Concerned Women for America
Director and Senior Fellow of the Beverly Lahaye Institute, a think-tank at Concerned Women for America, a conservative Christian policy advocacy group; author and columnist; speechwriter for then-President George H.W. Bush
Abortion and SCOTUS Become Presidential Campaign Issues In last week's vice presidential debate , Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan disagreed last week on questions central to controversy about women's rights. Moderator Martha Raddatz asked both about abortion. Biden said his Catholic religion required him to oppose it in his own life, but that he would not impose his views on others. Ryan, who's also Catholic, said "elected representatives," not "unelected judges," should make that call. We hear how abortion and the right to appoint Supreme Court Justices have become issues in the presidential campaign.
Women's Rights, the Supreme Court and the Race for the White House The US Supreme Court legalized abortion in Roe v. Wade , and the Obama Administration calls it "settled law." In last week's vice-presidential debate , moderator Martha Raddatz asked about abortion. Vice President Joe Biden said his Catholic religion required him to oppose it in his own life, but refused to impose that on others, calling it a decision between a woman and her doctor. Raddatz asked Congressman Paul Ryan, who's also Catholic, if supporters should fear a Romney administration. He, and the website of the Romney campaign, said "elected representatives," not "unelected judges," should make that call. Would Romney sign legislation to overturn Roe v. Wade? Would he appoint new justices to replace aging supporters of a woman's right to choose? Has he been clear about his own views on reproductive rights or the standards he would apply to his power of appointment? NOTE: You can find all our election coverage at KCRW.com/election 2012 .
Barack Obama and Gay Marriage On Tuesday, voters in North Carolina said "no" to legalizing same-sex marriage. On Sunday, Vice President Biden said he was " completely comfortable " with same-sex marriage. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy The White House said President Obama's views were still "evolving." Last night on ABC News, Barack Obama said, "Yes." video platform video management video solutions video player The American people are divided almost evenly, and Mitt Romney is solidly on the other side . Why did the President choose this moment? What will it mean for his re-election campaign ?
Barack Obama and Gay Marriage On Sunday, Vice President Biden said he was " completely comfortable " with same-sex marriage. The White House said President Obama's views were still "evolving." Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy Last night on ABC News, America's first black president said he'd reached a conclusion , committing himself on what the New York Times calls " the last civil rights movement ." video platform video management video solutions video player Mr. Obama wants it decided state by state, but Mitt Romney wants a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. With public opinion running about 50-50, the President concedes there's political danger. When given a chance, voters have never approved. Why did he come out now, in the midst of his re-election campaign? We talk about religion, politics, money and personal conviction.
Is the 'War on Women' Just a War on Words? Every election year, women's issues grab headlines at some point. What's being know this year as "the war on women" is being fueled by many of the same issues that always come up when the conversation is about women. Is there anything new to the latest debate? Working women versus stay-at-home mothers, and reproductive rights have all been hot topics in the past. What's different this year? Is there really such a thing as "the women's vote"? If there is, what defines it? How are the two political parties courting women, and what influence will women voters have in the 2012 election?
Winners and Losers in the Budget Shutdown Showdown Democrats wanted a spending freeze, while Republicans demanded $61 billion in cuts. The final agreement was $39 billion, and the Republicans dropped efforts to undercut healthcare reform and family planning. Those are the broad outlines of last Friday's agreement , with the details yet to come, and even, perhaps, still subject to change.
The Shutdown Showdown The government shutdown was averted on Friday night with only an hour to spare. Even though details have not been revealed, both sides claim victory. The Republicans got $39 billion in budget cuts, when the Democrats didn't want any. The Democrats held off assaults on healthcare reform and family planning. But that was just about this year's budget, and the big stuff is yet to come, with President Obama announcing his own plan for reducing the deficit on Wednesday. In the meantime, we hear how both parties are spinning the aftermath of a potential crisis and what comes next.
Mitt Romney and Religion in America's Public Life Massachusetts Senator John Kennedy became America's first Catholic president after a speech in which he said no Catholic prelate would tell him what to do in the White House. In Texas today, less than 100 miles from where Kennedy made his address, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said he does not define his presidential candidacy by his Mormon religion. He promised that if he's elected "no authorities of [his] church… will ever exert influence on presidential decisions." With a Constitutional ban on religious tests for public office, is it political bigotry to question any candidate's faith, or does Mormonism raise specific questions some voters have the right to ask? Did Romney tell them what they wanted to know?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.