For Republicans, Rape Is Still Rape

I am a proud Republican, and more than that, a proud Conservative, which I happily type with a capital 'C' in front. I do not support every plank that the party puts forth, nor do I support every politician that takes up the 'Red' banner. And those who get my vote, such as George W. Bush, sometimes only get it because they are better than the lousy liberal alternatives.

I am also a proud father and grandfather of three beautiful daughters and a wonderful granddaughter, the husband of a loving wife, and a brother-in-law, cousin, uncle, nephew, co-worker, neighbor, and friend to many outstanding women.

All that prefaces my position now in full support of a bill (HR3) put forth by New Jersey's outstanding congressman Chris Smith that would essentially end any taxpayer funding of abortions, as well as any tax breaks for health insurance that covers the same.

You see, the usual suspects in the liberal community, from the radical fringe such as MoveOn to the agenda-driven Planned Parenthood to supposedly mainstream Democrats looking to protect their political power, are predictably against this legislative initiative. However, as usual, they don't stop at simply voicing common sense opposition in a debate of ideas. Instead they have stooped to the usual tactics of code words, divisiveness, and misinterpretation.

The tactic chosen to oppose the anti-abortion legislation, or as those of us firmly on the side of right and good choose to call it, the pro-life legislation, is incredibly and intentionally ugly. They have chosen to paint Republicans as somehow supporting, denying, or minimizing the crime of rape.
They are saying that Republicans are trying to "redefine rape", and have actually stated in some forums that to Republicans, rape is no longer rape.

I find that kind of rhetoric, and that's all it is, political and social rhetoric, to be patently offensive. As a man who has all of the above listed women in his life, I can tell you for a fact that to me and all Republicans, rape is rape is rape. I would be wholly sympathetic to and supportive of any woman in my own life who might experience this crime, in fact, a couple of them have experienced it. The same statement of sympathy and support can be said for Representative Smith, Republican leader John Boehner, and every other Republican politician.

This is, of course, not the issue that the legislation relates to at all. The legislation aims to back up with concrete action one of the basic platform items in the party's 'Pledge to America' when it won control of congress in the elections of November 2010. As Boehner has stated "Our members feel very strongly about the sanctity of human life."

A simple reading of the actual legislation easily shows that Republicans indeed have a heart. The first handful of sections, 301-304, state the long-held party position against the murder of innocent babies in the womb as they call for a prohibition on the funding of abortions themselves, for health care plans that cover abortions, on tax benefits relating to abortion, and on federal facilities and employees being used in the killings.

Then section 309 clearly reads that these limitations shall not apply to "situations where the pregnancy occurred because the pregnant female was the subject of an act of forcible rape or, if a minor, an act of incense." It further reads that the limitations shall not apply in the case "where the pregnant female suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the pregnant female in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself."

Common sense legislation that respects and allows provisions for women who have been attacked, abused, taken advantage of, or placed in danger while also standing up against the killing of innocent lives simply because someone was irresponsible, lazy, careless, negligent, or just plain-old heartless and uncaring. Once again, and per usual, a simple actual reading of the actual legislation being presented shows the truth for those who are willing to seek it out.

So do not allow yourself to be persuaded by headline-grabbing, blog-clogging, radical lefty propaganda campaigns currently underway. Read the legislation yourself by simply clicking on the title of this article, which is a link to that legislation as actually proposed in it's entirety. Then make your own decision. But make no mistake, we Republicans love and care for the women in our lives, and we will not be "redefining rape" at all. Rape is rape, and it is morally wrong. Just as morally wrong is the murder of innocent children whose only "fault" is one of being an inconvenient burden to an irresponsible parent.

Ann Coulter is Guilty as Charged

For over a decade now, conservative writer Ann Coulter has been directing her sharp wit and keen mind as well as her biting sense of humor at everything that liberals hold dear. She has emerged as the single most articulate and beloved voice of the far right in American politics, and the honesty and clarity of her works has gained her fans across the vast conservative Republican populace. Her latest book titled "Guilty: Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America" generally covers just what it says in that title. "Guilty" speaks of the 'victim mentality' prevalent in all liberal quarters, and that has been particularly embraced by the Democratic Party over the past few decades. The libs and the Dems take segments of society that feel they have been victimized by the American culture and government, embrace them, and tell them that they, the Dems, will take care of all of their problems. They care about the 'victims', and will make sure that these 'lowly' have a 'voice' if elected. What the liberal Dems never mention, of course, is that the vast majority of these 'victims' have created or exacerbated their own situations. The 'culture' or 'government' or 'the man' or 'the system' had absolutely nothing to do with it. Did 'the government' stick that needle in their arm, or that crack pipe in their mouth, or that pill down their throats? No. Did 'the man' force them to buy that bottle and drink it down? No. Did 'the system' distract them in school and keep them from going to classes, paying attention, studying, and doing their homework? No. Did the 'culture' get them pregnant? No. If you are poor and have little or nothing as you are being raised, why on earth would you want to continue that into your adulthood and for your entire life? That is exactly what you are asking for when you don't emphasize school and instead turn to drugs, booze, and sex as a way out. Fact is, those are no ways out, they are road blocks and in some cases life enders. They are also choices, things that the 'victims' never, ever want to admit. Then you have the 'enablers' as well. These are the people who may recognize that people are victims of their own choices and decisions, but ask the question of "now what?" Do we throw these people away, or do we help them come back? That is indeed a complex question that these 'victims' have made even more so over the years as the vast majority have either abused or misused or turned away what help has been offered. Their perpetual cycles of self-destruction leave those of us who are politically and culturally in the center and on the right throwing up our hands in frustration. But there is no stopping those on the left and their continued romance with the 'victims', and this is the eloquent target of Ann Coulter's "Guilty" work. Coulter's previous books are an endless barrage of clever quips, elegant prose, and sometimes over-the-top comments against all that is Left. In "High Crimes & Misdemeanors" she looks closely at the crimes and immorality of the Clinton White House. In "Slander" she points out the attacks on conservatism by the left-controlled former mainstream media, and highlights the lies they perpetuate. In "Treason" she shows how liberalism has consistently undermined traditional American values in recent decades. In "How to Talk to a Liberal" she speaks their language in a way that only a conservative could love. In "Godless", Coulter hits hard in defending one of the left's biggest targets - God Himself - and takes on their own church-like causes. "If Democrats Had Any Brains They'd Be Republicans" is a strong political statement for conservative causes highlighting the pure lack of common sense in liberalism. This new work in "Guilty" is another in this incomparable string of modern conservative political and cultural thought. As with all other Coulter works it both sings and bites, sometimes in the same paragraph. Ann Coulter was born just three weeks after me, so maybe there was something in the air or water here in the northeastern United States back then. I find her extremely attractive, humorous, and articulate, and I challenge anyone who believes they are in the 'center' politically to actually fully read a couple of her books, especially "Godless" and "How to Talk to a Liberal", and see if you still feel that way afterwards. Try to point out instances where Coulter goes over some imaginary 'line' in her descriptions of certain people or circumstances, and you will find them easily. Try to find instances where Coulter actually lies about something and your job will be impossible. Ann Coulter's critics charge her with being ultra-right win in her orthodoxy and approach, and to that I say, and she would undoubtedly be proud to say, that she is guilty as charged.

Grannie Hits a Granny

Soon-to-be grandmom Sarah Palin stepped to the podium last night at the Republican National Convention as Presidential nominee John McCain's prospective running mate. There was much on the line as the brunette beauty waved off a lengthy standing ovation that very much had the feel of a group protecting a member of it's own family. The chills were palpable as the crowd's applause and cheers continued on and on, and the strength and length of the crowd reaction to her appearance was obviously as much in support of the candidate having come under vicious, personal, liberal media attacks since being announced as for her actual candidacy. It is fairly obvious that the vast majority of the conservative wing of the Party is ecstatic about the pick of Sarah Palin as the Veep nominee due to her character and her positions on the key issues. It is just as obvious that the attacks on her and her family have touched that 'don't talk bout my _____ like that' nerve (fill in the blank with 'mother', 'sister', 'daughter', 'girlfriend', 'wife'...whichever most applies to you) with many, including yours truly. But then Palin began to speak, and proved over the course of the next 36 1/2 minutes that she is plenty tough enough to stand up for herself, to stand in the box and face the hardball's thrown at her from the other side and, as local radio talk show host Michael Smerconish said afterwards "hit a grand slam". The grannie hit a granny, and a new Republican political superstar was born. She began by accepting the nomination and acknowledging the tough campaign to come: "I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election... against confident opponents ... at a crucial hour for our country." Her eldest son, Track Palin, will deploy to Iraq on September 11th of all dates, and she related to all the troops and their families: "I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way." She answered the critics of her family life being too much to handle, what with being a new mom of a special-needs child and with her 17-year old daughter Bristol Palin being 5-months pregnant: "From the inside, no family ever seems typical. That's how it is with us. Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys. Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge." She beamed over her husband Todd: "We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he's still my guy." Her parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, were in attendance and she praised them for teaching her "..one simple lesson: that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity." If she didn't win over the Dems' former Hillary Clinton supporting women with that statement, then they don't have the courage of their convictions. She answered the critics who say that she was just the Mayor of some small town: "I grew up with those people. They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America ... who grow our food, run our factories, and fight our wars. They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America. I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town." Did you notice the subtle slap at Michelle Obama there, who claimed that she was only now proud of her country for the first time in her adult lifetime. Sarah's people are "always proud of America." What a tremendous contrast. She laughed off talk that she was just some 'soccer mom' or 'hockey mom' with a joke: "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick." Then Palin took the liberal media deep: "Now, here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this great country." She spoke of today's political partisanship: "No one expects us to agree on everything. But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and a servant's heart. I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States." She talked of how she took on the establishment in Alaska, winning the Governor's office, and then set about making reforms such as selling the Governor's private jet on EBay and getting rid of the office's personal chef. She cut taxes, reduced spending, and left her state with a budget surplus. She showed a grasp of foreign affairs and important issues such as energy and terrorism by relating to Mexico, Russia, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, al Qaeda, and Iraq among others. She was tough politically, taking a swipe at her opponents while pointing out the heroism of her running mate: "...though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain." And then she took one final comparative swing at Obama: "For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds." During this granny's grand-slam speech, she stated that the reason pols should go to Washington is "to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it." After last night, no one doubts that John McCain and Sarah Palin intend to do just that beginning in January of 2009.