AdvanceUSA Blog

AdvanceUSA Announcement

2008-06-27T14:28:00.5930000-04:00

There will be no postings at AdvanceUSA Blog from Monday (June 30) to Friday (July 4) while our staff is on vacation. Check back on Monday, July 7 for more news and information from AdvanceUSA.

AdvanceUSA wishes all of you a very happy Fourth of July. As you meet with friends and family take a moment to thank the Lord for his bountiful blessings on our nation.

“Now Marriage Protection Acts in Both Senate and House”

2008-06-27T14:26:14.0040000-04:00

The Dakota Voice reports.

“McCain Makes Clear Support for CA Marriage Amendment”

2008-06-27T14:25:22.1550000-04:00

The Brody File has this exclusive report.

“Black Pastors Hit Political Parties on Abortion”

2008-06-27T14:07:31.5300000-04:00

The Washington Times reports. Excerpt:

“Hoisting signs declaring "abortion is not a family value," about 60 black demonstrators descended on Democratic and Republican headquarters on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to demand that political candidates refuse funding from Planned Parenthood.”

Gambling Proponents Defeated in Congress (For Now)

2008-06-27T14:05:31.7360000-04:00

Two bills (which were combined into one bill, H.R. 2176) which would have expanded gambling were defeated on Wednesday. Also, attempts to undermine the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act were also defeated in the House. CitizenLink reports.

The AP also reports.

Remember Peter Keisler

2008-06-27T13:47:12.1550000-04:00

Our friends at the Committee for Justice keep the judges issue on the forefront of our minds. Excerpt:

Has Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy no shame when it comes to judicial nominees? We’ll find out in the coming months by watching whether he continues to deny a committee vote to D.C. Circuit nominee Peter Keisler, a former Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department. Never mind that Keisler was nominated to the D.C. Circuit two years ago and testified to rave reviews at his Judiciary Committee hearing in August 2006. Sadly, we’ve become all too accustomed to such outrageous delays since Senate Democrats announced plans to block judicial nominees for purely ideological reasons back in 2001.

Read the full article here.

“House Subcommittee Considers Protections for 'Transgendered' Individuals”

2008-06-27T13:44:52.2340000-04:00

CitizenLink reports.

“Senate Cmte Cuts Abstinence Education Funds 25 Percent, Bush May Veto”

2008-06-27T13:43:21.8340000-04:00

LifeNews reports.

“Child Sex Ring Busted; Hundreds Arrested”

2008-06-27T13:40:56.2880000-04:00

CitizenLink reports.

“Ultrasound at Center of State Abortion Wars”

2008-06-26T12:03:06.2660000-04:00

Stateline.org reports on the move for laws allowing or requiring the viewing of ultrasound pictures before having an abortion. AdvanceUSA applauds measures such as this which help emphasize the humanity of the unborn.

Supreme Court Finds Individual Right to Own Guns

2008-06-26T12:00:55.2810000-04:00

Reuters reports.

Senate Approves Two More Circuit Court Nominees: More Progress Still Needed

2008-06-26T11:58:34.5780000-04:00

On Tuesday, June 24 the Senate confirmed two of President Bush’s nominees to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. While this is a step in the right direction, the Senate still has much work to do in order to fulfill its constitutional duty to provide advice and consent for the president’s judicial nominees. The following is a statement from the White House:

Yesterday [June 24], the Senate confirmed Raymond Kethledge and Helene White to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Stephen Murphy to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. I appreciate the Senate's work on filling these important seats, which had been declared judicial emergencies.

For the first time in my Administration, the Sixth Circuit will now have a full court to address important issues facing the residents of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Unfortunately, too many other Federal judgeships across America remain vacant. This is unacceptable and inexcusable. Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, the Senate has confirmed only 10 circuit court nominees. In the last two years of the past three Administrations, the Senate has confirmed an average of 17 circuit court judges. I strongly urge the Senate to hold hearings and votes on the 28 pending circuit and district court nominations to ensure that our Nation has a fully functioning judicial system.

Also, AdvanceUSA has updated its judges graph to reflect this new information. As can be seen from this graph, the Senate still has a ways to go in order to give proper treatment to the president’s nominees (especially the highly qualified nominees who have been waiting the longest).

Click here to view a larger version.

House Hearings on Transgender Discrimination

2008-06-26T11:23:47.4380000-04:00

The House Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee is now holding hearings entitled “An Examination of Discrimination Against Trangender Americans in the Workplace.” View the live video here.

One of the goals of these hearings is to advance legislation which would require businesses and religious organizations to hire cross dressers and sex-change operation recipients despite any religious or moral convictions which would be violated.

Protect Broadcast Freedom

2008-06-24T11:16:24.9220000-04:00

Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) is calling for a bipartisan effort to protect our rights of free political speech over the broadcast airwaves. He has proposed the Broadcast Freedom Act which would prevent the reincarnation of the failed “fairness doctrine” in broadcast media.

Broadcasters should be able to give their political opinions free from government interference. If you support broadcast freedom, sign Focus on the Family’s petition here.

For more information on the “un-fairness doctrine” check out this episode of StopLight.

Planned Parenthood = Big Abortion

2008-06-24T11:14:47.8910000-04:00

With all the talk about sinister “big corporations” these days, it’s interesting that Planned Parenthood often escapes scrutiny. As The Wall Street Journal and LifeNews explain, the biggest abortion provider in the nation is drastically expanding its business model.

AdvanceUSA Interview with Don Margolis

2008-06-24T11:13:00.4060000-04:00

Daniel Herbster reporting

Have you ever been frustrated by the way the news media often fails to make the distinction between adult and embryonic stem cells when talking about research funding or medical results? The Repair Stem Cell Institute is trying to do something about it, and I had the opportunity to interview the Chairman and Founder of this organization, Don Margolis.

DH: Don, what are the differences between adult and embryonic stem cells?

DM: The difference is easily described when you don't use the common names but instead use their reason for existing, which is easier to understand. Adult stem cells are more aptly REPAIR stem cells (RSC); they know how to do just one function: REPAIR a sick part of the body. Embryonic stems cells are PROLIFERATING stem cells (PSC). They know how to proliferate through some stages and become a zygote, then proliferate through more stages and become a fetus, then proliferate again until it is a baby. REPAIR stem cells repair. They repair so much and so well that 100-plus diseases are being effectively treated with RSC around the world. Meantime, PSC constantly frustrate embryonic researchers by refusing to behave as repair cells because, well, they are NOT. Even when well-trained to repair a disease, PSC may do it but then off they go, wherever they wish, fighting the attempt to stop them from proliferating and sometimes they can completely rebel and become tumors. Now you can see why the treated disease score, after 10 years, is RSC, over 100; PSC, zero.

DH: Why is it so hard for the media to mention the fact that there is more than one type of stem cell (not all of which have ethical concerns)? Do you think there is often an intentional effort to blur the distinction?

DM: The American news media is more inclined to cover embryonic stem cell news and trends. I'm hoping that the reason for this slanted news coverage is because most writers, reporters and editors are uninformed about repair stem cell science and how relevant this science is right now in treating those 100-plus diseases, about half of them considered incurable by modern medicine. This is, of course, is one of the main reasons why The Repair Stem Cell Institute LLC (RSCI) was created a few months ago. My goal and the goal of my world-class Science Advisory Board is to educate and inform the American public and news media community about repair stem cell science and its treatment centers located around the world. No company or institution in the world can match the RSCI Science Advisory Board in stem cell skills and knowledge – no one comes close! Then again, not many in the world (outside of bloggers) are fighting the science battle for RSC.

DH: What is the The Repair Stem Cell Institute and what is its mission?

DM: RSCI is a public service organization which exists to save and improve lives; lives that are suffering and dying when they don't have to, in a world full of available RSC treatments. Our mission, stated in its simplest form, is to educate my countrymen that when a doctor tells someone they love, "There is nothing we can do," they will KNOW what to do. They will know to go to www.RepairStemCells.org, click on "Diseases Treated," then click on the disease in question and find out where and how to get treatment. They will also be shown which are the best places with the best doctors. If they are in doubt, they will be advised to call me. How many websites have you seen where the chairman of the company has his private phone number on the site?

DH: What led you to found this institution, and what kind of effort and preparations went into it?

DM: Six years ago, seven Brazilian doctors held the greatest clinical trial in cardiological history. They took 21 dying patients from the transplant list and implanted RSC into the hearts of 14 of them. When they wrote a paper in 2003 about the results, the American Heart Association was so surprised at the "impossible" results they themselves published the paper. Six months later I read that paper myself. I checked to see how many American clinical trials had started and was crushed to discover NONE. Nobody seemed to care that hundreds of thousands of heart patients were, and still are, dying unnecessarily. So I started a company myself in Thailand, hired an Israeli cardiologist in October 2003 and off we went. Nine months later we started a RSC clinical trial for chronically ill heart patients, but once the Thai doctors saw that it was safe, they encouraged us to start treating dying people outside the clinical trial. Fifteen MONTHS after startup we treated our first commercial patient, a New Jersey firefighter who was forced to retire by five heart attacks. Today, 3 ½ years later he is spending his time scuba diving in Thailand. The next American was Bob Grinstead of suburban Atlanta who was hoping to survive three more months so he could sit around and watch family and friends celebrate his 50th anniversary. Bob, who couldn't hardly get off his sofa, goes sailing now at age 72. He and Barbara just celebrated their 53rd this month. And a little RSC side effect: Bob's HA1c, which started over 11, is now down to 7, which means he is no longer a critical diabetic. So, 300 patients later, with a 75 percent success record, I retired because I wanted that number to be 300,000, not 300. After immersing myself in stem cells for 17 hours a day for 4½ years, the Institute is almost a vacation. The only hard part was going through the trouble to get the name approved.

DH: When researching the news I come across story after story of people experiencing breathtaking medical results from adult stem cell research. Usually these results are taking place overseas. Why is it so hard to get adult stem cell treatments approved in the United States and what would it take to speed up the process?

DM: America has had the worst declining health system in the world for a quarter century now. Every two years the Commonwealth Fund announces the results of its survey of American Medicine and it is ALWAYS down. In 2006 we were nip and tuck with Cuba in infant mortality. The system kills more people than you would believe, and not just because of the failure to allow stem cell therapy. For example, more people die from approved prescription drug side effects every month than in the ENTIRE 24 years before the current FDA law went into effect. And 10,000 people a month die from hospital accidents. The failure to approve beta blockers for eight years after Europe had proven them safe and effective cost 119,000 lives which is roughly equal to the TOTAL number of servicemen killed in Korea, Vietnam plus two Gulf Wars. In a lawyer-run declining system, what chance do stem cells have, especially since no one has figured a way to make a profit on them?

DH: I see your organization has only been in existence for a short time. Are there any notable achievements so far you’d like to share with us, and what are your major goals for the future?

DM: I kicked-off our educational program in Greece at a symposium for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients where I met the one man in the world who has proven time and again that he can help paraplegics improve and even walk again (with walkers), Dr. Carlos Lima. Boy, did he teach me a lot, and not just about SCI. One of the many things was the naming of REPAIR and PROLIFERATING I use now to make things easier for the misinformed to become informed. I gave two short talks there (now on the NEWS page of www.RepairStemCells.org) which get into the misinformation problem we are trying to fix. We have had other PR efforts which are starting to wake up the public, but only just starting. The notable achievements are being done by the incredible doctors on our Science Board. For example, one of them was discovered on the net by the aunt of a young athlete about to have three limbs amputated because of sudden meningitis. Our doctor jumped on the next plane, flew to Dallas, took the athlete back to Florida where he drew his blood and shipped it to a special lab to extract and grow the RSC into big numbers. He then took the patient to his clinic in nearby (relatively) Dominican Republic. The lab shipped the cells there, our doctor implanted them into his hands and feet, then took him back to Florida. Today, two months later, the young man still has meningitis, of course, but he also has two hands and two feet with no threat of gangrene and amputation. More importantly, with me in the middle, I am encouraging our great doctors (in five different countries) to work together when a suffering patient needs special help. We've got a major case working right now: a beautiful suffering 18-year-old USA patient with a rare neural disease, the world's #1 cellular therapist in Israel with a therapy, and a brilliant doctor with a clinic just offshore who can implant the Israeli stem cells into the patient without her traveling 20,000 miles. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

DH: How did you determine the treatment centers you would endorse? What are some of the successes they’ve seen?

DM: ONLY by the history of the doctors involved, such as our five heroic Science Board members who actually do both research and treat patients themselves. We have one in addition to them on that list: the world leader (by light years) in neural diseases. Go to www.RepairStemCells.org, click on "Treatment Centers" and there you are –six of the best – and you get the e-mail addresses of the doctors themselves, or on the sixth one, to an American RN who runs the best stem cell service of anyone. Just e-mail one of the six with your disease or medical condition and your symptoms and any recent test results. If they don't come back to you in three days, call or e-mail ME!

DH: What are some of the successes they’ve seen?

DM: Dr. Kit is chairman of our Science Board and has PERSONALLY injected RSC into the heart muscle of 100 very ill patients with spectacular results too unbelievable to mention without getting into details too long for this article. Dr. Slavin is the unquestioned world’s #1 in cellular therapy, having been saving lives for over 15 years with cells, (not just stem cells). No one can touch him for saving cancer patients who have been deemed "terminal." Now he is into several other diseases and will soon be using RSC to replace destroyed bone and cartilage. Dr. Grekos (Naples, FL) is also a cardiologist. He just "invented" a new RSC implant procedure for a 21-year-old cardiomyopathy patient with multiple complications. Oh, by the way, he is also the "meningitis" doctor mentioned above. Not bad for a "cardiologist." I tease him sometimes about his amazing insights into RSC, calling him "The Next Shimon Slavin." Though he is embarrassed when I say it, in my opinion, he really is. Dr. Lima is a Lisbon neurologist and the unquestioned world’s #1 for SCI. Dr. Vina is an Argentine cardiologist who is a world leader in RSC research. He is the world's best RSC hope for diabetics and also for emphysema patients. (Go to www.RepairStemCells.org, click on TREATMENT CENTERS)

DH: Don, how can people find out more about your organization, and how can they spread the word about ethical adult stem cell treatments?

DM: It is all there at www.RepairStemCells.org and growing every day. For those who want to see some of my personal opinions, visit www.donmargolis.com....click on VICTORIES. Then pass some of the interesting stories (with a link) to friends and encourage them to do the same. If you have a website and would like to crosslink with us, just email repairstemcellinstitute@gmail.com and we'll do it. We’ve launched a nationwide grassroots media campaign. So, tell any talk radio people you know to connect with Jack Wynn, our director of communications & government – political affairs jackwynn@comcast.net) and I'd be glad to guest interview. Any newspaper, large or small, can get a series of my columns by e-mailing Jack. How much space do I have? I could go on for an hour!

DH: Thanks for taking the time to answers these questions.

Note: The views of any interviewee do not necessarily reflect the views of AdvanceUSA.

Congress to Hold Dangerous “Anti-Discrimination” Hearings on Sexual Identity

2008-06-23T20:40:56.0310000-04:00

As this gay publication reports, Congress will hold hearings on dangerous legislation such as ENDA which would endanger religious liberty at the expense of a misguided notion of “gay rights.”

“Is Gay Marriage Inevitable?”

2008-06-23T20:36:53.0310000-04:00

Maggie Gallagher asks this pointed question and also teases out the implications of “gay marriage” for society and religious liberty.

“Ohio Law Allowing Women to See Ultrasound Before Abortion Goes Into Effect”

2008-06-23T20:35:57.0470000-04:00

LifeNews reports.

“California Planned Parenthood Spends 700K Against Parental Notice on Abortion”

2008-06-23T20:34:57.8440000-04:00

LifeNews reports. Excerpt:

As it has done in past years, Planned Parenthood abortion businesses in California are willing to shell out some of their abortion profits to make sure they can leave parents in the dark about teen abortions. They are, once again, spending heavily to defeat a parental notification measure.

Planned Parenthood is the biggest profiteer from the abortion industry and is understandably hostile to any measure that would cut into profits, even if this involves helping underage girls get abortions without notifying parents.

“Adult Stem Cells Show Promise for Healing Broken Bones”

2008-06-23T20:33:41.4530000-04:00

CitizenLink reports.

“N.Y. Policy Illegally Honoring Outside Same-Sex ‘Marriages’ Contested”

2008-06-23T20:32:22.6880000-04:00

It’s nice to know, in this time of marriage confusion, that the Alliance Defense Fund is seeking to protect marriage in New York from the governor’s recent policy of forcing New York to recognize out-of-state “gay marriages.”

Senators “Go To Bat” for Judge Conrad

2008-06-20T22:23:55.9540000-04:00

Judge Conrad has been waiting 338 days for his Congressional hearings since President Bush first nominated him for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Several senators and organizations rallied in support of Judge Conrad. The Gannett News Service and Media General report.

“Capital Investors Look to Adult Stem Cell Research Over Embryonic for Success”

2008-06-20T22:22:39.3520000-04:00

Some experts looking to get a return on their money are betting on ethically obtained induced pluripotent stem cells rather than unethical embryonic stem cell research, according to this piece at LifeNews.

“Cancer Patient Recovers After Injection of Immune Cells”

2008-06-20T22:21:45.9400000-04:00

While this development does not involved stem cells per se, it shows that many incredible medical results can be obtained from cells within the bodies of patients.

Voices of School Choice

2008-06-20T22:16:30.5330000-04:00

Those in Congress now trying to kill the effective DC school voucher program would do well to check out the website www.voicesofschoolchoice.org where they could see testimonials of people who have been positively impacted by school choice programs.

“Norma McCorvey of Roe v. Wade Abortion Case Makes First Pro-Life TV Ad”

2008-06-20T22:15:32.9650000-04:00

LifeNews reports.

“Another Study Suggests Planned Parenthood at Fault in Abortion Drug Deaths”

2008-06-20T22:14:40.5530000-04:00

LifeNews reports.

Hundreds of Homosexual Couples Obtain Marriage Licenses in California

2008-06-18T12:09:38.5610000-04:00

The AP reports.

Senator McConnell Continues to Apply Pressure on Judicial Nominations

2008-06-18T12:08:39.0140000-04:00

The Republican Leader of the Senate is continuing delaying tactics on the Senate floor in order to force the majority leadership to fulfill their commitments on judicial nominees. Who sits on our federal benches is an issue which will impact our nation for decades. It is important that the president’s well-qualified judicial nominees receive fair hearings and fair up-or-down votes. Call both your senators today and urge them to put pressure on Senators Reid (D-NV) and Leahy (D-VT) to fulfill their commitments and follow their constitutional duty by treating President Bush’s judicial nominees fairly.

Here is Sen. McConnell in his own words:

…But comity also requires the Majority to treat the Minority fairly, which means, at a minimum, that the Majority needs to keep its commitments to the Minority.

If commitments in this Body are not kept, then comity breaks down, and if that occurs, the Minority will not routinely grant consent to those matters that it typically does. In this case, we have unfulfilled commitments with respect to treating circuit court nominees fairly.

It is the middle of June, and the Senate has only confirmed eight circuit court nominees. This is less than half the number that the Majority Leader and I agreed to. And it is barely half the number of circuit court nominees that a Republican Senate confirmed in President Clinton’s final Congress.

More troubling, the Chairman has threatened to soon stop confirming circuit court nominees altogether.

The Republican Conference does not consider this lack of progress and thinly-veiled threat to be in good faith. Not surprisingly, it is therefore not inclined to continue to freely give its consent to matters that are of importance to the Majority.

That’s the way things work around here. As I’ve said before, the Senate works best when there is a spirit of cooperation. Absent that spirit, the Minority will be compelled to protect its rights using all the protections that are afforded it in the Senate Rules.

There is any easy solution to this problem: the Majority needs to start confirming circuit court nominees, at least those who meet the Chairman’s own criteria. And it seems to me that before the Committee spends its time creating new vacancies, it needs to work on filling the vacancies that exist. Unfortunately, the Judiciary Committee is moving at a glacial pace to do so.

It has only held two circuit court hearings this year, and before that, it hadn’t held a single one since last September. And we have no indication that it’s going to pick up the pace. There are several outstanding nominees who have been sitting in the Committee who meet the Chairman’s criteria, and until they are treated fairly, the Majority will find our cooperation increasingly hard to come by.

“Poll Shows Support for Abortion Drops to Seven-Year Low, Pro-Life Views Up”

2008-06-18T11:01:49.0610000-04:00

LifeNews reports.

“Gay Rights, Religious Liberties: A Three-Act Story”

2008-06-17T10:26:40.1700000-04:00

As this NPR article demonstrates, when “gay rights” and religious liberty conflict, religious liberty usually loses. This is an important fact to emphasize as gay couples are now obtaining marriage licenses in California.

A few examples cited by NPR:

A few cases: Yeshiva University was ordered to allow same-sex couples in its married dormitory. A Christian school has been sued for expelling two allegedly lesbian students. Catholic Charities abandoned its adoption service in Massachusetts after it was told to place children with same-sex couples. The same happened with a private company operating in California.

A psychologist in Mississippi who refused to counsel a lesbian couple lost her case, and legal experts believe that a doctor who refused to provide IVF services to a lesbian woman is about to lose his pending case before the California Supreme Court.

And then there's the case of a wedding photographer in Albuquerque, N.M.

On January 28, 2008, the New Mexico Human Rights Commission heard the case of Vanessa Willock v. Elane Photography.

Willock, in the midst of planning her wedding to her girlfriend, sent the photography company an e-mail request to shoot the commitment ceremony. Elaine Huguenin, who owns the company with her husband, replied: "We do not photograph same-sex weddings. But thanks for checking out our site! Have a great day!"

Willock filed a complaint, and at the hearing she explained how she felt.

"A variety of emotions," she said, holding back tears. "There was a shock and anger and fear. ... We were planning a very happy day for us, and we're being met with hatred. That's how it felt."

Willock declined to be interviewed, as did the owners of Elane Photography. At the hearing, Jonathan Huguenin said that when he and his wife formed the company two years ago, they made it company policy not to shoot same-sex ceremonies, because the ceremonies conflicted with their Christian beliefs.

“You Are Now Pronounced Party A And Party B”

2008-06-17T10:16:39.0450000-04:00

CBS News reports.

“Competent Enough to Live”

2008-06-17T10:15:19.2800000-04:00

Bobby Schindler explains. Excerpt:

Recently, yet another situation similar to that of my sister Terri Schiavo has made headlines. In West Palm Beach, Florida, Raymond Weber is asking the court to dehydrate his disabled wife, Karen, to death.

“Canadian Pastor Fined after Speaking Against Homosexuality”

2008-06-17T10:14:07.1550000-04:00

CitizenLink reports. If the dangerous “hate (thought) crimes” and ENDA legislation now in Congress gets passed into law, we could see similar persecution in the United States.

Ken Blackwell: “A Supreme Constitutional Showdown”

2008-06-17T10:13:04.8730000-04:00

Ken Blackwell comments on the dangerous national implications of the California Supreme Court ruling mandating “gay marriage.” Excerpt:

Few realize that two aspects of California’s same-sex marriages are unlike Massachusetts’, and could redefine marriage in every state. And most people might not realize it before November’s election.

British Girl Dies After Taking Abortion Pill (RU-486)

2008-06-17T10:11:56.4510000-04:00

Fox News reports. Amazingly enough, radical pro-abortionists advocate more availability for RU-486 and refuse to seriously investigate its potentially lethal side effects, despite chilling stories like this one. The BBC also reports.

Stem Cell Roundup

2008-06-17T10:10:43.7010000-04:00

Some recent headlines from the area of bioethics and stem cell research:

Adult Stem Cell Researchers Give Old Muscle New Pep
Physorg.com

Catholic Bishops Approve Statement Opposing Embryonic Stem Cell Research
LifeNews.com

Adult Stem Cell Injections Put Spring in Arthritic Dog's Steps
Orlando Sentinel

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland Vetos Ban on Taxpayer Funding of Human Cloning
LifeNews.com