The power of the constituent’s intensity and focus is remarkable, not to mention her knowledge. She illustrates how she has been able to get coverage for her children up to now, but with the new law, it won’t be there — her husband’s company is cutting back on coverage because of the new law’s taxes and the government agencies created to do so won’t pick up the slack.

The senator is alternately in denial and unaware of the facts. But most of all, the woman defines America and its independent spirit and bluntly tells the senator (to applause) that she and her colleagues are redefining and diluting that spirit contrary to all common sense. Words can’t describe it. Watch for yourself:

A working mom of three read the bill and understands it. Is that too much to ask  of Senator Hagan and the liberals who voted for it?

If that isn’t enough, some college students — Students For Life — pin the senator on taxpayer funding of abortion in the law. Of course, the senator denies it. But it’s there.

First a mom, then college students for life, school a sitting U.S. senator on what’s in the bill, and that includes abortion funding.

These North Carolinians stood up to Senator Hagan and, quite frankly, embarrassed her (as inevitable as that is when defending the indefensible). Now, will Virginians be as bold to Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner?

But enough is enough for even the president’s rank and file extreme left-wing allies.  Democrats such as Senator Michael Bennett of Colorado — who owes his primary victory to the president and who is behind Republican Ken Buck — have put miles between themselves and Mr. Obama’s new spending plan in just the one day since its roll out (see Paul Kane in the Washington Post’s Politics and Policy blog). That’s some real hard and fast running.

Although we can’t verify it, this may be the reason for the opposition: It’s not exactly “shovel ready,” but rumor has it this is one of the bridge building projects the money would be earmarked for (thanks to friend WizeMaxie):

The latest bridge building project under ”Stimulus 3″? Or is it number 4?

Now is not the time to let up. Tomorrow and Friday, our friends at Americans For Prosperity are bringing their November Is Coming bus tour to the commonwealth. Per AFP:

While politicians in Washington are hoping voters are asleep at the wheel, they are trying to hide their big-government spending policies from the public and pass them with ease. Government spending has grown out of control under the current leadership in Congress . . . may soon vote on job-killing cap-and-trade policies against the outspoken voices of millions of Americans. Daily, big government power grabs by the Obama/Pelosi/Reid machine continue.

We must tell Congress very clearly that if they keep voting YES on big government programs, we will vote NO on their re-election this November! We need to tell these big-spending liberals in Washington . . . that “November is coming”!

Here is the November Is Coming bus tour schedule. We hope you can attend one of its stops.

Thursday, September 9:

Charlottesville: 8:30 a.m., Albemarle County Administration Building, 401 McIntire Road

Lynchburg: 11:30 a.m., Liberty University Dining Hall Parking Lot, 1971 University Boulevard

Rocky Mount: 3:00 p.m., Franklin County Courthouse, 275 South Main Street

Danville: 5:30 p.m., Danville Courthouse, 401 Patton Street

Friday, September 10:

Abingdon: 8:00 a.m., Virginia Highlands Community College Higher Education Center, 1 Partnership Circle

Wytheville: 10:15 a.m., Wytheville Courthouse, 225 South 4th Street

Roanoke: 12:30 p.m., Roanoke City Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue

As part of the the 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala, we will produce a special program for the evening. The program is an excellent opportunity for pro-family small business owners, family-friendly organizations or elected officials and candidates to promote their enterprises to like-minded conservatives, while also supporting the work of The Family Foundation. To learn more, click here and download the order form using the link at the bottom of the page. The deadline for submitting ads is Friday, September 17. For more information, contact John Downer at 804-343-0010 or john@familyfoundation.org. Opportunities to sponsor or purchase tickets for this special 25th Anniversary Gala are still available as well.

Thank you for your support of The Family Foundation. We hope you’ll consider advertising in the program and joining us on Saturday, October 9.

There is no greater evidence of his standing and stature in the national media and political realm than this: Friday morning after the Labor Department released yet another sad employment number (9.6 percent unemployment rate) and President Obama’s sadder still rationalization and fantasy land pronouncement that the economy is improving, it was Representative Pence who was the in-demand speaker to articulate the opposition view.

Here is the Fox News Channel interview with Congressman Pence that aired live immediately after the president’s propaganda show:

Voice of the opposition: Congressman Mike Pence takes the lead in providing right reason to the Obama-Reid-Pelosi regime program of failure. See for yourself why he commands so much national media attention at our 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala on October 9 in Richmond.

But it doesn’t have to be. Our friends at Arlington-based The Leadership Institute, the leader in training conservatives for careers and activism in campaigns, grassroots organizations, think tanks and public policy organizations (such as The Family Foundation), government, journalism, media (new and old) and all things politics and public policy, has two more Campaign Communication Workshops scheduled in Virginia this summer (yes, summer lasts through September 21). It had such a great turnout of Family Foundation supporters  its last field school in August in Arlington, that it has a special offer for Family Foundation supporters who attend either of the next two: In Virginia Beach on September 11 and in Radford on September 18. 

Here’s who should attend and what they will learn at these workshops:

» How to communicate your values and ideas with the public while connecting on a personal level with individual voters. You will learn how to develop and deliver a compelling positive message and how to handle negative information as well.

» Ideal attendees for these Campaign Communications Workshops are volunteers, community activists, elected or party officials, current or future candidates, and campaign managers.

» This half-day session includes the following lectures:

• Presenting a Compelling Message

• Direct Voter Contact — Door-to-Door

• Handling Negative Information

» As a bonus, the Radford Workshop will offer additional sessions on Phone Operations and Getting YOUR Vote Out for those attendees who may want a full day of training — at no additional charge.

The workshop instructors are experienced campaign professionals, and among the faculty is Morton Blackwell, one fo the founders of America’s conservative movement (he was the youngest Goldwater delegate at the 1964 Republican National Convention), as well as the founder and president of the Leadership Institute (read more about his legendary career).

Registration for the workshops is $20.00 and includes a light continental breakfast. (Early registration is only $10.00.) To register online, visit www.LeadershipInstitute.org. For further information, contact Christopher Doss at CDoss@LIMail.us or (703) 247-2000.

Now, for that Special Offer to Family Foundation members and supporters. Talk doesn’t have to be cheap and it won’t once you learn the valuable tools, tactics and skills LI’s pros will impart to you in the workshops. But the cost can be, if not cheap, let’s say, less expensive: Use the promo code “liberty”when registering online or when calling or e-mailing. The Leadership Institute will be happy to give you a discount and a very worthwhile session in campaign communications that you will be able to use effectively for a lifetime.

This special event, taking place Saturday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, will look back on our legacy and ahead to future successes. We are delighted to have U.S. Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.), the chairman of the House Republican Conference, as our keynote speaker for this special celebratory gala. (See this special Mike Pence/Gala video, here.)

Individual tickets are available for $85.00 and couples tickets for $165.00. Sponsorships also are still available. To order your tickets today, click here. You may also register for the Gala by calling John or Dan at The Family Foundation at (804) 343-0010, or e-mail to Gala@FamilyFoundation.org. Act fast, though, as space is limited and this special 25th Anniversary Gala is sure to be a hot ticket.

For out of town guests wishing to stay overnight on October 9, a discounted group rate is available at the Hilton Garden Inn at 501 East Broad Street, located directly across the street from the Convention Center. Call (877) 782-9444 toll free and mention The Family Foundation Annual Gala for more information. The cut-off date for the group rate is September 9.

There is a private sponsors reception at 5:15. Dinner starts at 6:30. The dress is business attire.

Here’s how Americans For Prosperity President Tim Phillips expressed his anger in an e-mail today (the president in recent weeks has singled out AFP with vicious attacks): 

Today, the news media reported on the final speech of President Obama’s outgoing economic advisor. What Ms. Romer said helps explain why our economy is so bad. Defending the failed $814 billion stimulus boondoggle, she actually said, “there is widespread agreement that the act (Stimulus bill) is broadly on track.”

What planet is this lady on? Jobless claims are through the roof, unemployment is still almost 10% with 500,000 initial jobless claims, the stock market is plunging again, existing home sales fell 27% in August and new home sales fell 12% (always a key economic indicator), automobile sales fell 25% in August (we knew government run “cash for clunkers” was not genuine prosperity). I could go on.

Is the President’s top economist leaving to go back to business in the private sector? Uh, no. She’s going back to her academic perch at the University of California-Berkley. At least we just figured out the planet.

Reminds me of a famous quote that goes something like this: There are no experts in government. If there were, the private sector would’ve hired them by now. Ms. Romer and the Keystone Cops who comprise the Obama administration are, sadly, fitting that bill.

Simple. Although Planned Parenthood obstensibly asserts that abstinence education isn’t effective, its motivation likely lies closer to the fact that abstinence education costs it government grants because it teaches “comprehensive sex education” in many states. This form of ”education” encourages sexual activity by blurring the lines of responsible behavior and the lack of consequences of irresponsible behavior (because, you know, you can always use “protection”).

But the big motivation is that abstinence education works, and a decrease in crisis and teen pregnancies, which “comprehensive education” helps foster, means less abortion business for Planned Parenthood. Recent studies have shown that abstinence-centered education, particularly programs in Virginia, have been successful in preventing teen pregnancy and delaying sexual activity. Additionally, polling indicates that parents want their children to be taught abstinence.

So the deck is stacked against Planned Parenthood. That’s why it ferociously fights to protect and advance abortion, uses tactics subtle and loud, and why it is particularly disturbed by Governor Bob McDonnell’s decision this week to apply for federal abstinence education funding and to provide a state matching grant as well to school districts who decide to teach it.

Of course, the irony that Planned Parenthood won’t acknowledge is that the federal funds come from President Barack Obama’s budget and, most shocking, unlike former President George W. Bush’s administration, does not require a state matching grant to qualify for the federal funds. This, undoubtedly, has added to Planned Parenthood’$ frustration and vitriol this week. However, it ha$n’t added to it$ motivation. That’$ alway$ been there and will continue to be.

You may be running into some of the same misinformed rhetoric in your circles, much of it based on false claims or outright deception. Of course, those who profit from risky sexual behavior, Virginia’s abortion industry, are viscerally opposed to the idea that teenagers can control themselves. One legislator who works closely with Planned Parenthood and NARAL carried this message (see Norfolk Virginian-Pilot):

The reality is with teenagers their hormones come into play, and abstinence-only doesn’t always work.

Then again, if they can be taught effective ways of postponing sexual activity it cuts into the abortion industry’s profits.

But the primary argument has been that “abstinence education doesn’t work,” “parents don’t support abstinence education,” or “it’s naive to think that teenagers can be abstinent.” None of those arguments, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are correct. In fact, this year a study paid for by HHS, and its own recent survey, found that abstinence education is highly effective and widely supported by parents and teenagers (Washington Post).

The HHS survey released late last month (see here) found that 70 percent of parents agreed that it is “against [their] values for [their] adolescents to have sexual intercourse before marriage” and that “having sexual intercourse is something only married people should do.” Adolescent beliefs, according to the survey, were similar.

More interestingly, HHS buried the survey results and was forced to release it to the public only after a deluge of Freedom of Information Act requests (as reported by Mark Tapscott of the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential). Why, one must ask, would HHS not want people to know the results of taxpayer funded research — results that show Americans want and support abstinence before marriage?

Let’s face it, the battle over sex education is indeed a battle of worldviews and a battle for the hearts, minds, and bodies of our children. The fact is that abstinence centered programs do work and they are making a difference — science is showing that. It’s up to us to get the word out.

We hope that if you haven’t already, that you please thank Governor McDonnell for taking this strong stand on abstinence education funding by clicking here to e-mail his office. Abstinence opponents are well-funded and are on the attack. We have to show the governor that the families of Virginia appreciate his action. Please contact him today.