Producer's Desk — July, 2008

Confused about Obama’s abortion stance that Relevant Magazine interview? You’re not alone. The helpful folks linked below provide may provide some guidance…

• Legal experts: Obama’s ‘Relevant’ abortion comments conflict with own pro-choice views - Michael Foust, BP News
• A Baltimore Sun blogger covers the confusion…
• …as does ABC News blog ‘Political Punch’
• The Weekly Standard writes Obama’s Abortion Obfuscations
• The folks at GetReligions covers the news coverage - Get Religion
• A transcript from Obama’s 2007 address to Planned Parenthood - LauraEchevarria.com
  • The Planned Parenthood event

My latest post at Casting Stones:

“One point that I have not heard made in the barrage of criticism directed at Rev. Jackson is the extreme vulgarity of his comments. Some have talked about his “crude” language, but as far as I know, no one has pointed out that Rev. Jackson’s comments are particularly beyond the pale for a man of the cloth…”

Read complete post…

My latest post at Casting Stones:

“Was President Clinton questioning the emotional stability of another famous POW, Senator McCain? I don’t know. However, I do have some unsolicited advice for former President Clinton…”

Read the complete post…

No big surprise here. As with the U.S. press coverage of Expelled, the Canadian press is rather predictable… and really, really irked:

• Ben Stein’s assault on Darwin goes over the top - Ottawa Citizen
• “The reason is that “intelligent design” is widely recognized not as science, but as the name for a strategy by Christian evangelists to end-run court prohibitions against teaching biblical creationism in science class.” - The Globe and Mail
• A polemic masquerades as a documentary - The Toronto Star
• Stein does disservice to all with incendiary documentary - Montreal Gazette

And my personal favorite… * “Ben Stein and his interviewees are like Homer Simpson trying to keep a secret… If someone believes in the Tooth Fairy, can they complain about not being taken seriously at dental school?” - Edmonton Sun

Wow. Condescend much?

It sounds as though Stein and friends at Premise Media hit their mark. Well done, gentleman. Actually, an Expelled producer tells RLL that they’ve largely been pleased with the reception in Canada and they feel the Canadian press was more kind than that of the USA press, the above examples not withstanding. Look for an Expelled update on RLL as the fall DVD release approaches.

Meanwhile, at Discovery: What is Intelligent Design? - Jonathan Wells

Oh, and in case you missed it:

• The Richard Land/Ben Stein interview. (audio and t-script available, free)

Check out Richard’s interview with Arthur Brooks:

• Part 1
• Part 2

My latest post to Casting Stones…

“…Schieffer was asking General Clark about his description of Senator McCain as “untested and untried,” and when pressed by Schieffer, Clark said, “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.” While these comments have caused considerable controversy, it is not the first time General Clark has questioned or downgraded Senator McCain’s experience…”

Read the complete entry…

Thanks to Powerline for highlighting these Washington Post articles:

• U.S. Embassy Cites Progress in Iraq - Wash. Post
• Sunni Bloc to Rejoin Government - Wash. Post

Also, Michelle Malkin highlights an LA Times report about emerging Iraqi car lovers.

In case you missed Richard Land’s recent post on the subject…

From my latest post to Casting Stones:

As Associate Justice Scalia stated in his majority opinion, “The enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table. Those include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home.” Scalia’s majority opinion is a masterpiece of jurisprudence and sound legal reasoning…

Read the rest…

• GetReligion.org astutely covers the media as they cover declining birth rates in Europe.

“The average number of births per women to maintain a country’s population level is 2.1. A 2002 report showed that birthrates in southern and Eastern Europe had dropped below 1.3. That means that — all else equal — the country’s population will be halved in 45 years and will never be able to recover.”

More info on birthrate decline around the globe at The Death of Liberalism.

• A Texas self-defense case makes headlines in UK newspaper: “A jury in Texas has refused to indict a man who shot dead two men he suspected of burgling a neighbour’s* house.” ( * = UK spelling) :-)

• Anglican Traditionalists reject pro-homosexual theology but seeks to remain in fellowship with greater Anglican Communion.

BONUS:

• The good folks at Lifeway Research lend thoughtful analysis to Pew’s recent report on American religion and provide their own data to boot.

The latest newsletter from Richard Land and the ERLC includes…

• LEDE: What does ‘God Bless America’ really mean? - by Richard Land
• Judicial nominees freed before the fourth
• Prof leaves ethics society for its ‘honoring sin’
• Human rights to go to apes in Spain
• AUDIO: Energy in the USA
• Shifting Standards of right and wrong

And more…