Life Voice Blog - Wisconsin Right to Life

Public Hearing May 17 on DC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

mark — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:25:08 +0000

It is appalling that babies can be legally aborted in this country even in the final months of pregnancy. It is even more appalling when you realize the pain felt by the baby during this brutal act. The National Right to Life Committee, Wisconsin Right to Life’s parent organization, is strongly supporting the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 3803) which will have a public hearing on May 17 in the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Late-term abortions in the District are openly advertised. One abortion clinic not far from the White House advertises abortion up to the beginning of the seventh month of pregnancy by the dilation and evacuation procedure where the baby is literally extracted limb by limb as the abortionist tears the baby apart. This dismemberment procedure certainly is extremely painful for the little baby. By the way, this place of horrors will complete this heinous act for money, but “checks and money orders are not accepted.”

Six states have enacted Pain-Capable laws — Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia. This type of legislation does not stop all abortions, but certainly takes the country in a new direction which is further recognition of the humanity of the unborn child.

Barbara Lyons

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As She Steps Down, NARAL President Worries about Pro-Life Millenials

mark — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:24:28 +0000

In an exclusive interview with the Washington Post’s Sarah Kliff released tonight, NARAL President Nancy Keenan announced that she would be stepping down from her post at the end of the year.

Kliff writes in her story:

“In recent years, Keenan has worried about an ‘intensity gap’ on abortion rights among millennials, which the group considers to be the generation of Americans born between 1980 and 1991. While most young, antiabortion voters see abortion as a crucial political issue, NARAL’s own internal research does not find similar passion among abortion-rights supporters.”

In other words, Nancy Keenan’s conclusion is something we have known for years: the post-Roe generations are pro-life – and more passionately so than their parents’ generations and their pro-abortion, post-Roe counterparts.

We know from Gallup that 61% of the country believes abortion should be illegal in all circumstances or legal only in a few circumstances. We know from Gallup that 45% of the country self-identifies as pro-life. We know from Gallup that 51% of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong. And we know that when those questions are asked of the post¬-Roe generation, the numbers tend to skew higher.

More important, I know that none of this would even be possible without you and the work you do with National Right to Life and our nationwide network of state affiliates and local chapters. Every day you are educating your communities, touching hearts and changing minds. Every day, you are helping us make a difference for the most defenseless members of our society.

Look back to 2003 when the New York Times Magazine quoted David J. Garrow, a hard-core pro-abortion “legal historian” at Emory University, as stating, “There’s been so much media attention over the last seven to eight years on partial-birth abortion, we shouldn’t be surprised that some of it has had an effect on 12-to-14-year-olds, and it is a public relations coup for the National Right to Life Committee.”

The other side has noticed. And they’re “worried.”

Keep up the great work. Together we will win…for their lives.

Carol Tobias, President, National Right to Life Committee

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Ironic Twist in White House Rules to Register Unborn Children who Visit

mark — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:16:49 +0000

The most pro-abortion administration ever has released rules on registering, for security purposes, “a baby that has not yet been born.” What irony. The Director of the White House Visitor’s Office, Ellie Shafer, sent an email to a number of recipients including the Members of Congress detailing how to register such a child who is present for a White House tour. “Crazy as it may sound, you MUST include the baby in the overall count of guests in the tour,” says Shafer. Crazy — yes — for an administration that has yet to contemplate an abortion it would prohibit.

Shafer explains further that “the baby’s security information should be entered” in the the White House system, including details such as “GENDER: if the parents know put that gender down, if not, you can enter either M or F as we’ll ask you to update it at the time of birth.” The information should be updated “once the baby is born,” the instructions say.

Doug Johnson, Legislative Director of National Right to Life says: “Notably, the newsletter provides no guidance on what the staff should do if an unborn baby is first registered for security purposes, but then aborted.” Registration of a baby — Yes. Abortion of a baby– OK. Another example of the administration’s hypocrisy on abortion.

Barbara Lyons

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The Walker Record on Life — 1993 to Present

mark — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:20:19 +0000

Abortion Funding: As an Assembly Representative, Walker voted against taxpayer funding of abortions for public employees. As Governor, Walker signed into law a state budget with a provision to prohibit the UW Hospital Authority from being involved in performing abortions and from using taxpayer dollars to pay medical students to learn to perform abortions. Also as Governor, Walker signed into law legislation allowing Wisconsin to opt‐out of taxpayer‐funded abortion coverage under ObamaCare.

Funding Abortion Providers: As an Assembly Representative Walker voted to prohibit taxpayer dollars from going to organizations that provide or promote abortions. As Governor, Walker signed into law a state budget with a provision to prohibit Title V taxpayer dollars from going to organizations that perform abortions. Also as Governor, Walker steered Wisconsin Well Woman funds to local counties instead of Planned Parenthood.

Protecting Unborn Children: As an Assembly Representative, Walker voted to recognize an unborn child as a separate victim of a criminal act against the pregnant mother, to prohibit partial-birth abortions, and to protect unborn children at risk due to drug or alcohol use by the mother.

Protecting Families: As an Assembly Representative, Walker voted to strengthen Wisconsin’s law requiring parental consent before a minor’s abortion. As Governor, Walker signed into law legislation returning sex education curriculum to local control and allowing abstinence‐only programs.

Protecting Women: As an Assembly Representative, Walker voted for the Woman’s Right to Know Act which requires that women be given full
information prior to an abortion and establishes a 24‐hour waiting period. As Governor, Walker signed into law legislation to protect women from
coerced abortions and to prohibit unsafe RU 486 chemical web cam abortions designed to expand abortions into local communities.

Alternatives to Abortion: As an Assembly Representative, Walker voted for tax exemptions related to adoption expenses, to improve adoption laws, to expand funding for adoption assistance for children at risk of developing disabilities, and for a provision to allow a woman and her unborn child to be considered as a family eligible for BadgerCare.

Conscience Protections: As an Assembly Representative, Walker authored legislation to strengthen conscience protections for medical professionals and institutions.

Other: As an Assembly Representative, Walker voted in favor of legislation to prohibit lawsuits based on the “wrongful” life of an unborn child, and to prohibit the sale of body parts of aborted babies.

Authorized and paid for by the Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action
Committee, Richard Fox, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or
candidate’s committee. The committee is the sole source of this
communication and the committee did not act in cooperation or
consultation with, and in concert with, or at the request or suggestion
of any candidate or any agent or authorized committee of a candidate
who is supported or opposed by this communication

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Sebelius Chokes Under Questioning About HHS Mandate

mark — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:06:30 +0000

One had to feel a bit sorry for HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over her totally inadequate responses under withering questioning by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) when she testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee on April 27. Because the subject was the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget, committee members were given wide latitude to ask questions. Gowdy used the opportunity to zero in on the horrendous HHS mandate which destroys religious liberty by forcing religious institutions to provide services that violate their conscience.

Sebelius stated that the mandate “strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services.” Please note that this is the standard administration spin. Gowdy asked about how the “balance” was created and under what constitutional authority. He said there are: “only three balancing tests that I am aware of when it comes to matters of constitutional significance,” and added, “I am sure you can see that religious liberty is a fundamental right.”

Then, the direct questions: “which of these three constitutional balancing tests were you making reference to when you said you balanced things?” Sebelius punted, said she was not a constitutional authority and used the “this is above my pay grade” spin. It got worse for Sebelius.

Gowdy: “Do you agree with me that government cannot force certain religious beliefs on its citizens?”

Sebelius: “Yes, sir.”

Gowdy: “Why?”

Sebelius: “The separation of church and state.”

Gowdy: “Can the government decide which religious beliefs are acceptable and not acceptable.”

Sebelius: “No, sir.”

Gowdy asks if: “before this rule was promulgated did you read any of the Supreme Court cases on religious liberty?”

Sebelius: “I did not.”

Gowdy: “Was there a legal memo you relied on?”

Sebelius: She relied on “discussions.”

Sebelius was only saved by Rep. Gowdy’s time running out.

Kudos to Rep. Gowdy who trashed the administration spin and made Sebelius look foolish for trying to rely on it.

See video of the exchange here.

Barbara Lyons

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PepsiCo Will Not Use Human Fetal Cells for Flavor Enhancement

mark — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:17:13 +0000

Taking steps to deflect growing public outcry and end what could have been an economically painful consumer boycott, soft drink giant PepsiCo has announced that it will not use research from a firm that used human fetal cells to develop new flavor enhancers.

PepsiCo, the world’s second largest soft drink manufacturer, also owns well known brands like Quaker Oats and Frito Lay, had revenues of nearly $58 billion in 2010.

In August of 2010, PepsiCo contracted with a company called Senomyx, intending “to focus on the discovery, development, and commercialization of sweet flavor enhancers and natural high-potency sweeteners with the intent to bring to the marketplace lower-calorie, great tasting PepsiCo beverages” (PepsiCo Release, 8/17/11)

However Senomyx, a San Diego flavor research and development firm, had developed a flavor testing system using cells derived from the kidney of an aborted child. The original cells came from the lab of a Dutch scientist Alex Van der Eb who first cultured the cell line from those cells in 1972.

Those cells, referred to a HEK293, for “Human Embryonic Kidney,” are widely available from most laboratory supply companies and are used by many research and development firms (blogs.miaminewtimes.com, 3/31/11).

Precisely how Senomyx used the fetal cells is not known. But Gwen Rosenberg, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications for Senomyx, described a sort of “robotic tasting system” to one blogger in which hundreds of rows of square plastic dishes are lined up with each dish containing hundreds of tiny indentations containing a protein.

Flavors are put into the indentations and the reaction of the proteins charted. If results are promising, the flavor is tested on living adult human beings (blogs.miaminewtimes.com, 3/31/11).

Presumably, the “proteins” in the plastic dishes would be the cells derived from the kidneys of the aborted child. All but seven of the company’s 77 patents refer to the use of HEK293 cells (www.snopes.com, 3/18/12, quoting CBS News).

Pepsi’s initial response to the outcry was to point people to its “Responsible Research Statement,” which claimed that “PepsiCo does not conduct or fund research that utilizes any human tissue or cell lines derived from human embryos,” but it remained unclear whether that applied to outside companies with whom PepsiCo contracted (www.snopes.com, 3/18/12).

PepsiCo’s latest communication is much more direct and definite. In a letter to Children of God for Life, which originally discovered and publicized the connection, Paul Boykas, PepsiCo’s vice president of global public policy declared that “Senomyx will not use HEK or any other tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research performed on behalf of PepsiCo” (Christian Newswire, April 30, 2012).

Randy O’Bannon

National Right to Life

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Chen Guangcheng Exposes Brutality of China’s Forced Abortion Regime

mark — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:52:00 +0000

It is a horror story with a most unlikely hero. Chen Guangcheng is a blind Chinese human rights activist and self-taught attorney. After serving over four years in prison, he escaped after 16 subsequent months of house arrest and is now at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. What was his crime? He exposed the brutal forced abortion and sterilization program which China has used for over 30 years to implement its one child per couple policy.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) states that: “When Chen investigated and intervened with a class action suit on behalf of women in Linyi City who suffered horrific abuse under China’s one child per couple policy, he was arrested, detained and tortured.” Keith Richbourg of the Washington Post reports that Chen was “…kept under an unofficial kind of house arrest, surrounded by armed thugs in plain clothes who prevented Chen and his wife from leaving and brutally blocked journalists and activists from going to see him.” NPR reports Chen’s description of how he was treated by local officials: “Dozens of men broke into my house and beat my wife up. They held her down on the floor and covered her with a quilt. Then they punched and kicked her for several hours. They also beat me violently.”

After Chen’s escape, he posted a YouTube video on April 27 in which he expressed concern that authorities “might ignite a violent revenge against my family.” Fox News reports today that “U.S. and Chinese officials are ironing out a deal to secure American asylum for a blind Chinese legal activist who fled house arrest, with an agreement likely before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives this week.” The European Union has also weighed in, issuing a statement today which states: “We call on the Chinese authorities to exercise utmost restraint in dealing with the matter, including avoiding harassment of his family members or any person associated with him.”

While Chen does not want to leave China, some believe exile may be his only option to allow the Chinese government to save face. An extraordinary story of courage in the face of brutality. If Chen comes to the United States, we should welcome him and his family with open arms for his heroic stand.

Barbara Lyons

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WRTL/PAC Endorses Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch

mark — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:18:51 +0000

The Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee (WRTL/PAC) has endorsed Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in the upcoming recall elections.

In announcing the endorsements, WRTL/PAC Director Susan Armacost said, “We are extremely proud to endorse these exceptional public servants. Our organization stands proudly and firmly behind Governor Walker and Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch during the upcoming recall elections.”

Regarding the endorsement of Governor Walker, Armacost said, “Governor Walker’s deep belief in the sanctity of all human life is evident in the courageous actions he has taken to build a culture of life in Wisconsin. His concern for the most vulnerable members of the human family is reflected in the common sense and compassionate laws he has signed into law. Those initiatives will greatly benefit unborn children, women who are considering abortion and the taxpayers of our state.”

Armacost also had high praise for Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch. “Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch has consistently and courageously spoken out on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves and has urged the passage of compassionate legislative initiatives that would protect the unborn, the elderly and the infirm,” she said.

“We believe that the re-election of these exceptional individuals is crucial to the right-to-life cause in Wisconsin. We extend our heartfelt thanks to them for all they have done, and continue to do, to protect those who cannot speak for themselves,” said Armacost

Authorized and paid for by the Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee, Richard Fox, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. The Committee is the sole source of this communication and the committee did not act in cooperation or consultation with, and in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of any candidate or any agent or authorized committee of a candidate who is supported or opposed by this communication..

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Wisconsin Right to Life Applauds Wisconsin Medical Society Position on Doctor-Prescribed Suicide

mark — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:48:18 +0000

Wisconsin Right to Life applauds the decision of the Wisconsin Medical Society (WMS) House of Delegates in rejecting a resolution this past weekend which would have placed the WMS in favor of legalizing doctor-prescribed suicide. It is the goal of the proponents of euthanasia and doctor-prescribed suicide (also known as assisted suicide) to garner the support of the medical community to convince state legislatures and the general public that this act should be legal.

The Wisconsin Medical Society, as well as the American Medical Association, have long held public positions in opposition to legalization of doctor-prescribed suicide. As recently as December of 2011, the Massachusetts Medical Association reaffirmed its position in opposition to legalization of doctor-prescribed suicide, an important decision since Massachusetts is certain to have a ballot question on November 6, 2012 to legalize. Attempts to reverse the position of the Wisconsin Medical Society have been rejected several times since 2009.

Doctor-prescribed suicide is most detrimental to older people and those with disabilities. Given the way it is carried out in the few states where it is legal, it is a recipe for elder abuse, giving a few selected medical professionals and family members too much power in determining when a person should die. In Oregon, it has been used as a cost-saving measure, where patients were told that the state would not pay for expensive treatment, but would pay for suicide pills even though the patients did not request them. We are extremely pleased that the Wisconsin Medical Society recognizes these dangers for patients and medical professionals and continues to maintain its position in opposition to legalization of doctor-prescribed suicide.

Barbara Lyons

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WI Right to Life Applauds Suspension of RU 486 Abortions. Suspension Likely to Spur Decline in Wisconsin Abortions

mark — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:50:45 +0000

In a true victory for Wisconsin women, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that it is suspending dangerous RU 486 chemical abortions because of the new law, Act 217, which takes effect today. The FDA reports that 14 American women have died during RU 486 abortions and there were over 2,200 adverse incidents for women through use of this drug.

Act 217, the Coercive and Web Cam Abortion Prevention Act, requires the abortionist to determine if a woman is being coerced into having an abortion and prohibits web cam RU 486 abortions. The purpose of the law is to ensure the health and safety of women in these situations.

Wisconsin Right to Life was the major organizational force behind the enactment of the law.

People mistakenly believe that women who have chemical abortions pop a pill and, magically, they are no longer pregnant. Yet, FDA protocol for use of this two-drug regime is three to four visits to a doctor with close supervision. “With the advent of web cam abortions, now taking place at Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa and Minnesota, instead of this close supervision, women discuss their abortion over a web cam without a physical exam by a doctor. Planned Parenthood envisions bringing web cam RU 486 abortions into local communities. But now, not in Wisconsin, thanks to Act 217. And, because chemical abortions comprise 26% of Wisconsin abortions, their suspension will result in another decline in Wisconsin abortions which is great news for mothers and babies.

Opponents of Act 217 complain that the requirement of a private discussion with the woman to learn if she is being coerced is somehow detrimental. Yet, women who are coerced are many times accompanied to the abortion clinic by the person doing the coercing who want to make sure she has the abortion. This common sense law protects women at a time when it is most needed and provides help if she is a potential or real victim of domestic abuse.

Wisconsin Right to Life applauds Senator Mary Lazich, Rep. Michelle Litjens and the state legislature for passing this important bill and Governor Scott Walker for signing it into law.

Barbara Lyons

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