o'scamcare - ObamaCare: Same Song, Second Verse (GOPUSA)

From: GOPUSA Eagle  Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Inside this issue... Today's Feature... ObamaCare: Same Song, Second Verse In Focus... New Cartoons at GOPUSA! Commentary... Obama Doesn't Even Fake Bipartisanship Well News... Democrats cautiously embrace Obama health plan The Loft... With Hayworth, has McCain met his Tea Party Waterloo? State News Letters from the E-mail Bag

ObamaCare: Same Song, Second Verse After being rocked by election defeats in New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusetts and the growing public disapproval of his health care takeover, Obama and congressional Democrats were reeling. The American people had spoken, and what they said was Obama was taking the country in the wrong direction with the wrong approach. Obama and the Democrats paused for a bit. We started to wonder if they had seen the light. Was ObamaCare dead? Obama then stated he wanted to "reach out" to Republicans... get their input and suggestions on health care. He even proposed a health care "summit" for this Thursday. Then... he released his "updated" plan. He rejected conservative input and has put forward the same kind of scheme as before. We didn't want more government before, and we certainly don't want it now! ++ Read More In Focus... New Cartoons at GOPUSA! Get a daily dose of political wit at GOPUSA. Check out our new cartoon line-up featuring some of the best cartoonists in the country! ++ Read More Commentary... Obama Doesn't Even Fake Bipartisanship Well By David Limbaugh How long will it take for every last American to realize President Barack Obama is not about bipartisanship, reconciliation (other than as a process to cram his health care bill through Congress) and uniting Americans? As his latest gyrations on health care demonstrate, he will not be deterred in his quest to saddle Americans with socialized medicine, even if it greatly increases the likelihood he won't be re-elected. ++ Read More More from GOPUSA's Commentary Page Thomas Sowell: Economic Whodunit  Cliff Kincaid: The Gay Infiltration of the Conservative Movement Debra Saunders: Yoo Case About Politics, not Ethics Richard Olivastro: Young and Old Americans for Freedom Latest News... Democrats cautiously embrace Obama health plan WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional Democrats cautiously embraced President Barack Obama's new health care plan as their last hope for enacting a comprehensive overhaul. Republicans trashed it, dimming prospects for any deal at the bipartisan health care summit that Obama has scheduled for Thursday to try to jump-start the debate. ++ Read More More from GOPUSA's News Page Ind. gov opens door to 2012 GOP presidential run  Clinton says midterm elections won't be as bad as '94 Toyota testimony to be drama filled Calif. insurer to face questioning over rate hike Coal-state Dems oppose global-warming rules Former VP Cheney hospitalized, resting comfortably NYC terrorism suspect cites subway attack plan A Word From Our Sponsor... The Loft... With Hayworth, has McCain met his Tea Party Waterloo? By Bobby Eberle Now, it's primary season, and the next big targets are incumbents, both Republican and Democrat who do not follow this plan. First in the crosshairs is John McCain. ++ Read More More from The Loft Bobby Eberle: What Do You Think About Global Warming Now? Bobby Eberle: Grassroots Activism: Left-wing, Radical Style State News... Alaska News -- U.S. House may vote today on Akaka bill Illinois News -- Brady Gives Conservatives Chance to Make Our Stand Tennessee News -- Bredesen, other governors offer help on health-care compromise Virginia News -- VIRGINIA POLITICS BLOG: McDonnell hits the road to Washington again Washington News -- Dems favor raising state sales tax ++ Find news and information about your state Letters from the E-mail Bag... Re: Utah to Challenge Federal Land Ownership (Henry Lamb) This Utah development is one of the best pieces of news I've heard in awhile. What is at stake here is nothing less than the fundamental natural law right to private property. Utah's reassertion of its state sovereignty in managing the public lands within its own borders is a step in that direction regarding its relationship with the federal gov't. Go Utah! -- Sam Doucette, Acton, MA

Who are the advocates of the state taking over federal owned land in Utah? I suspect that somebody has an ulterior motive. Could it be that somebody sees an oportunity here to make a lot of money through capitalism -- known as plundering? -- Calhar, Rochester, MN

---

Life - LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report 2/20/10 #4832

reposted on Harrold's blog at http://harrolds.blogspot.com

From: LifeNews.com  Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 

For pro-life news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.

Current Headlines

• Obama Unveils Health Care Plan, Violates Pledge by Keeping Abortion Funding
• Analysis: Obama Plan Increases Abortion Funding Via Community Health Centers
• White House Joins Pelosi, Reid in Supporting Reconciliation on Health Care Bill
• Pro-Life Groups Blast Obama for Funding Abortions in His Health Care Plan
• Health Care Rationing for Seniors is Another Problem in New Obama Plan
• Latest 40 Days for Life Campaign Spares 45 Unborn Children From Abortions
• Trial Starts Tuesday for Michigan Man Accused of Killing Pro-Life Advocate
• University of Wisconsin Accused of Illegally Funding Students at Abortion Centers
• Idaho Senate Passes Bill to Protect Conscience Rights of Pro-Life Workers
• Mexico Poll Shows People Split on Abortion as 35K Abortions Done in Mexico City

Follow LifeNews.com on Twitter here. Become a fan of LifeNews.com on Facebook here.
Become a fan of LifeNews.com on MySpace here.

Obama Unveils Health Care Plan, Violates Pledge by Keeping Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has proposed changes he thinks should be included in the changes made to the Senate health care bill as Democrats move ahead with their plan to railroad the bill thorough Congress via reconciliation. However, Obama does not propose any changes to the massive abortion funding.

In fact, analysis from one pro-life organization finds Obama's plan actually increases the total potential abortion funding.

The current Senate bill contains massive abortion funding that could force taxpayers to fund hundreds of thousands of abortions and it has other pro-abortion problems. But the new Obama health care proposal, unveiled today in advance of the White House health care summit, leaves intact that Senate language funding abortions.

It opens the door for Rep. Bart Stupak, whose amendment stopped abortion funding in the House version of the bill that will be tossed aside, to gather a group of 10-12 pro-life Democrats who voted for the House bill to oppose the Senate version.

The Obama plan also violates his pledge to Congress and the American people that his version of health care reform would not force taxpayers to fund abortions.

In a September nationally-televised speech to Congress, Obama sought to clear up projections from pro-life advocates that his health care plan would fund abortions. "One more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions," Obama claimed. Full story at LifeNews.com

Analysis: Obama Plan Increases Abortion Funding Via Community Health Centers
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The initial analysis of the new health care plan President Barack Obama released finds it does nothing to stop the massive abortion funding under the Senate health care bill. Now, a leading pro-life group has released additional research showing the Obama plan actually increases abortion funding.

In the manager's amendment Senate Leader Harry Reid added to the Senate health care bill, HR 3590, a little noticed provision allowed $7 billion in funding for Community Health Centers buried deep in Section 10503 of the 383-page amendment.

Pro-life groups already condemned the provision because the money could be funneled to abortion businesses to pay for abortions and will not be subject to provisions like the Hyde Amendment that stops abortion funding.

Now, officials at the National Right to Life Committee say Obama "actually proposes to increase the funds that would be available to directly subsidize abortion procedures (through Community Health Centers)."

Douglas Johnson, the legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, explains that Obama's plan would also "subsidize private health insurance that covers abortion (through the premium-subsidy tax credits program)."

"If all of the President's changes were made, the resulting legislation would allow direct federal funding of abortion on demand through Community Health Centers, would institute federal subsidies for private health plans that cover abortion on demand (including some federally administered plans), and would authorize federal mandates that would require even non-subsidized private plans to cover elective abortion," he tells LifeNews.com today. Full story at LifeNews.com

White House Joins Pelosi, Reid in Supporting Reconciliation on Health Care Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration has joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid in pushing to use the controversial reconciliation tactic to railroad the pro-abortion Senate health care bill through Congress by refusing to allow opponents to filibuster the bill.

In the course of unveiling the changes President Barack Obama believes should be made to the Senate bill -- none of which stop the massive abortion funding in it -- White House officials announced support for reconciliation.

"The President expects and believes the American people deserve an up or down vote on health reform," White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said in a conference call with reporters. "This package is designed to provide us the flexibility to achieve that if the Republicans decide to filibuster."

Several news sources indicate Pfeiffer said that if Republicans continue to filibuster the health care bill, Obama and his pro-abortion Democratic allies will move forward with reconciliation.

He said Obama's proposal is designed to have "maximum flexibility to ensure that we can get an up or down vote if the opposition decides to take the extraordinary step of filibustering health reform."

The new Obama plan comes days before a scheduled White House health care summit, which Republicans and pro-life advocates are viewing as a publicity stunt designed to show an appearance of bipartisanship and to sell the pro-abortion health care bill to the media and the public. Full story at LifeNews.com

Pro-Life Groups Blast Obama for Funding Abortions in His Health Care Plan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Saying this was President Barack Obama's last chance to make good on his promise that his health care plan would not fund abortions, pro-life groups are blasting his new health care proposal.

They say Obama has confirmed what many in the pro-life movement have all suspected all along: funding abortions is more important to him than health care reform.

"In a last gasp to save his top domestic priority, President Obama is taking a new approach to health care: 'bipartisanship.' Yet his proposal released today missed the mark on the most significant area of bipartisan agreement: limiting public funds for abortion," Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com.

The pro-life women's group leader says Obama continues to ignore polling data showing a strong, bipartisan majority of Americans don't want abortion funding.

A recent Quinnipiac poll found 67% of Americans oppose the inclusion of taxpayer-funded abortion in health care reform legislation.

"Over seventy percent of Americans oppose funding abortion through health care reform legislation. And last fall, one quarter of the President's own party joined Republicans to support the consensus Stupak-Pitts Amendment to exclude abortion coverage in the House," Dannenfelser said. Full story at LifeNews.com

Health Care Rationing for Seniors is Another Problem in New Obama Plan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The new health care plan President Barack Obama released today contains massive abortion funding, but a top pro-life attorney who monitors bioethics issues says it presents other concerns. The changes Obama proposes to the Senate health care bill also promote rationing.

Burke Balch, an attorney who is the director of the Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics at the National Right to Life Committee, explained the problems to LifeNews.com.

"The Obama health care proposal issued this morning would take away from America's senior citizens their current right to add their own money on top of the government Medicare contribution to get health insurance less likely to deny treatment through tightly controlled managed care," Balch said.

"It would do so even as it cuts the government contribution to Medicare by hundreds of billions of dollars," he adds.

Under "Title III . . . Guaranteeing Benefits for Seniors by Ending Overpayments to Insurance Companies," Balch notes that the Obama proposal talks about Medicare Advantage plans -- the alternative that now allows older Americans, if they wish, to pay more to get insurance less likely to ration treatment. Full story at LifeNews.com

Latest 40 Days for Life Campaign Spares 45 Unborn Children From Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest 40 Days for Life pro-life prayer campaign is only six days along, but organizers say reports from local pro-life advocates show it has already saved the lives of 45 unborn children from abortions. The campaign has thousands of pro-life advocates helping women at abortion centers nationwide.

"Thus far during this 40 Days for life campaign, 45 lives have already been saved from abortion," national coordinator David Bereit told LifeNews.com.

He said the news was an excellent way for pro-life advocates to start their week.

Bereit pointed to examples of lives saved locally and noted that pro-life advocates in Louisville, Kentucky helped three women change their minds about abortion.

"One woman had been given a coupon for a free ultrasound at the pro-life pregnancy center across the street. She went inside the abortion facility -- but only stayed five minutes before leaving and going to the pro-life center, where she used that coupon," he said.

A pro-life advocate named Tammy indicated abortion center staffers "were so mad they came out and started yelling at us." Full story at LifeNews.com 

Trial Starts Tuesday for Michigan Man Accused of Killing Pro-Life Advocate
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The trial of Harlan Drake, the Michigan man who stands accused of killing pro-life advocate James Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a local high school, begins on Tuesday. Prosecutors say it may be difficult to get a fair jury to consider the case because local people knew both men involved.

Jury selection begins tomorrow, but in this small Michigan town everyone knows everyone else.

As a result, there may not be a way to get a fair-minded jury that either doesn't love or hate abortion and James Pouillon's frequent protests of it.

However, Judge Gerald Lostracco, according to an AP report, says he will not move the trial unless he becomes convinced a jury pool will not be impartial.

Drake, a 33-year-old truck driver, is charged with double homicide in the case that saw him kill a local businessman with whom he had a feud and then Pouillon, who he reportedly didn't like because he would sometimes use graphic pictures to oppose abortion.

In what has become an interesting twist to the case, the prosecution has asked to move the case to another county to find impartial jurors. Full story at LifeNews.com

University of Wisconsin Accused of Illegally Funding Students at Abortion Centers
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- A Wisconsin pro-life group says it has uncovered documents showing the University of Wisconsin may be illegally funding internships for medical students at abortion centers. State law prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to pay for election abortions or to abortion centers.

The Alliance Defense Fund pro-life legal group, in conjunction with Pro-Life Wisconsin, used an open records request to gather the information.

The documents reveal the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) has been funding medical students' rotations at Planned Parenthood, training medical students in abortion procedures.

Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, notes that state law prohibits taxpayer funding of elective abortions.

"The mountain of evidence continues to build showing UW's deceit," she said in a statement LifeNews.com received. "I challenge UW and UWHC officials to prove they have not violated state law." Full story at LifeNews.com

Idaho Senate Passes Bill to Protect Conscience Rights of Pro-Life Medical Workers
Boise, ID (LifeNews.com) -- An Idaho state Senate committee approved a bill today that would create statutory protections for health care professionals in specific areas of medical practice. The Senate State Affairs committee voted 6-3 to send SB 1353 to the Senate floor with a recommendation that the Senate pass it.

The legislation makes it so pro-life health care workers don't have to fear for their jobs if they decide they don't want to dispense drugs that could be used to cause abortions or kill patients at the end of their life.

David Ripley, the director of Idaho Chooses Life, talked more about the passage of the pro-life bill.

"Opposition to the bill came largely from the abortion lobby because of their fears that it will create impediments to easy distribution of so-called emergency contraception," he said. "Much of the morning debate was taken up with a debate of how the drug works."

"Oddly enough, the debate was settled by the closing testimony of retired abortionist Duane St. Clair, who acknowledged that emergency contraception can sometimes cause the destruction of an embryo by making the uterine wall inhospitable to the new human life," he added.

Idaho Right to Life and the Catholic Diocese of Boise supported the legislation along with ICL and Dr. Will Rainford, representing Bishop Driscoll, emphasized the spiritual gravity of forcing Christian medical personnel to participate in medical procedures they know to be wrong. Full story at LifeNews.com

Mexico Poll Shows People Split on Abortion as 35K Abortions Done in Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- new poll of residents of Mexico finds them split on abortion while a new report from the Mexico City government finds there have been 34,660 abortions done in the first two-and-a-half years since the nation's capital city legalized abortion.

Consulta Mitofsky conducted the survey, which asks a poorly-worded question about abortion -- which is allowed in Mexico City but prohibited in the rest of the country.

The survey found 48.8 percent of Mexicans "agree with allowing women to have an abortion if they so desire" while 45.3 percent disagree and 5.9 percent are unsure.

But the polling question didn't ask when Mexicans thought abortion should be allowed -- as most Mexicans are pro-life would likely oppose most abortions except those in rare circumstances.

Asked if "abortion should be considered a crime," 41.1 percent said yes while 45.7 percent of Mexicans said no. Another 13.2 percent were unsure. Full story at LifeNews.com

Encourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Daily Pro-Life News Report	Twice-Weekly Pro-Life News Report
Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.	Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.

Comments or questions? Email us at news@lifenews.com.
Copyright 2003-2010 LifeNews.com. All rights reserved.
For information on advertising or reprinting news from LifeNews.com, email us.

Constitution Society: Founding Documents	Online Books	History Links	Quotations: American Values
TimeLine of: the Magna Carta	Declaration of Arbroath	History of: The US Bill of Rights	Constitution + more Amendments

Life - We cannot end abortion without them! (PriestsforLife.org)

reposted on Harrold's blog at http://harrolds.blogspot.com

From: Fr. Frank Pavone Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Dear Friend of Life, This verse from Proverbs 14:12 perfectly describes our situation in America today: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." For almost forty years now, politicians have cowered before the abortion god and steered our nation down the path of death. And yet, in His mercy and wisdom, God has given our nation yet another chance to turn away from sin and return to His loving embrace. That opportunity is November 2, 2010! That's the day voters will either embrace the culture of death that is being imposed on all of us by the pro-abortion extremists who control the powers of government ... ... or they will reject their empty promises and elect men and women who will guide our nation according to the precepts laid out in the Gospel of Life! In either case, one thing is certain: Millions of individuals will make their voting decision -  including whether or not to even cast a ballot -  based upon what they hear from their priests and pastors between now and November 2! Never was their leadership more needed than it is right now! That's because, victory over abortion will only come through the Church! It is our duty as a nation to restore to our unborn brothers and sisters their unalienable RIGHT TO LIFE!!!  Period!!! It is for that reason that your task from now until those pivotal 2010 elections is to convince our fellow Americans that they MUST make their pro-life principles the deciding factor when they enter the voting booth on Tuesday, November 2!!! The first phase of our 2010 recruitment effort began the weekend of January 22 and 23 when we invited priests who were in Washington, D.C. for the "March for Life" and in San Francisco for the "Walk for Life" to take part in a special 45-minute "Teleseminar for Priests" that I led on Monday, January 25.  In spite of very short notice, many priests from every part of the country took part in this first "Teleseminar" and showed a high degree of enthusiasm when asked to help recruit more of their brother priests to join them as leaders in the fight to end abortion.  And that's just the beginning of what we have planned for the next few months. In fact, a second "Teleseminar for Priests" will take place on February 25. What's more, Priests for Life: Sends its monthly newsletter to over 45,000 priests all across the country. Produces pro-life liturgical resources and sends them to priests every week. Provides priests with comprehensive and up-to-date pro-life materials that they can use when preparing their homilies.  These can be read on our website -  www.priestsforlife.org - and ordered from our Resource Department. Included on the Priests for Life website is a special area that is just for priests.  This section includes:   17 actions priests can take to stop abortion 11 different instructions on how to preach the Gospel of Life. Over two dozen prayers priests can say each day ... as well as prayers they can lead their parishioners in saying. Examples of inserts for weekly parish bulletins. In addition to all that, Priests for Life is conducting an aggressive campaign to recruit priests to sign the "Statement of Catholic Priests and Deacons on Political Responsibility."  The statement is an affirmation of total support for the Church's teachings on all the life issues.  You can click here to read the full statement. Since our ultimate goal is to have every priest in the country sign the "Statement" we will leave no stone unturned as we work to get as many priests to sign it as we can. And once they do, Priests for Life will use the statement in a non-partisan way to alert various media outlets around the country that the Catholic priests of the United States share a common commitment to life. As word about the numbers of priests who have signed our "Statement" gets out, it will inspire more priests to sign the "Statement" themselves.  Additionally, it will let countless numbers of faithful priests know that they are not alone when it comes to accepting the totality of the Church's teachings on the life issues! That in turn will energize them and inspire them to preach the Gospel of Life with even greater passion and lead their people onto the battlefield where they will join us in our fight to end abortion! And as I told you a moment ago, never has our nation needed our priests more than it does now ... ... as well as all the new recruits they will lead into the battle. This November 2 will be a decisive day, not only for our nation, but for tens of millions of our unborn brothers and sisters.  So do whatever it takes to help Priests for Life defend their lives and lead America down the path that leads to LIFE! And if I may ask you one more favor.  Each year I survey our supporters to learn how we can serve their needs more effectively. After giving your donation, would you take a moment and fill out the short survey I've placed at www.priestsforlife.org/survey. It is very important to me to know what you're thinking about our ministry! Thank you. And know that just as I ask you to pray for our nation's priests, as well as for me and our hard-working Priests for Life staff, so we pray for you; especially at every Mass our priests offer.  May God bless you. Sincerely yours in Christ, , Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests For Life and Gospel of Life Ministries Click here and help finance Priests for Life?s all-out campaign to recruit priests, set their hearts on fire to preach the Gospel of Life, and train them to lead our pro-life movement! We are going to need every dollar you can send so that we can remind all Americans of their serious moral obligation to defend the youngest members of our human family.   The most important issue facing our nation this year is NOT the economy ... nor the "War on Terror" .. nor the environment.  So again please click here and be as generous as you possibly can. Nothing less than the survival of our nation is at stake! P.S.   Another reason I need you to click here and make a contribution to Priests for Life is because the date for our first "Freedom Ride" is fast approaching.  Even as you read this, necessary permits are being obtained.  Event dates and times are being solidified.  Downpayments and deposits are being made.  In addition, Priests for Life continues to carry out various elements of the "Action Steps for 2010 Elections" I sent you a few weeks ago.  All of this work is extremely expensive to fund.  So whatever help you can give today is greatly appreciated.  Thank you again. NOTE: If you prefer to send a check, please make it out to Priests for Life and send it to us at PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314. If you have any questions, call us toll-free at 888-735-3448 x232. Constitution Society: Founding Documents Online Books History Links Quotations: American Values TimeLine of: the Magna Carta Declaration of Arbroath History of: The US Bill of Rights Constitution + more Amendments

2nd Amendment - [sdrra] Gun Owners of America Political Victory Endorses J.D. Hayworth for Senate

From: jjcammarano To: sdrra@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010

Subject: [sdrra] Gun Owners of America Political Victory Endorses J.D. Hayworth for Senate

Folks,

From GOA. A short history of anti gun John McCain.
"Get the News to Protect Your Freedom" at www.gunnewsdaily.com
To join this alert list, send an email to sdrra-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Thank You!  Jim - San Diego Rifle and Revolver Association

From: Gun Owners of America
Date: Friday, February 19, 2010, 11:22:18 AM
Subject: GOA-PVF: Replace McCain With A Real Pro-gun Legislator!

Gun Owners of America Political Victory Endorses J.D. Hayworth for Congress -- John McCain Wrong for Arizona, Wrong for America
Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Pl, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
http://www.goapvf.org

February 19, 2010

John McCain has gone out of his way to earn the ire of conservatives and gun owners in his 20-plus years as a U.S. Senator from Arizona.

Perhaps his crowning legislative achievement was so-called campaign finance reform, or the McCain-Feingold law. This law put the muzzle on organizations such as GOA, prohibiting any broadcast advertisements within 30 days of a primary election and 60 days of a general election that even mention the name of a candidate for federal office.

Not surprisingly, there is frequently a flurry of activity in Congress in the months right before an election, as politicians try to ram bills through at the end of a session.   Forbidding criticism of sitting legislators during these crucial times (although media corporations were exempt) made McCain's bill the perfect "Incumbent Protection" act.

McCain's bill prohibited the most important form of speech the Founding Fathers meant to protect with the First Amendment -- political speech -- so it was welcome news when the Supreme Court recently repudiated much of the McCain bill as an assault on liberty.

But it should not come as a surprise that McCain does not want voters hear about what he's up to in Washington, because the same person who holds the First Amendment in contempt would also like to run the Second Amendment through a shredder.

John McCain may have begun as a pro-gun legislator, but when he decided to become a gun control "maverick," he went all out.

Since his conversion to a gun control advocate over the last ten years, McCain has favored a ban on small and inexpensive handguns and considered a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms (so-called assault weapons).

In what was his boldest move against American gun owners, however, McCain authored a bill to that could only  have been designed to close down gun shows. In addition to regulating all private sales at gun shows, his bill would have placed onerous licensing requirements on gun show promoters and would ssentially have registered the millions of people who attend gun shows. Under the burdens of the McCain bill, no promoter in  the country would put on a gun show and, if they did, gun owners would likely not attend.

Thanks to McCain, the inaccurate and misleading phrase "gun show loophole" became a part of the anti-Second Amendment crowd's lexicon. The truth is, there is no gun show loophole; firearms transactions are conducted the same inside a gun show as they are anyplace else.

In 2000, McCain became a spokesman for a gun control organization (now defunct) called Americans for Gun Safety, a group that advocated licensing and registering all gun owners. The group ran radio and TV ads with McCain supporting ballot initiatives in Colorado and Oregon that would impose McCain's favorite restrictions on gun shows.

These ads were a way for McCain to "stick it" to gun owners,  after a gun show bill stalled in the Congress. "I think that if the Congress won't act, the least I can do is support the initiative in states where it's on the ballot," McCain said in an interview.

In 2001, the group ran advertisements in movie theaters featuring McCain urging people to keep their guns locked up "for the sake of the children." In the ads, he greatly exaggerated the risks of children gaining access to firearms in the home, and at the same time completely ignored the danger of having guns locked away if they are needed to thwart a criminal attack.

After the 2001 terror attacks, when Gun Owners of America and tens of thousands of commercial airline pilots were pushing legislation to arm pilots as a defense against terrorism, McCain prepared an amendment that would have replaced "firearms" with "stun guns." GOA pointed out at the time how stun guns would not be effective against the type of attacks that could occur in a cockpit.

John McCain may pretend to be pro-gun (especially in election years) but he has plunged his dagger deep into the backs of gun rights supporters. He may fancy himself as a "maverick" in shining armor, riding to rescue the American people, but all the while he has trampled the Bill of Rights underfoot.

Thankfully, this year gun owners have a choice. Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who was "A" rated by Gun Owners of America in his twelve years in the House of Representatives, is challenging McCain in the 2010 Republican primary.

J.D. respects the Constitution and understands that the Second Amendment was put there by the Founding Fathers to always ensure that the people would have the means to preserve their liberty.

During his time in the Congress, J.D. Hayworth did not vote one way in election years and another way when in nonelection years. J.D. consistently supported the Second Amendment, and that is just the type of leadership gun owners in Arizona will vote for in November.

Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund is proud to endorse J.D. Hayworth for U.S. Senate and urges gun owners and sportsmen from across America to help defeat anti-gunner McCain.

Please visit J.D. on the web at http://www.jdforsen ate.com to make the most generous contribution possible. Working together, we can win this fight and gain a Second Amendment ally in the U.S. Senate.

Sincerely, Tim Macy, Vice Chairman

Paid for by Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund is a project of Gun Owners of America.

__._,_.___

---

privacy, values - Pope Says Body Scanners Defile Personal Integrity (NewsMax.com)

source, Newsmax: http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/pope-body-scanners-integrity/2010/02/22/id/350536?s=a

Pope Says Body Scanners Defile Personal Integrity
Monday, February 22, 2010 01:20 PM
By: Jim Meyers

Pope Benedict XVI has criticized the use of airport body scanners, saying that despite the threat of terrorism, “the primary asset to be safeguarded and treasured is the person, in his or her integrity.”

He told an audience from the aerospace industry at a weekend meeting at the Vatican: “Respecting these principles can seem particularly complex and difficult in the present context . . .

“The international terrorist threat has in its line of fire airports and aircraft to realize its destructive schemes.”

But he warned: “It is essential never to lose sight of respect for the primacy of the person.”

The Pontiff did not specifically mention body scanners, but “it was clear what he meant,” the Telegraph in Britain reported.

The use of scanners at airports has created controversy because the equipment makes people who pass through the scanners appear naked.

Scanners have been put into use at several British airports, and will be phased in at airports in Italy as well.

Airport officials assert that scanners would have prevented Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from boarding a plane in Britain with explosive material in his underwear on Christmas Day. But some critics say scanners are not entirely foolproof.

© Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Constitution Society: Founding Documents	Online Books	History Links	Quotations: American Values
TimeLine of: the Magna Carta	Declaration of Arbroath	History of: The US Bill of Rights	Constitution + more Amendments

2nd Amendment - Parks open to holders of concealed guns (Washington Times)

link source: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/61678

article source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/22/national-parks-will-open-gates-to-holders-of-conce/

Date:  Monday, February 22, 2010

Parks open to holders of concealed guns (Washington Times)

By Stephen Dinan

U.S. national parks will open Monday to holders of concealed firearms as a hard-fought law passed last year takes effect, but both sides expect more battles over exactly what the legislation means in practice.

The law - probably the biggest legislative achievement for conservatives in what was otherwise a year dominated by President Obama's agenda - says national parks will be governed by the same rules as the states in which they are located. That means about 370 of the country's 392 National Park Service properties will permit visitors to carry firearms.

But the Park Service says exceptions are in place and that another federal law requires guns to be kept out of federal facilities. That means firearms are still prohibited at any building where park employees regularly work, including office buildings, maintenance sheds and, most contentious of all, visitor centers.

"I think you're going to have people on both sides of the issue test this in what is or is not a federal facility," said David Barna, a spokesman for the National Park Service.

Gun rights advocates said they are pleased that weapons will no longer be off limits but that the Park Service should not poke exemptions into the law.

"That's ludicrous. You're going to tell someone if they have a concealed weapon permit they can't go into the visitor center to use the restroom?" said Rep. Rob Bishop, Utah Republican. "If they come up with restrictive exemptions, what they're asking for is a lawsuit to try and stop implementation of what Congress clearly told them to do."

The new rules, for example, prohibit concealed firearms on tours of the caves at Carlsbad Caverns, because it's a location where park employees regularly work.

The law was written by Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, and adopted as an amendment to a bill rewriting rules for the credit card industry. The law included a delayed enactment date of Feb. 22.

Under the rules, those permitted to carry a firearm by state law can now do so on park property.

"Prior to this, there would be a patchwork of laws that governed different lands governed by different federal agencies. What this does, it provides uniformity within a state," said Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association.

Advocates of gun control were dismayed that House Democrats accepted the language and that Mr. Obama signed the bill. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave Mr. Obama an "F" for his first year in office.

"In just one year, Barack Obama has signed into law more repeals of federal gun policies than in President George W. Bush's eight years in office," the Brady Center said in its one-year report, which also noted rules that restored Amtrak passengers' ability to carry firearms in checked luggage.

Mr. Bishop said the success of the park rules shows that even under a Democrat-controlled Congress, Second Amendment rights remain powerful.

"If I were to list anything positive that's come out of Congress in the last year, year and a half, this is it. And anything that restricts Second Amendment rights are going nowhere in Congress," he said.

Mr. Barna, the Park Service spokesman, said his agency doesn't expect any problems from the new law.

He said city gun laws still prohibit firearms on the National Mall and other park properties in Washington, D.C., but not at places like the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia.

However, he said, Virginia law prohibits firearms at sites that are holding educational programs for children, such as at Wolftrap during children's theater events. Hotels, bookstores and other concessions in parks not operated by Park Service employees will follow local rules.

Mr. Barna said gun owners, particularly those who carry their firearms, tend to be knowledgeable about state and local laws.

He said parks are updating their Web pages to explain what is or isn't allowed, and will post signs at the buildings that are still off limits to firearms.

As of Sunday, the George Washington Memorial Parkway's Web site had a page that said firearms could be legally possessed in the park in accordance with state law, then listed links to the D.C., Virginia and Maryland legal codes, though users had to hunt for the portions that dealt with firearms.

Mr. Barna said that firing a gun likely would incur a penalty in most parks.

By carving out so many exceptions, he said, the Park Service is creating a problem that doesn't exist with other federal land agencies.

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service have allowed state laws to govern firearms on their property. Mr. Bishop said that policy is less complex than what the Park Service is imposing.

"The Park Service could treat Americans as Americans and respect the Constitution if they wanted to. I wish they wanted to," he said.

Click here for reprint permissions! 
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC 

Constitution Society: Founding Documents	Online Books	History Links	Quotations: American Values
TimeLine of: the Magna Carta	Declaration of Arbroath	History of: The US Bill of Rights	Constitution + more Amendments