* The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act received strong support in the U.S House of Representatives but failed nevertheless to pass a 2/3 majority in order to go on to the Senate. Michael New over at NRO gives some illuminating details about this important move.
* Talk about a bizarre morality. At the same time that Democrats in Congress are voting to protecting even late term abortions, those same Democrats are lobbying the Homeland Security Department to go easier on homosexuals, bisexuals and the transgendered when considering deportations.
* President Obama cited an "independent, non-partisan study" in Mansfield, Ohio earlier today: "And you do not have to take my word for it," said Obama. "Just today, an independent, non-partisan organization ran all the numbers on Governor Romney’s plan. This wasn’t my staff. This wasn’t something we did. Independent group, ran the numbers." The president is right, up to a point: The study was not written by an Obama staffer, but by a former Obama staffer -- and a close ally. (The Weekly Standard)
* As the world well knows, the intolerance of Muslim radicals is not merely a matter of principles and words but rather beatings, beheading, bullets and bombs. Here's a Fox News story about a well-known Somali comedian who had poked fun at Al-Qaeda linked insurgents in Mogadishu being shot in the head until dead. Apparently, it is but the latest in a string of targeted killings against media workers.
* Are those noble Olympic heroes you're cheering engaged in some distinctly ignoble activities after leaving the arena? Activities that are fast using up the more than 100,000 free condoms that Olympic officials handed out? "There's a lot of sex going on," says women's soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo, a gold medalist in 2008. How much sex? "I'd say it's 70-75% of Olympians," offers world-record-holding swimmer Ryan Lochte. "Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do." Here's ESPN's take.
* About the announcement that the Democrat Party platform would definitely include support for same-sex marriage -- "LGBT activists are praising the move, but some in the party are concerned that it could backfire. It's likely to complicate the races for Democrats facing tough battles in red-leaning states, including Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Senator Jon Tester of Montana, and Tim Kaine, who's running for Senate in Virginia. It may also wind up energizing supporters of traditional marriage more than those who support same-sex unions. The shift wouldn't have been possible if President Obama hadn't supported same-sex marriage two months ago." (New York Magazine)
