Yesterday, nearly 500 students from across the country visited the U.S. Capitol to lobby their legislators on retaining abstinence funding. Many of these students have directly been impacted by abstinence education programs and come from areas that have extremely high teenage pregnancy rates. These eager and enthusiastic teens listened to FRC’s own David Christensen and Valerie Huber, Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Assocation. Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska also stopped by the event and added his own remarks. He urged the students to enjoy their time in Washington, D.C. and briefed them about the impact that they are making by visiting their legislators to discuss retaining abstinence funding.

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Here’s a glimpse into what is coming up in today’s Washington Update.

• Steele’s comments on abortion
• Office of Women and Girls
• Orange County defunding Planned Parenthood

Here is what else we are looking at today.

• “Obama Also Rescinds Executive Order for Alternatives to ESCR Wesley J. Smith, First Things (March 9, 2009)
• “Geron Stem Cell Trial Risky, Doctors Warn,” Adam Feuerstein, TheStreet.com (March 11, 2009)
• “Some states push back against stem cell research,” Shannon McCaffrey, Associated Press (March 11, 2009)
• “Scientific Community Differs About Stem Cells,” Michael P. Tremoglie, The Bulletin (March 12, 2009)
• “Stem cell issue more complex than ‘science’ against ‘kooks’,” Kathleen Parker, Press of Atlantic City (March 12, 2009)
• “Stem Cells Are Not Just About Science,” Steve Chapman, Townhall (March 12, 2009)
• “Nearly 500 teens to mark Abstinence Day at U.S. Capitol,” Catholic News Agency (March 11, 2009)

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Islam is very much in the news these days. Even before 9/11, Americans had become aware of a powerful presence that had never really gone away. The 45-year Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR seemed to submerge Islamic identity in an East-West struggle. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, a resurgent Islam often intruded into the headlines of Western newspapers. Even before the terror attacks on New York and Washington, Americans had been targeted by Islamist radicals for murder -at the World Trade Center in 1993, Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996, the U.S. Embassies in East Africa in 1998, and aboard the USS Cole in 2000. Then, however, we seemed to be in a decade-long “holiday from history.”

It’s normal to expect that American history and world history textbooks would take a few years to catch up with world events. Textbook production is not an overnight process. The headlines, however, don’t wait. And the headlines all have some lessons to teach us about those regions where Islam predominates.

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Here’s some of the buzz from the blogosphere today.

• “Obama the Abortion President,” Gingi Edmonds, ProLifeBlogs.com President Obama’s record on the sanctity of human life has been abysmal.
• “Sebelius’s ‘Choice’ Obama’s Messenger for Moral Incoherence,” Leslie, The Passionate Pro-Lifer
• “Hill Update: Bad buys, Goodbyes and a Disco Reference,” Tom McClusky, Kitchen Table Blog

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Use aborted foetus organs in transplants, urges scientist,” Fiona MacRae, The Daily Mail (UK) (March 11, 2009)
• “Behind the Cell Curve,” Kathleen Parker, The Washington Post (March 11, 2009)
• “Arrests Draw New Attention to Assisted Suicide,” Robbie Brown, The New York Times (March 10, 2009)
• “The coming evangelical collapse,” Michael Spencer, Christian Science Monitor (March 10, 2009)
• “Groups ready to battle over gay-benefits bill,” Lornet Turnbull and Janet I. Tu, The Seattle Times (March 11, 2009)
• “Same-Sex Marriages Not Counted in Census,” Anna Carranza, MSNBC (March 11, 2009)
• “Abortion rights group meets in Beaufort, opposes Erickson bill,” Marti Covington, The Beaufort Gazette (March 10, 2009)
• “Proposed NC sex-ed changes gain steam,” Jordan Schrader, Asheville Citizen-Times (March 11, 2009)
• “Stemming the infusion of religion in science,” Opinion, Philadelphia Daily News (March 11, 2009)
• “Obama cautious when religion, politics collide,” Daniel Burke, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (March 11, 2009)
• “Churches outraged at state’s interference,” Drew Zahn, WorldNetDaily (March 10, 2009)
• “The New Humanism,” Roger Scruton, The American Spectator (March 10, 2009)
• “Court to free missionary in religion case,” Julia Duin, The Washington Times (March 11, 2009)
• “Some laid-off women now stay-at-home moms,” Associated Press (March 10, 2009)

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The New York Times jumped into the fray on Monday to help rescue President Obama’s economic policy-making reputation.  This was done in the guise of an analysis piece on the cable business channel, CNBC, that also served as a shot across the bow.  The story by Brian Stelter and Tim Arango entitled, “CNBC Thrives as Hosts Deliver News with Attitude,” lets the cat out of the bag when it intones: “CNBC is now a place for politics…. making the line between reporter and commentator almost indistinguishable at times.”

            What follows is a grab-bag of faux concern for CNBC’s brand and its reputation for journalistic integrity.  Some anonymous back-biting by three CNBC employees is added for good measure.  Blah, blah, blah.  But the rub comes down to this:  “In recent weeks some have perceived the network to be leading the campaign against President Obama’s economic agenda.”  BINGO.

            Well, the folks in the mainstream media (MSM) are clearly irritated because CNBC is now the most important news organization driving the political-economic debate.  The MSM is beginning to realize that it cannot control a news network populated by the brightest reporters on TV and accomplished guests who focus on the hard logic of the markets, interest rates, stock prices, currencies, etc.

            After Rick Santelli, a CNBC reporter from Chicago’s mercantile exchange, blasted the Obama Administration’s mortgage rescue plan he was attacked by NBC’s Matt Lauer on the Today Show.  Similarly, Jim Cramer was dragged to the Today Show for a hazing by Lauer who had to be assisted by CNBC’s Erin Burnett.  Even she couldn’t make it a fair fight.  Cramer just brushed them off.

            Unfortunately for the MSM the news broadcasts on CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, CNN, and MSNBC are populated with reporters who know relatively little about economics and finance compared to their counter-parts at CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business Channel.  So, when someone like Lauer tries to slime Santelli or Cramer he is totally mismatched.

            This means that serious interviews on the economy now have to be conducted on CNBC.  Yesterday’s interview of Warren Buffet by CNBC’s Becky Quick is a case in point.  Aside from the two-hour length, that interview would not have been possible on the MSM networks.  There are no broadcast TV analogs to Ms. Quick, Joe Kernen, and Carl Quintanilla who are all very, very bright and industry savvy.

            This is not to say that CNBC is perfect.  It has its flaws.  Big Deal.  However, between the network’s excellent morning (“Squawk Box”) and evening shows (“The Kudlow Report” hosted by Larry Kudlow) one becomes engaged in an ongoing conversation about our nation’s political-economic-financial situation.  The point isn’t that CNBC hosts and guests don’t make mistakes or erroneous predictions.  Who hasn’t in this market?

            The point is that CNBC presents its viewers with a window into an ongoing high-level conversation between many of the best minds on “Wall Street” as they try to diagnose and solve the enormous problems we face.  It has been fascinating to watch many themes developed and analyzed over an extended period of time on CNBC.

            This is all to say, that the MSM is incapable of presenting the public with this type of sophisticated, repetitive “longitudinal” analysis that makes it possible to think through the various problems the markets face.  And, with all due respect to the snooty journalism professors who love the Times, this is great journalism.

            Finally, regarding the charges of being political, as Larry Kudlow said Tuesday night to Charlie Gasparino (another CNBC reporter under attack) – (paraphrasing) “I learned a long time ago that if the liberal pundits are coming after you, you must be doing something right.”  Amen, Brother Larry.  Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

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In the latest Mapping America, the National Survey of Children’s Health shows that children from intact families who worship at least monthly are least likely to repeat a grade in school.

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Local researchers hope to reap rewards from stem cell shift,” David Sherfinski, The Washington Examiner (March 10, 2009)
• “Report: 1 in 50 U.S. children face homelessness,” CNN (March 10, 2009)
• “Secular Education, Catholic Values,” Javier C. Hernandez, The New York Times (March 8, 2009)
• “Field Poll finds voters still split on marriage,” Leslie Fulbright, The San Francisco Chronicle (March 10, 2009)
• “Experts: Gay Marriage Won’t Hurt Kids,” Darren Perron, WCAX News (March 9, 2009)
• “Australia drops aid ban on abortion advice,” Reuters (March 9, 2009)
• “Congressman Labels Obama ‘Abortion President’ Ahead of Stem Cell Reversal,” FOXNews (March 6, 2009)
• “Catholic bishops to lobby against abortion rights,” Jay Gallagher, The Ithaca Journal (March 10, 2009)
• “Catholic university prof supports euthanasia,” Spero News (March 7, 2009)
• “Judges weigh whether Utah crosses are secular,” P. Solomon Banda, Associated Press (March 10, 2009)
• “1st Amendment column: A win for students’ religious liberty,” Gene Policinski, Burlington Free Press (March 10, 2009)
• “Barack Obama lifts restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research using human embryos,” Jim Tankersley and Noam N. Levey, The Chicago Tribune (March 9, 2009)
• “U.S. Stem Cell Funds Freed; Md. Debates Its Own,” John Wagner and Rosalind S. Helderman, The Washington Post (March 10, 2009)

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Here’s some of the buzz from the blogosphere today.

• “For the Unborn, No Hope or Change,” Michael Fletcher, The Write Side of My Brain President Barack Obama has no doubt promised the wrong type of change when it comes to the sanctity of life.
• “It was never about the left-over embryos…,” Rebecca Taylor, Mary Meets Dolly
• “President Obama’s Choices,” James C. Capretta, The Corner
• “Obama Reverses Bush Policy on Embryonic Stem-Cell Research,” W. James Antle, III, AmSpecBlog

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President Barack Obama last January 23^rd –in office just two and a half days–revoked the Mexico City policy. That policy was initiated by President Reagan and supported by both Bush administrations. Obama’s action was hailed by pro-abortion groups around the world. The little-known but very powerful outfit, Americans for UNFPA, issued an ecstatic statement: “[This action] allows all Americans to again hold our heads high. We can be proud to be part of a nation that is, once again, ready to lead the world in promoting the health and rights of women.”

What was the Mexico City policy? It was a prohibition on giving U.S. foreign aid monies to organizations-like Planned Parenthood-that perform or promote abortion in developing countries. Because the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had been found complicit in communist China’s massive practice of coerced abortions, UNFPA was also de-funded. This was done under a provision of the Kemp-Kasten Amendment that has the force of law.

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Conscience protection is in the news again, and not just on this blog.  On our sister blog at FRC Action, FRCA’s newly-minted Senior Vice President Tom McClusky has posted a primer on what these regulations are, and whom they protect:

These conscience protections are important because powerful interests are inclined to force health care workers and others to participate, directly or indirectly, in morally controversial procedures. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others have been denied employment, dismissed, or penalized because of objections to abortion, contraception or the morning-after pill. The same pressure will almost certainly be applied to force conscientious objectors to participate in reproductive technology, eugenic screening, and in euthanasia and assisted suicide, particularly where such things are legal or are tolerated.

Read the rest here…

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News

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Obama Aims to Shield Science From Politics,” Rob Stein, The Washington Post (March 8, 2009)
• “Obama Is Leaving Some Stem Cell Issues to Congress,” Sheryl Gay Stolberg, The New York Times (March 9, 2009)
• “15 Percent of Americans Have No Religion,” Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post (March 8, 2009)
• “Obama Ending Bush’s Stem Cell Research Ban,” CBS News (March 9, 2009)
• “President Obama and education reform,” Robert Vinson Brannum, The Examiner (March 8, 2009)
• “Threat to marriage,” Deroy Murdock, The Indianapolis Star (March 9, 2009)
• “Anti-Abortion Activists Plan to Fight Sebelius’ Nomination for HHS,” Sharon Kehnemui Liss, FOX News (March 2, 2009)
• “Abortion recedes as major W.Va. lawmaker issue,” Tom Breen, Associated Press (March 9, 2009)
• “Abstinence vs. sex ed in battle to fight teen pregnancy,” Diane Turbyfill, Gaston Gazette (March 6, 2009)
• “Obama to overturn limits on stem cell work,” Jon Ward, The Washington Times (March 6, 2009)
• “Obama to reverse Bush limits on stem-cell research,” Physorg.org (March 6, 2009)
• “Not-so-smart power,” Mindy Belz, World Magazine (March 14, 2009)

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Here’s some of the buzz from the blogosphere today.

• “Hill update: Omni-busted, Queen quoted and Whiskey Rebellion Take Two,” Tom McClusky, Kitchen Table Blog
• “Relentless Onslaught Of Islamic Supremacism: Girls Gym Class Canceled,” Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs
• “Kids deserve good schools,” TheAnchoress School vouchers in D.C. are being threatened by President Obama and Congress. These vouchers offer opportunities for school choice and allow students to excel in smaller, safer classrooms.
• “Are the Republicans’ recent struggles more than typical, post-election turmoil?,” Tom McClusky, Kitchen Table Blog
• “Free Speech For Thee, But Not For Me,” An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would support the Fairness Doctrine if it were passed. Talk about a direct violation of the First Amendment.

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President Obama’s “Health Care Summit” continued at the White House today.  From Ted Kennedy to the National Federation of Independent Business, a diverse group was assembled to provide input in the large public forum and in smaller “breakout” sessions.

It is beyond dispute all Americans want consistent access to high-quality and cost-effective medical insurance and care.  No one who has ever seen a loved one suffer or who has personally experienced a serious disease or injury wants anything less.  How we arrive at this goal is where the division lies.  President Obama has asserted that health care is a “right.”  Is healthcare itself a “right” or is access to health care a right?  These are important distinctions.  If it is a fundamental right it must be provided for and that would fall to the government.  A government-run monopoly would result in sharp increases in health care costs, rationing of healthcare and a decline in quality.

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The British press is a-flutter over President Obama’s gift of 25 DVDs to Prime Minister Brown. In response to criticism that the gift was cheap and vulgar, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs responded that the DVDs represent an American Film Institute selection of classic cinema that accurately portrays aspects of the United Kingdom’s history. Downing Street reportedly will not divulge the titles of the DVDs. The U.K.’s Daily Mail has published a list of the movies, but luckily, we at Family Research Council have obtained the real list of DVDs given to Prime Minister Brown.

Here is President Obama’s selection:

Now,what subject of the Crown wouldn’t enjoy watching these films?

[Special thanks to my colleagues Michael Fragoso and Michael Leaser, who contributed to the above mischief.]

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Prop. 8 debates flare at Civic Center viewing,” Rachel Gordon and Steve Rubenstein, San Francisco Chronicle (March 6, 2009)
• “States Move Away From Abstinence-Only Sex Education as Teen Birth Rates Rise,” Brooks Blanton, FOX News (March 5, 2009)
• “Economy enters same-sex marriage debate,” Chris Welch, CNN (March 6, 2009)
• “Will Law Demand We Support Gay Marriage?,” Robin Fretwell Wilson, The Hartford Courant (March 6, 2009)
• “Sebelius at HHS a boost for abortion, stem cell industries,” Timothy P. Carney, The Washington Examiner (March 6, 2009)
• “Kansas House approves two abortion bills,” David Klepper, The Kansas City Star (March 4, 2009)
• “Omnibus bill cuts abstinence spending,” Erin Roach, Baptist Press (March 5, 2009)
• “Euthanasia doesn’t open floodgates,” Michael Duffy, The Sydney Morning Herald (March 7, 2009)
• “Converting Cells Shows Promise for Parkinson’s,” Nicholas Wade, The New York Times (March 5, 2009)
• “‘Octomom’ spawns bills limiting embryo implants,” Shannon McCaffrey, Associated Press (March 4, 2009)
• “Sebelius’ Abortion Camouflage,” Janice Shaw Crouse, TownHall (March 4, 2009)

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Dear Larry:

The Politico reported yesterday “it’s rumored that [Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)] could face a challenge [in his 2010 Senate re-election race] from CNBC host Larry Kudlow, an opponent who would focus the coming election squarely on the economy.”

Say it ain’t so, Kudlow.

For those not familiar with you, Larry, I provide two links with some fair and balanced info: CNBC, Wikipedia. In short, you are a supply-side economist who served in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Reagan Administration’s Treasury Department, and various Wall Street firms with distinction. You are a happy guy; an optimist. You are a conservative, and, as I have observed over the years, a much-needed media friend of the pro-life cause – something we at FRC appreciate greatly. And, since the financial meltdown you have been hosting a M-F 7:00 p.m. hour-long market analysis program on CNBC – now called The Kudlow Report.

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Emanuel the doctor helping Obama deliver health care overhaul,” Bloomberg News (March 5, 2009)
• “Why Embryonic Stem Cells Are Obsolete,”Dr. Bernadine Healy, U.S. News & World Report (March 4, 2009)
• “Aust scientists develop stem cell survival technique,” Zoie Jones, Australian Broadcasting Company (March 5, 2009)
• “Banking cord blood presents dilemma for new parents,” Los Angeles Times (March 4, 2009)
• “Delegate Calls for Clearer Legislation on Religion in Schools,” MSNBC (March 4, 2009)
• “Emotion, misunderstanding mark religion-in-school cases,” Bob Smietana, The Tennessean (March 3, 2009)
• “Banned Christian Fellowship Allowed to Meet on Ohio Campus, For Now,” Katherine T. Phan, The Christian Post (March 4, 2009)
• “Sacrificial poor,” Mindy Belz, World Magazine (March 14, 2009)
• “Gay activists march in Calif. ahead of showdown,” Lisa Leff, Associated Press (March 5, 2009)

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What do you call an American citizen who objects to one of President Obama’s most radical nominees? “Verbal terrorists,” according to “Hardball’s” Chris Matthews. The MSNBC host, who last night addressed the controversy surrounding Kathleen Sebelius, took a gratuitous swipe at the pro-life community for opposing the Governor’s radical positions. “Is she going to get through the anti-abortion people?” Matthews asked. “Yes. I think she’s going to do that. I mean, verbal terrorism? Yeah, she’ll get through that.”

Give me a break! Educating Americans on Sebelius’s record isn’t “terrorism,” it’s activism, no, it’s realism! As a candidate for one of the most influential posts in Obama’s Cabinet, Sebelius’s public positions matter–particularly if they’re as far outside the mainstream as hers have proven to be. Before Sebelius is confirmed, Americans deserve to know where she stands. They should know that the Kansas governor supports late-term abortions, filthy, roach-infested abortion clinics, government as the final authority on children’s health, the killing of innocent abortion survivors, and socialized medicine. Despite what Chris Matthews believes, standing up for the defenseless and the vulnerable is what public officials are supposed to do. This is just an attempt to shift the focus off the extremism of Sebelius’ record.

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Maybe, it is time for some around Washington to realize that discriminating against medical providers who decline to perform or refer for abortions is not a good idea. After all, they are standing for their beliefs.  The Obama Administration is trying to remove this rule from the books, to which Rep. John Boehner posted this response.

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