Fighting For Life
Last night I was honored to attend Susan B. Anthony List's annual gala. I had the privilege of delivering some brief remarks about the importance of the sanctity of life and introducing the evening's keynote speaker, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Governor Huckabee delivered an impassioned speech on the importance of restoring the right to life in America.
My good friend Bill Kristol did a yeoman's job of emceeing last night's event. Awards were given to some exceptional leaders who have fought the good fight for the sanctity of life.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was recognized with the "Distinguished Leader Award." Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) received the "Marilyn Musgrave Defender of Life Award." Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) were commended for their efforts in the House and the Senate to pass a ban on late-term abortions performed after 20 weeks.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who presented the Young Leaders Award, moved the audience with her own commitment to the sanctity of life. She told the audience that she has a son who simply has an extra chromosome, otherwise known as Down syndrome. She said that her son reminds her daily of the importance of the sanctity of life and that in God's eyes, we are all developmentally challenged.
Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) is one of our best allies in the battle to restore constitutional protections to innocent unborn children. Led by my long-time friend Marjorie Dannenfelser, SBA List focuses on one issue -- the sanctity of life -- and it does an outstanding job.
America is confronting many challenges. But our unalienable right to life, promised to us in the Declaration of Independence, must remain paramount. As Governor Huckabee said last night, "I did not become pro-life because I got into politics. I got into politics because as a pro-life person, I believe if we get this issue wrong we will get all the other issues wrong."
The World Shrugs
As the Obama Administration continues to pressure Israel into making concessions for peace with its Palestinian neighbors, scores of rockets rained down on Israeli citizens yesterday. The Iranian-backed terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad proudly claimed responsibility. This massive attack barely made the news, and the reaction from world leaders amounted to little more than a shrug.
During a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned British Prime Minister David Cameron that London could be next. Netanyahu said that if Iran is allowed to continue to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile technology, London or Washington, D.C., "will be within reach."
Netanyahu is right. The radical mullahs who control the Islamic republic are a threat to not just Israel, but to every freedom-loving, democratic nation in the world.
House Demands Obama Enforce The Law
The House of Representatives passed a rather surprising bill yesterday. It demanded that President Obama do his job -- enforce the law. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) and was a response to the Obama Administration's repeated unilateral actions either rewriting existing laws or refusing to enforce them.
For example, this administration refused to defend federal laws that defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It refused to enforce certain immigration laws. It has repeatedly changed or delayed Obamacare without congressional authorization. President Obama even tried to make recess appointments when the Senate was not in recess.
As we have reported, Republicans have on occasion turned to the courts and have had some success against these abuses of power. But the process is painfully slow. An issue can be rendered moot before the courts act. Gowdy's legislation would expedite such congressional challenges.
It's not just conservatives in the House of Representatives who have issues with Obama's overreach. Left-wing law professor Jonathan Turley recently testified before Congress that Obama's abuse of executive power has brought the country to a "constitutional tipping point." Last week he published an op-ed warning against Obama's "power grab."
Not surprisingly, Obama threatened to veto Rep. Gowdy's bill. After all, he likes doing whatever he wants.