New Planned Parenthood Ad Attempts to Downplay Its Abortion Involvement

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Planned Parenthood is trying to distract the public from the fact that it is the largest abortion provider in the United States with a slick new TV ad.

Adweek reports:

A new ad by the Seattle agency Wexley School of Girls for the org’s Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands branch reminds viewers of those other services while playing on the assumption that anything involving the name Planned Parenthood will eventually turn into a heated all-or-nothing debate over birth control.

The 30-second video spot shows a group of people doing normal, everyday things like drinking coffee, painting, and clothes shopping. After rattling off typical reasons that people choose to get abortions such as career aspirations and the perceived inconvenience of pregnancy and childbirth, each one of the actors gives a different reason for going to Planned Parenthood, none of them to receive an abortion.

Planned Parenthood – :30 from Wexley School for Girls on Vimeo.

“A flu shot,” says one actor. “Controlling asthma,” says another.

“There are just a lot more reasons than you think,” claims a voiceover in the final frame.

“The ad will almost certainly not end the frequently contentious debates surrounding the Planned Parenthood organization,” reads the Adweek story. “But it does provide a somewhat restrained pushback against those who would reduce the organization to a single word.”

It’s clever marketing, but it’s also a huge red herring.

Yes, both women and men can get vaccinations at a Planned Parenthood, as well as other services that don’t involve terminating the life of a pre-born child, but that doesn’t make the abortion giant any less of an abortion giant.

Firstly, the organization’s own reports show that a vast majority of its revenue comes, in some degree, from abortions, with some estimates as high as 86 percent. When asked about this at a Congressional hearing last year, CEO Cecile Richards was unable to give a straight answer about the revenue percentage when pressed about it under oath.

Additionally, according to statistics from the Guttmacher Institute — which was founded by Planned Parenthood — the organization is responsible for nearly a third of abortions performed in the United States, at over 300,000 per year.

Finally, let’s not forget the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover videos from last summer which show Planned Parenthood employees and executives in multiple states engaging in what appears to be a fetal tissue trade.

Put simply, the fact that someone can obtain an asthma inhaler at a Planned Parenthood shouldn’t distract from the organization’s involvement in abortion at all.

Similarly, you may be able to cash a check, get a flu shot, or buy a pack of cigarettes and a lottery ticket at your local grocery store, but it is still a place where people primarily go to buy food.

The Department of Defense may provide meals and housing to active duty personnel, but only a fool would ever think that that the primary purpose of the United States military was anything other than national defense because of this.

Attempts like the video ad above are nothing new. Planned Parenthood has long tried to distract from the reality of its bloody business whether by attempting to normalize abortion by draping it the seemingly innocuous mantle of “reproductive health,” endlessly repeating the widely-debunked talking point that only ‘3 percent’ of its services are abortions, or even producing a “virtual reality experience” that maligns the work of pro-life sidewalk counselors.

None of these, however, change the facts about abortion, its current place in American public discourse, or the fact that Planned Parenthood performs a plurality of the procedures done in the United States.

Neither will 30 seconds of pretty people talking about flu shots. (For more from the author of “New Planned Parenthood Ad Attempts to Downplay Its Abortion Involvement” please click HERE)

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Marriage Reduces Child Poverty, but Our Welfare System Penalizes Marriage

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According to a recently released study from the American Enterprise Institute, 82 percent of lower-middle-class families with young children face “marriage penalties” in the welfare system.

Couples who marry would lose all or some of their welfare benefits because their combined income is often greater than each of their independent incomes.

The study found that couples with young children are less likely to marry if they face a significant marriage penalty. Furthermore, nearly a third of Americans between the ages of 18 and 60 reported that they personally know someone who has chosen not to marry because of the marriage penalty.

And this study only examines welfare marriage penalties for a few means-tested welfare programs: food stamps, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. There are over 80 means-tested welfare programs that provide other food, medical, and cash assistance, as well as housing assistance and social services to poor and lower-income Americans. Marriage penalties exist throughout the welfare system.

Marriage is one of the greatest protectors against child poverty. It is counterintuitive to have a welfare system that penalizes this institution.

Children in married-parent homes are more than 80 percent less likely to be poor, compared to their peers in single-parent families. Tragically, far too many American children live in single-parent homes. One in four children is born to an unwed mother, and more than half of U.S. teenagers aged 15 to 17 live without married parents.

Not only are these children at greater risk of poverty, but they are at greater risk of social conditions that would hinder their ability to thrive.

Children who grow up with their married parents have better life outcomes compared to children who grow up in single-parent homes. For example, children raised by their married mothers and fathers generally obtain more education and have better emotional health. They also have lower rates of delinquency and teen pregnancy.

How can we reform our welfare system so that it does not penalize marriage?

First, policymakers must avoid policy changes that would increase marriage penalties. This would include preventing increases in the earned income tax credit for childless adults. Such an increase would only further incentivize parents to remain single.

Second, we should implement stronger work requirements to decrease the appeal of welfare as a long-term substitution for both work and marriage. Fostering a sense of self-reliance and pride in one’s work encourages parents to move away from welfare and toward the kind of financial independence found in marriage. This, in turn, results in greater economic opportunities for both parent and child.

Marriage is a strong tool against poverty and also provides the best setting for children to thrive. Policymakers have an opportunity to improve conditions for the American family. They must work toward reducing and eliminating the anti-marriage policies of the current welfare system. (For more from the author of “Marriage Reduces Child Poverty, but Our Welfare System Penalizes Marriage” please click HERE)

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Obama to Force Women’s Shelter to Admit ‘Transgender’ Men

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Barack Obama is set to finalize a federal rule requiring many women’s shelters to admit men who identify as “transgender,” potentially placing abused women and children at risk of being victimized again.

If enacted, all homeless shelters – including battered women’s shelters – that receive federal funding would have to allow people to use the homeless shelter of the sex with which they identify, regardless of their appearance, anatomy, or the “complaints of other shelter residents.”

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro proposed the so-called “Equal Access Rule” last October. Media outlets say it will become final next month.

“[T]he provider may not ask questions or otherwise seek information or documentation concerning the person’s anatomy,” nor refuse to allow anyone a bed “because the client’s appearance or behavior does not conform with gender stereotypes,” it reads.

Although the shelter “may consider…whether a particular housing assignment would ensure health and safety” on a “case-by-case basis,” it may not base its decisions solely on the “complaints of other shelter residents.” (Read more from “Obama to Force Women’s Shelter to Admit ‘Transgender’ Men” HERE)

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Germany Now Has More Than 1,000 Documented Child Marriages

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Germany is struggling to prevent and keep track of the over 1,000 child marriages taking place in the country.

Child marriages have not been an issue in Germany until recent years. The practice is illegal in Germany, but since the country doesn’t recognize “religious marriages,” authorities can’t do anything to stop it in most cases.

German television channel N24 claims the number of child marriages in the country now exceeds 1,000, and that the actual number is believed to be significantly higher.

An anonymous teacher told newspaper Welt am Sonntag that young girls often suddenly stop showing up to school after getting married . . .

“Many observers are afraid this will be a ‘lost generation,’” Alia Al Dalli, SOS Children’s Villages’ international director for the Middle East and North Africa Region, said in June. “Another concern is psychological trauma, as children in war situations often face a very unstable environment of displacement, abuse, trafficking, exploitation and other risks.” (Read more from “Germany Now Has More Than 1,000 Documented Child Marriages” HERE)

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Michelle Obama’s ‘Healthy’ Lunch Program Is Actually Worsening Childhood Obesity

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First lady Michelle Obama’s healthy school lunch program is putting financially vulnerable children at risk of being overweight, according to new government-funded research.

Every day, millions of kids eat government-funded breakfasts or lunches at public schools. Virginia Tech researchers found that kids who get these free school meals are more likely to become overweight or obese.

According to the study, published in the journal Health Economics, kids who live in the Northeast, South and rural America, who consume one-third to one-half of their meals at school, are most susceptible to the rising obesity epidemic . . .

Wen You, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said that while well-intentioned, these government-funded school meal programs which aim to make students healthier, are in fact doing just the opposite.

You and her team used a survey of 21,260 students who were followed from kindergarten to eighth grade. They found that children who didn’t participate in school lunch programs supported by Michelle Obama were less likely to end up with some extra padding. (Read more from “Michelle Obama’s ‘Healthy’ Lunch Program Is Actually Worsening Childhood Obesity” HERE)

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Bill Clinton’s Pay at For-Profit Education Company Topped $17.5 Million

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Bill Clinton was paid more than $1 million in 2015 by Laureate Education, a global operator of for-profit colleges, according to tax returns released today by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

The new figure brings the former president’s total compensation from Laureate to more than $17.5 million for his five-year role as an “honorary chancellor.” His role consisted of advising the company on educational matters and traveling to campuses across the world to speak to young people. Clinton ended his position at Laureate in April 2015 after Hillary Clinton launched her bid for the White House.

Laureate International Universities, the company’s international arm for which Clinton worked, has donated $1 million to $5 million to the Clinton Foundation, with a new contribution made as recently as the second quarter of this year, according to records posted on the foundation’s website. (Read more from “Bill Clinton’s Pay at For-Profit Education Company Topped $17.5 Million” HERE)

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What Malia Obama Getting Caught Smoking Weed Tells Us About the Drug War

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When celebrity website Radar Online shared a video of Malia Obama allegedly smoking marijuana at Lollapalooza in Chicago last week, the internet came to her defense.

On Twitter, comedian Chris Rock suggested she could one day be an Olympic gold medalist — or even president of the United States. Other users complained about those criticizing Malia by telling them to “let her live!”

But has anyone touched on Malia Obama’s father’s reluctance to embrace personal freedom outside the boundaries of his own household?

This Thursday, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a response to petitioners asking the government to remove the “Schedule I” classification of marijuana. In a letter, DEA leadership maintained its refusals to give in to proponents of legalization. In an interview, Chuck Rosenberg, the acting administrator of the DEA, said the decision is due to the fact that “science doesn’t support” the notion marijuana may be used for medical ends — a narrative that has previously been debunked by several studies . . .

Despite Malia’s apparent acceptance of the substance — and the Internet’s apparent resistance to finding anything contradictory about her father’s positions on drug policy — President Obama had, by early 2013, been harsher on marijuana users than former President George W. Bush, Reason observed. “In other words,” Jacob Sullum wrote, “Obama is averaging 36 medical marijuana prosecutions a year, compared to 20 a year under his predecessor.” Even the Huffington Post has reported that when it comes to pot, Obama has a highly hypocritical stance, ignoring his own history and promises. (Read more from “What Malia Obama Getting Caught Smoking Weed Tells Us About the Drug War” HERE)

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Child Rape Victim Comes Forward for the First Time in 40 Years to Call Hillary Clinton a ‘Liar’

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A child rape victim says she cannot forgive Hillary Clinton for defending her rapist in court 40 years ago, saying the Democratic presidential candidate attacked her credibility despite knowing that her assailant was guilty – and later laughed about it in a taped interview.

Kathy Shelton was just 12 years old when a 41-year-old drifter raped her on the side of a desolate Arkansas road in 1975.

Now, four decades later, she has agreed to be named and pictured for the first time in this Daily Mail Online exclusive because she is furious that her rapist’s defense attorney – Hillary Clinton – has been portraying herself as a lifelong advocate of women and girls on the campaign trail.

‘It’s put a lot of anger back in me,’ said Shelton, now 54, in an exclusive interview at her Springdale, Arkansas, home in August. ‘Every time I see [Clinton] on TV I just want to reach in there and grab her, but I can’t do that.’

In 1975, Clinton served as the defense lawyer for Thomas Alfred Taylor, a 41-year-old factory worker accused of raping Shelton after luring her to his car. (Read more from “Child Rape Victim Comes Forward for the First Time in 40 Years to Call Hillary Clinton a ‘Liar'” HERE)

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Clinton Congratulates Muslim Athlete for Competing in Hijab, Ignores Others Who Won Medals

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When Ibtihaj Muhammad revealed this week that she would participate in the Olympics while dressed in her Muslim attire, she received a lot of attention.

On Monday, Muhammad, a member of the U.S. fencing team, became the first American Olympian to compete wearing a hijab.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton showed her support for the Muslim athlete by tweeting her congratulations.

However, several people were critical of Clinton’s tweet.

Much of the criticism stemmed from the fact that while Clinton congratulated Muhammad for simply competing in a hijab, she declined to acknowledge other American athletes who actually earned medals in Rio de Janeiro.

Muhammad won her debut match against Ukraine athlete Olena Kravatska but then was defeated by Cecilia Berder of France.

The first U.S. gold medal was won Saturday by 19-year-old Ginny Thrasher, who competed in the 10-meter air rifle event. She received no congratulations from Clinton. Instead, many on the left complained about the fact that an Olympic event involves the use of firearms.

Clinton did, however, issue a tweet Monday congratulating swimmer Katie Ledecky on her gold medal win.

Although Muhammad was eliminated from competition, she had a positive attitude afterward, saying, “There is that silver lining in the sense that you do have that team event. I know that the Americans didn’t perform in the way that we wanted, but I love my team, I love my teammates and I believe in them.”

Muhammad was in the news earlier in the week when she made the comment that she thought Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s words were “very dangerous.” (For more from the author of “Clinton Congratulates Muslim Athlete for Competing in Hijab, Ignores Others Who Won Medals” please click HERE)

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Boy Killed on Water Slide ‘Believed in His Savior, Jesus, and They Are Forever Together’

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Caleb Schwab, the 10-year-old who died while riding a water slide at Schlitterbahn water park on Sunday, is with Jesus, his parents say. Kansas state congressman Scott Schwab and his wife Michele released a statement Sunday night through their pastor.

Since the day he was born, he brought abundant joy to our family and all those who he came into contact with. As we try and mend our home with him no longer with us, we are comforted knowing he believed in his Savior, Jesus, and they are forever together now. We will see him another day.

They added, “Your continued prayers are welcome and appreciated. We appreciate your understanding of our family’s need for privacy during this difficult time of grieving.”

Caleb a Man of God

Caleb was riding the Verrückt, billed as the “world’s tallest water slide,” when he suffered a fatal neck injury. The slide drops riders over 168 feet, compels them up another hill, then plummets them “another gut wrenching 50 foot drop,” according to Schlitterbahn’s website.

The park has been closed temporarily and the Verrückt has been closed to allow officials to investigate, said park spokeswoman Winter Prosapio. She added that the park’s staff is saddened that “a young boy died on Verrückt. … Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”

Schwab family pastor Clint Sprague considered Caleb to be “a man of God.” Caleb “was an incredible young man,” he said. “Ten years old, full of life, loved baseball, basketball, soccer. He was always doing something,” he said, adding “he’s going to be missed for his energy, for his life, for his smile, for the way he lit up a room.” (For more from the author of “Boy Killed on Water Slide ‘Believed in His Savior, Jesus, and They Are Forever Together'” please click HERE)

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