Planned Parenthood Prevails
The Senate failed last night to defund Planned Parenthood. The procedural vote was 53 to 46, short of the 60 votes needed to move forward to defunding. The "yes" vote in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood consisted of 51 Republicans and 2 Democrats. (Donnelly of Indiana and Manchin of West Virginia) The "nay" vote consisted of 42 Democrats and 2 Republicans (Kirk of Illinois and McConnell of Kentucky, but McConnell's vote was a procedural maneuver that allows him to raise the proposal again).
It is revealing that Senate liberals voted nearly unanimously to continue funding Planned Parenthood in spite of recent videos suggesting that aborted baby body parts are being "harvested" for profit by the group. Many Senate liberals admitted that they did not even bother to watch the videos.
On the GOP side, the nearly unanimous vote to defund Planned Parenthood was revealing, too. While conservatives expect the party to do more, it is notable that in 2007, eight Senate Republicans opposed defunding Planned Parenthood and yesterday, in reality, only one did.
Regardless of the Senate defeat, the House leadership should make sure a vote takes place there too. Americans deserve to know where their Congressmen stand on the taxpayer funding of such a morally reprehensible organization.
Trump on a Roll
Virtually every GOP presidential candidate participated in the St. Anselm Presidential Forum last night. Immigration was a major emphasis in the "quasi debate," but the candidate who has been most identified with that issue, Donald Trump, was absent. Instead Trump was admiring a slew of new polls showing him opening a major lead over the rest of the pack.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll of GOP primary voters this morning shows Trump at 19%, Scott Walker at 15%, Jeb Bush at 14% (he was in first place in June), Ben Carson at 10% and Ted Cruz at 9%. The poll also revealed an electorate that is angry and afraid, with 65% saying the country is on the wrong track.
The unease of the electorate probably explains why Trump, in spite of a drumbeat of criticism, has improved his numbers. Many voters are looking for a tough fighter who can throw a punch and take one. It also may explain why Bush, the clear choice of the party establishment, is floundering. His soft tone and "happy warrior" theme does not seem to fit the tenor of the times.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton continues to be in a "funk." Forty-eight percent of Americans view her negatively, according to the poll, while just 37% view her positively, a sharp 15-point swing from just last month. And women aren't embracing her either. Among female voters 44% view her negatively while 41% view her positively.
Nuke Deal Tanks
According to this week's Quinnipiac poll, the Obama/Kerry Iranian nuke deal has bombed with the public. The poll poses the question directly: "Do you support or oppose the nuclear deal with Iran?" The result was clear too: 57% oppose the deal and only 28% support it. The public just isn't buying what Obama is selling. Also, revealing is how the public views what impact the deal would have on our security. By a margin of 58% to 30% they believe the Iranian pact will make the world less safe, not safer.
Unfortunately, large numbers of House and Senate Democrats are under intense pressure to vote to ok the deal. Also, Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican senator from Arizona, is reportedly wavering.
TAKE ACTION: If enough of you act, we can stop this deal. Your elected members of Congress are evaluating President Obama's nuclear deal right now. They need to hear from their constituents. Call the Capitol Hill switchboard right now at 202-224-3121 and urge them to oppose the Iran nuclear deal.