(Prolifer)ations 9-23-11
by Susie Allen, host of the blog, Pro-Life in TN, and Kelli
We welcome your suggestions for additions to our Top Blogs (see tab on right side of home page)! Email Susie@jillstanek.com.
- Wesley J. Smith discusses the radical PETA movement now attempting to combine actual pornography and graphic video of animal abuse on the same website (yes, you read correctly). The more extreme PETA becomes, the less credibility they seem to have in the animal rights movement.
- Secular ProLife voices support for “pro-choice” license plates in the interest of fairness, stating how overall, it will likely help pro-life causes:
… [T]he availability of a pro-choice plate is no threat to us, and will probably help the pro-life movement in the long run. In those states where pro-choice plates have been introduced, they’ve been duds. For instance, in Montana, the state Right to Life organization raised $5,570 from specialty license plate sales between April and June 2011. Planned Parenthood of Montana, during the same time frame? $700.
- Reflections of a Paralytic writes about an appeal filed by adult stem cell researchers seeking the reversal of the decision to allow taxpayer funding for human embryonic stem cell research.
- Pro-Life Wisconsin’s recently scheduled debate, organized by nonpartisan political group Reach Out Wisconsin, was “aborted” by Planned Parenthood rep Nicole Safar, who refused to even be in the same room with anyone from PLW. Safar is an attorney and “advocate for late-term abortion” who supports the “right” of birth control for minors and opposes conscience protection laws. Clearly, the abortion industry cannot bear the scrutiny of an honest exchange of ideas.
- ProLife NZ shares the moving X-Factor Australia story of Emmanuel Kelly who, along with his brother, was abandoned as a newborn in Iraq – in a shoebox – and was later adopted by an Australian family:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W86jlvrG54o[/youtube]
- ProWomanProLife posts a serious report about ectopic pregnancies and the high number of errors in proper diagnosis:While the reports of such mistakes are uncommon, the authors say there is evidence it is a broader problem. Not only has use of methotrexate boomed, but some research indicates the initial diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy ends up being wrong in 40% of cases.
- Live Action comments on abortion activist Amanda Marcotte’s accidental truth-telling about the “mission of Planned Parenthood.”
- Pro-Life Action League reveals important information on the Illinois Citizen Participation Act, which is important to pro-lifers especially because:… [the act] states that, when pursuing favorable governmental action, a person cannot be held responsible for public statements made in pursuit of that action, even if those statements are libelous.
Scheidler v. Trombley began when Planned Parenthood ran a smear campaign on the [Pro-Life Action] League and local activists while trying to open their massive “Abortion Fortress” in Aurora, Illinois. When Eric [Scheidler] and the League sued for libel, PP counter-sued under the [Citizen Participation Act] and won, claiming that they weren’t responsible for their false claims about pro-lifers because they were seeking the favorable government action of getting the Aurora City Council to approve their new clinic.
This is obviously ridiculous as it essentially grants PP, or anyone else invoking the CPA, a license to lie and say whatever they please about their opponents without being held responsible. It also takes away the right of victims of the CPA to defend and clear their good name in public.
[Photo via rtl.org]
Nice story about Emmanuel Kelly and his brother, but I wonder if they could be fitted with prosthetic limbs? It was sad that they were abandoned this way, but at least they weren’t killed.
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Where can I find information about these pro-life plates? I want to see if my state has them :)
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How exactly did Safar intend to debate the issue of abortion if she never intended on actually interacting in person with a pro-life advocate? Email? Newspaper editorials? Or perhaps Dating Game style with her behind a wall where they could both see the moderator but not each other?
As far as the Illinois thing goes, obviously the ruling is ridiculous, but PLW can turn this back around on PP in a heartbeat. They can now say whatever they like about Planned Parenthood in that state in pursuit of a political goal (like, defunding Planned Parenthood, say) and PP can’t sue them for it. It doesn’t matter if what they say is true, because according to Scheidler v. Trombley it doesn’t need to be. :P
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“They can now say whatever they like about Planned Parenthood in that state in pursuit of a political goal ….. It doesn’t matter if what they say is true” – so no change there then.
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Amber, this site has more info: http://www.choose-life.org/
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Want to bet that the “citizen participation act” will only be enforced when it benefits liberal or pro-abortion causes?
Seriously, who thinks this stuff up? Libel is illegal…. oh yeah, except when you’re trying to influence the gov’t to rule in your favor on some point? Really? *eyeroll* O.o Why would they even WANT this? Who really and truly WANTS public policy to be decided based on unabashed lies? I mean besides PP…
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I was at the scheduled debate of Pro-Life Wisconsin v. Planned Parenthood. It was a small venue, less than 30 people. Not a genuine “debate,” but a chance for each side to present their case — then the crowd is invited to break into small groups of opposing views for civil & pleasant exchange of ideas.
Steve Karlen of PLW is a young fellow. Well prepared, as a professional activist should be. But Steve is a slightly built and soft-spoken guy, and should be an easy mark for an experienced lawyer like Safar. Reportedly, Safar claimed that PLW is “too radical,” and she didn’t feel “safe.” That sounded really stoopid.
So Steve gave his 15 minutes, and one of the organizers (a reg’lar gal who is sympathetic to abortion rights) jotted some quick notes and made a yeoman’s effort to present the pro-abort case. She confessed that she was very angry at Planned Parenthood for this disappointing show of cowardice.
We all gave her a big applause for her effort to keep the discussion alive.
Consensus around the room was that abortions should be reduced, and we should look together for ways to help women avoid unwanted pregnancies and choose alternatives to abortion.
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I was engaged with a fine young abortion-sympathizing man who intended to email PP and firmly express his disappointment. He has contacted them before, so I trust he will follow through.
I suggested that he ask PP: Why they do not urge more women to give children for adoption? There is a need for adoptable children – Couples are willing to pay big bucks to get a child – PP could make more profit by brokering an adoption than they can by selling an abortion. The best way to reduce abortion is to offer women a real choice. Yet 98% of pregnant women are sold abortions at PP.
My pro-abort friend liked this idea very much, and promised to bring it to the attention of Madison’s PP administrators.
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I think PETA and some groups within the pro-life movement should combine resources – really, there is a very like minded approach to the issues they are passionate about. The porn thing goes to far for the abortion folks, but the signs…oh, the signs. I bet some group rates could be had.
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PETA and pro-life getting together? I don’t think so…
Free Father Pavone!!!
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Ex-GOP, I bet the big hook-up between PETA and pro-lifers isn’t going to happen. ;)
As an aside – though he’s not running anymore, not a bad showing by Tim “Horn of Plenty” Pawlenty in the poll.
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Doug – I agree that the hook-up won’t happen, which is unfortunate that the two sides can’t see their common bond.
On Pawlenty – dude should have stayed in the race longer. Perry is an idiot. Romney doesn’t know who he is. Nobody else is even worth talking about. The right needs some more options this election – especially more of a moderate with some common sense. I don’t think Pawlenty is that guy…but he’s more moderate than most of the current crop of ‘candidates’.
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Moderates are the absolute worst. Both the far left and the far right have more credibility and viability than a compromise that keeps the worst of both.
The whole point of the moderate is to have no conviction and just be a self serving, pandering influence peddler. George Bush was a moderate.
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“My pro-abort friend liked this idea very much, and promised to bring it to the attention of Madison’s PP administrators.”
Your young idealistic friend will be disabused of his illusions in short order. PP like Sanger, hates the poor and wants them birth controlled/murdered out of existence.
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Jennifer R. says:
September 24, 2011 at 12:30 pm
“PETA and pro-life getting together? I don’t think so…
Free Father Pavone!!!”
Exactly! Free Father Pavone!!
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hippie -
Both the far right and left might have more credibility regarding their convictions, but they make HORRIBLE leaders. Time to find some politicians who can work together and get stuff done – the global economy is in trouble, and the US response is a bunch of political babies sitting in their sandboxes, drawing lines in front of them and doing nothing to get anything done.
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Jennifer R.: “PETA and pro-life getting together? I don’t think so…”
I can see shying away from PETA for its antics (e.g. porn), but otherwise the two causes have much in common, including speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves.
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Ex-GOP: On Pawlenty – dude should have stayed in the race longer. Perry is an idiot. Romney doesn’t know who he is. Nobody else is even worth talking about. The right needs some more options this election – especially more of a moderate with some common sense. I don’t think Pawlenty is that guy…but he’s more moderate than most of the current crop of ‘candidates’.
No idea what’s going to happen, Ex-GOP. Last time around, I figured that whoever won would likely be a one-term President, due to the economy. That may yet prove out.
Perry is still leading the Mittster in the polls, but my gut feeling is that Romney will reel him in, easily. Not to say that Mitt will be the republican nominee, but I sure as heck don’t think it will be Perry, which, really, would likely be a win for Obama.
Doug (Quite comfortable with where Father Pavone is.) ;)
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Amber Currie: Where can I find information about these pro-life plates?
Don’t forget to get your matching napkins and gravy boats. :)
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“They can now say whatever they like about Planned Parenthood in that state in pursuit of a political goal ….. It doesn’t matter if what they say is true”
Reality: – so no change there then.
Aye, pretty much my thought too.
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Hippie: Moderates are the absolute worst. Both the far left and the far right have more credibility and viability than a compromise that keeps the worst of both.
The whole point of the moderate is to have no conviction and just be a self serving, pandering influence peddler.
Hippie, don’t you think we have sort of a “perfect storm,” at this point what with “PETA, porn and Pavone”? :) (He’s not really in chains, is he?) ;)
Seriously, I don’t disagree with you. Most Presidents have sold themselves so many times over that…. well, I’m pretty cynical. For the past few decades, I sure don’t think that anybody who really and truly “stood out” from the status quo – given that there is some leeway there since we do have two parties – could get elected.
I do think that economic bad times will set the stage for a “new deal,” though.
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Jennifer R: PETA and pro-life getting together? I don’t think so… Free Father Pavone!!!
Perchance, is your middle name Pat or Pam?
I think that if Pavone rode in on a Pekingese, with a Parrot and Pigeon on each shoulder, parading a Panther, a Peccary, and a Pine Marten behind him, then the parish would permanently be perturbed,
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Doug -
Did you just hear that giant blowhorn out of Florida? Guess the people want some different candidates! Herman Cain? In a blowout?
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Amazing, Ex-GOP. You just never know, I guess… I wonder if Cain is non-moderate enough for Hippie? ;)
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“They can now say whatever they like about Planned Parenthood in that state in pursuit of a political goal ….. It doesn’t matter if what they say is true”
Reality: – so no change there then.
Aye, pretty much my thought too.
Just how tone deaf do you two have to be that, in response to a story where Planned Parenthood has lied so much about the pro-lifers in Illinois that they have had to get those lies protected by judge, you call the very pro-life organization they have libeled liars. Really, y’all? The irony here is so heavy I’m surprised it didn’t crush you both to death.
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Alice, the Act holds that speech that is participation in government is immune from liability. All that was said was that Pro-Life Action League has “a well-documented history of violence.” First, is that actually not true? I know there have been some incidents in the past.
Even if you say it is not true, it’s nothing more than the hyperbole we hear all the time about Planned parenthood. At the worst, the judgment is an unintended consequence of the Act. Scheidler certainly has a well-documented history of suing for libel. As I recall, he sued the National Organization for Women in 1989.
Scheidler claimed on his “hotline” that “God’s will” would be done with the legal judgment in that trial. He lost.
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@Doug: Even assuming that everything PP said is true (and given that they had to get libel protected in court, we can be reasonably sure that a good portion of it is not), that still doesn’t make your comments any less outrageous. Planned Parenthood has a court ruling that they not only are allowed to libel pro-lifers, but have already done so, but that’s actually okay. This is now a matter of public record. And then you turned around and claimed it was the pro-lifers lying. Regardless of whatever else you may say, think, or hear (probably from PP, who is on the record as having lied) about the pro-lifers there, there is no getting around that your comments are stunningly ironic in the worst possible way.
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Alice: Planned Parenthood has a court ruling that they not only are allowed to libel pro-lifers, but have already done so,
There’s no agreement that it was libel. I do agree that those who wrote the Act did not intend it to be used in exactly the manner that PP did, though.
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And then you turned around and claimed it was the pro-lifers lying.
Wrong. That is not true. The judgment means that what Reality said is right – and I was agreeing with that. I wasn’t commenting about pro-lifers lying, just agreeing that they could say anything about PP – my thought being that they pretty much have done that anyway.
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