Where Do the Candidates Stand on Abortion?

National Right to Life has just published a new piece which provides an objective side-by-side comparison of the candidates for President and Vice President.

Download the PDF here: http://www.nrlc.org/Election2008/comparision0909084c.pdf

From the Convention – Day 4

Here’s the last update from Karen and Darla who were on site all week for the GOP Convention in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

We were honored to attend the last night of this historic occasion: John McCain accepted the presidential nomination “with gratitude, humility and confidence,” during the Republican National Convention.

Following initial business on the agenda, the evening began with a number of speakers including Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas, Senator Mel Martinez from Florida, Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, Oklahoma Congresswoman Mary Fallen, and Minnesota Governor Tom Pawlenty.

Cindy McCain introduced her husband, Senator John McCain.

During his acceptance speech, Senator John McCain told us, “We believe in … a culture of life – personal responsibility, the rule of law and judges who dispense justice impartially and don’t legislate from the bench.  We believe in the values of families, neighborhoods, and communities.”  His was an inspiring, confident speech as he accepted the nomination.

Governor Sarah Palin joined Senator McCain on the stage at the conclusion of his remarks.  Balloons and confetti fell as the crowd roared their approval of their new nominees.

The 2008 Republican National Convention has now adjourned. The delegates have voted, the candidates have accepted, and the Republican ticket for president and vice president is decided. Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin are the Republican nominees.

As they waved to the cheering crowd, we thought to ourselves – what a great pro-life team!

From the Convention – Day 3

Here’s the latest from Darla & Karen, still keeping up with the RNC Convention in St. Paul:

What an amazing night! We had the privilege of watching as Sarah Palin accepted the Republican National Committee’s vice presidential nomination. The arena (the Minnesotans affectionately refer to it as “The House That Norm Built”) was packed tonight. Everyone was filled with excitement as we anticipated Sarah Palin’s speech. 

We heard from a number of speakers including Michael Steele, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Former Governor Mike Huckabee spoke on behalf of John McCain and pointed out that John McCain understands the importance of protecting human life from conception until natural death.

At long last, pro-life Governor Sarah Palin made her entrance. She was poised and confident as she took the stage. 

Sarah Palin introduced her family to us: her children, her husband Todd, and her parents. She talked about her youngest son, Trig, who was born with Down Syndrome in April.

She shared,

“…in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical.

“That’s how it is with us.We were moved, some of us to tears, as she shared this message.  Some research journals and magazines report that approximately 90 percent of babies diagnosed in the womb with Down Syndrome are aborted.

“Our family has the same ups and downs as any other … the same challenges and the same joys.

“Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.

“And children with special needs inspire a special love.

“To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters.

“I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.”

 Did we mention the place was packed and the only open seats were in the media section? The media sat stone-faced throughout her speech, especially when she pointed directly at them and said, “…here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion – I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.” She was bold and to the point and confronted them head on.  Those of us sitting in the media section who supported her stood out as we had a difficult time containing our laughter at this point.

At times we laughed and other times we cried as she shared her message. It is evident to those who were there that Governor Sarah Palin will bring much energy to the campain over the next nine weeks.

At the end of the evening to the delight of the crowd, Senator John McCain joined Sarah Palin on stage.

Following the speeches and entertainment, the delegates officially unanimously nominated John McCain as the Republican nominee for U.S. President.

More tomorrow as Senator John McCain accepts his party’s nomination.

From the Convention – Day 2

Darla St. Martin and Karen Cross were again on the convention floor for Day 2 of the Republican National Convention.  Here’s their latest report:

Even Gustav didn’t dampen the spirits of those attending the Republican National Convention tonight. Fortunately, the hurricane wrecked far less havoc than anticipated, with the residents of the Gulf Coast still on everyone’s minds, the Convention resumed its normal schedule and is on track to complete the business of nominating pro-life candidates Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin for US president and vice president.

Pro-life Senator Norm Coleman (U.S. Senator from Minnesota) welcomed everyone to Minnesota. He was followed by pro-life Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota’s sixth Congressional district. Congresswoman Bachmann emphasized the importance of everyone coming together and encouraged all Minnesotans to carry on the tradition of “Minnesota Nice”.

Wes Gullet introduced his daughter, Nicky, who was one of two babies Cindy McCain brought back after Mother Teresa told her about two babies who would die if she didn’t take them. One had a severe cleft palate and the other was suffering from severe malnutrition. The McCains adopted one of the babies and the Guttners adopted the other, Nicky. Nicky wrote an essay describing how proud she is to be an American. She is now a U.S. citizen.

First Lady Laura Bush introduced President George W. Bush, a great friend of life, who spoke by satellite.

During former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson’s rousing speech, he brought down the house when he pointed out that “we need a President who doesn’t think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade.” The crowd erupted. It was great! 

More tomorrow…

Appalling… yet expected

It’s as appalling as it is expected.

**Warning: Soap Box moment ahead that might fall slightly off-topic**

I’ve got MSNBC on in background in the office.  I’ve spent most of the weekend reading the Drudge Report, the Washington Post, Time Magazine, Newsweek, the New York Times, the New York Sun, the Chicago Tribune, the Anchorage Daily News, the DailyKos, Townhall.com, Redstate.com (well, you get the picture).  Without a leg to stand on or a straw to grasp, the liberal intelligentsia has done everything they can to undermine Sarah Palin’s candidacy as Senator McCain’s vice presidential running mate simply because they’re scared (and they should be).

The first attack volley came from a blogger at the ever-venomous, uber-liberal DailyKos with the unsubstantiated (and false!) rumor that Gov. Palin’s son, Trig (who was born about 5 months ago) was really her eldest daughter’s son and that the Palins covered up Bristol’s pregnancy.   Eager to discount McCain’s choice, the mainstream media started to report on the blog post.  It should be noted that they played it close to the line: they didn’t question or investigate the veracity of the blogger’s claims, they merely reported that this claim it was out there (because that’s news…maybe they’ll report that our NRLC blog is out there too). 

Next, they went after Gov. Palin’s ability as a working mother claiming that it’s virtually impossible for her to both be a mother to her children and hold the second highest office in the land.  Where are the women who have spent their lives arguing that women are fully capable of handling demanding jobs and raising a family?   Shouldn’t they be embracing Palin’s candidacy, rather than joining in to degrade her abilities?

After flailing around all weekend, they’ve finally settled into a two-prong attack: the first is what we call a “process story.”  With the “revelations” on Monday that Todd Palin (dubbed Alaska’s “First Dude” by the Anchorage Daily News) was charged with a DUI two decades ago and the announcement that Bristol Palin is five months pregnant, is keeping her child and marrying the father, the media are questioning McCain’s vetting process.  They’re peppering the Senator with questions at public events convinced that McCain only chose Palin at the last minute and, as a result, the campaign did not complete a thorough investigation of Palin’s background (when it appears the opposite is actually true: Palin was vetted completely and McCain was aware of all of the news media’s “revelations”).

The second prong is designed to rope in discussions of Palin’s working mother ability and the vetting process in one swing: Bristol Palin’s pregnancy.  It’s been more than forty years since young children were involved in a political campaign (Caroline and John-John Kennedy) and, quite frankly, the media don’t know what to do.  Bottom line: Bristol Palin is choosing life and providing a public witness for her pro-life views and that of the entire family.  The Palins obviously accept that children are a blessing.  Beyond that, it should be off the table for discussion (as both campaigns have noted, candidates’ children are off-limits) 

Watching the coverage of the DNC Convention last week, the announcement of Palin for VP, and the coverage of the RNC Convention speaks volumes to the skewed nature of the mainstream media in this election.

-Derrick

From the Convention – Day 1

Here’s the latest from Darla St. Martin, our co-executive director and Karen Cross, our political director, who are in Minneapolis for the GOP convention:

Greetings from Minneapolis and Day 1 of the RNC Convention. 

Today, obviously, all of our prayers are going out to the residents of the Gulf Coast coping with Hurricane Gustav.   Because of the storm, the convention schedule today has been shortened.  Most of the country will only see the prefunctory issues (credentials committee, rules committee, platform committee, etc) regarding the governance of the convention and the part on C-SPAN.  First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain each gave brief remarks before the convention gaveled to recess for the evening.

One special note: the platform committee report was adopted by the entire convention making the GOP’s platform — containing the strongest-ever language on life — official.

Of course, the entire convention and, indeed, the entire country are abuzz with the selection of Governor Palin as Senator McCain’s running mate.  As our press release noted last week, Governor Palin is a strong pro-lifer and has served as a positive witness for life. 

We look forward to the days ahead and we’ll keep you posted.

Darla & Karen

Look for more updates from Minneapolis!  Thanks Darla & Karen!

Thoughts on Palin

Ever a speedy wordsmith, Dave Andrusko, editor of our National Right to Life News is out with a two-part issue of Today’s News & Views, his daily commentary that’s emailed out to thousands of subscribers. 

Check out part 1 here: http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/Aug08/nv082908.html.

The selection of pro-life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was a twenty on a scale of one to ten. The 44-year-old mother of five will accomplish what very few vice presidential selections have ever done: fundamentally change the dynamics of the contest for President.

Check out part 2 here: http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/Aug08/nv082908Part2.html

Palin for Vice-President

The stage has now been set for the fall: McCain/Palin vs Obama Biden.  Here’s our press release today regarding McCain’s outstanding pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate:

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE PRAISES PALIN
Solid pro-life ticket contrasts with pro-abortion ticket

 

Today the National Right to Life Committee praised John McCain’s pick of pro-life Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

 

“We’re thrilled,” said Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director. “Senator McCain has demonstrated his dedication to life in his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.”

 

National Right to Life President Wanda Franz, Ph.D added, “Governor Palin brings another strong pro-life voice to the Republican ticket, in sharp contrast to the pro-abortion ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.”

 

“We’ve both been very vocal about being pro-life,” Palin, a mother of five, said in an interview shortly after the birth of her youngest son Trig, who has Down Syndrome. “We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential.”

The differences between the McCain/Palin ticket and the Obama/Biden ticket are clear. While Senator McCain has a very strong record on the life issues, Barack Obama is the most pro-abortion candidate ever nominated by a major political party.

Senator Obama voted multiple times to deny care and protection to children born alive after abortion attempts. He is also co-sponser of an extreme bill, the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act,” that would make partial-birth abortion legal again and require taxpayer funding of abortions. For further information, go to www.nrlc.org.

 

“The country now has a clear choice,” added Darla St. Martin, Co-Executive Director of the National Right to Life Committee, “between an avowed pro-abortion ticket that would continue to push for unrestricted abortion on demand, and a strongly pro-life ticket that will bring us closer to a society that embraces the value and dignity of human life.”