UNC Feminists Abort Free Speech Commentary by Mike S. Adams A university professor's suspicions were recently confirmed when he asked the campus women's resource center to include pro-life links on its website next to those for Planned Parenthood. Wisdom for Rearing Godly Children Feature by Randall Murphree Author Wayne Hastings says dads and moms need to get actively involved in their kids' lives. "I know there's not time, but the clock is ticking," he says. The Banks and Cultural Treason Commentary by R. Cort Kirkwood The only thing worse than undermining American culture for ideology is undermining it for money, which is what American banks have been doing with Spanish-language tellers and automatic teller machines.

...The Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee has rejected another of President Bush's nominees because of the person's conservative beliefs. On a strict party-line vote, the Committee rejected the nomination of Priscilla Owen of Texas for a federal appeals court position. Democrats condemned the 47-year-old Owen because of her pro-life views. They also called her a "pro-business judicial activist." They claim her opinions and rulings are overly influenced by her personal beliefs. Republicans accused her critics of distorting her record. They cited her academic credentials and highly favorable ratings from the American Bar Association. Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott accused Democrats of applying "a very narrow litmus test." He warned the vote will make it harder to work together in a Senate where Democrats enjoy a one-vote margin.

...A top-rated, conservative television talk-show host is coming under fire from pro-family activists for his open hostility toward a former homosexual during a nationally televised interview. Bill O'Reilly is the host of FOX TV's The O'Reilly Factor, which has become a favorite among conservative viewers. Tuesday night, during a segment on homosexual rights, O'Reilly interviewed Stephen Bennett, a former homosexual who gave his life to Christ and eventually was set free from the sinful lifestyle. Bennett was a guest on O'Reilly's show representing Concerned Women for America. During the interview, O'Reilly often interrupted and blasted Bennett for his biblically based views. O'Reilly's hostile exchange with Bennett had a strong tone of denouncement and finished without Bennett being allowed to present a balanced, biblical view of the penalties of any sinful behavior and God's plan of salvation. During the heated exchange, O'Reilly asked, "Do you believe [practicing homosexuals] are going to hell? Yes or no." As Bennett began with "I believe what the Bible says....", O'Reilly continued to disallow Bennett the opportunity to answer the question. [Read Entire Transcript of Interview] [Read Bennett's Commentary: 'The Gay Spin Zone']

...A pro-life activist in Senator Tom Daschle's home state of South Dakota says as Senate Majority Leader, Daschle needs to act consistently to help end the killing of living infants. Linda Schauer is director of the South Dakota chapter of Concerned Women for America. She says a television ad is running in South Dakota urging Daschle's constituents to call on him to schedule a vote to ban partial-birth abortion as the House has done. But Schauer says the Democrat's past support of a ban was probably for political reasons only. She feels when Daschle previously voted for the ban on partial-birth abortion, he knew he was safe in pleasing the pro-life people of South Dakota -- because he knew that President Clinton would veto the ban. Schauer says what Daschle chooses to do will impact many lives, including countless unborn children.

...The World Wildlife Fund is urging schools and parents to develop "eco-conscious" children. According to Family News in Focus, the liberal ecological organization is calling for school assemblies, poster contests, and environmental education modules -- and the Wildlife Fund would be more than happy to provide the curriculum. But FNIF says some people are a little concerned about the campaign. Phillip W. De Vous, public policy manager for the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty, says parents have good reason to be suspicious. He says at the base of their rhetoric is a philosophical conviction that humans are consumers and polluters, rather than additive to the value of creation's resources. He adds the WWF is a leader in a movement known as "sustainable-development ecology." Among its basic tenants are that the earth has limited resources, and that no one species has more of a right to them than any other species.

...Attorneys representing the Southeastern Legal Foundation of Atlanta as well as several other groups argued their opposition to the Campaign Finance Reform Bill before the Federal Election Commission over the weekend. Foundation president Phil Kent believes the main concern regarding this new law is that millions of Americans who pool their resources through hundreds of organizations to make their views heard in the public arena will be totally silenced by the law. That is why SLFA attorneys are reminding the FEC that the ability to openly criticize -- and challenge -- the U.S. government in the public arena is utterly protected by the First Amendment. The FEC is currently trying to come up with rules to oversee the implementation of the Campaign Finance Reform law which will take effect shortly after the upcoming midterm elections. Several other organizations have challenged the constitutionality of the new law in federal court. That case will be heard in early December.

...Two advocacy groups have asked the Federal Election Commission to be exempted from the nation's new Campaign Finance Reform law. The new law takes effect following the November 5 election. It will bar many groups from airing ads identifying federal candidates within 30 days of a primary election and 60 days of a general election. But according to Associated Press, the Sierra Club and the Alliance for Justice have requested exemption. They say the new ad restrictions should not apply to public charities and private foundations airing lobbying ads that urge voters to contact their members on key issues at election time. Meanwhile, several other groups, including the National Rifle Association, the AFL-CIO, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are suing to try to overturn the law, arguing it violates free speech rights.

...Members of Congress are laboring on the campaign trail trying to solidify their efforts to return to office for another term. The director of governmental affairs for the Family Research Council, Stephanie Dinapoli, says pro-family advocates will be looking to new advocates to take up their pro-life, pro-family causes since key supporters like Dick Armey, J.C. Watts, and Bob Barr will be leaving Capitol Hill. Dinapoli says conservatives should remain hopeful because there are other upcoming and effective legislators who fight for these causes. She enumerated many, including Dennis Hastert of Illinois as Speaker of the House, and she describes Tom DeLay -- who is likely to take over the position of Majority Leader -- as "a fantastic and reliable spokesman for conservative causes." Dinapoli says DeLay replacing Armey is "a good thing" because others could have been chosen who would not have been as good. In addition to newly elected representatives, Dinapoli says there are some very fine pro-family supporters already in Congress who will be coming to center stage in the next year or so to take important leadership roles.

...A high-ranking cabinet minister in Canada has called on his fellow countrymen to "grow up" and stop acting like sulky children when it comes to Canada's relationship with the United States. John Manley is Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, making him one of the most powerful and influential individuals in that country. The Globe and Mail newspaper quotes Manley as saying Canada is an "equal partner" with the United States in world affairs, and it is time Canadians act that way. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a couple of incidents have generated some negative comments from Canada. Some Canadians took great offense to President Bush neglecting to mention Canada's support for the war on terrorism during his State of the Union address last winter. Other Canadians complained when Bush was slow to respond to the accidental bombing of Canadian soldiers by a U.S. fighter pilot a few months ago in Afghanistan. Manley says Canadians should not let perceived slights or occasional disagreements dictate their feelings towards the United States. In Manley's words, "There are no people on the planet that are more close to us in terms of value structure and everything else than is the United States -- so let's grow up and live with it."

...A new poll finds Miami-Dade county voters support a homosexual rights ordinance that faces a challenge at the polls next week. The poll found 54% saying they will vote to keep the ordinance, 34% who will vote to repeal it, and 12% undecided. The poll of 600 likely voters was conducted for the Miami Herald and WTVJ TV. The measure on next Tuesday's primary ballot would repeal a 1998 amendment to the county's civil rights ordinance. The amendment bans discrimination in housing, employment, lending, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation. Opponents of the ordinance say homosexuals are looking for special treatment, not equal rights.

...Religious and political activists have been lining up at police headquarters in Colorado's capital. Denver police have opened 3,200 so-called "spy files" on religious, peace, and other groups. City officials have conceded that police went too far in collecting information in some of the cases. News that religious and peace groups were among those placed under surveillance since about 1999 -- when the files were computerized -- drew charges of police misconduct. Records of people not suspected of crimes will be released to those named in them, then purged after November 1. The city attorney's office will keep copies of all files. The American Civil Liberties Union was among the groups monitored. The legal director of the Colorado ACLU chapter says his group has never disputed the need for legitimate criminal intelligence operations, but says the police went too far this time.

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