While I believe that all of us who are pro-life should be politically active AND support our local and state RTL organizations, RedState’s Erick Erickson has an interesting piece this morning that should serve as a warning to us all:

Hypocrisy, thy name is Georgia Right to Life.

Today, Georgia Right to Life attacked Georgia gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel for funding Planned Parenthood when Handel chaired the Fulton County Commission in Georgia.

The funding had actually been approved before Handel got there and the money was designated for cancer screenings with Planned Parenthood doing the cancer screenings instead of the county.

You can read more here and will note that Georgia Right to Life threw in some gratuitous and unneeded nonsense on Sarah Palin and her son with Down Syndrome.

Contrast this Nathan Deal, who Georgia Right to Life is supporting. The money that was spent by Fulton County while Karen Handel chaired the commission went to do cancer screenings. In Congress, Nathan Deal voted for Henry Waxman sponsored legislation to give $500 million to Planned Parenthood to pay for actual abortions.

In Georgia Right to Life’s world, Nathan Deal voting to fund actual abortions is better than Karen Handel presiding over a commission that had voted to use Planned Parenthood as a cervical and breast cancer screening provider for indigent women.

Pure speculation, but it sounds like the folks at the top of Georgia RTL are putting politics first, second, and third on the list while relegating principle to the bottom.

Former Reagan appointee and Delaware Congressional candidate Glen Urquhart has received the endorsement of the FRC Action PAC, an affiliate of the conservative Family Research Council.

“Glen Urquhart has proven to be a dedicated advocate of conservative causes for many years. We need representatives who will have the courage to defend the family under attack by the radical leadership of the House of Representatives,” said Connie Mackey, President of FRC Action PAC. “I am convinced Mr. Urquhart has the vision and conviction to do just that.”

“Glen Urquhart is a successful businessman who knows first hand the necessity of fiscal responsibility. During a time when out-of-control government spending is placing unprecedented burdens on our families, Glen is well-equipped to stand against this liberal trend and preserve America’s opportunities for future generations. As Chairman of the National Capital Planning Committee under Presidents Reagan and Bush, he has demonstrated his abilities to control spending and reduce debt. He represents the fiscal principles and traditional values that are vital to the economic restoration of our country.”

“America needs pro-family Representatives in the next Congress to stop the radical social agenda now before us. FRC Action PAC believes that Mr. Urquhart will be a crucial voice for the issues that best uphold and strengthen families. We are proud to support his candidacy,” concluded Mackey.

Urquhart is running for the GOP nomination to succeed Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), who is running for the US Senate.

H/T – David Anderson @ DelawarePolitics.net

NEA – the National Education Association – is the nation’s largest union.  Maryland teachers are almost universally members through their local “associations” (union locals).  The NEA claims to be putting our children first.  Why, then, does the NEA sanction an “NEA Drag Queen Caucus”?

I try to be fair.  I don’t believe in discriminating against folk because of their sexual orientation.  But, a DRAG QUEEN CAUCUS?  Does that have any place in our schools?

"They already have had the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, [and] Transgender Caucus and apparently felt that the drag queens needed their own caucus," explains Finn Laursen, executive director of Christian Educators Association International (CEAI).
"America, I think, needs to respond and to realize what the National Education Association stands for; they’re not hiding it.  It’s appalling to many of our conservative Christian educators who, in their own lives, could not support this kind of thing but find that their dues are being used to support just those kinds of thing," he adds.
Laursen also tells OneNewsNow there was a movement this year to see the NEA’s pro-abortion stance changed to a more neutral position, but that effort failed. "The organization and its delegates were just unwilling to step back and take no position on abortion," he laments. "They’re going to continue their pro-abortion stance."

We can’t have prayer in school, but the NEA thinks that we should have abortions and distribute condoms?

H/T – Anglican Mainstream

On March 3, 2006 Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder was killed in Iraq while serving his country.  When he was returned home for burial members of the “Westboro Baptist Church” protested at the burial.  NOTE the URL for this supposed “church” – www.GodHatesFags.com

Al Snyder, Lance Corporal Snyder’s father, sued these despicable human beings.  He has now been ordered to pay their attorney’s fees while also attempting to carry his fight to the US Supreme Court.

I’m as strong a supporter of free speech as the next guy.  Ditto with our right to worship as we (as individuals) see fit.  However, can you imagine burying a loved one while these people were picketing?  I can almost sympathize with an atheist after seeing these claimants to Christianity at work.

Al Snyder needs our prayers, and our support.  Help him out any way that you can.  He has been ordered to pay $16,500 to the attorneys of this scum.  You can help by visiting here:  www.MatthewSnyder.org

You can go directly to the donation page HERE.

Is it possible to sap the spirit of giving from Christmas?  No, but some Easter Shore residents sure give it a go.

Yesterday the Salvation Army kicked off its annual “Red Kettle Drive” with a breakfast in Salisbury.  These giving individuals, and many others, will spend countless hours during the Holiday season ringing a bell in the cold and collecting funds to help those less fortunate than themselves.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Not on the Lower Shore.  Why?  SbyNEWS publisher Joe Albero has the unmitigated gall to use Maryland and Delaware’s most popular blog to promote the Kettle Drive and encourage his readers to volunteer their time and money.  Shame on you Joe!

Because Albero is none too popular with certain quarters of our community, some will actually encourage residents NOT to contribute.  For those who live outside of the confines of our bizarre little “Peyton Place”, I’m quite serious.

Local gadfly and Barrie Comegys mouthpiece Jonathan Taylor requested that “concerned citizens” (translation – “Albero haters”) call the Salvation Army and demand that Albero be excluded from the 2009 Kettle Drive.  Since Albero was at yesterday’s kick-off, that obviously didn’t work.  Their next plan is to distribute nasty little pamphlets to drop in the kettle rather than cash.  Now that’s the Christmas spirit guys!

Now the appropriately named “Grinch” promises to have “coins” made stating their refusal to donate because of Albero.  Granted, this is so many mule muffins, but imagine the type of twisted personality required to come up with this nonsense.

It doesn’t matter whether you love Albero or hate him.  Last year the Salvation Army was facing a shortage of volunteers.  Albero took it upon himself to promote the hell out of the Kettle Drive AND donate hours of his own time.  SbyNEWS readers stepped up to the plate with their time and money.  Despite the economy, the Salvation Army saw a sizable increase in donations.  Was this ALL because of Joe Albero.  Of course not.  I never heard him make that claim.  However, there is no question that Albero impacted the Kettle Drive and he (along with his readers) should be applauded.

Instead, we are witnessing a nasty little cabal encouraging people NOT to support their own community because of one guy’s participation.  Following their logic, if Albero is seen shopping at Wal-Mart they shouldn’t shop there?

My view is a little different.

To Albero – Promote the hell out of the kettle drive.  Double your coverage of last year (if that’s even possible).

To SbyNEWS Readers – Keep it up!  I know times are tough, but donate your time and money.

To the Salvation Army – Thank the Lord for people like Albero and his readers.

To people like Jonathan Taylor – Don’t forget your sun block.  You’re going to HELL!

The College of William and Mary held their homecoming this weekend.  Guess who was the homecoming queen?  A self-described “gender-queer” individual by the name of Jessee Vasold.

At the risk of offending almost everyone, I can only ask, “What is the world coming to?”.

From the Daily Press’s article I am assuming that Mr.? (or is it Ms.?) Vasold is a transsexual.  Fair enough.  I’m not opposed to a transsexual running for homecoming queen any more than I was offended by a caucasian woman recently being elected homecoming queen at Hampton University.  My problem is that Billy Mary’s new homecoming queen didn’t have to share with the world that he/she is “transgendered”. (Seriously, I am not trying to offend transsexuals here, I am just not sure from the article whether this individual is a transsexual or simply a transvestite).

I remember as a child when race was used to make a political statement at such events; perhaps I’m just a little too old fashioned not to be more sympathetic with this type of “statement”.  However, it has been my experience that people tend to be a tad more tolerant when this type thing isn’t just pushed into our collective faces.

Amen Bruce! QandO‘s Bruce McQuain gives his take on Melanie Scarborough’s excellent piece in the Examiner. I threw in the “Libertarian” because that what the great guys at QandO are. As far as I’m concerned, it’s pure Goldwater.

Frank Knotts at DelawarePolitics.net covers a recent Federal court ruling that bars a moment of silence in Illinois schools. The arrogance of liberal judges never ceases to amaze me.

As noted here earlier this month, a group led by Bill Ahtes wants the city of Salisbury to donate the soon to be retired Station 16 to them for purposes of turning the building into a theater. Lest we all forget, we have already gone through this once before with the Boulevard Theatre on Main Street.

In this morning’s Daily Times was an article about the auctioning off of mementos from the Boulevard and how this was to benefit SWAC, the Salisbury-Wicomico Arts Council. Buried in what was meant to be a warm and snuggly story about the arts community in Wicomico County were some interesting bits of information that should cause the Salisbury City Council to pause before handing over a valuable piece of real estate to Mr. Ahtes and his group.

To be fair, let’s get all of the players straight. SWAC was the beneficiary of the Boulevard Theatre. Mr. Ahtes’ group claims to be a different organization. While I am sure that legally, this is a different entity, it seems like pretty much the same bunch of folks.

Mr. Ahtes and company want to change Station 16 into a theater. Sounds great! How much will it cost? According to today’s article, SWAC was able to raise only $25,135 over a 5 year period for the renovation of the Boulevard. Does Mr. Ahtes provide any evidence that his little salon will be able to raise much more money, in a shorter period of time?

To quote James Gillespie, Executive Director of SWAC:

“There are a number of people in the community who characterize the Boulevard Theater as a failed project, but it raised our awareness of how much the community wants a performing arts theater,” Gillespie said. “We offered to return any donations or keep them to put (in the fund).”

The “community” wants a theater so badly that they were willing to pony up only a little over $5,000 a year?

The money SWAC received for selling the Boulevard ($175,190) is sitting at the Community Foundation. Is SWAC (which of course isn’t related to Mr. Ahtes’ group) planning on shelling out a significant portion of their “Wicomico County Endowment for the Arts” for this project? If so, what about the school children?

Wouldn’t the citizens of Salisbury be better served by putting Station 16 on the tax rolls? Would they be better served by a for-profit business that employs people an pays taxes?

For a town of Salisbury’s size there is ample theater space available. SU, Wor-Wic, Wi-Hi. Those are just the ones I know of personally. I don’t know what’s available at Parkside and I deliberately left out Bennett because of the new school construction.

As for now, the proposal is tabled, but keep an eye out. As soon as Barrie Tilghman and her compadres think that they can slide it through, they will.

cross posted at Salisbury News

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The College of William & Mary, alma mater of Thomas Jefferson, is spending over $2,000 to bring the “Sex Workers’ Art Show” to the university. The next time someone questions the value of a “Liberal Arts” education, you’ll be able to respond.

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