Obama’s Take out The Trash Day Networks help new administration side-step abortion controversy.

by Colleen Raezler, Culture and Media Institute

Former President George W. Bush reinstated a policy in 2001 that restricted foreign countries using American dollars for abortions. CBS political consultant Craig Crawford called the action “red meat to the Bible Belt conservatives.”

Just three days after taking office, President Barack Obama rescinded the Mexico City Policy, a policy set into place by Ronald Reagan that prohibited American funding for foreign abortions. Have the media called it red meat for liberals? No. They’ve mostly been silent.

Signing on the Sneak

Obama signed the executive order late on Jan. 23, the day after the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. It was also Friday, a moment that TIME magazine’s Amy Sullivan called, “a time traditionally reserved for the release of information an administration would like to bury.” During the Clinton administration, Friday afternoon was the time for “document dumps,” when the scandal-ridden White House released embarrassing pieces of its paper trail.

Even Hollywood recognizes the timing for what it is – a calculated strategy to avoid tough press. Characters in the liberal political drama “The West Wing” refer to such days as “take out the trash day.” “The West Wing,” by the way, is a show whose ultimate fantasy -- a young, Democratic congressman from nowhere becoming president --fulfilled in Obama’s election.

Sullivan reported that Obama “wants to turn down the heat on an issue that has defined and divided American politics for more than three decades” and based on the media coverage of his decision, it seems to have worked.

CBS and NBC barely mentioned the change in policy during the Jan. 23, 2009 Evening News and Nightly News broadcasts. On the Saturday “Early Show,” CBS correspondent Kimberly Dozier noted during a wrap-up of the president’s first few days in office that “Mr. Obama also quietly stepped into the abortion debate” with his executive order that overturned the ban on funding for foreign abortions.

Only ABC acknowledged the controversial nature of Obama’s decision, two days after the fact during World News Sunday. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi noted that the president hoped “not to provoke anti-abortion groups” with the order, and that “it didn’t work.” Alfonsi also featured Tony Perkins, president of the pro-life Family Research Council, who said that Obama “does not have consensus and support from, from the majority of Americans” on social issues.

No networks reported the fact that in a 55-page “wish list” sent to the Obama-Biden transition team by abortion rights groups, reinstating American funding for foreign abortions topped the list with regard to international matters.

Bush “Pleased” the Right

What a difference from eight years ago. Then, Crawford wasn’t the only person accusing Bush of playing politics.

Dan Rather, “CBS Evening News” anchor, introduced a Jan. 22, 2001 report on Bush’s reinstatement of the policy by calling it “something to quickly please the right flank in his party.” John Roberts, chief White House correspondent at CBS, noted “the president waded into controversy on this first day” and “in a nod to anti-abortion groups…announced he’ll cut federal funding to organizations that provide family planning and abortion counseling overseas.”

Roberts’ report also featured criticism by Gloria Feldt, then-president of Planned Parenthood, “The fundamental human and civil right to make our own child-bearing choices is at greater threat than it has been anytime in the 28 years since Roe vs. Wade was decided.” Feldt’s comment re-aired during CBS’ Jan. 23, 2001” The Early Show.” CBS failed to provide a pro-life counterpoint to Feldt.

ABC White House correspondent Terry Moran said Bush’s decision was “designed to appeal to anti-abortion conservatives” on the Jan. 22, 2001 “World News Tonight.”

Newsweek’s Howard Fineman told NBC’s Matt Lauer during the Jan. 23, 2001 “Today” that with the executive order stopping the flow of American money to foreign abortion providers, “George W. Bush following a plan. Secure the base. The Christian right is fundamental to the Republican Party and to his presidency.”

Later in the same broadcast, anchor Ann Curry ignored the pro-life support Bush enjoyed as a result of his executive order. She reported, “Abortion rights supporters are condemning the president’s order Monday, restoring a Reagan-era ban on U.S. funding of overseas family planning groups that advocate abortion.”

Explain and Inform

One thing remained constant in the network coverage from then until Obama’s overturning of the Mexico City Policy: no explanation of the policy aside from as ABC’s Chris Cuomo noted on the Jan. 23, 2009 Good Morning America, “the policy was put in place by Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton overturned, but it was reinstituted by George W. Bush.”

But the same day, Family Research Council’s Tom McClusky succinctly explained the policy and what it means now that Obama has rescinded it:

In as little words as possible, the Mexico City policy halts U.S. family planning funds from going to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform abortions or "actively promote" abortion as a method of family planning in other countries… The effect of President Obama rescinding the Mexico City Policy is that now millions ($461 million in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008) of dollars are taken away from family planning groups that do not promote abortion, and delivered into the hands of organizations that are the most militant in promoting abortion as a population-control method - especially in countries that find abortion objectionable on moral grounds.

ABC may not have covered the story immediately or explained the policy, but the network did recognize that allowing organizations to spend American dollars on abortion is not accepted by all. CBS and NBC failed the American public by not explaining what the policy does and also by not holding Obama to the same scrutiny they held Bush to back in 2001.

Related stories:

Shhh. Obama Repeals the Abortion Gag Rule, Very Quietly
Obama Revokes Abortion Funding Policy, Will Fund Overseas Abortions with Taxpayer Money

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Just another day in Obamaland. Odinga, ODM.

Send this to your local newspapers!!! Send it to your friends!!!

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

It was W.A.M. cofounder who did the original in-depth investigation of Obama's connection to Odinga's ODM party, campaign tactics and the broader terrorism movement they both represent. This was done with some degree of anonymity due to security concerns. Now, months later the truth of that research piece is now reaching mainstream America - but only those who happen to watch Fox news. Yesterday's piece in the Washington Times, by a well-known journalist draws from that original report. It is vital that this information now spread throughout the mainstream press- because it, ultimately exposes the true nature and connections and plans of the Obama campaign!

Go to the following links for one of many reprints of that original 3 Part Expose: "Obama the ODM Candidate for President." Be aware many video and document-verifying links in the full Article may no longer be available - because the Obama campaign has continued their ongoing Constitutional violations of scrubbing the Internet of public information on these facts. Even so, you will still get a clear picture of the overall, previously hidden facts. The American voting public needs to Wake Up and fast- to what Obama has planned if he succeeds - or if he doesn't success, through his disinformation campaign, in taking the White House.

Here is the reprint: http://logisticsmonster.com/2008/10/08/connections-corsi-obama-odinga-kenya-odm-candidate/#comments

In addition, see this recent verification of Obama's ongoing connection to Odinga and Obama's role in Odinga's genocidal campaign, including an audiotape regarding this further evidence of collusion: http://hillbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/did-soetorobama-campaign-advise-his-cousin-odinga-on-how-to-overthrow-the-us-backed-kenyan-government/

Wake Up America Movement

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
October 13, 2008
Untangling The Web - what Obama's Change Campaign really Means

Following the above background information is the Washington Times feature, Sunday, October 12, 2008

All responsible members of the US Press should be reporting on this story. That includes you!

Thank you for your attention to this matter of vital public interest. http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/12/obamas-kenya-ghosts/print

Sunday, October 12, 2008
HYMAN: Obama's Kenya ghosts
Mark Hyman
COMMENTARY:

About 50 parishioners were locked into the Assemblies of God church before it was set ablaze. They were mostly women and children. Those who tried to flee were hacked to death by machete-wielding members of a mob numbering 2,000.

The 2008 New Year Day atrocity in the Kenyan village Eldoret, about 185 miles northwest of Nairobi, had all the markings of the Rwanda genocide of a decade earlier.

By mid-February 2008, more than 1,500 Kenyans were killed. Many were slain by machete-armed attackers. More than 500,000 were displaced by the religious strife. Villages lay in ruin. Many of the atrocities were perpetrated by Muslims against Christians.

The violence was led by supporters of Raila Odinga, the opposition leader who lost the Dec. 27, 2007, presidential election by more than 230,000 votes. Odinga supporters began the genocide hours after the final election results were announced Dec. 30. Mr. Odinga was a member of Parliament representing an area in western Kenya, heavily populated by the Luo tribe, and the birthplace of Barack Obama's father.

Mr. Odinga had the backing of Kenya's Muslim community heading into the election. For months he denied any ties to Muslim leaders, but fell silent when Sheik Abdullahi Abdi, chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum, appeared on Kenya television displaying a memorandum of understanding signed on Aug. 29, 2007, by Mr. Odinga and the Muslim leader. Mr. Odinga then denied his denials.

The details of the MOU were shocking. In return for Muslim backing, Mr. Odinga promised to impose a number of measures favored by Muslims if he were elected president. Among these were recognition of "Islam as the only true religion," Islamic leaders would have an "oversight role to monitor activities of ALL other religions [emphasis in original]," installation of Shariah courts in every jurisdiction, a ban on Christian preaching, replacement of the police commissioner who "allowed himself to be used by heathens and Zionists," adoption of a women's dress code, and bans on alcohol and pork.

This was not Mr. Odinga's first brush with notoriety. Like his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the main opposition leader in the 1960s and 1970s, Raila Odinga is a Marxist He graduated from East Germany's Magdeburg University in 1970 on a scholarship provided by the East German government. He named his oldest son after Fidel Castro.

Raila Odinga was implicated in the bloody coup attempt in 1982 against then-President Daniel Arap Moi, a close ally of the United States. Kenya has been one of the most stable democracies in Africa since the 1960s. The ethnic cleansing earlier this year was the worst violence in Kenya since that 1982 coup attempt.

Mr. Odinga spent eight years in prison. At the time, he denied guilt but later detailed he was a coup leader in his 2006 biography. Statue of limitations precluded further prosecution when the biography appeared.

Initially, Mr. Odinga was not the favored opposition candidate to stand in the 2007 election against President Mwai Kibaki, who was seeking his second term. However, he received a tremendous boost when Sen. Barack Obama arrived in Kenya in August 2006 to campaign on his behalf. Mr. Obama denies that supporting Mr. Odinga was the intention of his trip, but his actions and local media reports tell otherwise.

Mr. Odinga and Mr. Obama were nearly inseparable throughout Mr. Obama's six-day stay. The two traveled together throughout Kenya and Mr. Obama spoke on behalf of Mr. Odinga at numerous rallies. In contrast, Mr. Obama had only criticism for Kibaki. He lashed out against the Kenyan government shortly after meeting with the president on Aug. 25. "The [Kenyan] people have to suffer over corruption perpetrated by government officials," Mr. Obama announced.
"Kenyans are now yearning for change," he declared. The intent of Mr. Obama's remarks and actions was transparent to Kenyans - he was firmly behind Mr. Odinga.

Mr. Odinga and Mr. Obama had met several times before the 2006 trip. Reports indicate Mr. Odinga visited Mr. Obama during trips to the U.S. in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Mr. Obama sent his foreign policy adviser Mark Lippert to Kenya in early 2006 to coordinate his summer visit. Mr. Obama's August trip coincided with strategizing by Orange Democratic Movement leaders to defeat Mr. Kibaki in the upcoming elections. Mr. Odinga represented the ODM ticket in the presidential race.

Mr. Odinga and Mr. Obama's father were both from the Luo community, the second-largest tribe in Kenya, but their ties run much deeper. Mr. Odinga told a stunned BBC Radio interviewer the reason why he and Mr. Obama were staying in near daily telephone contact was because they were cousins. In a Jan. 8, 2008, interview, Mr. Odinga said Mr. Obama had called him twice the day before while campaigning in the New Hampshire primary before adding, "Barack Obama's father is my maternal uncle."

President Kibaki requested a meeting of all opposition leaders in early January in an effort to quell the violence. All agreed to attend except Mr. Odinga. A month later, Mr. Kibaki offered Mr. Odinga the role of prime minister, the de facto No. 2 in the Kenyan government, in return for an end to the attacks. Mr. Odinga was sworn in on April 17, 2008.

Mr. Obama's judgment is seriously called into question when he backs an official with troubling ties to Muslim extremists and whose supporters practice ethnic cleansing and genocide. It was Islamic extremists in Kenya who bombed the U.S. Embassy in 1998, killing more than 200 and injuring thousands. None of this has dissuaded Mr. Obama from maintaining disturbing loyalties.
Mark Hyman is an award-winning news commentator for Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.