Values Voter News

Calif. Attorney General changes wording to proposed marriage amendment-

"Original state wording: Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The measure would have no fiscal effect on state or local governments. This is because there would be no change to the manner in which marriages are currently recognized by the state. (Initiative 07-0068.) (Full Text)

Jerry Brown revision: Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments."

Calif. amend. suit claims 'prejudicial' ballot-"Supporters of a proposed constitutional marriage amendment in California filed suit against the state attorney general July 29, charging that a new ballot title and summary is inflammatory and could lead voters to oppose the measure...Prior to the California Supreme Court's May 15 decision that legalized "gay marriage," the ballot title read, "Limit on Marriage," and the first sentence of the summary read, "Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."...The title and summary -- the language voters see on the ballot when entering the voting booth -- was changed recently by California Attorney General Jerry Brown. A Democrat, Brown changed the title to read, "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry" and the first sentence of the summary to read, "Changes California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry." The new ballot summary also says the amendment's fiscal impact would result in "potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars" to state and local governments over the next few years....Meanwhile, opponents of Proposition 8 also have filed a lawsuit, seeking to change wording in the California ballot pamphlet, a government-printed pamphlet mailed to every registered voter that provides arguments by supporters and opponents of each initiative. Opponents of Proposition 8 want to see eliminated an assertion by supporters that "gay marriage" would impact what is taught in kindergarten, The Chronicle reported...."In health education classes, state law requires teachers to instruct children as young as kindergarteners about marriage," the language submitted by Proposition 8 supporters states. "If the gay marriage ruling is not overturned, TEACHERS WILL BE REQUIRED to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. We should not accept a court decision that results in public schools teaching our kids that gay marriage is okay." Such an argument is viewed as common sense by many conservatives, but nevertheless hit a nerve among Proposition 8 opponents. In their written rebuttal -- each side gets a chance to rebut the other side's arguments in the pamphlet -- Proposition 8 opponents wrote, "NO CHILD CAN BE FORCED, AGAINST THE WILL OF THEIR PARENTS, TO BE TAUGHT ANYTHING about health and families issues. CALIFORNIA LAW PROHIBITS IT. And NOTHING IN STATE LAW REQUIRES THE MENTION OF MARRIAGE IN KINDERGARTEN!" But even if Proposition 8 opponents succeed in changing the ballot pamphlet, supporters still will make the argument as part of their public campaign. The pro-Proposition 8 website (at ProtectMarriage.com) currently states that "public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum" and that if Proposition 8 isn't passed, "schools will now be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergarteners."

Gay-marriage opponents decry new Prop. 8 language as 'inflammatory'-"Marriage's research has found that never in the 50-year history of statewide ballot measures has the attorney general used an active verb like "eliminates" in the title of a ballot measure, Kerns said. Proposition 8 supporters are seeking an expedited hearing in Superior Court in Sacramento, as soon as this week, to challenge the attorney general's title and summary. The attorney general's office plans to defend the ballot language in court. "We carried out our statutory duty to accurately summarize the measure," said Gareth Lacy, Brown's spokesman. "In this case, we take into account an extremely important Supreme Court decision that affirms the right to same-sex marriage."...One veteran political observer charged that Brown's possible run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination was a factor in the ballot language. "It's clear to me that what Jerry Brown is trying to do is deliver for a political group that is crucial to his election for governor," said Tony Quinn, a political analyst with historic ties to Republicans who called Brown's phrasing "unethical." "The title ought to be 'Marriage,' or 'Rules Regarding Marriage,' - something that is clearly neutral in its language," Quinn said. "If you had a very conservative attorney general and he had a title to Proposition 4" - a constitutional amendment that would require a waiting period before the termination of a minor's pregnancy - "that said, 'Saves the Lives of the Unborn,' or something like that, you'd have howling from the liberal side."

'Gay' marriage battle goes to kindergarten-"The California Education Code clearly states that schools would be required to provide instruction to children as young as kindergartners that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage," Kerns told WND. "The code specifically states that the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage must be taught."

November 4, 2008, General Election Official Voter Information Guide - Public Display-Scroll down to Propisition 8.

Panel Discussion on California Same-sex Marriage: The Impact on Religious Liberty-Excellent must see hour and a half video or audio for downloading of a conservative panel and one dissenter as they discuss this issue before packed media and answer questions afterwards.

Also, see Marriage Amendment/African-Americans were determining factor for Bush in 2004? Is this why liberal media silent about this issue? and Dobson may endorse McCain depending on VP. Obama making no headway amongst Evangelicals and actually doing worse then Kerry and scroll down to California to see more on this issue like "The California Supreme Court on Thursday rejected efforts by homosexual advocacy groups to remove Proposition 8 from the November ballot."

For Obama and McCain and their position on this amendment see, Obama's Divisive Faith Based Initiative/Update on NM Photography case/www.BoycottMcDonalds.com/Arizona Marriage Amendment and McCain under sub heading McCain vs Obama on state Marriage Amendments

Video Report Update on Marriage Amendments



Facing NYCLU Lawsuit, Insurance Company Agrees to Provide Spousal Benefits to Married Same-Sex Couples-"Less than three weeks after the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Western New York for denying spousal health care benefits to a validly married lesbian couple, the health insurance company has announced it will begin covering married same-sex couples"

See It's not about sex!! The Great Worldwide Divide

70 Million dollar lawsuit

'Bible' lawsuit may be sign of things to come-"Pro-family advocates say Christians should get used to legal harassment such as the lawsuit a homosexual activist recently filed against two Bible publishers. Bradley LaShawn Fowler of Canton, Michigan, does not like the fact that the Bibles produced by Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers both accurately convey God's prohibition against homosexual behavior. So he is suing in federal court, seeking $10 million from Thomas Nelson and $60 million from Zondervan..."We know that the homosexual activists are now targeting, essentially, born-again Christians and committed Catholics and Mormons who oppose their agenda. They're out to re-write the Bible, to say that the Bible really does not condemn homosexual practice, which it obviously does," says LaBarbera. "Ultimately, we believe they'll be doing more and more of these lawsuits against Christians and Christian companies." LaBarbera says the suit reminds him of British actor and homosexual activist Sir Ian McKellen, who has admitted to ripping pages that contain scriptures condemning homosexuality out of Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms....The judge in the case has denied Fowler's request for a court-appointed attorney, saying the court had "very genuine concerns" about the legitimacy of the claims in the lawsuit."

Ex-Con Turned Author Files 70 Million Dollar Lawsuit Against Bible Publishers-"A 70 million dollar lawsuit has been filed against Bible publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson by a homosexual man who has alleged that their version of the Bible refers to homosexuality as a sin, therefore violating his constitutional rights which he states has caused him emotional distress. Ex-con turned author, Bradley LaShawn Fowler, filed the federal suit with the Eastern District of Michigan's U.S. District Court on Monday, however a judge refused to appoint him a lawyer for his suit against Thomas Nelson. "The Court has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims," the judge wrote. Fowler has now decided to represent himself in both cases. He claims that Zondervan had manipulated Scripture by using the term "homosexuals" in 1 Corinthians 6:9 in both their 1982 and 1987 revised edition Bibles. He also believes the reference to homosexuality were deleted in later versions by the publishing company without informing the public. He says since his family pastor uses the older Kings James Version which contains the term "homosexual," he is considered an outcast by his family. Fowler, who is now 39, is suing for compensation of 20 years of "emotional duress and mental instability."...Zondervan spokesperson Tara Powers pointed out that their company only publishes Bibles, they do not translate them. "Since Zondervan does not translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations we publish," says Powers, "we are not in a position to comment on the merits of how a word should or should not be translated." "We rely on the scholarly judgment of the highly respected and credible translation committees behind each translation and never alter the text of the translations we are licensed to publish. We only publish credible translations produced by credible biblical scholars," Powers added. Zondervan has 20 days to respond to the claims, according to Fowler."

Anglican Church

UK

Anglican Church in Crisis over Sexuality-"The top Anglican bishop in Sudan is calling for V. Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual bishop in New Hampshire, to "resign for the sake of the church," according to an Anglican expert. Homosexual ordination "is not what is found in the Bible" and is "not the norm of the Anglican world," the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul - Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan - said at the communion's once-a-decade Lambeth Conference, which runs through Aug. 3. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and the Anglican family plan to settle the issue that threatens to break apart the fellowship: homosexuality and the Bible. "We all know that we stand in the middle of one of the most severe challenges to have faced the Anglican family in its history," Williams said Sunday in an address to the 650 bishops at the assembly....The 77-million-member Anglican Communion is a global fellowship of churches that trace their roots to the missionary work of the Church of England. It is the second-largest group of churches in the world, behind Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians. But divisions have been widening as strictly Bible-interpreting Anglican churches in the developing world have become the largest and fastest-growing churches in the communion. Last month, a group of Anglican conservatives from Africa, Australia, and elsewhere formed a new network within the fellowship that challenges Williams' authority, but stops short of schism. Some of the network organizers are attending Lambeth, but most are staying away. No one expects the Anglicans to resolve their problems by the assembly's end. Organizers instead hope their discussions will help clarify what direction they should take to stay together. Source: VirtueOnline.org, CBN News, The Associated Press Listen to more of Anglican expert David Virtue's comments to CBN News by clicking play."-See video and see Let us assume for the sake of argument you weren't a Christian? under subheading of Christianity: "The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) -- representing more than half of the world's practicing Anglicans -- wrapped up a weeklong meeting in Jerusalem, where more than 1,100 lay and clergy, including nearly 300 bishops, declared their allegiance to traditional biblical and church teachings and vowed to combat liberal trends, including the acceptance of homosexual leadership....Pledging to work against forces of "militant secularism and pluralism" within their Christian denomination, conservative Anglican leaders formed a new umbrella organization here at the weekend."

Protest disrupts bishop's sermon-"He began his sermon by saying how sad it was that the Anglican Communion was tearing itself apart. But he was stopped when the man in the congregation shouted that the schism was the bishop's fault."-See video of this interesting protest.

Gay US bishop on UK visit-"The world's first openly gay bishop, whose ordination caused a split in the Anglican church, is visiting the UK."-A great video interview not that there was a balance of interview but notice the questions asked and the response. Is it a scriptural response or not? Notice also, what he equates those who disagree with his interpretation of the scriptures too and even the Bible itself. As you listen to this interview review what Christ said in Mark 7:7-9: "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."

For Values Voter Contrast see:

It's not about sex!! The Great Worldwide Divide "While the majority of those planning to boycott the conference in southeast England next month are traditionalists from Africa, where the majority of the world's Anglicans (Episcopalians) live, they are being joined by some high-profile colleagues based in the West....Halfway through Gafcon, organizers and participants continue to stress that the crisis is about biblical authority, not sex. Mainstream media coverage has focused on allegations of homophobia, and reports of divisions among the participants over the way forward....He also accused liberal bishops of "persecuting" conservative clergy in North America" and "J.I. Packer, one of the world's most renowned evangelical theologians, left the Anglican Church of Canada, citing "poisonous liberalism" in the church body....Packer, 81, who was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the world by Time magazine in 2005....Packer, who has outlined a conservative Christian theology in his 1973 bestseller Knowing God, described the Bible as "absolute" authority on divine truth and that it clearly describes homosexuality as a grave sin"

I would encourage all to read thru the scriptures and see which of the two has violated the teachings of Jesus above. Who is laying aside the commandment of God and in its place teaching for doctrine the commandments of men? Again notice this is not about sex but whether or not one party or the other is properly representing what the scriptures teach on this subject.

Religious Freedom

Termination and Eviction Over Art With a Scripture Reference Results in Federal Lawsuit -"Today, a couple who worked and lived at Thornwood Terrace Apartments in Lake City, Florida, a government-subsidized facility owned and operated by The Hallmark Companies and Hallmark Management, is filing suit in federal court against Hallmark after they were terminated and evicted for displaying artwork referencing a Scripture verse in their office. Daniel Dixon was manager and lead maintenance technician at the apartment complex where he lived with his wife, Sharon, who was also a manager."....For at least eight years before they were fired and evicted, the Dixons had a 50"x26" piece of stained glass artwork featuring flowers hanging on the wall in the management office where they worked. On the glass was a partial Scripture verse in 1-1/4 inch letters that read: "Consider the Lilies…Matthew 6:28."...The Dixons were granted unemployment compensation over the objection of Hallmark, because Hallmark did not substantiate its claims of misconduct by the Dixons. The Dixons are filing suit today, claiming violations of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the Fair Housing Act) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibit discrimination in housing and employment on the basis of religion. The lawsuit requests punitive damages against Hallmark for reckless indifference to the federal laws. Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: "For eight years, without any complaint, Daniel and Sharon Dixon displayed floral artwork containing a citation to Scripture in their office. They were suddenly terminated as a result of the religious bigotry of one supervisor, even though no one objected to the picture. The Dixons lost their jobs and were booted out on the street, solely because artwork in their office made reference to the Bible. The Constitution and federal law prohibit religious discrimination. There must be ‘room in the inn’ for religious viewpoints."

Marcia Walden (See What do these three black women have in common and what does Obama have to do with it? )



Ga. counselor fired for honoring professional, ethical obligations-"On Aug. 21, 2007, a woman employed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sought counsel from Walden, a counselor at Computer Sciences Corporation, regarding a same-sex relationship. Walden explained that the client’s needs would conflict with her religious beliefs and that, therefore, it would be unfair for her to serve as the woman’s counselor. As a result, Walden referred the individual to a colleague. After meeting with the client, Walden’s colleague told her that she had done “the right thing” by referring the woman to him. However, the client later filed a complaint against Walden which led to an investigation and religiously-based questioning from Walden’s supervisors, including pressure to hide her religious beliefs from future clients. She was later terminated as an employee. A copy of the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, in Walden v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/WaldenComplaint.pdf."- Listen to 9 minute interview of attorney for Marcia Walden.

Other cases

Must hear 20 minute MP3 on recent occurences against people of faith in the name of Gay Rights.-Attorney for ADF interviewed.

UK

U.K. Police Constable Fights Back against Pro-Homosexual Police Force over Discrimination-"Graham Cogman, a 49 year-old police constable living in North Norfolk, claims that his professional life is being turned into a "nightmare" because he objects to the support of the police force for the homosexual political agenda. "The blatant support for homosexual rights in Norfolk Police makes being a Christian officer extremely difficult," he told the Evening Standard, claiming that a "small number" of colleagues are using the police internal investigations system to intimidate him. Cogman attends the Church of England and has served in the police for over 15 years after 12 years in the Royal Air Force. He is taking the force to the Employment Tribunal after several years of what he says amounts to harassment over his religious beliefs and religiously based objections to homosexuality. "I am not undertaking this action lightly but I have to make a stand when things become so blatantly biased against me just because I hold a faith." He told media this week that he has been under investigation several times after objecting to wearing ribbons to mark "Gay History Month." An email was circulated by "gay liaison" officers encouraging staff to wear a pink ribbon on their uniforms. His trouble started when he sent an email around saying that he thought homosexual activity was sinful. For this, he was barred from using the internal message system. Similar incidents over other homosexual events led to a full disciplinary hearing after he sent a fellow officer information on the Christian symbolism of the rainbow and some objections to homosexual behaviour. He was advised by his lawyers to plead guilty to a breach of the police code of conduct or risk losing his job. Cogman was fined £1,200 or 13 days' pay. "

California

San Jose professorfired for answering student’s genetics question-"Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom and Pacific Justice Institute filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of a former San Jose City College biology professor fired for answering a student’s in-class question about heredity and homosexual behavior. “Teachers shouldn’t be punished for doing their job as educators. They know that students can’t be expected to make good, well-informed decisions if they’re only hearing part of the story,” said ADF Litigation Staff Counsel David Hacker. “College officials have stripped a professor of the right to discuss competing theories and ideas in the classroom, something which represents the foundation of higher education.”....Firing a teacher for responding to a student’s question with the truth is ridiculous,” said Hacker. “The textbook itself points out that the causes of homosexual behavior are a subject of debate in the scientific community. This teacher did nothing more than explain this fact. She is a dedicated and highly qualified professional who has been horribly wronged.” A copy of the complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, in Sheldon v. Dhillon is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/SheldonComplaint.pdf.

'Suspicious' circumstances surround prof's firing-"June Sheldon was teaching her human heredity class on June 21, 2007, when a student asked how heredity influences homosexual behavior. Sheldon referred the student to the textbook, which explains that some scientists claim homosexuality is a genetic trait, while others claim it is influenced by environmental factors. When another student complained, the school launched an investigation and then fired Sheldon. David Hacker, litigation counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), is representing Sheldon in her suit against the school....It is also ironic, Hacker notes, that the student who complained about Sheldon relaying the information from the textbook to her students had dropped the class the morning before the allegedly offensive discussion took place. He would only say that the circumstances do look "very suspicious" when asked if the complaint was possibly a set-up."

EEOC

EEOC Issues New Guidance On Issues of Religious Discrimination-"Yesterday the EEOC issued consolidated and updated guidelines for investigating and analyzing charges of religious discrimination. New Section 12 of the EEOC Compliance Manual also contains numerous examples to help employers understand their obligations under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Business Week quotes an EEOC spokesman who said the new guidelines were issued as a result of a growing number of religious discrimination complaints. The number doubled between 1992 and 2006."

Poll: Voters Don't Know Barack Obama Pro-Abortion, John McCain Pro-Life-"A new poll finds half of voters don't know that presidential candidate John McCain is pro-life on abortion or that Barack Obama is pro-abortion. The survey shows that, when pro-life voters know that information, they support McCain by a three-to-one margin. A new poll from the Pew Research Center finds voters are more interested in the 2008 election than they were the 2004 election, but they are less informed on where the candidates stand. Pew finds that just 52 percent of voters rightly identify Obama as pro-abortion ("pro-choice" in the poll's terminology") and only 45 percent know John McCain is pro-life on abortion. A stunning 38 percent of voters don't know where either Obama or McCain stand on the issue of abortion. Some ten percent wrongly identify Obama as pro-life and 17 percent think McCain supports abortion. This information gap is important and a subsequent question shows whichever side of the abortion debate can frame the candidates first will likely help one of them win the election. Among pro-life voters who know where the two candidates stand, McCain trounces Obama by a whopping 70-24 percentage point margin. Surprisingly, Obama has a one percent lead (43-42 percent) among pro-life voters who are uninformed about their abortion positions."-After all the media coverage on Obama the Research shows this. What is the media reporting on during all those reports? Is this because America doesn't care or is this because America is unaware due to poor media coverage with no emphasis on this issue at all? See Hype: The Obama Effect movie coming out and the side of a story you may be missing. "The World Is Powering Up While America Powers Down" for further evidence that public is unaware of other issues despite all the media coverage. What is the media covering? See Obama and the Born Alive Infant Protection Act for Obama's position on abortion. See Notice what's ignored in the media: Voters most interested in Obama's Position on Abortion, Obama's Faith with no Wright, Success in Iraq and Africa for most searched about topic on Obama's web site. See McCain for more on McCain.

Obama and Fatherhood

See What is the most popular search on Obama's web site???? and MIT Pro-Life students vs Obama's "moral" concern for his once unborn daughters and hearty empathetic Judges for insight into how Obama views an unwanted pregnancy (unborn son or daughter) in the context of that child being his possible grandchild. When does Grandfatherhood begin!!!???

The Physiology of Motherhood

Recent brain imaging studies conducted in The Human Neuro-Recent Brain imaging Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas show that a mother is triggered physiologically by as little as a picture of her child. The brain images captured while 28 different first-time mothers looked at their infant showed that the brain's reward centers are activated by an increased blood flow, thus creating a "natural high" effect. These same areas (associated with thinking, movement, behavior and emotion) are activated in many cases of addicts when their addiction is satiated. Observers have inferred from these findings that abortion's ramifications are not only 'spiritual and emotional' but also physical, as the developing physiological relationship between the child in the womb and the mother is suddenly cut off, causing a physiological 'cold-turkey' effect. "When a mother is abruptly and violently disconnected from her child there is a natural trauma. She has undergone an unnatural death event. In many cases, she has violated her moral ethics and natural instincts. There has been a crushing blow to her image of 'mother who nurtures, protects and sustains life,'" said Theresa Burke, the founder of Rachel's Vineyard in an interview with Zenit. The biological nature of the mother-child relationship and the resultant trauma caused by abortion has been confirmed in numerous studies."

Bush for values voter contrast

Bush backs healthcare pro-lifers, redefines abortion-"The Bush administration recently attempted to redefine abortion while protecting pro-life advocates. According to a recent New York Times report, the Bush administration wants to legally squelch discrimination against pro-life hospitals, clinics, medical schools, and medical researchers."

Pill Wars: Catholic Bishops and Senator Clinton Clash over Conscience Rights for Doctors-"The US Catholic Bishops are now entering the political fracas over a Bush Administration plan to protect the conscience rights of health care professionals that object to abortifacient contraception, crossing swords with Sen. Hillary Clinton and other abortion-supporters in the process. "This issue provides self-described 'pro-choice' advocates with an opportunity to demonstrate their true convictions," stated Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee (USCCB) on Pro-Life Activities. "Or is the 'pro-choice' label a misleading mask for an agenda of actively promoting and even imposing morally controversial procedures on those who conscientiously hold different views?" Clinton and abortion advocates are apoplectic over a draft proposal from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that defines abortion to include "any of the various procedures - including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action - that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation." The proposed HHS regulations would ban individuals and entities receiving federal funds from discriminating against health care professionals and institutions that have moral or religious objections to abortion and abortifacient birth control. Sen. Clinton along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and 104 Congressman have objected vociferously to the proposed HHS rules, saying health care professionals would then be free to refuse to dispense IUDs, the morning-after pill, emergency contraception, and other abortifacient forms of birth control."

Christian Medical Group Highlights Media Bias on Bush Abortion Proposal-"A medical group for Christian doctors and nurses is highlighting media bias found in a New York Times story about a new Bush administration proposal. The policy would help pro-life medical professionals avoid employment discrimination if they don't want to participate in abortions. In its news story covering the idea, the Times presented a typical one-sided article quoting only abortion advocates complaining about the idea. That upset Jonathan Imbody, the vice-president for governmental relations at the Christian Medical Association. The news story in question, "quotes only sources opposing draft regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services" Imbody said. He said there is little reason for abortion advocates to oppose the proposal because it only "would require recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will adhere to federal laws related to abortion and other controversial procedures." "These regulations would enforce existing federal laws that uphold the right of health care professionals to make professional judgments on ethical issues," he said. He said the proposal follows the 35-year-old Church amendment which prevents federally-funded institutions from requiring individuals to provide or assist in abortions if they have moral or religious objections. Imbody said it also follows the Hyde-Weldon amendment that Congress approved in 2005 that prohibits federal agencies from dispersing money to state and local governments that discriminate against health care professionals who choose not to perform or refer for abortions. He said the Bush administration plan is needed because the laws aren't being followed."

Pro-Abortion Congressmen Draft Letter to Bush Against Protecting Doctors-"Over 100 members of Congress have crafted a letter to President Bush calling on him to "halt all action" on a policy proposal that would help protect medical professionals who don't want to be involved in abortions. The draft would also help medical clinics that don't want abortions done on site. The Bush administration wants to make sure hospitals and other medical facilities that receive federal funding follow federal laws and guarantee they will not refuse to hire medical staff who refuse to participate in abortions. The facilities would be required to sign written certifications as a prerequisite for receiving the federal funds. The letter follows on the objections of abortion advocates who assert that the Bush administration is making contraception abortion with the definitions in the proposal. The letter says the draft regulation's "definitions are so broad as to go far beyond abortion politics and threaten virtually any law or policy designed to protect women's access to safe and effective birth control."

Ohio

Ohio Abortion Center Evicted After Complaints From Local Pro-Life Advocates-"The landlord of the office center has given the abortion facility officials three days to pack up and move out. G&H was accused of not providing complete information about the fact that it does surgical abortions."

China

Congressional resolution urges China to halt forced abortions-"With just two weeks to go to the Olympics, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has unanimously approved legislation calling on the Chinese government to immediately "end abuses of human rights of its citizens" in order to ensure that the Olympic games take place "in an atmosphere that honors the Olympic traditions of freedom and openness." Rep. Chris Smith, the lead Republican cosponsor of the bill (HRes 1370), urged his colleagues to support the resolution and added two amendments: one which calls on the Chinese government to abandon its coercive population control policy that includes forced abortion and a second amendment which urges the release of at least 734 political prisoners. "China's coercive population control program has imposed unspeakable violence, pain and humiliation on hundreds of millions of Chinese women, many of whom suffer lifelong depression as a consequence. Massively violated by the state, it is no wonder more women commit suicide in China than anywhere else in the world," said Smith, who held more than 25 hearings on human rights abuses in China as chairman of House human rights committees."-See South Dakota makes US History: "the abortion will terminate the life of a...living human being". The only abortion clinic in the state closes. and scroll down to Congress and the UN for blocked US funding of the UNFPA on this issue. The Bush Administration has withheld 235 million dollars over the past 7 years from going to UNFPA because of this issue!!!!

New Book Cites US and UN-Manufactured Scares over Population Growth-Along with former Secretary of Defense and World Bank President Robert McNamara, Draper convinced Congress to earmark unprecedented levels of funding for USAID population programs between 1967 and 1971. So much money flooded into the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) that officials did not know how to spend it. This, along with growing skepticism in the third world of U.S. backing - then 90 percent of the total - led Draper to call for the creation of a fund centered at the UN which would "sanitize" U.S. funding, give the appearance of international consensus, and circumvent national governments. The initiative became the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)."

Personhood Amendments

Georgia

Ga. Pro-Lifers Encouraged by County's Support of 'Personhood Amendment' -"Georgia pro-lifers were encouraged Tuesday after residents of the state’s fastest growing county voted overwhelmingly in support of an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution that would grant the paramount right to life to “each human being from the moment of fertilization until a natural death.” The vote, which was held in Georgia’s rapidly growing and booming suburban Forsyth County, drew levels of support that exceeded 64 percent....Becker said the recent development in Forsyth County gave pro-life advocates new hope after a proposed amendment was blocked earlier this year and failed to pass out of the House Judicial Committee. H.R. 536, dubbed the “Personhood Amendment” or “Human Life Amendment,” was introduced last year by House Rep. Martin Scott (R-Rossville) and defines all human beings from fertilization until natural death as persons and therefore protected under law. Had H.R. 536 passed, Georgia would have become the first state in the nation to establish the “personhood” of each of its citizens from fertilization until natural death.....Still, aside from the possible challenge such amendments could pose to Roe v Wade, proponents of the initiatives say their campaign has a political value as well. Georgia Right to Life’s Becker told the Los Angeles Times last November that it could energize dispirited conservatives during the 2008 presidential election. "It'll draw a lot of conservatives to the polls," he said, "in an otherwise lackluster presidential year." States that have recently witnessed efforts by pro-life activists similar to Georgia include Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, and Montana, among others."-See Colorado under Ballot Initiative for an amazing historical report on the Personhood Amendment on November 2008 ballot and South Dakota makes US History: "the abortion will terminate the life of a...living human being". The only abortion clinic in the state closes. under Mexico and the UN for Mexico's attempt at similar legislation in Mexico.

History in South Dakota is being made:

South Dakota makes US History: "the abortion will terminate the life of a...living human being". The only abortion clinic in the state closes. -"Monday was the first day that Planned Parenthood, which operates the only abortion business in South Dakota, had to comply with a new state law telling women the truth about abortion. Rather than tell women abortion kills children and has numerous risks, Planned Parenthood closed its doors...The Unruhs are currently involved in the Vote Yes For Life Campaign, which would effectively ban abortions in South Dakota, putting the finishing nail in the coffin of the abortion industry there. Text of the new law and links to the court decision can be found at http://www.voteyesforlife.http://www.voteyesforlife.com/."

More hats off to Bush for the Pro-Life and Pro-Women elected Judges. "The federal appeals court cited the portion of the Supreme Court's recent Gonzales v. Carhart decision on partial-birth abortion referring to the post-abortion problems women experience."

But ultimately it is:

"We are on the ballot-"Our initiative will be number 11 on the ballot. To God be the glory. Let it be written in history that the pro-life people of South Dakota obtained:….one of the largest number of petitions ever gathered for any initiative in SD history. (almost 50,000 with another 8,000 coming in after the petitions were delivered to Pierre.)…one of the highest percentage of valid signatures of any ballot initiative in SD history.And it was accomplished:…In two and a half months in one of the coldest winters in decades.…With a 100% volunteer effort.…With no out of state people gathering signatures."-God and His people are at work!!! Is there a new slave trade abolition like movement in modern history called the Pro-Life movement? Will one day abortion be considered as heinous as slavery!!! South Dakota may be in God's providential History book!!! We will have to wait and see and may never see it in our lifetime but many never did in times past either!!! For now South Dakota is!!!

Check out this argument for those compromising on this issue with Obama: "Burch says those who justify their support for Obama with the belief that he would enact policies to reduce abortions in America have yet to cite anything specific that he is willing to commit to in order to do that. "We would never allow a candidate to receive our support who says 'I want to reduce the number of slaves in America -- but I am 100 percent committed to keep slavery legal,'" the Catholic activist suggests. "We have to remember again what this is and what abortion is -- it is the taking of human life, it is destructive to women, [and] it's destructive to our country."-These are all quotes from different articles on the blog above. There is much more on McCain and Obama as they make this an issue in their compaigns even though NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS largely ignore it and as far as I can have flat ignored it (see more on Do Americans believe there is a media bias when it comes to coverage on Obama and McCain? concerning media bias). Check out this issue on the international scene and much more on this South Dakota blog.

Colorado and Mexico are attempting to make historical progress for the unborn

Also, in this blog as I already reported on the Historical ballot initiative in Colorado to define a human being as a being from fertilization (see Colorado under Ballot Initiatives), now Mexico has joined in to also, define life from fertilization (see subheading Mexico and the UN)

Another new post of great importance politically speaking for McCain:

Dobson may endorse McCain depending on VP. Obama making no headway amongst Evangelicals and actually doing worse then Kerry. On this blog you can check out recent polls and compare them to last election and note that Obama inspite of his efforts to reach for the evangelical vote is behind Kerry from last election amogst evangelicals and this inspite of all his attention in the media. But McCain is lagging behind Bush in this category so if McCain can pick up the right VP then Dobson has said he may endorse McCain which means that McCain may pick up more of the many undecided evangelicals to equal to Bush in the poll comparisons. I think many of us are waiting for McCain to make some actions that will let us know that issues like the unborn and family/religious issues are important. He has been saying all the right things publicly as I blogged on in a prior email at Obama's Divisive Faith Based Initiative/Update on NM Photography case/www.BoycottMcDonalds.com/Arizona Marriage Amendment and McCain scroll down to sub heading Good News on McCain which of course the media is to busy to inform but let us see if his say so/Pro-Life voting record matches his VP pick.

Hype: The Obama Effect Movie

Hype: The Obama Effect movie coming out and the side of a story you may be missing. "The World Is Powering Up While America Powers Down"-Featuring Jill Stanek "Jill Stanek Jill Stanek's commitment to Christ led her to risk her job, reputation, and friendships to stop the terrible practices of abortion and infanticide. Jill was a registered nurse at Christ Hospital in Illinois when she made the shocking discovery that babies were being aborted alive and allowed to die without medical care. Jill went public and has since become a national figure in the effort to protect both born and pre-born infants. In January 2003, Jill was named by World Magazine as one of the 30 most prominent pro-life leaders in the movement over the past 30 years. Jill writes about pro-life issues as a weekly columnist for WorldNetDaily.com. You can sign up to receive Jill's columns by email at her video and cd table after our event. Jill is a member of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. She and husband Rich have three children and four grandsons."-I find it providential that the Born Alive Infant Protection Act has its beginnings in Illinois (Obama's political home state) and became a national issue led by a Christian Nurse whose only opposition was Obama backed by a plan applauded by Planned Parenthood. Jill fought hard for the protection of babies that survive an abortion against Obama. See Obama's 10 reasons for supporting infanticide. This is quite a story from the Nurse who testified concerning this horrific happening. The movie is not only about this subject but much more concerning his radical liberal views on much more then abortion.

Comfort in Tragedy

When Life Is Changed Forever, Part 1 and When Life Is Changed Forever, Part 2. This is a true story of a mother who lost a young son and Godly comfort for those going thru such tragedies. Be prepared to cry but also, if you have friends or family that have gone thru such a tragedy this may be a great source of comfort. You can also, browse the other subject on this web site at: http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.3876235/k.8398/Advanced_Search.htm.

Take care all

Candidates' Policy Positions Still Not Widely Known-"While Barack Obama has been the dominant figure in the presidential campaign, both in press coverage and public visibility, most Americans say they do not know very much about his policy positions. Only 40% say they know a lot or a fair amount about his positions on foreign policy; 59% say they know just some or very little. These numbers are unchanged from early March. Even among Democrats, just 49% currently know at least a fair amount about Obama's foreign policy positions, while 50% know just some or very little."-And then you add to that the long primaries with Clinton you would think we would know more.

Hype: The Obama Effect-"Cast : Jill Stanek Jill Stanek's commitment to Christ led her to risk her job, reputation, and friendships to stop the terrible practices of abortion and infanticide. Jill was a registered nurse at Christ Hospital in Illinois when she made the shocking discovery that babies were being aborted alive and allowed to die without medical care. Jill went public and has since become a national figure in the effort to protect both born and pre-born infants. In January 2003, Jill was named by World Magazine as one of the 30 most prominent pro-life leaders in the movement over the past 30 years. Jill writes about pro-life issues as a weekly columnist for WorldNetDaily.com. You can sign up to receive Jill's columns by email at her video and cd table after our event. Jill is a member of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. She and husband Rich have three children and four grandsons."-Just one of the many cast of this movie I am looking forward to seeing. See Obama and the Born Alive Infant Protection Act for more on this issue. I find it quite providential that this all began in Obama's political home state of Illinois.

Gas, Oil and the Economy

Morning Bell: The World Is Powering Up While America Powers Down-"No matter what Barack Obama and Al Gore tell you, alternative energy sources cannot meet demand....Despite signing the Kyoto Protocol, countries across Europe are rapidly building new coal power plants. Germany plans to build 27 coal-fired plants by 2020. Italy plans to increase its reliance on coal from 14% today to 33% in just five years. In all of Europe, 40 new major coal power are set to be built in the next five years. In 2006 alone, China completed enough coal power plants to match all of Britain’s capacity. India plans to boost coal production by 50% by 2012 and quadruple it by 2030. While the rest of the world can’t build coal power plants fast enough, liberals have brought construction of coal power plants in the United States to a complete stop....High energy prices hurt rural and poor Americans the most. The Democrats have become the party of the rich. Rising energy prices do not hurt rich San Franciscans and New Yorkers as bad as they hurt middle-class Iowans and Kansans. Poll after poll shows that Americans desperately want to increase energy production. The rest of the world is increasing their energy production. Why can’t we?"

Why Democrats don't want to lower gas pricesSenator lets cat out of the bag on Bloomberg TV show-"A Democratic senator on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee inadvertently explained why her colleagues have no intention of ending the moratorium on offshore oil drilling or increasing the areas open for exploration and production – no matter how popular the idea might be with gas prices soaring. In an interview with Bloomberg TV's "Money and Politics" last night, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., explained Democrats don't want to increase supplies of oil and gasoline because they want to wean Americans off of petroleum products. Asked point-blank if Democrats in the Senate would consider how increasing the supply of oil would lower the prices that are pinching U.S. consumers, Cantwell replied: "Oh, we definitely want to move beyond petroleum. And so there will be a supply side offered by the Democrats and it will include everything from battery technology to making sure that we have good home domestic supply, and looking, as I said about moving faster on those kind of things like wind and solar that can help us with our high cost of natural gas." In other words, no...Farah says the only thing that can prevent the disaster of gasoline prices of $6, $7, even $8 a gallon in the near future is a general uprising of the American people."

Update to decision by 8th Circuit Court of Appeals see: Thanks to Bush appointed Judges: 5 Judges rule in favour of 2nd Amendment to 4 dissenting Judges. under sub heading Pro Life Supreme Court vs Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood Abortion Center Closes Instead of Following New Law-"Monday was the first day that Planned Parenthood, which operates the only abortion business in South Dakota, had to comply with a new state law telling women the truth about abortion. Rather than tell women abortion kills children and has numerous risks, Planned Parenthood closed its doors...The state law, which the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld last week, required abortion practitioners to inform every woman that she is terminating the life of a human being....The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the statute and, then, on Thursday, Planned Parenthood’s application to enjoin the statute following the appeals court decision failed. The measure specifically tells them to tell women "the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being," defined as a human being.It also requires that the abortion practitioner give women the contact information of a local pregnancy center, as well other information about her health risks and pregnancy support available. The federal appeals court cited the portion of the Supreme Court's recent Gonzales v. Carhart decision on partial-birth abortion referring to the post-abortion problems women experience. The court indicated "some women come to regret their choice to abort the infant life they once created and sustained. Severe depression and loss of esteem can follow.”-Where is the media? This is historic no matter what point of view you take on this. Either way South Dakota has recognize the humanity of the unborn and their lives are treasured there. See more below including a ballot initiative to ban abortion in South Dakota...

South Dakota abortionists evade work to avoid law-"Dr. Allan Unruh of Vote Yes for Life notes some of the requirements. "Abortionists who fly in have to inform a woman prior to an abortion, in writing, that she's terminating the life of a separate, unique, whole, living human being...that she's giving up her rights to her child, which is protected by the United States Constitution and the South Dakota Constitution...that she has a much greater risk of clinical depression and suicide, as well as suicidal ideation [and] that she also has a risk of infection and hemorrhaging and infertility afterwards and subsequent pregnancies with premature birth," Unruh explains. Plus, the abortionist must do a sonogram of the child and show it to the mother. Violators face potential civil and criminal charges. The court's ruling had an impact at the Sioux Falls Planned Parenthood facility, according to Unruh. "Monday the abortionists normally fly in to do these abortions. There were five women waiting to get abortions at 8 o'clock, and there was a big sign on Planned Parenthood that said closed, and nobody showed up," Unruh recounts. "At 10 o'clock, there was still nobody there yet, but the pro-life counselors were around these women who all ended up leaving."

Last Abortion Clinic in South Dakota Closes after Law Requires Patients be Informed of Possible Side Effects-"It remains unclear if the Planned Parenthood office has permanently ceased the practice of abortion. However, several women who were scheduled for abortions this week went to a pro-life center instead, where some have reportedly changed their minds about having abortions. "The closing of this clinic is historic in that South Dakota is, for the time being, the first abortion-free state," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "It didn't take the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and it didn't take a new President or a new Supreme Court. It took the courageous determination of pro-life heroes like Mr. Cassidy and the Unruhs who saw an opportunity to save lives and pressed on until their dream became victory." "We applaud their efforts and encourage other states to emulate their campaign," said Newman. The Unruhs are currently involved in the Vote Yes For Life Campaign, which would effectively ban abortions in South Dakota, putting the finishing nail in the coffin of the abortion industry there. Text of the new law and links to the court decision can be found at www.voteyesforlife.com."

We are on the ballot-"WE ARE ON THE BALLOT!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
To all the pro-life people of South Dakota who made it all happen.
YOU DID IT! Our initiative will be number 11 on the ballot.

To God be the glory.

Let it be written in history that the pro-life people of South Dakota obtained:
….one of the largest number of petitions ever gathered for any initiative in SD history. (almost 50,000 with another 8,000 coming in after the petitions were delivered to Pierre.)
…one of the highest percentage of valid signatures of any ballot initiative in SD history.

And it was accomplished:
…In two and a half months in one of the coldest winters in decades.
…With a 100% volunteer effort.
…With no out of state people gathering signatures.

Please visit our blog for more information.

We are so appreciative of the time and efforts you have put into gathering all of these petitions. May you be richly blessed for everything you have done “for the least of these.”

Planned Parenthood in Missouri loses dispute

Truth Truck 'Held Hostage' at St. Louis Planned Parenthood-"Apparently the police agreed. Officers made the Planned Parenthood security guards open the gate and allow the Truth Truck to leave as over 300 pro-lifers cheered. "You would think if Planned Parenthood didn't want their patients to see the Truth Truck, they would have let Mark drive on, instead of holding him hostage," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "By locking the Truth Truck into their parking lot, they were accomplishing our work for us!" Gietzen and the Truth Truck were in St. Louis to attend the Walls Of Jericho Event hosted by the Defenders of the Unborn.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS"

McCain and Obama making abortion an issue

McCain Takes Obama to Task on Abortion, Still Defends Embryo Destroying Research-"Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain came out swinging at Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in Kansas City Missouri over the latter's stand on abortion, reports the Wall Street Journal. McCain brought up his pro-life record on abortion at the meeting on Thursday, after a discussion about the problem of sexually graphic material on the internet. "I also would like to say one other thing very quickly to you - that is, I am proud of my record of protecting and advocating the rights of the unborn. I believe this is also an important issue," McCain told his audience, adding that the noblest words ever written were those in the Declaration of Independence that outlined the rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." "Life means the rights of the born and the unborn," McCain continued. "You can count on my active advocacy for the rights of the unborn." McCain then blasted Obama for opposing a ban on partial birth abortion. "My friends, that's a hideous procedure. It should never be allowed any place on earth," he said. Obama has said in recent days that he would not oppose a state ban on late term abortions with a health exception for the mother. He indicated that a health exception should cover serious health issues, and not mere "mental distress." The slight waffling on his 100% abortion-promoting record, however, has angered his abortion constituency. Obama subsequently explained that he would not oppose a state ban on late-term abortions in the case of women "feeling blue." The Wall Street Journal reports, however, that McCain continues to stand by his support for embryonic stem cell research."

Barack Obama Slams John McCain For Opposing Abortion, Activist Judges-"With pro-life advocates and John McCain's campaign criticizing his position in favor of unlimited abortions, Barack Obama struck back on Thursday. The Illinois senator put forward an absolutist position in favor of abortion and attacked McCain for wanting judges who don't make law from the bench. "I will never back down in defending a woman's right to choose," Obama said at a breakfast fundraiser with an internal campaign group called "Women for Obama." "That's what's at stake," Obama added, referring to control of the Supreme Court and whether abortion will remain legal and without limits for another 35 years. "Senator McCain has made it abundantly clear that he wants to appoint justices like Roberts and Alito -- and that he hopes to see Roe overturned," Obama said, according to an AP report. "I stand by my votes against confirming Justices Roberts and Alito." Obama also talked about the recent decision by Planned Parenthood to endorse his candidacy and said that he and McCain are far apart on abortion. Of the endorsement, he said it was hardly a "nail-biter."

Obama's abortion record telltale, says Catholic group-See "Burch says those who justify their support for Obama with the belief that he would enact policies to reduce abortions in America have yet to cite anything specific that he is willing to commit to in order to do that. "We would never allow a candidate to receive our support who says 'I want to reduce the number of slaves in America -- but I am 100 percent committed to keep slavery legal,'" the Catholic activist suggests. "We have to remember again what this is and what abortion is -- it is the taking of human life, it is destructive to women, [and] it's destructive to our country."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Abortion Numbers Plummet 14 Percent in 2007 as Centers Close-"New numbers are in from the state of Wisconsin on the number of abortions done in the state in 2007 and pro-life advocates are ecstatic that they show a decline of 14 percent. Last year, 1,313 fewer babies were killed by abortion as the number of abortions dropped from 9,580 in 2006 to 8,267 in 2007.
The abortion rate and ratio also dropped in the state -- meaning that fewer women are having abortions and more women who become pregnant are looking to keeping their baby or adoption.
The Wisconsin abortion rate, the number of abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age, now stands at 7 while the national rate hovers between 16 and 19. More importantly, the Wisconsin abortion ratio, the number of abortions per 100 live births is at 11 while nationally the number is about 20 percent. That means almost 90 percent of women who become pregnant in Wisconsin opt against an abortion. Wisconsin Right to Life tells LifeNews.com that it is happy about the new numbers and pledges to continue its educational and legislative efforts to reduce those numbers further. "By using a multi-faceted approach to abortion -- education, public policy, and direct assistance to women -- we are doing extraordinary things in Wisconsin," the group said. "Wisconsin Right to Life is extremely proud to be the lead organization on so many efforts that result in human lives saved."...The pro-life group says the decline in abortions may have come about because of the difficulty of finding abortion practitioners. "Planned Parenthood -- no crying here -- had to close its Milwaukee and Appleton abortion clinics for about seven months in 2007 because they couldn't find an abortionist," the group told LifeNews.com."

Congress and the UN

Congress To Fund Forced Abortions Overseas-"A Senate Committee and a House Subcommittee approved a bill that undermines two long-standing amendments that ensure U.S. tax dollars do not subsidize abortions overseas, nor facilitate forced abortions and sterilizations. The legislation Congress passed would increase funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which assists the Chinese government in its program of coercive abortion and sterilization. It undermines Kemp-Kasten, an amendment which bars tax dollars from going to organizations assisting programs that commit forced abortions and sterilizations. In addition, the Senate Committee overrode the Mexico City Policy, which prevents non-governmental foreign organizations who fund or support abortions from receiving federal aid from the United States. The President has vowed that he will veto any legislation that “weakens current Federal policies and laws on abortion, or that encourages the destruction of human life at any stage.” Wendy Wright, President for Concerned Women for America, said, “Congress wants to require American taxpayers to subsidize abortions abroad, including forced abortions. Americans do not want their tax dollars paying for abortion in the U.S. Yet a liberal majority in Congress is trying to force us to pay for abortions in other countries — paying for programs that forcibly abort women against their will.”-See Has Bush Done Anything Right??? more specifically point 4 pointing out Bush's first ever veto and reasoning ever since Democrats took control. And notice how much of an issue this is to the Bush Administration and if it weren't for his veto power??!!

UNPFA Loses $235 Million Due to Pro-Life Group's Efforts-"The Bush administration has once again withheld nearly $40 million from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), marking the seventh consecutive year that the U.S. government has refused the organization the funds. The Population Research Institute has issued a statement saying that it applauds this decision, which honors the Kemp-Kasten amendment of 1985 forbidding tax dollars from going to programs of forced abortion. "

Michigan

Wayne State University denies funds, accessto pro-life student group-“Universities cannot enforce policies designed to suppress student groups from presenting religious perspectives on societal issues,” said ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum. “Wayne State currently extends funding to student groups with a whole range of different views; it cannot single out this one for discrimination. What it really appears to come down to is that the values of Students for Life conflict with the politically correct philosophies embraced by the university, and that is not a sufficient legal basis for discriminating against the group.”-A copy of the filed complaint in Wayne State University Students for Life v. Driker is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/WSUStudentsForLifeComplaint.pdf.

Canada

Student Group Demands Right to Opt-out of Paying Membership Fees to Anti-life Student Federation-"The campus group at York University, Students for Bioethical Awareness (SBA), has launched a formal complaint under the York University Student Code of Conduct. Members of the group allege that their rights have been violated due to a number of incidences, including the last minute cancellation of a February 28 abortion debate organized by the SBA.
The complaint also addresses the recent motion passed by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), which promises support for any member union that denies resources or space to pro-life student groups."

Sexism and Abortion

Sex-Selective Abortions Happening on Wide Scale in United States: Population Research Institute-"Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute (PRI), says that America has a hidden problem of sex discrimination, but a form of discrimination that feminists refuse to address. In PRI's latest YouTube video, Mosher decries the practice, common in East and South Asian countries, of sex-selective abortion. According to the United Nations, this practice has already claimed the lives of over 100 million girls worldwide...Where are the feminists when you need them?" asks Mosher. According to Mosher, the widespread slaughter of unborn girls has failed to raise concerns in the feminist community. American feminists, he alleges, are so wedded to abortion-on-demand that they are unwilling to oppose any abortion, however egregious. This is true, he says, even when the practice involves the killing of hundreds of millions of girls for the sole reason that they are girls. I challenge the National Organization of Women," says Mosher, "and other feminist groups, to join us in the battle to ban this terrible form of sex discrimination that is killing so many unborn baby girls. Their continued silence only facilitates the killing." PRIs new video is available at , or on PRIs web site: http://www.pop.org/."

India

Indian state cracks down on sex-selection clinics-"Health authorities in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state in India closed down a dozen prenatal diagnostic centers last week after the centers were found to be engaged in conducting illegal sex-determination tests. India's political leaders have been battling for years to combat a trend toward sex-selection abortions, which has given rise to an imbalance between male and female children...A recent survey found that the female sex ratio among newborns had declined so much that there were only 527 girls for every 1,000 boys born in 2005 in some areas of the northern Punjab state. The skewed sex ratio is due to rampant sex-selection abortion, the result of a strong preference for male children that is rooted in social prejudices and reinforced by the hefty dowries that are demanded when daughters marry...Despite official bans on sex-selection tests and abortions, the government has acknowledged that more than 10 million girls have been "missing" in India over last two decades."-For more on India in this context see African Wisdom vs NEA and UN/Obama supports a divisive faith based initiative and scroll down to sub heading India.

Mexico and the UN

Mexican Pro-Lifers to UN: Stop Murdering our Children-"Members of Mexico's National Pro-Life Committee held a protest recently outside the offices of the United Nations in response to the organization's continuing support for abortion in Mexico and worldwide. The protest took something of a dramatic turn, with three of the protesters dressing in costumes depicting an abortionist businessmen with profit as his puppeteer, who in turn pretended to kill another participant dressed as a chick in its nest. In an accompanying letter to the United Nations Organization, the Committee's President and Director writes that the organization "has confused its mission and has been converted into the greatest enemy of the peace by proposing birth control and abortion as solutions to the demographic challenges that the world confronts."..The Committee accused the UN of direct involvement in the thousands of abortions that have taken place in Mexico City since 2007, when it was legalized by the city government. "The United Nations Organization (UNO) is partially responsible for promoting abortion through emergency contraception, through mechanical and chemical means, curettage, endouterine manual aspiration, and chemical poisoning in the maternity hospitals of Mexico City, and through the training of Mexico City policemen by the United Nations Population Fund," they write".

United Nations Pressures Lithuania, Slovakia, Others to Promote Abortion-"At the most recent session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) meetings in New York, committee members pressed countries on abortion in the guise of talking about maternal mortality, family planning and contraceptive prevalence. Lithuania, Nigeria, Finland, the United Kingdom and Slovakia were all questioned on their abortion laws during their reviews by the committee...Japanese committee member Yoko Hayashi stated that governmental restrictions on abortion “contradict the full enjoyment of women’s reproductive health rights that are protected by CEDAW.” The CEDAW document is silent on "reproductive health rights." The United Kingdom was similarly taken to task by the CEDAW committee because of concerns over access to abortion in Northern Ireland. In response to committee queries over whether there was a possibility of changing the abortion legislation, the Irish representative responded that abortion was a matter of criminal law and that no change in legislation could occur in Northern Ireland without consent from all parties. One committee member fired back that the government was not adequately addressing the abortion issue and that not taking action on the matter is “incompatible with obligations under the CEDAW convention.” Sylvia Pimentel of Brazil took exception to Slovakia’s concordat with the Holy See, particularly on the right of health care workers to conscientiously object to performing or aiding in abortion. Pimentel claimed that it is “discriminatory to refuse to legally provide reproductive health services to women” and that CEDAW state parties “must refrain from obstructing women from pursuing their health goals.” While the rulings of the Committee are supposedly non-binding, abortion activists have brought litigation throughout the world citing CEDAW Committee rulings in support of overturning laws against abortion. Such arguments helped convince the Colombian constitutional court to liberalize that country’s restrictions on the practice."

Mexican State Legislators Seek to Define Personhood as Being from Conception-"Legislators from the National Action Party of Guanajuato are seeking to amend the state's constitution to declare that personhood extends from conception to natural death. The amendment reads: "With regard to this Constitution and the laws that emanate from it, a person is any human being from conception until natural death, and the State will guarantee to him the complete enjoyment and exercise of all of his rights."..."The right to life is an inviolable natural right inherent in all human beings, since it is the foundation of all other rights, and therefore should be respected, guaranteed, and protected by the state," the legislators write in an accompanying text. "Medical science has demonstrated that in a fertilized ovum there is a new human life, because nothing happens during the period of gestation that modifies or complements its essence," the legislators explain. They also state that "from the point of view of ethics and law, societies should always protect the weakest members." The legislators cite international treaties to which Mexico is a party, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Treaty on Civil and Political Rights, in support of the right to life."

Ecuador

New Ecuadorian Constitution Endangered by Pro-Abortion, Anti-Family Language Increasingly angry street protests and media denunciations cast doubt on ratification-"The new Constitution of Ecuador is increasingly seen as endangered as controversy rages about pro-abortion and anti-family language that has been injected into the document. Last week, the growing frustration erupted in an angry protest outside of the Constituent Assembly, which is charged with formulating a new Constitution for the socialist regime of Rafael Correa.Holding signs saying "No to abortion" that included swastika symbols associating the practice with Nazism, the crowd chanted, "No to the abortionist constitution!" Police attempted to disperse the crowd, but the pro-life minority in the Assembly convinced the body's president to allow the protest to continue. After the demonstrators demanded his presence, Assembly President Fernando Cordero came to speak to them, but said that he could not promise them anything. In response, the crowd began to chant, "No to the referendum!" as Cordero turned his back on them and walked away. Once the Constituent Assembly votes "yes" to the final document, it will proceed to a popular referendum, where it must be approved by at least 50% of the voting population, an increasingly doubtful outcome...The controversy centers on language defining "reproductive rights" in the new document, a phrase that is often used by pro-abortion forces to euphemistically refer to the killing of the unborn. Article 10 of the new constitution states, "All have the right to make free, responsible, and informed decisions regarding their reproductive health and life and to decide when and how many children to have and how often to have them." In addition, although the Assembly has included language stating that the right to life is "inviolable," it has conspicuously refused to include the phrase "from the moment of conception.". Writing in the newspaper El Universo, José Mario Ruiz Navas states that the pro-abortion language in the new Constitution "is making it difficult for us to vote 'yes'." "The assemblymen avoid the word 'abortion', but they approve it," he writes. "By refusing to determine that the defense of life begins from conception and by speaking of 'reproductive rights', they leave the door open for abortion."

Email sent out to friends and family on 05/13/2008 for an update to this email see (What do these three black women have in common and what does Obama have to do with it?)

Update on Crystal Dixon:

Here is how it all began:

Gay rights and wrongs: another perspective- The actual article that got Crystal Dixon fired!!!! Check it out for yourself as she opens..."I read with great interest Michael Miller's April 6 column, "Gay Rights and Wrongs." .... I respectfully submit a different perspective for Miller and Toledo Free Press readers to consider."

UT protects gay rights- President of UT's response..."The University of Toledo welcomes, supports and places value upon persons of every variety." Sure you do!!! "We will be taking certain internal actions in this instance to more fully align our utterances and actions with this value system." Is not Crystal Dixon a valuable person to and thus her religiously conservative opinion that she has "respectfully" and "unhatefully" submitted? Let alone this is not just her own this is the opinion of many of UT's religiously conservative students. What about their value? So how does he consistently apply these values without redefining his values as "The University of Toledo welcomes, supports and places value upon persons of liberal variety at the expense of the religiously conservative variety." This is a bad model of tolerance/diversity/value of persons of every variety/inclusivity/human rights being modeled to UT students in my opinion. What you do to model tolerance to your students is to allow for both opinions and go home loving each other period. That's tolerance!!! And that "places value upon persons of every variety." consistently and non hypocritically!

And here is how it ends:

UT offered Dixon alternate position prior to termination-"A former UT administrator who was fired for opinions she expressed on Toledo Free Press' Web site said the university offered her a demotion and pay cut prior to terminating her employment....After declining the offer, Dixon was notified of her termination May 9 through her attorney, Tom Sobecki, she said, noting UT's offer was "unacceptable because I didn't do anything wrong.""

Unbelievable!!!!

If you don't believe Hate Crimes Legislation will be used to silence religiously conservative speech think again and again. In this university you don't even need a Hate Crime bill to punish those of the religiously conservative perspective. All you need is an intolerant President.

Check out these comments given to the Toledo Free Press from many of their readers.

Reaction letters to Crystal Dixon's article both good and bad but check out the bad. Notice how they deem such speech!!!

Crystal, but not clear-President and Publisher comments on situation. "Not since the Marines controversy have so many hundreds of readers sent letters and left phone messages on a topic. The hot button has been pushed. Here's hoping Dixon and UT find a graceful exit strategy that allows her to move on amiably and protects UT's mission of diversity and inclusion." However, if UT's mission is truely diversity and inclusivity then they are clearly violating there own mission.

Please feel free to review an email I sent to the President of the UT here on an email I sent out 05/08/2008.

"Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."-Romans 2:1 in principle.

NY Times' Harwood 'Surprised' by Rejection of McCain Op-Ed-"When a writer for the New York Times questions his own paper, for refusing to publish an editorial by John McCain, and a former Clinton press secretary questions the "balance" of the coverage of Obama's foreign tour, you know the media have reached a bias tilting point. On Tuesday night's Hardball, New York Times political writer John Harwood said of the Times decision to spike a McCain op-ed: "I was surprised that they did not take it, especially having just run Barack Obama." And former Bill Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers called the press coverage of Obama overseas "extraordinary" and admitted: "It's legitimate question. Is the press coverage between the two candidates balanced?"

Study, Poll: News Coverage Favors Obama-"The Rasmussen Reports poll released Monday showed that nearly half of voters – 49 percent – think reporters are trying to help Obama win the election. Only 14 percent of voters think the media are trying to help Republican candidate John McCain (Ariz.) win the race. The poll was conducted before it was revealed, for instance, that The New York Times refused to run an op-ed piece by McCain about the Iraq war one week after it ran an op-ed by Obama about the topic....But since Obama secured the nomination in early June, press coverage has not been equal, according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ), a research organization that studies the news media. The PEJ study of 48 different news organizations evaluated 300 political stories in newspapers, magazines, and on television to determine whether each candidate is a significant part of a story, or part of more than 25 percent of the stories. The study was conducted from June 9 through July 13, after it had become a two-man contest. From July 7 through 13, Obama was a significant presence in more than three quarters – 77 percent – of all news stories, according to the PEJ study. McCain was a significant presence in less than half – 48 percent – of all stories, the study said. From July 14 through July 20, Obama’s share increased to 83 percent, while McCain reached 52 percent, according to the PEJ study."

Half See Pro-Obama Bias and Say Media Make Economy Seem Worse-"More than three times as many Americans see a media tilt in favor of Democrat Barack Obama than toward Republican John McCain. A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey released Monday, of 1,000 likely voters, "found that 49 percent of voters believe most reporters will try to help Obama with their coverage, up from 44 percent a month ago," compared to a piddling 14 percent who "believe most reporters will try to help John McCain win" while "just one voter in four (24%) believes that most reporters will try to offer unbiased coverage." Exactly half, 50 percent, "believe the media makes economic conditions appear worse than they really are," a separate Rasmussen Reports telephone survey posted on Monday determined. That poll discovered "a plurality of Americans (41%) similarly believe that the media has tried to make the war in Iraq appear worse that it really is, while 26 percent say reporters have made it look better than reality and 25 percent think they've portrayed it accurately."

The Situation Room Surprisingly Acknowledges Media's Obama Mania-"Of course, it's always big news when a presumed presidential nominee travels abroad, right? Wrong -- John McCain has taken three trips abroad to Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico in the last four months. No anchors tagged along. In fact, some broadcast and cable networks didn't even send correspondents on some of these trips. The imbalance doesn't end there...."

Iraq

As Surge in Iraq Succeeded, Embedded Reporters Receded-"September, the month the number of embedded reporters peaked, was the same month that Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, testified in Congress that the surge strategy was working and that violence was decreasing in the country. At the time, Petraeus’s testimony was met with derision by some prominent Democratic members of Congress. “The reports that you provide to us really require the willing suspension of disbelief," Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y), then a presidential candidate told him. “In any of the metrics that have been referenced in your many hours of testimony, any fair reading of the advantages and disadvantages accruing post-surge, in my view, end up on the downside.” "I ask you to take off your rosy glasses," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told Petraeus. "We are sending our troops where they're not wanted, where there's no end in sight." The largest single-month drop off in embedded reporters came between September and October 2007—immediately following Petraeus’ congressional testimony—when embeds fell from 219 to 78."

American Heroism Goes Unreported in Iraq-"American heroism has been ignored and overlooked by networks at home and overseas for the duration of the Iraq war, while insurgents and terrorists have used willing media outlets to score public relations wins. That bleak assessment comes from U.S. soldiers who served in Iraq during the pre-surge time frame, when the insurgency was its height. A collection of graphs and charts made available through the public affairs office of the Multi-National Corps in Iraq indicates that the media has pulled back on its coverage, now that U.S. casualty figures have declined and Al Qaeda is in retreat."

Economy

NY Times Misses Wall Street Forecast-"New York Times Co.'s second-quarter earnings fell 82 percent from a year ago, when it saw a one-time gain from the sale of a unit, but print advertising continued to shrink and pulled down operating income, the publisher said Wednesday."

McDonald's Boycott

Media Ignore Pro-Family Protest of McDonald’s ‘Hate’ Smear -"Mainstream media outlets declined to cover a press conference held yesterday by conservative groups protesting a McDonald’s spokesman who accused them of “hatred.” A coalition of pro-family groups, spearheaded by the American Family Association (AFA), sponsored the press conference at the McDonald’s world headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. The coalition was accused of “hatred” by a company spokesman because they are boycotting McDonald’s for sponsoring the homosexual agenda.