Perhaps it is because my head is full of cobwebs after a night of NyQuil, but as I think about the EndTheLies.Com website NARAL recently launched, I believe we need to agree with NARAL.
Because it is definitely time to “end the lies.”
When a group—in this case, NARAL—is willing to make such a bold statement, they should be more than willing to defend every “testimonial,” along with full disclosure of the “testimonier’s” (I just made up a new word—very impressive) background. In addition, every accusation must be backed up with sourcing and any necessary statistics.
After all, if we’re about EndTheLies.Com, we must RevealEverySourceAndDetail.Com, too. No, the latter isn’t a new website but it’s the best way I could think of to make my point in my frail condition (a slight cold. I’m telling my lovely wife I have the flu, which is my version of NARAL’s “End the Lies” campaign. I take a perception, then embellish as much as needed so I can receive the attention I crave).
Pregnancy Help News Editor Jay Hobbs did a great job of ending lies in The Washington Examiner, pointing out the obvious flaws in NARAL’s campaign; the largest being, NARAL cannot—and has not—found one person injured in any way by a pregnancy help organization. Zip. Zero. Nada. There’s a piece of truth for ‘ya.
But again—perhaps because I need a jolt in my weakened state (did I mention I have a cold?)—I think we need more than ending the lies of EndTheLies.
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My proposal? I want a debate. A real debate; not one of these five-minute yap sessions with two talking heads spewing a few bullet points before the “moderator” on a cable network says, “Thank you both” and sends us to commercial.
Nope. I want a debate with a moderator who knows what it means to do some moderatin’.
My choice of moderator is Brit Hume of Fox News, because he’s been around a while and can cut through the semantical gymnastics of anyone trying to dodge a tough question.
More important, I tweeted Brit once and he answered me. He must be a good guy.
Just to be fair, our debate could center on the premise NARAL wants most: The Truth About Pregnancy Help Centers. Have at it, NARAL President Ilyse Hogue. Tell us all we need to know.
We will make this debate even more inviting for Ms. Hogue; we’ll give her a man to debate against. I’m thinking Heartbeat International President Jor-El Godsey. She is the head of abortion providers; he serves the largest number of pregnancy help organizations in the world.
What more could Ms. Hogue ask for? For the first few minutes she can prattle on about how a man should never be involved talking about abortion, and Godsey would have to listen to it all.
My proposal however, is about more than a few minutes. We want an hour, minimum. Let’s go past the talking points and in-depth of a true, in-depth exploration into what pregnancy help ministries do.
Tweet This: @KirkWalden's proposal: @NARAL and @HeartbeatIntl leaders sit down for an hour-long debate. @BritHume is nominated as moderator. #prolife
And while we’re at it, let’s hear what the abortion industry is all about. Let’s allow Ms. Hogue to tell us why it is so important for her group to run to state legislatures and force pregnancy help centers to advertise for her product in California, Illinois and other states, just as interest in her product is waning nationwide.
Both can ask questions of the other. My close friend from Twitter, Brit Hume, can jump in when someone needs to clarify a point.
Seems to me, it’s time for the entire debate about pregnancy help organizations and our work to get out of activist courts (thankfully, the California case makes it to the Supreme Court in a couple of weeks) and into the public square.
One hour, one topic and one fascinating conversation. That’s my proposal. I’ll bring the popcorn.
