“ProLifeCon” Twitcast and Transcript

Today it begins, our third annual “Twitcast” joining pro-life bloggers from near and far, who all had the good sense to come in out of the rain, during the annual March for Life. (Click here for last year's transcript.) The following is the transcript of this year's event. Items were edited slightly for correction. Bracketed text is for clarity. Items listed in green entered the feed during our report, and were deemed germaine to the topic at hand.

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Transcript of Twitcast

We've got our coffee, we've got our pastries, here at the luxurious Family Research Council. What could go wrong? #prolifecon
08:26

And ... it begins. Tony Perkins heads the FRC, and leads the introduction, and offers comments "to set the stage for today." #prolifecon
08:34

54 million abortions in the USA since Roe v Wade. That's the entire population of the Pacific time zone. #prolifecon
08:34

Contemplating "moral outrage" over the wreck of the Costa Concordia, but none for the most vulnerable of human life. #prolifecon
08:36

Over 2000 crisis pregnancy centers are operating in the USA today, a step towards becoming a pro-life nation. But it's not over. #prolifecon
08:38

"We need to go beyond political promises, and call for practical solutions." #prolifecon
08:38

Jill Stanek is a registered nurse who exposed the phenomenon of babies being born in hospitals and left to die. She put her ... #prolifecon
08:41

... reputation on the line, and is now a formidable advocate, at jillstanek.com and through speaking engagements. #prolifecon
08:41

Jill introduces Michael Clancy, the photographer of the "Hand of Hope" photo in 2000. #prolifecon
08:43

Media reaction, the hospital attempted to blow off the authenticity of the photo, that the image of a preborn child was staged. #prolifecon
08:44

The story with the photo first appeared in LIFE magazine. As to the baby, "Samuel is my hero." #prolifecon
08:52

Clancy was physically prevented from taking the photo, but it was too late, and now he has all rights to it. #prolifecon
08:53

Julie and Samuel Armas give the "other side of the story." Samuel [the preborn baby in the photo] is now twelve years old. #prolifecon
08:53

Samuel's mother describes his fetal surgery for spina bifida, and later saw the photo in USA Today. #prolifecon
08:59

"This happened so that God's glory could be fulfilled." #prolifecon
09:00

The fetus was at 21 weeks, and weighed at 15 ounces, when the photo was taken. #prolifecon
09:04

"Do the kids at school know it's you in the picture?" Eventually, some of them do, and ask questions about it. #prolifecon
09:06

"Mom, I'm on Wikipedia." #prolifecon
09:06

Dr Gerald Nadal is a prominent pro-life Catholic blogger, lives in NYC with his family. #prolifecon
09:07

There is an effort in hospitals to steadily promote what is essentially eugenics, to weed out "damaged" babies. #prolifecon
09:08

RT @TheMorningSpew: @EdMorrissey Ed have you seen this video? ABC airs prolife video and probably don't realize it. http://t.co/Fxw8Pzbf
09:09

"Science in the service of the pro-life movement" is the theme of Dr Nadal's blog. #prolifecon
09:10

"An aggressive effort in fetal eugenics." Some doctors will refuse to bring certain babies to term. #prolifecon
09:12

"I long for the days when it was about a woman's 'right to choose.' Lately they're not given a choice by doctors." #prolifecon
09:15

The encouragement of fetal eugenics is beginning as early as medical school. #prolifecon
09:16

Ryan Bomburger is Chief Creative Officer, The Radiance Foundation, will speak on abortion, adoption, and the black community. #prolifecon
09:21

Ryan has appeared at this event for ... well, this is the third one, so far as we know. #prolifecon
09:22

theradiancefoundation.org #prolifecon
09:22

Ryan was conceived by rape, was given over to adoption, is now married with children of his own. #prolifecon
09:23

toomanyaborted.com #prolifecon
09:24

Of all abortions in America, an estimated 35% are African-American babies. #prolifecon
09:25

Alluding to Genesis 1:1, "the darkness is filling the void again." #prolifecon
09:30

toomanyaborted.com has produced a number of pro-life videos to carry on the message. #prolifecon
09:31

"When God creates, it's intentional, it's revelational." #prolifecon
09:33

The theme of the presentation is "the DESIGN of messaging." Who are we trying to reach? #prolifecon
09:33

When God creates, it's transformational." #prolifecon
09:33

blackprolifecoalition.org #prolifecon
09:35

Lila Rose is founder of LiveAction, and started infiltrating Planned Parenthood clinics with hidden video cameras at 15. #prolifecon
09:37

Now 23 years old, a recent graduate of UCLA #prolifecon
09:38

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the power of video. #prolifecon
09:41

After doing multimedia presentations at churches and elsewhere, she discovered YouTube, and saw an opportunity. #prolifecon
09:42

The power of visual media is what made Ms Rose aware of the horrors of abortion. The clinics "hide the reality of abortion." #prolifecon
09:43

"Over a fourth of our children are being killed through abortion." #prolifecon
09:44

Ms Rose began going undercover through videocams and phone calls for four and a half years, AND exposing them to the world. #prolifecon
09:45

Exposure includes concealment of statutory rape against young girls by Planned Parenthood. #prolifecon
09:47

liveaction.org #prolifecon
09:48

CBS and CNN have begun (finally!) to cover the work of LiveAction. #prolifecon
09:50

INTERMISSION: Returning at 10:00 am eastern USA time. #prolifecon
09:51

Jill: Archived screen of video feed is available after the event at frc.org/prolifecon #prolifecon
10:01

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) is a "pro-life hero" on the Hill. Has been active in fighting sex trafficking around the world. #prolifecon
10:02

Smith has been in Congress for 31 years. #prolifecon
10:06

Henry Reid used to be prolife, before moving to the Senate. Still now there is "the most pro-life Congress ever." #prolifecon
10:07

Congressman Smith's presentation goes into considerable detail on pro-life-related legislation. More is [likely to be] found at his website. #prolifecon
10:10

That website: chrissmith.house.gov #prolifecon
10:11

The Obama administration is clearly working with Planned Parenthood, through the various government agencies. #prolifecon
10:20

Nurses are being forced to participate in abortions. They are often unaware of any "conscience clause." #prolifecon
10:23

Congresswoman Vicki Hartzler (R-MO) is the next speaker, one of the recent "Tea Party" candidates -- the "fighting freshmen."#prolifecon
10:25

Large pro-life "freshman" class in Congress, and a growing number of pro-life women on the Hill. #prolifecon
10:27

Hartzler grew up on a farm, discovered the nature of preborn as human life watching a presentation in high school home ec class. #prolifecon
10:32

Discovered the truth behind Planned Parenthood, that they're "all about money, and they don't deserve a dime of our money." #prolifecon
10:33

Most "tea party" sympathy is focused on the funding issues alone, although a noticeable pro-life sentiment. #prolifecon
10:40

Collin Raye is a country music recording artist, with a personal story to tell. #prolifecon
10:42

Raye has produced an inspirational CD: "His Love Remains." #prolifecon
10:44

Raye elaborates on the growing and dangerous trend toward euthanasia, as a "compassionate" solution. #prolifecon
10:50

Raye describes a granddaughter who was in a coma, but who is now alive and well. #prolifecon
10:53

only hundreds? RT @NROcorner: Candidates Celebrate March for Life: hundreds of pro-lifers gather in D.C. for the Mar... http://t.co/MMcRlmlC
10:59

Kristan Hawkins is Executive Director of Students for Life of America #prolifecon
10:59

Since Roe v Wade, the gap between "pro-choice" and "pro-life" in this country is narrowing, 49 to 45 percent respectively. #prolifecon
11:03

"Don't be afraid about abolishing abortion. I'm putting myself out of a job." #prolifecon
11:10

apassiontoserve.org #prolifecon
11:15

Karen Snuffer is Executive Director of the CareNet Pregnancy Resource Centers: Manassas, Woodbridge, and Warrenton. #prolifecon
11:19

CareNet works not only with churches, but with adoption and social service agencies, as well as legal services. #prolifecon
11:24

Tom McClusky is Senior Vice President of FRC Action, a spokesman for life issues on the Hill. #prolifecon

ivotevalues.org #prolifecon
11:31

We're "rounding third and headed for home" with the #prolifecon event and "twitcast." Transcript later today ...
11:33

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We here at mwbh want to thank the Family Research Council for providing this event yet again this year, and for the support they give us, to make it possible to send you coverage via Twitter. We also want to thank the many of you who retweeted our messages out in the cybersphere, bringing seven new followers to our Twitter feed.

This writer also had the pleasure of meeting with Nashville recording artist Collin Raye, and had a chance to speak with him briefly, about his current undertakings, and the challenge of being his own man in an increasingly secularized musical genre. In the face of it all, he's had 30 singles in the country music charts between 1991 and 2007, four of which have reached number one.

Not too shabby.

There were photos taken with Collin (better than the one above, taken with a cameraphone), and we will publish them here as soon as they are available. Meanwhile, we've got more pro-life coverage in the days ahead. Stay tuned, and stay in touch.