The elephant in the elephant’s room
by Carder
Rush Limbaugh has zeroed in on the issue, which, according to him, will make or break the GOP: abortion.
An attendee of the April 28 Milken Institute‘s political forum told Rush the prevailing sentiment from liberal, wealthy Republicans was:
…this party has no prayer until it gets rid of the pro-life issue. It has no prayer. It isn’t going to win a thing. It’s not going to get our money.”
Limbaugh’s response…
“… I do think that the abortion issue is one of the centerpieces that is resulting in this fracture, both in the conservative movement and in the Republican Party because there just are a lot of liberal Republicans who just don’t want the issue to be part of the party for a host of reasons….
They do think it’s a guaranteed loser, which it’s not. Look at public polling data, and you’ll see that public polling on abortion-on-demand is lower than… it’s been in 10 years…
… I guarantee you that abortion, and whether you be pro-life or pro-choice, is one of the unspoken issues. It’s the elephant in the room, and everybody is dancing around it because nobody wants to say it publicly.
They’ll come up to me Tuesday night at dinner before the forum and they will say that to me, as though it’s my responsibility to fix it. But when we get on stage and actually on the panel, it won’t come up. Nobody will bring it up. They want it dealt with behind the scenes. It’s fascinating.
Depressing is more like it. Aversion to mentioning these “unwanted fetuses” in party politics attests to the absolute rejection the unborn face. If our two major political parties abandon them, who will defend them?
[Image courtesy of cedarlounge.wordpress.com]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
“…this party has no prayer until it gets rid of the pro-life issue.”
=========================================
I think it’s the opposite…but coming from LIBERALS, I’m not really surprised.
Maybe they should do a Specter and switch to the Party of Death..
Question to liberal, rich Republicans:
How does one “get rid of the pro-life issue”?
The same way it gets rid of unwanted babies? Pretend the issue isn’t real and abort it?
Why do we have so many cowards in politics?
Let’s revise that last question:
Why do we have so many cowards in politics and in leadership positions ?
Lol. First you push Randall Terry and now Limbaugh. Thanks for playing into the hands of liberals.
If our two major political parties abandon them, who will defend them?
A third party of course, which is why the republicans are losing now.
The news media and liberals are doing everything they can to dishearten conservatives and claim the only way for Republicans to win again is for the GOP to come more liberal.
Meanwhile, when Republicans controlled all branches of government I don’t remember hearing Democrats needed to move more to the right. On the contrary, they moved about as far left as they could go.
I’m old enough to remember how bad things got under Jimmy Carter, and he wasn’t as extreme as Barry. The result was two consective landslides of a CONSERVATIVE and pro life president.
When the Republicans run as conservatives they win. And I’m refering to being conservative not just on economic issues but on social ones. We now have gays demanding marriage even though when it’s been on the ballot voters have rejected it, even in a liberal bastion like California.
Also Barry has stated recently that FOCA is not a priority to him, and I think he has even backed down from recinding The Hyde ammendment. I’m convinced it’s because he knows or suspects there would be a huge backlash. I think his halo is a bit tarnished now for PP and their supporters.
rosie,
I agree. The Republicans are going extinct and there aren’t many people I know who are going to miss them. We might as well start a new grass-roots, pro-life party.
You’ll miss them when you realize they’re the only viable party left that would touch any of these “social conservative” issues with a 100-foot pole.
Democrats are on the liberal bus heading leftward at an ever increasing pace like lemmings headed for the cliff and mistakenly assume they are standing still and the republicans are moving to the right.
They are so busy looking to see who is watching them they are oblivious to the abrupt end to the road they are on.
Like Thelma and Louise, soaring off the cliff into the Grand Canyon chanting ‘Yes we can! Yes, we can! , they will be reminded yet once again that ‘feelings’ do not change reality.
All the while Gravity will be whispering in their collectivist ears, ‘No, you can’t.’ and the fast approaching impact will reinforce the truth with an exclamation point they can not fail to miss, if only for the brief moment.
A surviror or two will remember one of the dearly departed commenting that the earth is rising to meet us at zenith of our flight.
yor bro ken
But like Wiley Coyote, they learn slow and forget quick and strap themselves to another man made disaster. Instead of ACME, they use do it yourself kits with the ‘DEMOBAMA’
The Republican Party has so many issues, but it simply cannot give up- it is up against a lot of crippling double standards. People say terrible things about the Republicans, but I would only ever detest their party were they to abandon what’s right for votes.
Furthermore, the issue of abortion is not a conservative movement, it is a stance on behalf of human rights. The Democrats are perfectly able to adopt this if they wish.
Pro-choice and moderately pro-life Republicans are more in line with the American public as a whole than those on far right and far left. They believe(about 90%) that rape victims should have access to abortion and EC. They support ESCR. The Republicans aren’t going to win by subtraction.
Vannah,
“Furthermore, the issue of abortion is not a conservative movement, it is a stance on behalf of human rights. The Democrats are perfectly able to adopt this if they wish.”
Unfortunately, “able” and “willing” are two different things. I think being pro-life is a conservative issue because it recognizes the inherent dignity of the human life as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Democrats tend to be progressive liberals who especially today, want to re-write the Constitution to reflect modern times. Dem’s will always be Pro-choice, IMHO. As Ken mentioned, they are too far left to change.
Who will defend them?
You and I will!
Lol. First you push Randall Terry and now Limbaugh. Thanks for playing into the hands of liberals.
Posted by: Yo La Tengo at May 11, 2009 4:06 PM
**************************
Did you READ the posts about Randall Terry, YLT? Jill wasn’t “pushing” him at all. I’m not sure where you’re getting that.
The Republicans and the pro lifer’s worship of Rush, who came in a distant third in a popularity poll behind Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright, will undoubtedly turn out great for both.
I think it is Rush that at 380 pounds is “the elephant on the room” LOL
You can dislike Limbaugh all that you want for his politics or demeanor, but it is, well, kind of rude to make fun of the man’s weight. We can keep this conversation about his comments.
But, if it makes you feel better, I’m not a particular fan of Limbaugh’s commentaries and somewhat cynical observations, either. :).
Where is this “popularity poll” you speak of Bystander? Was it published on Daily Kos?
And seriously…….. Ayers is an unrepentant terrorist who was denied entry into Canada…. the “reverend” wright is a racist and bashes his own country…. sorry I do not believe this “poll” for a second.
It’s amazing to me how the liberals declare Republicans and conservatism dead yet Fox news ratings are higher than MSNBC and CNN combined. People are turning off the liberal media in droves. Rush has the highest ratings in talk radio. Someone must be listening to these conservatives.
Someone must be listening to these conservatives.
Posted by: Joanne at May 11, 2009 10:30 PM
From what I can see, it’s Mary, Heather, Jasper and you.
Someone must be listening to these conservatives.
Indeed, Joanne. This is why the FCC under PBHO is likely to push localism on conservative radio markets.
and me. Please don’t forget me.
and me, Hal. Please don’t forget me.
Someone must be listening to these conservatives.
Posted by: Joanne at May 11, 2009 10:30 PM
From what I can see, it’s Mary, Heather, Jasper and you.
Posted by: Hal at May 11, 2009 10:59 PM
Here is proof Hal. Fox beats MSNBC and CNN, also known as the Obama networks, combined.
How’s this for cable news domination – Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined in every hour from 6amET to MidnightET in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo for April 2009.
FNC had the top 11 cable news programs in Total Viewers and 12 of the top 15 in the demo. FNC is the #2 network in Total Viewers on all of cable.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/april_ratings_fnc_beats_cnn_and_msnbc_combined_115179.asp
And here’s a recent article that says Rush has good ratings even in the liberal bastion of New York city.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/03/12/2009-03-12_redstate_staple_rush_limbaughs_radio_sho.html
Indeed, Joanne. This is why the FCC under PBHO is likely to push localism on conservative radio markets.
Posted by: Fed Up at May 11, 2009 11:15 PM
Yes Pelosi and other liberals are pushing the
“fairness doctrine” in an effort to put an end to conservative talk radio. So much for free speech.
Hey, I watch Fox, listen to Rush, Medved, and Michael Savage.
I come to Jill’s site too. Maybe I’m a right winger.
While there’s life, there’s hope, Hal.
Posted by: Fed Up at May 11, 2009 11:15 PM
You’re a capitalist afraid of competition. You’re also afraid of radio stations providing local service according to the letter of their permit to operate. You’re afraid of equal time because you know that when push comes to shove, Limbaugh, Hannity and the rest cannot handle a discussion involving anyone but themselves and their ego.
You’re also duped into thinking that talk radio is a dialogue involving the people. Nope, callers are mere spacers between the thoughts of the host, and the advertisements for questionable herbal remedies. The same is true on liberal talk, but we don’t worship our hosts the way the “dittoheads” do.
the “anti-localism” movement is just another example of clear-channel using its audience to create a fake movement of listeners. Sorry, someone had to break it to you. Anti-localism is about as real as the Easterbunny.
create a fake movement of listeners
LOLOLOLOL … thanks for giving me a good laugh as I log off the web for the night.I think your tin foil hat is tuned in to the wrong signal tonight, YLT. Sorry, but someone had to break it to you.
Once again, I must step forward and offer my services to our country.
I will register as a democrat and have a three hour radio program opposite Rush, in which I will argue on behalf of the poor and minorities in favor of capitalism, private charities, and restrictions against abortion. Being a woman, I am of course a liberal. As I understand it, the only other option is being a pig with lipstick. And I don’t wear lipstick.
Of course, I will also be getting equal pay, right?
Rush is right on..it is not only the elephant in our nation but in our families….everyone knows it is there but one one wants to address it.
I wrote an article about this years ago that they printed in ALL, but I called it the “monster”…hopefully people will begin tripping over it so it cannot be ignored anymore.
The Monster in the Room
There are not too many of us who did not have the experience of being frightened as a child thinking there were monsters under our beds or in our closets.
My parents always used to leave my bedroom door ajar when I was little. I can still remember the fright I felt thinking a monster was under my bed, or in the hallway about to barge into my room to devour me. I ultimately would tell my parents about my fears and they would assure me he wasn’t really present as we checked out each space to my satisfaction until I felt safe enough to go to sleep.
Years later, the presence of another monster began living in my family. This time we all knew he was real and there, but no one spoke about him. We all felt his presence. NO matter how much we tried to ignore him, he affected each of our lives, but we stayed in denial as if that would make him less real or make him give up and go away.
Unlike my childhood days, there was no talk to alleviate the fears, and the safety I once felt within family was no longer present. In fact, being with my family became the place where I felt most threatened and most unlike myself. I could not believe, in spite of his huge presence, we all acted as if he did not exist. Was I the only one seeing? Was I crazy because he upset me? Did it really not bother them? We lived a facade of closeness. In reality my family did not know me or what was going on in me for years. The monster of abortion does that in families
The monster, was the saline abortion I was forced to undergo by my parents when I was just a teen. The abandonment, and isolation I felt at the time of the procedure carried into our relationship on a permanent level. For years I suffered what many post abortive women and men suffer from, fear, guilt, shame, anxiety and panic attacks, suicidal ideation and the forever implanted image of my unborn son who died from my saline abortion.The fears, anxiety and shame lived with me for years. I picked a spouse poorly …you pick what you think you deserve…for me that meant abuse. Each subsequent pregnancy I experienced brought with it a terror, but of course, I never spoke of it. Years later I found out my mom experienced that same terror when I was pregnant. What should have been a joyful time was filled with fear and dread, knowing God was going to get me back now by having something wrong with my baby.
After years of suffering and living with this monster of a past abortion, that controlled my life, I decided to confront my fears.. I refused to live in denial anymore, and although I did not directly confront my family, they were very aware that I was now speaking out and working to expose this hidden “monster” in families that is abortion.
In the past fifteen years that I have been doing this work, I have seen its destruction in many families. The parents who know their daughter has changed but do not know why. The husband and wife relationship that has taken the form of strangers. The teenager who knows her mothers secret, is desperate to help, but afraid to let her know she knows. The sibling who feels guilty for being alive. The father mourning the loss of a child he did not even know he had until it was too late. The list can go on and on.
Over the last fifteen years many new ministries and outreach programs are being formed to help those suffering from a past abortion.
More people are confronting the impact abortion has had on families and society.
It took over thirty years, but the monster of my abortion was finally addressed in my family, even with my children who came many years after. It took time, and healing for everyone, but we finally chased him out of our heads and hearts.
Theresa, Excellent post!!!
Theresa,
Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your story. I am sorry for all you have been through. I am standing with you as a fellow post abortive mom.
If anyone reading is struggling after abortion please call the National Helpline for Abortion Recovery.
1-866-482-LIFE
After years of suffering and living with this monster of a past abortion, that controlled my life, I decided to confront my fears.. I refused to live in denial anymore, and although I did not directly confront my family, they were very aware that I was now speaking out and working to expose this hidden “monster” in families that is abortion.
I liked this part best…….
I think evolution will look after the abortion issue.
We no longer hear people arguing about a woman’s right to vote. And it’s been ages since there was a struggle to keep blacks from sharing our public spaces. Nobody talks about that anymore.
In time, the struggle to deny women progressive health care will also fade away.
Farslowe,
There is a major difference in your analogy. Denying women the right to vote and blacks full personhood status was based on nothing but bigotry. Wanting to deny “a woman’s right to choose” is wanting to deny a woman the ability to kill her unborn child still developing in her womb. This is not based on nothing. It is about not slaughtering the most innocent and weakest of our human species.
If children learn about fetal development instead of contraception, they connect sex with new life.
A great place to instill the love of children who are waiting to be born is biology and human development study. That way children can learn about and relate to people who are not yet born. They learn that the little tiny boy or girl is a real person.
Children who talk to pregnant moms about their coming babies or feel the baby kick really relate to that child with a sense of wonder.
Then later when they hear of abortion, they are horrified that someone would kill a child. That feeling of horror, fear and disgust sticks with them.
Uh, Farslowe,
It has been 35 years and folks are still sharply split on abortion.
If you look at the way society is evolving, those societies most tolerant of abortion are facing population free fall in the next 50 years. Russia has 13 abortions for every 10 births and loses about 800,000 people annually despite immigration. China has so few children that it will grow old before it grows rich. In the US 55% of children live in the 29% of families with 3 or more children. That means the majority, who have 2 children or less, will not replace themselves. And the aforementioned minority’s children will become the majority.
The men who have the most children are the ones who only have one partner in a lifetime. Guess what values will prevail.
The sexual revolution was a blip in history.
The childless 20% of US women won’t be passing their values on to the next generation.
Society will evolve right back to traditional family.
Family structure is not a fluke. It is what makes the strong survive.
Bobby,
I enjoy reading your arguments. The foundation for them always seems to be; “If you understood me, you’d agree with me”.
I’m not sure how that addresses anything I said, Farslowe. If we understood what you said, would we agree with you?
In fact, suppose that’s true, Farslowe, and that I have in the back of my mind that if everyone understood what I was saying, then they’d agree with me. How does it follow that what I’m saying is false? How does it follow that anything I put forth is no longer valid?
If Farslowe followed logic then he would have to agree!
Farslowe:
Since I’ve heard so many people refer to abortion as “women’s healthcare,” I decided to look through Books-a-million for medical books on abortion. I looked through medical reference, science, women’s studies, philosophy, self improvement – there wasn’t a single book on abortion from anyting close to a medical perspective. One would suppose that if abortion is just an inevitable pillar of women’s healthcare, as you assert, than medical literature on the subject would be plentiful.
Also, I’m not sure what’s progressive about abortion. Human dismemberment? Denying personhood to an entire segment of the population (ie slavery, the holocaust) so the powerful can treat the weak as abstract, expendible commodities? Furthering the notion that women are unacceptable as they are (child-bearing) and their children are a drain on society? Providing another format for men to coerce and abandon women? Dismissing the grief of post-abortive women and families? Blatantly ignoring established scientific facts regarding embryology?
I’ve mentioned it before on here, but it’s worth saying again: Civilized people do not kill innocent human beings in an attempt to solve their problems.
Janette, to be fair, I don’t know that Books-a-Million is the best place to find medical literature.
Oh, very well said Janette.
I’ve mentioned it before on here, but it’s worth saying again: Civilized people do not kill innocent human beings in an attempt to solve their problems.
I do very much agree with this, though!
You’re right, I woudn’t expect Books-a-million to have a comprehensive selection on medical literature. But I did find several books on menopause, fertility, endometriosis, cervical and ovarian cancer, thyroid disease, etc. but not a single book on abortion. My point is that if abortion was a simple matter of women’s healthcare, there would have been at least one book somewhere in the store besides in the religion or politics section.
Hi Hal,
Have you listened to ultra-conservative radio host Mark R. Levin? He’s got a “unique” delivery style and if you can tolerate it you may find him interesting.
“If my people who are called by MY Name…….”
Hisman,
I’ll take the liberty to complete the verse…
“If my people who are called by My name… will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways I will hear them from heaven and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Posted by: YCW at May 12, 2009 6:15 AM
“Of course, I will also be getting equal pay, right?”
——————————————————
There is no ‘afirmative action’ in a capitatist system.
The ‘free market’ will determine your compensation.
Unless you are talk show host on NPR or PBS. But even then they can not pay, indefinately, more than the free market will bear.
That is why they have those ‘pledge drives’ on a regualr basis.
There is the reality of the ‘bottom line’ and, even if you eschew a profit, you still have to consistently produce enough revenue to cover the operating expenses, which, unfortunately for you, includes your salary.
The lame stream ‘news’media, in both the print and electronic venues, is being reminded once again you have to offer a product that people view as valueable in order to remain solvent in the competitive envrionment of a ‘free market’.
They will adapt to reality or they will cease to exist. They will be replaced by the better deal as determined by the dynamics of the free market.
yor bro ken
yor bro ken
“The lame stream ‘news’media, in both the print and electronic venues, is being reminded once again you have to offer a product that people view as valueable in order to remain solvent in the competitive envrionment of a ‘free market’.”
Trenchant point, as usual ken! I fear that the left wing nuts in the media don’t really care about selling something that most people want to buy but force-feeding the public their toxic bilge. The “fairness doctrine” is one way that the current administration and the far left in gov’t can attempt to indoctrinate their values (or actually their lack of).
Ken and Eileen,
Doesn’t the left make you laugh? Let rap “musicians” glorify acts of violence and degradation against black women or Howard Stern denigrate the mentally challenged and we hear them call this “freedom of speech” and “artistic expression”. This must be defended at all costs.
Let Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage be successful then there is a need for “fairness”.
Like I have always said, the issue always boils down to “who’s ox is being gored?”
In the April 30th issue of the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Henninger offered this telling analysis of the President’s “leadership” style:
“Early in the campaign, in January 2007, a New York Times reporter wrote a story about Mr. Obama’s time as president of the Harvard Law Review. It was there, the reporter noted, “he first became a political sensation.”
“Here’s why: “Mr. Obama cast himself as an eager listener, sometimes giving warring classmates the impression that he agreed with all of them at once.” Also: “People had a way of hearing what they wanted in Mr. Obama’s words.”
“Harvard Law Prof. Charles Ogletree told how Mr. Obama spoke on one contentious issue at the law school, and each side thought he was endorsing their view.
Mr. Ogletree said:
“Everyone was nodding, Oh, he [Obama] agrees with me.”
—————————————————-
Kind of like a mutated and perverted and counterfeited ‘day of Pentecost’.
Every man was hearing the ‘gospel’ of Obama in his own preferred understanding.
This is not communication.
This is the deployment of a spirit(s) of confusion.
It is more an imprisioning and deluding spirit of Babel, than the liberating and illuminating Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
Obama’s communications are calculated and measured to deceive, to captivate, to mislead the hearer, and to hide the imp behind the mask.
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Most people, christian or not, take the word ‘peacemaker’ to mean the one who resolves the conflict by using the diplomacy of sweetness and light to produce a cessation in hostilities between the combatants.
Peace ‘reigns’ when your enemy is so utterly defeated that you are comfortable when he is as close as the skin from the formerly roaring and now toothless and dead lion under your feet.
When your heel (which represents the body of Christ) has bruised his hoary head into complete submission.
Ps 110:1
Matt 22:44
Mark 12:36
Luke 20:42
Acts 2:34
Heb 1:13
This will not come about by an act our own selfish will produced by the reasonings of our own natural mind, but by the mind of Christ and the will of GOD.
Our enemy is not flesh and blood and the weapons of our warfare are not of this world.
yor bro ken
“”Here’s why: “Mr. Obama cast himself as an eager listener, sometimes giving warring classmates the impression that he agreed with all of them at once.”
That is exactly what Cardinal George said about his conversation with Obama. He kept saying that he agreed with the Cardinal but Cardinal George had to say “No, we don’t agree…” (about abortion). This is probably an Alinskian tactic.
ken, you are so right — this is a spiritual battle.
Um, Ken, I knew that.
Thanks though :)