NYT: reports pro life gains across the US

New York Times article even admits it.... pro life or as they like to call it abortion foes have taken over even in states they used to be able to count on in the pro abortion category or as they like to refer to it as reproductive rights as in the right not to reproduce after the pregnancy was started.

I would take exception to their graph showing TN as not darkened showing that both gov. and state legislature solidly "pro life." See this post showing it.

"The biggest shift is in the state capitols, with 29 governors now considered to be solidly anti-abortion, compared with 21 last year. “This is worrisome because the governors have been the firewall, they’ve vetoed a lot of bad anti-choice legislation,” said Ted Miller, a spokesman for Naral Pro-Choice America.

The politics of abortion have changed profoundly in some larger states including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

In 15 states, compared with 10 last year, both the legislature and the governor are anti-abortion, according to a new report by Naral, and those joining this category include larger states like Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as Georgia and Oklahoma. Maine and Pennsylvania are now strongly anti-abortion as well, if not quite as solidly."

WA Post: GOP's gains ready to propel social back into national spotlight

 Despite objections and worried sound bites from the abortion industry to try to salvage their agenda the Washington Post points out that social issues such as abortion will be front and center especially considering the historic shift in control of state legislatures. But the Republicans had better not become a "weak sister" following the election and back off on these critical issues. Abortion industry is rightfully worried what may happen to their cash cow.

Today, Republicans control 26 state legislatures, Democrats 17, and five have split control. In New York, officials are still determining who is in charge in the state Senate. Republicans control more legislatures than they have since 1952.

The National Council of State Legislatures noted several historic shifts: It is the first time since the 1800s that Republicans will control the full legislatures in Alabama and North Carolina. Republicans will lead the Minnesota Senate for the first time ever.

The election was a referendum on the economy, not [abortion], so we think the voters are going to be very surprised to see the level of attacks on choice at the state and federal level now," said Ted Miller, spokesman for NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group. "We don't think this is what voters voted for."

Abortion foes say they expect several states where Republicans made significant gains to consider barring, under the new federal health-care overhaul, some private insurance companies from covering abortions as part of their routine plans. So far, Arizona, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana have passed such legislation.

"Ninety percent of pro-life legislation happens at the state level, so the landscape change that we have now is huge," said Daniel McConchie, vice president of governmental affairs at Americans United for Life, an antiabortion group.

Land: Values voters will not go to the back of the bus....

 Article in Politico shows the unity of Value's Voters and warns the Republicans that they cannot take their votes for granted if their focus on the economy is at the expense of  the social issues.  What happened in DE shows that they will not blindly follow the establishment when they ignore these issues.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said if Republicans omit social issues like gay marriage and abortion from their document, it will be at their peril. Pointing to insurgent victories of socially conservative candidates like O’Donnell and Joe Miller, the Republican nominee for Alaska’s Senate seat, Land cautioned that these blows to the Republican establishment were orchestrated by socially conservative Republicans, not libertarians.
“It will be a very serious mistake — but then again, the Republican leadership is prone to making serious mistakes,” Land said. “The values voters aren’t going to the back of the bus. We’re staying right where we are. We’re not getting up and going to the back of the bus."

This clarion call was sent to more than 470,000 signers of the Manhattan Declaration, which include prominent religious leaders like Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and Richard Land.

Hughes runs for Rep to replace McCord.... East TN

On March 23 Scott Hughes officially filed a petition to run for the Tennessee State House of Representative seat for District 8. District 8 covers portions of Blount and Sevier County. The areas covered include Alcoa, Townsend, Rockford, Walland, Gatlinburg, and portions of Maryville, Seymour, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

Hughes, his wife Raychel and their four children have lived in District 8 for six years. Currently they reside off of Burnett Station Road in Seymour. Three of their four children attend Porter Elementary School. Hughes and his wife are dedicated to District 8 and feel very fortunate to be residing and sending their children to school in the District.

“I would like to thank and commend Representative Joe McCord for his twelve years of service to this District. His leadership in Nashville has proved to be very beneficial for our community. I have thought about running for many years, but did not see a reason to run against a conservative legislator like Representative McCord. I look forward to meeting many residents over the next four months leading up to the primary election. I am a man that has lived his life based on the conservative values of my faith and my family. A man that has devoted my life to many social justice causes, including the defense of the unborn. I believe in Blount and Sevier County and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve,” said Hughes

Hughes has worked in non-profit management for the past ten years, most recently as Executive Director of a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Knoxville. He has been an active part of the Pro-Life Coalition of East Tennessee. He believes in personal responsibility and limited government. He strongly supports the “Tennessee Health Freedom Act”, which would declare it state policy that Tennesseans have the right to decline federally mandated health insurance.

Hughes believes what Blount and Sevier County needs is a leader, not another politician. Scott believes strongly in, leadership, life, fiscal Responsibility, family, education, justice and environment.

For more information on the Scott Hughes Campaign contact the campaign phone number at (865) 356-4354 or through the campaign Web site at www.electscotthughes.com He can also be reached by emailing him at scohughes@gmail.com

Another disinvite for Stupak

First Susan B Anthony who was set to honor him at a banquet this Wednesday and now Catholic Vote.org.  It feels awful to feel betrayed. I really wanted to believe in his principles....so did Susan B. Anthony and the folkds at Catholic Vote.org. I just got this email......




I just got off the phone with the campaign director for Rep. Bart Stupak.
I told her that the members of CatholicVote.org were appalled by his decision to cave and give President Obama control over taxpayer funding for abortion. I also told his staff that we are rescinding our invitation for him to speak at a special CatholicVote.org event scheduled in Chicago for late April.
Rep. Stupak accepted a meaningless promise of an “Executive Order” that does not address the fundamental problems of the bill. In doing so, he not only allowed the pro-abortion bill to pass, his actions gutted any hope for a bipartisan pro-life movement that many argued would have been possible had he stood firm.

After everything we did to support Stupak and his coalition, his actions yesterday were devastating. We were betrayed.

Reality Check
Confronting a loss of such significance is dispiriting. The emails pouring into CatholicVote range from frustration with politics in general to questions about whether there can truly be a pro-life Democrat.

I share many of these frustrations. Our staff did everything possible to stop this disaster. We worked around the clock last week and all weekend to hold the votes together. We worked with individual bishops and staff to encourage wavering votes to hold firm. We were in regular communication with key representatives and their staffs. We ran radio ads, and launched the Stand With Stupak campaign.

We were confident that we had the votes to stop the legislation, until the end, when Stupak and his key allies folded.
The “Stand With Stupak” campaign was about a principle, not a single man. The principle was simple – no compromise on abortion.
And in the end, even Bart Stupak didn’t stand with Stupak.
Looking Ahead ......................

We may be a movement that is hope-filled, but we are also a movement of action.
The frustrations and anger you are inevitably feeling now cannot be ignored. Over the next 7 months, we will be preparing for the November elections.
Any politician who supported this bill must pay a price. And that price is ultimately paid at the ballot box.

The backers of this health care bill never gave up. They fought for nearly a year against public opinion, and wore down their opponents until they got what they wanted.

We must resolve to do the same. Remember what happened last night.
Remember how you feel right now.

November will be here before you know it.
Sincerely,
Brian Burch