Life Advocacy Briefing

Thank the Lord!

WE HAVE SO VERY MUCH TO BE THANKFULFOR and extend to all our readers our very best wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving. Planning to spend the holiday weekend with family, we will suspend publication next week unless news requires us to forego the break. We thank you for your understanding, and we thank God for your own devotion to the cause of Life.

Calls Needed Now to Senators!

THOUGH THE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP APPEARED earlier this month to be ready to strip the Defense Authorization measure of its controversial add-ons, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is reportedly now planning to push the massive measure through after the week-long Thanksgiving recess.

Among those barnacles attached to the bill is lameduck Sen. Roland Burris’s amendment, on behalf of the abortion industry, to require US military facilities to commit abortions.

The homosexual lobby’s bid to repeal the long-standing ban on open homosexual behavior in the military is also on this bill, as is a form of amnesty for certain illegal aliens.

Though we had earlier reported that the Burris Amendment would reportedly be dropped, along with the others, in order to pave the path for passage of the Defense bill, Sen. Reid now is reportedly insisting on calling up the loaded bill for a vote with all its landmines and pitfalls on board.

Calls are needed now to Senators at both their Capitol Hill offices (via 1-202/224-3121) and at their in-state offices, whose contact information can be obtained from the Senate website at www.senate.gov or from the reference desk at the local library. Ask your Senators to vote “no” on the Defense Authorization bill unless the Burris Amendment is stripped from the measure and to vote in favor of any amendment proposed to remove the military abortion provision.

In Liu of Justice

EVERY DAY THE SENATE IS IN SESSION offers an opportunity for Pres. Obama to secure confirmation for one of his most controversial judicial nominees, Goodwin Liu, nominated to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The nomination has cleared the Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote.

Mr. Liu is best known for his stance supporting invalidation of California’s twice-passed voter initiative to preserve marriage against the assault of the homosexual lobby.

But there is so much more to this radical lawyer’s paper trail.

For one example, quoting from Human Events, “Mr. Liu recklessly attacked Supreme Court nominees John Roberts and Samuel Alito. In the case of [Justice] Roberts, he wrote, in an op-ed, that ‘his legal career is studded with activities unfriendly to civil rights, abortion rights and the environment.’”

Concerning Justice Alito, Mr. Liu testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Supreme Court solon’s confirmation hearings, claiming, reports Human Events, “that then-Judge Alito was ‘at the margin, not the mainstream’ and that the America envisioned by his record on the bench ‘is not the America we know. Nor is it the America we aspire to be.’” Such rhetoric could more certainly apply to Mr. Liu than ever to Justice Alito.

Other horribles in the litany of Mr. Liu’s record may be observed by checking out the Human Events website at www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36225.

Calls to Senators are definitely in order. As in the calls opposing the Burris Amendment, contacts should be made via both the Capitol switchboard at 1-202/224-3121 and at the Senators’ in-state offices (see individual Senators’ contact information at www.senate.gov).

Useful Proposal for the New State Legislatures

SINCE NEBRASKA’s NEW LAW BARRING LATE-TERM ABORTION is succeeding in driving LeRoy Carhart out of his dastardly Bellevue abortion practice, National Right to Life (NRL) is advocating that other states add the groundbreaking measure to their own arsenals.

Nebraska’s new Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act prohibits abortions of gestating boys and girls aged at least 20 weeks based on findings that they are capable of experiencing pain, a standard on which the abortion industry is hesitant to file their customary automatic lawsuits.

The new law, passed by a 44-to-5 vote in the unicameral legislature, took effect Oct. 15 without having to clear court approval. Based on the Nebraska experience, the cartel appears to have concluded that litigation against such legislation could be counterproductive in the “court” of public opinion.

As we reported earlier, notorious late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart, who was lead plaintiff in the abortion industry’s litigation seeking to overturn the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, is closing his dumpy mill in Nebraska and aims to infest Indiana, Iowa and Maryland with his unconscionable business.

“‘LeRoy Carhart’s hopscotching around the nation to find areas that allow abortion for any reason at any time,’” said NRL’s Mary Spaulding Balch JD, quoted by LifeSiteNews.com, “‘underscores the need for other states to pass similar legislation to put Carhart and the hundreds of other abortionists who [commit] abortion late in pregnancy out of business.’”

For information on fetal pain, check the Internet at www.doctorsonfetalpain.com/scientific-studies. For the legislation: www.nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/AM/ER8229.pdf.

Leaders Chosen for New House

RETURNING AND NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE U.S. HOUSE met last week in their respective party conferences and chose their leadership teams for the next two years.

On the Republican side, Ohio Rep. John Boehner was chosen as the GOP’s candidate for Speaker of the House, to be voted on by the full House in January. Joining him in leadership will be Rep. Eric Cantor (VA) as majority leader and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA) as majority whip.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (TX) was elected conference chairman, with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) as conference vice chairman and Texas Rep. John Carter as conference secretary.  Rep. Pete Sessions (TX) was re-elected chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee.

The GOP Policy Committee will be chaired by Rep. Tom Price (GA).  Rep. Greg Walden (OR) was named to a post called “leadership chairman.”

The newly elected GOP Members met as well and elected leaders for the “freshman class,” whose numbers exceed 80, pending resolution in a small number of outstanding races: class president, Rep.-elect Austin Scott (GA); representative to the Policy Committee, Rep.-elect Diane Black (TN); two representatives to the Republican Leadership, Rep.-elect Tim Scott (SC) and Rep.-elect Kristi Noem (SD); and three representatives to the Steering Committee, which selects House committee chairmen, Rep.-elect Todd Rokita (IN), Rep.-elect Joe Heck (NV) Rep.-elect Pat Meehan (PA).

Though a few House contests are not yet officially resolved, Republicans will control the House by a margin of at least 43 seats.

Not Much Peace Among House Democrats

HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) WILL MAINTAIN her hold on the Democratic conference, elected by her fellow party Members last week as minority leader and nominated as their candidate for Speaker.

Joining Mrs. Pelosi in the Leadership will be Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD) as minority whip, Rep. James Clyburn (SC) in a newly created position called “assistant leader,” Rep. John Larson (CT) as caucus chairman and California Rep. Xavier Becerra as caucus vice chairman.

The selection of Mrs. Pelosi came amid controversy over her promotion of leftwing policies, to which some Members attribute their party’s massive electoral losses.

Rep. Heath Shuler (NC) challenged Rep. Pelosi for minority leader, garnering 43 votes to her total of 150. The roll call is kept confidential, unless individual Members volunteer to divulge how they voted.

Congressional Quarterly (CQ) staff writer Alan K. Ota reported last Wednesday, “[Representatives] Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania, Henry Cuellar of Texas and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin urged support of [Rep.] Pelosi.”  Mr. Ota quoted Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, “‘I like Shuler a lot. But I think she will do a good job.’”

Promoting Mr. Shuler’s candidacy, according to Mr. Ota, were Representatives Jim Matheson (UT), Mike Ross (AR) and Larry Kissell (NC). And, reported Mr. Ota, “[Rep.] Shuler drew support from a number of moderates, such as [Rep.] Daniel Lipinski of Illinois. ‘We need a new face for the cause,’” said Rep. Lipinski, quoted by CQ. “‘We need to change.’”  Rep. Lipinski was the one Democratic Member to vote against House passage of the ObamaCare healthcare takeover on the basis of its coverage of abortion.

Though continued roiling in the Democratic delegation remains to be seen, CQ’s Mr. Ota wrote last week, “[Rep.] Pelosi’s victory did not end the revolt. Several moderates, including [Rep.] Matheson, said they would vote for [Mr.] Shuler, not [Mrs.] Pelosi, when the House elects a new Speaker in January.

Among the issues dealt with by House Democrats last week was the timing of the Leadership vote. A significant number of Democrats, led by Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH), had requested the vote be delayed until after the Thanksgiving week recess, but Rep. Pelosi insisted on an immediate vote.

“[Rep.] Pelosi’s critics included liberals,” wrote Mr. Ota, “who wanted to delay the vote and moderates who wanted to nudge the agenda to the center. ‘I’ve said I can’t support Pelosi for minority leader today,’” said Oregon Rep. David Wu, quoted by CQ. “‘But I might be able to support her in December.’”

One of those who did not have a vote in last week’s balloting, because he had lost his Florida Congressional seat, Rep. Allen Boyd, told Mr. Ota, “‘Nancy Pelosi is the face that defeated 60-plus Members,’” adding, “‘I am very disappointed she decided to stay as minority leader.’”

Among her most strident cheerleaders were a collection of feminist Democratic Members led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT), many of whom were the same lawmakers who stormed into the Speaker’s office after the House adopted the Stupak/Pitts Amendment to bar abortion coverage in the House version of ObamaCare. It was that group that persuaded the Speaker to stand strong for the abortion industry when the Senate version arrived in the House without such ameliorating language. Along with Speaker Pelosi herself, those adamant feminist Representatives can be seen as largely to blame for the defeat of some of the more conservative Democratic Members, those who followed Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) over the “healthcare” measure’s abortion cliff.

G.O.P. Senators Re-elect Leaders

SENATE REPUBLICANS ENJOYED A LESS CONTENTIOUS LEADERSHIP ELECTION than might have been expected, given public jostling in that delegation over the practice of earmarking projects for tax-dollar spending.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) was re-elected to his post.  Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ) will continue as Republican Whip, Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN) as conference chairman (with vice chairman Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso) and Sen. John Thune (SD) as policy committee chairman. The Republican Senate Campaign Committee will continue through 2012 to be chaired by Texas Sen. John Cornyn.

More for the Lameduck Session’s Radical Reid Agenda?

Nov. 18, 2010, LifeSiteNews.com report by Matthew Anderson

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Human Rights & Law [was] holding hearings [Thursday] to consider whether the United States should ratify a radical UN treaty that could lead to mandated federal funding of abortion and the violation of the conscience rights of pro-life health professionals.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) … was signed by Pres. Jimmy Carter in 1980 but has never garnered enough support in the Senate to be ratified into law.

In the announcement for the hearing, the subcommittee billed the treaty as protecting “fundamental human rights.” However, pro-life Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has pointed out that ratification of CEDAW would “subject (the US) to the pro-abortion ideology” of a UN oversight committee that enforces the treaty.

Though CEDAW itself never directly mentions abortion, Article 12 has been used by the committee that oversees enforcement of the treaty to attempt to force abortion on numerous countries where it is outlawed.

Article 12 states, “State Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure … access to healthcare services, including those related to family planning.”

In a letter addressed to Members of Congress, Smith explained that the CEDAW Committee interprets Article 12 to mean that all member countries must publicly fund elective abortions. Further, the Committee uses Article 12 to argue that pro-life physicians do not have the right to refuse participation in procedures that violate their consciences.

Rep. Smith pointed to several of many statements the Committee has made over the years displaying their overt pro-abortion ideology.

In 1998, the Committee wrote an opinion to Croatia in which it reprimanded the country for laws protecting pro-life doctors’ rights saying: “[The Committee] is also concerned about information regarding the refusal, by some hospitals, to provide abortions on the basis of conscientious objection of doctors. The Committee considers this to be an infringement of women’s reproductive rights.”

Further, the Committee also encouraged the small African country of Burkina Faso to federally subsidize abortion. In 2000, it told the country, “[The Committee] also recommends that the State party should review its legislation on abortion and provide for coverage by social security.”

Under the US Constitution, a treaty that is signed by a President and ratified by the Senate would have the force of law. Smith points out that this means statements made by the CEDAW Committee could be used by courts in the US to strike down pro-life laws, including those requiring parental consent, protecting conscientious objectors and banning partial-birth abortion.

“Since legalized abortion is not sufficient to satisfy the extreme views of the CEDAW Committee, commonsense laws in the United States and the 50 states will be under attack,” says Smith.

“If CEDAW is ratified by the Senate, the United States will not escape their overreaching efforts to impose abortion on our country as an international obligation.”

Permission granted to quote with attribution. Reproduction rights granted only by express authorization.