thestream--2020-10-10--Why Does Facebook Discriminate Against Gays?

Why does Facebook treat gays unfairly ?
Why does it put them in a special class , telling them they must remain gay even if they want to change ?
Why does Facebook suppress the stories of those who have changed — and are much happier for it — rather than give them the space to choose for themselves ?
You might say , “ Are you crazy ?
You have this all wrong .
Facebook is standing with the gay community , protecting them from hate speech and exposing ‘ conversion therapy ’ as dangerous .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called ‘ ex-gay ’ organizations.
” Of course , I ’ m quite aware that Facebook is acting in cooperation with LGBTQ leaders .
That ’ s been an open secret for years .
But there is no question that Facebook is doing a disservice to that very community .
They ’ re censoring the stories of those who once identified as LGBTQ but do so no longer .
On what possible grounds should their pages be removed ?
This is unethical and unfair .
We ’ re not talking about forcing gays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not talking about encouraging parents to send their gay-identified kids to a prison-like “ conversion ” camp .
God forbid .
Everyone I know in the ex-gay movement would join me in saying , “ Never !
” Rather , what we ’ re talking about is that , “ Facebook recently shut down Restored Hope Network ’ s ( RHN ) entire page , removing the organization ’ s presence from the social media platform.
” And what , exactly , is RHN ?
It is “ a coalition of ministries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , support and healing for those struggling with unwanted homosexual and transgender desires , actions and identities .
They also provide information and support for churches , friends and family members on these difficult topics.
” That ’ s it .
And that ’ s what Facebook has censored and shut down .
Why ?
I know the leaders of RHN .
I have worked with RHN .
And I can vouch for the accuracy of this description .
They help the countless thousands of people who do struggle with same-sex attraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , “ I really don ’ t want to be gay ( or trans ) .
” Offering Prayer and Counseling to Those Who Want Change They force nothing on anyone .
They use no coercive methods .
They simply offer prayer and counseling to those who want help .
Yet Facebook openly discriminates against these individuals .
They say in effect , “ We will stand in the way of you getting the help that you desire .
As for those who have been helped , we will block you from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : On what grounds ?
Based on what Facebook community guidelines ?
Johnston explains that , “ For years [ RHN ] has had a presence on Facebook .
The ministry shared articles and videos about people walking away from homosexuality and gender confusion .
Posts would give details about upcoming conferences and workshops for those caught in conflict between their sexual feelings and their biblical faith.
” Yet Facebook felt the need to remove this page .
What an absolute travesty .
And what open and overt discrimination against a specific group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paulk , the executive director of RHN , in a press release , “ Facebook ’ s actions are a chilling example of viewpoint discrimination.
” She added , “ Facebook is deciding they have the authority to silence the stories of those of us whose lives have changed .
Their dismissive action — canceling our page as if it never existed , leaving a vague ‘ the link may be broken ’ message in its place — is shameful .
Not even extending us the courtesy of a notification , a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicized story , is unconscionable.
” What is Conversion Therapy ?
A Misleading Term That Does Not Describe Counseling And what about RHN ’ s promotion of “ conversion therapy ” ?
Hasn ’ t that been proven to be destructive , let alone totally unhelpful ?
Isn ’ t Facebook simply protecting gays against harm ?
The RHN press release sets the record straight , noting , “ The removal of the page stems from Facebook ’ s aggressive efforts to support the bans on so-called ‘ conversion therapy.
’ The problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” As Paulk explains , “ It is a deliberately and misleadingly provocative term coined by the LGBTQ activist community that does not describe any type of actual counseling assistance offered to men and women who struggle with same-sex attraction.
” So much for Facebook protecting unsuspecting gays from evil conversion therapy .
Stories of Change Undermine the Foundation of LGBTQ Activism This is nothing but smoke and mirrors .
This is nothing but Facebook protecting the idea that homosexuality is innate and immutable , that you ’ re born that way and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible .
That cat has long been out of the bag , as ex-gay and ex-trans testimonies are becoming increasingly common .
( For a representative sampling , see here and here . )
Yet it is these very testimonies that undermine the entire foundation of LGBTQ activism , namely , that sexual orientation or gender identity is the same as race or ethnicity , thereby making LGBTQ “ rights ” equal to civil rights .
But if people can change , that foundation no longer exists .
To be sure , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment under the law and that we all seek to work against anti-LGBTQ bullying .
It ’ s also important to recognize that there are millions of gay and trans-identified people who say that they are enjoying their lives and are glad to be gay , lesbian , bisexual or transgender .
And there is no denying that others have tried to change and failed in the process , adding to their depression and discouragement .
It is Cruel for Facebook to Shut Down Pages That Offer Hope There is also no denying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an 18-year-old girl who feels like a boy trapped in a female body , and she would like nothing more than to be at home in her body as a girl .
She doesn ’ t look forward to the prospect of a mastectomy or sterility or a lifetime of hormones .
( See here for an important , related study . )
It is cruel for Facebook to shut down the very pages that could offer her real hope .
And there is no denying that , right now , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 15 years and has three lovely children with his wife , yet he secretly struggles with same-sex attractions .
Facebook discriminates against him when it bans the pages of others like him who found transformation and wholeness .
Why take away his hope ?
Why make it more difficult for him to hear from others who have been changed ?
It is one of the great ironies of LGBTQ activism that , in the name of diversity , it suppresses all opposing viewpoints and in the name of tolerance is utterly intolerant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and insecure their ideological foundation actually is .
One of the best ways that you can fight back against this Facebook discrimination is to encourage everyone you know to watch a powerful new documentary that will be released for free viewing on Oct. 20 .
It is called In His Image , and not only does it offer solid biblical teaching , it shares some very powerful ex-gay and ex-trans stories .
Click here to sign up for the free link and share this widely with your friends .
Then , write a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they restore the Restored Hope Network page .
People today could certainly use all the hope they can get .
That includes the LGBTQ community .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

Why does Facebook treat gays unfairly? Why does it put them in a special class, telling them they must remain gay even if they want to change? Why does Facebook suppress the stories of those who have changed — and are much happier for it — rather than give them the space to choose for themselves?
You might say, “Are you crazy? You have this all wrong. Facebook is standing with the gay community, protecting them from hate speech and exposing ‘conversion therapy’ as dangerous. That’s why Facebook has removed the pages of so-called ‘ex-gay’ organizations.”
Of course, I’m quite aware that Facebook is acting in cooperation with LGBTQ leaders. That’s been an open secret for years.
But there is no question that Facebook is doing a disservice to that very community. They’re censoring the stories of those who once identified as LGBTQ but do so no longer. On what possible grounds should their pages be removed? This is unethical and unfair.
Ministry Featuring Voluntary Talk Therapy and Personal Stories Silenced With “Conversion Therapy” Charge
We’re not talking about forcing gays to undergo shock treatment. We’re not talking about encouraging parents to send their gay-identified kids to a prison-like “conversion” camp.
God forbid. Everyone I know in the ex-gay movement would join me in saying, “Never!”
Rather, what we’re talking about is that, “Facebook recently shut down Restored Hope Network’s (RHN) entire page, removing the organization’s presence from the social media platform.”
Facebook openly discriminates against these individuals, saying in effect, “We will stand in the way of you getting the help that you desire. As for those who have been helped, we will block you from telling your stories.”
And what, exactly, is RHN? It is “a coalition of ministries, therapists and pastors who offer Christian help, support and healing for those struggling with unwanted homosexual and transgender desires, actions and identities. They also provide information and support for churches, friends and family members on these difficult topics.”
That’s it. And that’s what Facebook has censored and shut down. Why?
I know the leaders of RHN. I have worked with RHN. And I can vouch for the accuracy of this description.
They help the countless thousands of people who do struggle with same-sex attraction and gender-identity confusion. The people who say, “I really don’t want to be gay (or trans).”
Offering Prayer and Counseling to Those Who Want Change
They force nothing on anyone. They use no coercive methods. They simply offer prayer and counseling to those who want help.
Yet Facebook openly discriminates against these individuals. They say in effect, “We will stand in the way of you getting the help that you desire. As for those who have been helped, we will block you from telling your stories.”
I ask again: On what grounds? Based on what Facebook community guidelines?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Johnston explains that, “For years [RHN] has had a presence on Facebook. The ministry shared articles and videos about people walking away from homosexuality and gender confusion. Posts would give details about upcoming conferences and workshops for those caught in conflict between their sexual feelings and their biblical faith.”
Yet Facebook felt the need to remove this page. What an absolute travesty. And what open and overt discrimination against a specific group of people.
As noted by Anne Paulk, the executive director of RHN, in a press release, “Facebook’s actions are a chilling example of viewpoint discrimination.”
She added, “Facebook is deciding they have the authority to silence the stories of those of us whose lives have changed. Their dismissive action — canceling our page as if it never existed, leaving a vague ‘the link may be broken’ message in its place — is shameful. Not even extending us the courtesy of a notification, a chance to offer our side of the very politicized story, is unconscionable.”
What is Conversion Therapy? A Misleading Term That Does Not Describe Counseling
And what about RHN’s promotion of “conversion therapy”? Hasn’t that been proven to be destructive, let alone totally unhelpful? Isn’t Facebook simply protecting gays against harm?
The RHN press release sets the record straight, noting, “The removal of the page stems from Facebook’s aggressive efforts to support the bans on so-called ‘conversion therapy.’ The problem: Conversion therapy doesn’t exist.”
As Paulk explains, “It is a deliberately and misleadingly provocative term coined by the LGBTQ activist community that does not describe any type of actual counseling assistance offered to men and women who struggle with same-sex attraction.”
So much for Facebook protecting unsuspecting gays from evil conversion therapy.
Stories of Change Undermine the Foundation of LGBTQ Activism
This is nothing but smoke and mirrors. This is nothing but Facebook protecting the idea that homosexuality is innate and immutable, that you’re born that way and that the change of any kind is impossible.
That cat has long been out of the bag, as ex-gay and ex-trans testimonies are becoming increasingly common. (For a representative sampling, see here and here.) Yet it is these very testimonies that undermine the entire foundation of LGBTQ activism, namely, that sexual orientation or gender identity is the same as race or ethnicity, thereby making LGBTQ “rights” equal to civil rights. But if people can change, that foundation no longer exists.
It is these very testimonies that undermine the entire foundation of LGBTQ activism, namely, that sexual orientation or gender identity is the same as race or ethnicity, thereby making LGBTQ “rights” equal to civil rights.
To be sure, it’s important that everyone receives equal treatment under the law and that we all seek to work against anti-LGBTQ bullying. It’s also important to recognize that there are millions of gay and trans-identified people who say that they are enjoying their lives and are glad to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. And there is no denying that others have tried to change and failed in the process, adding to their depression and discouragement.
It is Cruel for Facebook to Shut Down Pages That Offer Hope
There is also no denying that, right now, there is an 18-year-old girl who feels like a boy trapped in a female body, and she would like nothing more than to be at home in her body as a girl. She doesn’t look forward to the prospect of a mastectomy or sterility or a lifetime of hormones. (See here for an important, related study.) It is cruel for Facebook to shut down the very pages that could offer her real hope.
And there is no denying that, right now, there is a 40-year-old man who has been married for 15 years and has three lovely children with his wife, yet he secretly struggles with same-sex attractions. Facebook discriminates against him when it bans the pages of others like him who found transformation and wholeness. Why take away his hope? Why make it more difficult for him to hear from others who have been changed?
It is one of the great ironies of LGBTQ activism that, in the name of diversity, it suppresses all opposing viewpoints and in the name of tolerance is utterly intolerant. That alone should indicate how flimsy and insecure their ideological foundation actually is.
In His Image, Featuring Powerful Personal Stories, Releases Oct. 20
One of the best ways that you can fight back against this Facebook discrimination is to encourage everyone you know to watch a powerful new documentary that will be released for free viewing on Oct. 20. It is called In His Image, and not only does it offer solid biblical teaching, it shares some very powerful ex-gay and ex-trans stories.
Click here to sign up for the free link and share this widely with your friends. Then, write a respectful note to Facebook, requesting that they restore the Restored Hope Network page.
People today could certainly use all the hope they can get. That includes the LGBTQ community.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-10-10--#Election2020: Don’t Believe the Hype About a Biden Blowout

It ’ s done .
It ’ s over .
No need to vote , Trump supporter .
Just toss the MAGA hat in the closet and prepare to welcome Queen Kamala .
I mean , President Biden .
Well , that ’ s what the mainstream media is trying to tell you : Joe Biden has this election in the bag .
“ Just look at the polls.
” A much touted NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has Biden up 14 % nationally .
CNN has him 16 % up .
The Real Clear Politics average sits with Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have time tell you how they are going to pack the Supreme Court to ensure that radical justices rule for the next century .
They ’ re too busy picking out curtains for the Oval Office .
Don ’ t believe the hype .
Like the old rap song says , don ’ t believe the hype .
A Majority Say They Are Better Off Now Than They Were Four Years Ago Others can take a deep dive into the polling methodology to show you how the polls are skewed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers that suggest something altogether different is going on in the real voting world .
Here ’ s the first one : A majority of voters say their life has improved under President Trump .
In the tight 1980 election between incumbent Jimmy Carter and challenger Ronald Reagan , Reagan asked a simple question to American voters : “ Are you better off now than you were four years ago ?
” The answer was a resounding “ No.
” Reagan went on to win .
In 2012 , only 44 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Obama , and he won re-election .
In 2004 , only 47 % of people thought their life had improved under President George W. Bush , and he won re-election .
This year ?
Despite being in the middle of a pandemic , which gave the American workforce a brutal blow to the gut , 56 % of Americans still say they are better off than they were four years ago .
No surprise , given the booming pre-COVID economy , expanded opportunity , lower taxes , higher wages , lower drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , etc .
Is it logical to think voters are going to fire Trump — who helped improve their lives since the past administration — to rehire Biden , the # 2 person in that previous administration ?
Are Americans going to go backwards ?
Are we really Israelites begging to return to the security of slavery in Egypt ?
( There ’ s a sermon for ya , pastors . )
An Increasing Number Say They Think Their Neighbors are Voting for Trump Here ’ s the second one : A lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump than Biden .
A new Fox News poll of registered voters shows 49 % think their neighbors are voting for Trump , as opposed to 38 % for Biden .
That 11-point gap is up five points since August .
The same Fox News poll says Biden is up 10 % on Trump , 53-43 .
Something ’ s funky in Voterville .
In this vicious anti-Trump climate , folks are not necessarily going to tell pollsters the truth about their own voting plans .
But they will be more honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is one train of thought that says people are actually telegraphing their own voting preference when they say how they think their neighbors are going to vote .
How big is the so-called “ silent majority ” ?
There ’ s no way to know until Election Day .
But it ’ s there .
For example , a Mammouth survey in Pennsylvania over the summer showed 57 % of registered voters believe there is a “ silent vote ” in their community for Trump .
I suspect a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but see the radicals taking over the party , hate the BLM and Antifa rioting , loathe the draconian restrictions Democratic governors and mayors have put on their lives .
They ’ ve been stewing for months : “ I can ’ t go to church or go to my grandmother ’ s funeral , but it ’ s fine for ‘ protesters ’ to tear through the streets ?
!
” But the thought of voting for Trump has them in a fix .
They are like so many evangelical voters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting for Big Bad Orange , but in the last weeks bit the bullet and chose what was best for America ’ s future .
That ’ s the silent vote I ’ m curious about .
“ I ’ ve voted Democrat all my life , but this time I just can ’ t. ” Know there are conservatives who felt the same way in 2016 , Democratic friends .
You should read this wonderful article from David Sound in The Federalist .
The title says it all : “ I Didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , But I ’ d Crawl Through Glass to Vote for Him Now.
” Did you tune in to hear President Trump ’ s two-hour chat with Rush Limbaugh Friday ?
You were far from alone .
According to one estimate , 50,000,000 people tuned in .
50 MILLION .
Five-Zero .
For reference , Rush , by far the most popular radio host in America , averages about 15 million listeners a week .
Look at this another way : In 2016 , Donald Trump got roughly 63 million votes .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote total .
For a radio show .
In the middle of a work day .
Meanwhile , Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had their first joint campaign appearances Friday in Arizona .
Check out the size of the crowd in Yuma .
Help me understand this : 50 million people turned into a radio show just to hear Trump jaw-bone with Limbaugh .
Biden and Harris together get about 40 people to come out in a swing state weeks before the election .
And Trump is losing ?
!
?
!
?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ number that suggests something different is going on in the real voting world : The enthusiasm gap between the two candidates is off the chart .
A Fox News survey has 59 % of Trump voters enthusiastic about voting for Trump .
Only 43 % for Biden .
The socialist magazine Jacobin is fretting that this enthusiasm gap could push Trump to victory .
The “ really scary part ” ?
At this point in 2016 , Hillary Clinton was beating Trump when it came to enthusiasm 44 % to 43 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ boat parades , even in blue states .
You ’ ve seen massive Trump car caravans , even through the streets of Los Angeles .
You haven ’ t seen Biden flags or signs hardly anywhere .
In fact , writing in the Holland ( Michigan ) Sentinel , Richard Brouwer – clearly no Trump supporter — reported an interesting statistic uncovered by a friend .
“ His internet search revealed red campaign flag and banner hits ( Trump ) at 716 million , compared to 75 million blue ( Biden ) hits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be Trouble with a Capital T , as the song goes .
An analysis published in the academic publication Electoral Studies in 2014 suggests how enthusiasm gaps play out in the actual voting booth .
Researcher Seth J. Hill at the University of California , San Diego reached three conclusions : • The advantaged party sees increased turnout by up to four percentage points .
• The average party sees increased vote share by up to 1.5 percentage points .
• The advantaged party does especially well in the most competitive places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be Suppressed and Depressed Please understand what the media is doing when they publish weighted polls showing Biden way ahead .
Why 95 % of their coverage of Trump is negative .
Why last weekend they had Trump at death ’ s door .
Why even when Trump is bouncing off the walls and yapping up a storm , sounding fit as a fiddle , CNN is obsessing that Trump coughed a couple times during an interview with Hannity .
While ignoring Joe Biden not only coughing , but violating COVID protocol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remove his mask and cough in his hand during a speech Friday . )
As a working arm of the Democratic Party , the mainstream media wants to suppress enthusiasm .
They want to suppress the vote .
They want to suppress and depress Americans .
Now that you are on to them , neighbor , you know what to do .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

It’s done. It’s over. No need to vote, Trump supporter. Just toss the MAGA hat in the closet and prepare to welcome Queen Kamala. I mean, President Biden. Well, that’s what the mainstream media is trying to tell you: Joe Biden has this election in the bag. “Just look at the polls.”
A much touted NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll has Biden up 14% nationally. CNN has him 16% up. The Real Clear Politics average sits with Biden up 9.6. Joe and Kamala don’t have time tell you how they are going to pack the Supreme Court to ensure that radical justices rule for the next century. They’re too busy picking out curtains for the Oval Office.
Don’t believe the hype. Like the old rap song says, don’t believe the hype.
A Majority Say They Are Better Off Now Than They Were Four Years Ago
Others can take a deep dive into the polling methodology to show you how the polls are skewed. I want to show you three other numbers that suggest something altogether different is going on in the real voting world.
Here’s the first one: A majority of voters say their life has improved under President Trump. In the tight 1980 election between incumbent Jimmy Carter and challenger Ronald Reagan, Reagan asked a simple question to American voters: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”
The answer was a resounding “No.” Reagan went on to win.
In 2012, only 44% of people thought their life had improved under President Obama, and he won re-election. In 2004, only 47% of people thought their life had improved under President George W. Bush, and he won re-election.
This year? Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, which gave the American workforce a brutal blow to the gut, 56% of Americans still say they are better off than they were four years ago. No surprise, given the booming pre-COVID economy, expanded opportunity, lower taxes, higher wages, lower drug prices, higher efficiency of government services, etc.
Is it logical to think voters are going to fire Trump — who helped improve their lives since the past administration — to rehire Biden, the #2 person in that previous administration? Are Americans going to go backwards? Are we really Israelites begging to return to the security of slavery in Egypt? (There’s a sermon for ya, pastors.)
An Increasing Number Say They Think Their Neighbors are Voting for Trump
Here’s the second one: A lot more voters think their neighbors are voting for Trump than Biden. A new Fox News poll of registered voters shows 49% think their neighbors are voting for Trump, as opposed to 38% for Biden. That 11-point gap is up five points since August.
The same Fox News poll says Biden is up 10% on Trump, 53-43. Something’s funky in Voterville.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In this vicious anti-Trump climate, folks are not necessarily going to tell pollsters the truth about their own voting plans. But they will be more honest about others’ plans. In fact, there is one train of thought that says people are actually telegraphing their own voting preference when they say how they think their neighbors are going to vote.
How big is the so-called “silent majority”? There’s no way to know until Election Day. But it’s there. For example, a Monmouth survey in Pennsylvania over the summer showed 57% of registered voters believe there is a “silent vote” in their community for Trump.
Silent Democrats for Trump
I suspect a lot of Democrats can’t stand Trump, but see the radicals taking over the party, hate the BLM and Antifa rioting, loathe the draconian restrictions Democratic governors and mayors have put on their lives. They’ve been stewing for months: “I can’t go to church or go to my grandmother’s funeral, but it’s fine for ‘protesters’ to tear through the streets?!”
But the thought of voting for Trump has them in a fix. They are like so many evangelical voters in 2016, who couldn’t imagine voting for Big Bad Orange, but in the last weeks bit the bullet and chose what was best for America’s future. That’s the silent vote I’m curious about. “I’ve voted Democrat all my life, but this time I just can’t.”
Know there are conservatives who felt the same way in 2016, Democratic friends. You should read this wonderful article from David Sound in The Federalist. The title says it all: “I Didn’t Vote for Trump in 2016, But I’d Crawl Through Glass to Vote for Him Now.”
Rushing to Hear the President
Did you tune in to hear President Trump’s two-hour chat with Rush Limbaugh Friday? You were far from alone. According to one estimate, 50,000,000 people tuned in. 50 MILLION. Five-Zero. For reference, Rush, by far the most popular radio host in America, averages about 15 million listeners a week.
Look at this another way: In 2016, Donald Trump got roughly 63 million votes. So, Trump drew 80% of his vote total. For a radio show. In the middle of a work day.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had their first joint campaign appearances Friday in Arizona. Check out the size of the crowd in Yuma.
.@JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris bus came through Yuma! So many supporters excited to finally be able to cast their vote for #BidenHarris pic.twitter.com/Bb6eRSUalM — Charlene Fernandez (@CharleneforAZ) October 9, 2020
Help me understand this: 50 million people turned into a radio show just to hear Trump jaw-bone with Limbaugh. Biden and Harris together get about 40 people to come out in a swing state weeks before the election. And Trump is losing?!?!?!?
Enthusiasm
Which gets to a third number that suggests something different is going on in the real voting world: The enthusiasm gap between the two candidates is off the chart. A Fox News survey has 59% of Trump voters enthusiastic about voting for Trump. Only 43% for Biden.
The socialist magazine Jacobin is fretting that this enthusiasm gap could push Trump to victory. The “really scary part”? At this point in 2016, Hillary Clinton was beating Trump when it came to enthusiasm 44% to 43%.
You’ve seen the massive Trump boat parades, even in blue states. You’ve seen massive Trump car caravans, even through the streets of Los Angeles. You haven’t seen Biden flags or signs hardly anywhere.
In fact, writing in the Holland (Michigan) Sentinel, Richard Brouwer – clearly no Trump supporter — reported an interesting statistic uncovered by a friend. “His internet search revealed red campaign flag and banner hits (Trump) at 716 million, compared to 75 million blue (Biden) hits, a 10-1 enthusiasm discrepancy.”
This could be Trouble with a Capital T, as the song goes.
An analysis published in the academic publication Electoral Studies in 2014 suggests how enthusiasm gaps play out in the actual voting booth. Researcher Seth J. Hill at the University of California, San Diego reached three conclusions:
The advantaged party sees increased turnout by up to four percentage points.
The advantaged party sees increased vote share by up to 1.5 percentage points.
The advantaged party does especially well in the most competitive places.
Translation: Advantage Trump.
Don’t Let Your Spirit Be Suppressed and Depressed
Please understand what the media is doing when they publish weighted polls showing Biden way ahead. Why 95% of their coverage of Trump is negative. Why last weekend they had Trump at death’s door. Why even when Trump is bouncing off the walls and yapping up a storm, sounding fit as a fiddle, CNN is obsessing that Trump coughed a couple times during an interview with Hannity.
While ignoring Joe Biden not only coughing, but violating COVID protocol, defeating the whole purpose of masks, to remove his mask and cough in his hand during a speech Friday.)
You can't make this up. Joe Biden just removed his mask to cough in his hand. Talk about unsanitary! pic.twitter.com/4rwJvHA3LS — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 9, 2020
As a working arm of the Democratic Party, the mainstream media wants to suppress enthusiasm. They want to suppress the vote.
They want to suppress and depress Americans.
Now that you are on to them, neighbor, you know what to do.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-10--Praying for Emily: A Parents’ Story About Faith, Science and Miracles

Emily Whitehead was a healthy , happy 5 year old .
When their child began to get unexpected bruises , Tom and Kari Whitehead took her to her doctor .
She was diagnosed with leukemia .
Now the Whiteheads share their Emily ’ s story in their new book Praying for Emily : The Faith , Science , and Miracles That Saved Our Daughter .
The book was released on October 6 .
People All Over the World Praying “ We always tell people it ’ s hard to describe because it was just totally devastating , ” said Kari @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ d known people who had been diagnosed with leukemia and didn ’ t want their daughter to have to go through it .
“ She is an only child , ” Tom told The Stream , “ and we just couldn ’ t imagine a day without her.
” Kari blogged daily about Emily ’ s condition and asked people to pray .
“ During our toughest times that really lifted us up , ” Tom explained .
They read the messages to their daughter to let her know that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her .
Tom and Kari had their strengths : Tom leaned on his faith , prayed and asked others to do the same .
He saw his mission as “ giving hope and being positive , ” and having faith .
He listened to what he called “ whispers ” — God speaking to him , telling him what treatment was best .
Kari did research on the latest treatments and together they decided what they would do .
The traumatic events actually brought them closer as a married couple .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning to remember to date through all of that from one of our nurses , ” Tom said .
“ It really had an impact on us .
And we always had days when we didn ’ t agree on everything , but we would put that behind us and get together and decide as parents what ’ s the next best move was .
And then we would go with it.
” Tom said the family has a much stronger bond because of all the time they spent together fighting the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s like when soldiers go through a war .
We ’ ve been through war together.
” Immediately after Emily ’ s diagnosis , the family decided they would stick together as a family , no matter what .
“ We stuck together as a family and we did our research and we trusted our instincts and we listened to those whispers that guided us , ” Tom continued .
“ And we were able to create a miracle that not only saved Emily ’ s life , but now added a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not progress very well with traditional cancer treatments .
At one point , her parents were told that she would die .
But then they found out about an experimental treatment called CAR-T , or T-cell therapy .
T-cell therapy is not toxic like radiation or chemotherapy .
T-cell therapy means taking T-cells out of the body , genetically modifying them and training them to fight the cancer cells .
Then they are put back in the body .
“ Incredibly , it worked , ” said Kari .
“ And they couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after that.
” Emily has been cancer free for over eight years .
The Whiteheads have started Emily Whitehead Foundation to help other children .
“ We started the foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer research and particularly this type of therapy — immunotherapy , because it ’ s less toxic , ” said Kari .
“ We thought that it was important , that if we ’ re sharing her story , that we try to direct funds towards other children.
” The foundation also helps with financial assistance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes to get the treatment .
The Whiteheads ’ s book explains the scientific breakthrough with the T-cell therapy .
The book also tells the story of how faith and science worked together to create a miracle for their daughter .
“ We wanted people that might have a very bad diagnosis or illness to never lose hope , ” said Tom .
“ [ To ] be inspired and to stay positive and to know that miracles do happen.
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

Emily Whitehead was a healthy, happy 5 year old. When their child began to get unexpected bruises, Tom and Kari Whitehead took her to her doctor. She was diagnosed with leukemia. Now the Whiteheads share their Emily’s story in their new book Praying for Emily: The Faith, Science, and Miracles That Saved Our Daughter. The book was released on October 6.
People All Over the World Praying
“We always tell people it’s hard to describe because it was just totally devastating,” said Kari of her daughter’s diagnosis. They’d known people who had been diagnosed with leukemia and didn’t want their daughter to have to go through it. “She is an only child,” Tom told The Stream, “and we just couldn’t imagine a day without her.” Kari blogged daily about Emily’s condition and asked people to pray. “During our toughest times that really lifted us up,” Tom explained. They read the messages to their daughter to let her know that there were people all over the world praying for her.
Prayer and Research
Tom and Kari had their strengths: Tom leaned on his faith, prayed and asked others to do the same. He saw his mission as “giving hope and being positive,” and having faith. He listened to what he called “whispers” — God speaking to him, telling him what treatment was best. Kari did research on the latest treatments and together they decided what they would do.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The traumatic events actually brought them closer as a married couple. “We had some great advice in the beginning to remember to date through all of that from one of our nurses,” Tom said. “It really had an impact on us. And we always had days when we didn’t agree on everything, but we would put that behind us and get together and decide as parents what’s the next best move was. And then we would go with it.”
We’ve Been Through a War
Tom said the family has a much stronger bond because of all the time they spent together fighting the disease. “I would say it’s like when soldiers go through a war. We’ve been through war together.” Immediately after Emily’s diagnosis, the family decided they would stick together as a family, no matter what. “We stuck together as a family and we did our research and we trusted our instincts and we listened to those whispers that guided us,” Tom continued. “And we were able to create a miracle that not only saved Emily’s life, but now added a new way to cure cancer.”
CAR-T Therapy
Emily did not progress very well with traditional cancer treatments. At one point, her parents were told that she would die. But then they found out about an experimental treatment called CAR-T, or T-cell therapy. T-cell therapy is not toxic like radiation or chemotherapy. T-cell therapy means taking T-cells out of the body, genetically modifying them and training them to fight the cancer cells. Then they are put back in the body. “Incredibly, it worked,” said Kari. “And they couldn’t find a cancer cell 23 days after that.”
Helping Others
Emily has been cancer free for over eight years. The Whiteheads have started Emily Whitehead Foundation to help other children. “We started the foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer research and particularly this type of therapy — immunotherapy, because it’s less toxic,” said Kari. “We thought that it was important, that if we’re sharing her story, that we try to direct funds towards other children.” The foundation also helps with financial assistance to families who have to move away from their homes to get the treatment.
The Whiteheads’s book explains the scientific breakthrough with the T-cell therapy. The book also tells the story of how faith and science worked together to create a miracle for their daughter. “We wanted people that might have a very bad diagnosis or illness to never lose hope,” said Tom. “[To] be inspired and to stay positive and to know that miracles do happen.”
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-11--Trump’s Healthcare Plan: More to Look Forward To.

Two weeks ago , I was in a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence to talk about some of the issues facing our great nation .
Our discussion ranged from the Supreme Court nomination to the COVID-19 pandemic , and included an outline of the America First Health Plan , President Trump ’ s plan for the future of our healthcare system .
I have to say , I was impressed with the Trump administration ’ s approach to healthcare , and I think Americans have a lot more to look forward to when it comes to improving our access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , ” because President Trump has already done much to improve the state of our healthcare system .
Working with a Republican-controlled Congress , President Trump repealed the individual mandate , the mechanism used to force individuals to purchase a qualifying health plan or risk paying a hefty fine .
The repeal of the individual mandate has effectively rendered a repressive system , less so .
Yet , many of the ill effects of the mislabeled “ Affordable Care Act ” — skyrocketing premiums , narrowing networks , reduced choice , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have remained .
To foster competition , increase consumer access and control , and lower costs , the Trump administration has embraced patient-centered reforms through executive action and regulation .
Perhaps most notably to Ohioans , President Trump ’ s price transparency rules finally provided the breakthrough we needed on state law designed to prevent surprise medical bills .
And while various special interest groups are attempting to block these rules from going into effect , the fact remains that President Trump is moving the ball forward on the fight to improve patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump administration has also expanded association health plans ( AHPs ) to improve consumer access to affordable health insurance plans .
AHPs allow small businesses to band together to achieve scale and purchase insurance plans generally only accessible to larger organizations .
Ohio has embraced AHPs for years and the Trump administration ’ s work builds on what we ’ ve already done here in the Buckeye State .
Thanks to the expansion of AHPs , more businesses are able to purchase better , more affordable health insurance for their employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks to President Trump .
These plans allow families to find suitable insurance for a fraction of the cost of an individual market plan .
Twice as many insurers offer short-term plans as compared to the individual market , and consumers have eight times as many plans from which to choose .
Short-term plans , in particular , benefit Ohioans needing temporary coverage between jobs or before full retirement .
The America First Health Plan also puts an emphasis on the continued expansion of telehealth services .
During the COVID-19 pandemic , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicaid Services ( CMS ) to expand the availability of telehealth options to our nation ’ s seniors .
This allowed countless seniors in Ohio and across the nation to access their doctor without having to venture out of their homes .
Thanks to President Trump ’ s leadership on this issue , the Ohio General Assembly is now at work to update our state laws to allow for greater use of telehealth services for patients with private insurance .
And while there are many other aspects of President Trump ’ s work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am particularly excited about his administration ’ s new rules to allow patients to use pre-tax dollars to access direct primary care and health sharing ministries .
Ohio has several dozen direct primary care offices , which provide affordable , quality care without needing insurance .
And health care sharing ministries allow families to choose a health plan that meets their health care needs and supports their individual values when it comes to health care decisions .
President Trump has been building a record of improving our nation ’ s health care system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming into office under Obamacare , President Trump has managed to take incremental steps to increase patient choice and access to more affordable , quality care .
I believe the America First Health Plan furthers those efforts to put patients and families back into the driver ’ s seat of health care , and I look forward to how his plans will continue to benefit all Ohioans , both young and old .
Ken Blackwell served as the mayor of Cincinnati , Ohio , the Ohio State Treasurer , and Ohio Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Family Research Council , in Washington , D.C .

Two weeks ago, I was in a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence to talk about some of the issues facing our great nation. Our discussion ranged from the Supreme Court nomination to the COVID-19 pandemic, and included an outline of the America First Health Plan, President Trump’s plan for the future of our healthcare system. I have to say, I was impressed with the Trump administration’s approach to healthcare, and I think Americans have a lot more to look forward to when it comes to improving our access to quality care.
Trump’s Healthcare Policies
I say “more,” because President Trump has already done much to improve the state of our healthcare system. Working with a Republican-controlled Congress, President Trump repealed the individual mandate, the mechanism used to force individuals to purchase a qualifying health plan or risk paying a hefty fine. The repeal of the individual mandate has effectively rendered a repressive system, less so. Yet, many of the ill effects of the mislabeled “Affordable Care Act” — skyrocketing premiums, narrowing networks, reduced choice, and the inability to keep your doctor — have remained.
Patient-Centered Reforms
To foster competition, increase consumer access and control, and lower costs, the Trump administration has embraced patient-centered reforms through executive action and regulation. Perhaps most notably to Ohioans, President Trump’s price transparency rules finally provided the breakthrough we needed on state law designed to prevent surprise medical bills. And while various special interest groups are attempting to block these rules from going into effect, the fact remains that President Trump is moving the ball forward on the fight to improve patient knowledge and control over health care costs.
Association Health Plans
The Trump administration has also expanded association health plans (AHPs) to improve consumer access to affordable health insurance plans. AHPs allow small businesses to band together to achieve scale and purchase insurance plans generally only accessible to larger organizations. Ohio has embraced AHPs for years and the Trump administration’s work builds on what we’ve already done here in the Buckeye State. Thanks to the expansion of AHPs, more businesses are able to purchase better, more affordable health insurance for their employees.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Short-term plans are also more available thanks to President Trump. These plans allow families to find suitable insurance for a fraction of the cost of an individual market plan. Twice as many insurers offer short-term plans as compared to the individual market, and consumers have eight times as many plans from which to choose. Short-term plans, in particular, benefit Ohioans needing temporary coverage between jobs or before full retirement.
Telehealth Services
The America First Health Plan also puts an emphasis on the continued expansion of telehealth services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump ordered the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand the availability of telehealth options to our nation’s seniors. This allowed countless seniors in Ohio and across the nation to access their doctor without having to venture out of their homes. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership on this issue, the Ohio General Assembly is now at work to update our state laws to allow for greater use of telehealth services for patients with private insurance.
Pre-Tax Dollars for Primary Care and Health Sharing Ministries
And while there are many other aspects of President Trump’s work on health care to applaud, I am particularly excited about his administration’s new rules to allow patients to use pre-tax dollars to access direct primary care and health sharing ministries. Ohio has several dozen direct primary care offices, which provide affordable, quality care without needing insurance. And health care sharing ministries allow families to choose a health plan that meets their health care needs and supports their individual values when it comes to health care decisions.
President Trump has been building a record of improving our nation’s health care system over the past three years. Despite coming into office under Obamacare, President Trump has managed to take incremental steps to increase patient choice and access to more affordable, quality care. I believe the America First Health Plan furthers those efforts to put patients and families back into the driver’s seat of health care, and I look forward to how his plans will continue to benefit all Ohioans, both young and old.
Ken Blackwell served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Ohio State Treasurer, and Ohio Secretary of State. He is an advisor to the Family Research Council, in Washington, D.C.


thestream--2020-10-11--Trump, Regeneron and the Supposed Hypocrisy of the Pro-Life Movement

Have you heard the latest ?
Trump can not be pro-life since he used and is promoting the anti-COVID drug Regeneron , which was allegedly developed with the help of fetal tissue .
And pro-life organizations are being hypocritical by refusing to condemn the drug .
Is there any truth to these charges ?
The Allegation : Tissue from Aborted Fetuses Used in Regeneron As reported by the UK Metro , “ Trump faces hypocrisy allegations after it was revealed Regeneron is made from stem cells originally taken from an embryonic kidney .
That kidney was taken during an elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970s.
” More bluntly , the MIT Technology Review claimed , “ Trump ’ s antibody treatment was tested using cells originally derived from an abortion .
“ The Trump administration has looked to curtail research with fetal cells .
But when it was life or death for the president , no one objected.
” As for pro-life organizations , a lengthy headline on Business Insider stated , “ Antiabortion groups say they stand behind Trump ’ s use of a drug tested on cells derived from an aborted fetus because the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
” How Should Pro-Lifers Respond ?
With The Truth How should Trump voters respond to this ?
And , more specifically , how should pro-life Trump voters respond ?
Let ’ s say that Regeneron was actually developed with the help of fetal tissue .
Does anyone actually think that doctors came to Trump and said , “ Mr .
President , we have an experimental drug that was tested and developed using tissue from an aborted baby .
How do you feel about using this ?
” Only the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the world of reality , the very thought of it is absurd .
And , even if the fetal tissue charges are true , who knew about this ?
Was this something that any of the doctors would have been aware of ?
I very seriously doubt it , especially when , as we shall see , Regeneron itself denies the charge .
It is therefore completely ridiculous to claim that Trump is being hypocritical in using Regeneron , as if he knew the alleged history of the drug .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From Mice But that leads us back to the big question : Did Regeneron use fetal tissue from a baby aborted in the 1970s ?
Another headline on Business Insider stated , “ One of Trump ’ s COVID-19 treatments was developed using tissue that originally came from an abortion .
He ’ s tried to ban this kind of research.
” This is being widely reported as established fact .
But is it true ?
In an official statement for the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute , David Prentice , Ph.D. and Tara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Regeneron therapy given to the president was made in Velocimmune humanized mice , a novel platform that uses genetically modified mouse embryonic stem ( ES ) cells to generate antibodies described here and here .
Development of Regeneron ’ s antibody cocktail is detailed in the journal Science , describing how they identified their antibodies made from Velocimmune mice and blood from recovered patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 .
The final antibody pair used in the REGN-COV2 therapy cocktail was then produced in Chinese hamster ovary ( CHO ) cells .
Results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat COVID-19 patients are reported here .
Mouse embryonic stem cells and genetic modifications to make such mice date back to 1981 , have been extensively studied , and were instrumental in the discovery of induced pluripotent stem ( iPS ) cells , another fully ethical alternative to fetal material , as discussed in this Nature review .
iPSCs are much easier to use than human embryonic stem cells , more flexible in their uses , and are not ethically controversial .
No one has ever advocated against using mouse embryonic stem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against destruction of human lives.
” In a statement made to the Christian Post , Alexandra Bowie , a spokesperson for Regneron , explained , “ We did not use human stem cells or human embryonic stem cells in the development of REGN-COV2 .
We did use the HEK293T cell line to test our antibodies ’ ability to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus ( they were used to make ‘ pseudovirus ’ that looks like the Spike protein ) .
I ’ m not a medical doctor or a scientist , but it seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I could glean from Regeneron ’ s technical article published in the journal Science , also cited above ) that there is hardly a direct connection between the drug and an aborted baby .
Still , there is so much misinformation going viral online that Dr. Tara Lee started a Twitter account just to rebut the misconceptions .
( Lee ’ s Twitter bio identifies her as “ Researcher , Clinical Scientist , Science Policy Advisor .
PhD .
Senior Fellow & Director of Life Sciences @ lozierinstitute .
For LIFE in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She summarized the evidence in simple and clear terms : “ NO human embryonic stem cells or human fetal tissue were used to produce the treatments President Trump received—period.
” So , Regneron denies that it used embryonic cells and other scientists deny it .
This completely undermines the charge that pro-life groups are being hypocritical for not condemning the use of the drug ( and the president ’ s promotion of it ) .
That being said , some pro-life groups have , in fact , opined that , even if testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an abortion in the 1970s , Trump had nothing to do with any of this and is therefore not being hypocritical in promoting the drug .
Is there some hypocrisy in the response ?
That ’ s a fair question , and it ’ s the type of question that ethicists debate .
If you could save the lives of many people using a drug that was developed with the help of aborted fetal cells , is that justifiable ?
My answer to those accusing the president with hypocrisy is threefold .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unlikely in the extreme he had any idea of the alleged abortion connection .
Second , scientists from Regneron deny any connection to human fetal cells , and Trump would presumably take them at their word .
Third , if Regneron had been developed with the help of an aborted baby , there would then be a serious ethical debate as to its use .
Still , with all that being said , it is grasping at straws to question the pro-life commitment of these organizations ( along with that of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we are comparing the willful killing of more than 60 million babies in the womb , often out of convenience , with the possible , distant connection of a life-saving drug to a baby aborted in the 1970s .
Who would seriously make such a comparison ?
When it comes to the question of the benefit of embryonic cells in the development of medical cures , Dr. Lee noted that , “ Fetal tissue from aborted babies is not required for medical advancements .
After 100+ years of research , no therapies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tissue to begin with .
Newer & better ethical alternatives are available & being used now to make humanized mice.
” There is , therefore , no justification for using embryonic fetus cells in medical research , and the Regeneron drug does not contradict this at all .
Of course , as readers here know well , I have no problem identifying President Trump ’ s many , evident shortcomings .
And I continue to shake my head over some of the things he says .
But to call him a hypocrite or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used Regeneron is to reveal one ’ s anti-Trump animus .
It indicts the accuser far more than it indicts the accused .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

Have you heard the latest? Trump cannot be pro-life since he used and is promoting the anti-COVID drug Regeneron, which was allegedly developed with the help of fetal tissue. And pro-life organizations are being hypocritical by refusing to condemn the drug. Is there any truth to these charges?
The Allegation: Tissue from Aborted Fetuses Used in Regeneron
As reported by the UK Metro, “Trump faces hypocrisy allegations after it was revealed Regeneron is made from stem cells originally taken from an embryonic kidney. That kidney was taken during an elective abortion performed in the Netherlands during the 1970s.”
More bluntly, the MIT Technology Review claimed, “Trump’s antibody treatment was tested using cells originally derived from an abortion.
“The Trump administration has looked to curtail research with fetal cells. But when it was life or death for the president, no one objected.”
As for pro-life organizations, a lengthy headline on Business Insider stated, “Antiabortion groups say they stand behind Trump’s use of a drug tested on cells derived from an aborted fetus because the president ‘was not involved with that abortion’.”
How Should Pro-Lifers Respond? With The Truth
How should Trump voters respond to this? And, more specifically, how should pro-life Trump voters respond?
Let’s say that Regeneron was actually developed with the help of fetal tissue. Does anyone actually think that doctors came to Trump and said, “Mr. President, we have an experimental drug that was tested and developed using tissue from an aborted baby. How do you feel about using this?”
Only the most hardened anti-Trumper could imagine such a scenario. In the world of reality, the very thought of it is absurd. And, even if the fetal tissue charges are true, who knew about this? Was this something that any of the doctors would have been aware of? I very seriously doubt it, especially when, as we shall see, Regeneron itself denies the charge.
It is therefore completely ridiculous to claim that Trump is being hypocritical in using Regeneron, as if he knew the alleged history of the drug.
The Charge is False. The Tissue Came From Mice
But that leads us back to the big question: Did Regeneron use fetal tissue from a baby aborted in the 1970s?
Another headline on Business Insider stated, “One of Trump’s COVID-19 treatments was developed using tissue that originally came from an abortion. He’s tried to ban this kind of research.”
This is being widely reported as established fact. But is it true?
She summarized the evidence in simple and clear terms: “NO human embryonic stem cells or human fetal tissue were used to produce the treatments President Trump received—period.”
In an official statement for the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, David Prentice, Ph.D. and Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D., wrote:
The Regeneron therapy given to the president was made in Velocimmune humanized mice, a novel platform that uses genetically modified mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to generate antibodies described here and here. Development of Regeneron’s antibody cocktail is detailed in the journal Science, describing how they identified their antibodies made from Velocimmune mice and blood from recovered patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. The final antibody pair used in the REGN-COV2 therapy cocktail was then produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Results from Regeneron’s REGN-COV2 clinical trials to treat COVID-19 patients are reported here. Mouse embryonic stem cells and genetic modifications to make such mice date back to 1981, have been extensively studied, and were instrumental in the discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, another fully ethical alternative to fetal material, as discussed in this Nature review. iPSCs are much easier to use than human embryonic stem cells, more flexible in their uses, and are not ethically controversial. No one has ever advocated against using mouse embryonic stem cells for development of therapies – only against destruction of human lives.”
In a statement made to the Christian Post, Alexandra Bowie, a spokesperson for Regneron, explained, “We did not use human stem cells or human embryonic stem cells in the development of REGN-COV2. We did use the HEK293T cell line to test our antibodies’ ability to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus (they were used to make ‘pseudovirus’ that looks like the Spike protein).
“HEK293s are considered ‘immortalized’ cells and are a common and widespread tool in research labs. The cell line was originally derived by adenovirus transformation of human embryonic kidney cells in 1977. “After this, it was further transformed at Stanford in the ‘80s with SV40 T-antigen (hence the ‘T’). HEK293T wasn’t used in any other way and fetal tissue was not used in this research.”
I’m not a medical doctor or a scientist, but it seems clear from these descriptions (and from what I could glean from Regeneron’s technical article published in the journal Science, also cited above) that there is hardly a direct connection between the drug and an aborted baby.
Still, there is so much misinformation going viral online that Dr. Tara Lee started a Twitter account just to rebut the misconceptions. (Lee’s Twitter bio identifies her as “Researcher, Clinical Scientist, Science Policy Advisor. PhD. Senior Fellow & Director of Life Sciences @lozierinstitute. For LIFE in this world and the next.”)
She summarized the evidence in simple and clear terms: “NO human embryonic stem cells or human fetal tissue were used to produce the treatments President Trump received—period.”
Answering the Hypocrisy Charge Still Leveled
So, Regneron denies that it used embryonic cells and other scientists deny it. This completely undermines the charge that pro-life groups are being hypocritical for not condemning the use of the drug (and the president’s promotion of it).
That being said, some pro-life groups have, in fact, opined that, even if testing for the drug could be traced back to an abortion in the 1970s, Trump had nothing to do with any of this and is therefore not being hypocritical in promoting the drug.
Is there some hypocrisy in the response?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
That’s a fair question, and it’s the type of question that ethicists debate. If you could save the lives of many people using a drug that was developed with the help of aborted fetal cells, is that justifiable?
My answer to those accusing the president with hypocrisy is threefold. First, as stated here, it’s unlikely in the extreme he had any idea of the alleged abortion connection. Second, scientists from Regneron deny any connection to human fetal cells, and Trump would presumably take them at their word. Third, if Regneron had been developed with the help of an aborted baby, there would then be a serious ethical debate as to its use.
Still, with all that being said, it is grasping at straws to question the pro-life commitment of these organizations (along with that of President Trump). That’s because we are comparing the willful killing of more than 60 million babies in the womb, often out of convenience, with the possible, distant connection of a life-saving drug to a baby aborted in the 1970s. Who would seriously make such a comparison?
When it comes to the question of the benefit of embryonic cells in the development of medical cures, Dr. Lee noted that, “Fetal tissue from aborted babies is not required for medical advancements. After 100+ years of research, no therapies have been developed that needed aborted fetal tissue to begin with. Newer & better ethical alternatives are available & being used now to make humanized mice.”
There is, therefore, no justification for using embryonic fetus cells in medical research, and the Regeneron drug does not contradict this at all.
Of course, as readers here know well, I have no problem identifying President Trump’s many, evident shortcomings. And I continue to shake my head over some of the things he says.
But to call him a hypocrite or to question his pro-life commitment because he used Regeneron is to reveal one’s anti-Trump animus. It indicts the accuser far more than it indicts the accused.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-10-11--President Trump Joins Live Call to Prayer

On Sunday , October 11 , Lara Trump hosted a live prayer event for President and for America .
The @ @ @ @ @ publisher James Robison , Paula White-Cain , Darryl Strawberry , Sam Rodriguez , and Joni @ @ @ @ @ joined the call to give an update on his health and to thank the American @ @ @ @ @ Please watch and be blessed .

On Sunday, October 11, Lara Trump hosted a live prayer event for President Trump and for America. The event featured prayers from Stream publisher James Robison, Paula White-Cain, Darryl Strawberry, Sam Rodriguez, and Joni Lamb. The President himself joined the call to give an update on his health and to thank the American people for their support. Please watch and be blessed.
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thestream--2020-10-11--On the Eve of Barrett Hearing: The Selling of RBG Was the Peddling of Destruction

NOTE : Confirmation hearings begin Monday morning for Amy Comey Barrett , nominated by President Trump to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court .
As we wait for those hearings to start , Stream contributor Joseph D ’ Hippolito reflects one last time on the pop culture figure Barrett will be replacing .
And the damage left in her wake .
Pop culture ’ s influencers stoke the star-maker machinery behind more than popular singers , actors , athletes and comic-book heroes .
No other Supreme Court Justice has been marketed with such fervor and variety .
Films @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards .
Action figures .
Plush dolls .
Bobbleheads .
Stickers .
Pins .
Covid-19 face masks .
Women ’ s socks .
Finger puppets .
Votive candles .
Take Christmas .
No “ woke ” household would be complete without a white oval tree ornament bearing Ginsburg ’ s stern visage and the message , “ Merry Resistmas.
” But pop culture ’ s obsession with Ginsburg goes beyond merchandising .
In November 2018 , Ginsburg broke three ribs during a fall and went to the hospital .
Twitter immediately erupted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bader Ginsburg needs any of my bones or internal organs , I don ’ t need them , ” tweeted actress Leslie Grossman .
Jimmy Kimmel used his talk show to offer Ginsburg a large plastic bubble .
“ For obvious reasons , ” Kimmel said , she “ must be protected at any cost.
” Why ?
Because pop culture embraces and promotes the radical political values Ginsburg advocated throughout her career .
Most of today ’ s controversies concerning diversity and gender result directly from the values she expressed in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor at Columbia in 1977 , Ginsburg and another feminist lawyer , Brenda Feigen-Fasteau , wrote Sex Bias in U.S. Code for the United States Commission on Civil Rights .
That book amplified the concepts they addressed in 1974 in The Legal Status of Women under Federal Law .
Both reports advised changing the federal code to eliminate possible discrimination against women .
But Ginsburg and Feigen-Fasteau also sought to dictate social conditions that would ban legitimate gender distinctions as well .
Both wanted a utopian egalitarianism justified by what they called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal rights principle looks toward a world in which men and women function as full and equal partners , with artificial barriers removed and opportunity unaffected by a person ’ s gender , ” their report stated .
“ Preparation for such a world requires elimination of sex separation in all public institutions where education and training occur .
While the personal privacy principle permits maintenance of separate sleeping and bathing facilities , no other facilities , e.g.
, work , school , or cafeteria , should be maintained for one sex only.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ code to replace all gender-specific language , including pronouns , with neutered terms .
Ginsburg and Feigen-Fasteau sought to replace such terms as “ manpower ” with “ human resources ” and “ chairman ” with “ chairperson.
” Both advocated using “ he/she , ” “ hers/his ” and “ her/him ” for third-person singular pronouns , even using “ plural constructions ” to avoid such pronouns .
A rewritten federal code could then be used to abolish single-sex institutions from prisons to youth groups , including the Boy Scouts and Girl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s agenda also meant fundamentally redefining roles within the family .
“ Congress and the President should direct their attention to the concept that pervades the Code : that the adult world is ( and should be ) divided into two classes — independent men , whose primary responsibility is to win bread for a family and dependent women , whose primary responsibility is to care for children and household , ” the report stated .
“ This concept must be eliminated from the Code if it is to reflect the equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasis added ) Increasing numbers of women joining the work force also “ should impel development of a comprehensive program of government-supported child care , ” the report stated .
A “ finished system of social care and accommodation ” that included “ maternity houses , crèches , kindergartens , schools , social dining rooms , social laundries , first-aid stations ” and other facilities , Trotsky wrote , would replace the family .
“ The complete absorption of the housekeeping functions of the family by institutions of the socialist society , uniting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trotsky added , “ was to bring to woman , and thereby to the loving couple , a real liberation from the thousand-year-old fetters.
” For Ginsburg and Feigen-Fasteau , social transformation also meant revising legal standards concerning sex .
Their 1977 report stated that “ prostitution , as a consensual act between adults , is arguably within the zone of privacy protected by recent constitutional decisions.
” Three years earlier , the two feminists made a more dramatic statement : “ To eradicate sex-based discrimination in the catalogue of crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classifying or referring to prostitution or solicitation by or on behalf of a prostitute should be repealed.
” But Ginsburg ’ s support for abortion most endears her to her fans .
As Ginsburg told Senators during her 1993 confirmation hearings : No wonder her enraged fans have used Twitter to demand more civil disorder since her death .
They have a neurotic fear of an encroaching theocracy that would make abortion illegal .
Lawyer Jamie Smith even joined the Satanic Temple to fight against that perceived possibility .
“ Reading through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how closely they aligned with the unwritten code I had used to try to guide my own life for several years , ” she wrote in the Huffington Post .
“ I realized , happily , that these were my people and that I had been a Satanist for several years without even knowing it.
” The unintended irony speaks for itself .
Joseph D ’ Hippolito has written commentaries for such outlets as the Jerusalem Post , the American Thinker and Front Page Magazine .
He works as a free-lance writer .

NOTE: Confirmation hearings begin Monday morning for Amy Coney Barrett, nominated by President Trump to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. As we wait for those hearings to start, Stream contributor Joseph D’Hippolito reflects one last time on the pop culture figure Barrett will be replacing. And the damage left in her wake.
Pop culture’s influencers stoke the star-maker machinery behind more than popular singers, actors, athletes and comic-book heroes.
Exhibits A-Z: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
No other Supreme Court Justice has been marketed with such fervor and variety. Films. T-shirts. Coffee mugs. Greeting cards. Action figures. Plush dolls. Bobbleheads. Stickers. Pins. Covid-19 face masks. Women’s socks. Finger puppets. Votive candles.
Take Christmas. No “woke” household would be complete without a white oval tree ornament bearing Ginsburg’s stern visage and the message, “Merry Resistmas.”
But pop culture’s obsession with Ginsburg goes beyond merchandising.
‘Protected at Any Cost’
In November 2018, Ginsburg broke three ribs during a fall and went to the hospital. Twitter immediately erupted with volunteer organ donors.
“If Ruth Bader Ginsburg needs any of my bones or internal organs, I don’t need them,” tweeted actress Leslie Grossman.
Jimmy Kimmel used his talk show to offer Ginsburg a large plastic bubble. “For obvious reasons,” Kimmel said, she “must be protected at any cost.”
Why? Because pop culture embraces and promotes the radical political values Ginsburg advocated throughout her career. Most of today’s controversies concerning diversity and gender result directly from the values she expressed in her influential legal work.
Radically Notorious
As a law professor at Columbia in 1977, Ginsburg and another feminist lawyer, Brenda Feigen-Fasteau, wrote Sex Bias in U.S. Code for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. That book amplified the concepts they addressed in 1974 in The Legal Status of Women under Federal Law. Both reports advised changing the federal code to eliminate possible discrimination against women.
But Ginsburg and Feigen-Fasteau also sought to dictate social conditions that would ban legitimate gender distinctions as well. Both wanted a utopian egalitarianism justified by what they called “the equal rights principle.”
A rewritten federal code could then be used to abolish single-sex institutions from prisons to youth groups, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
“The equal rights principle looks toward a world in which men and women function as full and equal partners, with artificial barriers removed and opportunity unaffected by a person’s gender,” their report stated. “Preparation for such a world requires elimination of sex separation in all public institutions where education and training occur. While the personal privacy principle permits maintenance of separate sleeping and bathing facilities, no other facilities, e.g., work, school, or cafeteria, should be maintained for one sex only.”
Achieving that goal meant rewriting federal code to replace all gender-specific language, including pronouns, with neutered terms. Ginsburg and Feigen-Fasteau sought to replace such terms as “manpower” with “human resources” and “chairman” with “chairperson.” Both advocated using “he/she,” “hers/his” and “her/him” for third-person singular pronouns, even using “plural constructions” to avoid such pronouns.
A rewritten federal code could then be used to abolish single-sex institutions from prisons to youth groups, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
A Brave New World
Ginsburg’s and Feigen-Fasteau’s agenda also meant fundamentally redefining roles within the family.
“Congress and the President should direct their attention to the concept that pervades the Code: that the adult world is (and should be) divided into two classes — independent men, whose primary responsibility is to win bread for a family and dependent women, whose primary responsibility is to care for children and household,” the report stated. “This concept must be eliminated from the Code if it is to reflect the equality principle.” (parentheses in original, emphasis added)
Increasing numbers of women joining the work force also “should impel development of a comprehensive program of government-supported child care,” the report stated.
Redefining family roles and providing government-supported child care reflect Marxist ideas that Leon Trotsky promoted.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
A “finished system of social care and accommodation” that included “maternity houses, crèches, kindergartens, schools, social dining rooms, social laundries, first-aid stations” and other facilities, Trotsky wrote, would replace the family.
“The complete absorption of the housekeeping functions of the family by institutions of the socialist society, uniting all generations in solidarity and mutual aid,” Trotsky added, “was to bring to woman, and thereby to the loving couple, a real liberation from the thousand-year-old fetters.”
For Ginsburg and Feigen-Fasteau, social transformation also meant revising legal standards concerning sex. Their 1977 report stated that “prostitution, as a consensual act between adults, is arguably within the zone of privacy protected by recent constitutional decisions.”
Three years earlier, the two feminists made a more dramatic statement: “To eradicate sex-based discrimination in the catalogue of crimes, prostitution should be de-criminalized … laws classifying or referring to prostitution or solicitation by or on behalf of a prostitute should be repealed.”
Abortion Über Alles
But Ginsburg’s support for abortion most endears her to her fans. As Ginsburg told Senators during her 1993 confirmation hearings:
It is essential to woman’s equality with man that she be the decision maker, that her choice be controlling. If you impose restraints that impede her choice, you are disadvantaging her because of her sex. … Abortion prohibition by the State, however, controls women and denies them full autonomy and full equality with men.
No wonder her enraged fans have used Twitter to demand more civil disorder since her death. They have a neurotic fear of an encroaching theocracy that would make abortion illegal. Lawyer Jamie Smith even joined the Satanic Temple to fight against that perceived possibility.
“Reading through the Seven Tenets, I was struck by how closely they aligned with the unwritten code I had used to try to guide my own life for several years,” she wrote in the Huffington Post. “I realized, happily, that these were my people and that I had been a Satanist for several years without even knowing it.”
The unintended irony speaks for itself.
Joseph D’Hippolito has written commentaries for such outlets as the Jerusalem Post, the American Thinker and Front Page Magazine. He works as a free-lance writer.


thestream--2020-10-11--Let’s Hear It for Real Religious Freedom

“ Staggering friendliness.
” That ’ s how one reporter described his encounter with People of Praise , the apostolic community that Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and her family belong to .
I ’ ve always heard wonderful things about Barrett , knowing more than a few people who teach or have studied at the University of Notre Dame , where Barrett attended school .
And yet , I just finished reading a piece that used the word “ sinister ” in association with People of Praise .
Evidently because we no longer have the capacity as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world before Margaret Atwood novels .
The use of the word “ handmaid ” now has to be about The Handmaid ’ s Tale instead of about the greatest of the Christian apostles , Mary .
Some Catholics pray to the mother of Jesus every evening .
This is Christianity 101 .
But many of us in the current culture never took that class .
Of course , I understand why Christian life in practice can seem so exotic .
If you have no knowledge of or experience of Christianity , it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more an ideology or a political platform than a way of life .
So I apologize on behalf of some of us Christians who aren ’ t always overwhelming the world with love , when that ’ s our mission !
There are the Sisters of Life , for instance .
They are wildly talented women who were doctors , nurses , engineers , and at least one astrophysicist and a Columbia University psychiatry professor .
They each have humbly and completely given their lives to Christ .
They help women considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even living quarters in some cases .
They also help women to heal after abortion .
This work has put them in the forefront of the culture wars , even to the point of a lengthy court battle with the Obama administration .
Their weapons are the virtues .
They love .
They look at people with a bit of the love God has for them .
They know each man and woman on the streets they meet was made in the image and likeness of God , chosen to be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what Christianity is !
Many on the left think that religion is all fine and good if it stays politely within the confines of Sunday morning , but that it becomes objectionable if it dictates how you actually live your life .
We ’ ve seen this in the Democrats ’ suspicion and outright hostility to Coney Barrett ’ s nomination .
But we must remember that real religious freedom is not mere freedom of worship — it ’ s the freedom to practice your faith and live by its rules .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
How do we live in this mess as people of integrity , who live our faiths loudly in the world ?
We form intentional communities , for one .
During the vice-presidential debate , Mike Pence was right to call out Kamala Harris on her grilling of a judicial nominee over his membership in the Knights of Columbus .
There is an alarmingly mainstream hostility to concrete faith .
That ’ s what we are seeing in the bewilderment about the Barrett family and People of Praise .
Opus Dei , Communion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ministries in the Catholic faith , and Christianity more broadly .
These groups are about people choosing to walk together in faith .
They show us the way .
We need more , not fewer , people committed to truly living the Christian life .
If you don ’ t believe the dogma , there ’ s still something in it for you , from a societal standpoint .
Staggering friendliness has its benefits .
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute , editor-at-large of National Review magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Year With the Mystics : Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living .
She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan ’ s pro-life commission in New York .
She can be contacted at klopez @ nationalreview.com .

“Staggering friendliness.” That’s how one reporter described his encounter with People of Praise, the apostolic community that Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and her family belong to. I’ve always heard wonderful things about Barrett, knowing more than a few people who teach or have studied at the University of Notre Dame, where Barrett attended school.
And yet, I just finished reading a piece that used the word “sinister” in association with People of Praise. Evidently because we no longer have the capacity as a people to recognize that there was a world before Margaret Atwood novels. The use of the word “handmaid” now has to be about The Handmaid’s Tale instead of about the greatest of the Christian apostles, Mary. Some Catholics pray to the mother of Jesus every evening. This is Christianity 101. But many of us in the current culture never took that class.
Of course, I understand why Christian life in practice can seem so exotic. If you have no knowledge of or experience of Christianity, it may sound a lot like fights over abortion, more an ideology or a political platform than a way of life. So I apologize on behalf of some of us Christians who aren’t always overwhelming the world with love, when that’s our mission!
What Christianity Is
There are the Sisters of Life, for instance. They are wildly talented women who were doctors, nurses, engineers, and at least one astrophysicist and a Columbia University psychiatry professor. They each have humbly and completely given their lives to Christ. They help women considering abortions to choose life, providing assistance and even living quarters in some cases.
They also help women to heal after abortion. This work has put them in the forefront of the culture wars, even to the point of a lengthy court battle with the Obama administration. Their weapons are the virtues. They love. They look at people with a bit of the love God has for them. They know each man and woman on the streets they meet was made in the image and likeness of God, chosen to be on this Earth for a purpose. This is what Christianity is!
Democrats’ Outright Hostility Against Religious Freedom
Many on the left think that religion is all fine and good if it stays politely within the confines of Sunday morning, but that it becomes objectionable if it dictates how you actually live your life. We’ve seen this in the Democrats’ suspicion and outright hostility to Coney Barrett’s nomination. But we must remember that real religious freedom is not mere freedom of worship — it’s the freedom to practice your faith and live by its rules.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So how do we untie the knots? How do we live in this mess as people of integrity, who live our faiths loudly in the world? We form intentional communities, for one.
During the vice-presidential debate, Mike Pence was right to call out Kamala Harris on her grilling of a judicial nominee over his membership in the Knights of Columbus. There is an alarmingly mainstream hostility to concrete faith. That’s what we are seeing in the bewilderment about the Barrett family and People of Praise. Opus Dei, Communion and Liberation — there are many movements and ministries in the Catholic faith, and Christianity more broadly. These groups are about people choosing to walk together in faith. They show us the way. We need more, not fewer, people committed to truly living the Christian life. If you don’t believe the dogma, there’s still something in it for you, from a societal standpoint. Staggering friendliness has its benefits.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living. She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan’s pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at [email protected].