NEWS AND OPINION:
Some are still mulling over the outcome of legislative races in Virginia on Tuesday and now have thoughts about long-term implications — particularly from the pro-life standpoint.
“We are deeply disappointed by these results, which serve as a warning sign for the GOP heading into 2024. Virginia Democrats outspent Republicans nine to one on abortion-focused TV ads that mischaracterized Republican candidates and distracted from Democrats’ extreme position of no-limits abortion on demand,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
“These ads inaccurately labeled a 15-week protection for babies who can feel pain as a ‘complete ban with no exceptions,’ While GOP candidates rallied around protecting babies from painful late-term abortions beginning at 15 weeks, they allowed Democrats to dominate the abortion narrative on the airwaves and sow confusion with voters. This is not a formula for success for the GOP,” Mrs. Dannefelser said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
She is issuing a wake-up call.
“The true lesson from this loss is that Democrats are going to make abortion front and center throughout the election campaigns. The GOP consultant class needs to wake up. Candidates must put money and messaging toward countering the Democrats’ attacks or they will lose every time,” Mrs. Dannenfelser said.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America seeks to end abortion “by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders,” according to its mission statement.
Find them at SBAprolife.org.
‘POLICEMEN OF THE WORLD’
Meanwhile, there’s trouble and discord aplenty, as the situation in one particular nation continues to erode.
Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made that clear in opening remarks at a full committee hearing Wednesday on U.S. national security interests in Ukraine.
“It’s important for this committee, and the American people, to fully understand how Russia’s war in Ukraine affects American security. This is different from simply making the case of supporting Ukraine as it fights for freedom. This is a balancing matter that all of us in national security must work towards. We are not, and we cannot be, the policemen of the world,” Mr. Risch said.
“On the other hand, it is also important that we always keep an eye on what’s happening in other countries, particularly with countries friendly to us and ones who enter into defense agreements with us — it is incredibly important. We all know there’s a number of wars going on in the world. We are not participating in the vast majority of them, but we do have to participate in our national security demands,” he continued.
Mr. Risch also called for witnesses to be “crystal clear with us about the realities on the ground in Ukraine and what a Russian victory would mean for America’s national security and economic prosperity.”
He also asked for clarification about alliances that the U.S. makes, how they influence national security and how America’s reputation affects how those defense agreements are carried out.
Curious about this event or similar ones? Consult the committee’s website.
FOR THE LEXICON
“The Deterrent Act.”
In this case, “Deterrent” stands for the “Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act,” introduced Oct. 11 by Republican Reps. Michelle Steel of California and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.
The bill is also championed by Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Republican, along with her colleagues from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce — who voted Wednesday to advance the Deterrent Act to the floor.
“This legislation brings necessary oversight and transparency to foreign gift reporting requirements to help colleges and universities across the country counter foreign influence and protect our nation’s students,” a written advisory about the act said.
The bill would slash the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 down to $50,000, with an even stricter $0 threshold for countries and entities of concern, the advisory stated.
“I am committed to ensuring that our institutions of higher education are not compromised by foreign adversaries that want to see the demise of our great nation,” Ms. Stefanik said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“President Biden has allowed foreign adversaries to run rampant and undermine our nation’s interests through our universities. We must ensure that universities are putting the interest of American students first and not allowing foreign actors such as Communist China to push propaganda and steal our research. We must protect our students and stand strong against our adversaries,” she said.
SAVE THE DATE
If you can’t get too much news about Congress or wonder when it’s in session, consider the newly released U.S. House Calendar 2024, now available to download for free.
It is available as a one-page PDF, as wallpaper for an iPhone, or as a more complex month-by-month version, and it covers the second session of the 118th Congress.
Simple.
The calendar is available through House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s official website.
POLL DU JOUR
• 50% of U.S. adults say inflation will alter the amount they spend on food for Thanksgiving.
• 18% of those adults plan to spend more money on the meal as in the past and likely buy more food.
• 28% plan to spend more money but buy the same amount of food.
• 13% expect to spend more money and get less food for it.
• 24% of those adults affected by inflation say they will spend about the same amount as in the past but likely get less food.
• 16% plan to spend less and buy less.
SOURCE: An Advantage Solutions survey of 1,100 U.S. adults conducted online Oct. 23 and released Wednesday.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin and on Facebook at HarperBulletin.
