We're moving on to the 2nd half of the Blogs4Life conference, at the corner of 1st and Constitution, where the March for Life will nearly end, just 1/2 block from the Supreme Court building, where the infamous Roe v. Wade decision was made 35 years ago today.

Watch the March for Life rally on EWTN now.

2:45p, EST: End of the March

2:15p, EST:Jill: Am speaking now with Eric Scheidler. Eric, I heard you dissed the Blogs4Life conference this morning to have breakfast with the President?

Eric: That's right. It was a really fine thing. We got to see all kinds of pro-life leaders. We were in the East Wing. There was a buffet with little things. You had to put an effort into getting a big breakfast, but you could. It was a great breakfast. We all had breakfast and enjoyed the atmosphere with a Marine playing a Steinway piano.

Then we were all ushered into this room, and the President came in. He stood between ginormous portraits of George and Martha. He thanked pro-life leaders, including Nellie Gray, about 250 people. He remarked on the victories we've had over the recent years, the pba ban and how that was upheld, the stem cell developments, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. He said we're gratified the abortion rate is going down, but there are over a million babies being killed every year. He said, "America's better than that." Our goal should be welcomed in life and protected by law. I think he really put the focus on our transformation of hearts and outreach to women. He said we should work toward the goal if a woman faces an unplanned pregnancy, that she will get the help she needs from compassionate people, and that pregnant teens will be able to complete their education. He spoke for maybe five minutes and then shook hands for awhile. I didn't get close enough to shake his hand.

Jill: You've been to quite a few Marches. Is this one different - bigger, smaller, more or less energetic?

Eric: The energy level is extremely high. I met a group of kids from Omaha. They had divised a whole new series of pro-life chants on their bus ride out here. They were choreographed, bouncing and swaying, and they were LOUD. There was a group from Tulsa nearby, and they were competing with their bullhorns. The bullhorn is back. And that is my message for March for Life 2008, the bullhorn is back! The bullhorn is definitely old school. They've never changed. You can get them at Radio Shack. They've always been $100, and they'll always be $100. It's cool because you have people chanting and counter-chanting to rouse up the crowd.

Then you've got the new cutting edge technology, people videotaping onto the digital hard drive of their camera to post on YouTube. It's the awesome fusion of the old and new. What is more old school than marching on the nation's capital? So, ok, the media has been ignoring that for 35 years, so we say ok, we'll go around them. End run.

I want to share some of these new chants with you. One of them was playing off the Beastie Boys. "We've got to FIGHT for the RIGHT to beeeeee BORN!" It was wild. They also played off the song, "I like candy." "We like babies...." THe cool thing about it was they choreographed. They were bouncing as they were chanting in unison.

2:05p, EST:

Nellie Gray is en route to the hospital, fyi, and needs prayers.

View down Constitution Avenue from our 4th floor window:

View down First Avenue toward the Supreme Court Building, the end of the March:

View looking into the Russell Senate Office Building, with pro-lifers waiting to go through security to see their senators, at the corner of Constitution and First:

1:35p, EST: Jill: I have next to me Bobby Schindler, my dear friend. Bobby, tell me about your life now, almost 3 years after Terri's death.

Bobby: Oh, gosh, Jill. We started Terri's Foundation after Terri's death, trying to 1) help families that might be in similar circumstances that our family was; 2 and 3) because there is a tremendous amount of confusion on this issue, we're trying to educate and spread awareness.

Jill: What confusion?

Bobby: Terri's case is often described reported as an end-of-life issue. It wasn't. She was not dying. Her brain was not killing her. There were no machines keeping her alive. The only thing sustaining her was what sustains us all, food and water. She was simply a woman with a disability, and she was deliberately and purposefully killed by taking away her food and water.

Jill: But I thought they said she was brain dead?

Bobby: Patently false, one of the lies the media continues to report to confuse the general public to justify killing my sister.

Jill: I'm now speaking with Brother Paul, seen closely by the Schindler family's side during the ordeal to try and save Terri. He is still by their side. Tell me how your life has changed, Brother?

Brother Paul: I became involved in the pro-life movement when I was 13, 35 years ago today with the Roe decision. Later in life, the founder of my religious community - the Franciscan Brothers of Peace - became ill and was in a condition like Terri. In caring for him, I began to support other families in similar situations.

I live in St. Paul, MN, and myself and some of the brothers serve as volunteers contributing consultation on a daily basis on the euthanasia topic exclusively.

1:30p, EST:

1:25p, EST: The March has started:

12:45p, EST:

View below is of Constitution Avenue, now blocked off from traffic flow by police. The March will start after the Rally ends. Nellie Gray just fell on stage. We need to pray for her.

Michael Hichborn, media director of American Life League (ALL), and his boss Judie Brown are paying bloggers a visit. Michael initiated the American Life League reports, which I've spotlighted.

Jill: How do you see pro-lifers making inroads into the new media and young culture?

Michael: I think the youth are probably more tech savvy than anyone in the pro-life movement, so they're utilizing YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, blogs, and other forms of new media to stay informed and to spread the message of pro-life issues. The RockForLife project of ALL is one of the most effective projects we have going, particularly because the youth are so on fire with the truth of the pro-life movement and desire to save babies.

Jill: Are you getting many converts?

Michael: That's hard to tell. We only know if someone says anything. We do have people who have said they were brought to our side by things of ours they've seen. We had attorneys viewing our video, 'Baby Steps', to ensure we were not violating any fair use laws, and they were converted.

Here's that video:

Now I'm honored to interview Judie Brown.

Jill: Judie, you mentioned this morning at the Blogs4Life conference that I pull no punches, which was a high honor coming from you. You certainly don't either. You are my role model. With that in mind, I want to broach a tough topic: incrementalism.

Judie: Dr. Michael New's statistics made a couple of points to me. The first and most important is that we are slowly changing our culture. People are beginning to view the wrongness of abortion in light of certain circumstances. But the fact of the matter is, every abortion is wrong. Our role in the pro-life movement as ALL is to continually focus attention on personhood. Incrementalism has to be very clearly defined so that people understand the difference between banning all 3rd trimester abortions in the true sense of the word and permitting abortion in some circumstances. The reason for this is the average person looks at the victim of sexual assault these days and relies on her ability to get an abortion because even pro-lifers say killing that child is different than killing a child for some other reason. I call that "flawed incrementalism."

Jill: I know you've always said this, but is your approach changing?

Judie: Oh, yes. Putting a negative at the beginning of a sentence is a very bad thing. Instead of saying, "No exceptions, no compromise," it is a more positive thing to say we need to express our pro-life integrity. Pro-life integrity is an integrated philosophy of life that leaves no preborn child behind. We're repackaging our message to be more appealing. You got a scoop. This is the first time we've discussed this publicly.

Praying for Nelly Gray.

how many people would you say there are at the March For Life?

Gahaha...Jill, bring me along next year, I'll transcribe all your interviews for free! You wouldn't have to try and remember everything and take notes and stuff that way. My speed on my steno machine should be up enough by then!

more women will have abortions this year then will "march for life."

Must make you nervous Hal..allll those people there..

I'm not nervous. Do you really think this year's March will be any more effective than the last 34?

I've got tears in my eyes just seeing so many people there! One of these years I'm going to be able to make it as well!!!

I will be there next year! The pictures are amazing! Gives me chills to see so many people marching for life!

A new group, composed of women who regret their abortions and now wholeheartedly support Mike Huckabee is forming. To find out more, or to join, write Jeanette here. (We already have a few members!)

Domers for Huckabee

NEW SITE ADDRESS THAT IS IN ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS:
Silent Souls for Huckabee

been hard to find any coverage of this march in the MSM. A 200 pound cheeseburger was in the news however.

Hal,
If even ONE woman watches this march and reconsiders abortion - that's a victory
YOU may not think so, but that child alive will certainly consider it so, someday.

A 200 pound cheeseburger? I wonder what the physics of eating it would be? LOL

I watched the whole thing on EWTN with Gianna. Very uplifting, very hopeful.

Hal, you're one sick puppy to be celebrating that there are so many abortions. Even if you think they're necessary, it's a gruesome thing to gloat about.

Imagine, for example, PETA getting all giddy that a high number of animals were euthanized at animal shelters. Woudln't that be unseemly?

Hal, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today?

Don't you know the MSM has had a very taxing news day? The volatile stock market... the Federal Reserve dropping its rate... Heath Ledger's passing...snow in winter...hamburgers... The MSM doesn't have time for such silly things as killing unborn babies.

I may have been a bit cranky today. I didn't mean to sound like I was celebrating the number of abortions, but I did mean to damper your enthusiasm about this little march today. Women are truly voting with their feet and marching to abortion providers by the millions.

"and marching to abortion providers by the millions. "

Yes, Hal, which is why we March for Life. It shouldn't have to be that way.

You must be busting with pride right about now.

Maybe you haven't caught on to it yet, but they were marching for your negative two today.

Somebody's gotta stand up for them.

Erin,

Fabulous idea. Yes, do, do, DO go to a March for Life at some point in your lifetime.

Loads of single, pro-life guys there for the pickin'.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Anyone caught the Silent No More Awareness talks at the Supreme Court today?

Carla,

How did your speech go?

There hasn't been a peep about the march on the news channels today.

The pro-choice blogs are getting a lot of mileage out of this pic: http://www.zombietime.com/walk_for_life/IMG_4465.JPG

Who would YOU hang out with? Virtuous women, or the REBELLIOUS JEZEBELS?

Thanks so much for asking Carder! It was a really moving gathering for me and the other women and men there. This year St. Paul, next year Washington D.C.! :)

Dear Hal,
Nothing will ever dampen my passion for the lives of the unborn. You are welcome to keep trying.

"There hasn't been a peep about the march on the news channels today."

thats no surprize, the MSM is filled with corrupt pro-aborts.

Anyone caught the Silent No More Awareness talks at the Supreme Court today?

Posted by: carder at January 22, 2008 7:53 PM
...............................................

Of course you mean blither blathering outside of the Supreme Court building. I'm sure the building was totally impressed.

I am anxious to see some of my friend's videos! They were blither blathering with Silent No More.

I turn on CSPAN and what do I see? Whore-monger Senator David Vitter addressing the RTL march.

LOL.

He should be asked: Senator, if one of your prostitutes gets pregnant by you, should she be allowed to abort or should she be forced to bear your illegitimate child?

The Silent No More rally was amazing. It was freezing cold, and there was rain for a while.....but the clouds opened up for the setting sun (behind the view of the Capitol) and a rainbow appeared.

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/national/2008/01/23/Abortion.Anniversary/

very sad...

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/national/2008/01/22/Inmate.Abortion/

Is there any news on Nellie Gray's condition? I can not find anything in the news.
Thanks,

So anonymous, if a pregnant inmate wants an abortion, she should be denied transportation?

Mary,

I've been looking around, I haven't seen anything on Nellie's condition, hopefully she will be ok...

I did mean to damper your enthusiasm about this little march today.

Aww, Hal, it's so sweet to think you have any effect about how we feel about seeing all those people out there. Sweet in the more pathetic kind of way though. Like Carla said, keep trying...it just shows us you care.

I've had my share of marching in the old days, against the Contras, against South Africa, and some other misc. protests and demonstrations. Looking back, I'm glad I added my voice, although I'm not sure we accomplished anything.

If anything, the March for Life serves to reinvigorate those who attend. Seeing so many others involved in the same movement "back home" is awe-inspiring, and has an intrinsic value in and of itself.

"There hasn't been a peep about the march on the news channels today."

thats no surprize, the MSM is filled with corrupt pro-aborts.

Posted by: jasper at January 22, 2008 8:46 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're RIGHT! Corrupt mainstream media pro-abort Bill O'Reilly didn't cover it. (Although he did cover the Heath Ledger story, and had culture quiz questions about Fabian and Oprah...)

Wow, the responses to this message remind me why I refrain from posting on here anymore. The "pro-choice" folk are gleefully celebrating the fact that there will be hundreds of thousands of abortions this year, or posting incomprehensibly about a counter-counter-protester at the San Francisco Walk for Life from a couple of years ago.

Well, "pro-choice" celebrators of abortion, I Marched for Life today, and I really don't care what you think about that. Though I must say, I'm kind of shocked that you aren't celebrating Nellie Gray's hospitalization. Maybe there's hope for you yet! Or maybe I missed those posts.

I'm sorry Nellie Gray is in the Hospital. I had never heard of her until today (and even then had to google her) I hope she is improving and is well.

I watched the EWTN coverage and looks like most of the 100+K people in attendance are composed of the 25 and under YOUTH group...the winds of change are blowing people...OUR pro-life youth are growing and thriving and they know the truth...they will continue the good fight when we are long gone. I can't say the same about pro-aborts who kill their young.

Well John,
This site allows anti-Catholic bigots to post their bigotry over and over and over. Then some moderator/poster defends the bigot and accuses the Catholic of being insensitive to bigots.
The articles are pro life, but the post board is nothing but a platform for anti-Catholic bigots and their allies in death demands for human life. One bigot is three generations of being a anti-Catholic bigot. Hard up for post, or tolerance for anti-Catholic bigots is the only reason I can come up with. But, don't worry, some pro lifer will become a apologetic for the bigot's right to post anti-Catholic bigotry.
One reason they permit anti-Catholic posters, is they might "convert" a pro death poster, to pro life. So it has been written here. How many they lose to not changing their decision to kill life, from allowing post of anti-Catholic bigotry, is not known or even of concern.
Imagine that, a bigot against Catholics being converted to allowing a baby to live.
You may be a bigot, and we accept your bigotry, as long as your for not murdering the fetus.
Why allow a person who posted that "no one at this site has a good argument against abortion, they just think they do"? A closed mind that only exist here for the need,sake, of a argument is the only value of that poster.
Or a relative to Stanek, that is allowed free space to blather over and over about being in favor of the decision to allow killing human life from the logic of "want".
Watch the zoo of pro-pedophiles, pro-death posters, come around go around philosophers, self inflicted trauma,deathsex family cult members, anti Catholic bigots, post here John.
It is the bottom of the barrel,
when they defend, permit and allow anti-Catholic bigots free space to continue their bigotry.

"I watched the EWTN coverage and looks like most of the 100+K people in attendance are composed of the 25 and under YOUTH group...the winds of change are blowing people...OUR pro-life youth are growing and thriving and they know the truth...they will continue the good fight when we are long gone. I can't say the same about pro-aborts who kill their young."

RSD, Amen! What an inspiring stand for life!

My Pastor brought a group of 75 teens to the March for Life this year. Our Auxilliary Bishop prayed with 30 pro-lifers at the Planned Parenthood in Aurora, IL. They prayed for a change of heart among the abortionists and workers, and for all those who have been hurt by abortion.

########################

There is NO LOGIC to explain the actions of pro-aborts. They are blinded by their desire for so-called "empowerment". It's like a sickness. If you read the history of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union and their underground abortion network ( "Jane"), you get a sense of this. One of the members described her years doing abortions as the "happiest time" of her life because she felt she was doing something REAL.

Lord, have mercy on us all.

Here's an interesting take on the March:
http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?id=A71FC666-3048-887F-8FB1D7E36E7E5DE0

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen

I'm not too excited about the "youth". In my experience they are very fickle and most often when they say they will do something they either forget about it and don't do it or something "more exciting" comes up and they do that.

IN FACT, I believe that many of the youth that went to DC for the march went because of how exciting the thought of visiting Washington DC was to them.

I can give a real life example to back this up.

Last year I gave $50 to a kid in Ft Wayne who had just graduated from high school the previous month in December. He had tons of free time on his hands. The money I gave him was to go to that Rock For Life weekend training camp that was going on in DC.

He got on the plane and went to it and came back. I thought he would love to use his training at the killing center just 2 miles down the road from him home in Ft Wayne. That's right, he lived just 2 miles from the killing center in Ft Wayne, IN.

He didn't make it there even one morning from what I could tell all the mornings I was there outside the killing center. The killing center does its kiling on Thursday mornings and that is when we show up to protest and do sidewalk counseling.

This youth didn't come once despite my sending info about it each week so he could plan for it.

So, why did he go to Washington DC for that training weekend and spend $100 to get there and be part of it and then refuse to do anything at the local killing center 2 miles down the road?

The answer I discerned later was that local activism just wasn't exciting enough.

His brother was the same saying that going to Romania and teaching the youth there how to play football at a cost of $1800 was "more fun" then going to any pro-life event.

I don't have any confidence in these youth who are consumed with entertainment and excitement.

CORRECTION - when I wrote $100 I meant $100s meaning to spend hundreds of dollars ($$) which is what it cost to fly from Ft Wayne to DC and back and be part of the training weekend.

FYI - If you're wondering whether or not I am against expansive short term mission trips the answer is YES I AM because that money could be much better used and to greater effect in a church or youth group's own area for ministry there within 5-10 miles of where they live.

Zeke,
$100 doesn't really sound like too much money to spend on a trip to DC.

The answer I discerned later was that local activism just wasn't exciting enough.

His brother was the same saying that going to Romania and teaching the youth there how to play football at a cost of $1800 was "more fun" then going to any pro-life event.

What kid wouldn't feel that way?