Is it just me, or is there just a sliver of real hope that this may mean that the Obama administration will not be as zealous pro-abortion as they had sold themselves during the primaries?

Even if it's just one pro-life leak in the White House, God bless 'em.
A Random Friar | 12.24.08 - 9:13 pm | #

I am beginning to suspect that you are right. Obama's FOCA promise may turn out to merely be one of his dozens of campaign lies. Let us hope!
Lawrence King | Homepage | 12.25.08 - 5:16 pm | #

At least not 'til the second term, Friar. But here's hoping.

We can keep praying for them, anyway.
Sue Murphy | Homepage | 12.26.08 - 12:02 am | #

For info, here is the transition team web page (at change.gov) with a posting of the Planned Parenthood wish list:

http://change.gov/ open_governmen..._administration

A few comments from me:

No need to speculate about what goals the abortion lobby has for the incoming administration. The document includes an agenda far more expansive than Federal funding priorities. Any politician considering support for any part of the agenda may be surprised about what else they will be expected to support. Passage of FOCA, repeal of the Hyde amendment and reassessment of Food and Drug Administration regulations are part of the agenda.

I am referring to this as the Planned Parenthood wish list, but Planned Parenthood Federation of America seems to be one signatory among many. I cannot tell from the document who the lead author is.

The appendix includes a useful list of vacancies on Federal district and circuit courts. The abortion lobby is demanding that these vacancies be filled with supporters of their agenda. Oh, the candidates should possess “honesty, integrity, character, temperament, and intellect, [and] demonstrate a commitment to justice,” too.

I was not able to independently verify that wish list adds up to $4.6 billion. Some parts of their agenda, such as “Restore Incentives to Provide Affordable Birth Control at College Health Centers and Certain Safety Net Providers” do not seem to carry a price tag. Other parts of the agenda claim to be “increases” of current spending levels, and I am not certain what funding level is considered baseline. Also, the wish list includes defunding abstinence-only programs which they would insist is a savings, if our arguments are too focused on the price tag and not on the agenda.

The transition team web page allows comments to be posted – over 2500 so far.
Matthew in Fairfax | 12.26.08 - 11:12 am | #