Planned Parenthood: Why Hasn't the #MeToo Movement Looked Here?

This is just the opening salvo in a provocative, enlightening, justice-oriented effort by Live Action regarding Planned Parenthood's long, sordid history of enabling sex abusers. Watch the brief video below and then, for more of the facts, check out what Live Action has provided in print and video reports right here.

The Right Stuff: The Latest Compilation Post

* “Tinker, Tailor, Clapper, Carter, Downer, Halper, Spy” (Mark Steyn, Steyn Online)

* “7 Ways Spy-in-Chief Barack Obama Spied on Donald Trump” (John Nolte, Breitbart)

* “Scenes of surrender against public drug use” (Editors, New York Post)

* “In Ireland, St. Patrick weeps” (Monica Showalter, American Thinker)

* “From Russia With Love” (Walter Williams, Daily Wire)

* “President Trump at Annapolis” (Paul Mirengoff, Power Line)

* “Trump has secured release of 17 American hostages already and here’s what’s coming” (Samantha Chang, BPR)

* “Shirt of shame: Britain dishes out £62 million in foreign aid to Rwandan dictator who splurges £30 million on sponsorship for his beloved Arsenal Football Club” (Nick Craven, Daily Mail)

Tired of Social Media Censoring What You See?

With the evidence piling up that Facebook, Twitter, and other “social media” giants are grievously, systematically, and unapologetically censoring conservative voices, I suggest we stop depending on them for important news and commentary. Instead, let’s go back about 15 or 20 years and remember when the alternative media first began to utilize the remarkable freedom of blogs and other conservative news and opinion sites on the internet.

Oh, yes; Rush Limbaugh had been holding down the fort on the airwaves and Fox News was providing a bit of a respite from the monopoly of leftist television reporting. But it was Lucianne.com, Drudge Report, City Journal, Power Line, Breitbart, and a whole host of terrific blogs that helped conservative citizens find credible, helpful information to wage the culture wars.

Well, ever since I started Vital Signs Blog in 2005, I have tried to provide occasional listings of the “best from the blogs.” And yet I believe the need for that kind of service is greater than ever. Therefore, I’m actually stepping it up.

Every few days I will list links to some of the most important articles I’ve found dealing with the culture wars, sanctity of life, religious freedom, and so on. I invite you to frequently check in here at Vital Signs Blog, find those compilation posts, and then read the articles that you find of greatest interest.

And please don't wait until you see the Facebook link to that Vital Signs Blog post...because there's a good chance you wouldn't find that link on Facebook in the first place. No, skip the middleman altogether and head go directly to Vital Signs Blog every few days for those compilation posts. (You may find a few other posts there of interest too.)

We need not allow Facebook and Twitter and the others to control what we see.

And, by the way, right here is the latest of these compilations.

Did You Miss These Gems? Part Three.

* “The Hubris of Judges Threatens Our Ability to Govern Ourselves” (Michael P. Tremoglie, Daily Signal)

* “The mess Rod Rosenstein made” (Steven G. Calabresi, The Hill)

* “Rep. Kevin McCarthy: ‘Troubling’ Amazon Removed Christian Legal Group From Its Charity Program” (Robert Donachie, Daily Signal)

* “School Can Force Students to Share Bathrooms With Transgender Students, Federal Court Rules” (Rachel del Guidice, Daily Signal)

* “Leftist Fraud All the Way Down” (Stephen Hayward, Power Line)

* “This Is How Alexa Can Record Private Conversations” (Spencer Soper, Bloomberg)

* “Is This the Worst Judge in America?” (Timothy Meads, Town Hall)

* “The AP Is Scandalized: Trump Administration Doesn’t Buy Climate Extremism” (John Hinderaker, Power Line)

* “No, Pastor Stanley, We Should Not Unhitch Ourselves From the Old Testament” (Michael Brown, The Stream)

Did You Miss These Gems? Part Two.

* “Does America’s Declining Birth Rate Signal the Death of Hope?” (David French, National Review)

* “Baby Bust: Fertility is Declining the Most Among Minority Women” (Lyman Stone, Institute for Family Studies)

* “What a New York Tragedy Tells Us About the Abortion Debate” (Jonathan S. Tobin, National Review)

* “Democrats' Turn To Socialism Is Ominous Sign For The Party — And For The Country” (Editors, Investor’s Business Daily)

* “8 signs pointing to a counterintelligence operation deployed against Trump's campaign” (Sheryl Attkisson, The Hill)

* “How a ‘Far-Left Propaganda Machine’ Got a Respected Legal Group Expelled by Amazon” (Greg Scott, Daily Signal)

* “BSA Scouts out New Condom Policy” (Family Research Council)

* “Report finds cases of STDs reach all-time high in California” (Christopher Weber, Sacramento Bee)

* “You Shouldn’t Make the Cheer Team If You’re Bad at It” (Katherine Timpf, National Review)

Did You Miss These Gems?

* “How Liberal Activists Are Shutting Down Choice for Birth Moms” (Kelsey Harkness, Daily Signal)

* “YouTube suspends abortion pill reversal videos, silencing women who chose life” (Danielle White, Live Action)

* “Don’t confuse me with the facts on Gaza” (Avital Leibovich, The Times of Israel)

* “The Media Coverage Of The Israeli-Palestinian Clash Is Built On Myths” (David Harsanyi, Federalist)

* “The Conservative Case for Breaking Up Monopolies Such as Google and Facebook” (John Hawkins, Town Hall)

* “Why is Theresa May apologising for Africa’s anti-gay laws? White paternalism is still at work.” (Mathew Otieno, Mercator)

* “The merit badge of surrender: how the Boy Scouts of America are succumbing to the gender revolution” (Andrew T. Walker, Mercator)

Forget the MSM. What's Really Happening?

Okay, okay. Are you freaking out over of the onerous, odorous, over-the-top shenanigans being pulled by the Left? I understand, Binky.

But here's the road to sanity. Stay calm. Read the right stuff...like the superb articles in this list. And then take the prayerful, principled actions that, as the Bible puts it, shine your light into the darkness.

* “How to Renew Our Witness and Make Christianity Counter-Cultural Again: Part 1” (Tom Gilson, The Stream)

* “How to Renew Our Witness and Make Christianity Counter-Cultural Again: Part 2” (Tom Gilson, The Stream)

* “Blood is on Hamas’ hands, not Trump’s” (Michael Goodwin, NY Post)

* “‘Remember this Moment’” (Editorial of The New York Sun)

* “The Strzok-Page Texts and the Origins of the Trump-Russia Investigation” (Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review)

* “The Obama Legacy Deserves To Be Destroyed” ( David Harsanyi, Federalist)

* “‘Diversifying’ the University of Texas” (Mark Pulliam, Misrule of Law)

* “The Party of Some Women” (Adriana Cohen, RCP)

* “5 Reasons The Southern Poverty Law Center Is A Hate-Mongering Scam” (Joy Pullmann, Federalist)

May’s Marvelous Music

Want to bring a lift to your spirit, a bounce to your step, and a sweet blessing to others? Great! You certainly can do so by joining us and our guests (the residents of area senior care facilities) at any one of our May presentations of “When Swing Was King.”

Once there you will enjoy the warm hospitality of staff and residents, about 250 stirring photos from the years of the big band era, and these delightful songs performed by the original artists:

1) Glenn Miller Orchestra, “Little Brown Jug” (1939)
2) Chick Webb Orchestra, “Stompin’ at the Savoy” (1934)
3) Eddy Howard, “To Each His Own” (1946)
4) Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, “42nd Street” (1947)
5) Benny Goodman Orchestra (vocals by Helen Ward), “Goody, Goody” (1936)
6) Count Basie Orchestra (vocals by Jimmie Rushing), “Pennies from Heaven” (1937)
7) Andy Williams, “Autumn Leaves” (1959)
8) Les Brown Orchestra, “Younger Than Springtime” (1958)
9) Artie Shaw Orchestra (vocals by Helen Forrest), “Day In, Day Out” (1939)
10) Freddy Martin Orchestra, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”
11) Harry James Orchestra (vocals by Frank Sinatra) “All or Nothing At All” (recorded 1939, released 1944)
12) Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston Orchestra), “Mairzy Doats” (1943)

For a Change, Let the Political Leaders Hear from You!

Among my notes from last week's letter-writing party are the ones I print below.

Why don't you think about sending along a couple yourself? No; check that. Don't think about it. Just do it! Use these as samples to help out and also the targets You'll find in the previous Vital Signs Blog post.

Dear President Trump,

What a wonderful, engaging, and principled 16 months you have given us in your presidency. And what surprising victories you’ve secured despite the over-the-top negativity of the old guard media and the unconscionable obstruction of the Democrat Party! Thank you and way to go. Please stay the course – the nation and the world need courageous and wise leadership.

Oh, wait a sec! There is one very serious worry I have. Will you please drop the idea of renominating Chai Feldblum to the EEOC? Regarding issues of justice and religious freedom, she’s downright awful.

Dear Senator Sasse,

Thanks so much for your principled service in behalf of Nebraska, the nation, and the cause of freedom.

Three things that are central to my concerns this spring: 1) Defunding Planned Parenthood – completely and ASAP. 2) Passing the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act. And 3) Securing stronger pressure on nations who persecute Christians and others of conscience — including such “allies” as Saudi Arabia.

Please stay the course on these critical issues.

Governor Ricketts,

What an impressive achievement it was to finally stop Nebraska’s HHS money from going to Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion business.  Yes, I know there will be legal challenges but what a profound movement is underway as pro-life champions across the nation are expressing common-sense into law. It is refreshing to see, truth, mercy, and justice being raised in the public square.

Thank you!

Dear Senator Fischer,

Here are three items that are of great concern to us this spring.

1) The aching need to get the government out of the abortion business by defunding Planned Parenthood of the millions of dollars it receives from taxpayers. Money given to local health centers that have no connection with the killing of preborn children – that’s the way to go.

2) Isn’t it way past time to put Senate Resolution 355 into effect and thus stop the Democrat’s irresponsible (and, indeed, unjust) obstruction to President Trump’s judicial nominations? Of course it is. Please co-sponsor and work aggressively for this move.

And 3) Enough of the compromising, weak-willed leaders of the U.S. Senate.  We need principled, courageous champions in the leadership who, like the President, do not “easily suffer” being pushed around.

Thanks for your work for Nebraska and the nation.

Dear State Senator Watermeier,

It was a profound honor to her you at the Day of Prayer activities down in Lincoln last week and to learn more about the remarkable impact you have had in your brief time in the Unicameral.  Thank you so much!  We were particularly impressed with your good work on the HHS funds being cut from Planned Parenthood, the long battle you waged to win the Choose Life plate (It’s on one of our vehicles already), and the launching of the Nebraska Prayer Caucus.  Way to go!

You remain in our prayers.

Denny & Claire’s Suggestions for Tonight’s Letter-Writing Party

Well, actually, it was last night's letter-writing party. Only 8 of us were present
but we still turned out 50 cards and letters in 90 minutes. Good job, guys!

(And we de don't count the additional 1/2 hour of conversation, coffee, and chocolate chip cookies!)

We present this "action target" list (and, as the next few days go by, a few samples of our work) in hopes that you might consider sending a few notes of your own. For, believe me, we have seen throughout the years that personal letters do make quite a difference.

--------------------------------------------

1) Thank you notes to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for signing a law that will (if allowed by leftist judges) ban most abortions; that is, if a fetal heartbeat is detected.

2) Thank you notes to First Lady Melania Trump for her new initiative “Be Best,” a White House-based effort she will lead to raise awareness of critical issues children now face in America, especially their well-being, social media use, and opioid abuse.

3) Thank you notes to Nebraska Family Alliance: Karen Bowling, Executive Director; Nate Grasz, Policy Director; Hallie Hamilton, Communication Director; Rachel Menter, Administrative Assistant; and Dawn Witt, Bookkeeper.

This year, four NFA-supported bills became law, but those weren’t our only victories. Every NFA-opposed bill was defeated this year!

4) The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act is likely the only religious freedom bill that the Congress will consider all year. And it’s an important one that seeks to protect faith-based adoption agencies from adverse action by the government.

5) Omaha Congressman Don Bacon was recently criticized by former Democrat Congressman Brad Ashford for Bacon’s earning a 100% rating from the Family Research Council. Imagine that — a noble charitable organization that works for the sanctity of human life, religious freedom in the U.S. and abroad, the protection of Constitutional liberties, the promotion of biblical teachings on marriage and the family, and so on is deemed by Mr. Ashford as a bad thing! What does that tell you about his values?

6) Thank yous to President Trump for his efforts to drain the swamp, to place conservative jurists in America’s courts, and to promote religious liberty and the sanctity of life.

However, letters should also be sent to the President asking him to withdraw the ultra-liberal (and Obama appointee) Chai Feldblum for the Commissioner post of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Ms. Feldblum is on record as believing that religious liberty must give way to postmodern ideas of sexuality. For instance, she has written, “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win...Sexual liberty should win in most cases. There can be a conflict between religious liberty and sexual liberty, but in almost all cases the sexual liberty should win because that's the only way that the dignity of gay people can be affirmed in any realistic manner.”

Ms. Feldblum's advocacy has already resulted in numerous outrageous actions taken by the U.S. government. Executive Branch. The President must be reminded that he campaigned on promises of religious liberty and actually has issued an Executive Order to that end, part of which reads, “Faith is deeply embedded into the history of our country, the spirit of our founding and the soul of our nation…[This administration] will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied, or silenced anymore.” Yet the re-nomination of Ms. Chai Feldblum would profoundly undermine that promise. Mr. President, don’t do it.

7) Political leaders of every stripe need to act in opposing Planned Parenthood. Most expressly, they should be working to defund the nation’s leading abortion business and transferring those tax monies to local health centers that deal in genuine health and well-being and have nothing to do with destroying preborn boys and girls.

8) Thank you to Sarah Huckabee Sanders (White House Press Secretary) and Kellyanne Conway (Counselor to the President) for serving our country in jobs that require great personal sacrifice, courage, a forgiving spirit, and vision. (You might also say thanks to Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, and others.

9) Speaker Paul Ryan has announced he will not seek reelection this November. Therefore, U.S. Senators need to support for a new leader someone who will truly fight for conservative values. Enough of the soft headed and compromising members of the GOP establishment like current frontrunners Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader (R-CA) or Steve Scalise, Majority Whip (R-LA). Let’s get someone instead who is a visionary, a principled leader, and a genuine champion…someone like Jim Jordan (R-OH), a constitutionalist, a man of integrity, and a founder of the House Freedom Caucus, the band of members of Congress dedicated to fighting for liberty.

“If Jordan or someone like him runs, he could also nationalize the race for Speaker. This would encourage voter turnout in the 2018 mid-term elections to elect more conservatives to Congress. Jordan could also lead the conservative argument for Congress to preserve and protect the Republic by launching a ‘Contract to Save America’ campaign. Congress needs to bind themselves to the will of the people for the good of the Republic.

10) Senators should end the Democratic obstruction of judicial nominations…now. “Democrats have been using an existing Senate rule requiring 30 hours of Senate floor debate on most of President Trump's nominees. At the current rate of the Democratic obstruction, confirming the president's nominees will take about 9 years!

Senators should be signing on as co-sponsors and promising to work hard to secure Senate Resolution 355 in order to put an end to the Democratic obstruction.

11) Thank yous to Governor Pete Ricketts, Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, State Senator Dan Watermeier, and others for their recent pro-life efforts here in Nebraska.

12) Letters should be frequently written to diplomats representing countries who are persecuting Christians, asking the leaders of those countries to stop their unjust persecution of believers through property confiscation and other financial pressure, imprisonment, torture, and execution.  Here’s a sample note: “I write today with a simple but urgent request, one that is prompted not only by my studied convictions that Christianity is true and a great blessing to all cultures, but also by those common human ideals which should direct the laws of all nations towards justice, mercy, and wisdom.  My request is that you please stop persecution (of any sort) against Christians and other peaceful men and women of conscience.”

What a Roundup!

Here's some of the most important news and commentary from recent days. And they just happen to be some of the best written too.

* “Yes, Community Health Centers Are a Better Alternative for Women than Planned Parenthood” (Chuck Donovan, National Review)

* “The ‘Qipao’ kerfuffle: Cultural appreciation is not cultural appropriation” (Jean Seah, Mercator)

* “Amazon a Prime Suspect in Charity War” (Family Research Council)

* “Was Social Media A Mistake? Here’s An Experiment To Find Out” (Robert Tracinski, The Federalist)

* “Marie Stopes: From ‘Married Love’ to unmarried sex” (Carolyn Moynihan, Mercator)

* “Obamacare Is Still with Us, and Getting Worse” (Michael Tanner, National Review)

* “Bill Nye, the Abortion Guy, Headlines Planned Parenthood Lunch, Talks Population Control” (Lauretta Brown, Town Hall)

* “An Omnibus Climate & Energy Roundup” (Stephen Hayward, Power Line)

* “Red-Carpet Catholicism Is a Loss for the Church” (Kyle Smith, National Review)