place and Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani battling for the fifth position in Iowa. Pro-life candidates Duncan Hunter, a California congressman, and former ambassador Alan Keyes are not factors in the Iowa GOP race, according to the polls. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Kansas Attorney General in Abortion Probe Made Hundreds of Calls to Lover Topeka, KS (LifeNews.co)

-- Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison, who is being probed to find out whether or not he tried to interfere in a county attorney's investigation of a local abortion business, made hundreds of phone calls to a woman with whom he had an affair. Though his mistress says they discussed the abortion case, Morrison denies her accusation that he asked her to give him documents related to it. New records the Associated Press obtained review Morrison made so many phone calls to Linda Carter that the pair would often talk several hours a day. The records also do not catalog the entire field of phone calls between Morrison and Carter because landline phones are not completely included in the tally. Despite the revelations about the calls, Morrison said on Friday that his time on the horn with his lover did not prevent him from “working for the people of Kansas.” According to the AP figures, Carter logged more than 500 calls to and from Morrison on a cell phone paid for by Johnson County, where she worked for Morrison and, later, for his replacement, Phill Kline. The calls amount to more than 10,000 minutes and ebbed and flowed throughout the time the two had an affair. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Abortion Ruling, Embryonic Research Alternative Top 2007 Pro-Life Stories Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- Pro-life issues ranging from abortion and assisted suicide to human cloning and stem cell research continued to play a huge role in both American and worldwide politics and culture in 2007. LifeNews.com covered pro-life topics with more than 2200 original news stories and editorial columns this year and today we count down the top ten news stories of the year. As we looked at our range of news stories, we considered the topics that had the most bearing on the pro-life debate or the most significant impact. Sadly, many of these news articles were never widely reported in the mainstream media or were confined to local news sources. 1. Supreme Court's Ruling Upholding Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Handing a victory to the pro-life movement, the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on partial-birth abortions in April. The bill marked the first time an abortion method had been prohibited since Roe and the decision was the culmination of a decade-long battle that aided the pro-life community in shifting public opinion and educating millions about the travesty of abortion. It also served as the first opportunity for newly-minted justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito to demonstrate their pro-life tendencies. The two could join Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia and a fifth justice in eventually overturning Roe itself. 2. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Alternative Created With iPS Advances Two teams of scientists may have radically altered the debate over embryonic stem cell research when they devised a new process that allows for the creation of embryonic stem cells without the destruction of human life. 3. President Bush Vetoes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Bills President Bush continued expanding on his pro-life track record in office by vetoing a bill that would force Americans to pay for research that involves the destruction of human life. Full story at LifeNews.com

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January 4, 2008

Planned Parenthood Entices Teens with "Mile High Club" by John Connolly SAN FRANCISCO, January 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com)

- Planned Parenthood Golden Gate (PPGG) has aired a new commercial featuring a stereotyped gay man showering teens with condoms and contraceptive pills aimed specifically at 18 to 24-year-olds The ads, aired on MTV, VH-1, Comedy Central and TLC, are set to a "Mile High Club" theme, where Stephen, a flagrantly stereotypical gay man "educates" the teenage passengers about 'safe sex' by shoving contraceptives at them. At the end of the commercial, Stephen sits on the pilots lap and hits on him."PPGG created this campaign to stress the importance of sexual health in a creative way and one that breaks free from the old ineffective paradigm of relying on fear-mongering tactics to inspire desired behavior changes," said Dian J. Harrison, PPGG's President and CEO in a press release. "We want young people to take control of their sexual health and well-being by using prevention every time they have sex. This ad's message normalizes pregnancy prevention and safer sex in a healthy, cool, and humorous way."The commercial, which will run through February 2008, is the latest in a series of raunchy sex-obsessed commercials aired by the heavily-tax-funded PPGG and aimed subverting at teens and young adults. For complete story: Planned Parenthood Entices Teens with "Mile High Club"

Buy a poinsettia, fund an abortion! List cites flower grower, Holiday Inn, Midas for Planned Parenthood support Posted: January 3, 2008 ©2008WorldNetDaily.com

When Christian churches flooded their facilities with poinsettias to celebrate the Christmas season, odds are that at least some of the money they paid for the blooms will be dedicated to paying for abortions, a new report reveals. According to the Corporate Funding Projectassembled and released by Life Decisions International, the Paul Ecke Ranch business of Ecinitas, Calif., has been added to its Boycott List because of its support for Planned Parenthood, the biggest abortion advocacy organization in the world and the largest U.S. provider in the abortion industry. Other corporations newly added to the list are BBJ Linen, which produces home products, and Carlson Companies, including its travel agencies and brand names Country Inns & Suites, Park Inn, Park Plaza, Radisson and Regent, according to Life Decisions. Also added to the list released this week are restaurant chains T.G.I. Friday's and Pick Up Stix, auto services provider Midas and InterContinental Hotels, including brand names Candlewood, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Indigo and Staybridge, the group said. For complete story: WorldNetDaily: Buy a poinsettia, fund an abortion!

Exit Polling Data Explains Mike Huckabee, Barack Obama Iowa Victories Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com)

-- Exiting polling data conducted by the major political news networks provides some focus as to how and why Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama captured victories in Iowa Thursday night. Both candidates did well with women voters and pro-life evangelical voters provided a margin of victory for Huckabee. Previous polls show about 70-75 percent of Republican voters in Iowa take a pro-life position and Huckabee’s frequent references to his strongly pro-life views -- in the face of attacks from Mitt Romney and other candidates -- may have made the difference. CNN exit polling showed Huckabee winning 46 percent of the evangelical voters that turned out on Thursday night while Romney only received the support of 19 percent of that segment. Those who said a candidate's religious views mattered significantly backed Huckabee 56-11 percent over Romney. At the same time, Huckabee also wonder overwhelmingly among women voters by a 40 to 24 percent margin over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. On the Democratic side, Obama won with voters who wanted a change from the current federal government -- and 51 percent of “change” voters backed him compared with just 19 percent for Hillary Clinton. CNN exit polling data also showed Obama fared well with younger and newer voters by gaining the backing of 57 percent of voters from 17-29 years of age. However, Obama won smaller percentages of the vote as the age of the voter increased. He had 42 percent of 30-44 year-olds and only 21 percent of 41-64 year olds, and only 18 percent among voters 65 and over. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Abortion Group Fails to Help Hillary Clinton Win Iowa, Women Voters Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com)

-- Emily’s List spent half a million dollars and contacted more than 60,000 voters in Iowa to support Hillary Clinton but the wealthy pro-abortion group failed to deliver the votes. Clinton not only finished in third place, but she lost the vote of both women voters and those new to the Iowa Democratic caucus to pro-abortion candidate Barack Obama. The group devised a buddy system to get voters to the polls, phone and phoned again and even saw Clinton hire its former political director, Teresa Vilmain to help run her campaign. All to on avail. Exit polling CNN conducted showed Obama topping Clinton among women voters by a 35 to 30 percent margin and with almost all age groups. Edwards received 23 percent. In total, 57 percent of the Democratic voters Thursday night were women, but Clinton failed to capture even one-third of their support. Men also supported Obama more with 35 percent of the vote to 24 percent of Edwards and 23 percent for Clinton. Some 58 percent of women voters backed Clinton's top two rivals despite Emily’s List’s $500,000 effort on her behalf with advertisements, phone calls, and on the ground organizing. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Battle Over Possible Euthanasia of New York Teenager Gets Pro-Life Attention Bronx, NY (LifeNews.com)

-- The battle over the life and death of a teenage girl in New York has drawn the attention of pro-life advocates in recent days. The fight to save Javona Peters reminds some of the struggle of the Schindler family in Florida to save the life of Terri Schiavo, a beloved daughter and sibling whose former husband eventually took her life. In this case, Peters' parents are disagreeing on whether or not to remove her feeding tube and take her life. Peters fell into a coma in October while she had a routine medical procedure at Montefiore Medical Center. Doctors have pegged her as being in a persistent vegetative state, a medical diagnosis pro-life advocates dispute because so many patients have partially or fully recovered. Peters' parents were never married and are estranged and have considered a medical malpractice suit against the hospital, according to a New York Daily News report. But Janet Joseph and Leonard Peters are also feuding over Peters' care and have each filed separate requests to be given custody of their daughter. Peters has been opposed to removing the feeding tube but has wavered recently. Full story at LifeNews.com.

China Businessman Faces Highest Fine Ever Under Forced Abortion Policy Beijing, China (LifeNews.com)

-- Since the Chinese government instituted its family planning policy prohibiting more than one child per couple, it is believed that no one has paid a higher fine for violating it than Li Shaoqing. Li, the head of a cement mixing company, was ordered to fork over $100,000 US because he fathered a second child in 2006. The fine is somewhat surprising given that Li was a member of a government advisory body in Xiaochang County where he lives. In addition to paying the stiff penalty for violating the law, which has caused an epidemic of forced abortions and sterilizations in the Asian nation, Li lost his seat on the government panel. AsiaNews reports that Chinese officials are doing more to enforce the law among wealthy Chinese citizens, who frequently bribe family planning officials while poorer residents lose their jobs or head to prison for their inability to pay the fines. According to the news service, 1,678 officials, celebrities and wealthy Chinese in Li's county alone were found to be in violation of the one-child policy. Hubei family planning official Jiang Zhongsan told AsiaNews that he doesn't think the stiff fines will deter those who can afford to pay them from violating the law. He indicated they “could do little to deter such violations.” Full story at LifeNews.com.

Wisconsin Man in Attempted Forced Abortion Case Likely Fled Country Appleton, WI (LifeNews.com)

-- Wisconsin authorities say they believe a man who allegedly tried to force is girlfriend to have an abortion by spiking her drink with the dangerous mifepristone abortion drug has likely fled the country. Manish Patel may have headed for his native India despite the revocation of his passport. Late last month, Patel did not check into a day center for those on bond and his attorney hasn't seen him since the middle of December. Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Chris Proietti says Patel’s wife left for India in late November and he thinks Patel may have followed her. He told the Appleton Post-Crescent that his office is working with the FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Service to locate Patel and determine if he followed his wife overseas after she came to the U.S. to obtain divorce papers. Proietti also told the newspaper his office has received an anonymous phone saying Patel is headed to India and to the Indian state of Gujarat where he's from. However, he said he can't confirm the tip. Full story at LifeNews.com.

French Surrogate Mom Refuses Abortion of Triplet Baby Even if Life at Risk Paris, France (LifeNews.com)

-- A French woman who is a serial surrogate mother and now pregnant with triplets refuses to have an abortion even though doctors say there is a small risk the pregnancy could threaten her life. Carole Horlock, 41, says physicians told her that the pregnancy could pose issues because of her age. They said she has a 2.5 percent chance of suffering major medical problems, but the news isn't deterring Horlock from going through with giving birth to all three babies. This is Horlock's ninth surrogate pregnancy, The Comet newspaper reports, and doctors have advised her to kill one of the babies to improve her chances of a healthy birth. But Horlock, who is originally from Britain, has rejected their advice because they admitted there is a 12 percent chance that aborting one of the babies would result in the loss of all three. "It's not a risk I was prepared to take," she told the newspaper. "I'm not against abortion but I think if you intentionally start a life then you have no right to end it." Full story at LifeNews.com.

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January 8, 2008

Iowa Polling Data Was Largely Correct in Predicting Huckabee, Obama Wins Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com)

-- Media outlets continually examine the horse race when it comes to the presidential primary elections and a review of the polling data from Iowa just before Thursday night's caucus vote shows many polls were reliable. Most of the polls showed the tight Democratic contest and Huckabee and Romney leading. Among Republican voters, Mike Huckabee won with 34 percent of the vote, Mitt Romney came in second with 25 percent and Fred Thompson and John McCain both had 13 percent. Looking at the final Iowa polls, the Insider Advantage polling firm had the correct order with Huckabee at 30, Romney 24, and McCain and Thompson at 11 each. It also correctly showed Giuliani back in the pack with four percent. The American Research Group had the right order as well, with its final poll showing Huckabee at 29, Romney at 24, Thompson with 13 and McCain at 11. Zogby International, known for its correct predictions in general election races, got the Iowa caucus right, too. It had Huckabee winning with 31, Romney at 25, Thompson 11 and McCain 10. Like the others, it showed Giuliani falling. The Des Moines Register, an influential state newspaper that some said showed contrasting results compared with other pre-caucus polls, got it mostly right as well. The Register had Huckabee at 32 and Romney at 26 but incorrectly had McCain in third with 16 percent. Full story at LifeNews.com

United Nations Population Agency Puts Abortion at Top of World Agenda by Samantha Singson

UNFPA’s recently released annual report says that promoting “reproductive rights” and contraception, especially among adolescents, is the primary focus of the organization's work. Claiming that “every minute, 190 women are forced to confront the possibility of an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy—one that could have been easily prevented if only they had access to contraceptives,” the report justified the UN agency's spending two-thirds of its annual budget on the reproductive health agenda, but said that even more would be needed in the future. UNFPA intends to put pressure on countries to spend more money for “reproductive health services” but spending more on national health priorities will not be enough, according to the report. Despite numerous claims that the organization is “abortion-neutral” and that “UNFPA does not speak for or against the legalization of abortion,” the report states that the organization is working to promote “family planning as a means to reduce unsafe abortion.” The term “unsafe abortion” is used by UNFPA officials to mean “illegal” abortion. The report also states that UNFPA will promote “reproductive rights” and “reproductive health services,” both of which have been misused by UN agencies and committees to be synonymous with abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com..

Massachusetts Teen's Lawyers Want Charges Dismissed in Self-Abortion Case Lawrence, MA (LifeNews.com)

-- Lawyers for a Massachusetts teenager Amber Abreu, an 18-year-old who was arrested after she used an anti-ulcer drug to kill her unborn child, want the charges dismissed. They are asking a local judge to dismiss the case saying that the Roe v. Wade decision established a woman's right to an abortion, even on herself. However, prosecutors in the case say that the Roe decision does not protect women in cases where they kill their own unborn child and that the Supreme Court has given states the right to protect babies before birth. The Eagle Tribune newspaper indicates a hearing in the case is scheduled for January 29. Abreu used the Cytotec ulcer drug that abortion advocates have sometimes encouraged use of despite warnings from its maker that it's not intended for abortions. The drug failed to kill the child immediately and Abreu eventually gave birth to a baby girl last January who weighed just 1.25 pounds. She was in the sixth month of pregnancy at the time she tried to abort the baby. Despite the delivery, baby Ashley Abreu was unable to be saved and she died four days later at a local Boston hospital. Prosecutors charged Abreu with illegally procuring a miscarriage, a 19th century law still on the books in the state. Full story at LifeNews.com

Are You Smarter Than a 7th-Grader? What Pro-Life Teens Say About Abortion by Maria Vitale

7th and 8th graders say the most remarkable things. That truth is being borne out through some of the entries to the 2008 Pennsylvania Pro-Life Essay contest. Students at St. Francis Xavier school in Gettysburg recently submitted their essays for the contest, which ends March 1st. Some of their insights are truly amazing. Consider this analogy from a young man named Anthony: "Just picture someone in your life that you could not love any more than you do now. Picture that person leaving their house or somewhere they were...just for a few minutes, possibly to go get something. You wait for them to get back, and after ten or so minutes of waiting for them you get worried. You go out to try and find that person but you cannot find them. You go back in and call the police and sooner or later there is a search party out looking for them. "You are worried for them so much that you get no sleep that night, and early that morning you get news from the police that the one person you loved the most had been murdered by a man for no reason at all. "I do not know how you would feel but I know I would be torn apart. It would feel so unfair to just about anyone, especially since the person who had murdered your loved one had no motive to kill them at all. "This situation is no different than abortion..." Full story at LifeNews.com..

Juno Provides Hope to a Younger Generation on Issue of Abortion by Marianna Trzeciak

There are a whopping four recently released movies dealing with the theme of rejecting abortion: Juno, Bella, Knocked Up and Waitress. Of these, Juno will have the longest legs. When our children's children take their college literature courses, Juno will emerge as the vulgar Pride and Prejudice of this time. In courses with such titles as, "Witty Banter as a Means of Conveying the Psychological Maturation Process," Juno will be the representative work of this generation. No one in a challenging pregnancy can remain as hip and cool as the movie's protagonist, Juno MacGuff (played by the brilliant Ellen Page). Daily the increasingly big-bellied 16 year-old faces a veritable parting of the sea of students during class-changing times in the hallways of her high school, where Juno has become--by her own admission--"A Cautionary Whale." Full story at LifeNews.com.

Chinese Couple Will Get Court Hearing in Brutal Forced Abortion Case Beijing, China (LifeNews.com)

-- A Chinese couple who have filed a lawsuit against family planning officials over a forced abortion that has left the couple unable to have children may get a court hearing. The suit involves a woman who, in the ninth month of her pregnancy, was forced to have an abortion because the couple violated the nation's laws. Just days before she was scheduled to give birth, authorities took Jin Yani from her home to an abortion center. There, family planning officials injected a drug into her abdomen that killed her unborn child. "Several people held me down, they ripped my clothes aside and the doctor pushed a large syringe into my stomach," she told the Associated Press about her ordeal last fall. "It was very painful. ... It was all very rough." Jin was hospitalized for 44 days and lost considerable blood because of the abortion and the hospital sent the couple a considerable medical bill. The couple filed a lawsuit but the case went nowhere. Now, according to a London Telegraph report, the regional people's court said in October that it would eventually hear the case. It's the first time such a court has agreed to take a case of this nature. Full story at LifeNews.com..

Final New Hampshire Polls Show McCain Leading Romney, Obama Winning Easily Concord, NH (LifeNews.com)

-- The final polls in New Hampshire show what will be a tight race on the Republican side and make it appear that Barack Obama could capture a large win among Democratic voters. Polls still mostly have McCain leading handily but Mitt Romney has experienced a slight comeback in the last 24-48 hours. Romney was said to have performed the best in the two debates over the weekend and political observers are saying he could gain a percentage point or two in the polls if more independent voters decide to vote for Obama in the Democratic contest. McCain has been counting on the support of both moderate and liberal Republicans as well as some of the independent vote. Partisan Republicans appear more likely to support Romney and Mike Huckabee, who is projected to come in third. The Suffolk/WHDH poll is the only one that currently shows Romney winning and has him at 30 percent with McCain at 26 percent and Huckabee and Giuliani at 13 and 11 percent each. Its Tuesday tracking results show McCain losing a point and Huckabee gaining four from its Monday results. However, most other surveys continue to show McCain leading and even building more support as voters head to the polls today. Full story at LifeNews.com.

South Carolina Polls Give Mike Huckabee, Barack Obama Big Leads Columbia, SC (LifeNews.com)

-- After voters in New Hampshire put their mark on the 2008 presidential primaries, the next battleground for the candidates is in the southern state of South Carolina. Polling firms hadn't released the results of surveys there until late Monday and two new ones find Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama in the lead. On the Republican side, a Rasmussen poll shows Huckabee with a 28 to 21 percentage point lead over John McCain. Mitt Romney comes in with 15 percent of the Republican vote, Fred Thompson has 11 percent, Rudy Giuliani 10 percent and Ron Paul four percent. Another GOP poll by Survey USA puts Huckabee's lead at a higher clip with a 36 to 19 percentage advantage over Mitt Romney. In that survey, McCain comes in third with 17 percent, Thompson has 11, Giuliani 9 and Ron Paul five percent. Looking at the Democratic picture, Obama, who won Iowa and is expected to win today in New Hampshire, has a runaway lead in South Carolina as well. Rasmussen puts the race at 42 percent for him, 30 percent for Hillary Clinton and John Edwards has 14 percent. The Survey USA poll also has Obama leading but with 50 percent of the Democratic vote while Clinton gets 30 percent and Edwards 16 percent. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Barack Obama Confronted by Abortion Protesters at New Hampshire Rally Rochester, NH (LifeNews.com)

-- About 20 pro-life protesters made the leading Democratic presidential candidate confront the issue of abortion on Monday when they interspersed themselves in a rally he held at the Rochester Opera House. Obama had just begun speaking at the Monday night event when the pro-life advocates waved signs and chanted. The protesters, members of the Christian Defense Coalition and the youth-oriented group Survivors, shut down the Obama campaign rally chanting "abortion is an Obama-nation." Obama said he had heard their chants and would be happy to talk with the pro-life group after the event. "This is an example of no one hearing each other," he said as he held up his hands in an attempt to quiet both sides. The pro-life advocates were eventually led out of the facility peacefully and no one was arrested. Once the crowd quieted down, Obama commented on the incident. "Some people get organized to do that, and that's part of the American tradition that we're proud of," he said, according to the Monitor. "That's hard to do -- standing in the midst of people who don't agree with you." Full story at LifeNews.com

Wisconsin Woman Victimized in Attempted Forced Abortion Wants Bond Money Applteon, WI (LifeNews.com)

-- The woman whose boyfriend tried to make her have an abortion by slipping the dangerous abortion drug mifepristone into her drink wants his bond now that he's apparently fled the country. Darshana Patel hopes to obtain some of the $750,000 bail money 34-year-old Manish Patel paid with the help of friends and family. Manish Patel, who is unrelated but has the same last name, has been missing since late December and authorities believe he's fled to his native India. He has been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child -- a law put in place by pro-life advocates to hold criminals accountable when they killed or injure a pregnant mother or her unborn child. Peg Lautenschlager, a former Wisconsin attorney general representing Darshana, told the Associated Press that she plans to file a motion on her behalf asking a judge to provide her with part of the bail money. Full story at LifeNews.com.

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January 11, 2008

Obama's 'present' danger
by Jill Stanek

The mainstream media makes much hay about conservatives being split between candidates, but none whatsoever about liberals being split – particularly abortion proponents. Most notably, Planned Parenthood affiliates are divided between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The rift was readily demonstrated in New Hampshire last weekend where the fight really took off over which of the two was more ardently pro-abortion. We even saw battling PPers in the same article. From the Concord Monitor, yesterday:

A glossy flier sent out over the weekend said Obama voted "present" instead of "yes" or "no" on anti-abortion legislation in the Illinois state Senate. Yesterday's letter – signed by leaders from state affiliates of Planned Parenthood ... reiterated the criticism.

Obama launched an automated phone message from a Planned Parenthood official, defending his support for abortion rights Sunday.

The call was made by Wendy Frosh, chair of PP in Northern New England, who suddenly thereafter took a "leave of absence" from PPNNE and has issued an e-mail apologizing for "the confusion."

Love it. I also love the argument, much of which revolves around Obama's fence-sitting votes as Illinois state senator for the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. He did vote "no" after voting "present." But for the same bill on the federal level, Hillary voted "yes," decimating her own argument that she is the more ardent pro-abort of the two. Complete story: WorldNetDaily: Obama's 'present' danger

Why Are Black Churches Praising Pro-Abortion Candidate Barack Obama?
by Day Gardner

I was very disturbed by an article published on January 7, 2008 in The Atlanta Journal which stated that Sen. Barack Obama garnered praise and prayers from several African-American pulpits for his landmark victory in the Iowa caucuses. I can't help but wonder…what are these pastors thinking? Of course, we all need prayer, that part was okay, but praise? I had to ask myself, do they realize what this man stands for? Yes, blacks have continued to make great strides in breaking down color barriers and the walls of inequality and by the grace of God, some feel we have earned bragging rights with regard to our accomplishments. But, in our efforts to be bigger, brighter and best--I worry many of us have forgotten a huge part of what our struggle was all about. Racial equality was only part of it--the other part had to do with civil rights for ALL of our people. Senator Obama doesn't care that abortion has obliterated the rights of more than 15 million black children since 1973. He doesn't care that abortion is the number one killer of African Americans surpassing deaths caused by accidents, heart disease, stroke, crimes, HIV-AIDS and all other deaths...combined! Full story at LifeNews.com.

New Embryonic-Like Stem Cell Method Ethical, But Used Abortion Tissue Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- A new method of generating embryonic-like stem cells by getting adult stem cells to reverse back to their former embryonic state is still ethical a top pro-life bioethicist says. That's despite new information showing the studies involved the use of viruses containing fetal tissue from babies who were victims of abortion. Children of God for Life, a pro-life group dedicated to exposing how fetal tissue obtained from abortions is used in vaccines, contacted LifeNews.com earlier in the week with the new information. The two scientists released studies in the medical journals Science and Cell that claim to have found a way -- called direct reprogramming -- to make adult stem cells revert to their embryonic form. Vinnedge told LifeNews.com early Tuesday that researchers used several versions of the 293 aborted fetal cell lines to modify the DNA of the host adult skin cells in order to accomplish the reprogramming. However, though the use of fetal tissue from babies killed in abortions is morally repugnant, Dr. David Prentice of the Family Research Council told LifeNews.com on Wednesday that the technique itself is ethical because it doesn't have to involve the use of the tissue. "The criticism is about their starting material, not the iPSC technique, just as the vaccine criticism is about which cells are used to grow the viruses for vaccines, not the concept of vaccination,' he told LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Washington Begins Assisted Suicide Debate as Former Governor Files Papers Olympia, WA (LifeNews.com)

-- As expected, former Washington Gov. Booth Gardner paved the way for an intense statewide debate over assisted suicide as he filed papers to make it the second state after Oregon to legalize the grisly practice. Pro-life groups will likely rally along with disability advocates and the medical community in opposing the bill. Under the measure, Washington residents who have less than six months to live would be able to ask a doctor for a prescription for lethal drugs to kill themselves. Now that Booth has filed the paperwork with the state, his campaign committee must gather 225,000 signatures by July 3 from state residents to qualify the measure for the November 2008 ballot. This isn't the first time euthanasia backers have tried to get the state to authorize assisted suicide. In 1991, 54 percent of state voters rejected Initiative 119, which, unlike this new measure, allowed doctors to administer the drugs. However, Booth's committee, "It's My Choice" has already gathered more than $319,000 in donations for this effort. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Abortion Group Attacks John McCain on Pro-Life Judicial Nomination Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- A top pro-abortion organization is attacking John McCain and saying he can't claim to be an independent voice within the Republican Party if he doesn't oppose a pro-life nominee President Bush has submitted for a federal judgeship. NARAL wants McCain to oppose allowing Wyoming attorney Richard Honaker to be a federal district court judge. Bush nominated Honaker to the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming over the summer and it has drawn opposition from pro-abortion groups. Saying that McCain is now one of the front-runners in the race for the GOP nomination for president given his victory in New Hampshire, NARAL president Nancy Keenan emailed her group's supporters on Thursday. She said, "McCain will use his win to bolster his claim that he's an independent voice and try to capture voters in the middle." However, when it comes to abortion, Keenan says "McCain is as anti-choice as President Bush." She wants her group's backers to put McCain "to the test" by urging him to oppose the Honaker nomination. Full story at LifeNews.com.

American Pro-Life Leaders Help Jewish Officials in Israel Oppose Abortion Jerusalem, Israel (LifeNews.com)

-- The pro-life members of Congress are in Israel this week to help Jewish leaders there combat the growing scourge of abortion in their nation. Their visit comes just weeks after the chief rabbinic council in Israel released a new opinion about abortion confirming it constitutes a “grave sin." Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey, who heads the pro-life caucus in the House of Representatives, is joined on the trip by Congressman Frank Wolf from Virginia and Congressman Joseph Pitts from Pennsylvania. They visited with Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and expressed their concern that abortion is slowing the Israeli birth rate compared to their Palestinian neighbors. They also praised him for his December opinion saying abortions for socioeconomic reasons or the mother not wanting the baby are wrong. They also met with members of the Knesset to help lawmakers promote pro-life laws to reduce or eliminate abortions there. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Michigan Man Assaults Pregnant Woman, Kills Her Baby for Refusing Abortion Wayne, MI (LifeNews.com)

-- A Michigan man is in police custody after he allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and repeatedly kicked her in the stomach after she refused his suggestion to have an abortion. The case is one of many that occur on a monthly basis where men attack pregnant women who won't go along with an abortion request. In this case, an unidentified 24-year-old Wayne resident had a disagreement with his 19-year-old Texas girlfriend over having an abortion. Witnesses told police that the two argued on January 3 at a local apartment complex that was the home of a friend. After the argument became heated, Lt. Dan Karrick of the Westland Police Department told the Journal newspaper that the man grabbed his girlfriend by the throat, threw her to the ground, and punched and kicked her numerous times in the stomach in an attempt to hurt or kill her baby. Officials say the woman gave birth to the infant prematurely on Saturday and that hospital staff could not save the child's life. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Indiana Panel Backs Pharmacist Conscience Clause on Abortion, Euthanasia Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com)

-- A panel in the Indiana State Senate has approved a bill providing for a pharmacist's conscience clause. The measure allows the medical professionals to opt out of dispensing drugs that could cause an abortion or be used in an assisted suicide. The Senate committee approved the bill on a 6-5 vote with all but one Republican supporting the measure and four Democrats and one Republican opposing it. Sen. Jeff Drozda is the sponsor of the legislation, Senate Bill 3, that says pharmacists can't be required to dispense the controversial drugs if they cause an abortion, kill in unborn child or are part of euthanasia. Pharmacists would receive protection from any legal discipline and employers would be charged with a crime for penalizing any employee who followed the provisions in the bill. According to the newspaper, the Indiana Pharmacists’ Alliance said it knows of no instance of a state pharmacist facing discipline for failing to give out such drugs but Drozda said he has a constituent who came under scrutiny for not dispensing the morning after pill. Full story at LifeNews.com.

California Legislature Quickly Defeats Bill on Baby's Pain During Abortion Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com)

-- The California legislature wasted no time in defeating a bill that would address the pain babies experience during an abortion. The measure would have required abortion practitioners to provide women considering an abortion with information about fetal pain and anesthesia for the unborn child. Backers of the bill hoped it would both educate the public on the destruction of human life during an abortion and help change the minds of women contemplating one. Assemblyman John Benoit, a Republican from Riverside, introduced AB 1009 last year. During a hearing on Tuesday, the Assembly Health Committee quickly defeated the bill after little debate or testimony from the public. All eight of the Democratic members of the panel voted no on the measure while each of the five Republicans present voted in favor. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Wisconsin Attorney Won't Help Man Who Fled After Forced Abortion Case Appleton, WI (LifeNews.com)

-- A leading Wisconsin attorney who is representing a man who tried to force his girlfriend to have an abortion has received court approval to remove himself from the case. Tom Zoesch was representing Manish Patel in the case, but has decided to excuse himself after Patel apparently fled the country. Patel, who hails from India, is charged with lacing his girlfriend Darshana Patel's drink with the dangerous abortion drug RU 486, otherwise known as mifepristone. The abortion drug has been responsible for killing 13 women worldwide and injuring another 1,100 in the United States alone. Patel has been charged with attempted first-degree homicide of an unborn child and six other charges in the case. He posted a $750,000 bail with the help of friends and family but apparently fled the country last month. Zoesch has his request to be removed as Patel's legal counsel approved Thursday. Full story at LifeNews.com.

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January 12, 2008

New American Psychiatric Association President Strong Abortion Supporter Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- The American Psychiatric Association is drawing jeers from the pro-life community for electing a new president who is a well-known abortion advocate. Nada Stotland, the president-elect of the national organization for mental health professionals, suggests abortion poses no problems for women. Stotland is a member of the board of directors of the Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health and her position concerns women who have suffered from mental health problems following an abortion. This week, Stotland was quoted in the Los Angeles Times denying that abortion poses adverse psychological issues for women despite millions of women who have suffered following abortion and a wealth of research data. In the interview, Stotland maintained no causal link between abortion and a greater risk of depression and drug abuse has been found. Pro-life groups have "succeeded in convincing the American public" that abortion harms women, Stotland said. "It's a rule of thumb that if you want to get a law passed, you have to tell anecdotes that grab people," she said, alleging that pro-life groups make up the problems. ACTION: Send complaints to 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825, Arlington, Va. 22209-3901 phone: 703-907-7300 email: apa@psych.org.Full story at LifeNews.com.

Vogue Magazine Under Fire for Promoting Partial-Birth Abortions New York, NY (LifeNews.com)

-- Vogue magazine is striking a pose in its January issue with an article glorifying a woman who had a partial-birth abortion and including a picture of her and her daughter wearing the latest fashions. Pro-life advocates complain the story makes the gruesome three-day-long abortion procedure seem fashionable. In its story, "Private Lives," the magazine claims Greenwich Village New York resident Lot Campbell needed to have the abortion. In the article, Campbell describes how her water broke 22 weeks into the pregnancy and that her doctors claimed the baby would not survive. Campbell's life and health were never in jeopardy but she justifies the abortion by saying that she wanted to spare the baby from more pain. "I chose what I believe was the path of least suffering, for myself, my husband, our future children, and mostly for the baby inside me," she says. ACTION: Speak out on the Vogue article by emailing talkingback@vogue.com or participate in the Vogue online forum at http://boards.style.com/forum.jspa?forumID=4. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Jack Kevorkian Speech at University of Florida Nears, Complaints Continue Gainesville, FL (LifeNews.com)

-- The emailbox of University of Florida president Bernie Machen has been flooded every since LifeNews.com first spotlighted an upcoming speech Jack Kevorkian plans to give there. Now that the presentation is less than a week away, pro-life advocates are turning up the volume on the complaints. Machen's office says he has received more than 1,000 emails all with the same message -- cancel the speech by the nation's foremost euthanasia advocate. Kevorkian's address is planned for Tuesday night at the O'Connell Center and is sponsored by the speaker's bureau of the campus student government. The speech would be his second following his release from prison for killing a disabled man and showing the death on national television. Ironically, it would occur in Florida, the site of the debate over the life and death of Terri Schiavo. His first speech, addressing prison reform issues, came at Wayne State University. Janine Sikes, a university spokeswoman, told the Independent Alligator newspaper that she and Machen plan to respond to every email criticizing the event. She claimed many of the emails are identical in form, perhaps indicating a group is sending pre-written messages to its supporters to send to Machen. ACTION: You can also contact the University of Florida President J. Bernard Machen at 352-392-1311 or president@ufl.edu. Full story at LifeNews.com.

United Nations Begins Five Months of Commissions, Some Promote Abortion
by Samantha Singson

The United Nations will begin the 2008 season next week, convening the first annual meetings of its various commissions in Geneva and New York. Several important social policy issues affecting human life and the family are coming up for debate. On Monday the CEDAW committee will convene its first session in Geneva. This will be the first year the committee will split its time between UN headquarters in Geneva and New York ostensibly to harmonize with the other human rights instruments under the Geneva-based Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR). More than a dozen countries are scheduled to be reviewed this year including Morocco and Nigeria whose pro-life laws have come under fire from the CEDAW committee in previous reviews. Almost half of CEDAW committee member terms will expire at the end of 2008 and elections are planned for June. Governments will be called upon to submit nominations from March to May. Three controversial CEDAW committee experts will see their terms expire at the end of the year. Anamah Tan from Singapore, Magalys Arocha from Cuba and Silvia Pimentel from Brazil, have used the country review process, as well as their positions as UN officials more broadly, to pressure countries to liberalize their abortion laws despite the fact that the treaty is silent on abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Kansas Attorney General Morrison Never Paid Special Abortion Prosecutor Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com)

-- Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison is coming under fire again for failing to do his part to hold abortion practitioners accountable there. This time, he's coming under scrutiny for failing to pay a special prosecutor his predecessor hired to investigate late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. Former top state attorney Phill Kline hired Don McKinney to help investigate whether or not Tiller was doing illegal late-term abortions. Six months after submitting a bill for his work, Morrison has yet to pay McKinney. McKinney was supposed to receive $185 an hour and up to $25,000 from the state in compensation for his work. In July, he submitted an invoice showing $35,000 worth of work for the state. Morrison fired McKinney in January 2007 and eventually charged Tiller with 19 counts of doing illegal late-term abortions. AP said a Morrison representative told it that the attorney general is reviewing the finances. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Catholics for a Free Choice Attempts to Confuse Voters Source: Catholic News Agency

A new ad campaign from the group, Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC), has drawn criticism from the Catholic Association for confusing the Catholic position on abortion and attempting to sway voters in the presidential primary elections. Michael Hernon, president of the Catholic Association stated that “Catholics for a Free Choice will stop at nothing to advance abortion rights. Their latest campaign puts a new spin on their dizzying logic that promoting abortion is somehow ‘Catholic’. Catholics stand for life and will not be confused by the latest attempt of this abortion front group.” The campaign entitled “Prevention NotProhibition”, focuses on how policy makers can assist in the prevention of abortion through contraception, healthcare for all, sexual education and access to childcare, according to a CFFC press release. It is the belief of the CFFC that, “Despite the protestations of a few conservative bishops, there is strong support among Catholics for policies that would reduce the need for abortion. The presidential election is a perfect place for serious candidates to take a stand and state that they too support providing women with real choices when it comes to dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. According to the Catholic Association, “the new campaign tries to confuse voters into believing that CFFC wants to ‘reduce the need for abortion’. They are trying to sway Catholics to vote for candidates who support abortion on demand but support other policies that may reduce the need for abortion. Catholics and people of good conscience can not tolerate or cooperate with the evil of abortion. Other policy initiatives do not mitigate a candidate's support for abortion on demand.” The US Bishops’ Conference has called CFFC "practically speaking, an arm of the abortion lobby in the United States and throughout the world," funded by wealthy private foundations that seek to "promote abortion as a method of population control."

Abortion Objector Fights Back with Military Lawsuit
Source: OneNewsNow.com

A U.S. Coast Guard officer who was denied a religious exemption from taking a Hepatitis A vaccination has filed a lawsuit against his military service. The basis of Officer Joseph J. Healy's suit is that the vaccination would conflict with his Catholic beliefs. All active duty Coast Guard members have to be vaccinated with one of two Hepatitis A vaccines, both of which are derived from cells taken from the lung tissue of babies who were aborted at 14 weeks gestation, according to Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which is representing Healy. That is where his objection to the vaccination comes in. Healy requested the exemption in a memo to superiors, arguing it was in line with hisand the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion. But a supervisory officer whom ADF identifies as Captain Brent Pennington denied the request, while disagreeing that the immunizations violate the Catholic faith. ADF attorney Matt Bowman contends it is simply a case of an individual's religious freedoms being denied -- and that no members of the U.S. military should ever be forced to "make an unconstitutional choice between between honoring their country and honoring their faith." The legal group says a motion has been filed asking for a temporary injunction against the vaccination while Healy's legal case moves forward. The case is Healy v. United States Coast Guard.

Grand Jury Investigates Tiller
Source: CitizenLink

A grand jury convened Tuesday in Sedgwick County, Kan., to investigate notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller. Retired Judge Paul Buchanan was appointed to oversee the jury. Kansans for Life and Operation Rescue, which gathered petition signatures to launch the investigation, asked Buchanan on Tuesday to appoint a special prosecutor. The groups believe District Attorney Nola Foulston, who is assigned to the case, is aligned with abortion-rights interests, The Wichita Eagle reported. The petition was worded to require the grand jury to use an independent prosecutor, but Chief Judge Michael Corrigan told the Associated Press he doesn’t think a special prosecutor is necessary. Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, told Lifenews.com: "Kansans for Life is distressed that Judge Corrigan seems to be willfully dismissing the decisive wording of the petition. Corrigan's remarks cause us to fear the worst — for Kansas citizens, born and unborn." Tiller faces 19 counts on charges of violating a section of the state abortion law that requires a second and independent doctor's consent before a late-term abortion can be performed.

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January 25, 2008

West Coast Walk for Life Sees Record 25,000 Pro-Life People Participate
San Francisco, CA (LifeNews.com) --

A record 25,000 pro-life people participated in the annual West Coast Walk for Life over the weekend. The event is a way for residents of western states to be able to demonstrate their pro-life values without having to make the trip to across the country to Washington for the annual March for Life. The event also focuses on more modern presentations of the pro-life message to the more liberal populations on the Left Coast. Walkers paraded down the streets of San Francisco after hearing from Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gianna Jessen, a woman who survived an abortion, at a pre-walk rally. Only about 250 pro-abortion protesters showed up to hurl insults and wave their banners in the faces of those attending the walk. "I was aborted and did not die," Jessen told the crowd. Instead, "the abortionist signed my birth certificate." King compared the pro-life movement with the struggle her family endured for civil rights for African Americans. "My uncle said injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere," King said. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Women and Men Involved in Abortions Have Tremendous Impact on Debate Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- As Americans mourn 35 years of legalized abortion, some of the men and women involved in abortion decisions say the pain and regret from the abortion has prompted them to become strongly pro-life. These post-abortive men and women are the face of not only the pro-life movement but of the problems abortion causes. Matt Barber, the director of policy and cultural issues for Concerned Women of America told LifeNews.com about his personal account of how abortion affects men. "Abortion doesn't only hurt women and kill children; it can also deeply wound the men it touches," he says. "I'm sad to say that I know this from personal experience." "Along with the realization that a woman has chosen to end the life you helped to create, comes a profound sense of loss and guilt," he explains. Barber talks about the kinds of daydreams he has about the baby who could have been -- and recounts experiences similar to women who terribly regret their abortions. "I can't know for sure, but I sometimes imagine my first child was a girl," he said. Today she would have been about 22 years-old, finishing college, and, I suspect, ready to take on the world." Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Life Group Wants United Methodist Church to Abandon Pro-Abortion View Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- A pro-life organization for members of the Methodist Church says it hopes the Protestant Christian denomination will reform its long-standing pro-abortion views. The group hopes Methodists will be open to the message of Bishop William Willimon of Birmingham, who will be delivering a pro-life speech on Tuesday before the March for Life. LifeWatch, the unofficial United Methodist pro-life caucus, says Bishop Willimon will address the group in the chapel of the United Methodist Building, headquarters of the pro-abortion United Methodist Board of Church and Society. LifeWatch will urge the governing United Methodist General Conference this spring to affirm the sanctity of all human life. Mark Tooley, the executive director of the United Methodist Action Committee of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, told LifeNews.com that the church has lost significant numbers of members because of its pro-abortion views and that it was time to consider reform. Full story at LifeNews.com.

March for Life Mourns 35 Years of Abortion, Sees Hope for Pro-Life Future Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- Hundreds of thousands of pro-life people turned out for the annual March for Life in Washington, braving cold temperatures to take a stand for the right to life of unborn children. While marchers mourned 35 years of legalized abortion, many sounded a hopeful theme for a pro-life future and think the decision will eventually be reversed. As with other recent marches, the number of young adults and high school and college students impressed organizers and provided another reason to be optimistic. "People will get on a bus and travel 24, 48, 72 hours, some even further," Concerned Women for America president Wendy Wright told the Washington Times. "That's such an immense dedication, which is striking when you consider it is not on behalf of privileges or rights for themselves." Catholic University wound up hosting more than 1,600 high school and college students from other states at their campus to help them afford attending the event. David Talcott, an Indiana University graduate student, said what happens in the future depends on whether the pro-life movement will continue to stay motivated. “It’s just a matter of whether or not you see human life as important enough to defend,” Talcott said. He urged pro-life advocates to do more than rally for life this month, but to remain active throughout the year. Full story at LifeNews.com

Planned Parenthood Will Spend $10 Million Pushing Pro-Abortion Candidates Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- Planned Parenthood unveiled a new campaign on the thirty-fifth anniversary of Roe v. Wade to raise $10 million to use to promote pro-abortion candidates for the White House and Congress in 2008. The announcement is a signal to pro-life groups to get started immediately to organize and fund-raise for the elections. Planned Parenthood's action fund made what it called a "bold announcement" on Tuesday to try to bring one million pro-abortion voters to the polls in November. Should the abortion business be successful, it would represent an unprecedented get out the vote effort and give the pro-abortion side a leg up on trying to wrest the White House from pro-life advocates. Calling their program the “One Million Strong Campaign,” Planned Parenthood leaders outlined a grassroots effort to win the presidency and add to the pro-abortion majorities they have in the House and Senate. Full story at LifeNews.com..

Hillary Clinton Confirms She Will Appoint Pro-Abortion Judges as President Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- It's no secret that Hillary Clinton has promoted abortion at every turn as a senator and presidential candidate -- forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions and voting against a partial-birth abortion ban repeatedly. Clinton confirmed she will take her pro-abortion views to the White House in a statement on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. At the top of Clinton's agenda as president would be the appointment of Supreme Court judges who would uphold Roe and keep abortion legal for another 35 years. "When I'm President, I will appoint judges to our courts who understand that Roe v. Wade isn't just binding legal precedent," Clinton said in the statement LifeNews.com obtained. She said the judges would share her view that Roe "is the touchstone of our reproductive freedom, the embodiment of our most fundamental rights, and no one - no judge, no governor, no Senator, no President - has the right to take it away." Full story at LifeNews.com.

Barack Obama Celebrates Abortion, Warns Supreme Court Could Reverse Roe Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama celebrated Roe v. Wade on Tuesday as hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates came to the nation's capital to condemn it. Obama said he's worried the Supreme Court is just one vote away from overturning the infamous ruling that allowed virtually unlimited abortions. "Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it's never been more important to protect," legalized abortions. Obama said the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision last April in upholding the national ban on partial-birth abortions could be a harbinger of things to come. "With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women's fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade," Obama said. "The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election," he added. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Poll Finds Majority of Americans Don't Want Abortion in Health Care Coverage Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- A new poll finds that a majority of Americans oppose including coverage of abortion in any universal health care plan put forward by presidential candidates. Pro-life advocates say the results are a warning to pro-abortion candidates such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that their health care initiatives should be abortion-neutral. The scientific survey by Wilson Research Strategies asked 801 likely voters if they would be more or less likely to support a presidential candidate who "proposed a national health care plan with universal coverage of abortion at taxpayer expense." A clear majority of voters (56%) signaled that they would be "less likely" to vote for a presidential candidate proposing universal abortion coverage compared to (31%) who would be "more likely" to support such a candidate. Intensity runs strongest among those opposed to the idea, with 45% indicating they would be "much less likely" to vote in favor of a candidate whose plan forced taxpayers to pay for abortion, compared to 19% who would be "much more likely" to endorse such a candidate. Opposition to universal abortion coverage crossed nearly every demographic including sex, race, region, and age. Full story at LifeNews.com.

NCAA Moves Toward Protecting Pregnant Athletes From Needing Abortions Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- The NCAA has adopted a new rule to help pregnant student athletes not have to choose between having an abortion or losing their scholarship or place on a team when they become pregnant. The new rule comes after exposes that students at Clemson University and University of Memphis had abortions rather than lose their sports standing. The Division I Management Council voted 46-5 to support a proposal that prevents schools from retracting scholarships to student athletes who become pregnant. According to a report in the Daily Aztec, the student newspaper at San Diego State University, San Diego State assistant athletic director Mike May said the vote should solve the problem of letting each university determine its own policy. "This is certainly something that protects the student athlete," May said. "We are all in favor of that." "The more things you can gather to assist student athletes (the better), and this is another example of the NCAA taking a step toward doing that," he said. The NCAA Board of Directors approved the new rule on Monday and it will go into effect starting on August 1. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Another National Survey Finds Americans Believe National Media Biased Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- Another national survey finds that Americans think the mainstream media is biased in its treatment of abortion and other political issues. The poll finds Americans say the media too often sides with the pro-abortion or liberal position on sensitive political topics. The latest poll comes from the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute and it finds a declining number of Americans believe the content of what they see and hear in the mainstream media news reporting. The poll asked Americans to discuss how much they trust particular media outlets and MSNBC and PBS came in at the bottom with just four percent and three percent, respectively, saying the trust the content of those broadcast stations. The Fox News Channel came in with the most trust among Americans, though a scant 27 percent said they trust the content they see there. CNN placed second with 14.6 percent of Americans saying they trust its content. In 2003, CNN led Fox News by a 23.8 to 14.6 margin. NBC News was found trustworthy and accurate by just 10.9 percent, ABC News by seven percent, the local news channels by 6.9 percent, CBS News by 6.8 percent, and CNBS by just .6 percent of Americans. Full story at LifeNews.com

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January 30, 2008

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- Pro-life groups indicated broad support for President Bush's remarks in Monday night's State of the Union address calling for ethical stem ell research and a ban on human cloning. They are asking members of Congress to act on Bush's recommendations by approving a bill to ban both reproductive and research-based cloning. "President Bush emphasized the importance of his policy which supports stem cell research to find treatments and cures for disease, so long as such research does not require harming or killing humans," National Right to Life associate director Darla St. Martin told LifeNews.com. "President Bush's unwavering policy has been vindicated as researchers have discovered new, ethical sources for stem cells that show great promise," St. Martin added. Douglas Johnson, the pro-life group's legislative director, told LifeNews.com that he's worried Congressional Democratic leaders will continue trying to push for bills to promote cloning or overturn Bush's limits on funding embryonic stem cell research. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Abortion Group Castigates Ted Kennedy for Endorsing Barack Obama Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- The feud within pro-abortion circles continues between supporters of Barack Obama and those who back Hillary Clinton. Just one day after NARAL called on abortion advocates to stop attacking each other, the New York chapter of NOW castigated Ted Kennedy for endorsing Obama over Clinton. Kennedy, the long-time pro-abortion Massachusetts senator, has backed his Illinois colleague and NOW activists in New York are upset. “Women have just experienced the ultimate betrayal," the NOW chapter said in a statement. "Senator Kennedy’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic presidential primary campaign has really hit women hard." Despite his adamant pro-abortion views, NOW-New York said Kennedy has given them the "greatest betrayal." "We are repaid with his abandonment," the group added. Full story at LifeNews.com.

British Abortion Business Admits Birth Control Doesn't Prevent Pregnancy Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com)

-- A British-based abortion business that operates abortion centers internationally admitted on Tuesday that women in Australia are getting pregnant and having abortions despite the use of birth control. Abortion advocates have long claimed that the advocating contraception is better than abortion limits in reducing abortion figures. However, Marie Stopes International released a report Tuesday showing that more than half of women who have an unplanned pregnancy were using birth control at the time. Some 43 percent were on oral contraceptives when the pregnancy occurred and another 27 percent reportedly used a condom at the time. MSI acting Chief Executive Officer Jill Michelson told Macquarie National News that the answer to the problem is more education about birth control. "Women will be shocked when they see these figures because I think they believe fairly strongly that the contraception they're using is covering it," Michelson said. "The other thing it brought out also, it's not only the pill that's not working. People still get pregnant after having sterilization," Michelson admitted. "People still get pregnant after all forms of contraception." Full story at LifeNews.com

Barack Obama Tries to Fool Pro-Life Voters Soft-Selling His Pro-Abortion Views by Laura Echevarria

In interviews with Beliefnet, Christianity Today and CBN, Mr. Obama has been trying to reach Evangelical Christians who, up to now, have paid him little attention—and with good reason. Barack Obama has been an ardent supporter of abortion on demand. He has actively worked against any protective legislation—he even opposed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. As a lawyer who taught Constitutional Law, it’s disingenuous for Mr. Obama to say that we should pass laws that “prohibit” abortion only if there is an “exception for the mother’s health.” He knows that such laws would not prevent a single abortion because of the Court’s definition of health. But Mr. Obama wants Evangelical Christians to believe he’s not pro-abortion and he wants our votes. Well, as one of those Evangelical Christians Mr. Obama is trying to court, I say phooey. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Roe v. Wade Left Abortion Stain on America's Character With Millions Killed
by Ken Conner

This past Tuesday marked the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since that fateful decision, over 48.5 million children have perished at the hands of abortionists. One out of every four children conceived in America will be killed by an abortionist. In 2003 alone, more children died from abortion than the total number of Americans who died in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War combined. Statistically, the womb has become the most dangerous place in America. This war against unborn children has been waged by white-coated mercenaries who are paid to carry out surgical strikes against defenseless human targets. Their techniques are effective—1.21 million casualties in 2005. Not content to merely wage war against the unborn in the operating room, however, the abortion industry has expanded the theater of action. Full story at LifeNews.com..

NARAL President Tells Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama to Stop Abortion Fight Washington, DC (LifeNews.com)

-- NARAL president Nancy Keenan has had enough -- not of pro-life Americans educating the public about abortion's risks and dangers but of Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama fighting each other. Since before Iowa voters went to their caucuses, the two have been going at it. The debate started with Clinton attacking Obama on votes he case while he was a member of the Illinois legislature. Clinton claims Obama did pro-abortion activists a disservice by voting "present" on several abortion-related bills, including one that would make sure babies who are born alive after a botched abortion get proper medical care. Obama responded to the attack by saying he worked in concert with Illinois Planned Parenthood. In an editorial she emailed to supporters, Keenan says the fact is that both are strongly pro-abortion candidates. "Sens. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama are fully pro-choice. NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed all three candidates in their previous campaigns," Keenan says. "This focus on nonexistent differences between the pro-choice candidates distracts from the real goal." Full story at LifeNews.com.

California Abortion Center Owner Charged With Unlicensed Medical Practice Los Angles, CA (LifeNews.com)

-- Officials in Los Angeles are pursuing a case of practicing medicine without a license against southern California abortion business chain owner Bertha Bugarin. Los Angeles police began the case last fall but details are only now coming to light after a pro-life organization obtained records from authorities. A special unit of the LA Police Department called the Health Authority Law Enforcement Task Force raided a handful of area abortion centers last August. There, they found 47-year-old Bugarin and her sister doing abortions and both were arrested. According to a September 1 statement by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, Bugarin allegedly managed four abortion businesses and has been charged with practicing medicine without a license. The office said Bugarin is charged with five felony counts of practicing medicine without certification and two misdemeanor counts of dispensing medication without a license. Full story at LifeNews.com.

John McCain Defends Embryonic Stem Cell Research Backing in Florida Stop Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com)

-- Republican presidential candidate John McCain has taken a pro-life position on abortion, but his views on embryonic stem cell research are a cause for concern among many pro-life advocates. The Arizona senator defended his position in support of the destructive research at a Florida campaign stop. McCain said he continues to support forcing taxpayers to fund the research, which involves the destruction of human life and has never helped patients, but called his support for it “a very agonizing and tough decision." “All I can say to you is that I went back and forth, back and forth on it and I came in on one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had, in favor of that research," he said. "And one reason being very frankly is those embryos will be either discarded or kept in permanent frozen status," he explained. “I understand how divisive this is among the pro-life community," McCain added. He also said he hopes that the science will advance to the point that embryonic stem cell research is unnecessary. Full story at LifeNews.com..

Election Could Undermine Gains Pro-Life Movement's Made on Abortion
by Gary Bauer

What does Planned Parenthood do when it’s not destroying unborn babies? It raises money to help elect politicians who will pass laws that will make it easier for Planned Parenthood to kill babies. Planned Parenthood is already raking in record amounts of taxpayer-funded subsidies (over $305 million in 2006) and record-high revenues (close to $900 million in 2006). Now America’s largest abortion seller is planning to get directly involved in politics. Planned Parenthood has unveiled the “One Million Strong” campaign, during which it will spend $10 million in trying to persuade one million people to vote for pro-abortion candidates in 2008. When combined with Emily’s List, America’s largest political action committee, which hopes to exceed the $46 million it raised in 2006, and NARAL, which plans to spend another $10 million, it’s clear that the abortion industry is desperate for its political agenda to prevail. This desperation is not surprising. There’s been good news recently for the pro-life cause. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Pro-Abortion Clergy Bless New York Abortion Business as "Sacred Ground" Albany, NY (LifeNews.com)

-- In an act that is sure to generate guffaws from the pro-life community, a group of pro-abortion clergy in Schenectady held a ceremony at a local abortion business to bless it and call it "sacred ground." Religious officials who are pro-life call the ceremony sacrilegious by blessing a place that kills the life God creates. Rev. Larry Phillips of Schenectady's Emmanuel-Friedens Church dedicated the ground, according to a report in the Albany Times Union. He called the abortion facility "sacred and holy ... where women's voices and stories are welcomed, valued and affirmed." Phillips said the abortion business was "sacred ground where women are treated with dignity, supported in their role as moral decision-makers ... sacred ground where the violent voices of hatred and oppression are quelled." Another minister prayed for safety for the abortion business and a local rabbi blew a shofar to dedicate the building as an honorable place in the community. ACTION: Send your complaints to Rev. Larry Phillips, c/o Emmanuel Baptist-Friedens United Church of Christ, 218 Nott Terrace Schenectady, NY 12305, Phone 518-374-4114 or email ebcfried@nycap.rr.com. Full story at LifeNews.com.

Ohio Supreme Court Won't Hear Teen Abortion Case Where Parents Shut Out Cincinnati, OH (LifeNews.com)

-- The Ohio Supreme Court has decided it won't hold a hearing on a case involving a secret abortion on a 14-year-old girl who was a victim of rape. A Cincinnati couple is upset that their daughter had an abortion at the Planned Parenthood facility without their knowledge or consent.

The girl's parents filed a lawsuit against the abortion facility for violating the state's parental notification law by not telling them of her abortion, which may have been coerced. The girl in the case provided an incorrect phone number to Planned Parenthood officials for notification. Instead of giving the abortion center her parents' phone, she gave the number for her 21-year-old boyfriend. Planned Parenthood appealed a judge's decision requiring it to turn over to the family's attorney the abortion records of all women under the age of 18 to determine if there have been other cases and to show how the abortion business handles such cases. In August, the 1st District Court of Appeals determined that Planned Parenthood doesn't have to give the couple's attorney record of abortions done on other teenagers. Family attorney Brian Hurley appealed the decision to the state's high court, which decided Wednesday on a 4-3 vote not to hear the appeal. Full story at LifeNews.com

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