Category: Abortion

Lesbian for Life or Gay Baby-Killer? Does Elena Kagan Support Roe v. Wade?

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Privately, she’s gay enough for Obama, and her anti-military record at Harvard should get Elena Kagan lots of kudos from “Blame America First” Democrats. But the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List wants Senate Republicans to get the new Supreme Court nominee’s abortion views on the record:

Today, in response to President Obama’s nomination of Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court, Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List, offered the following statement:
“Elena Kagan has no judicial record from which to determine her position on Roe v. Wade, but she has publicly criticized the 1991 Supreme Court ruling to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to restrict funding from groups that performed or promoted abortion, and has also criticized crisis pregnancy centers. Additionally, President Obama has said he prefers a Supreme Court nominee who would take a special interest in ‘women’s rights’ — a barely masked euphemism for abortion rights. Through the judicial confirmation process the American people must know where Elena Kagan stands on the abortion issue, and it is the responsibility of the U.S. Senate to find out.
“Ms. Kagan’s publicly demonstrated prejudices do not lend themselves well to blind justice. . . . Women will never be served by ignoring the rights of unborn children. When evidence of personal preference appears in any Supreme Court nominee’s judgment, it should give all women pause.”

And here’s Charmaine Yoest at Americans United for Life:

“Elena Kagan has strong ties to abortion-advocacy organizations and expressed admiration for activist judges who have worked to advance social policy rather than to impartially interpret the law. Americans United for Life will oppose President Obama’s attempt to reshape the Court as an activist, pro-abortion institution through which unelected judges will work to impose an out-of-the-mainstream social agenda upon the American people.”

The “Elena Kagan gay” meme has been good for blog traffic today, but most conservatives don’t care what she does in her private life. Before you can have a private life, however, you first have to have a life. So why would Elena Kagan deny the right to life of the unborn innocent?

The Pill at 50: Unhappy Un-Birthday

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The 50th anniversary of The Pill — oral contraceptives were first marketed in May 1960 — has resulted in a good deal of thoughtless journalism. Gail Collins spins a wondrous myth of The Pill as the pharmaceutical sunshine of a sexual-scientific enlightenment.  The Associated Press calls The Pill “America’s favorite birth control method,” which is not true:

Female Sterilization is the method used by 17.8% of American women 15-44. . . . Oral Contraceptives are second at 17.3%.

Well, having cleared up that little misconception about contraception, how about the idea that The Pill, by erasing worries about pregnancy, enhances women’s sexuality? Also not true:

Researchers found a link between using hormonal contraception and female sexual dysfunction, a condition most often caused by a lack of desire.
The findings back up previous anecdotal evidence that the pill reduces libido and also calls into question the long term use of the contraception especially in ever younger women. . . .
The researchers found that the women who took hormonal contraception suffered the most sexual dysfunction . . .
Dr Irwin Goldstein, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, said this had huge implications for women at the beginning of their sexual lives.
“The irony is that these women are provided a medication that enables freedom from reproductive worries but these same women are not provided information that there are significant adverse sexual effects that may ensue,” he said.
“Agents that interfere with the hormonal milieu of women may adversely affect their sexual lives.”

To anyone with a basic knowledge of biology, isn’t it just common sense that there would be serious side effects from administering artificial hormones to an otherwise healthy person? And yet the Contraceptive Culture has become so pervasive that this common-sense skepticism is seldom even voiced, let alone taken seriously — until people start dying. Continue reading The Pill at 50: Unhappy Un-Birthday →

John Boehner, Defender of Life

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At a rooftop reception in downtown D.C. Wednesday evening, House Minority Leader John Boehner received the 2010 Henry J. Hyde Defender of Life Award from Americans United for Life. Boehner, a close friend of the late Rep. Hyde, became very emotional during his remarks accepting the award, as you can see in these video clips.

Boehner was “recognized both for his extraordinary leadership in the fight to prevent taxpayer-funded abortion and for his work to protect women’s health in his own state of Ohio,” according to the AUL press release. (More about Boehner’s pro-life record here and here.) Photos from the reception:

AUL President Charmaine Yoest and the honorable honoree.

Dave Weigel of the Washington Post attempted to absorb some social conservatism by osmosis.

Charmaine Yoest and Ben Domenech of the New Ledger with the lovely Mrs. Domenech, who is cheerfully subjugated by the oppressive patriarchy. (Remember, it’s National Offend a Feminist Week.)

What a pleasant surprise to learn that the proposed new “BoehnerCare” program will include free dental work for bloggers.

Peter Shinn gets tanning advice from the GOP’s answer to George Hamilton.

Mary Claire Kendall promised the first waltz to Charles Hamilton.

Heather Smith and Christine Hall can’t resist the man with the pink camera.

Shortly after this photo was taken, Derek Hunter held aloft his cigarette lighter and shouted, “Freebird!”

UPDATE: Welcome, Jill Stanek readers! (For the uninitiated, Jill is kind of the Instapundit of pro-life bloggers.)

Kentucky Pro-Lifers Accuse Rand Paul of Faking His ‘100%’ Pro-Life Credentials

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Press release from Kentucky Right to Life:

In a recent fund raising letter from the Rand Paul U.S. Senate Campaign, Rand Paul claims that he “scored 100%” on the Kentucky Right to Life PAC pro-life survey.
Rand Paul filled out, signed and faxed the KRLA PAC survey to the KRLA PAC office on February 11th at 10:29 am. Rand Paul did not score 100% on the questionnaire.
This is one reason why Rand Paul was not eligible for the Kentucky Right to Life PAC Endorsement for the U.S. Senate seat.

KRL-PAC provides documentation that Paul omitted an answer to one of the questions on the survey. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports:

In a recent fund raising letter from the Rand Paul U.S. Senate Campaign, Rand Paul claims that he “scored 100%” on the Kentucky Right to Life PAC pro-life survey.
Kentucky Right to Life is the largest pro-life group in the state. In February, its PAC endorsed Secretary of State Trey Grayson of Boone County in the Republican U.S. Senate primary.
“Trey Grayson has always been 100 percent pro-life. He’s demonstrated it by being chairman of the board of the pro-life New Hope Center” in Crestview Hills, said PAC Treasurer Susan Kenney.
She said PAC had concerns with statements Paul has made about the morning-after pill and a claim that he “probably would” support a ban on partial birth abortion.

(Hat-tip: Lisa Graas.) Meanwhile, Sarah Palin appears in Paul’s new TV commercial:

And to be “fair and balanced,” here’s an ad for Paul’s GOP primary opponent, Trey Grayson:

KENTUCKY SENATE: KEY RACE ROUNDUP

Speaking Of ‘Based On Belief’

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by Smitty

Salon again, this time Tracy Clark-Flory, emphasis mine:

On Tuesday morning, Nebraska passed a bill outlawing abortions at 20 weeks based on the belief that fetuses begin to feel pain at that stage.

Couple of questions:

  • By what magic means does a fetus become a baby?
  • By what additional magic means does nerve tissue incapable of transmitting the information we call ‘pain’ suddenly acquire the ability to do so?

Repeat after me: life is life is life.
The intellectual capacity of humans to create artificial distinctions through the power of language does not, itself, render those artificial distinctions valid.

Pro-Lifer: Bart Stupak Retirement Is ‘Just the Beginning of the Fallout’

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Woke up this morning to the shocking news that Bart Stupak will retire from Congress — confirmation of the effectiveness of the Tea Party movement and of the pro-life movement:

“Bart Stupak entered into a sham political deal that couldn’t be defended with a straight face.  He put politics over principle and now even the politics are catching up to him.  This is just the beginning of the fallout over pro-abortion health care reform.  Ramming federal funding for abortion through against the will of the American people was a radioactive vote.”
— Charmain Yoest, President & CEO, Americans United for Life Action

Michelle Malkin has more reaction. Stupak apparently figured out something that a lot of other people are going to figure out soon enough: The Blue Dogs will be an endangered species this fall. That Dog Won’t Hunt.

Hmmm. Why Did Jeri Thompson Endorse Sue Lowden Today?

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LAS VEGAS — Just settling in for an hour or two of reporting before I head out to Searchlight this afternoon (it’s 9:30 a.m. out here) and I saw this column by Jeri Thompson in The American Spectator:

In the Senate race to defeat Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid, we have several candidates who want the opportunity to challenge and defeat him. Each candidate has different skills and a particular constituency. But to defeat a sitting Senate Majority Leader will take someone with the “total package” — an experienced leader, who has run the political and public gauntlet, who can raise money on a national level and who can clearly communicate their principles. For Nevada, that person is Sue Lowden. . . .
While there are other Republican candidates in this race, I am convinced Sue is the only conservative Republican with the toughness and experience to go toe-to-toe with former boxer Harry Reid. Harry seems to be acknowledging that, because Sue is the only Republican who Reid is regularly attacking. . . .

And something weird at the end:

On the issue of life, the past week has made it clear to us what it means to be a “pro-life” Democrat. Sue has made it clear she knows where she stands and how she will legislate. She will be pro-life.

Weird, I say, because . . . well, is there a pro-choice Republican in this primary? Not that I know of. So why does Jeri feel the need to assert Lowden’s pro-life bona fides?

Maybe my initial impressions of this Nevada primary are screwy, but I thought Danny Tarkanian was the grassroots populist “outsider” candidate and Sue Lowden was the GOP Establishment candidate. So why is Jeri Thompson backing Lowden and making these pro-life rumbles? Then I checked Tark’s site and found this:

I believe life begins at conception and that we have a responsibility as human beings to protect that life if at all possible. That is why I oppose abortion, except where the mother’s life is threatened. I also oppose federal funding for abortions.

Ah, now I see. This could be trouble for Tarkanian. But wait a minute, what’s this story in the Las Vegas Sun?

In the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, Danny Tarkanian has hit fellow candidate Sue Lowden — a casino owner worth an estimated $50 million and former chairwoman of the state Republican Party — with the socialist label.
In a recent automated telephone message, Tarkanian tells listeners his “latest message for freedom” — accusing Lowden of supporting the Wall Street bailout, which led to taxpayer money propping up the auto and insurance industries. “That’s not freedom. Let’s call it what it is: socialism,” Tarkanian says.

Oooooh. This is getting good . . .

UPDATE 1:35 p.m. ET: Just got off the phone with Lisa Graas, talking about contested GOP primaries this year. Couple of items at Memeorandum:

No plans to go to Utah on this trip, but I’ll be in Arizona on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, I’ve got plans for some serious shoe-leather reporting this afternoon. Just keep hitting the tip-jar, folks.

Late Zombie Health Care Updates: Executive Orders, Whip Counts, Slurs, Epithets and More Wholesome Fun! UPDATE: Stupak SELLS OUT! Yoest Declares ‘PRO-LIFE EMERGENCY’!

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Please visit our LIVE CHAT!

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. ET: Just posted this at the American Spectator blog:

You’ve probably never heard of Dan Benishek, but he’s a Republican running against Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who struck a deal with Nancy Pelosi that is believed to be the decisive vote to pass ObamaCare.
More than 1,700 people have already joined Benishek’s Facebook page.
Liberty First PAC has added Stupak to its target list, and Stupak is probably going to be on a lot of other lists pretty soon.

Of course, we don’t know yet whether the bill will pass, but Pelosi just got 224 votes on a procedural motion, with 28 Democrats voting no. At this point, it looks like she’s got votes to spare. Anybody who ever voted for a “moderate” Democrat is getting a long-overdue lesson today.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m. ET: Another GOP challenger for Stupak is homeschooling Republican mom Linda Goldthorpe.

UPDATE 4:13 p.m.: Stupak press conference underway, Charmaine Yoest of Americans United For Life just sent this e-mail:

Dear Friend of Life,
I am writing to you from inside the US Capitol building. And I wanted to give you an update and also tell you about a special last-minute need for action.
Tension is high here in the buildup to tonight’s vote. As I write I can hear protestors outside. You may have heard the news reports that some pro-life Members of Congress are being offered a “deal” from the White House on health care reform legislation. That is true. In exchange for a “yes” vote on this bill, President Obama promises to issue an executive order that he claims will address our concerns about taxpayer funding for abortion.
Let me be clear, this will not prevent taxpayer-funded abortion.
Here is a statement I made to members of the press.
Here is detailed legal analysis from Senior AUL Action attorney Bill Saunders from today’s Washington Examiner.
Friends, please do NOT believe news reports that this fight is over. It isn’t over until the last vote is counted!
If you live in their districts, please call these eight Members of Congress immediately to encourage them to stand strong for Life. Let them know that the only acceptable way to stop taxpayer-funded abortion is a NO vote. Implore them not to take any “deal” on an executive order.
Please also take a moment to forward this email to anyone you know who lives in these districts.
Rep. Marion Berry(D, AR) – (202) 225-4076
Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D, PA) – (202) 225-5406
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D, PA) – (202) 225-6511
Rep. Mike Michaud (D, ME) – (202) 225-6306
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D, ND) – (202) 225-2611
Rep. Bobby Rush (D, IL) – (202) 225-4372
Rep. Vic Snyder (D, AR) – (202) 225-2506
Rep. Bart Stupak (D, MI) – (202) 225-4735
Rep. Harry Teague (D, NM) – (202) 225-2365

UPDATE 4:53 p.m. ET: Fellow bloggers, Bob Belvedere has your Google-bomb of the day: Bart Stupak Is a Cheap Crack Whore.

EXPECT FURTHER UPDATES . . .

UPDATE 4 p.m. ET: Ready for the Stupak press conference? Allahpundit’s following the whip count now.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m. ET: My DC source just called to say that “pro-life” Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Hell) has scheduled a 4 p.m. press conference. Politico now reports that the disgusting swine’s finally got a deal to vote “yes.”

UPDATE 3:11 p.m. ET: The vote on the “motion to proceed” passed with flying colors. It looks like Pelosi’s got votes to spare. Stupak’s vote is probably worthless at this point. Ace is blogging. And over at Hot Air, Ed’s continuing Stupak Watch 2010. “Pro-life Democrat”! What a colossal joke . . .

UPDATE 2:44 p.m. ET: “Pro-life Democrat” Bart Stupak (D-Hell) is still a firm, courageous “maybe,” as Philip Klein of the American Spectator reports:

Right now, it’s looking more and more like Democrats have the votes. And while Rep. Bart Stupak is still saying publicly he’s a no — for now — he is still working on a deal in which President Obama would issue an executive order on abortion, and several news outlets have been saying that he’s onboard.

Kathryn Jean Lopez has text of the proposed executive order. And yeah, we can trust Obama. Just like we trust “pro-life Democrats.”

UPDATE 1:37 p.m. ET: In the live chat room, we get this:

“Stupak to CNN producer Lesa Jansen: “I’m still a no…There is no deal yet. Its a work in progress.”

We await further developments as Stupak continues to peddle his worthless ass like the cheap crack whore he is . . .

UPDATE 1:20 p.m. ET: Reuters reports that “pro-life Democrat” Bart Stupak (D-Hell) just got his 30 pieces of silver:

U.S. Democratic Representative Bart Stupak, who opposes abortion, will vote for healthcare legislation later on Sunday, in a move that could help pave the way for passage of the bill, MSNBC reported.

What a miserable swine . . .

Politico: “House Democrats have picked up critical health reform ‘yes’ votes from a group of anti-abortion lawmakers, including Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, according to senior Democratic aides. Democrats believe a breakthrough with Stupak’s group – based on the promise of an executive order to be issued by President Barack Obama reinforcing a ban on federal funding for abortion – will help give them the 216-vote majority needed to pass reform on Sunday.”

UPDATE 1:28 p.m. ET: We will put an asterisk next to this report. If there’s anything more unreliable than a “pro-life Democrat,” it’s “senior Democratic aides” and MSNBC. Speaking of slurs and epithets . . .

UPDATE 11:45 a.m. ET: “Pro-life Democrats”:

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said Sunday morning that he is close to striking a deal with the Obama administration on abortion provisions.
“We are close to getting something done,” Stupak said in an interview with MSNBC.

Is there anyone — anyone — who still doesn’t understand the utter uselessness of voting for “pro-life Democrats”? Do I have to draw you a picture? If you want to kill babies, vote Democrat. If you think it’s probably a bad idea to kill babies, vote Republican. 

Some of you will ask, “What if I want to elect a two-faced lying fool who can’t even spell the word ‘principle’? Wouldn’t that be a good reason to vote for a pro-life Democrat?”

No. That would be a good reason to vote for John McCain.

UPDATE 11 a.m. ET: Can the president “fix” the bill through executive order? Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life is profoundly skeptical:

The proposal to address the problem of abortion funding in the health care bill through use of an Executive Order is a tacit acknowledgement that the bill as it stands is pro-abortion legislation. Both the President and the Speaker have repeatedly denied this stark fact.
The American people overwhelmingly do not want to see their tax dollars go toward abortion and that is why Speaker Pelosi cannot mobilize a majority coalition for passage. Her multiple attempts to construct esoteric parliamentary maneuvers to circumvent the clear will of the people is unconscionable. This Executive Order proposal is wrong in principle because it would be designed to retroactively address an issue after Congress, as the direct representatives of the people, failed to do so. . . .
Executive Orders can be undone or modified as quickly as they are created. This is a blatant attempt to subvert democracy and should be quickly quashed . . .

PREVIOUSLY: Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has the beginnings of a whip count, but frankly I’ve lost track. I just heard Martha MacCallum on Fox News call the legislative process “fascinating.” The process is actually tiresome and annoying.

I’ll update with more, in a few minutes. I’m extremely tired. We’ll have a live chat at noon.