Stop Abortion Mandate Webcast

I listened to the Stop Abortion Mandate Webcast, 23 July for almost 2 hours. It was encouraging and discouraging at the same time. I took notes during the webcast, and have included highlights from the speakers. (The emphasized portions are my emphasis.) More information on this vital work can be found at: www.stopabortionmandate.com

I was a couple of minutes late getting on, due to difficulty logging in at the same time as almost 35,000 other concerned Americans. I got in just in time to hear someone explain that the current Health Care Bill could be called the "Planned Parenthood Bailout Bill", and then to point out that "Every American should be concerned…if not outraged…" If this bill passes in anything even resembling the current legislation, taxpayer dollars will be used to fund abortions while other services are being cut…Planned Parenthood is already included in the Senate version of HC bill…

One speaker pointed out that "There is no denying there are problems in the Health Care delivery system…but government takeover is not the answer."

"Phone calls ARE having an effect…Keep the calls, cards, letters coming."

MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List:

There must be an abortion exclusion in the Bill – or Abortion will be included (and will be funded!) Americans have been continually asked to fund "abortion on demand"

1.    Politically appointed bureaucrats have always filled in the blanks (like Obama's "Health Advisory Committee"), 2008 Candidate Obama made it clear that benefits should include abortions…

2.    4,000 unborn die daily… Why is Obama pushing for increased funding of abortions when more than 70% of Americans oppose. Answer: "He is a true believer"…He equates abortions to having a tonsillectomy…

    DR. JAMES DOBSON, Focus on the Family:

"You've been hearing a lot about Health Care Reform lately…but not hearing about taxpayer funded abortions included in the bill." The Health Care Bill will force taxpayers to pay for abortions…Almost every American will be forced into a plan that pays for abortions…How dare the Congress and the President try to force this legislation on people of conscience?...Many of our elected officials and our President are anxious to make it happen…Call your senators and representatives as soon as possible…Please join me praying that God will intervene…and will have mercy on our Nation and on our pre-born babies."

    DOUGLAS JOHNSON, National Right to Life Committee:

"The pro-abortion forces have been working towards this day for years…This bill would be a platform to extend abortion to all women…Some advocates complain that there are not enough abortions…At least 1 million Americans are alive because of the Hyde amendment…Congress is pushing that every healthcare plan must include 'essential care'…which will include abortions…Do not depend on the Mainstream Media for information…Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio was allowed to misrepresent the content of the bill and our opposition to it…"

    FR. FRANK PAVONE, Priests for Life:

"If abortion is not specifically excluded in the Health Care bill…this will be the largest expansion of abortion since Roe vs. Wade…How? The fact of the matter is that the Supreme Court has significantly weakened Roe since then, as have some state legislations…One of the goals with this bill is to increase the ease with which abortions are performed and funded…Almost 2/3 of abortion mills have been closed since their height…Abortion being considered an essential health benefit will be funded in a way never been before…AND this will take away rights of providers not to perform them…The Abortion industry is hopeful that Health Care Reform will…this is their last ditch effort…

WENDY WRIGHT, Concerned Women for America:

"…the deceptive language that is already in this bill…we need to be wise as serpents when dealing with the Obama administration…It is NOT their goal to reduce abortions…Obama: 'Let's not get distracted by the abortion debate'…400 activists at the summit…Obama is committed to ensuring the abortion mandate is in the Health Care bill."

The word abortion is not in the bill, but that doesn't mean the bill won't increase funding for them…It is Legislation with deceptive language…It would hand over power to define and decide what will be covered…Who will decide?...Bill proposed this week claims to reduce abortions, will actually increase abortions…One main reason to oppose this bill: It will empower bureaucrats to decide who will get what treatment – who will live and who will die

    TOM MINNERY, Focus on the Family:

"Just after Obama was elected, Planned Parenthood and other groups gave him a wish list of what they want…They will reap the benefits of our tax dollars…Candidate Obama claimed he 'wanted to make abortion very rare'…but whatever is subsidized will expand…So this will cause more abortions…Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana proposed an amendment to ensure that Planned Parenthood shouldn't receive ANY federal money because of this bill. (The amendment failed on Friday, July 24)...34% of Planned Parenthood's income last year was from the government…

    KRISTEN DAY, Democrats for Life:

"This bill must include language which prevents money from going to fund abortions…There are at least 39 Democrats in the House who plan to vote against if bill includes abortion funding…"

CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH, U.S. House of Representatives (from NJ):

"Some in Congress are trying to cobble together a phony compromise about abortion…Don't believe that Obama wants to reduce abortions…Please, Mr. President, give me a break…Pro-life amendment would bar funding for abortions…so far has lost in every committee vote…We will persist in spite of those losses…Both Pro-life amendments are straightforward…Passing airtight language is paramount…The potential for deceit is high, and we must guard against it…This is the big one!...Not since Roe v Wade have our children and our Moms been more at risk!"

Another speaker (I missed the name):

"The goal of the pro-choice movement is to include abortion in this bill…This is the big one!...We've got to do ALL the things mentioned in the handout…We need to confront our Congressmen and Senators during recess…Write a hand-written letter to each of them – put on it "hand-delivered"—and then take to their district offices…NO ABORTION in health care or health insurance funded by our money…"

KRISTAN HAWKINS, Students for Life of America:

"How would these bills ration care…This bill rations care, especially for those with special needs…Obama said in May 'the chronically ill, and those towards the end of their lives are counting for 80% of our health care bills…' Health care will be rationed for people like my son because he is less valued…A nationalized health care system will mean the difference between life and death…shows us the culture of death we have arrived at…Please join us in calling and visiting Congressional members…demanding that Health Care Reform not use federal dollars to…We must speak for those among us who cannot speak for themselves…"

    CONGRESSMAN JOE PITTS, U.S. House of Representatives (Pennsylvania):

"Will force us to subsidize abortions with taxpayer dollars…the biggest fight for life in decades…Two amendments have been proposed to Energy and Commerce (already turned down in 2 committees) – last chance to amend the bill before it hits the House floor…20 Democrats have sent a letter to Pelosi saying they will NOT support the bill unless it excludes Abortion!...we must speak out before it is too late…Abortion is NOT health care…Health Care is about saving life…Want to see an explicit exclusion of Abortion in any health care plan."

PEGGY HARTSHORN, Heartbeat International:

"The research arm of Planned Parenthood says abortions will increase by 30% if funded by government….Pro-life medical folks may have to stop practicing medicine because of the requirements to do or recommend abortions…Fear for women, and men, and babies…Abortion mandate is an assault on human dignity…"

MELINDA DELAHOYDE, Care Net:

"America is becoming more pro-life…Mandated coverage by Medicare would result in at least 30% increase in abortions, probably more…We want to reach abortion-vulnerable and abortion-minded women…If abortions are provided free of charge…what will that do this most at risk population…The lack of protection for right of conscience…When we lose those state laws, and we will lose them under this bill, we will lose a window of opportunity…"

JIM SEDLAK, American Life League / STOPP:

"Planned Parenthood is in a fight for their survival…Operators of largest abortion chain in the nation…They will be on the sidelines if they don't get abortion in this bill…Last Thursday they had a tremendous force meeting in D.C….did get themselves written into the Senate version…Another bill making its way through Congress this week…opportunity to let our representatives know that Planned Parenthood is NOT Wanted!...No money in this bill to be used by PP for any purpose….Up or down vote tomorrow on the House floor…Contact members of House tonight and tomorrow…want them to support Pence amendment (part of Health & Services)…take all $ away from PP (The Pence amendment failed the next day.)

We have to ACT!

DAY GARDNER, National Black Pro-Life Union

"…It is especially important to the black community…1939 "The Negro Project" – "get rid of black people" through abortion and sterilization…Killing centers are still purposely placed in minority areas…Abortion is the number one killer of black people in America!...Why do our taxpayer dollars go to support this racist organization?..."

CARMEN PATE, Point of View Radio Show

Bishop Jackson:

"Abortions will continue to soar…if action is not taken…Hope must be kept alive…Keep hope alive!"