This week has been full of #WomenforKavanaugh campaign planning and strategizing, and our excitement continues to build! CWA’s National Field Director, Janae Stracke, and General Counsel, Mario Diaz, have been on the phone with state leaders in key states to discuss local events, billboard ads, radio time, opinion editorials, and rallies in their states.
When strategizing for any CWA campaign, one of our main goals is to make sure we’re being good stewards of our funds. We do a cost benefit analysis and consider the return of investment. We want to make sure we get the most bang for our buck and end with measurable results.
In this case, the timing has worked in our favor, and we plan to center our main efforts around several state fairs, which automictically increases our constituent interaction. Every state is important in this battle, but we will be focusing extra efforts in Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia, North Dakota, Alabama, Missouri, and Montana. If you or someone you know wants to join forces with CWA’s #WomenforKavanaugh campaign or donate to the campaign, visit www.womenforkavanaugh.com or email us at [email protected].
Something you may also consider is writing a letter to the editor for your local paper expressing your support of Judge Kavanaugh. You can find helpful talking points at www.womenforkavanaugh.com.
This week many Americans were glued to our TV’s waiting to see who President Trump had chosen to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. For many of us, it was our first opportunity to hear directly from the man whose young daughter’s basketball team calls “Coach K.” He did not disappoint.
Judge Kavanaugh, who currently sits on the D.C. Circuit – considered the “Second Highest Court in the Land” – shared with us his story which highlighted so many values we, as Americans, hold dear, including family, faith, and hard work.
As the Senate begins the process to “advise and consent” the president’s nominee, it’s important to take a measure of the man in judging his fitness for office.
Here are some glimpses into his influences and his character:
Judge Kavanaugh in his speech last week gave thanks and praise to both of his parents who each attended law school, his father working full-time while putting himself through law school at night. But it was Kavanaugh’s mother to whom he paid a special tribute, Maryland Circuit Court Judge Martha Kavanaugh. “My introduction to law came at our dinner table,” he said. Kavanaugh called his mother a trailblazer for women in the legal profession. She pushed through barriers and overcame obstacles as one of the few female prosecutors at the time to become a trial judge. As he accepted President Trump’s nomination, Judge Kavanaugh credited his mother and her legacy. “The president introduced me tonight as Judge Kavanaugh, but to me that title will always belong to my mom.”
Judge Kavanaugh devotes time and energy to his family and his faith. He is involved in his church and spends his time serving meals with Catholic charities and tutoring. He is a leader in his field.
Throughout his tenure as a judge, Kavanaugh has worked to diversify the legal field through the people he chose to work for him. Rebecca Tailbelson, a former Kavanaugh Clerk, not only spoke about Kavanaugh as a judge but also to the quality of his character as a boss and advocate.
“Judge Kavanaugh has had a really outsized role in helping to diversify this little sliver of the legal profession, and he’s done so by hiring predominantly female – I think a majority of his law clerks have been women which is sort of unheard of at this level. And then after he hires us, he goes to bat for us in every way. It’s impossible to get that Supreme Court clerkship if you don’t have an appeals court judge like Brett Kavanaugh going to bat for you. He goes to bat for us, and then he goes to bat for us for every job after that.”
From the respect with which he honors his mother, to his devotion to raising strong daughters, and his work diversifying the legal field, Judge Kavanaugh has shown through action, not just words, his choice to esteem women.
There are just nine individuals who safeguard our Constitution, the document that has protected our God-given rights for 231 years. There could not be a more qualified candidate to sit on this esteemed bench at this time.
Concerned Women for America is honored to stand behind Judge Kavanaugh and support him during his confirmation. We have launched a $500,000 campaign called “Women for Kavanaugh.” We are devoting considerable resources to this effort and rallying our happy warriors across the nation to use their voices in support of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation. We were active in Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation and plan to be equally active for Judge K, because we trust that he will be another great justice!
CWA stands with Judge Kavanaugh, because his life and his work exemplify what we want to ensure for this generation and generations to come. This is about our children, our grandchildren, and the future of the home that we love. #ConfirmJudgeK
Concerned Women for America (CWA) CEO & President Penny Nance discusses the excellent nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court with Kevin McCullough.
Washington, D.C. — Concerned Women for America (CWA), the largest public policy organization of women in the country, is launching a $500,000 grassroots effort to support the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, issued the following statement:
“We are happy to announce that Concerned Women for America is launching a $500,000 grassroots campaign called “Women for Kavanaugh ” (WomenforKavanaugh.com) to rally conservative women across the nation in support of the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. While this is a national effort, there will be specific efforts in nine key states to educate and engage our activist in efforts to communicate with their senators. CWA activists from around the nation have been waiting for this historic opportunity to restore constitutional balance to the nation’s highest court, and they are ready to meet the challenge. We will do everything in our power to support this noble, eminently qualified nominee against the unfair attacks from the left.
“This is the moment for which conservative women have been waiting, and the ‘happy warrior’ women I represent are eager to engage in an effort they know will help preserve justice and liberty for their children and their children’s children.
“During his presidential campaign, President Trump promised to nominate judges in the mold of the late, great Justice Antonin Scalia. That was one of the main reasons why conservative women turned out for President Trump in such great numbers. The president delivered on that promise with Justice Neil Gorsuch, and he has delivered once again with soon-to-be Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“The U.S. Senate must now rise above political pettiness and give this nominee a fair consideration. President Trump is not the nominee; he already won. Judge Kavanaugh is the nominee, and his record speaks for itself. It is worth noting that Judge Kavanaugh was already confirmed to the D.C. Circuit, commonly recognized as the second most powerful court in the land, with bipartisan support. He should be confirmed swiftly with overwhelming support this time, too.
“Our message is simple: ‘Confirm Judge K.’”
For an interview with Penny Nance contact Annabelle Rutledge at [email protected] or 916-792-3973
If you did not get a chance to hear from Judge Kavanaugh at his nomination announcement, I encourage you to take the time and listen to him. I am confident you will see in him what virtually everyone he has worked with will testify; this is an honorable man for whom family and faith are incredibly important. His humility and candor are evident.
But, of course, he also has an impeccable professional record that is second to none. He graduated from Yale and had several prestigious clerkships with Judges in the Third and Ninth Circuit, and Justice Anthony Kennedy at the U.S. Supreme Court. He later served as an associate at the Office of Independent Counsel Ken Starr and also as Senior Associate Counsel for President George Bush.
It is because of this public service that liberals staunchly opposed Judge Kavanaugh when he was nominated for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was first nominated in 2003, but his nomination stalled for three years in the Senate as they unfairly targeted him for political reasons. He was finally confirmed in 2006 by a vote of 57-36.
That he is so fiercely opposed by the radical liberals tells you a lot. Judge Kavanaugh has written over 300 published opinions and has proven himself to be an impartial judge seeking to apply the Constitution as written, refusing to legislate from the bench which is what the left demands.
Judge Kavanaugh (a Catholic himself) has protected religious freedom, as protected by the Constitution. In Newdow v. Roberts, he upheld prayer and invocations at government ceremonies. Noting Supreme Court precedent that, “The Constitution does not oblige government to avoid any public acknowledgment of religion’s role in society.”
In Archdiocese of Washington v. WMATA, Judge Kavanaugh was appalled at the unconstitutionality of D.C. Metro’s ban on religious advertising. As The Washington Post reported, “Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh was unrelenting in questioning Metro’s lawyer, former solicitor general Donald B. Verrilli Jr., and stated unequivocally his view that the policy is ‘pure discrimination’ in violation of the First Amendment.”
In Priests for Life v. HHS, Judge Kavanaugh voted to prevent the Obama Administration from enforcing its contraceptive mandate against religious entities.
Kavanaugh also recognizes the Government’s interest in protecting the unborn. In a recent case (Garza v. Hargan ) we told you about, where an illegal immigrant minor in U.S. custody wanted to force the government to help her in getting an abortion, Judge Kavanaugh recognized the government’s legitimate interest in preferring life over abortion.
Although you may hear some concern from some of our friends in the pro-life community about this case, the reality is that judge Kavanaugh strongly rejected the ACLU’s argument, instead siding with the legal argument made by the Trump Administration that requiring the federal government to assist the minor in obtaining an abortion would ignore the government’s “permissible interest in favoring fetal life, protecting the best interests of a minor, and refraining from facilitating abortion.” He forcefully dissented from the en banc ruling saying it was “based on a constitutional principle as novel as it is wrong: a new right for unlawful immigrant minors in U.S. Government detention to obtain immediate abortion on demand.”
Judge Kavanaugh has stood strong against the overreaching of federal agencies. He dissented from a denial of en banc rehearing in U.S. Telecom Ass’n v. FCC writing that, “the Government must keep its hands off the editorial decisions of Internet service providers.” And he has many other encouraging decisions in this area.
There is simply no other way to look at this nomination than to say it is an excellent pick by President Trump. We’ve just scratched the surface; Judge Kavanaugh has strong opinions respecting the Second Amendment and upholding voter ID laws, among hundreds of others.
Justice Kavanaugh will be no swing vote. He has proven he will stand for the Constitution as written every time, and he deserves our support.
— Mario Diaz, Esq. is CWA’s general counsel. Follow him on Twitter @mariodiazesq.
Washington, D.C. – Moments ago, President Donald J. Trump announced Brett Kavanaughas his nominee to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy’s vacancy at the United States Supreme Court.
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, issued the following statement:
“This is an historic moment for the United States. This is why conservative women voted overwhelmingly for Donald J. Trump – to ensure that a proper constitutional balance is restored to our nation’s highest court. President Trump made a promise to the American people and, just as with the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch, he is delivering on that promise.
“Judge Brett Kavanaugh is abundantly qualified to sit on the bench of the United States Supreme Court. He is among the best and brightest jurists on the appellate courts with a reputation of being fair and impartial in his decisions. Judge Kavanaugh is known as a judge who respects the Constitution as written, refusing to legislate from the bench. This is what we need at this time on the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Concerned Women for America is ready to stand up for Judge Kavanaugh and against the political attacks of the left which have little to do with the candidate’s record. This is not just about us; this is about our children and their children. This is about the future of this nation for generations to come, and we plan on giving everything we have in order to leave them a Supreme Court that will protect their liberties and uphold our Constitution.
“Simply put, Judge Brett Kavanaugh is an outstanding choice. President Trump, once again, is keeping his promises to the American people by picking a highly qualified, fair, and independent judge – just as he did with Neil Gorsuch. He will be another great justice, and the U.S. Senate should confirm him expeditiously.”
For an interview with Penny Nance contact Annabelle Rutledge at [email protected] or 916-792-3973.
This week, Concerned Women for America of Iowa were in Webster County and Fayette County to attend Sen. Grassley’s (R-Iowa) first town hall meetings since Justice Kennedy announced his resignation. As expected, this was a big issue at the meeting. Our National Field Director, Janae Stracke, and Field Coordinator, Amelia Koehn, who also happen to be from Iowa, were able to attend the meetings and speak on behalf of our thousands of members, some of whom were also at the meetings.
Both meetings were standing room only due to the large crowds of people. Janae shared that she must have chosen to sit right where the recruited planned parenthood supporters were sitting because they seemed to be all around her. Several of them stood to speak in support of abortion and expressed their fear of losing so-called “reproductive rights” in relation to the new supreme court vacancy.
However, when Janae stood and thanked Sen. Grassley for his fair and balanced work as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and encouraged him to see President Trump’s nominee through a fair and evenhanded process, the crowd’s agreement was obvious. They erupted in applause after Janae spoke, showing their support for CWA’s stance rather than the fear-tactics of Planned Parenthood. Janae’s comments set off a chain reaction and several other attendees then went on to speak in favor of Sen. Grassley seeing Trump’s upcoming nominee through a smooth and fair process.
At the meeting the next morning, both Janae and Amelia were able to speak in support of Sen. Grassley and after the meeting, a handful of other audience members approached them to thank her for speaking. Janae was also able to speak to Iowa Public Radio.
This is just the beginning! Throughout this confirmation process, Concerned Women for America will continue to encourage, equip, and mobilize people all across the country. We invite you to join us!
Teresa Tomeo with EWTN interviewed Penny Nance regarding what the SCOTUS vacancy means for the Constitution and what you, as an American citizen, can do.
As you know, the world ends every week in America. This week, it is because of the announced retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy from the U.S. Supreme Court. The left reveres abortion. And every time a Supreme Court vacancy occurs, we hear the screeching call to arms of Big Abortion and its devotees in the media and Hollywood. They never disappoint.
Here’s Michael Ian Black’s graceful take on Twitter: “Stock up on abortions now. Roe v. Wade is gone.”
Stock up on abortions now. Roe v. Wade is gone.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) June 27, 2018
They’re just cool and rational and funny, you see.
CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin was a bit more measured, as a member of the media, saying, “Abortion will be illegal in twenty states in 18 months.”
Anthony Kennedy is retiring. Abortion will be illegal in twenty states in 18 months. #SCOTUS
The fact that this one decision is always at the center of their fears reflects not only their veneration of abortion (they venerate other issues that do not get the same attention). It’s actually the reflection of Roe’s very poor (in fact, non-existent) constitutional underpinnings. In that sense, they should be worried about the great monuments they have built on such flimsy foundations.
