Penny Nance speaks out on lawlessness happening across our nation.
By Jaelyn Morgan, Intern for the Department of International Affairs, Concerned Women for America
Wall Street Journal could not have phrased it any better, “What good is a global health agency that won’t tell the truth about a pandemic?”[1] Yet, controversy still surrounds the recent announcement made by President Trump to defund the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its untimely and China-biased response to COVID-19. Some say the reaction is extreme. Others claim WHO is corrupted beyond repair. The question remains: is this policy worth supporting? Or is the U.S. withdrawing from an organization at the time the world needs it the most?
The World Health Organization is a branch of the United Nations responsible for communicating internationally relevant medical information to its Member States all across the globe. In light of their failure to properly convey information about the Coronavirus, it is no wonder the Trump Administration decided to write it off. On April 15, 2020, the White House released a fact sheet containing specific accusations of misconduct against WHO, criticizing the organization for its slow response to the Coronavirus and calling it to engage in total structural reform to ensure transparency, data sharing, accountability, and impartiality.[2]
On May 29, 2020, President Trump officially announced that the U.S. would terminate its relationship with WHO and redirect U.S. annual funding of $450 million dollars to “other worldwide and deserving, urgent, global public health needs.”[3] Justification for this measure was China’s “total control over World Health Organization,” and consequent action to “[pressure] the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the [Coronavirus] was first discovered by Chinese authorities.” The ensuing weeks resulted in a mixed reaction from both sides of the political aisle. However, this wakeup call toward WHO might not only have been necessary, but inevitable.
The political nature of a global entity makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to make any “neutral” decisions. Even WHO’s objectively “good” goal of “building a better, healthier future for people all over the world,”[4] does not make it a completely neutral entity which promotes what is best for humankind. Why? Each nation represented in WHO comes from a complex socio-cultural background with their own worldview and priorities. These worldviews inevitably clash due to significant variations in what each perceives as real, good, or best.
The World Health Organization is biased on many of its policies and recommendations. For example, a central aspect of WHO’s reproductive health initiative is the promotion and facilitation of abortion services. This objective is cleverly disguised under rhetoric advocating for “women’s rights” on the grounds of “realizing a women’s right to decide the spacing and timing of her children.”[5] Yet, this failure toward neutrality is exposed in its complete disregard for the pro-life argument against abortion on the grounds that it violates the human rights of an unborn child. WHO’s Reproductive Health Strategy explicitly states that “urgent actions are needed … to the extent allowed by law, provision of safe abortion services … [and] providing abortion services at primary health care level.”[6] Again, their progressive healthcare agenda is revealed in the claim that “access to safe, legal abortion is a critical reproductive healthcare service.”[7]
In addition, WHO’s explicitly progressive goal of advancing abortion across the globe demonstrates its profound lack of understanding and respect for national sovereignty. Their one-sided agenda reveals bias against nations who are culturally pro-life, as their publications demonstrate that WHO views such nations as oppressive entities which must provide “safe abortion” services to show that they support women.
For the United States, defunding the World Health Organization and using the funds to help other like-minded entities instead is a good decision. If an organization such as WHO cannot be neutral, there is no sense in funding it, especially since it has become clear that WHO has been acquiescing to the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of the health and well-being of other nations. The United States does, and hopefully always will, stand for democracy, freedom, and national sovereignty. This can be accomplished by withdrawing from WHO and determining as a nation which like-minded organizations we ought to support amid this worldwide pandemic.
[1] The Editorial board, “How WHO Really Feels About China,” Wall Street Journal, June 3, 2020, https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-who-really-feels-about-china-11591226923.
[2] “President Donald J. Trump Is Demanding Accountability From the World Health Organization,” Fact Sheets: Healthcare, The White House, April 15, 2020, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-demanding-accountability-world-health-organization/.
[3] “Remarks by President Trump on Actions Against China,” Remarks: National Security & Defense, May 30, 2020, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-actions-china/.
[4] “About WHO,” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/about.
[5] “Abortion” Overview, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/health-topics/abortion#tab=tab_1.
[6] World Health Organization, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, “Reproductive health strategy to accelerate progress towards the attainment of international development goals and targets,” May, 2004, https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/68754/WHO_RHR_04.8.pdf.
[7] Bearak, Jonathan Marc, Anna Popinchalk, Gilda Sedgh, et al., “Pregnancies, abortions, and pregnancy intentions: a protocol for modeling and reporting global, regional and country estimates,” Reproductive Health 16, no. 36, (March 2019), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-019-0682-0.
CWA has signed onto the below Conservative Action Project’s (CAP) Memo for the Movement entitled “Justice, Not Chaos Needed for a More Perfect Union.”
“Conservatives are confronting a country at unrest. Peaceful demonstrations over the unjustified murder of George Floyd have turned violent, exploited by individuals and organizations using Floyd’s death to pursue their own agenda of social conflict and destruction.
Some of the videos of the unrest all over America during the last ten days clearly show some protesters breaking the law by looting, for their own gain and, apparently, their own great amusement. Are we to condemn all protesters because of the few arsonists and looters?”
CWA’s CEO and President Penny Nance prayed at the Lincoln Memorial for our Nation on a Facebook Live Monday following several days of dangerous riots across the country.
Watch the Entire Facebook Live and Penny’s Prayer for Our Nation Here:
Do you want to understand what socialism is and how it impacts society? Or, how to respond to socialist promises like – Free Stuff! – healthcare and college? This lessons by Concerned Women for America’s Vice President of International Affairs Dr. Shea Garrison will help you understand why this seemingly benign philosophy has been disastrous wherever it has been implemented. This is part 1 in a series presented by the CWA Academy for Conservative Principles.
Click here for a digital copy of the booklet referenced in the lesson.
CWA’s Vice President of International Affairs, Dr. Shea Garrison, wrote the following op-ed published on CNS News.
“In his Senate confirmation hearing last week, Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), remarked that the Chinese authoritarian regime is working diligently “to supplant us as the world’s superpower.”
The fact that Communist China strategically orchestrates its goal of world domination by infiltrating, influencing, and funding organizations and leaders in the U.S. and around the world, should be taken very seriously by U.S. national intelligence.
Although the extent of the World Health Organization’s collaboration with China is still to be determined, investigation is warranted into WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party — ties which may be critically relevant to the early spread of coronavirus and which are still potentially dangerous.
During Tedros’ campaign for WHO director general, the Ethiopian Registrar made a series of allegations in an article called “Why TPLF is Desperately Fighting for Dr. Tedros to be the Next DG of the WHO.” The TPLF, or Tigray People’s Liberation Front, is an historically Marxist-Leninist revolutionary party which ruled under cover of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front during Tedros’ time as minister of foreign affairs. Tedros is one of the nine executive members or “politburo” of the TPLF.
WASHINGTON — Penny Nance, CEO and president of Concerned Women for America, issues the following statement praising President Trump’s third State of the Union Address, titled “The Great American Comeback”:
“Only one word describes the state of our Union under President Trump — stellar!
The president’s speech shined much-needed light on America’s renewed greatness, a comeback the media has ignored in favor of anti-Trump controversies. The economy is booming with 7 million jobs and record unemployment. Gains have been made to protect unborn life. The right of every American to freely practice their faith without government intrusion has been defended. One hundred eighty-seven Constitutionalist judges and two Supreme Court Justices have been confirmed and will defend the Constitution for decades to come. We’re finally treating our friend Israel as an ally and moved our Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Our borders are defended against terrorists and drug cartels. Despots and bad actors across the globe respect and fear America again, and trust our red lines.
There is no doubt America is experiencing the blessing of renewal, and President Trump’s leadership has been, frankly, unimpeachable.”
A message from CEO and President Penny Nance:
Most likely, you have been following the U.S. military action taken against Iranian terrorist Qassem Suleimani but I wanted you to have specific talking points, history, and prayer points. This is a major foreign policy event that could have very serious implications for U.S. policy in everything from Energy to Defense.
Please pray for Secretary Pompeo, the President, and our military as they walk through what could become a crisis situation should it continue to escalate. Remember, Iran is desperate, and its economy is in tatters due to U.S. sanctions. They are on the cusp of another revolution and to unite behind war with the “Great Satan” would suit the Ayatollah Khomeini just fine. Many experts hope that cooler heads will prevail. Much of this can be laid at the feet of the Obama Administration who had a policy of appeasement against the terrorist regime culminating with a $150 billion pay off.
I encourage you to look at news clips from when the Iranians stormed our embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, and held them for 444 days until after President Reagan was inaugurated in January of 1981. President Trump was right to take this head-on. President Reagan’s policy of “peace through strength” is still true.
Click here to read CWA’s talking points on key information concerning the U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian General Qassem Suleimani.
Finally, below is the email I sent to Secretary Pompeo this morning.
Mr. Secretary,
CWA is 100% supportive of the President’s decision to retaliate against Soleimani and his murderous thug entourage. History has taught us that appeasement only emboldens terrorists and fascist dictators. We are calling on our members to cover you, President Trump, and our military leaders in prayer. We are also sending out talking points today to our entire list and planning a phone briefing with state leaders and supporters as early as Monday. I have been active on Twitter and will continue to give support. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do. Mostly, I just wanted you and your team to know we have your backs both through prayer and action.
This week the House expressed opposition to the anti-Semitic BDS Movement by passing H. Res. 246, “Opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.” The vote on the resolution was 398-17 with 5 voting present.
This is a good first step, but further action is needed in the House for there to be any meaningful impact. The next step is to pass H.R. 336, which contains the Combatting BDS Act of 2019 and passed out of the Senate as S. 1 by a vote of 77-23 reflecting significant bipartisan support.
A resolution, H. Res or S. Res, expresses a sense or sentiment of Congress. It is a way for Congress to take a position without passing actual law. There is no action resulting from a resolution. A bill, titled H.R. or S., is legislation that if passed, becomes law—it has teeth where a resolution does not.
It is helpful that the House is on record against the BDS movement, but we need the House to do more than say BDS is bad; they need to take a stand and do something about it.
And that something is passing H.R. 336, a bill that mirrors the Senate-passed S.1, which was the top priority of the Senate in the 116th Congress. This legislation affirms states have the ability to choose not to do business with entities that participate in the BDS Movement. It provides legitimacy for states to enact anti-BDS legislation and ensure tax dollars aren’t going to entities participating in a movement that contradicts the foreign policy interests of the United States. States make their own laws regarding BDS; this just equips them to do so.
Despite the statement of opposition to BDS, Speaker Pelosi has been unwilling to bring H.R. 336 to the House floor. Republicans are using a procedural tactic called a discharge petition to try and force a vote. The petition needs a majority of the House, 218 votes, to bring H.R. 336 to the floor for a vote. It is puzzling that with 348 members opposing BDS with H. Res. 246, only 196 have signed the petition to take action and combat BDS by passing H.R. 336.
We are calling on Congress to take the next step and translate the high level of bipartisan cooperation standing against the BDS Movement into action by supporting and passing H.R. 336. Please urge your member to sign the discharge petition opposing anti-Semitism. Thank them if they already have. To see the list of members who have signed, click here.
June is designated LGBT Pride Month, and rainbows are displayed on everywhere from T-shirts to restaurant chains to the Uber app. Even with all the gay pride flags, parades, and recognition the LGBT community receives in the U.S. during June, the Left is still not satisfied. They demand that the rainbow flag be flown over U.S. embassies abroad.
Look at this practice that’s been in place since the Obama administration — President Barack Obama actively promoted the LGBT community not just domestically but also internationally through the U.N., State Department, and U.S. Agency for International Development.
First, we should recognize that the LGBT community does have reasons for fear. Their human rights are violated around the world through harassment, killings, beatings, and imprisonment, and homosexuality is criminalized in at least 73 countries. In Tanzania, laws against homosexuality carry a sentence of up to 30 years, and authorities have been accused by human rights groups of subjecting suspected homosexuals to “forced anal exams.” And who could forget the horrific 2015 images of ISIS pushing gay men off buildings to their death? There are other incidents equally as evil, and the U.S. must stand firmly against these insidious abuses.
We should all agree that addressing human rights abuses around the world must be a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy. But why is one group singled out and others ignored?
Click here to read the rest of this op-ed as featured in the Washington Examiner.
CEO and President Penny Nance is featured in The Western Journal along with other top faith leaders such as Franklin Graham, Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer.
“Some of the nation’s top Christian leaders believe President Donald Trump will once again enjoy the strong backing of evangelicals in 2020, noting he now has a record, and not just promises, to run on.
The Western Journal spoke with Rev. Franklin Graham, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Concerned Women for America president Penny Nance, American Values president Gary Bauer and Christian Broadcasting Network chief political analyst David Brody to gauge their views on why Trump enjoyed such strong evangelical support in 2016, and how he looks with these voters going into the 2020 election.”
According to recent news reports, the Trump administration has instructed U.S. delegates to the United Nations to replace the term “sexual reproductive health” with those like “reproduction and the related health services” and the word “gender” with “woman” in documents and negotiations. These reports (and a resulting letter from members of Congress) stem from “leaked” State Department memos and warn that striking these terms will damage U.S.-foreign relations, hinder access to health care, oppress women’s rights, and “define transgender people out of existence.” These reports are at best misinformed about U.S. development aid and foreign relations and at worst sounding yet another false alarm to continue Obama’s legacy of “progressive” social ideology in U.S. foreign policy.
Click here to read the rest of this column as featured on The Federalist.
The following is a statement made by Mrs. Beverly LaHaye, Concerned Women for America’s Founder and Chairwoman; Penny Nance, CWA’s CEO and President; and CWA’s board members, Jean Crisp, Janne Myrdal, Ann Hettinger, Lori Scheck, Terri Johannessen, Betty Jane Strong, Cheryl Keithly, Angel Voggenreiter, and Jon Whetsell:
“Concerned Women for America (CWA), the largest public policy organization for women in the country, calls on Congress to break through political pride and work together to secure our borders with appropriate and effective means and fix our broken immigration laws.
“As a sovereign nation, it is the duty and right of the U.S. to secure our borders and protect our people. Groups who have encouraged mass and disorganized migration to our borders are manipulating and exploiting vulnerable people for political gain and unduly burden our U.S. Border Patrol. During the journey, almost 1 in 3 women have been sexually abused and many have fallen prey to violence or human trafficking.
“Both parties acknowledge the system must be fixed, and President Trump is more than willing to take on this difficult task. The status quo is hurting both citizens and immigrants. It’s time to stop the political games and work for the good of the country.”
For an interview with Penny Nance, contact Annabelle Rutledge at [email protected] or 916-792-3973.
Quick — somebody please remind Democratic Senators Kamala Harris (D-California) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) that they’re members of what’s supposed to be the tolerant party. Based on the bigoted questions they recently posed to a judicial nominee, they may think that Democrats are the heirs of the anti-Catholic Know-Nothing party.
Sens. Harris and Hirono challenged federal judicial nominee Brian Buescher about his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus, an international Catholic charitable organization with nearly two million members. What, specifically, are the senators upset about? That the Catholic organization espouses the teachings of the Catholic Church. How dare it!
Sen. Harris asked the nominee whether he agreed with the leader of the Knights, who once said that abortion is “the killing of the innocent on a massive scale.” Somebody should tell her that Pope Francis recently compared abortion doctors to hitmen.
The senator’s question reflects an alarming trend among Democratic politicians: the desire to root out any speck of religious belief that may threaten the Holy Grail of the Left, abortion-on-demand. And what Sen. Harris seeks to do with questions like this is force underground anyone — not just Catholics — with religious objections to abortion.
Sen. Hirono, whose biggest campaign committee contributor was the pro-abortion group EMILY’S List, even went so far as to ask Buescher if he would discontinue his affiliation with the Knights. “If confirmed,” she asked, “do you intend to end your membership with this organization to avoid any appearance of bias?”
What’s the objective? The senator’s goal is to obstruct and defeat every white, male, conservative judicial nominee of the Trump administration. That was fully on display during the Kavanaugh confirmation when she demanded that every male just “shut up.” Even if this is her objective, and even if she is a woman, religious bigotry should not be tolerated.
As for Sen. Harris, she has 2020 White House aspirations. She would do well to recognize that being on the left edge of the West Coast is far from middle America. Any pathway to 2020 still takes you through Iowa — and neighboring Nebraska for that matter.
Buescher would have been in the right to blast both senators for these questions. Instead, he calmly explained that “judge[s] must decide cases and apply the law, not advocate for one side or the other in a legal proceeding.” Simply put, his faith and religiously affiliated volunteerism has no bearing on his ability to faithfully execute the duties of a federal judge. For Harris and Hirono to insinuate otherwise is an insult to all people of faith, whether Catholic, evangelical, Jewish, or Muslim.
And remember, Harris and Hirono aren’t the only senators making these suggestions. In 2017, Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Dianne Feinstein suggested that judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s religious belief rendered her unfit for the bench. A few months before that, the supposedly progressive Bernie Sanders suggested that Russell Vought, an evangelical nominee for a position in the Office of Management and Budget, was unfit for public service because of his belief in the Gospel.
Sanders’ treatment of Vought makes clear that it’s not only Catholics who should be alarmed by this trend among Democrats and progressives. The Left seeks to stifle any public expression of religious belief, whether it’s relevant to one’s job or not, and block from government anyone whose religious beliefs run counter to the ideology of the Left.
For Hirono and Harris, the target was a Catholic who disagreed with them about abortion. For Sanders, it was an evangelical who disagreed with him about salvation through Christ. Other senators will find other reasons to oppose nominees of other religions. Their goal is simple: to drive religion out of the public square, even if that means suggesting that a nominee is an extremist for belonging to a two-million-member organization that raises money for the intellectually impaired, feeds the hungry, and clothes the poor.
People of all faiths and members of both parties must rise up and speak out against this rank bigotry. If you think it will stop with Catholics, you’re already wrong. And if it’s allowed to continue, the Senate will succeed in instituting an unconstitutional religious test.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article was published by Fox News. Click here to read it.
Join CWA for a panel event co-sponsored by The Heritage Foundation on “How to Protect International Religious freedom from the Politicization of Human Rights”. This event is a side event for Secretary of State Pompeo’s Ministerial for Advancing Religious Freedom held at the U.S. Department of State July 24-26th 2018.
Panelists will discuss how our “natural” or fundamental human rights, such as religious freedom, protect the fairness of the political process by ensuring that individuals are free to think, speak, and act according to their convictions. Increasingly the human rights of individuals are being conflated with the social and economic policy priorities of particular groups and governments. This undercuts the moral legitimacy and persuasive power of our natural rights, including our freedom to live according to our religious convictions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The issue of Immigration is very complicated and fraught with emotional and political landmines. The truth is that both Democrats and Republicans have used the issue to rev up their bases and score points against each other, ignoring the human cost.
Americans are aghast at the idea of separating legitimate parents from children. However, the answer can’t be to not enforce the law.
It’s time for Democrats and Republicans to put aside petty politics and get to work on a solution that both protects children and respects the rule of law.
It’s a false choice to suggest that we cannot keep mothers and children together. However, it is true that there must be a statutory fix to this heartbreaking problem.
I call on Congress to stop with the finger pointing and to pass legislation immediately.
President Trump is a businessman and a deal-maker — we knew that when we elected him. His administration operates differently from any other previous presidential administration, including in diplomacy, where deals are truly an “art form.” So, it is not surprising President Trump threw protocol out the window when he met last week with Chairman Kim Jon Un, the first-ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and North Korean leader.
Those disappointed with the outcomes of the summit posit that Kim, not Trump, benefited most, suggesting the U.S. gave up more than it got, following in the footsteps of previous U.S. administrations. For example, through threatening the U.S. with armed ballistic missiles, Kim “won” a private meeting with an American president, a longtime strategic goal of his family’s regime. Further criticism says the meeting itself gave legitimacy to the dictatorship of a gross violator of human rights, and that the result of the meeting — the U.S./DRPK joint statement — is only a one-page, “unsubstantial” document which does not outline specifics of denuclearization, nor give a timeline for doing so
Valid points, but in light of previous U.S. administrations’ “flimsy” agreements and failed diplomacy with North Korea, it is important to withhold judgement and give Trump’s new approach to foreign policy a chance. In previous administrations, the U.S. has seen a bottom-up approach to diplomacy, using lower-level officials to outline a deal, only bringing the president in at the end of negotiations to sign, seal, and deliver
Instead, Trump strategically brought the prestige of the U.S. presidency to North Korea, playing to the ego of an arrogant egomaniacal president and building trust, which in turn possibly opened the door to more substantive diplomatic discussion and relationship. He even gave a brief private meeting to Kim, which Trump called “a critical gauge of whether a deal is likely.” As Trump remarked when asked about the minimum outcome he expected from the summit: “The minimum would be a relationship — you’d start at a dialogue … as a deal person, that is important.”
In addition, he used purposeful rhetoric to lay groundwork for the meeting, sometimes smoothing Kim’s feathers, and sometimes being tough, critical, and dismissive — balancing his response in accordance with the need, but always with the ultimate objective of controlling the outcomes.
One example is when, in mid-May, Kim threatened to cancel the summit. Trump abruptly and publicly cancelled the meeting with a letter citing Kim’s “tremendous anger and open hostility” in statements regarding the U.S. In immediate response, Kim back-pedaled and offered the U.S. the “time and opportunities” to reconsider the meeting “at any time, at any format,” which Trump graciously accepted. However, he later warned Kim, “It’s a one-time shot” for negotiations, telling the world, “I think it’s going to work out very well” but that at the same time Kim “won’t have that opportunity again.”
“Trump the Negotiator,” for whom deals are an “art form,” is most likely in play here — the billion-dollar businessman who knows how to build lasting coalitions for maximum productivity and profit. Over the past eighteen months, his unorthodox methods have often brought concrete and prosperous results — such as record lows for unemployment, near destruction of ISIS, reduction in illegal immigration, and securing the release of three hostages from North Korea, just to name a few.
Certainly, more details and specifics to the agreement must be outlined, definitions of what constitutes denuclearization must be clarified, and mechanisms to verifiability firmly laid out. As Mike Pompeo pointed out, the summit only opens discussion and sets conditions for future productive talks.
But Trump knows negotiation and how to get results, and is possibly laying the foundation for an agreement, not just for agreement’s sake or for the illusion of progress, but for a process that will actually have the power to accomplish full U.S. objectives. That will not happen overnight or in just one meeting. As the president himself has said: “There’s a good chance it won’t work out,” but “there’s probably an even better chance it will take a period of time.”
Let’s give President Trump a chance to do what we elected him to do—make a deal, in his own way.
Dr. Shea Garrison is Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs at Concerned Women for America.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article was published at Townhall.com. Click here to read it.
Washington, D.C. — This morning, President Trump’s nominee for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director, Gina Haspel, began her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, issued the following statement in support of Haspel:
“Gina Haspel is a strong, intelligent woman of integrity who has unquestionable qualifications to serve as our nation’s next CIA director. She worked her way to the top in a male-dominated field, but she has risen based on her earned credentials and hard work. If confirmed, she would be the first woman to serve as CIA Director.
“Haspel is undeniably well-qualified for this crucial position. She has served in the CIA for over three decades and has shown a commitment to the rule of law and to the mission of the CIA. She previously served as Deputy Director under then-Director Pompeo and now serves as Acting Director. She has served in numerous senior-level positions, rising through the ranks of the CIA, proving her worth with each earned promotion and numerous awards and recognitions.
“Haspel requested a transfer to the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center to join the fight against al Qaeda. Her first day was a day our nation must never forget, September 11, 2001, the day we were attacked on American soil and almost 3,000 lives were lost. All of our lives forever changed.
“Perhaps most tellingly, Haspel is widely supported by her peers in the intelligence community and from national security officials. For example, Leon Panetta, former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense during the Obama Administration, said ‘I’m glad it’s Gina because, frankly, she is someone who really knows the CIA inside out.’ It’s one thing to win awards; it is another thing entirely to earn the respect of your colleagues and superiors.
“As our nation faces numerous threats from abroad, the CIA remains a crucial element of our national security. Haspel’s career at the CIA has no doubt prepared her, but her own hard work, integrity, and expertise in the field of intelligence is what makes her the best candidate for this job.
“I urge all senators to put partisan bickering and theatrics aside, focus on what is best for our national security, and swiftly confirm Haspel to be our next CIA Director.”
For an interview with Penny Nance, contact Annabelle Rutledge at [email protected] or 916-792-3973.
Washington, D.C. — Today President Trump took a bold step in terminating United States participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, issued the following statement in response:
“Concerned Women for America praises the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal as a necessary step in protecting America’s vital national security interests.
“This was a bad deal from the beginning. The JCPOA has propped up the Iranian regime and enabled its continued illicit activities. Re-imposing much needed sanctions that target critical sectors of Iran’s economy will impose pressure on the Iranian regime to alter its course and stop rewarding its bad behavior.
“We must continue to hold accountable the worlds’ leading state sponsor of terrorism, stand by our ally Israel, and protect our national interests. Withdrawing from this deal will contribute to advancing peace in the Middle East and promote the security of Israel.”
For an interview with Penny Nance, contact Annabelle Rutledge at [email protected] or 916-792-3973.
The mainstream media suicide continues. It is incredibly sad to watch. It is extremely troubling, especially when you think about the role and purpose it is supposed to serve. This weekend’s coverage of North Korea by many outlets was simply disgraceful. It is now a proven, tangible, quantifiable, irrefutable fact that you cannot trust the press.
It goes well beyond bias. Americans can see the press hates President Trump and Vice President Pence. But to prop up a murderous, oppressive regime like North Korea for the sake of embarrassing current U.S. leadership is just foolish, unnecessary, and malicious. You would think they’d be on guard and fully prepared to engage the spurious regime, but no. It seems they are willfully going along with North Korea’s deceit, because it is useful to them in “the resistance.”
Take this CNN piece by Will Ripley headlining, “Pence’s Olympic trip a ‘missed opportunity’ for North Korea diplomacy, source says.” The source? A single “senior diplomatic source close to North Korea.” The lone sub-heading in the story highlights Vice President Pence’s, “Undignified behavior” – again, based on the unnamed source close to North Korea.
Reuters added, “North Korea heads for diplomacy gold medal at Olympics,” in their coverage.
North Korea judged winner of diplomatic gold at Olympics https://t.co/LZLZCnsmYf pic.twitter.com/WtAjJ69xBw
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 11, 2018
The media gushed over North Korea’s forced cheerleaders and over dictator Kim Jong-un’s sister, whom the Washington Post headlined the “Ivanka Trump of North Korea.” Not to be outdone, The New York Times tweeted: “Without a word, only flashing smiles, Kim Jong-un’s sister outflanked Vice President Mike Pence in diplomacy.”
Without a word, only flashing smiles, Kim Jong-un's sister outflanked Vice President Mike Pence in diplomacy https://t.co/c2gTuSTF9e
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 11, 2018
How embarrassing. But please understand, these outlets only harm their readers and patrons, not the supposed object of their collective loathing, President Donald J. Trump.
I speak generally, of course. There are individuals trying to fight against this.
Reporter Salena Zito tweeted, “I am deeply saddened by how my profession has normalized and glamorized this murderous regime. And then we wonder why no one trusts us.”
I am deeply saddened by how my profession has normalized and glamorized this murderous regime.
And then we wonder why no one trusts us. pic.twitter.com/pMKVPEvOWP— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) February 11, 2018
Jack Tapper of CNN also noticed the slant tweeting, “If you hate US leaders more than you hate the Kim Jong-un regime, you really need to read up on North Korea.”
If you hate US leaders more than you hate the Kim Jong-un regime, you really need to read up on North Korea.
Amnesty: https://t.co/jXmiEqYjMM
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea: https://t.co/wSWqutmlFW
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 11, 2018
It is simply remarkable how little regard for the reality of North Korea the press has shown. The family of murdered American Otto Warmbier was with Vice President Pence at the opening ceremony for crying out loud. Is it possible they are unsympathetic to them simply because they are associated now with President Trump after accepting his invitation to the State of the Union Address? It’s unconscionable, but very possible.
Let me conclude by asking you to join me in prayer for the press. It is an institution like any other, made up of individuals who must make individual choices, even as they face the pressures of their peers, their bosses, their sponsors, and the industry as a whole. Let us pray for God to place more people of good will, interested in pursuing truth and able to stand against the pressures of the profession, in important journalism posts.
The current radical, liberal political drive against Trump is killing the press. But we cannot give up on the institution. We must seek to reform it for good.
May God hear our prayers.
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Mario Diaz, Esq. is Concerned Women for America’s legal counsel. Follow him on Twitter @mariodiazesq.
