Where Do the Candidates Stand on Life John McCain

NEWS Information you won’t see anywhere else. August 2008 Adapted from http://nrlc.org/Election2008/comparisonpiece.pdf Where Do the Candidates Stand on Life? John McCain Barack Obama Roe v. Wade *Note: The “Freedom of Choice Act” is a bill that would invalidate virtually all state and federal limitations on abortion, including partial-birth abortion. OPPOSES Voted to oppose Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that allows abortion for any reason. “...We would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states....I don’t believe the...Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade.” SUPPORTS Voted for the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. “Today’s Supreme Court ruling [in Gonzales v. Carhart**] is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life.” SUPPORTS Co-sponsor of the “Freedom of Choice Act.”* “I have consistently advocated for reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President.” Partial-Birth Abortion Ban **Note: Gonzales v. Carhart is the April 2007 Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. OPPOSES “I am extremely concerned that [Gonzales v. Carhart**] will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman’s right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade.” SUPPORTS Voted against legislation in the Illinois State Senate that prohibited taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortion. His campaign has stated that he “does not support” the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion through the Medicaid program. OPPOSED Voted to block a bill that would have required an abortionist to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state. OPPOSED Voted three times against a bill in the Illinois State Senate that would have provided protection for babies who survive abortions equal to protection received by babies who are spontaneously born prematurely. SUPPORTS Voted in favor of funding embryonic stem cell research. “Embryonic stem cells can be obtained from a number of sources including in vitro fertilization. ...We should expand and accelerate research using these embryos...” SUPPORTS Co-sponsored a bill (S. 1520) in 2005 that would allow the cloning of human embryos to be used in research, but prohibit placing them in wombs. Taxpayer Funding of Abortion OPPOSES Voted in favor of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion through the Medicaid program. Voted consistently against federal funding of abortion. Parental Notification Law SUPPORTED Voted to support a bill that would have required an abortionist to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state. Protecting Abortion Survivors SUPPORTED Voted for legislation that provides protection for babies who survive abortions equal to protection received by babies who are spontaneously born prematurely. Embryonic Stem Cell Research SUPPORTS Voted in favor of funding embryonic stem cell research. “I believe that skin stem cell research has every potential very soon of making that discussion [embryonic stem cell research] academic.” Human Cloning OPPOSES His campaign website states that he “opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes.” Texas Right to Life’s Maternal Assistance Program Expands to the World Wide Web Due to the increased number of calls from pregnant women seeking assistance from Texas Right to Life, we have devised a new way for you to help us continue meeting the needs of these precious women. Texas Right to Life is hosting an online baby shower so that friends and supporters can shower us with items to pass on to these mothers. We have registered at Target stores and on Target.com in hopes of receiving many of the supplies most requested by new moms and moms-to-be. We are hoping that through this effort we will be able to help more women and children through our maternal assistance program. Our baby registry can be found at Target.com under “Gift Registries” using the first name “Texas Right” and the last name “Life” or by searching with our registry number, which is 014399700050148. Houstonians who own clean, gently used items similar to those on the list, such as cribs, strollers, car seats, and baby clothes are encouraged to donate these goods to Texas Right to Life. For more information on the internet baby shower, please contact Natalie Aquila, who coordinates the Maternal Assistance Program for Texas Right to Life. Natalie can be reached at the state headquarters 713.782.LIFE or at NAquila@TexasRightToLife.com. 11th Annual Professor Mike S. Adams, Keynote Texas Right to Life is thrilled to announce that Professor Mike S. Adams will be the keynote speaker at our eleventh annual Celebration of Life on Friday evening, September 12th. Our special guest Master of Ceremonies will be Mark Larson, host of The Mark Larson Show that airs in San Diego, California. Dr. Adams was a liberal and an atheist when he earned his doctorate in 1993. He then began teaching criminal justice at the University of North Carolina—Wilmington; in only a few short years, he became a conservative. After his involvement in a well-publicized free speech controversy in the wake of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks, Dr. Adams appeared on “Hannity and Colmes,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” and “Scarborough Country.” He was then asked to write a column for Townhall.com. Today he enjoys the privilege of expressing himself both as a teacher and a writer. He is also an avid hunter and reader of classic literature. He published his first book, Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel, in 2004. His second book, Feminists Say Dr. Mike Adams the Darnedest Things, was published this year. Dr. Adams website is DrAdams.org. The Mark Larson Show (www.MarkLarson.com) is heard throughout Southern California on weekdays from 5:00 to 9:00 am and is available online at SanDiego1700.com. Known for traveling the world to gain insight on important stories, Mark has covered the Iraq war on location in the Middle East, smuggled Bibles to the underground church in Southeast Asia, and done ground-breaking broadcasts from war zones including the Persian Gulf region and Afghanistan. Mark has also visited Russia and made several trips to China, including Tibet. His continuing on-site broadcasts in the USA and around the globe give him a unique perspective on current events. Celebration of Life Friday, September 12th 2008 COL Honoree Our honorees this year will be the family of Sabrina Martin. Sabrina’s mother, Beatrice Lopez, and stepfather, Darrin Murray, fought to protect the life of their precious fourteen year old daughter who survived a nightmare in a Houston hospital. This once vibrant and active student entered the hospital with excruciating headaches thought to be caused by a sinus infection that leaked into her brain. Weeks later, Sabrina was paralyzed and unconscious, and doctors were pressuring the family to withdraw treatment and let go. However, Darrin and Beatrice endured an emotional and tumultuous battle, and they now care for Sabrina at home. Read the full story in Houston Press. Mark Larson The eleventh annual Celebration of Life will again be the most uplifting Pro-Life event of the year with the accompanying Silent Auction featuring over 100 items. The event will be held at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston. The auction and reception will start at 6:00 pm, and dinner will begin at 7:30 pm. These and many other items will be featured in the Silent Auction at Texas Right to Life’s 11th Annual Celebration of Life. This Texas State Flag has flown over the State Capitol Building and is now encased in walnut and glass. This set was donated by Texas State Senator John Carona. Frank and Sally DiStefano donated this United States $20 Gold Coin. The coin was minted in 1904 and contains one ounce of gold along with other metals. The piece is presently valued at $1200. Silent Auction Donors* Alamo Heights Massage Alvin Gee Photography Honorable John Carona Carrabba’s Cenacle Retreat House Charles Neubecker Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Dr Pepper Star Center Polar Ice Grapevine Eden Studio/Lisa Jane Ensemble Theatre Epoch Fitness Honorable Craig Estes Fort Worth Zoo Friends of Texas Right to Life Gabriel Tran Photography Grand 1894 Opera House Honorable Chris Harris Houston Ballet Houston Grand Opera Houston Symphony Ice Skate USA Memorial City Mall Honorable Mike Jackson James Coney Island Corporate Offices Jimmie’s Reweaving Kim and Tom Allum Kube’s Jewelers Laurenzo’s El Tiempo Cantina Mark’s American Cuisine Movieposters.com The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Paramount Theatre RaeMark Press Ragin’ Cajun Sacco Company Sally and Frank DiStefano Sam Houston Race Park Speed Zone SplashTown, Houston Taste of Texas Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen Honorable Tommy Williams Zee Klein RSVP for the 11th Annual Celebration of Life Name: Email: Phone: Fax: ( ) ( ) Address: City, State, Zip: ❑ My gift payable to Texas Right to Life* is enclosed. ❑ Please bill my credit card: ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express ❑ Discover Account Number: Expiration Date: Signature: ❑ Benefactor $5,000 8 4 Tickets to VIP Reception with keynote speaker 8 VIP Dinner Seating for Table of 10 8 VIP Recognition in Event Program ❑ Patron $3,500 8 2 Tickets to VIP Reception with keynote speaker 8 Preferred Dinner Seating for Table of 10 8 VIP Recognition in Program ❑ Host $2,500 8 Priority Dinner Seating for Table of 10 8 Recognition in Event Program Table Sponsorship Couple Sponsorship ❑ Patron Couple $1,200 8 2 Tickets to VIP Reception with keynote speaker 8 Preferred Dinner Seating for 2 at a VIP Table ❑ Host Couple $700 8 Priority Dinner Seating for 2 General Seating * Gifts payable to the Texas Right to Life Educational Fund (501(c)3) are tax-deductible. Gifts received with no specification will be credited to the Texas Right to Life Committee (501(c)4) and are not tax-deductible. ❑ $300 Per Couple ❑ $175 Individual Ticket Page 2 ✃ *partial list at time of printing Pro-Life Champion Dies The Lone Star state’s sky is darker due to one less shining star. On June 25, 2008, Honorable Buddy West yielded to frailty and passed away under hospice care due to kidney failure. The life-long Texan served in the House of Representatives for the past eight Honorable George E. “Buddy” West sessions. (October 9, 1936 – June 25, 2008) extracurricular activities, coached little league baseball, and led the Boy Scouts. Buddy read avidly, studying American and Texas history. Prior to embarking on his political endeavors, Buddy spent thirty years working for Amoco as a safety engineer. After retiring, West was elected to the Texas House in 1992 where he represented District 81, which encompasses Ector, Andrews, and Winkler Counties of west Texas. He was considered one of the kindest, gentlest men who always stood steadfast for his principles, which he openly and proudly attributed to his deep faith in God. His dedication to the welfare of young people did not end with education; he was also a staunch supporter of the Pro-Life movement. Representative West defended innocent human life at every given opportunity, earning him one of the top Pro-Life voting records in the State House. He walked the walk in his own life, too. When a young family member struggled with an unplanned pregnancy, he encouraged her to choose life. Buddy and Shirley shared with their young granddaughter that she was carrying their great grandchild and would be at her side every step of the pregnancy and afterwards. Baby Rylee West was born shortly thereafter. West served as the longest consecutive Odessa State Representative, spending almost sixteen years in the Capitol. The funeral service was held on June 27, 2008, at First Baptist Church in Odessa. Buddy was laid to rest in Austin on June 29, 2008 at the State Cemetery. Buddy will be deeply missed. R.I.P. As a child, Buddy moved from Ballinger to Odessa, Texas, where he both began and ended his political career. Buddy met and married his wife, Shirley, in Odessa, and they raised their three children in the very community that he later represented in the State House. Buddy and Shirley were married for fifty-two years. To see Buddy and Shirley together was to see marriage in its richest form. Buddy was a family man, stealing every free moment to be with his grandchildren. He attended and actively supported all their The West Family Jesus Sanchez Masias’ Plight Earlier this year, Jesus Sanchez Masias collapsed after suffering a heart attack during a soccer game in Fort Worth. The legal Peruvian immigrant was rushed to the hospital and lapsed into unconsciousness; Jesus received medical treatment for awhile. Yet the facility jeopardized Jesus’ life by its futilitarian quality of life judgment. In May, the ethics committee at the facility treating Jesus invoked the Texas Futile Care Law and served notice that all medical treatment, including food and water, would be removed in ten days—even against Jesus’ and his family’s wishes. The family called Jerri Ward, recipient of Texas Right to Life’s 2006 Pro-Life Attorney of the Year Award, who contacted us and the Peruvian Consulate based in Dallas. Texas Right to Life and the Peruvian Consulate connected with Fort Worth nurse Stephanie Klick and attorney Bill Collins who negotiated with the facility treating Jesus to secure continued treatment until Jesus could be transferred elsewhere. In Peru, Jesus’ wife, Margarita Alvarado, implored the authorities to intervene for them. From Dallas, Peruvian Consulate General Luis Sandiga Cabrera sounded a nationwide alert across Peru. Jesus’ plight (and the injustice of the Texas law) blanketed the Peruvian media, and the National Neurological Science Institute (Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas) in Lima offered to treat Jesus if he could be transported to their hospital. In addition to various Catholic and Protestant organizations in Peru that responded to the alert, Peruvian citizens donated thousands of dollars to help pay for Jesus’ transfer. Jesus was stabilized and prepared for transfer. On June 20th, five weeks after Jesus was slated for removal of medical treatment, he was flown by medical transport to Peru where his relatives there could be more involved in his care and recovery. Reports from Peru note that Jesus has improved since his arrival and is now breathing unassisted—an important accomplishment voiced as impossible by the doctors at the Fort Worth facility. Due to the quick and determined response of the Honorable Luis Sandiga Cabrera, the legal aptitude of Bill Collins, and the medical consulting of Stephanie Klick, Jesus and his family were spared the pressure of the deadly tenday clock. More importantly, Jesus did not die at the hands of the futilitarians, and the life of this disabled Peruvian-American was protected—but not until he left the land of the free. Page 3 Eight College Students Awarded “Generation Now” Pro-Life Scholarships Texas Right to Life planned to award only four scholarships to qualified college leaders; however, after thorough review of each applicant, a decision was made to double the number of recipients! This new program is specifically designed for ProLife campus activist leaders who will be classified as freshmen or sophomores in the fall semester at a four-year accredited college or university in Texas. Recipients of the scholarship met for a week of training in July at the state headquarters of Texas Right to Life in Houston. The intensive training equipped them with all the necessary tools to overcome any obstacle to their Pro-Life mission on campus. By accepting the scholarship, each student promised his or her bold commitment to advance the Culture of Life through spearheading outreach to peers on campus. These impressive young adults were not motivated by the money; rather, they welcomed an occasion to further protect innocent human life. Tim Ashby Sophomore, Texas State University Adrianna Borrego Freshman, St. Mary’s University Eva Dedow Freshman, University of Mary HardinBaylor William Gibula Sophomore, University of Dallas Viana Hammon Freshman, Lamar University Alyse Lasley Sophomore, Texas Christian University Michael Miller Sophomore, Texas A&M honor is not to life today’s “Abortion should never gain theour “My main priority is to bring more in “Sadly, in termed society [abortion]the “It worthup to usand decide whose The of becoming a ‘normal’ part of informed awareness about the issues is living, whose is not. is rather a private right of lives… order to bring about better decision making on the part of mothers and voters alike. mother. This is in no way a just way of deciding the matter, as no one is able to speak for the rights of the unborn child—other than Pro-Lifers. mindset should never be accepted in a civilized nation. Memorials and Honorary Gifts In Memory/In Honor of Molleyo Murphy Don H. Willmon Flora Duran and Dolores Duran Marquez Given By Rick Barrett Diane Willmon Magdalena Duran Occasion Memorial Memorial Memorial Texas Right to Life Educational Trust Fund Memorial and Honor Tribute Please mail your contribution and this completed form to us. Texas Right to Life 6776 Southwest Freeway, Suite 430 Houston, TX 77074 Enclosed is our gift of $___________. Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ In Memory of: ______________________________________________________________________________________ In Honor of: ________________________________________________________________________________________ For (occasion): ______________________________________________________________________________________ Please notify (name): __________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for your gift. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Donated by: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Because the Texas Right to Life Committee lobbies to protect the lives of unborn babies, contributions to the Committee are not deductible for income tax purposes. However, contributions to the Texas Right to Life Educational Trust Fund are tax-deductible. Texas Right to Life • 6776 Southwest Freeway, Suite 430 • Houston, TX 77074 • Tel: 713.782.LIFE • Fax: 713.952.2041 • TexasRightToLife.com ✃ “ “ and discussed very openly because my brother, my mom, my grandfather, and I were all adopted. and its effects along with alternatives to abortion. leads to other moral evils. “ “ want the issues have been ingrained “Pro-Lifeever since was a little boy “Iknow ALLpeople around me to the facts about abortion into me is teaching our society that will fight for the “Abortion important or sacred which “Ithe unbornfervently to makerights of life is not and try people stop and think about abortion seriously and its effects on women, on the children, and our society as a whole. “ “ “ Joseph Strack Freshman, Houston Baptist University “