Conservative presidential campaigns issue promises to end the reign of big government.

As a general rule, the more conservative the candidate, the less enamored with governmental oversight. Conversely, the more liberal the candidate, the more enamored with governmental oversight.

With one glaring exception, that is. That sole exception is the grisly and carnivorous abortion industry.

By way of example, consider a Jan. 4, 2012, article from the Chicago Tribune, dateline Rockford, Ill. An abortuary closed down last September due to health and safety violations has been ordered to pay out $9,750 in fines to the state of Illinois. This sounds like great news, but it is far too little and comes far too late. (Doesn’t it seem a trifling “tribute” to pay for enjoying the state-countenanced privilege of butchering the next generation of American citizens?)

The realpolitik of the situation is this: Political pressure and troubling revelations regarding the status quo ante inside the outpatient facilities advancing the culture of death finally moved Illinois bureaucrats to action. According to The Associated Press, once Illinois officials finally caved to the political realities and inspected the Rockford mill they discovered “unsanitary practices,” informal procedures, a dearth of surgically trained nurses and an abortionist without admitting privileges at any Illinois hospital. The long-overdue inspection of this notorious front-alley abortion clinic resulted in a government-ordered shutdown lasting three months. The unsanitary conditions documented included “brown tissue” staining surgical instruments and “brown tissue” splattered into boxes of allegedly sanitary gloves. All three of the Rockford mill’s abortion procedure rooms failed the sanitary inspection.

Such outrageous medical irregularities are not unheard of in the abortion industry. My father, John Brown, purchased Fort Wayne’s former abortion clinic on Webster Street a few years back. When our family took possession of the former mill, we documented conditions that caused my Dad to exclaim, “I would not bring a cat here to be spayed.” Huge cracks in rotten window casements were stuffed with rubber gloves in a low-budget attempt to keep cold and dust out of the operating rooms. The “sterile room” included 1960s-era cabinets so poorly installed that three-inch gaping holes allowed air to waft into drawers labeled “autoclave tips” and “sterile field.” That air arose out of the 100-year-old, damp and spider-infested fieldstone basement. The three operating rooms were appointed with sinks of the kind commonly found in blue-collar residences of the 1950s, their floors stained brown and yellow after decades of highly invasive “surgeries.”

The Illinois pro-life activists standing guard outside of the Rockford clinic asked why an inspection took so long to schedule given their repeated and ongoing allegations of unsanitary conditions within the clinic. Government bureaucrats blamed a “lack of resources” on the Rockford clinic going without a full health inspection from its opening in 1996 until last September.

A lack of resources? Wrong — it was rather a lack of resolve. Liberals are wont to look the other way during the “processing” of human life, ignoring life-threatening conditions that they would never countenance at tattoo parlors, farmer’s markets or school cafeterias.

Case in point: The Fort Wayne-Allen County Board of Health inspects the aforementioned businesses at least once a year. (Tattoo parlors are inspected twice a year.) The former abortion clinic on Webster Street processed an estimated 24,000 fetuses (Latin for “little ones”) between 1978 and 2006. We know of only one government inspection during those 28 years. That sole inspection took place at the instance of the late, great Phyllis Avila in the clinic’s first year of operation, when a young lady left the clinic to die of sepsis a few days later.

Peter Breen, executive director of the Thomas More Society (a Chicago-based public interest law firm) said this in the wake of the revelations arising out of the inspection of the Rockford abortuary: “Considering the utter disregard for basic medical standards found by public health personnel, we hope they won’t wait another 14 years to re-inspect this clinic.”

Don’t hold your breath, counselor. Abortion is a sacrament of the left. True devotees fully realize that some sacrifices (beyond the little ones, that is) must be made. Those additional sacrifices sometimes include women killed by sepsis — and card-carrying pro-abortion liberals know to just look the other away when such tragedies occur, to eschew governmental oversight of that industry no matter how vile its effluence.

To bring this all home while demonstrating a faith in government oversight befitting a sincerely honest liberal, allow me to paraphrase a recent and well-worn ad campaign: “What’s in your local abortion clinic, Fort Wayne?” I dare the Fort Wayne-Allen County Board of Health to look.

No related posts.

Oh That Voodoo, That You Do, When You Protect Church Freedoms

Yesterday, I attended the final Joint Summer Study Committee on Child Care Issues in the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee room. I sat next to a friend who mentioned how contentious this committee had been. It didn’t take long for this to play out in this final hearing.

The contention boils down to those who want to give state government more power over church childcare ministries in order to improve some daycare center conditions, versus those who see this as a violation of the true meaning of “a wall of separation” envisioned to keep government out of churches. The hearing took a weird turn when Chairman Tim Wesco moved through the short agenda to end the meeting. Senator Travis Holdman began a rather lengthy talk about his time doing mission work in Haiti many years ago and the difficulties he ran into in trying to help children with medical assistance. As he spoke, I found myself thinking, “please don’t go where I think you’re going with this.” Unfortunately, he did!  Senator Holdman spoke about the power that Voodoo witch doctors have in many of the villages of Haiti and their power to turn people into zombies. He then turned his example into an attack upon Eric Miller of Advance America and I would assume, myself, for our opposition to his bill last year. He compared our efforts to that of the Witch Doctors who give people a zombie drug because people repeated our concerns about his bill on church daycare regulations.

Senate Bill 56 was a bill that, among other thing, would have required church childcare ministry centers to have “nutritionally balanced snacks” and given the state the power to fine or shut down a church ministry without a court order. The bill had some reasonable expectations too, but its supporters revealed their purpose when they repeatedly called it only “a first step.”  What then, is step number two that the government has planned for Indiana churches?

The bill was promoted as a way to protect children, without a doubt, a noble goal. However, it is unclear how new regulations and yearly inspections by a bureaucrat from Indianapolis would be more effective than parents. Moms or dads are at their child care center every morning and afternoon to drop off and pick up their most precious loved one and they care about conditions.  Moreover, if there are centers out there that are unsafe, as Senator Holdman and others claim, why not call the police department or the department of health about those specific centers? This could be an enforcement issue as much as anything else.

I spoke with a pastor after the hearing who told me that what many on that committee do not seem to realize is the great lengths churches with day care centers are going in regard to insurance and lawsuit concerns to ensure good care for children today.

Interestingly, he and Eric Miller both thought that there is a safe way to achieve the stated desire of Sen. Holdman. Churches would probably welcome offers of assistance, information and training from Family and Social Services about child safety and facility conditions. Rep. Wesco attempted to add recommendations for the state to offer such assistance into the minutes of the committee in regard to child safety and child abuse reporting. However, Senator Holdman opposed this effort, claiming that it fell so far short of what he had hoped the committee might do legislatively (regulations), that he could not support it. Rep. Wesco’s recommendation was therefore deleted from the final committee draft.

In spite of being labeled as a practitioner of “Indiana Christian Voodoo” held over “superstitious” pastors, I still want to give Senator Holdman the benefit of the doubt in regard to his intent. However, long before he was a legislator, this battle has raged between those in the child care industry who do not like that our founders set up in principle a different, more favorable view of ministry. The day care industry does not really like competing with churches. Many simply want children only in government run childcare centers. Intentionally or not, Sen. Holdman has aligned himself with those secular, big government forces.

The lines were drawn today for another battle between the “good” intentions of government verses the role of parents and the freedoms of churches. We’ll see how far this effort gets next year. One thing is for sure, this issue is not going away . . . no matter what spell we cast over the matter.

Being “Pro-Life” is Not Enough

With less than two weeks until Election Day it is good to remember the importance and the value of your vote. One problem for any kind of political constituency is having its support and votes taken for granted by politicians. As an example, I would argue that 96% of African-Americans voting Democratic year in and year out might not be in the best political interests of black Americans. Yet, such a problem falls at the feet of the voter as much as it does the politician who takes those votes for granted regardless of his political actions, abilities or positions.

Let’s be honest. The same could often be said of socially conservative Christian voters (of any race). Many people assume that if a political candidate is “pro-life” then he must be pro-family and socially conservative. Many Republicans have realized this assumption and therefore act as if all that matters to securing the votes of 40% of the GOP base is abortion. (There are also Democrat politicians who think just being pro-life can secure the votes of socially conservative Democratic voters.) Pro-life and pro-family groups may have also contributed to this single-issue perception over the years.

Take, for example, the two candidates running for mayor of Evansville. The Republican claims to be pro-life, but both candidates are actively helping raise money for a multi-state homosexual demands group. Both are pushing for the indoctrination of children in schools (under the guise of safety) and both are helping to undermine marriage.

Incidentally, I always find it amazing when people are shocked by homosexual publications with ads, pictures and other items that verge on pornographic. Why aren’t more politicians worried, when their pictures, or praise, appear in homosexual publications that most parents would never allow in their home or near their children? You’d like to think those running for the highest offices in a city or state have better discernment in regard to the sensibilities of families who constantly fight a sex-obsessed culture intent on destroying the innocence of children.

This problem goes all the way up the ladder. There are presidential candidates who are doing this as well. In fact, it could be argued that one candidate who recently released a strong pro-life video (the day after missing the most important pro-life vote in a year) is anything but pro-family or socially conservative.

This raises two interesting questions. First, what is your vote worth, what price do you put on it? Second, what criteria does a candidate have to meet to get your vote?

Last week I spoke with a nationally known pro-family leader who just joined a new pro-life group in Ohio. Another member of that group is Dr John Wilke, a legendary grandfather of the pro-life movement who served as the President of National Right to Life for over a decade. The new group will not give any candidate for office their pro-life endorsement unless that candidate can agree with the principles of the Manhattan Declaration. (http://manhattandeclaration.org/the-declaration/read.aspx)

Not every candidate who deserves your support will agree with you on every issue. Some of my closest friends in the legislature do not even vote the same on every issue upon which AFA takes a position. However, since I began at AFA of Indiana, our donor polls consistently reveal that there are three issues out of 20 in our survey that always come up with 80%+ support, and rate 10+ points higher than all the others. Those three are my personal price for support. As best I can, I will not give any candidate my vote unless they will defend the fundamental right to life, protect marriage, the cornerstone of the family, and guard our religious liberties against the agenda of atheists and secularists. Because I believe I am accountable for my vote to God, if a candidate or both candidates are substantially wrong on any of these three, I will not vote for that candidate or I will skip that race altogether if both are wrong on these essential values. (By the way, another principle I hold is that I will not give campaign money to a political party which might work against my values through their support of candidates whom I would not give my vote. Therefore, I only donate to certain candidates who meet my criteria.)

As the 2011 election draws near, this is just my personal opinion. You will have to have your own criteria, but I thought this might be a good time for some food for thought before you head to the polls.

No related posts.

Government Caught Pink Handed Inflating Numbers

As you recall, while campaigning, Senator Barack Obama appeared to be one of the most electrifying, populist, hopeful and promising presidential candidates to seek that office since Ronald Reagan. In reality however, President Obama is the most liberal and ideologically extreme of any person to occupy the White House in our lifetimes. He is seemingly a true believer in this agenda. He appears unwilling to deviate from his worldview in part perhaps because, (even by his own admissions), he spent his whole life surrounded by America-hating radicals seeking to undermine the foundations of our nation and constantly disparaging the values essential to those foundations. It should be no surprise then that the Obama administration has been caught fabricating numbers on behalf of those seeking to tear apart marriage and sexual virtue, the keys to a healthy civilization. The US Census Bureau has been forced to admit that it has been artificially inflating the numbers of same-sex households in America by nearly twice their actual numbers.

This effort has had some success too. Not long ago, I received a phone call from a reporter wanting to write a story about the growing number of same-sex households in Indiana as revealed by this Census data. The reporter had figured out that those living together are the most likely to marry should our laws ever be redefined. These new numbers might represent some sort of trend or growing number of those experiencing discrimination, even though people can live outside the norm more freely today than ever before in history. (In fact, those who abide by rational traditional mores are becoming the ones society increasingly looks down upon.)

Under the revised Census data, the number of same sex households in the entire US, both married, where allowed, and unmarried, is less than ¾ of a million, or only about 1% of the number of heterosexual married households. (That percent is even smaller as a percent of all heterosexual couple led households when the numbers of unmarried cohabiting heterosexuals are included.)

In Indiana, the revised numbers indicate that there are less than 6,000 same-sex households statewide, rather than 10,200 reported in 2010. By comparison there are 1.25 million married heterosexual households in the state. Social liberals would like to upend Indiana’s schools, textbooks, religious and charitable institutions and various other parts of society to dramatically redefine marriage to order accommodate four-tenths of one percent of households. What lifestyle not practiced by 99.6% of the population might we be forced to embrace next?

Another myth perpetuated by cultural liberals is that homosexuality makes up ten percent of the population. Even at that, the pop culture’s constant obsession with the homosexual agenda has skewed American’s views far worse. A recent poll found that most Americans now believe that nearly 25% of the population engages in homosexuality.

In reality, the percentage of people who exclusively experience homosexuality in regard to three criteria: attraction, behavior and self-identification is incredibly small at only 0.6% of men and 0.2%of women. If you use only the broadest of these criteria, self-identification, just 2.8% of US males and 1.4% of females identify as homosexual or lesbian. Incidentally, this data comes from the US National Health and Life Survey the same study and same number cited in the legal brief signed by thirty-one leading homosexual demands groups filed in the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court case. Yet, this reality has not hindered the over-inflated numbers in news stories, articles, web sites, blogs, editorials, etc. If you “Google” the term “ten percent gay” it will bring up 3 million (2,970,000) hits.

It seems obvious that there are those in this administration who want to advance a particular narrative in regard to homosexuality and marriage. It surprised many that this agenda would be so extensive that it would even include the number crunchers at the Census Bureau.
(One of the criteria courts have established to determine minority and civil rights recognition is the demonstration of political powerlessness among the disaffected group. That is a discussion for another day.)

A Look at Some Other Numbers for Indiana

Today, on twenty-three radio station dials in twenty-two cities across Indiana, our AFA radio news minute will cover the news of the latest abortion numbers from the Indiana State Department of Health. The news story notes the significant increase (16%) in chemical abortions (RU-486) from the previous year.

The most recent data recently released by the ISDH, through the Indiana Induced Termination of Pregnancy Report for 2008 has some other numbers that may interest you. Here is more Indiana abortion data:

• In 2008 there were a total of 10,919 abortions performed in Indiana;

• Of the 10,919 abortions performed, 95.9% (10,469) were performed on Indiana residents;

• Out of 10,919 abortions in Indiana, only 367 occurred in a hospital;

• Of the 1,269 chemical abortions in 2008, only one occurred in a hospital;

• All but two abortions in 2008 occurred in five Indiana counties: Allen (595); Lake (2,140); Marion (6,601); Monroe (855) and St. Joseph (726);

• The largest age group, accounting for 34.4% of abortive women, occurred among women aged 20-24 years old.

• A statistic that I cannot understood finds that an astonishing 62% of Hoosier women having an abortion have had at least one previous live birth. Only 37.2 percent of women terminating their pregnancies have never had a baby.

• Of the 10,919 Indiana abortions in 2008, 6,830 had never had an abortion before.

• For more than 4,089 women obtaining an abortion in Indiana in 2008 it was their second, third or forth one;

• As is the case with so much of the social science literature, marriage is a critical part of a stable society and vitally important in so many ways to the lives of children. In 2008, 83% of the women obtaining an abortion in Indiana were not married.

• Most abortions, 62.6% are performed upon white women in Indiana;

• Although African-Americans accounted for only 10% of the Indiana population in 2008, 29.8% of all abortions were performed on blacks, something many people believe is a statistic still following in paths of the original “negro plan” concocted by Planned Parenthood’s founder Margaret Sanger, a rabid racial eugenicist who described minorities as “human weeds.”

Big Victory for Cultural Standards of Broadcast Decency!

After just three episodes and increasing sponsorship problems, NBC announced Monday that it was canceling its new show, “The Playboy Club.” The announcement comes after 116 national and state groups mostly made up of conservatives like AFA-IN but also some national feminists like Gloria Steinem, supported an effort called “Close the Club.” They contacted sponsors expressing their concerns about the messages the show sent about women, decency and morality.

These groups have a reason to question why our culture should promote the Playboy Club in an already porn drenched and sex obsessed society. In just the last three years 36 porn stars have died from suicide, drugs or murder. Another 100 have died of AIDS. The number of “stars” whom our society would claim have it all, fame, beauty, fortune and massive sexual freedom and access, who have died at young ages, with no hope or happiness left, through their efforts is astonishing.

Former porn star Shelley Lubben, (who found redemption through faith in Jesus Christ and is now witnessing to those in the industry) has chronicled scores of those deaths, and other problems such as drug abuse and disease that are rampant in the industry. No one who idolizes this with what they see on television can imagine what groups like the Pink Cross Foundation and anti-porn have found.  (I am not totally comfortable linking to or recommending those kind of ex-star sites. They serve a purpose, but they understandably feel called to warn about the degradation of the industry that Hollywood and society totally ignores. There is good information there, but it is not pretty, overly modest, or for the squeamish.)

By the way, at the 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, attendees stated that 58% of their divorces were now a result of a spouse looking at excessive amounts of pornography online. The last thing America needs is another gateway TV path leading people into this destructive and addictive problem.

Fatherhood Movie Has Excellent Opening Weekend

The important new fatherhood movie, Courageous, had a great opening weekend. Courageous debuted on just 1,161 theater screens, one-third of the number of most of its competitors, yet it was still # 5 at the box office and # 1 in terms of earnings, selling $8.8 million worth of tickets. This should equate to an even larger audience and its appearance in more theaters across the US.

Persuasive Internet Movie Also Has A Huge Opening Week

Courageous is not the only highly talked about movie this week. Half a million people in its first week have viewed the powerful apologetics documentary “180.” This is the new “man on the street” interview, (though it is obviously a California street,) with Ray Comfort and mostly young adults. It has a lot of people talking as they see people re-evaluating their views, particularly on life and moral relativism. You can watch as people see their logic crumble causing them to confront the weakness of their worldview here: http://www.180movie.com/

Save the 9/11 Memorial Cross

American Atheists have now singled out an item from the rubble of the September 11th attack on the US. They want a cross censored from the new 9/11 memorial museum at the World Trade Center site.

The 17 ft tall metal cross was discovered intact during search and recovery efforts. It consists of two metal beams from the center that became a recognized symbol of hope and patriotism in the weeks and months following the attack on America. Yet, these secularists have filed a lawsuit against its inclusion in the museum. They claim that it promotes Christianity and somehow diminishes the civil rights of non-Christians. There are other religious items from the rubble such as a Star of David and a Bible included in the museum, but the cross really seems to bother the secularists.

You can sign a petition to keep the cross at the museum here:

http://www.grimmforcongress.com/save911cross/index.html

No related posts.

Demonizing the TEA Party, Widening the Divide

It has been a busy week of media opportunities and “hits” following the news release we sent asking Indianapolis Congressman Andre Carson to apologize for equating those with whom he disagrees to people who lynched African-Americans. Carson told a black audience that some of his colleagues in Congress and the TEA Party would like to see them “hanging from trees.” He then created another news cycle when he refused to apologize for his remarks claiming that they were based in the truth.
One columnist, editorializing on the front page of the Indianapolis Star Metro Section, said she was glad Rep. Carson said what he said and hoped he never apologized because he spoke “for many” in the African-American community who felt that same way. Of course, she misses the fact that “many” people in certain communties have agreed with Margaret Sanger, Adolph Hitler, Bull Connor, Louis Farrakhan or David Duke on various racial matters. That doesn’t make those views true, legitimate or worthy of praise or promotion by a member of the US Congress.

Another commentator on PBS Indiana Week in Review insisted that there were racists in the TEA Party.  She said she knew this with certainty by the way that the TEA Party reacted so fiercely to Rep. Carson. (To the contrary, it has been my observation that people will often under-react to a true allegation, and over-react to a false smear.)

Rep. Carson’s comments were not his first attack on the TEA Party using fear or race-baiting tactics. He claimed that TEA Party activists used the “N” word against him repeatedly in Washington, DC during a health care rally. Yet, various videotapes of the incident and a $100,000 reward for evidence all failed to turn up proof of one single slur against the Hoosier congressman.

There is a pattern of rhetoric here that seems intentional. Over the weekend, Jimmy Hoffa, head of the Teamsters Union told an audience in Michigan, just before President Obama spoke, that they were at “war” with the TEA Party and that they should “take these (expletives) out.”

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) told a Miami audience in late August, “Let us all remember who the real enemy is. The real enemy is the Tea Party.”

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr (D-IL) recently compared Texas Governor Rick Perry with Confederate President Jefferson Davis and claimed that Perry’s support of the 10th Amendment was a defense of slavery.

In August Congresswoman Maxine Waters told a group in California that “the TEA Party can go to Hell” which echoes a voicemail I received at AFA-IN over the weekend. (I wonder sometimes if people who say this and claim to embrace tolerance or compassion really understand the place where they want people.)

President Obama was sold to the American voter in 2008 as a great unifier, even though little evidence in his background or sparse record ever suggested it. Many commentators have surmised that “white guilt” caused many voters to vote for someone whom they really did not know or agree with merely to have been a part of electing the first black president. Early on, there were some glimpses of a possibility for unity, but they have long since vanished.

2012 promises to be an interesting election year. Let’s hope that the name-calling, fear mongering and smear tactics fizzle out before 2011 ends. The US electorate deserves better than what we have experienced in the last three weeks. They deserve substantive, rational discussions of public policy and philosophical differences. I still believe that even those mentioned above are capable of such responsible dialogue and debate.

Massive Analytical Review Links Choice to Depression

A meta-analysis of 22 studies from 1995-2009 involving 877,000 women has both sides of the abortion debate talking. The report from Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University appears in the prestigious British Journal of Psychology. It finds that women who have undergone an abortion have an 81% higher risk for mental health problems and are more likely to experience depression, attempt suicide or abuse alcohol.

A Sign of the Times?

With Americans in record numbers not seen since the Great Depression now on welfare, part of the US economy is responding. Pizza Hut, Long John Silvers, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken want to take food stamps from the 45.8 million Americans receiving them. In the past, federal guidelines have generally prevented the welfare program from being used on prepared food. The USDA is apparently reconsidering this under a review of a provision adopted in the 1970’s by SNAP (the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Federal records show that restaurants and hunger advocates have been lobbying to allow the use of food stamps at fast food outlets.

Between 2005 and 2010 the number of businesses certified by the SNAP program to receive food stamps increased from 156,000 to 209,000. During that same time, food stamp benefits grew from $28.5 billion to an astonishing $64.7 billion annually.

You No Longer Have to Wait, for “78”

I intend to write more about this at a later date, but I am very excited to announce the availability of a new book I have reviewed called 78. The book is from Peter Heck, a high school government teacher, an up and coming radio talk show host in Kokomo, a columnist for AFA’s One News Now and a very popular speaker at TEA Party events.

I will not totally explain the book, other than to say that its premise is that far more Americans agree with us than our culture reveals, so why is our nation seemingly in decline?

You can learn more and purchase this excellent new book at www.peterheck.com

Movie Tip – Robert Duvall’s Latest Deserves Support

I almost never go to the theater for an adult movie. (Why pay money to be offended?) Occasionally we will take the kids to see a children’s film. Over the weekend my wife and I saw a new movie that really deserves your support for its noble goals. The movie is called, “Seven Days in Utopia” staringRobert Duvall.

The movie is a golf film, but more than that it is a film about life, restoration and family. The movie is G rated, yet it is for adults, much like the films of the Golden Age of Hollywood (the 1930’s & 40’s) when almost all films made for adults were also G rated.  Seven Days in Utopia is a movie well worth seeing.

A Point of Personal Observation

Cultural changes, public values and individual worldviews held today interest me. For this reason, I am far more aware that we are living in a post-Christian America than many critics think I am. (The difference is that, unlike them, I believe this is a sad cultural shift in the wrong direction for America.)

I have always strived to convey Truth through means other than religion at AFA-IN. I believe that good science finds and reflects Truth. Thus, rather than quote what the Bible has said about the family, using the mountains of social science research showing that a married mother and father are the best environment for children, may be more persuasive in a culture that has drifted away from its historic faith moorings.

Quite often, people will contact me to argue about something I have written or said through AFA of Indiana. Many times they will bring up a religious aspect to a policy disagreement. When that happens, I will then often point out what God says about an issue.

Almost always, the reaction is the same - indignation and shock.  People today somehow believe that it is impossible to know the mind of God, even though He has made so many things so very clear in His scriptures. It is as if a false notion has taken hold that God set humans up for failure by hiding his plans for our lives. It is as if He created some sort of truth game in which He moves the shells around on a table as we point and try to guess the right shell, holding His true meaning underneath.

Does this mean that we will fully understand absolutely everything in the Bible? No, but so many things are quite clear. And those clear principles can be understood and expected.  Notice what one of the greatest orators of the early American era, legislator, and Secretary of State to three presidents, said:

“I believe that the Bible is to be understood and received in the plain and obvious meaning of its passages; for I cannot persuade myself that a book intended for the instruction and conversion of the whole world should cover its true meaning in any such mystery and doubt that none but critics and philosophers can discover it.” - Daniel Webster

It is not that such things are not clearly understandable today. It is that such things are more counter-cultural than ever before in our nation’s history.  I believe this is causing angst, personal inner-conflict, confusion and a desire to dismiss or rewrite what God intends for human behavior.

My pastor hit this point right out of the ballpark on Sunday. I thought you might want to hear and consider this in a sermon series he is doing in preparation for a Biblical look at end times speculation, which seems to be on the rise.  You can hear his sermon audio at this link for “How Should We Study Bible Prophecy? – Part 2” http://www.hscaudio.org/

No related posts.

Some Interesting Reading on State’s Rights and Abortion Funding

As you know, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Indiana were back in federal court on Monday trying to block the implementation of House Enrolled Act 1210 which prevents Hoosier tax dollars from going to groups that perform abortion. The judge is expected to rule on this particular request for an injunction in two weeks.

I have spent some time reading Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s Defendant’s Memorandum in Opposition to the Motion for Preliminary Injunction. There are a lot of things that stand out in that 36-page item concerning the big issue of state’s rights. (General Zoeller makes a great case for defending life and existing legally tested pro-life laws in his memo, as well.) Rather than analyze and comment on these points, for brevity, here are just a few interesting items from this memo:

- Medicaid currently covers many health services, but not abortion;

- The state currently determines many of those services which Medicaid reimburses;

- Attorney General Zoeller’s brief argues, “federal law permits Indiana to structure its Medicaid program however it sees fit.”

- Even after accepting federal funds, Section 1396c recognizes the State’s continuing prerogative to alter its Medicaid program.

- Any State that administers a non-compliant program runs the risk that the Secretary [HHS] will turn off the funding spigot, but this remains a lawful option for the State under the statute.

- Attorney General Zoeller observes, “the State is aware of no Seventh Circuit cases holding that there is a freestanding right of action to enforce federal Spending Clause statues against States under a theory of preemption.”

- Directly citing then Supreme Court Justice O’Connor, Zoeller notes, “Congress has afforded States broad flexibility in tailoring the scope and coverage of their Medicaid programs.”

- The Medicaid Act provides that “[i]n addition to any other authority, a State may exclude any individual or entity [from participating in its Medicaid program] for any reason for which the Secretary [of the Department of Health and Human Services] could exclude the individual or entity from participation in [Medicare].”

- The First Circuit has held that “this ‘any other authority’ language was intended to permit a state to exclude an entity from its Medicaid program for any reason established by state law.” The court noted that its interpretation was derived directly from the legislative history of 42 U.S.C. § 1396a:  The Committee bill clarifies current Medicaid Law by expressly granting States the authority to exclude individuals or entities from participation in their Medicaid programs for any reason that constitutes a basis for an exclusion from Medicare. . . This provision is not intended to preclude a State from establishing, under State law, any other bases for excluding individuals or entities from its Medicaid program.

The courts will determine this issue, with potential ramifications for the right to life and states’ rights. Still, it is clear that Indiana has some very strong arguments in our favor being made by Attorney General Zoeller.

Is the TEA Party a Lost Cause?

How you answer this question depends upon whether you see the glass half empty or half full. Last week, Gallup Polling released the results of a poll that basically asked Americans if they embraced socialism. When asked if the government “should redistribute wealth with heavy taxes on the rich,”47% of Americans said “yes, it should.”  More Americans said government should not redestribute wealth, but just barely. Only 49% rejected government redistribution.

Some may wonder how this polling response could be so close after two years of failed economic policies, far bigger government and billions in stimulus spending. I recently watched a fascinating PBS documentary on Huey P. Long. The “Kingfish,” the charismatic Louisiana Governor who, but for an assassin’s bullet, may have become President in 1936.

Long, like the socialist Father Charles Coughlin was a pure leftist. Long’s platform included his slogan “every man a king” as well as his “spread the wealth clubs.”  Far more overt than liberal Presidents FDR, Johnson, Carter and Obama, Huey Long constantly complained that Franklin Roosevelt didn’t go far enough, fast enough. He made these charges with an enormous amount of popular support.

The program was a stark reminder that in very tough economic times, Americans have always had a dangerous tendency to give up liberties expecting the government to take care of them.  (Huey Long was as close to a dictator as any state has ever had, and would have ruled America in the same manner, running over all sorts of checks and balances to accomplish his goals.)

If you include new data released two weeks ago from the U.S. Census Bureau the glass is looking more empty than full. For the first time in American history the percentage of single parents and cohabiting couples now exceeds married couples. In the 2010 Census, married couples now represent only 48% of all family households, down from 52% in the last Census count. A recent Pew Researchpoll found that nearly 40% of Americans say that marriage is obsolete.

This decline of marriage may catch the eye of social conservatives first, but it ought to really worry the TEA Party movement too! According to the Heritage Foundation “children born outside of marriage live in poverty 51% of the time compared with only 7% of children living in poverty in married homes. Thus the absence of a married mother and father increases the frequency of child poverty by 700 percent.”  More specifically, the Heritage Foundation notes “prolonged welfare dependency is 1700 percent more likely for children born outside of marriage.”  The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, revealed this when it found that “children living with a married mother and father received AFDC welfare benefits only 3% of the time since their birth.” (Incidentally, Heritage also finds that marriage after illegitimacy cuts child poverty by 50%.)

In addition to overcoming the hurdle of the high number of Americans who think that the government should “spread the wealth,” smaller government, and less dependency upon it, is simply impossible if marriage continues to disappear.

Misinformation Distorts Public Viewpoint and Leads to Pandering Politicians

Gallup has also released a survey that reveals the power of the culture, media and Hollywood to shape and misinform the public. It found that most Americans falsely believe that 25% of the population is “gay.” That is ten times higher than reality. Even the recent survey by the pro-homosexual Williams Institute reconfirms that just 3% of the US population is homosexual or lesbian. Only 8 million individuals identify with homosexuality out of 288 million Americans. That equates to less than 180,000 out of 6 million Hoosiers, though some Indiana studies indicate that number is less than 100,000. Compared to the overall Indiana population, 39.4% of Hoosiers are married, yet only 0.3% of the Hoosier population consists of homosexual couples living together.

It is clear that the influence, economically, culturally and politically of this segment of society is staggering compared to their small numbers. (This is one reason why homosexuality, unlike race and skin color, does not meet the legal criteria set by courts for minority status.)

The vocal nature and media driven delusion of their demographic size may be why many politicians seem to want to pander to homosexual activists. Still, there is really no excuse for someone like the Mayor of Indianapolis to attend, or send representatives to this weekend’s Indy Pride parade and festival.

Indy Pride is a truly reprehensible display of hedonism, vulgarity, moral and spiritual confusion. Many of the photos (not those which the media chooses to show) of the floats in the parade of many men dressed in leather dog collars, just their underwear, or as women are truly sad. The Pride festival is also littered with booths for adult businesses and a whole host of other causes, which would shock and offend the sensibilities of hundreds of thousands of common-sense Hoosiers.

Please pray about this event this weekend, and that all those involved will see the error of their ways and come to know that there is a true love out there that satisfies their heart’s desire, and through Him, a spiritual hope, fulfillment and a peace that passes all understanding is available to all regardless of their past or self-perception. (For stories of individuals who have found this hope and left homosexuality for good go to: http://exodusinternational.org/resources/real-stories/ )

Indiana’s Legislative Leadership Says No to Investigation

In spite of a request signed by 20 state legislators and a series of very strong arguments by the lead author, [Senator Jim Banks], the Speaker of the House Brian Bosma and Senate President David Longhave rejected a request for a summer study committee to look into the use of and possible risks of the abortion drug RU-486.

There have been over 1,000 documented cases of complications from chemical abortions including eight deaths. The Alan Guttmacher Institute indicates that up to 25% of all abortions are now chemically induced. According to a recent call to a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Indianapolis, they charge $500 for a surgical abortion and $425 for RU-486.

— Don’t forget to visit our web site to take our latest poll and see the newest updates atwww.afain.net

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We are not surprised that the most pro-abortion President in US history, Barack Obama, and his HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, who had a notorious pro-abortion record when governor of Kansas, would do everything in their power to force Indiana taxpayers to continue to fund abortions. Their partnership with the largest abortion provider in Indiana and the US is well documented. HEA 1210 withstood the first round in court when US District Court Judge Tanya Pratt did not grant a restraining order until the injunction issue was settled, and we anticipate more court victories to come. The injunction hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 6, so it is obvious the Obama administration wanted to come to the aid of their pro-abortion allies in Indiana before then.

Apart from the egregious support of tax payer funded abortions by the Obama administration, is the whole issue of states rights. If citizens support abortion or not, all should be concerned about the heavy hand of the Federal government coming down on the will of duly elected legislators and the will of Hoosiers who have elected them. This is Federal bullying at its worst. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is committed to defend Indiana in this case.

Governor Mitch Daniels commented:  “I supported this bill from the outset, and the recent addition of language guarding against the spending of tax dollars to support abortions creates no reason to alter my position,” Daniels said recently.  “I commissioned a careful review of access to services across the state and can confirm that all non-abortion services, whether family planning or basic women’s health, will remain readily available in every one of our 92 counties.”

Click here to watch Governor Daniels comments

Click here to read the letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from the Indiana Congressional delegation.

Click here to read the press release from Congressman Marlin Stutzman regarding the HHS determination.

Our thanks to Attorney General Zeller, Congressman Stutzman, Alliance Defense Fund Attorney Steve Aden, and all who are working hard to defend this legislation. Please pray for God to continue to guide this effort and give His people the words to confound the opposition!

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Governor Daniels is Out of Presidential Race, but He’s In with AFA of Indiana

As you know Governor Mitch Daniels disappointed many Hoosier voters when He announced Sunday that he would not seek the Republican nomination in 2012. However, he has won the approval of AFA of Indiana. First, Governor Daniels’ reason for not running because of his care and concern for his family having to go through the media wringer is admirable and one we applaud. What husband and father in their right mind would want their family to go through one-tenth of the mistreatment that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin went through for merely being a conservative on the 2008 presidential ticket? Agree or disagree with him, no one can say that Governor Daniels does not have his priorities in order. (With a former California Governor in the headlines for not having his marriage and family as his priority, Governor Daniels’ consistent dedication to his wife and daughters seems all the more compelling and admirable.)Secondly, the response to our web site poll question last week revealed that there are a large number of AFA of Indiana supporters who wanted Mitch Daniels to run for president. Governor Daniels won our online web page poll. With over 640 total votes, Governor Daniels was the winner among nine choices with 30% of those vote. The other top choices were Ron Paul, Herman Cain and Michele Bachman but Governor Daniels still led the rest of the pack by 11 points or more.

It is no secret that I have had some significant policy differences with the Governor on certain social issues. I could rehash those, but I’d rather end this with a slightly different praise for our Governor.  Many of you have heard various speculations, news reports or talk radio recounts of what a Daniels campaign might have looked like given his record, some questionable statements to various groups, or other parts of his public or private life. One thing that deserves comment is the slimy innuendo that the Governor’s divorce would have given people, particularly social conservatives, reason to oppose his Presidential candidacy.

The history of Mitch and Cheri Daniels marriage is a reason to admire this family, not mock or smear them.  In a day in which 6 out of 10 new marriages end in divorce and far too many couples call it quits before they should, the divorce and remarriage of Mitch and Cheri is remarkable. I was talking with Maggie Gallagher about this recently and she observed that this was the single most impressive item in the entire Mitch Daniels resume. Gallagher is the author of The Abolition of Marriage and The Case for Marriage, two of the best books on marriage and divorce ever written. The second book,The Case for Marriage, includes a groundbreaking study from the University of Chicago following nearly 2,000 struggling married couples some of whom divorced and others who stuck it out. Five years later they found that for the most part, those who hung in there and worked through their problems were actually happier five years later than most of those who had taken the easy, no-fault divorce exit.

Mitch and Cheri Daniels experienced a divorce and then saw the error of their ways and the dangers their divorce posed to their children, and did something difficult and remarkable. They remarried each other. By all accounts, today they have a solid, committed, happy and close marriage. They and their children have benefited from this recommitment. Outside of one’s faith, nothing matters more than family. Again, we applaud the Governor for placing his family first; not once, but twice.

What if Barack Obama Had Been Aborted?

Barack Hussein Obama is the most pro-abortion president in United States history. It seems as though at every chance possible, his administration goes above and beyond to fund, promote and defend abortion. In fact, there is a New York Times story out this week that indicates that the Obama administration may go to battle with Indiana over our new law to prevent your tax dollars from going to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

What if Obama had been aborted? This is not a hypothetical question wishing this President had never been born. It is a serious inquiry (with great irony,) raised by Hoosier radio talk show host Peter Heck in a provocative article appearing on AFA’s news wire. It seems, as Peter points out, that President Obama’s father was also a rabid abortion advocate.

According to newly released documents he was also successful with at least one of the young women he impregnated. However, he did not successfully convince Barack’s mother to terminate their child, who grew up to be a US Senator and then the President of the United States.  This irony is not lost on Heck whose excellent article on this new can be read here:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=1352838

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

We learned that our web site contribution page was missing a minor item – a box for a donation amount (whoops!). We have fixed that omission should you like to make a tax-deductible donation to support the work of AFA of Indiana. www.afain.net

“A Role Model for Girls” Really, Yours too, Michelle?

On Sunday night millions of American youth tuned in to watch the Billboard Music Awards. The highlight of the show, according to reviewers, was a video tribute to the singer Beyonce Knowles. You may not know Beyonce from Barbara Streisand, but in one sense you should if you have children or grandchildren. She is an attractive individual who has appeared in several movies, won Grammy awards for her music and sold millions of records. She co-stared in the enjoyable movie The Pink Panther with Steve Martin. My point here is that Beyonce is considered a mainstream musical artist. She is not one like Madona or Lady Gaga who seem to exist to push the envelope and shock people.

We’ve come a long way in a certain direction since my high school days when the top pop artist like Hall & Oats had a top hit with the benign, “Your Kiss is on My List” and President Reagan’s administration had concerns about the Beach Boys playing at the White House.

Before Beyonce sang her new song, “Girls Who Run the World” she was welcomed by a video introduction from her father, artists like Stevie Wonder, and Streisand as well as First Lady Michelle Obama. The First Lady praised Beyonce and described her as, “a powerful role model for girls and young women around the world.” Oh Really?

When the video ended with great applause, Beyonce performed her new song. You can see the music video, which was similar to her Billboard performance here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U

Remember again, that this is not a song from some gangster rapper.  It is from a mainstream centrist artist. This is why, after some contemplation, I included a link to the music video for parents, grandparents and church youth leaders to observe.

Here are some of the lyrics of her “song,” Girls Who Run the World.

[I guess these inane and obnoxious repetitions are what pass for a song today.  Excuse the lyrics lousy grammar, this was a cut and paste directly from her web site]

Girls, we run this motha (yeah!) GIRLS!??
Who run the world? Girls! Who run this motha?
Girls! x4?Who run the world? Girls! x4??

[This “chorus was repeated with the slang for a two word obscenity starting with the word mother about two dozen times throughout the “song.”]

[Verse 1] Some of them men think they freak this like we do. ?But no they don’t.?Make your cheques come at they neck.
Disrespect us no they won’t.??Boy don’t even try to take us.
Boy this beat is crazy.?
This is how they made me?Houston, Texas baby?
This goes out to all my girls.?That’s in the club rocking the latest.
Who will buy it for themselves and get more money later???

I think I need a barber. ?None of these hoes can fade me.

[Remember when Don Imus was kicked off the radio for using the word “Ho” which is slang for whore?  And the Rev. Al Sharpton went bonkers over it?”]

I’m so good with this. ?I remind you I’m so hood with this.??
Boy I’m just playing, come here baby.?
Hope you still like me,
If you hate me. ?My persuasion can build a nation?
Endless power, our love we can devour. You’ll do anything for me??

[Chorus] ??Who run the world? Girls! x4?Who run this motha? Girls! x4?Who run the world? Girls! x4

[Verse 2]?? It’s hot up in here. ?
DJ don’t be scared to run this, run this back.
I’m repping for the girls who taking over the world.
Have me raise a glass for the college grads.??
Anyone rolling I’ll let you know what time it is.
You can’t hold me?I broke my 9 to 5 and copped my cheque

This goes out to all the women getting it in. ?Get on your grind.
To the other men that respect what I do.?
Please accept my shine. Boy you know you love it.

[Chorus]

____________

Don’t ask me to interpret what the heck all that means. I don’t know the meaning all the street slang, but it is definitely there.  Sadly, most of our youth know exactly what she’s talking about.

My question is this: ” Mrs. Obama is this really what you endorse for America’s women as a good role model? Would you really let your girls watch, sing or act out Beyonce’s videos? What messages to America’s youth are being sent by this singer, this song, and video that are so worthy to be embraced nationally from the White House?  Does this endorsement of a role model apply for your daughters too, or just the pollution of the rest of the youth in America?”

Indiana Legislative Leaders Speak Up About Controversial Supreme Court Decision

There has been a lot of discussion about a recent Indiana Supreme Court decision affecting the Castle Doctrine in regard to police entering one’s home. Yesterday, the Republican Caucus leaders (Senate President Pro Tem David Long and Speaker of the House Brian Bosma) issued the following statement on this matter:

“After reviewing the decision of the Indiana Supreme Court in Barnes v. State of Indiana, we respectfully request that the Court grant a rehearing for the purpose of clarifying its decision. We have heard overwhelmingly from our Hoosier constituents, and legal scholars, that the language used to address the specific facts of this case may have unintentionally erased hundreds of years of common law precedent on the topic of reasonable resistance to unlawful entry. A more narrowly-tailored opinion could preserve the long-established private property rights of our citizens while continuing to protect the safety of our law enforcement officers and citizens where unique circumstances exist, such as a domestic disturbance. Many individual members of the General Assembly have begun work on potential legislation to restore these private property rights; if the Court did not intend to rescind this right, except in very limited circumstances where an emergency exists, a clarification from the Court would be extremely helpful.”

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Abortion Industry Won’t Easily Let Go of Our Tax Dollars

One need only look to the attack on marriage to see that when the far left cannot convince the public or our elected officials to embrace their radical agenda, the next step is to lobby unelected judges. This is also the case with Planned Parenthood after their loss in the 2011 legislature.

I had a heated argument with a newspaper editor recently in which he insisted that because existing law prohibits tax dollars from going specifically for abortion, the Schneider Amendment to HB 1210was nothing more than demagoguery and symbolism. Apparently, Planned Parenthood hasn’t sat in on this newspaper’s editorial meetings. They are set to spend tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees attempting to overturn Indiana’s new pro-life law with the hope of continuing to receive millions of our “symbolic” tax dollars.

The left’s talking points contend that the $3 million per budget for Planned Parenthood (PP) are used to help poor women. Still, it seems obvious that this battle has exposed Planned Parenthood’s true priorities. Governor Daniels has pointed out that these funds can be restored to PP if they stop doing abortions. In spite of their letters to the editor about helping Hoosier women with prenatal care, pap smear screenings and tests for sexually transmitted diseases, it seems obvious that that PP’s 5,600abortions per year are what matters more. In spite of the overwhelming and bipartisan support behind HB 1210, PP still fully expects taxpayers to subsidize their abortion business model.

The ACLU of Indiana and Planned Parenthood lost their attempt last week to have a federal court judge immediately block implementation of HB 1210. Still, they are not retreating following this initial loss. They have a hearing set for June 6th with the court, hoping for a preliminary injunction and an overturning of the law. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller will defend the law.

Planned Parenthood is arguing that HB 1210 and its various provisions are unconstitutional. (Has PP received our tax dollars for so long that they now believe they have a Constitutional right to millions of tax dollars?) AFA of Indiana and other pro-life groups circulated legal memos to legislators countering their arguments. Here is a more recent brief observation from an attorney with Americans United for Life summarizing these events:

http://www.aul.org/2011/05/hoosiers-act-to-defund-all-abortion-mills/

Huckabee Says No Thanks, Trump Never Was, What Do You Think?

There has been a lot of talk this week surrounding the 2012 race for President and whom the Republicans might choose to run against President Obama. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who may have been the only candidate in 2008 to outperform his campaign funding and expectations, gave a very articulate and spiritually admirable explanation of why he was not running in 2012 even though many polls placed him at the top of the race.

Who do you believe would be the best presidential candidate for the GOP? This is the new poll question we are asking on the AFA of Indiana web site. Take a moment to let us know your choice through the simple poll on our site. While there, take a look around at our site. We have several articles, policy papers and other resources on the site. (If nothing else, take a look at the heartwarming John Wayne video clip I asked our webmaster to post as a cultural commentary.)

Thousands of Parents to Gather In Indianapolis Early Next Month

On June 3rd and 4th thousands of Hoosiers will descend upon the Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis for the Indiana Association of Home Educators annual convention. If you are considering home education or would like to know more about this growing alternative, make plans to attend or at least come by the vendor hall where there will be hundreds of booths offering resources to parents. You can learn more about the IAHE Convention, its workshops, general session speakers and many other resources at this site: https://iahe.net/ You can also register to attend this event online at the IAHE site.

If you are attending the convention, please come by the AFA of Indiana booth in the vendor hall and say “hello” or attend the Friday afternoon workshop I am leading featuring a Q&A panel with several state legislators who are also home school dads.

AFA of Indiana Director Speaking in Cicero at Worldview Event

I will be giving an update on the 2011 state legislature and the worldview challenges AFA faces defending our values in our postmodern world in which truth is relative. This presentation will occur Thursday evening, at 6:30 pm on June 2nd. I will be speaking as part of the Worldview Bootcampheld by Harbour Shores Church, 8011 East 216th Street in Cicero the Thursday evening before the Home School Convention. More details about this event and the speakers for July and August at this site: http://www.worldviewbootcamp.org/HQ.htm

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“This is a major setback for Planned Parenthood.  Obviously it had hoped to keep
public funding flowing its operations as long as possible,” notes Indiana Right
to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter. “It’s all about abortion for Planned Parenthood. If it wants to remain eligible for state-directed funds, it can close its abortion operations today.”

Fichter notes that Planned Parenthood threats to turn women away from its offices
are irresponsible, stating, “If  Planned Parenthood intends to turn women away for
non-abortion services, it should at least provide these women with a detailed list
of the hundreds of Medicaid providers and pregnancy resource centers that will meet
their needs.”

Planned Parenthood of Indiana currently operates three abortion clinics in Indianapolis, Merrillville, and Bloomington that collectively account for over half of Indiana’s roughly 10,000 abortions each year.

Contrary to Planned Parenthood’s claims that low-income women will lose access to
health care in Indiana, Governor Mitch Daniels has affirmed that there are 800 Medicaid providers in the counties in which centers related to Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses stand to lose access to state-directed funding.

There are 231 Medicaid providers in the three counties in which Planned Parenthood
currently operates its Indiana abortion clinics.

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Governor Mitch Daniels has signed House Bill 1210 into law, following through with his statement a week ago. That strong statement, which I reprinted here last week, pointed out that the portion of this pro-life legislation moving state tax dollars away from abortion providers would still leave over 800 Medicaid providers who are still eligible for state funded women’s services. This fact did not stopPlanned Parenthood, Indiana’s largest abortion provider, from holding a press conference an hour after the bill was signed.  They announced that they would seek a legal injunction (restraining order) against the implementation of the law.Federal Judge Tonya Walton Pratt could issue or reject an injunction on the law’s implementation as early as this afternoon. If the judge does not issue an injunction, it can be assumed that the ACLUand Planned Parenthood will still move forward with legal efforts to try to get the measure ruled unconstitutional.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has stepped up to announce that his office would defend the law, which is the duty of an Attorney General. (US Attorney General Eric Holder could learn a lot from General Zoeller in regard to the role of an AG when it comes to defending the law. Unlike AG Holder, Zoeller has used his office to defend marriage statutes.) It is obvious that the Indiana Attorney General’s office has expected the ACLU and Planned Parenthood to try to block HB 1210 in court.

It is interesting to note that while the Governor signed HB 1210 and signaled that intent with a very good press statement in advance, he rejected a request by pro-life groups and their legislative authors for a signing ceremony. Not every bill has a signing ceremony. Yet, Planned Parenthood certainly won’t give the Governor any less grief for not having one. Such an event would have given pro-life and pro-family leaders a photo opportunity for their publications. It might also have been politically helpful in regard to lingering questions about the Governor’s “truce” comments and his true view of social issues.

Don’t Cry For Me . . . Aerosmith

You may not recognize the name Steven Tyler. In what has become the United States of Entertainment, I’d bet that ten times more Americans know that this is the lead singer of the 70’s rock group Aerosmith and a judge on American Idol, than know that John Tyler was America’s tenth President.

In recent weeks Tyler has appeared on the cover of several magazines, which seem to coincide with his role as an Idol judge and a new autobiography. Tyler is a pop star icon to millions of young adults through those in their late 40’s. He is still active on the tour circuit and a successful musical artist with Aerosmith hits on the billboard charts appearing repeatedly over the last 40 years. Aerosmith may even be the best selling American rock band of all time having sold over 150 million albums.

I read an interesting article this week from Life News, an excellent Internet pro-life news source. It re-tells part of Aerosmith’s biography, Walk this Way, in which Tyler has some sort of sympathetic pro-life epiphany, but the entire story is more of a reflection of moral relativism and the power of pop culture idolatry that consumes America today.

In 1975 when Steven Tyler was already a renowned rock star, the singer, then in his late 20’s, took his live-in girlfriend to have an abortion. It must have been late-term abortion from the procedure’s description. Tyler was present when a needle was injected into Julia’s abdomen and later when she delivered a dead child. Tyler’s band members remember that this event was devastating and “messed up” the singer for quite some time. The story also quotes Tyler with some sympathy as saying, “Jesus, what have I done?”

What did Tyler do? This is a question worth asking about an individual who is admired by millions of youth and lifted up as a “star.” It’s not an irrelevant question, because while abortion is a major problem, there’s another significant and widespread problem in this story. Tyler’s girlfriend Julia lived with Tyler in part because of their “romantic” relationship, but Tyler had also convinced Julia’s parents to sign her over to him as her legal guardian. Julia was only 14 years of age!

Far from being lauded for stardom and serving on a panel judging TV singers, Steven Tyler should be singing a song today before a parole panel for rape and sexual misconduct with a minor. We have a culture that sexualizes almost everything and, as a consequence of our hedonism, routinely fails to protect children. One of the primary culprits of this problem is the entertainment industry.   I wonder if any reporter or book reviewer will notice Tyler’s crime and question our nation’s misplaced values when it comes to those we admire and reward with fame and fortune.

Failing the Legal Minority Test Again

Courts have historically used a three-prong measure concerning minority status. This measure is not widely known or discussed because so many of those who want to hijack the civil rights movement fall woefully short of these logical measures. The first criterion is that a protected class should have a history of discrimination that is evidenced by an inability to obtain economic, educational or cultural opportunity. Second, protected classes should demonstrate political powerlessness. Lastly, protected classes should also exhibit obvious immutable (unchangeable) distinguishable characteristics like skin color, gender or national origin.

Thankfully, what one chooses to do or how one views himself does not automatically define who he is. Millions of people have left foolish behaviors or views of self through maturity, education, counseling or religious dedication. Still, setting aside the third requirement for the moment, consider the first two criteria of economic and political powerlessness for minority classification in this astonishing news item from Gary Bauer, former Domestic Policy Advisor to President Ronald Reagan.

________

That the homosexual movement has been expanding its influence within the Democrat Party over the years is no secret. It is most evident in the fact that the last Democrat president, Bill Clinton, signed the Defense of Marriage Act, while this Democrat president refuses to enforce it. Now consider this quote from a column in today’s Politico:

“President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign is banking on gay donors to make up the cash it’s losing from other groups of wealthy supporters who have been alienated and disappointed by elements of Obama’s first term. …Obama’s finance committee included one gay man in 2008; there are 15 this year…”

It speaks volumes about Barack Obama’s radical agenda that his reelection campaign puts so much emphasis on getting support from a special interest group that wants to redefine marriage and indoctrinate children about “alternative” lifestyles. It tells you all you need to know about the kind of judges he appoints and other promises he has made to the militant homosexual movement.

Obama’s gay agenda is out-of-step with the values of most Americans. More than 30 states have voted to preserve the meaning of normal marriage. But elections have consequences.

Obama has already appointed two left-wing justices to the Supreme Court, which has a narrowly divided 5-to-4 center-right majority. If Obama gets a second term, he could tip the balance of power on the court for a generation or more.

For Americans who cherish faith, family and freedom, Obama’s dependence on the militant homosexual rights movement should be a wakeup call. The stakes in 2012 could hardly be greater. Only one side can prevail in the cultural war over the values we pass on to our children and grandchildren. The radical left understands that too. That is why the homosexual rights movement is so committed to reelecting Barack Hussein Obama.

________

What is so striking here is that political observers are predicting that the Obama re-election campaign will raise a record $1 billion for 2012. It is interesting to whom they are purposefully looking for a large part of those funds. Can you imagine such a strategic revelation about the Truman or Eisenhower campaigns of 1952 in regard to blacks? Hardly. No true minority in need of “civil rights” legislation could ever offer such powerful political and economic help.  Students all across America are being purposefully led to believe that homosexuals are the new societal victims and that homosexuality is the next civil rights movement. They could not be more wrong.

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National Day of Prayer

The 60th annual National Day of Prayer services will be held tomorrow, May 5th. The theme for this year’s event is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The national honorary chairman is the remarkable Joni Erickson Tada, a leader who has inspired millions with her life lived out in a Christ-like manner following a diving accident at the age of 17 which left her paralyzed. She has been an advocate for the disabled and a theologian for living the Christian life fully through hardship with joy and a constant eternal perspective overlooking her present condition.

If you would like to participate in a National Day of Prayer event joining others in lifting up our nation, you can enter your zip code in the “Find an Event” link just under the countdown clock on the web site: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/2nd Amendment Bill Goes to Governor

Although you might not know it by listening to the media or reading newspapers, there are more “controversial” bills going to the Governor’s desk than simply the pro-life one that includes defunding Planned Parenthood.

The “Firearm Preemption Reform” bill Senate Bill 292 authored by freshman Sen. Jim Tomes had an interesting path through the legislature that may have even surprised its House Sponsor, Rep. Mike Speedy. SB 292 levels out Indiana’s firearms laws to protect law-abiding citizens from not inadvertently violating a city ordinance as they travel through the state. The bill faced a lot of opposition and even some hysteria from several mayors (and even some celebrities like Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay) who seemed to want to portray concealed carry permit holders as a throwback to the old west.

The bill survived a somewhat risky move by Senator Tomes late in the game when he filed a dissent motion and pushed his bill into a conference committee. I know this worried the House Sponsor who understandably wanted the bill to go to the Governor without risking what the House Democrats might do with a conservative bill after their walkout antics. Yet, Sen. Tomes, who before becoming a State Senator ran a TEA party style group called the 2nd Amendment Patriots, stuck to his guns, (so to speak), in wanting to remove some amendments and strengthen his bill. It worked. SB 292 survived the Conference Committee when all Republican and Democrat members signed off on the changes and the bill went to the Governor.

Is the Race for Governor in 2012 Officially Taking Shape this Week?

There are several rumors circulating this week, which indicate that Congressman Mike Pence will officially announce tomorrow that he will be running for Governor in 2012. If this happens, Pence will be the 800-pound Gorilla in the race on the Republican side and a near certainty to be the GOP’s nominee.

On the Democratic Party side, it is less clear who may emerge in their primary. Former House SpeakerJohn Gregg is a name most often mentioned, and he has made it clear that he is interested and is speaking at various party functions. However, there are some who are wondering if Congressman Joe Donnelly might follow through with his threat to run if his district was redrawn to help the GOP and his opponent, State Rep. Jackie Walorski who nearly defeated Donnelly last November. The new 2nd district was redrawn to be squarer and less gerrymandered than before. It appears to be a more politically competitive district than it had been the previous ten years.

John Gregg and Joe Donnelly can both talk a good talk as being “moderate” Democrats and social conservatives who are pro-life, even if their legislative records have not always reflected those talking points. Either one would make for an interesting, and likely competitive match up against Mike Pence.

Governor to Sign Bill Moving Your State Tax Dollars Away from Abortion Industry

On Friday Governor Mitch Daniels issued a statement putting to rest the speculation over whether he might sign House Bill 1210. I expect that his strong words may have shocked Planned Parenthood, which had spent thousands of dollars in radio advertisements urging people to call the governor’s office to urge him to veto the legislation.

The Governor didn’t merely say that he would sign the bill. He made a point of addressing the scare tactic that claimed the Schneider Amendment to the bill would prevent poor women from receiving non-abortion services through Medicaid funding. Here is what the Governor said:

“I will sign HEA 1210 when it reaches my desk a week or so from now. I supported this bill from the outset, and the recent addition of language guarding against the spending of tax dollars to support abortions creates no reason to alter my position. The principle involved commands the support of an overwhelming majority of Hoosiers, as reflected in greater than 2:1 bipartisan votes in both legislative chambers.

“Any organization affected by this provision can resume receiving taxpayer dollars immediately by ceasing or separating its operations that perform abortions.”

The statement also pointed out this key fact, which counters the claim that not funding Planned Parenthood severely limits services offered to women. This law will affect 7 entities in Indiana, which have a total of 34 locations in 21 counties throughout the state. In the 21 counties where these 7 entities currently operate, there are approximately 800 Medicaid providers, which are eligible to provide Medicaid clients with health and family planning services.

(Later this afternoon the US House of Representatives is expected to vote on HR 3, the “No Funding for Abortion Act” which moves hundreds of millions of tax dollars away from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.)


Montana Bound is Now Paper Bound

I will have more on this in the future, but I want to mention that the book I previewed and wrote a cover endorsement for, Montana Bound, is now printed and shipping. The western children’s novel is great reading for upper elementary and Jr. High students. Indianapolis radio talk show host, Greg Garrison, authors it. It can be ordered at www.greggarrison.com

No More Presidential Circus Shows . . . Except for the Bearded Man

Last week President Obama finally produced his long-form birth certificate from Hawaii. In so doing, he took a swipe at those wondering why it took so long or where he might really have been born. The President said, “We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We’ve got better stuff to do.” He added, “We’re not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers.”

Just two days later one of his closest political advisors, Valerie Jarrett announced that the White House would host the first-ever conference for cross-dressers, transvestites and transgender homosexual activists. One of the participant organizations is a group, which has been lobbying the government to pay with your tax dollars for sex-change surgeries, and a specific “transgender-specific needle exchange program” for drug addicted individuals with a Gender Identity Disorder.

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“I will sign HEA 1210 when it reaches my desk a week or so from now. I supported this bill from the outset, and the recent addition of language guarding against the spending of tax dollars to support abortions creates no reason to alter my position. The principle involved commands the support of an overwhelming majority of Hoosiers, as reflected in greater than 2:1 bipartisan votes in both legislative chambers.

“I commissioned a careful review of access to services across the state and can confirm that all non-abortion services, whether family planning or basic women’s health, will remain readily available in every one of our 92 counties. In addition, I have ordered the Family and Social Services Administration to see that Medicaid recipients receive prompt notice of nearby care options. We will take any actions necessary to ensure that vital medical care is, if anything, more widely available than before.

“Any organization affected by this provision can resume receiving taxpayer dollars immediately by ceasing or separating its operations that perform abortions.”

More about the impact of HEA 1210 in Indiana:
· This law will affect 7 entities in Indiana which have a total of 34 locations in 21 counties throughout the state.

· In the 21 counties where these 7 entities currently operate, there are approximately 800 Medicaid providers which are eligible to provide Medicaid clients with health and family planning services.

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Moving Your Tax Dollars Away from Abortion Groups Inches Forward

Representative Eric Turner will file a “concurrence motion” agreeing to the Senate’s changes toHouse Bill 1210. This is essentially an agreement with the Schneider Amendment preventing your state tax dollars from going to any organization that performs abortion. Currently, Planned Parenthood, Indiana’s largest abortion provider, receives around $3 million of your taxes from every bi-annual state budget. This is exactly the move that AFA of Indiana and other pro-life supporters have been working to accomplish in the last 48 hours. A concurrence avoids a conference committee in which the House and Senate leaders would appoint four Republicans and Democrats to rework the bill. All four conferees would have to sign off on the committee report. If just one conferee does not agree in these last few days of the session, that person could hold out against the clock and kill the bill. Minority leaders Rep. Bauer and Sen. Simpson could, and almost surely would, appoint a pro-abortion legislator to any conference committee on HB 1210.

As it stands now, HB 1210 will almost surely go to Governor Daniels for his signature or veto following routine votes on the concurrence motion. Planned Parenthood has been running radio ads calling on the Governor to veto HB 1210, which has several significant pro-life measures in it along with moving taxes away from abortion providers.

Republican Crafted State Budget: Boon or Boondoggle?

The 2011 Indiana General Assembly ends this Friday. Typically, the last bill to pass the odd year sessions is the state budget. It will have dozens upon donzens of proposals covering all sorts of fiscal topics. Indiana’s budget is roughly $28 billion, with over half of the money going for K-12 education. The overall budget is pretty tight by most accounts. The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jeff Espich has described this budget as “a spending freeze.” According to earlier news reports, most state agencies are expecting to see a cut in spending of 10-15%.

One likely increase that received a lot of attention a week ago came in an announcement from the Senate Republicans that they would increase education funding by $150 million. Unfortunately, that appropriation, which would actually total around $300 million to match an existing $150 million appropriation, may be ultimately be a disappointing investment for Hoosier taxpayers.

The new expenditure is going to fund full-day kindergarten (FDK), so Hoosier five-year olds can spend their whole day in a public school. The concept of full-day kindergarten is very popular with the education establishment, the media, and many, if not most, parents. It may be popular for many who see it as more convenient or even as “free” day care. Yet, it cannot be questioned that FDK has been sold to the public as a great academic benefit for Indiana. To listen to some describe FDK you might think that it is the silver bullet we have been waiting for that will cure our education performance problems. I’ve even read recent articles that even imply that FDK will boost Indiana’s graduation rates and reduce the number of high school dropouts.

Unfortunately, this may well be little more than wishful thinking surrounding the latest educational fad. It is difficult to get beyond the largest longitudinal study ever conducted on this subject. The study involved 22,782 students from 1,277 schools and followed them from 1998 through 2006, from kindergarten past third grade. There is no comparable study in sizeor scope that even comes close to this one from the National Center for Educational Statistics. Here is what they concluded:

“In terms of kindergarten program type (i.e., all day or part day), there is little meaningful difference in the level of children’s end-of-year reading and mathematics knowledge and skills.”

Closer to home, ?a study tracking 1,830 Hoosier kindergartners from “a large urban school district in Indiana” analyzed third grade test scores on the I-Step in math and language. The researchers found “evidence that the differences between full and half day [kindergarten] students are negligible.”

A 2004 policy brief from the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University did its best to praise full-day kindergarten but could only go so far as to say “there are no negative outcomes commonly associated with full day kindergarten, and that – at worst – full-day kindergarten and half-day kindergarten have similar effects.”? ? (It should be noted that there actually are some studies finding negative outcomes for FDK students in lower mathematic scores. Recent studies from Stanford and UC Berkley have found that for many children who attend early childhood or FDK programs there are higher rates of poor social behavior, bullying, aggression, and a lack of motivation to participate in classroom activity.)

These studies are far from unique. There are so many studies recording a “fade out” of FDK benefits and others showing FDK has no meaningful immediate benefits that they must surely be known by people in the Indiana Department of Education. Even the Education Commission of the States, one of the resources often quoted by the Department in support of FDK, admits, “there is currently not strong evidence showing that academic gains made in full-day programs last beyond 1st grade.”

Most Hoosiers are not against spending more money on programs that actually work, and this may be one reason why there seems to be strong support for full-day kindergarten. Many parents have been led to believe that FDK will give their child an academic advantage over half-day students.  However, the actual evidence showing that FDK is a good academic investment is paper thin, at best.

If Hoosiers support FDK because it is more convenient for working families, then we should have a policy debate over daycare and whether schools are really the best place for warehousing five year olds for the other half of their school day.

When it comes to academic gains, FDK does not seem to be a very wise use of at least 3/4 million dollars a day per year in taxpayer funds.   Sadly, with just hours left in the 2011 legislative session before the budget is passed, no one seems to be asking the tough questions about the expensive promises behind full-day kindergarten.

Grinding America Down

Without a doubt, the best political documentary film I have seen in the last 12 months has to be “Agenda: Grinding America Down.” I was so impressed with how well this DVD makes the connection between the fiscal and cultural attacks upon our nation throughout that last fifty years that I bought a dozen of the videos and sent them to TEA Party leaders across the state asking them to host a screening of the movie at a monthly meeting.

Curtis Bowers, the creator of this documentary, will be speaking in person about his documentary at the Worldview Boot Camp presented by Harbour Shores Church at 8011 East 216th Street in Cicero on May 5th at 6:30 P.M.

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Members voted 36-13 in favor of the amendment – prohibiting any state contracts or grants with Planned Parenthood or other organizations that provide abortions – sending House Bill 1210 to its third and final reading in the Senate. Banks credited State Sen. Scott Schneider (R-Indianapolis) for crafting the amendment.

“I wholeheartedly believe that Hoosiers’ hard-earned tax dollars should not be used to support abortion providers,” said Banks, sponsor of the legislation. “I am encouraged by this amendment as it marks a positive step toward our goal of reducing the number of innocent lives taken each year through abortions.”

According to Planned Parenthood of Indiana’s 2010 annual report, the organization conducted 5,580 abortions last year – up more than 2 percent from 2009.

If passed, the bill would cut off about $1.6 million that Planned Parenthood of Indiana receives from the state for medical services. Banks said the organization has 28 locations across the state.

Other provisions of HB 1210 would require a physician to inform a pregnant woman considering an abortion that the fetus might feel pain. It also requires a pregnant woman to view fetal ultrasound imaging, unless they decline in writing.

This bill also contains language requiring physician admitting privileges and prohibits health plans under the federal health care exchange from providing abortion coverage.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 241 to 185 to cut off the $350 million per year in federal funding Planned Parenthood receives. This measure was rejected in a 58-42 vote by the U.S. Senate.

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