Dateline Sacramento (10/8/2009)
Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
October 8, 2009
Encouraging News - Attitudes are Changing!
New Poll Finds Declining Support for Abortion
A new national survey, by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, finds that a dwindling number of Americans express support for abortion. In Pew Research Center polls in 2007 and 2008, supporters of legal abortion clearly outnumbered opponents. Now, Americans are evenly split on the question, and there have been modest increases in the numbers who favor reducing abortions or making them more difficult to obtain.
The new poll, conducted from Aug. 11-27, reveals less support for abortion among most demographic and political groups. The survey also finds that the abortion debate has decreased in importance, especially among liberals. At the same time, opposition to abortion has grown more solid among conservatives. The timing of this shift in attitudes on abortion suggests it could be connected to President Barack Obama’s election.
The decline in support for legal abortion first appeared in polls in the spring of 2009. Overall, roughly three-in-ten (29%) think Obama will handle the abortion issue “about right” as president. One-in-five Americans (19%) worry that Obama will go too far in supporting abortion rights, while very few (4%) express the opposite concern, that Obama will not go far enough to support abortion rights. Concern about Obama's handling of abortion is especially evident on the right; fully half of conservative Republicans (52%) worry that Obama will go too far in supporting abortion rights. However, nearly one-in-five political independents (18%) also worry that Obama will go too far in support of abortion rights.
Here are some interesting findings from the report:
· One of the largest declines in support for legal abortion has occurred among white, non-Hispanic Catholics who attend Mass at least weekly. Substantial change has also occurred among Democratic men (with support for legal abortion down nine points) but not among Democratic women.
· Even as the public expresses support for finding a middle ground on abortion, most Americans are quite certain that their own position on abortion is the right one, with only 25% saying they ever wonder about their views on the issue.
· Many people on both sides of the abortion question say that the opposite point of view on abortion is not a “respectable” opinion for someone to hold.
· Overall, roughly three-in-ten Americans think that President Obama will handle the abortion issue about right, while four-in-ten are unaware of his position on the issue. About two-in-ten worry that Obama will go too far in supporting abortion rights.
“This latest poll is another in a series of polls that indicate Americans’ attitudes are changing when it comes to saving innocent, pre-born children and protecting their mothers from the effects of abortion,” stated Ron Prentice, Chief Executive Officer of California Family Council. “More and more people are coming to understand that abortion is a ‘life or death’ decision about a child. Practically speaking, an ultrasound does not lie. Pre-born babies are human beings, even at the earliest stages of a pregnancy, and they deserve the right to life, even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
CFC is encouraged by this latest poll. Please check our website often for dependable research, and for the latest news and information as we promote and protect the values we share.
Masquerading as safety
In decades past parents worried about the dangers their children faced on their way to and from school – or perhaps on the playground – strangers, traffic, drugs, or bullies. Today’s parents face these same concerns, but also the dangers that lurk within their child’s classroom. In 2002, as part of the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools was created within the Education Department to help reduce drug, alcohol and violence and to foster character and citizenship among the nation’s students.
However, the term “safety” has become the mantra of choice by pro-homosexual advocates within the public schools. Former teacher Kevin Jennings consciously coined the word safety to frame the promotion of homosexuality, and to claim the advantage in the war of words. Jennings, a controversial figure from the get-go, made a career of normalizing homosexual behavior under the guise of promoting the safety of all children – except those who disagree with his viewpoint. Jennings founded GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), an advocacy group that “strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.” Yet behind the smooth-sounding verbiage, with which seemingly no one could disagree, hides the ulterior motive of normalizing homosexual behavior throughout society. GLSEN is responsible for the spread of Gay-Straight Alliances (chapters of pro-homosexual advocacy “clubs” on middle-and-high-school campuses), and days of action like the Day of Silence, No Name-Calling Week, and Ally Week.
Such unabashed, pro-homosexual advocacy recently earned Jennings a promotion, when President Barack Obama appointed him to head the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools. As more is uncovered about the radical nature of Jennings’ beliefs – and his past failures to “protect” students – a firestorm has erupted calling for his removal from his position in the Obama administration. Jennings has demonstrated a complete disregard for parental authority and the well-being of all children.
What you can do:
- Watch Focus on the Family’s online video, “Education Appointee is Cause for Concern.”
- Visit www.truetolerance.org learn how to present a balanced viewpoint to your local school officials.
- Visit the Family Research Council’s www.stopjennings.org to find out more about Kevin Jennings and add your voice to those urging his removal.
- Find out what is happening at your local school under the guise of “safety” and “tolerance.” During the week of October 19 many schools will celebrate the GLSEN-sponsored Ally Week with activities designed to enlist children as “allies” in the pro-homosexual struggle to gain full acceptance and normalcy.
- Find out what videos your child’s school may be showing under the guise of tolerance. GSA and GLSEN market many to schools, and they can be shown without your knowledge or consent. Last week, the O’Reilly Factor on Fox News (links to video) showed one of these, a cartoon featuring a guy wearing women’s clothes – designed to teach children to be tolerant of all lifestyles.
Water Deal or Governor Vetoes
Sunday, October 11, is the deadline for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign or veto more than 700 bills currently sitting on his desk. These measures were approved by the Legislature during the final days of the legislative session. According to California law, the Governor has 30 days to sign or veto legislative bills before they become law. However, whatever bills that Governor Schwarzenegger does not sign or veto before the deadline will automatically go into effect on January 1, 2010.
There is increasing belief that the governor is using a subtle threat to veto bills as leverage to force the Legislature to address California’s dire water situation. In previous writings, we noted that the Legislature expressed commitment to addressing California’s water crisis. Yet the Legislature adjourned without an approved water plan, and legislative leaders appear to have lost momentum in their pledge to accomplish a water deal. Their failure to act has frustrated the governor, contributing to his reluctance to approve legislative measures that do not deal with more pressing state matters, including water management.
A recent Capitol Weekly article discusses the evolution of Governor Schwarzenegger’s veto threat and his request that the Senate and Assembly withdraw bills passed by their legislative bodies and submitted to the governor, in order to prevent a veto.
Governor Schwarzenegger has repeatedly chastised the Legislature over issues, including their failure to address the budget deficit, funding for fire suppression, pension reform and his global warming initiatives, and it is evident that the governor is frustrated by the Legislature’s failure to address California’s most important issues. Whether legislators can overcome their differences and find agreement on water remains to be seen.
Recognizing the importance of finding a water solution, Governor Schwarzenegger has convened a “Big 5” meeting this week to continue water negotiations and discuss the potential fate of hundreds of bills. The Big 5 meeting participants include Governor Schwarzenegger and the Senate and Assembly Republican and Democrat leaders. The governor hopes that these meetings will result in a resolution or plan by Friday that will enable a water measure to be approved by the Legislature before January, and allow him to act on the hundreds of legislative bills on his desk.
Local Links
SAN FRANCISCO - Marijuana advocates are gathering signatures to get at least three pot-legalization measures on the California ballot in 2010, setting up what could be a groundbreaking clash with the federal government over U.S. drug policy. At least one poll shows voters would support lifting the pot prohibition, which would make the state of 40 million the first in the nation to legalize marijuana. Read more on News Channel 8 website.
RIVERSIDE -- A third woman in as many weeks was recently rushed to a local hospital from a southern California Planned Parenthood abortion center after an alleged botched abortion required urgent medical care. The latest incident occurred on Saturday morning and was photographed by local pro-life advocates. Read more at LifeNews.com.
FRESNO – Fresno County has come up with an innovative way to help foster children, whose challenges at home often overwhelm their efforts at school. The county is placing social workers in schools, where they provide educational assistance to children whom they are already monitoring for foster care. Read more in the Fresno Bee.
Truth Project Opportunities
RIVERSIDE – California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is a prerequisite to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture, with its subjective claims of truth.
The next Truth Project group leader training seminar:
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Spanish Language Training
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Host Church: Iglesia Amigos (Southern California)
5211 Lakeview Avenue
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Saturday, November 14, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Neighborhood Church of Anderson and Cottonwood (Shasta County)
4684 Rhonda Rd., Anderson, CA 96007
Saturday, November 21, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Calvary Chapel, Paso Robles (Central Coast)
1615 Commerce Way #A, Paso Robles, 93446-3614
For more information on attending or hosting a seminar, call the California Family Council at 951.354.8362 and ask for Trudy. Register online for seminars at: www.californiafamily.org.
