Cu In The News

Commentary: Citizens United Decision’s Real Victim: Incumbent Protection Plans

03/08/2012

Jonathan S. Tobin writes about how the Citizens United decision has leveled the playing field for challengers against incumbents:

The Times story attempts to paint such super PACs as tools of corporate interests, which fits in with the liberal critique of Citizens United as undermining democracy. But the real moral of this story is very different. By making it easier for groups to spend money promoting their ideas and/or opposing candidates, the court has destroyed the dynamic of most congressional races in which it was virtually impossible for challengers to raise enough money to take on entrenched incumbents. The victim of Citizens United isn’t democracy; it’s the laws and traditions of congressional politics that amounted to a near-foolproof incumbent protection plan. ...

Incumbents always think there is something not quite kosher about anything that makes it easy for those out of power to hold them accountable. The mainstream media, which prizes its constitutionally protected right to exercise influence on elections, similarly looks askance at efforts to break up their monopoly on campaign information via campaign advertising. Citizens United has not injected more money into our political system since money has always been — and always will be — an integral part of campaigns. Though incumbents will always have great advantages, what the High Court has done is to tilt the playing field a little bit more towards the challengers. Though President Obama and the liberal chorus in which the Times plays a key role decries this change, what they are complaining about is more democracy, not less.

Read the full story here.

George Will: PACS may be super, but they can't crown a king

03/01/2012

Syndicated columnist George Will discusses the effects of the Citizens United decision:

The people currently hysterical about super PAC money in politics blame the 2010 Citizens United decision, wherein the Supreme Court held that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts on political advocacy as long as they do not coordinate with candidates. The court's logic was that individuals do not forfeit their First Amendment speech rights when they come together in corporate entities or unions to speak collectively. What is the constitutional basis for saying otherwise?

This decision's practical effect is primarily in empowering unions and incorporated nonprofit advocacy groups such as the Sierra Club and the National Rifle Association. But The New York Times, which cannot have read it, says (Jan. 10) Adelson's spending "underscores" how Citizens United "has made it possible for a wealthy individual to influence an election." Many columnists and commentators embrace this solecism.

Actually, Citizens United has nothing to do with Adelson and others who are spending their own money, not any corporation's. People have done this throughout the nation's life, and doing so was affirmed as a constitutional right in the court's 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision. Critics of super PACs - critics who were remarkably reticent in 2004 when George Soros was lavishing his own money on liberal advocacy - often refer to them as "outside groups," much as Southern sheriffs used to denounce civil rights workers as "outside agitators." Pray tell: Super PACs are outside of what? Is the political process a private club with the parties and candidates controlling membership? It might be more wholesome for the speech-financing money that is flowing to super PACs to go instead to the parties or candidates. But the very liberals who are horrified by super PACs (other than Barack Obama's) have celebrated the laws that place restrictions on such giving.

NPR - Super PACS Create Fairness?

02/21/2012

Super PACS have contributed millions of dollars to shape the 2012 presidential election. The "Citizens United" Supreme Court case paved the way for them. David Bossie, president of the conservative advocacy group Citizens United, speaks with host Michel Martin about how Super PACS could even the playing field.

Click here to listen to the interview.

The Star Ledger: These citizens are united in hypocrisy

02/19/2012

Paul Mulshine exposes the hypocrisy of many critics of the Citizens United decision and explains the issues at stake:

Let’s imagine that every citizen had to ask a government agency whether it was permissible to voice an opinion. Let us further imagine that the citizen was then warned that expressing that opinion at a certain time and in a certain manner could result in a prison sentence.

That’s what happened to David Bossie of Citizens United when he made an inquiry with the Federal Election Commission on the question of whether he could televise a movie that his corporation had produced. The movie was a documentary highly critical of Hillary Clinton. Citizens United wished to show it on cable TV within 30 days of the Democratic presidential primary elections in 2008.

After FEC officials told Bossie (see below) that he couldn’t do so, he protested that he had a First Amendment right to show the film.

“They said, ‘Listen, little man, go away. You do not have that right, and if you do it after we tell you not to do it, we’re not only going after you civilly, we’re going after you criminally and you can get five years on every count,’ ” Bossie said in an interview available on the internet. ...

LifeNews.com: GOP Candidates Press Pro-Life Themes at CPAC Conference

02/11/2012

A frequent criticism of the Conservative Political Action Conference is its supposed lack of attention to pro-life issues. However, by the second day of the event, which draws over 11,000 conservative activists, it was clear right to life issues were not forgotten by key speakers or lost on attendees.

Friday kicked off with pro-life Governor Mike Huckabee, who also attended CPAC in order to attend a screening of his documentary “The Gift of Life.”

Following the film, a panel featured pro-life leaders, which gathered to discuss current pro-life issues The panel, moderated by Lila Rose, included Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life, Charmaine Yoest, President of Americans United for Life, Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life of America and pro-life speaker Rebecca Kiessling.

The panel delved into issues ranging from Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood to the recent fight over conscience rights. The headline of the discussion was “Advancing the Pro-Life Movement in the Media” and each of the speakers commented on the importance of using social media to share the pro-life message. Outlets like Facebook and Twitter give pro-life advocates the chance to operate outside of the restraints of the biased mainstream media. This technology gives pro-lifers the chance to engage their peers and share the truth about abortion across a wider network than ever before.

World Net Daily: GOP candidates stunned by abortion survivors

02/07/2012

Rebecca Kiessling is a wife and mother of five, plus an attorney who testifies before state legislatures for Personhood USA, a group seeking to protect all unborn persons with legal declarations of personhood in answer to Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun’s opinion of Roe v. Wade. She’s featured in the new Citizens United DVD “The Gift of Life,” which is narrated by Mike Huckabee.

A screening of “Gift” was held in Iowa prior to the caucuses, and all of the GOP candidates were invited. Yet only four attended: Rep. Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Gov. Rick Perry and Rick Santorum. Kiessling had a backstage pass and used it to thank Bachmann and Santorum for being “100-percent pro-life.” She also used it to question Perry and Gingrich on why they thought abortion is acceptable for unborn babies conceived during rape and incest.

CrossWalk: Students Rally For Life

01/27/2012

Gov. Mike Huckabee, who also addressed the students, said younger generations must be taught to respect human life.

“Young people nowadays are more pro-life than their mothers and grandmothers. They will change the country for the better,” he said as he introduced the short documentary “The Gift of Life.” “Nothing is more offensive to my Christian faith and my American spirit than that some people are valued more than others.”

Read more here.

LifeSiteNews.com: 2,000 students pack largest pro-life conference in the world

01/26/2012

Students cheered with enthusiasm at the arrival of Mike Huckabee, who praised the energy of the crowd before a screening of his pro-life documentary, “The Gift of Life.” “People in my generation have fumbled the ball,” he said. “You’re not going to.”

The former Arkansas governor also disclosed one of the evening’s biggest surprises: Kourtney Blythe Gordon, the Students for Life staffer who tragically lost her life with unborn daughter Sophy in an October car accident, had been filmed for the documentary watching an ultrasound image of Sophy only one week before their deaths. Kourtney’s parents agreed to allow the footage to stay in the film.

“I wanted to be a millionaire,” says Everett on the trailer to The Gift of Life. “And the way for me to be a millionaire was to do 40,000 abortions a year.”

Everett’s story is one of several on the new documentary, hosted by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, which also explores the testimony of several individuals who were nearly the victims of an abortion, but were spared.

Read more here.

Huffington Post: "Wrong" Speech Is Also Free Speech: Citizens United at Two

01/24/2012

From Trevor Burrus, a legal associate at the Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies:

Sen. Sanders and Mr. Weissman thus demonstrate a crucial fact: many who oppose Citizens United do so because they want to silence speech that promotes policies they oppose. They want to silence it because they think it is bad speech that gives a disproportionate influence to bad ideas. Yet there can be no greater violation of the First Amendment than to act with this motive.

Critics of the decision cite the "undue influence" corporations can have on elections through such mechanisms as "drowning out [candidates'] messages" with "misleading negative ads." Sean Siperstein writes about a new campaign by Public Citizen to expose the "mega-corporations" that are most "responsible for greedy, disastrously short-sighted policies, to the detriment of the rest of us."

These critiques blur the line between one type of influence that the Supreme Court has acknowledged should be stopped -- outright candidate bribery -- and other types of influence that are strongly protected by the First Amendment -- such as affecting the national debate or influencing candidates' policies by making both them and the public aware of issues. Critics of Citizens United often conflate these two types of political spending, regarding all corporate spending as either corrupting the national debate through disproportionate influence, or corrupting politicians through something tantamount to bribery.

...

The First Amendment does not allow anyone to pursue his vision of a better world through censorship. Although we'd all love the liars and shouters to be silenced, the First Amendment forbids such censorship precisely because there is no way to agree on who is a liar and who is "too loud." Those determinations are too intertwined with our ideological commitments.

Although I agree with Sen. Sanders and Mr. Weissman that money may have too much influence on politics, perhaps we should address this problem by creating a government that lacks the power to reward undue influence -- that is, a limited government that cannot determine whether someone succeeds or fails in life -- and not by stifling free speech.

Read more here.

Washington Post: The most memorable State of the Union moments

01/24/2012

The State of the Union is tonight (of course). Over the past 222 years of speeches, there have been lots of great moments. Here are the most memorable ones captured on video.

* Alito’s “Not true”

— In 2010, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito mouthed his dissent as President Obama critiqued the Citizens United decision. A few months later, he said it was awkward to sit at “very political events” like the “proverbial potted plant.” The next year, Alito did not attend.

Read more here.

Cagle Post: After 39 Years of Abortion, A New Generation Offers Hope

01/24/2012

While President Obama and other pro-abortion zealots celebrate the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, it is important to remember the true face of “choice”: the 54 million unborn souls killed by abortion. It is a tragedy that respect for innocent human life has become so degraded in our society that an abortion takes place at an average of one every 26 seconds. But out of this culture of death springs new hope.

I had the pleasure of presenting, with Governor Mike Huckabee, the film The Gift Of Life this weekend at the Students for Life of America national conference. Two thousand pro-life leaders of the next generation sat in rapt attention, moved and motivated by the documentary’s message of the precious gift of life. On Monday, hundreds of thousands marched for life in the freezing DC rain, an overwhelming number of them young students from kindergarten to graduate school. These youth inspire me and give me optimism for the future of the pro-life movement.

Fox News: Woman conceived in rape speaks out against abortion

01/23/2012

The Gift Of Life cast member Rebecca Kiessling was on Huckabee this weekend to share her story. Watch this powerful testimonial:

Free Colorado: Common Cause Joins Pro-Censorship Rally

01/19/2012

Ironically, Colorado Common Cause and others are simultaneously advocating free speech by opposing the SOPA internet restriction bill, and advocating censorship of corporate speech. For example, in a Tweet today Common Cause promoted a "Musical Attack on #SOPA & #CitizensUnited." See also the linked And yet the voices against SOPA included many of America's most prominent corporations. Wikipedia led the charge -- you know, the free online encyclopedia owned by Wikimedia Foundation, Incorporated. The for-profit corporations Facebook and Google also came out strongly against SOPA. Even the Vibram shoe company came out against SOPA.

Does the American left really want to get in the businesses of imposing government censorship on corporations? As Eugene Volokh sensibly reasons: "Say that Congress concludes that it's unfair for Google to be able to speak so broadly, in a way that ordinary Americans (including ordinary Congressmen) generally can't. Congress therefore enacts a statute banning all corporations from spending their money -- and therefore banning them from speaking -- in support of or opposition to any statute. What would you say about such a statute?"

If censorship is "what democracy looks like," then I for one will fight for the preservation of the First Amendment and our Constitutional republic.

Read more here.

Missoulian: Occupy Missoula to protest corporate personhood on Friday

01/18/2012

The opposing interpretation is that the court majority maintained that "Congress should get out of the business of picking winners and losers in the marketplace of ideas and placing its thumb on the scale of federal elections," Citizens United president David Bossie said on the occasion of the landmark decision's first anniversary.

Read more here.

AFA Radio: Issues Chet McDoniel Discusses the Gift of Life

01/18/2012

Listen to The Gift Of Life cast member Chet McDoniel share his story on "Today's Issues" on AFA radio here.

LifeSiteNews: Former abortionist: ‘the way to be a millionaire was to do 40,000 abortions a year’

01/17/2012

A new pro-life documentary hosted by Governor Mike Huckabee includes the testimony of a former abortionist who says she sold abortions to women simply in pursuit of money.

Carol Everett, spurred by the anguish caused by her own abortion, began her own abortion business in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the 1980s before a chance encounter with a pastor showed her the way out.

“I wanted to be a millionaire,” says Everett on the trailer to The Gift of Life. “And the way for me to be a millionaire was to do 40,000 abortions a year.”

Read more here.

National Review Online: Supreme Court: Obama Wrong on Citizens United

01/12/2012

Ed Whelan writes on NRO's Bench Memos blog:

There has been broad agreement that President Obama didn’t get it right in his State of the Union address two years ago when he criticized the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision for supposedly “revers[ing] a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests—including foreign corporations—to spend without limit in our elections.” Still, it’s noteworthy that on Monday a unanimous Supreme Court effectively declared Obama’s assertion about foreign corporations “not true.”

Finding God Daily: Finding God in The Gift of Life Movie

01/12/2012

The new documentary, “The Gift of Life,” premiered in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 14, 2011. People who see it will find God in “The Gift of Life” movie.

The anti-abortion documentary is narrated by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. He was present and spoke at the premiere, but he wasn’t the only one. According to First Read on MSNBC.com, “Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum addressed the 1200 person crowd before the house lights dimmed for the ‘The Gift of Life’ premiere.”

… As viewers see this DVD and God’s grace in the lives of those featured in the film, people will find God in “The Gift of Life” movie.

Read more here.

Reason: Why Liberals Favor Campaign Season Censorship

01/10/2012

…Media corporations such as those, which spend huge sums of money talking about politicians, just can’t stand it when non-media corporations get to do the same thing.

And lest anyone forget that is precisely what the case was about. In 2008 a nonprofit, incorporated group called Citizens United wanted to distribute a documentary about Hillary Clinton. But doing so during an election campaign would have violated a 2002 campaign-finance law prohibiting “electioneering communications” within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election.

A law that forbids American citizens to urge the election or defeat of a political candidate raises some obvious First Amendment concerns. During oral arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that book publishers are corporations. He asked the government’s lawyer if the law could prohibit publishing a book that said, “Vote for X.”

Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart said yes—the government: “could prohibit the publication of the book.” Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21 and former head of Common Cause, later agreed that “a campaign document in the form of a book can be banned.”

Read more here.

Mother Jones: Rick Santorum: Anti-Citizens United Amendment Is "Horrible"

01/07/2012

"I think it's horrible," Santorum said. "I think it would be against the right to petition your government." Asked whether corporations should have the kind of influence they do now, Santorum replied, "Everybody should have an opportunity, who are affected by government, to participate in the activities of the government. No one should be disenfranchised."

Santorum is far from the only Republican to dismiss the idea of a constitutional amendment targeting Citizens United. On Friday, at a firearms factory in Newport, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich similarly dissed a Citizens United, in response to a question from a factory worker. Instead, Gingrich said, the nation's campaign finance laws should be changed so that outside groups—like the pro-Romney super-PAC Restore Our Future that hammered Gingrich in Iowa—are marginalized and more funds go to a candidate's actual campaign.

Read more here.

Seattle Times: A look at the Citizens United decision

01/05/2012

A snapshot of the Citizens United v. FEC decision:

....When his case reached the Supreme Court, the conservative justices voiced alarm that the government could restrict such a movie, or perhaps a book, simply because it was paid for with corporate money, and decided to broadly consider the issue of corporate-funded election ads.

Chief Justice John Roberts said he was convinced a broad, free-speech ruling was required. Otherwise, the law "would allow censorship not only of television and radio broadcasts, but of pamphlets, posters, the Internet and virtually any other medium that corporations and unions might find useful in expressing their views on matters of public concern."

WSJ: The Super PAC Boomerang

01/03/2012

Today's Wall Street Journal points out "Campaign-finance scolds denounce the system they created":

In the common media wisdom, super PACs are a result of the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling. This is said to have created a "loophole" that the super PACs have exploited to evade campaign-finance restrictions on the money that candidates can raise on their own.

The real loophole is the U.S. Constitution. The High Court merely restored the right of corporations and unions to exercise their First Amendment right to political speech, which includes the right to assemble to support candidates with money. Congress had illegally restricted that right with McCain-Feingold, which was the latest attempt to do the impossible and banish money from politics.

Read the full article

Star Tribune: Era of new PAC money unleashed in Iowa

01/01/2012

In the Star Tribune, CU President David Bossie explains why an increase in political speech benefits all:

But to David Bossie, president of Citizens United, what voters are seeing is unbridled democracy in action. "Throughout this presidential nominating contest we've seen enthusiastic supporters of the various candidates form Super PACs in support of their chosen candidates," he said. "Their independent speech has helped inform the voters and better enabled them to select the Republican nominee."

The Christian Post: Huckabee Praises 'The Gift of Life' for Its Powerful Effect on Perry, Viewers

12/29/2011

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee praised the “The Gift of Life” film, saying the project turned out better than he expected. The film has even been credited for changing Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s abortion stance.

Huckabee is a strong and outspoken pro-life advocate and proponent of the Personhood Amendment. Yet he admitted to The Christian Post that he had some trepidation going to the production of the documentary.

“We didn’t want to do a pro-life movie that was sort of the normal horror stories of abortion,” he said. “We wanted to talk about the affirmation and celebration of life.”

Life News: Rick Perry Now Opposes Abortions in Cases of Rape, Incest

12/29/2011

At a pro-life presidential forum last night, Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry announced that he had a change of heart on abortion in cases of rape or incest — now opposing abortion in such rare cases.

Perry said his change of heart came after meeting with Rebecca Kiessling, a pro-life attorney who was born after her birthmother was a victim of sexual assault.

“This is something that is relatively new and it goes back to a meeting with Rebecca Kiessling, who was at the The Gift of Life,” Perry said about meeting her at a recent showing of the new movie. “We had a fairly lengthy and heartfelt conversation about how she was conceived in rape. Looking in her eyes, I couldn’t come up with an answer to defend exceptions for rape and incest.”

Please read more at Life News

CNN: Rick Perry's 'Transformation' on Abortion (Video)

12/29/2011

Transformation of Governor Rick Perry's view on abortion after viewing "The Gift of Life."

New York Times: Perry Changes Position on Exceptions for Abortion

12/28/2011

Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday that he had undergone a “transformation” on the issue of abortion and now believed that there should be no exceptions made for rape, incest or the life of the mother.

VIDEO

That statement came just days before the Iowa caucuses as Mr. Perry and several of his rivals are trying to appeal to conservative, religious voters. But Mr. Perry described the change as a heartfelt one that came after he watched a DVD of a movie called “The Gift of Life.”

“I really started giving some thought about the issue of rape and incest,” Mr. Perry told a local pastor who had questioned whether he had changed his position on the issue. “Some powerful stories in that DVD.”

Until about a week ago, Mr. Perry had described himself as being opposed to abortion but had said he would allow abortions in cases of rape or incest. Campaign officials said Mr. Perry watched the DVD, a documentary made to spread an anti-abortion message, while on his campaign bus last week. Mr. Perry said he also recently talked with a woman featured in the movie whose mother was raped but decided to have the baby.

“The lady in the DVD was looking me in the eye and said, ‘You really have to think this through,’ ” Mr. Perry said at a town hall meeting in Osceola. “She said to me, ‘I am the product of rape,’ and she said ‘my life is worthy.’ It was a powerful moment.”

ABC News: After 'Transformation,' Rick Perry Opposes All Abortions

12/28/2011

Rick Perry admitted to Iowa voters this evening that his views on abortion have undergone a "transformation," shifting from a stance that allowed for abortion in cases of rape, incest and risk to a mother's life, to one that opposes abortion in all forms.

"You're seeing a transformation," Perry said in response to a voter's question about his changed stance at a town hall meeting here. "That transformation was after watching the DVD 'Gift of Life,' and I really started giving some … thought about the issue of rape and incest, and some powerful stories in that DVD."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee joined forces with conservative non-profit group Citizens United to produce and host the premiere in Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this month of "The Gift of Life," a new anti-abortion documentary.

Asked if there was a defining moment in the DVD that inspired the change in his position, Perry cited a conversation he had with a woman featured in the movie who was conceived during a rape.

USA Today: Rick Perry has "transformation" of his abortion views

12/28/2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday his views on abortion had undergone a "transformation" after seeing a recent film that advocated against the procedure in any situation."

You're seeing a transformation," Perry said.

Perry said after seeing The Gift of Life - a movie produced by Citizens United and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee - his views on the issue changed but added he started mulling the issue before seeing the film.

"It was ... when the lady who was in (The Gift of Life) was looking me in the eye and said 'you really need to think this through,'" he said. "She said 'I am the product of a rape' and she said 'my life is worth (it).' It was a powerful moment." After the town hall ended, Verwers said Perry's answer was "perfect."

CBS News: Perry toughens anti-abortion stance (Video)

12/28/2011

In a move that cements his stature on the Republican Party's conservative wing, Texas Gov. Rick Perry confirmed to a pastor on Tuesday that he no longer supports abortion in any cases, including rape.

"You're seeing a transformation," Perry told Joshua Verwers, the pastor of the Full Faith Christian Center, at an event in nearby Chariton, Iowa. The event was part of the governor's ongoing effort to demonstrate his appeal to the Hawkeye State's Christian conservatives.

What brought about the change? Perry said he was moved by a woman he met who appeared in former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's movie, "The Gift of Life," which he screened in Des Moines on Dec. 14. The woman has been conceived during a rape, and Perry said she told him, "My life has worth." He described the moment as "powerful." The next day, he signed the Personhood USA pledge.

Perry specifically said the film made him rethink the exceptions for rape and incest, though in his conversation with Verwers he did not mention the life of the mother, the traditional third exception that many who oppose abortion will allow.

Columbia Journalism Review: Snapshot: Where Conservative Iowans Get Campaign News

12/20/2011

Donna Thompson of Paton was among the thousand-plus crowd in Des Moines last week at the premiere of The Gift of Life, an anti-abortion film produced by the conservative group Citizens United and narrated by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. (The event attracted four presidential candidates—Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum). Thompson gets most of her political news and information from conservative radio talk show hosts like Jan Mickelson, Simon Conway, and Rush Limbaugh on WHO Radio in Des Moines.

National Catholic Register: GOP Candidates Confirm Pro-Life Positions

12/19/2011

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 people at the Dec. 14 premiere of The Gift of Life documentary.

The group affirmed their pro-life views at the Des Moines forum hosted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee just weeks before the Iowa Caucus kicks off the presidential nomination process.

Variety: Gingrich's films star in his campaign

12/19/2011

It is an unconventional way to bring about information and educate people and introduce people to him," says David Bossie, who has partnered with Gingrich Prods. to produce seven documentaries via Citizens United, the production unit founded by Bossie that has become the dream factory of conservative documentaries. Citizens United uses online and direct mail to drive sales rather than screenings.

Caffeinated Thoughts: Video of Pro-Life Presidential Forum

12/16/2011

Here is the video from Wednesday night’s forum as promised in order of appearance. Former Governor Mike Huckabee premiered his new documentary filmed with Citizens United Productions, The Gift of Life, all of the Republican Presidential candidates were invited to speak before hand on the topic of life. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman opted not to attend. I want to thank Al Bregar, I put him to work Wednesday night. He shot the video since I was sitting too far away for my flip cam. The videos are in order of appearance.

Des Moines Register: Candidates at premiere of The Gift of Life

12/15/2011

A photo gallery from the Des Moines Register of The Gift Of Life premiere event in Iowa can be found below.

Human Events: Presidential Candidates Court Social Conservatives at Premiere of Pro-Life Movie in Iowa

12/15/2011

In an attempt to court social conservatives who dominate Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus on January 3, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum highlighted their social conservative and pro-life credentials at the premiere of the pro-life movie, The Gift of Life.

The event was organized by Mike Huckabee--who won the Iowa caucus in 2008 but decided not to pursue the presidency this cycle--and Citizens United, which produced the film.

CBN News: GOP Hopefuls Attend 'Gift of Life' Premiere

12/15/2011

Four of the Republican presidential candidates spoke about the right to human life at a "The Gift of Life" documentary's premiere, Wednesday night in Des Moines, Iowa.

Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum attended the event and each addressed the audience of 1,200 people.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who narrated the documentary, also hosted the premiere.

IowaPolitics.com: Santorum draws most enthusiastic applause from anti-abortion crowd

12/15/2011

Four Republican presidential candidates vying for Iowa’s social conservative vote all delivered tough talk Wednesday night about their opposition to abortion.

But former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, the self-proclaimed “social conservative candidate,” drew the most enthusiastic applause and whistles from 1,400 Iowans who attended the screening of “The Gift of Life,” an anti-abortion film, at Hoyt Sherman Place.

Huckabee attended Wednesday's screening and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Bachmann made the issue a personal one, sharing her stories of childbirth and miscarriage, as she has when she’s spoken in Sunday morning church services in Iowa.

“I will be the first president of the United States who has willingly participated with the lord God almighty in bringing forth human life, not once, but five times. We have five biological children,” Bachmann said. “We also have another child that is in heaven, one that came to us and ended its life in the form of miscarriage.”

Gingrich told the crowd that movies like “The Gift of Life” really matter in winning people’s hearts and minds and turning them against the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

“As the country became more and more aware of the meaning of Roe v Wade, it has turned more and more against abortion,” Gingrich said. “This has been a cultural thing. It’s been normal, everyday people saying ‘no,’ this is wrong.”

Flickr Slideshow:

ABC News: Mike Huckabee Says No To Being A Kingmaker in Iowa

12/15/2011

Huckabee narrated and co-produced the documentary, “The Gift of Life,” an anti-abortion rights film that talks to women who considered having abortions and adult children whose mothers considered ending their pregnancies.

“We are not trying to form their conclusion for the viewer, we leave that to the viewer, but I think it has a very powerful message, but it has a very different kind of approach. It’s not the horrors of abortion as much as it is the affirmation of every human life, and I would even state it’s not just an abortion film it’s really more of a life film, because life has value whether it’s unborn or whether that life is 8-years-old or whether that life is 80 years old,” Huckabee said.

Caffeinated Thoughts: Santorum Received With Enthusiasm at Huckabee Prolife Forum in Des Moines

12/15/2011

Jan Mickelson of WHO Radio echoed the sentiments of the capacity crowd at the Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, IA who gathered for the premiere of Mike Huckabee’s documentary, The Gift of Life is produced by Citizens United Productions. Mickelson was the first speaker preceding the Presidential forum to take place before the screening. He stated that he is not interested in hearing about the candidates positions. He instead wanted to hear about their prolife solutions.

Iowa Republican: Issue of Life Takes Center Stage in Iowa Last Night

12/15/2011

The hottest ticket in Des Moines last night was for the premiere of The Gift of Life, a pro-life documentary hosted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee winner of the 2008 GOP Iowa Caucus. Hoyt Sherman Auditorium was filled to the brim with more than 1,300 people who turned out 10 days before Christmas for the hour-long film.

Four of the GOP presidential candidates took the opportunity to speak to the audience of social conservatives about their stances on the sanctity of human life. Huckabee made a point to tell the audience that while all of the candidates had been invited to the event Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Rick Santorum “cleared their schedules and made this a priority event.”

For candidates and pundits who think the life issues have taken a back seat to the economy and unemployment in the upcoming election, last night’s attendees would suggest otherwise. After watching the documentary Matthew Berends, a business major at Drake University who is a pro-life voter said he was impressed with The Gift of Life. Holly Schmidt, a Drake University student majoring in writing who attended the premiere with Berends said, “The film was very moving.” The Drake students said that where a candidate stands on is important to them, they find themselves in a minority on a college campus when it comes to being pro-life.

American Prospect: Pocketbook Rules

12/15/2011

Leaders of Iowa's religious right gathered here Wednesday night in an attempt to recalibrate the presidential race to focus on the social issues. A full crowd packed into the ornate Hoyt Sherman Place theater for the world premiere for Gift of Life, a pro-life film produced by Citizens United and narrated by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. The film was full of CGIed fetuses, heart-rending stories of adults whose parents had considered abortion, and Huckabee strolling on a beach wearing a blazer as children built sandcastles in the background.

The crowd sat enraptured throughout the movie, but the four Republican candidates who spoke before the film were the real draw. Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum all happily stepped on stage to flaunt their pro-life credentials; Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Jon Huntsman turned down the invitation.

…An all-star cast of Iowa's social conservative movement took to the stage before the presidential candidates, including popular drive-time talk host Jan Mickelson, Iowa Right to Life's Executive Director Jenifer Bowen, and Tea Party kingpin Bob Vander Plaats. They seemed bereaved that social issues have not taken a more prominent place in the national debate and insisted that they were still the most important issues for the people of Iowa. "People are starting to link that the economy and the family are joined," Vander Plaats told me after the event. "If you want to have limited government, you better have strong families. If you want to have a vibrant economy, you better have strong families."

…But on Wednesday, everybody seemingly had a personal story to relay on the evils of abortion. Iowa Right to Life's Bowen told the tale of her own unplanned conception to teenage parents, whom she gleefully noted have now been married for nearly 40 years. Taking a lighter tone, Vander Plaats told of learning that he was an unplanned pregnancy. "We didn't want Bob either," Vander Plaats' mother told his sister after she became pregnant unexpectedly. "Now what would life be without him?" The crowd chimed in with a chorus of "amens" at various points when Vander Plaats iterated that we're all made "special in the image of God." For her part, Bachmann offered a description of a miscarriage and the doctor handing her the dead child after the fact.

FOX News: GOP Contenders Court Evangelicals at Huckabee Forum

12/15/2011

20 days before the all-important Iowa Caucus, four of the GOP Presidential hopefuls took turns touting their Pro-Life credentials at a Des Moines forum hosted by former Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Speaking before a crowd of more than 1000 people, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN), Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, appealed to Iowa’s conservative voters, promising to de-fund Planned Parenthood and lambasting President Obama as the most “pro-abortion” President in history.

The anti-abortion film “The Gift of Life” was then premiered for the audience. The movie is a joint project between the conservative non-profit Citizens United and Mr Huckabee, who won the Iowa Caucus in 2008.

New York Times: Huckabee Gets Star Treatment on Return to Iowa

12/15/2011

Four of the Republican presidential candidates gathered here on Wednesday evening to speak at a forum for opponents of abortion, but it was clear who the star attraction was.

That would be Mike Huckabee, the Fox News personality and former Arkansas governor who was on hand for the screening of a new documentary he narrates, “The Gift of Life With Governor Mike Huckabee.”

When he stepped on stage to introduce the film, he brought most of the 1,200-person crowd to its feet. And after the screening, hundreds of devoted followers crammed into a reception hall in Hoyt Sherman Place, a post-Civil War architectural gem on the edge of downtown, to snap pictures with him and ask the question that still nags at many Iowans: “Why aren’t you running?”

… “I don’t know that Mike Huckabee wants to being a kingmaker,” said David N. Bossie, president of Citizens United, the conservative group that produced the film and sought out Mr. Huckabee as its narrator.

Washington Examiner: Huckabee dismisses a draft but remains big in Iowa

12/15/2011

Despite having to prepare for a debate far across the state, four Republican presidential candidates -- Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum -- came here to Des Moines Wednesday night for the premiere of a movie. Perry thought the event so important that, even though he was campaigning in western Iowa, he hopped a plane at the last minute to fly to Des Moines for the event, and then turned around and headed back for the Fox News debate in Sioux City.

So it wasn't just any movie. The film was "The Gift of Life," a pro-life manifesto produced by Citizens United and narrated by former GOP presidential candidate -- and 2008 Iowa caucus winner -- Mike Huckabee. Iowa conservatives, 1,200 of them, packed Hoyt Sherman hall for the event, with each candidate given a chance to speak before the film.

Of course the candidates, all strongly pro-life, wanted to associate themselves with social conservatives, and they all jumped at the chance to speak to 1,200 of them at one time. But each also wanted to associate themselves with the still-popular Huckabee. Nobody will win the Huckabee primary this year -- he has said he won't endorse a candidate during the primary and caucus season -- but all hoped a little of Huckabee's approval would rub off on them.

CSPAN Coverage of The Gift Of Life Premiere

12/15/2011

The premiere of The Gift Of Life and pro-life forum was covered in its entirety live on CSPAN2. Watch the full hour and 10 minute program online below:

The Gift Of Life is available now for purchase on DVD here.

FOX News Radio:Huckabee Holds Forum In Iowa

12/15/2011

The economy may be the dominant issue in the 2012 Presidential campaign, but social issues are still important in the first state where voters will make actual decisions.

FOX News Radio’s Rich Johnson reports from America’s Election Headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa:

Huckabee and a few hundred like-minded Iowans gathered last night to see a documentary called ‘The Gift of Life,’ in which people whose mothers had considered but rejected abortion told their stories.

National Review: Huck and the Miracle of Life in His Life

12/14/2011

Q: How did you become involved with The Gift of Life? A: I’ve been passionately involved in the pro-life movement since the ’70s. When the opportunity presented itself to be involved in a movie project to provide a new way of looking at the sanctity of life, I was thrilled.

Q: Who’s the audience for The Gift of Life? A: The film will inform and encourage those who are pro-life, but unlike anything I’ve seen before, I think it will challenge those who are not and in a very subtle yet powerful way, raise deep questions that they will be compelled to consider.

Q: Was there a moment in your life when you more fully realized what a gift life is? A: When my first son was born. He was a miracle in that due to my wife’s having cancer and extensive radiation treatment we were told we couldn’t have children. His birth was a reminder that God is in the life business.

Q: Is there a story in the movie you wish you could bring to every man and woman in America? A: While all the stories are deeply touching, perhaps the story of one of my dear friends and a former employer James Robison gets to me because I’ve known James for 37 years and even though I knew his remarkable story, it still touches me deeply.

WOI-TV: Candidates Speak at Pro-Life Film Premiere

12/14/2011

It's been a conservative showdown between the presidential candidates. Wednesday night's premiere of an anti-abortion film hosted by Mike Huckabee was another chance to try to prove who's the most conservative candidate.

Candidates Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum took the stage before the "Gift of Life" film to express their conviction for the right to human life.

"We understand that the number one issue that has driven this election is the economy and jobs," said former Gov. Mike Huckabee. "But it doesn't mean that the sanctity of human life for every human being is not an important issue." The documentary release comes at a time when many eyes are on Iowa. …

National Review: Movie Night in Des Moines

12/14/2011

National Review: Movie Night in Des Moines

In a year that has heard a lot of “war on women“ rhetoric, The Gift of Life sets out to better “define” what exactly it is we mean by the phrase “culture of life” and how we build one. “For many, ‘pro-life’ has become a negative term of politics, tossed around to tar opponents when, in fact, it represents the basic philosophy of life consistent with the views of our founders,” Huckabee says during the narration. He credits the Declaration of Independence for enshrining “the radical notion that each human soul has intrinsic worth and value, a value not to be determined by inheritance or obtained after birth but present from the very beginning.”

…Anyone who watches The Gift of Life will meet Rebecca Kiessling, whose birthmother was raped. When Kiessling was 18, she wanted to find her birthmother and found what sounded like “a police description” for her biological father. When a caseworker confirmed she was conceived in rape, she says, she “immediately felt targeted. I knew what people said. You know I’m pro-life except in cases of rape…. I did not want to be part of that classification, I didn’t want to feel devalued by so many people.” When she finally met her mother, she told her daughter that had abortion been legal in Michigan at the time, Rebecca would have been aborted. “Whenever people make the rap exception, I understand that they want to be people of compassion and they think that in order to prove that they care about women and that they care about rape victims, that they need to make the rape exception. But that’s pretty cold-hearted for someone like me. But I understand that most people do not put a face to this issue.”

The Gift of Life does. More compellingly than any debate round or primary interview could do — though former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum has done his part in the public-policy arena, using his platform to paint a broader picture throughout his career and campaign. …The Gift of Life is powerful. And points a primary-election-frenetic audience to the bigger picture about the real lives this “life issue” affects.

The presence of Rose, who represents a new generation, new energy, with a whole new awareness of the power of the visual and the varied ways images can be harnessed is both an encouragement and a nudge to everyone who respects a life to commit to making it possible in the lives of those desperate, scared, and hurt who may not see it that way.

ABC: Mike Huckabee Premieres Anti-Abortion Documentary in Latest of Films With Similar Message .

12/14/2011

Former GOP presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has been a vocal opponent of abortion. So it's no surprise that the ordained Southern Baptist minister has joined forces with conservative non-profit group Citizens United to produce and today host the premiere in Des Moines, Iowa, of a new anti-abortion documentary, "The Gift of Life."

KCCI: 4 Candidates Attend Mike Huckabee Pro-Life Forum

12/14/2011

The winner of the 2008 Iowa caucuses returned to Des Moines on Wednesday night to host four new presidential contenders in a gathering of social conservatives.

Mike Huckabee asked Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Sen. Rick Santorum, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry to an event at the Hoyt Sherman Place to speak on "protecting the sanctity of human life."

Several hundred Iowans packed the theater to watch the premiere of a pro-life film and hear the presidential hopefuls' stance on pro-life issues.

CSPAN To Carry The Gift Of Life Premiere And Forum

12/14/2011

TV ALERT: Citizens United's The Gift Of Life Premiere and Pro-life Forum with Gov. Mike Huckabee will be carried LIVE on CSPAN tonight, December 14th, at 7pm CT/8pm ET. Check your local listings or watch online at CSPAN.org.

The Gift Of Life is available now for purchase on DVD here.

MSNBC.com: GOP hopefuls attend Huckabee's 'Gift of Life' premiere

12/14/2011

With only 20 days until the Iowa caucuses, four GOP candidates made their pitch to social conservatives tonight at the premiere of an anti-abortion documentary narrated by the former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum addressed the 1200 person crowd before the house lights dimmed for the “The Gift of Life” premiere.

Variety Blog: Huckabee's Movie Night: GOP Candidates to Attend "The Gift of Life"

12/14/2011

Tonight Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum are scheduled to attend a screening of "The Gift of Life," an anti-abortion documentary headlined by Mike Huckabee and produced by Citizens United Productions.

That the documentary is drawing so much attention is undoubtedly due to the presence of Huckabee, whose victory in Iowa in the last cycle is presumed to give him influence among social conservative voters in Iowa. But it also reflects the cottage industry that is conservative documentary filmmaking. Even though the sales numbers don't rival a Hollywood blockbuster, the titles sell relatively well via mail-order and at events like tonight's screening, a promotional platform for the DVD, available on Huckabee's websites, and a stop on the caucus campaign trail. Screenings of Gingrich produced movies, made via Gingrich Prods. in partnership with Citizens United, have become a routine part of the Gingrich campaign.

Iowa Republican: Live Blog: Huckabee Pro-Life Forum

12/14/2011

Four presidential candidates speak take the stage tonight in Des Moines for a pro-life forum and the premiere of “The Gift of Life” movie. The event is hosted by 2008 Iowa Caucus winner Mike Huckabee. It begins at 7 pm at Hoyt Sherman Place.

TheIowaRepublican.com is on the scene at Hoyt Sherman and will live blog the event. Each candidate is given five minutes to speak on pro-life issues. GOP hopefuls Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum will participate. Other speakers include The Family Leader’s Bob Vander Plaats, Iowa Right to Life Executive Director Jennifer Bowen, Citizens United President David Bossie, and WHO radio host Jan Mickelson.

The doors open at 5:30 and we will update the live blog throughout the evening. ...

Ames Patch: Four GOP Candidates Attend Huckabee Pro-Life Event

12/14/2011

Iowa's GOP base still loves Mike Huckabee.

Four years after he surprised pundits and pollsters by winning the Iowa caucuses, Huckabee was in Des Moines to host an anti-abortion event. Four of this election cycle's GOP presidential candidates cleared their schedules to speak at Wednesday night's gathering.

Former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee applauded Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry for speaking at the premiere of the film "The Gift of Life" at Hoyt Sherman Place.

"It is significant that all four of these candidates here tonight have endorsed life," Huckabee told the crowd of more than 1,000 people, who gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee, who serves as a FOX News host, premiered the 60-minute documentary produced by Citizens United, and provided a forum for the candidates to discuss their stance on pro-life issues.

Fox News Huckabee: 'The Gift of Life'

12/13/2011

On Saturday night, Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke about our film The Gift Of Life on his Fox News show and gave copies to the studio audience. Watch the segment below:

The Gift of Life is available now for purchase on DVD.

Radio Iowa: Four GOP candidates to speak before “The Gift of Life” premiere

12/13/2011

Four candidates for the GOP’s 2012 presidential nomination will gather Wednesday evening in Des Moines to speak to the crowd at the premiere of a documentary narrated by the winner of the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In the promotional video for the film, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee walks along a beach and talks into the camera.

“My heartfelt view on the value of life — all life, at every age — has been charged largely by meeting people whose remarkable stories have given me a deep, personal understanding of what life really means,” Huckabee says in the video.

The Gift of Life is a documentary from Citizens United, a group which also markets films produced and narrated by Newt and Callista Gingrich on its website. Gingrich, along with rivals Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum, will speak tonight before the showing of this new documentary. Iowa Right-to-Life executive director Jenifer Bowen will address the crowd, too.

Right Speak: The Gift of Life Film and Pro-Life Forum

12/13/2011

On Wednesday, December 14th, Mike Huckabee will be host to Citizens United's new film The Gift of Life. Screening the film first before more than 1000 Iowans, Huckabee will then host a forum that focuses on the issue of Life. Life that begins at conception and contains all the DNA necessary to develop into a baby. This is the key issue that got Mike Huckabee involved in politics. It's where his heart is held captive when it comes to social issues.

So far only four Republican candidates are attending the forum: Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum. Huntsman, Paul and Romney were invited but have yet to RSVP with a yes.

The issue of keeping a pregnancy or ending it in abortion is not the key issue that plagues the hearts of those who have been unemployed for over 99 weeks or of small business owners who just don't have enough capital to consider hiring another employee in the new year. But that doesn't mean it is not a key issue for many voters who have worked hard to further the Pro-Life cause.

Red State: The Conservative Fight of the Year Goes On

12/12/2011

The Tea Party has lined up strongly in favor of Senator Ron Johnson in against Establishment- favorite Roy Blunt for in the race Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. This race could be very close. Sen. Johnson has locked up the support from all of the conservative heroes in the Senate. Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, Rand Paul, David Vitter, and Mike Lee are publicly supporting Johnson. Florida Senate hopeful Adam Hasner has followed Sen. Rubio in publicly supporting Sen. Johnson.

The Blaze: Have You Seen the Trailer for Mike Huckabee’s Epic Pro-Life Movie?

12/09/2011

Mike Huckabee is a man of many trades. Former Arkansas governor. Pastor. Fox News host. Former presidential candidate. The list goes on. Now, Huckabee will be able to add “film host” to his resume, as he has teamed up with the conservative non-profit group Citizens United to create “The Gift of Life” — a pro-life film that explores the moral issues surrounding abortion.

As host, Huckabee will take viewers through the lives of people who were nearly victims of abortion — but were somehow spared from the procedure. According to the film’s web site, these individuals “help us define the culture of life.” The movie highlights these individuals’ stories, while delving deeply into the complicated and controversial issue of abortion.

Life News: Gingrich, Perry, Bachmann and Santorum Join Iowa Pro-Life Event

12/08/2011

Four of the Republican presidential candidates have committed to be at a pro-life forum in Des Moines, Iowa hosted by Mike Huckabee on December 14 to join more than 1,000 pro-life advocates for the unveiling of the new pro-life film Gift of Life.

Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum will come together for the event along with local pro-life Iowans as “The Gift of Life” will make its debut that night. The documentary was produced by Citizens United, the company made famous by a U.S. Supreme Court case that opened the door for unlimited spending on election ads by corporations.

Suzy B Blog: Attention Iowa: Attend the Gift of Life Premiere!

12/08/2011

Next week, former Governor Mike Huckabee will host a special screening of the new prolife documentary, The Gift of Life. This film, which was made in partnership with Citizens United will be shown at the Hoyt Sherman Place Theatre on December 14 in Des Moines, IA. It is a beautiful film that depicts just how precious life is and the worth of every human life.

People from all different backgrounds share their stories of determination and remind us that life begins at conception. Former Governor Mike Huckabee says, “My heart felt view on the value of life, all life at every age has been changed largely by meeting people whose remarkable stories have given me deep personal understanding of what life really means.”

Des Moines Register: Rick Perry will attend abortion forum in Des Moines with Mike Huckabee

12/08/2011

A fourth presidential candidate has now committed to be at an abortion forum in Des Moines hosted by Mike Huckabee on Dec. 14.

Rick Perry will join Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum for the event – as well as the more than 1,000 Iowans who have RSVP’ed, organizers said.

An anti-abortion documentary “The Gift of Life” will make its debut that night. The documentary was produced by Citizens United, the company made famous by a U.S. Supreme Court case that opened the door for unlimited spending on election ads by corporations.

Politico: 1,000 RSVPs for Huck forum

12/07/2011

More than 1,000 people have RSVP'd for Mike Huckabee's pro-life forum and film screening in Des Moines, Iowa, next week, per a release from event host Citizens United — a crowd that's expected to be heavily evangelical and a group that's currently splitting its support among several 2012 hopefuls.

Matt Friedeman Show: Mike Huckabee Discusses The Gift of Life

12/06/2011

Des Moines Register: Bachmann third candidate to RSVP for Huckabee forum in Des Moines

12/01/2011

A third presidential candidate has RSVP’ed for an Iowa event that includes a forum on abortion and the premiere of the documentary “The Gift of Life.”

Michele Bachmann will attend the event in Des Moines on Dec. 14, organizers said today. It will be hosted by Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor who ran for president four years ago.

Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have already said they’re coming.

Catholic Online: Commentary: The Pro-Life Message Moving to Go Mainstream

11/29/2011

An entry made Monday, November 21 on Manhattan Declaration website stated, "Through its promotion of the new movie 'The Gift of Life,' the Pro-Life movement has begun using mainstream media to spread the important message of fighting for the unborn. This time around, the focus of the movie's message is not on human development, the abortion holocaust, or even on the ever so vigilant opponents of the pro-life movement. Rather, this movie focuses its attention on the lives of people who nearly became victims of abortion. There are stories all around us of those closely affected by the horrors of abortion. And these are the stories that are going to help define the culture of life.

Hosted by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, The Gift of Life looks at the sanctity of life as a moral issue through at the stories of individuals who were nearly the victims of an abortion, but through God's grace were spared.

The film also highlights leaders of the Pro-Life movement. These men and women have dedicated themselves to bringing the message to society that every human being possesses an inalienable right to life.

Read the full article

Washington Post - Occupy Wall Street and conservative leaders: No love lost

11/22/2011

At a Capitol Hill news conference Tuesday morning on the failure of the debt supercommittee, leaders of several conservative groups focused their message on urging Republicans not to consider any tax increases as part of a broader debt-reduction plan.

But then one reporter asked the seven leaders what they thought of the Occupy Wall Street movement, several dozen members of which are arriving in Washington Tuesday after a two-week trek from Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park.

Manhattan Declaration: The Pro-Life Movement Taps Mainstream Media

11/21/2011

Through its promotion of the new movie “The Gift of Life”, the Pro-Life movement has begun using mainstream media to spread the important message of fighting for the unborn. This time around, the focus of the movie’s message is not on human development, the abortion holocaust, or even on the ever so vigilant opponents of the pro-life movement. Rather, this movie focuses its attention on the lives of people who nearly became victims of abortion. There are stories all around us of those closely affected by the horrors of abortion. And these are the stories that are going to help define the culture of life.

Ever since Roe v. Wade, the idea that America was a country that respects life has been shattered. With the Roe v. Wade decision, we, as a society, exchanged our sense of responsibility toward human life for a great heralding of the “right” to terminate it. The Gift of Life website states this sad realization clearly.

...

Des Moines Register: Mike Huckabee will host abortion forum in Des Moines next month

11/17/2011

Mike Huckabee will premiere a documentary about the moral issues of abortion in Des Moines next month – and he has invited eight 2012 GOP candidates to speak on abortion issues.

The movie, called “The Gift of Life,” was produced by Citizens United, the company made famous by a U.S. Supreme Court case that opened the door for unlimited spending on election ads by corporations.

Huckabee, a former presidential candidate who remains popular with Iowa conservatives, will host the event at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Read more at the Des Moines Register here.

Politico: Huckabee hosting Iowa abortion forum

11/17/2011

Eight presidential candidates have been invited to speak about abortion at a forum that 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will host next month in Iowa, the conservative group Citizens United confirmed to POLITICO. The event will be formally announced later today.

At the gathering, Citizens United, best known for the eponymous Supreme Court decision that last year altered the nation's campaign finance landscape, will also screen a documentary about abortion that features Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and current Fox News program host.

"Every conservative candidate for president will be fighting to come to this event," said David Bossie, Citizens United's president. "I think the campaigns see the value to be at a forum, in Iowa, three weeks before the caucus, standing next to Mike Huckabee. This is a unique opportunity."

5th Annual Citizens United Holiday Turkey Drive For The Troops Underway

11/09/2011

Thanksgiving and Christmas are rapidly approaching and Citizens United is continuing to do something near and dear to our hearts: supporting members of our Armed Forces and military families however we can.

Recently, we produced the award-winning film Perfect Valor, narrated by Senator Fred Thompson, as a tribute to our Iraq War heroes.

This year, Governor Mike Huckabee is teaming up with Citizens United for what has become a tradition: our annual turkey drive for the troops.

On account of budget cuts and a sagging economy, times are especially tough for many of our men and women in uniform and their families.

Our focus this year is on Fort Bliss - a base that has been critical to our efforts in fighting The War on Terror.

Last year we sent 900 turkeys out to our military families and this year we are aiming for more. You can help in this worthy and patriotic cause by calling 1-877-212-8798.

God Bless America and our troops!

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas from your friends at Citizens United!

Photos from last year's turkey distribution

Politico: Citizens United Spends Big In Ohio

11/03/2011

Citizens United, the conservative political organization best known for the eponymous Supreme Court decision that last year altered the nation’s campaign finance landscape, will on Thursday begin blasting six-figures worth of advertisements throughout Ohio in support of limiting most state workers’ collective bargaining rights.

The ads, which are slated to target the Cincinnati market in particular, urge voters next week to support Issue 2, a referendum on killing a collective bargaining-curbing bill passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. John Kasich (R).

Recent polls indicate Issue 2 is likely to fail, which would be a boon for Democrats and unions stung throughout the year in several Midwestern states where Republican lawmakers have targeted collective bargaining rights in the name of balancing budgets.

Daily Caller: Cain has most to gain, lose at Las Vegas debate, say GOP strategists

10/18/2011

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — With his status as a GOP presidential front-runner so newly acquired, former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain has both the most to gain and the most to lose on Tuesday night during CNN's Western Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, say GOP strategists.

"As a new member of the 'top tier' he will be taking a bunch of arrows from the other candidates who are angling for the 'anybody but Romney' vote," said David Bossie, president of Citizens United. But at the same time, Bossie added, if Cain handles himself well, he could solidify his precipitous rise as something more than transitory. "If Cain proves that he can weather the attacks then he will be on a good path for the long run," he said.

Daily Caller: GOP operatives say path to nomination exists for Herman Cain

10/05/2011

Though Herman Cain’s success is regularly dismissed as a passing fad, Republican campaign strategists tell The Daily Caller that a narrow but navigable path to the GOP nomination actually exists for the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO.

The most likely scenario is for Texas Gov. Rick Perry to stumble and for Cain to firmly grasp the anti-Romney mantle within the party.

“A path exists but it lies in the elimination of Governor Perry as a candidate,” Republican strategist Chris LaCivita told The Daily Caller. “The only way Herman Cain in my opinion can emerge as a serious contender, is to surpass Governor Perry and demonstrate that he has the endurance to match the organization of Governor Romney.”

Concord Monitor: How the movies are made, sold

10/03/2011

Are Newt Gingrich's movies educational? Political advertisements? For profit? A little of everything?

Gingrich made the movies before he declared he would run for president, but his campaign website and his wife Callista's blog reference the films and their public screenings in early primary states such as Iowa, Florida and South Carolina.

Gingrich made between $500,000 and $1 million from his for-profit company, Gingrich Productions, according to election disclosure filings.

First Amendment Center: Amendment to undo Citizens United won’t do

09/21/2011

Gene Policinski of the First Amendment Center effectively tackles the problems with Reps. John Conyers and Donna Edwards' proposed amendment to overturn our Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC:

...Few likely would debate the motive that Conyers and Edwards say is behind the proposed amendment: fair elections, honest government. But good intentions don’t justify ignoring a basic concept that the Supreme Court majority pointed out in its ruling: Nothing in the First Amendment provides for “more or less” free-speech protection depending on who is speaking.

Besides, corporations — and likely unions, as well — are essentially groups of people who have assembled for a common purpose. That includes for this discussion using their combined resources effectively to support or oppose candidates who will, in their view, do the right things.

Do we really want Congress to have the power to exclude certain groups from participating in political speech? Let’s not forget that although corporations and unions are different in reality, if not law, from individual people, they represent collections of individuals with legitimate interests.

As the Supreme Court held last year, First Amendment protections are strongest for political speech — and being an effective speaker in the marketplace of ideas should not disqualify you from them.

Read the full post.

Bloomberg: Election Spending to Exceed $6 Billion Thanks Partly to Jim Bopp

09/21/2011

An article today about Jim Bopp, one of our attorneys for Citizens United v. FEC and a warrior for free speech:

“It’s so complicated to win big victories that you have to go after these cases piecemeal,” said David Bossie, president of Citizens United, the Washington-based advocacy group that hired Bopp to bring the case that bears its name.

The victory was somewhat bittersweet. When the case reached the Supreme Court, Citizens United hired former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson to argue the case rather than Bopp. While “disappointed” by that decision, Bopp said, he thought “we certainly accomplished a lot in the case.”

Bossie, who made the switch, said he did so after learning of Olson’s record of winning more than 75 percent of his cases before the Supreme Court.

Read the full story

Daily Caller: Kaiser Family Foundation 2009 grant to Michelle Obama’s ‘Urban Health Initiative’ sparks more Solyndra ‘crony capitalism’ questions

09/19/2011

Served up on a Kaiser:

“This tax document clearly shows that George Kaiser greased the wheels to gain favor with the Obama Administration for the purpose of receiving a half-billion dollar taxpayer-funded loan for Solyndra,” Citizens United president David Bossie told The Daily Caller. “It is evident that this was a pay-to-play scheme that reaches all the way up to the highest levels of the White House.”

Bossie, a former special investigator during the Clinton administration, told TheDC that a bold and aggressive congressional investigation is necessary.

“The American people deserve to know the facts of this case,” he said. “Congressional investigators need to dig into this scandal, as we know the politicized Department of Justice cannot be trusted.”

Read more about the Solyndra scandal at the Daily Caller here.

New York Times: Citizens United Case Yields an Unexpected Result

09/19/2011

Citizens United v. FEC remains an enigma to the liberal New York Times in "Citizens United Case Yields an Unexpected Result" but they do get this right:

... Citizens United takes the libertarian view that people may be trusted to evaluate the messages they hear and need not be sheltered from the responsibility of critical thinking. The theory is as applicable to the marketing of soda and cigarettes as it is to that of political candidates.

The five-justice majority in Citizens United said that speech about politics is at the core of what the First Amendment protects, that more speech is better than less and that the government has no business deciding who can speak or how much. ...

Reason: The AFL-CIO, Citizens United, Super PACs, & What a Difference a Couple Years Make

08/23/2011

From Nick Gillespie on the AFL-CIO's hypocrisy in creating a Super PAC on Reason's Blog:

...What "changes in the law"? The Citizens United decision, which struck down laws regulating independent political messaging by for-profit and non-profit corporations on First Amendment grounds. If you don't remember it as being about a documentary that was censored by the government, you probably remember it as "our Dred Scott" decision, in the words of Keith Olbermann.

What's interesting about this development is that the AFL-CIO was a staunch opponent of the Citizens United decision on the grounds that it didn't give unions (which are corporations just like ExxonMobil, The New York Times, and even Reason Foundation, the nonprofit that publishes this website!) special rights. That is, Trumka thought the AFL-CIO should be able to "speak directly to workers" but that other types of corporations and groups should not be allowed similar avenues of expression. ...

Read the full post.

Examiner: Obama's best hope for reelection is destroying GOP nominee

08/22/2011

Hugh Hewitt writes about President Obama using the decision he excoriated in 2010 for the 2012 elections in the Examiner:

When President Obama broke with long-standing tradition and blasted the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United even as members of the court sat before him at the 2010 State of the Union address, he was giving voice to the collective anxiety of the Democratic Party over a suddenly level political playing field.

In the decision's aftermath, the unions lost an enormous advantage in fundraising and campaign spending in that all individuals and organizations - including corporations - were suddenly entitled to spend on political messages any amount those individuals and organizations deemed wise. The president was angry.

However, chances are today he is very, very thankful for Citizens United as Campaign 2012 gets underway.

We are entering the first campaign in which the full effects of Citizens United will be felt, and Republican voters should be considering not just who can raise the most money or be the beneficiary of the most independent expenditures, but who is best positioned to survive the coming deluge of independently-funded politics of personal destruction.

For although the president lambasted the court for returning the operation of the First Amendment to its original intent of protecting political speech, he now may well be celebrating the decision for empowering the best hope he has of re-election: the demonization and destruction of his GOP opponent. ...

Kitchen Cabinet: Citizens United: Fire From The Heartland

08/12/2011

From Kitchen Cabinet:

Citizens United and its great leader Dave Bossie is one of the greatest friends to The Kitchen Cabinet, and continually encouraging of our efforts to unite economically-conservative women across the nation. If you don’t have “Fire From The Heartland” featuring Michele Bachmann, it’s a must for your video library. “Heartland” is a beautiful cinematic walk across the country showing the true impact of conservative women in America, and profiles the CONCERNS of American women today….

LINK

Slate: Questions for David Bossie

08/09/2011

How'd you become a conservative?

I had my formative teenage years during Jimmy Carter's presidency. If there's anything that can get a person to focus on the good things that represent America, it's living through that. We had two cars, one with an odd license plate and one with even license plate. Whichever car needed gas that day, I'd get a screwdriver, get down there, and switch the license plates. When I got to vote for the first time, I had to choose a party, and I said, "I want to be in whatever party Ronald Reagan is in."

The Atlantic: Palin Filmmaker Spreads His Bets to Bachmann

07/26/2011

Before Sarah Palin, Steve Bannon made a movie about Michele Bachmann. Could it push her over the top in Iowa?

One could make a fairly convincing case that Steve Bannon, the filmmaker who brought us the Sarah Palin bio pic "The Undefeated," has gotten at least as much attention these last few months as Palin herself. (We at The Atlantic have supplied a good deal of it.) But with Palin looking ever less likely to run, a different Bannon film could -- ironically -- wind up having a bigger impact on the Republican primaries. Last September, Bannon released "Fire From the Heartland," an admiring film about Michele Bachmann and other Tea Party-style conservative women. (One reviewer, who happens to be my editor, called it "An admixture of propaganda and documentary that gives a new view on conservative women and their role in the movement.") The movie was funded by the conservative group Citizens United, which, on Sunday, launched a $75,000 Iowa advertising campaign that includes television and billboards (like the one above) strategically placed near Des Moines and Ames. Per a Citizens United press release, the ad campaign will "culminate with a booth at the Ames Straw Poll on August 13th."

"Culminating with a booth" hardly quickens the pulse. But the obvious intent here is to boost Bachmann's showing at the straw poll -- and maybe make a few bucks in the process. Although the movie is about a group of conservative women, Bachmann has now been elevated to a starring role and Citizens United has recut the movie poster to feature her alone. I called Bannon to ask him about his "other" movie and who he'd prefer to see win the nomination, Palin or Bachmann. "Look, I'm very proud of ["Fire From the Heartland"], it's a great film, and it's got a lot about Gov. Palin in it," he told me. "It tells a terrific story and as many people ought to watch it as possible. It shows sides of Rep. Bachmann that haven't been seen before. The film really goes into her time as a tax litigator and how that changed her life."

Politico: Michele Bachmann on Billboards before Ames

07/25/2011

As a companion piece to its ads touting a movie about Michele Bachmann, Citizens United has this ad on two billboards in Iowa, one in Des Moines between the airport and the downtown area, and the other on the highway between Des Moines and Ames, according to CU's Jeff Marschner. The group will also have a vendor booth hawking the DVD of the movie about her at the Ames Straw Poll, he said.

Politico: Michele Bachmann film ads to be aired in Iowa by Citizens United

07/25/2011

Conservative organization Citizens United will hit Iowa airwaves next week with advertisements touting its film about Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who’s already sitting toward the top of most polls in the first-caucus state.

Citizens United president David Bossie said the ad — a $75,000 buy — is not a political message or an independent expenditure in support of Bachmann because it promotes a movie, not a candidate. The ad won’t feature a political disclaimer — Bossie noted that Citizens United, which last year prompted the Supreme Court case that upended long-standing federal campaign finance laws in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, has a media exemption for such communications.

Minnesota Post: Citizens United hawking movie starring Bachmann

07/25/2011

Sarah Palin isn’t the only conservative woman with a movie to plug.

Citizens United Productions has launched a $100,000 advertising campaign for its film, “Fire from the Heartland,” a documentary highlighting the role of conservative women in politics today. The movie stars Minnesota Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.

The Des Moines Register: Iowa ads will push Bachmann movie in weeks before straw poll

07/25/2011

A special-interest group is putting up television, billboard and Internet advertisements in Iowa promoting a film about Republican Michele Bachmann.

The ads will give the conservative presidential candidate’s campaign some free exposure during the three weeks before the Iowa straw poll on Aug. 13.

Citizens United – the group that was behind the U.S. Supreme Court case that opened the door for unlimited spending on election ads by corporations, unions and other interest groups – will spend nearly $100,000 on the ad campaign in Iowa, according to a news release.

Press Release: Citizens United Running Television Ads In Iowa Promoting "Fire from the Heartland,” Starring Michele Bachmann

07/22/2011

Washington, DC – Citizens United Productions today announced a major advertising campaign in Iowa totaling nearly $100,000 which will encompass TV, Billboards, and Internet Advertising for its documentary film "Fire from the Heartland: The Awakening of the Conservative Woman," starring Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. The ad campaign will culminate at the Ames Straw Poll on August 13th where Citizens United Productions will have a booth.

"Fire from the Heartland" has been a successful documentary for Citizens United Productions, and we look forward to marketing it to the good people of Iowa in the run up to the Ames Straw Poll," said David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United and the film's Producer.

Starring Michele Bachmann, "Fire from the Heartland" features a range of activists, politicians, and commentators such as Phyllis Schlafly, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, S.E. Cupp, Dana Loesch, Michelle Easton, Sonnie Johnson, Jenny Beth Martin, Michelle Moore, Jamie Radtke, Deneen Borelli, Janine Turner, and Congresswomen Cynthia Lummis, and Jean Schmidt.

"Fire from the Heartland" was written and directed by "The Undefeated" director Stephen K. Bannon ("Generation Zero," "Battle for America," "In the Face of Evil.")

"This is a film about extraordinary women who accomplished great things." said Mr. Bannon.

The television ad starts today in the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids media markets. View the ad HERE – full script below:

Bachmann Fire from the Heartland Ad: 30

Michele Bachmann Sound Bite:
We can't even begin to calculate... how expensive that loss of individual liberties is. So when government interferes with those rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, government's treading on very dangerous ground. It isn't that men aren't seeing what's going on, women feel it. And that sense is coming over us, that something is terribly wrong.

Voice Over Tag:
"Fire from the Heartland," starring Michele Bachmann, on DVD now at FireFromTheHeartland.com

Citizens United Productions, the country's leading conservative film production company, is the organization behind "Hillary the Movie," the film that recently brought about the landmark First Amendment Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In addition, Citizens United has produced widely regarded films such as "America at Risk," "Generation Zero," and "Battle for America," as well as award winning films "Perfect Valor," with Senator Fred Thompson, "Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous With Destiny" with Newt and Callista Gingrich. Citizens United Productions has released 18 feature-length documentaries.

###

Roger Hedgecock Show: Fire From The Heartland, Cut Cap & Balance

07/13/2011

Last night I had the pleasure of going on the Roger Hedgecock show with guest host Howard Kaloogian to talk about the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge as well as the CU Productions documentary "Fire From The Heartland," starring Michele Bachmann.

Download the mp3 and listen here.

Cagle Post - The Fearless Female Patriots Who Fought For Our Independence

07/01/2011

This Independence Day marks the 235th birthday of the United States of America. The 4th of July is a day to celebrate our country’s heritage and the ideals upon which it was founded, as well as to resolve ourselves to keep the spirit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness alive for ourselves and our future generations. Recently, we have seen a reawakening of conservative women in this country who have stepped up in this role. But this is not a new phenomenon. Women have been a driving force in America’s rise to prominence from the Founding of our nation.

The very first tea party to be organized by women was the Edenton Tea Party – in 1774. Today’s Tea Party movement is led by many of the stars of our film Fire from the Heartland, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, Deneen Borelli, Sonnie Johnson, Dana Loesch, Michelle Malkin, Jenny Beth Martin, Michelle Moore, and Jamie Radtke, all of whom have taken an active role in the Tea Party rallies. Much like the “Ladys of Edenton,” these women are standing up to an intrusive government that has overstepped its bounds.

Variety: Docmakers get right to the point

06/20/2011

The man who was the first to respond was not from Hollywood but D.C.'s partisan battles: David Bossie, a well-known Washington political activist who ran the conservative advocacy org Citizens United.

Bossie says he saw people "blown away" by the momentum of "Fahrenheit" and how it "created this kind of pop culture movement." But he also noticed the film's advertising campaign was having an impact. "The TV ads were the best thing, better than anything John Kerry produced," he says.

He contacted actor Ron Silver, who in turn told him to get in touch with writer-director Lionel Chetwynd. Along with Kevin Knoblock, Chetwynd and Ted Steinberg, they were able to rush into production a response to "Fahrenheit," called "Celsius 41.11," that debuted in the waning weeks of the presidential campaign. (The title refers to the temperature when the brain begins to die.)

Bloomberg: Republicans See Presidential Race Prospects Rise With Slowing U.S. Economy

06/17/2011

The bad economic news buffering the U.S. is being welcomed in at least one quarter: among the Republican Party officials and activists gathered in New Orleans for a conference lasting through tomorrow.

Reflecting a renewed sense of hopefulness heading into the 2012 election, those attending the Republican Leadership Conference were optimistic that the recent wave of data showing a slowing recovery from the worst recession since the 1930s could add up to a victory for their party against President Barack Obama. Citizens United President David Bossie says America is in a "rut" because of Obama's economic policies.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, the first of the major Republican presidential candidates to address the group, told the roughly 2,000 attendees yesterday that he was eager to spend his campaign talking about jobs, energy policy and the "Obama depression." Gingrich asked his audience: "How can the president of the United States say to the country he's not concerned about a double-dip recession? How can he not be concerned when 14 million Americans are out of work?"

Bossie On CNN

06/08/2011

Citizens United President David Bossie chats with CNN about the Congressman Weiner scandal.

WSJ: Stephen Colbert's Free Speech Problem

05/19/2011

First Amendment attorneys Steve Simpson and Paul Sherman point out the unintentional comedy of Stephen Colbert's failed attempts to mock Citizens United v. FEC.

..."Why does it get so complicated to do this? I mean, this is page after page of legalese," Mr. Colbert lamented. "All I'm trying to do is affect the 2012 election. It's not like I'm trying to install iTunes."

Well, that's pretty much what the nonprofit group Citizens United said to the Supreme Court in the case that Mr. Colbert is trying so hard to lampoon.

Campaign-finance laws are so complicated that few can navigate them successfully and speak during elections—which is what the First Amendment is supposed to protect. As the Supreme Court noted in Citizens United, federal laws have created "71 distinct entities" that "are subject to different rules for 33 different types of political speech." The FEC has adopted 568 pages of regulations and thousands of pages of explanations and opinions on what the laws mean. "Legalese" doesn't begin to describe this mess. ...

Read the full op-ed here

WSJ: The IRS Gets Political

05/18/2011

The editors of the Wall Street Journal call out the IRS for going after campaign donors, saying, "A tax probe of donations given by a specific class of political donors is a boldfaced attempt to punish and discourage political speech":

We're starting to see a pattern here. Since the Supreme Court restored the First Amendment rights of businesses and unions in last year's Citizens United ruling, Democrats have been searching for a way to claw back control over political speech. The latest bureau to get the memo is the Internal Revenue Service, which may retroactively tax top donors to political advocacy groups.

In the crossroads, er, cross-hairs, are nonprofit groups that register under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code and spent millions on political advertising in the last election cycle. Big donations to those groups, the agency now says, should have been subject to gift taxes and may be owed retroactively. In a letter to one donor, the IRS noted that it "had received information that you donated cash to . . . an IRC Section 501(c)(4) organization . . . and your contribution should have been reported on your 2008 federal gift tax return."

The letters are especially odd since the purpose of the gift tax has traditionally been used in coordination with the estate tax, to prevent people from avoiding the tax by divesting their wealth before they die. Contributions to 501(c)(4)s aren't a routine death tax avoidance mechanism, and the contributions now under scrutiny are a pittance compared to overall gift tax revenues. So, hmmm, what could be the reason to start asserting the provision now, and only against a handful of high-profile political donors?

Health Care News: CMS May Have Overpaid for Andy Griffith Obamacare Ads

05/16/2011

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) may have dramatically overpaid for three controversial television ads touting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) during the run-up to the 2010 elections.

The health law changes the plans offered seniors, such as by increasing premiums and limiting access of seniors to the popular Medicare Advantage plans. The advertising, designed to mitigate concerns among seniors, appeared between September and October in 2010.

CMS responded to a Freedom of Information Act request from Americans for Limited Government about the spots produced by the public relations firm Porter Novelli Public Services.

Click here to view the entire article

Daily Caller - Mother's Day and the Conservative Movement

05/05/2011

Last fall, Citizens United Productions released “Fire from the Heartland,” a film about the awakening of the conservative woman. America is facing a number of challenges due to the failed policies of President Obama, and some of the loudest voices against these policies have been mothers. In the film, Michelle Malkin explains this maternal activism, saying, “We do not want our kids’ and our grandkids’ futures taken away from us and we’re going to stand up and do whatever we need to do to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Fire from the Heartland” brings female politicians, activists, and commentators together to share their emotional stories of triumph over adversity in the fight for freedom. One of the most striking themes of the film is the impact of motherhood.

American Spectator: Obama vs. the 'Undisclosed Donors'

05/02/2011

Great article by Jed Babbin on how President Obama is trying to skirt Citizens United v. FEC and politicize the federal contracting process:

Congressional Dems responded with an effort to overturn the Citizens United decision legislatively with the so-far un-passed "DISCLOSE" Act, which would have restricted undisclosed donors who aren't unions and other reliable sources of liberal funding. The fact that you cannot amend the Constitution by legislation apparently isn't known to our professor of Constitutional law and is of no concern to Congressional Dems.

Now, Obama is considering an Executive Order the effect of which would reverse Citizens United in part, and, entirely, corrupt the federal contracting process.

The April 13 draft Executive Order is entitled "Disclosure of Political Spending by Government Contractors." Section 2 of the draft says, in part, that "…every contracting department and agency shall require all entities submitting offers for federal contracts to disclose certain political contributions and expenditures they have made within two years prior to the submission of their offer."

Read the full op-ed here

LVRJ: Disclosure 'as a political hammer'

04/28/2011

The Las Vegas Review Journal editorial board makes the case that President Obama pushing the failed DISCLOSE Act through Executive Order will have the effect of punishing his political enemies:

In a partial dissent in Citizens United, Justice Clarence Thomas argued the First Amendment protects all speech, including anonymous speech. "I cannot endorse a view of the First Amendment that subjects citizens of this Nation to death threats, ruined careers, damaged or defaced property, or pre-emptive and threatening warning letters as the price for engaging in core political speech, the primary object of First Amendment protection," Justice Thomas wrote.

We encourage the president to resist the temptation to sign this executive order. It would be an opening salvo in the 2012 election and an abuse of the powers of the office.

WSJ: Political Privacy Should Be a Civil Right

04/27/2011

John Yoo and David Marston defend the right to free speech from government fiat:

Having failed to undo Citizens United by legislation, Mr. Obama apparently believes that he can veto the Supreme Court by naked presidential fiat. But before the administration barrels through with this attempt to suppress corporate political activity, it would do well to revisit NAACP v. Alabama.

The court declared that the privacy of group membership and political activity were critical to the "effective advocacy of both public and private points of view, particularly controversial ones." Privacy can be critical for free speech. "Inviolability of privacy in group association may in many circumstances be indispensable to preservation of freedom of association, particularly where a group espouses dissident beliefs," Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote for a unanimous court.

The court went on to recite a litany of potential retaliation—"economic reprisal, loss of employment, threat of physical coercion, and other manifestations of public hostility"—that could deter people from publicly supporting the NAACP. It did not matter, the justices observed, that the harassment would likely come from "private community pressures." What mattered is that such pressure would be prompted by "the initial exertion of state power." ...

Read the rest at WSJ.com

National Review: Obama vs. Free Speech, Again

04/25/2011

The Editors of National Review denounce President Obama for trying to get around the courts and Congress with an Executive Order that attacks the Constitutional free speech protections Citizens United v. FEC restored:

In its Citizens United ruling, the Supreme Court held that Americans do not forfeit their First Amendment rights when they join together to form businesses. This hardly remarkable conclusion produced howls of indignation among Democrats, who summarily denounced both the justices and the “corporations,” about which they are inclined to whisper darkly. Now the president is contemplating the imposition of free-speech restrictions through executive fiat.

Democrats’ main response to Citizens United was the DISCLOSE Act (if you must know and can stomach it, that’s the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act) which, among other things, would have encumbered private, individual political donations made by employees of firms that bid on federal contracts. Unhappily for Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the DISCLOSE Act’s sponsors, their campaign to chill Americans’ political speech did not fare well in Congress, and the bill foundered. Democrats sought to impose similar restrictions through the Federal Election Commission, again with no success. Having been defeated both in the democratic forum and in court, Pres. Barack Obama has had drafted a diktat to simply impose DISCLOSE limitations by White House decree. You might wonder: Upon what constitutional authority might the president issue a directive abridging Americans’ First Amendment rights, recently reconfirmed by the Supreme Court? We wonder, too, and suspect that President Obama is getting a little big for his constitutional britches. ...

Read the full editorial on National Review Online

eNewsChannels: Documentary ‘Nine Days that Changed the World’ Wins Special Jury Remi Award

04/12/2011

Posted By Aria Munro On Mon, 11 Apr 2011 @ 17:40

WASHINGTON, D.C. /eNewsChannels/ — “Nine Days that Changed the World,” hosted by Newt and Callista Gingrich, and produced by Citizens United Productions in association with Gingrich Productions and Peace River Company, has been awarded a Gold Special Jury Remi Award for Best Documentary at the 2011 WorldFest-Houston Independent International Film Festival.

“Nine Days that Changed the World” tells the story of Pope John Paul II’s historic nine-day pilgrimage to Poland in June of 1979, which created a revolution of conscience that transformed Poland and fundamentally reshaped the spiritual and political landscape of the 20th Century.

Newt and Callista Gingrich, along with a Polish, American, and Italian cast, explore what transpired during these nine days that moved the Polish people to renew their hearts, reclaim their courage, and free themselves from the shackles of Communism.

WorldFest is one of the oldest independent film and video festivals in the world. Founded nearly 50 years ago, its mission is to recognize and honor outstanding creative excellence in film and video, validate brilliant abilities, and develop regional film production.

More information on the documentary film: www.ninedaysthatchangedtheworld.com/

Roll Call: McGahn: Courts, Constitution Limit FEC’s Mission

04/11/2011

FEC member Don McGahn defends free speech and the Constitution.

Recall, Citizens United v. FEC was a simple case about whether a nonprofit association was “permitted” to distribute a documentary movie via video-on-demand. Reformers urged the commission to take a staunchly regulatory position (Ornstein himself filed a brief that claimed the movie could be banned). And let’s also recall: The government itself claimed it had the authority to ban books.

Faced with such unyielding extremism, the court did the only thing it could: It ruled in favor of liberty, and against the government. And they did so in a way that was not limited to a pay-per-view movie; instead, the court’s broad pronouncements limit the ability of the government to regulate in the area of politics generally.

Let’s be clear here: The FEC has been on the losing end of a series of recent challenges to its constitutional authority. The FEC lost the Wisconsin Right to Life challenge. It lost the Davis challenge. And it utterly fell on its face in losing Citizens United. In each case, the Supreme Court limited the FEC’s jurisdiction and gave it clear instructions not to reach out and zealously enforce more but to act with solemn respect and caution for the First Amendment rights of our citizens.

The court’s criticism of the old ways of the FEC was direct, pointed and unambiguous. And the wisdom of the Supreme Court’s rulings is simple: An overzealous FEC is bound to trample speech deemed integral to a healthy civil society. Or as Chief Justice John Roberts put it, “Where the First Amendment is implicated, the tie goes to the speaker, not the censor.” As an FEC commissioner, I am bound by my oath to follow controlling precedent of the Supreme Court — including its logic — regardless of whether Ornstein likes certain case law.

Read the rest of the article in Roll Call.

CSPAN: Conservatives Principles Conference Panel

03/28/2011

Over the weekend I was able to host a very successful screening of Rediscovering God in America with Newt and Callista Gingrich on Friday (see photos on Facebook). And on Saturday, I presenting at Rep. Steve King's Conservatives Principles Political Action Committee Conference. Please take a moment to view my speech, which was carried live on CSPAN:

WHO Radio: Mickelson in the Morning 3-23-11

03/24/2011

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Mickleson in the Morning on Newsradio 1040 WHO Iowa. I talked with host Jan Mickelson about our Rediscovering God in America screening tomorrow with Speaker and Mrs. Gingrich, Rep. Steve King's Conference this weekend, and our exploding debt.

Listen to the 10 minute broadcast here: David Bossie on Mickelson in the Morning 3-23-11(.mp3)

National Review: Judicial Excuses

03/17/2011

Today Anthony Sanders discussed judicial activism and Citizens United v. FEC on National Review's blog "Bench Memos":

Is it “judicial activism” to forbid the government from censoring a movie? This is not a trick question. Critics of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC have been calling it one of the worst examples of judicial activism in history. But Citizens United involved a law passed by Congress that prevented a nonprofit from making a film that criticized a candidate during an election. If that was not a law barred by the First Amendment, then it is hard to understand what “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech” means. Far from engaging in “judicial activism,” the Supreme Court in Citizens United practiced something courts should be doing every day: “judicial engagement.”

...

In the case of Citizens United, the Supreme Court had been allowing the government to run roughshod over the First Amendment for decades. This deferential approach reached its low point in McConnell v. FEC, when the Court allowed the government to ban broadcast communications that mentioned a candidate near an election. As a result, Citizens United was unable to distribute its film, Hillary: the Movie, during the 2008 primary season. As great a victory as the case was, it is a tragedy that Citizens United had to sue to preserve its First Amendment rights and that it was prevented from showing its film for an entire election season. If the Court had been doing its job, Congress would never have had the chutzpa to pass a law banning movies that criticize politicians in the first place.

Read the full blog at NationalReview.com

Buy Hillary The Movie

La Crosse Tribune: Citizens United decision a big win for free speech

03/13/2011

Sean Parnell of the Center for Competitive Politics writes up a good defense of Citizens United v. FEC:

Ultimately Citizens United answered a basic question of First Amendment rights — can the government pick and chose which types of speakers are allowed to offer their views to voters?

Wisely, the Supreme Court said no, and our political system and First Amendment are stronger for it.

Read the rest of the op-ed here

Learn more about how the Citizens United decision forever changed the political landscape in America and restored our vital free speech rights by watching our one-year anniversary video:

Newsmax: Citizens United’s Bossie: Obama ‘Thugocracy’ in Wis.

03/04/2011

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Newsmax.tv's Kathleen Walter to discuss everything from unions to debt to Ronald Reagan to President Obama:

President Barack Obama’s Chicago-style politics and “union thugocracy” are at work in Wisconsin in an effort to undermine Gov. Scott Walker’s plans to rein in the power of public sector labor unions, Citizens United President David Bossie tells Newsmax.TV.

Praising Walker for his courage, the head of the citizens advocacy group predicted that, with “just a little bit of support, he is going to be able to win and win a big victory, and then we’re going to be able to march it across the country, which is very important.”

Under Walker’s plan, most state employees would lose bargaining rights for all but pay issues and have to kick in more of their pension and health care costs. The $300 million in savings over the next two years would help close a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, Walker contends.

View the interview below:

Read the full Newsmax.com article

Newsmax: Citizens United: Mr. Obama, You're No Reagan

02/01/2011

Jim Meyers covers our Reagan-Obama video in Newsmax:

The conservative organization Citizens United has launched a video in response to a new Time magazine cover story comparing President Barack Obama with Ronald Reagan, with the point: "There is no comparison." The video contrasts several Reagan statements against those of Obama, including:

Reagan: "It is time for us to realize that we're too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams."

Obama: "My country has not perfected itself."

Reagan: "America is the land of the free because she is the home of the brave."

Obama: "In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world."

Read the rest on Newsmax.com...

Politico: Year after ruling: Right gloats, left vows fight

01/21/2011

Politico Reporter Kenneth P. Vogel covers the one-year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC:

The first anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was marked today in classically Washington fashion – with protests, press conferences, dueling panel discussions, and talk of a new effort by liberal groups to expose some of the conservative non-profits groups that took advantage of the ruling to spend millions of dollars on political ads.

Supporters of the decision did a low-key victory lap, praising the decision in panels, press releases and a slickly produced video featuring majestic orchestral music playing over clips of news footage from the GOP's landslide midterm election victories interspersed with endorsements from, among others, super lawyer Ted Olson, who argued the case and in the video called it "maybe the most important case in history."

Washington Post: How the Citizens United ruling freed political speech

01/21/2011

Op-ed featured in the Washington Post on the one-year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC, by David N. Bossie, president of CU, and Theodore B. Olson, lead counsel for CU in its lawsuit against the FEC:

One year ago today, the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. It upheld the First Amendment rights of individuals acting through corporations and labor unions to participate in our political process, and it struck down an oppressive thicket of statutes restricting - and even criminalizing - their political speech.

The case arose in 2007, when Citizens United, a grass-roots membership organization, sought to broadcast a film critical of Hillary Clinton, then a candidate for president. The Federal Election Commission deemed the film too critical to be shown in the weeks before an election; if Citizens United had broadcast it, its officers would have been subject to prosecution and potential imprisonment for up to five years. The Supreme Court struck down this prohibition of corporate and labor union election-time speech about candidates as a violation of the First Amendment. To the court's majority, it was "stranger than fiction for our Government to make . . . political speech a crime."

Stranger still were the unwarranted attacks against the Supreme Court that followed. Most visibly, the president used his State of the Union address to...

Bossie and Olson Comment On The One-Year Anniversary Of The Citizens United Supreme Court Victory

01/20/2011

Why we chose to fight censorship by CU President David N. Bossie:

Tomorrow, January 21, marks the one-year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC. The impact of the case has been to level the playing field in American politics during the 2010 election cycle. Below are statements by David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United, and Theodore B. Olson, the attorney who argued the case before the Supreme Court, reflecting on the anniversary.

David N. Bossie:

"Citizens United v. FEC allowed individuals to be able to participate in the political process through corporations for the first time in decades. Our victory allows non-profit corporations like Citizens United and others to come together with their donors and supporters to educate the American people. America is facing a number of major issues that will shape the course of our country in the years to come. Whether it is the exploding national debt or the fight over health care, the American people must be free to participate in the political process, and have the freedom to debate the most pressing issues of our time without government restrictions. Citizens United v. FEC set down a marker on First Amendment rights that will preserve all Americans' right to free speech."

Theodore B. Olson:

"I think it may be the most important case in history because what that decision said is that individuals, under the First Amendment, cannot be inhibited, cannot be restrained, cannot be threatened, cannot be censored by the government when they wish to speak about elections and the political process. What could be more important than that? This is a robust expression of our fundamental liberties. I think it is the most important decision ever to be rendered by the Supreme Court in connection with the freedom of citizens to participate in the political process."

Business Week: Political Front Groups Have It Backward

01/18/2011

In the Business Week Debate Room, CU President David Bossie responds to the topic "U.S. Political front groups that don’t have to disclose donors’ identities are inherently unethical. Pro or con?"

Con: A Venerable Tradition

To call organizations that engage in political speech while protecting the identities of their donors "front groups" that are "inherently unethical" ignores our nation's rich history of political speech. When Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay published the Federalist Papers, a series of essays that shaped the debate regarding ratification of the U.S. Constitution, they did so anonymously under the pseudonym of "Publius." These founding fathers' words and arguments have stood the test of time and remain essential texts for all who seek to understand our Constitution and our form of government.

The writers of the Federalist Papers count as just one example of anonymous pamphleteers who existed at our nation's founding. Anonymous political speech is a key component of the American system of government. Today groups that include Citizens United, American Action Network, and Crossroads GPS carry on this tradition, engaging in political speech without disclosing the identity of their members. They choose anonymity in order to protect individuals' right to engage in speech without fear of reprisal.

This kind of political speech is protected by the First Amendment but for years was criminalized by the McCain-Feingold legislation and by the bureaucrats tasked with enforcing it. The Supreme Court restored this fundamental right to political speech in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The fact that groups now seek to exercise these restored rights does not make them unethical; it makes them American.

Read the Pro side of the argument...

American Spectator: A Conservative Communique for 2011

01/06/2011

Citizens United joined with many other conservative organizations to sign the Conservative Communique of 2011:

Along with nearly 100 conservative leaders and tea party activists we gather to reaffirm our principles of constitutional limited government and economic freedom and our belief in a strong national security and traditional American values. In the recent election, the American people sent a strong message to the President and both Houses of Congress that they insist upon government grounded in constitutional principles and a restoration of Federalism.

Now we call upon President Obama and leaders in Congress to return America to a true and prosperous Nation by passing legislation and implementing policies supported by the vast majority of our fellow citizens that achieve the following ...

Read the full letter at Spectator.org ...

Washington Times: The Lynching of Tom DeLay

12/02/2010

CU President David Bossie on the suspect charges against former Congressman Tom DeLay:

Around Washington, Rep. Tom DeLay was known as "the Hammer." It's a title he earned for his effectiveness when he served in the role of majority whip. The whip is the person tasked with counting votes and building support for legislation. As whip, Mr. DeLay was uniquely effective at enacting and implementing the Contract With America and key portions of the George W. Bush agenda. He also was able to flex his political muscle within the state of Texas to leave his mark on the redistricting process.

Tom DeLay was a very skilled politician. He understood the legislative and political processes better than most. However, his effectiveness put him squarely in the cross hairs of another effective politician: Ronnie Earle. Mr. Earle isn't a player most Americans have heard of. He is neither a veteran member of Congress nor an influential lobbyist - he was the Travis County district attorney. In Texas, unlike other states, the district attorney in a county has statewide jurisdiction over public corruption crimes. Over the course of his three-decade-long career, Mr. Earle turned the power of his office against many politicians. ...

Human Events: Unsung Heroes!

11/04/2010

Ron Robinson celebrates the unsung heroes of the 2010 election:

To hijack President Obama's favorite analogy: Obama's policies drove the Democrats into a political ditch. He took America down a path they never expected him to go. Now the voters have turned the keys over to Speaker John Boehner! The Republicans won an historic victory, capturing 60 House seats, a victory made all the sweeter after disappointing losses in 2006 and 2008. Clearly the American people, the taxpayers, and future taxpayers were winners.

Two non-candidates who made a difference are David Bossie and Michael Boos. Bossie is the chairman of Citizens United (CU), and Boos is CU's general counsel. When in 2008 the Federal Election Commission banned a film of theirs that was critical of Hillary Clinton, they challenged federal election laws and regulations. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in their favor in the famed Citizens United v. FEC case that overturned sections of the newly enacted McCain-Feingold law. By protecting our rights to participate in freer elections, Bossie and Boos gave the Republicans a more level playing field in 2010 elections.

The Democrats, labor union bosses, and the mainstream media previously enjoyed a huge advantage in deciding America's elections. In the 2008 elections, for example, Obama exploited at least a 300 million-dollar advantage in campaign revenues over his Republican rival John McCain. In 2010, thanks to Citizens United, businesses and average Americans found new opportunities to participate. Obama defeated McCain for President in 2008 in large part because of the rules favoring the Left enacted in the McCain-Feingold bill. Ironically, in 2010, a previously uninvolved businessman, Ron Johnson, ousted Russ Feingold in one of the most unexpected upsets.

Washington Times: Chris Van Winkle

11/03/2010

CU President David Bossie takes Chris Van Hollen to task in The Washington Times:

Languorous leader snoozed through Democrat dangers

Less than two weeks ago, before House Democrats lost more than 60 seats and their majority, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Chris Van Hollen, the man whose sole job is to retain the majority, said, "On specific issues, voters have greater confidence in the Democratic candidates." This delusional statement is emblematic of why Democrats were swept away in a Republican tsunami on Tuesday.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland tried in vain to boost the DCCC's coffers. He put up $1.8 million of his own money to help Democratic candidates across the country. But at the end of the day, money did not matter in this election. Democrats lost the House of Representatives on Tuesday because of the failed Obama socialist agenda. The Democratic leadership in the House had blinders on during the past two years. The arrogance of power that Democrats displayed - from the stimulus to "cap-and-trade" to socialized health care - set the course for what happened at the polls. Chris Van Hollen should have known better.

Right after President Obama's election in 2008, Mr. Van Hollen told Politico, "We have to rise to the occasion." Clearly, in the eyes of the American people, Mr. Van Hollen and the Democratic leadership in Congress did not rise to the occasion. As a matter of fact, they appeared to be too busy ramming their leftist agenda down the throats of the American people. And worse, taking their cue from Mr. Obama, they were too arrogant to listen to what Americans all over the country (even those in their own party) were telling them.

Right Wing News: The David Bossie Interview

10/28/2010

John Hawkins' interview of David Bossie delivered fresh

Citizens United President David Bossie talks with John Hawkins about Clinton-era foreign money from China and technology transfers, Obama's radical agenda, Citizens United v. FEC, and the film Fire from the Heartland. Just a few of the questions:

Do you think Bill Clinton's administration was more honest than Barack Obama's? Simple question, Vince Foster -- do you think he killed himself? What did you think of the Swift Boat Vets?

The Wall Street Journal: The Rage Against Citizens United

10/28/2010

Unwarranted attack on the Supreme Court CU v. FEC 5-4 decision by Daniel Henninger:

Taking office in January 2009 as president, Barack Obama's achievement was everywhere called historic. He was at the pinnacle of American life. Two years later, he may be on the cliff's edge of another historic achievement—the electoral wipeout of his party with some of the Democrats' longest-serving and revered members of Congress disappearing in the avalanche.

Presidencies and parties decline for lots of reasons, but looking back, one of the pivotal events in writing the history of the first Obama term is likely to be the tongue-lashing he gave several Supreme Court justices seated before him at his 2010 State of the Union message.

The reason for this unprecedented public criticism of the Court by a president was its 5-4 decision the previous week in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which permitted unlimited campaign contributions by corporations and unions. Presidential reputation matters, and this attack will be seen as a mistake.

Big Journalism - More Women Embrace GOP Candidates? We're Not Surprised.

10/24/2010

On Tuesday, the Washington Post had an article, "Democrats try to woo women as more embrace GOP candidates," that further confirms that this is the year of the conservative woman and that "Mama Grizzlies," like those featured in Fire from the Heartland, are leading the way.

One Democrat strategist in the article says, "They do not think the administration's economic policies are working for their families, and worry about the priorities of this administration, and wonder if they get it."

Big Hollywood: 'The Battle for America' Review - Documentary Masterpiece, Epic Call to Vote

10/19/2010

'The Battle for America' explains the recent shift of power toward grassroots conservatives by Darin Miller:

"The Battle for America," like "The Return of the King," is the climactic end of an epic journey. In a concise, packed 82-minute film, Citizens United paints a vivid portrait of the atrocities of this present Congress and administration, reminding viewers that we've got one shot on November 2 to replace our elected officials, or endure another two years of bailouts and government takeovers.

This Tea Party dream film (complete with credits inspired by the "Don't Tread On Me" flag) boasts a fiery visual narrative constructed from a collection of spliced interviews, C-SPAN feeds, news reels, Hollywood and archival footage strung together in a montage sequence making the film's pace akin to a trailer. And that's what "The Battle" really is. It's a feature-length trailer, chronicling the last two years and calling out the government for atrocities committed. If everyone in America watched this trailer, I'd wager we'd have the highest turnout with the most conservative vote in U.S. history.

And with section titles like "Village of the Damned: Radical Chic," it's hardly your stereotypical conservative documentary, as it pushes the limits through brilliant montage imagery that shows as much as it verbally tells. Combined with brilliant narrators, it's smart but accessible, with insight sure to incite a revolution at the polls.

A call to action by Dick Morris to take back our country, "Battle for America" is a searing look at the ongoing conflict between "Constitutional Conservatives" and an out-of-touch, arrogant, and ever-expanding central government. This film stars Ann Coulter, Lou Dobbs, Fred Barnes, Arthur Brooks, Newt Gingrich, Tony Blankley, Mike Flynn, Eric Singer, U.S. Representatives Thaddeus McCotter, Sue Myrick, and Dan Lungren, and U.S. Senators Christopher Bond and Tom Coburn. This controversial documentary goes beyond today's headlines to provide a comprehensive look at how the Obama Administration and the Democratic majority in Congress have failed the American people.

"Battle for America" is a no-holds-barred examination of an Administration and Congress that set out to "transform" America but ended up reenergizing grassroots Conservatives and lighting the fuse for a populist rebellion called "The Tea Party" movement. More than an indictment against the elitist governing class, this film's inspiring message is also a call-to-action for every citizen to take back our country and return it to its core principles based upon a limited federal government.

Produced in the style of "Generation Zero" and "Fire from the Heartland", this film is the third in a series to look at America at the crossroads of one of the most consequential and dangerous times in her history. "Battle for America" will leave you energized for the seminal fight to save our beloved country.

Learn more and order the DVD

Fire From the Heartland Burns Bright in America

10/10/2010

I'm in full agreement with the author's point of view. Mama Grizzley's scare the left and their feminist bullies because, like all bullies, these women can't handle a stronger target than themselves. Pushback is creating an environment that has allowed many women to take a stand for REAL feminism that protects a woman's right to think for themselves. Apparently this doesn't sit well with the left because, according to a few of those lefty women, they aren't "real women" at all if they don't vote to kill their unborn child.

Well, all I can say is that Fire From the Heartland doesn't just burn on the big screen, but in real life as well. In my scouring of the net for news articles to bash and make fun of, I've discovered a sense of women feeling that their precious babies are in danger and woe betide anyone who gets in their way. Amen to that, sistahs! Keep up the good fight, because you've got a family loving supporter of a woman's right to be a woman right here typing away. Continuing to Fight the Good Fight.

PacoCapella Sun - Fire From the Heartland The Awakening of the Conservative Woman

10/10/2010

Conservative Women are our New American Leaders challenging the male dominated establishment. These women are mighty intelligent, BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL, Hard Workers, LIFE Givers, Pro Life, still diligents with their motherhood responsibilities, still doing their job, and definite DEMONSTRATING to be the KIND of American that wants to preserve/conserve the BASIC/FUNDAMENTAL Principles that founded Our Great Nation: The USA! God bless these brave women; and God Bless America!

Culture and Media Institute - Media Calls Year of Conservative Women 'Year of Setback' for Women

10/05/2010

This election season is clearly shaping up to be the "Year of the Conservative Women." And while conservatives have been openly celebrating this progression most notably in the new film "Fire in the Heartland," which profiles prominent conservative females the mainstream media has largely ignored it. ...Positive coverage of the female Republican candidates has mainly come from the Right. In a new film called "Fire from the Heartland," which was produced by Citizens United Productions, conservative women leaders like Palin, Bachmann, commentator S.E. Cupp, and columnist Michelle Malkin are celebrated as a part of a growing trend of conservative women. Read More...

Fox News - Documentarian Sees Women at Forefront of Conservative Movement

10/04/2010

Documentarian Stephen Bannon has made a film called "Fire From the Heartland" which chronicles the stories of several women important to the conservative movement. "No one had ever touched the topic, and in addition, we did it in a way that let the women speak for themselves," Bannon told Pop Tarts. "I wanted to pick a cross-section of women who would be emblematic congresswomen, known commentators, and a cross section of Tea Party activists." The inspiration for the film came to Bannon when Sarah Palin emerged on the national political scene as Jon McCain's vice presidential running mate scene in 2008.

"I noticed there is a new generation of young, female activists who are at the forefront of this rebellion who are inspired by Sarah Palin. I wanted to tell their stories and I wanted to do it in a way that could be linked back to the founders of the country Abigail Adams, the pioneer women, the frontier women, Clare Boothe Luce, Phyllis Schlafly," Bannon said. "If you look at the conservative rebellion, it is women that are at the vanguard not men, and that has never happened before in this country."

"Fire From the Heartland" features several key female Republican figures, from congresswoman Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Jean Schmidt of Ohio, to prominent political voices Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin. But Bannon credits Palin for "re-awakening" the conservative female movement in the United States, and standing tall against what he calls personal attacks brought on by the entertainment community and liberal media.

"Hollywood does not understand Middle America and it certainly does not understand, and in fact, despises, the core values of the country. The elite of Hollywood hold it in tremendous disregard. I could not think higher Governor Palin, she is a force of nature and has inspired a generation of women to really get actively involved in politics and more importantly, take their culture back and take their country back," he said. "I've seen it across the country. These women are incredibly inspired, and were not really politically engaged until Sarah Palin came on the scene."

Emerging Corruption - Review: Fire From the Heartland

10/04/2010

There are few outlets or venues for Conservative movies in Hollywood. Either the studios aren't interested or they are threatened by the message. This have left independent film makers with the honor of chronicling what is a turning point in American history. Citizen's United film, Fire from the Heartland does an exceptional job of capturing the spirit of the times. The film is riveting and the personal stories of the cast add a sense of connection to these women. As one listens to their stories, we realize that they are also our stories. Fire from the Heartland offers a glimpse of the steel behind the woman at the podium. The words are not speeches, or rallying cries at an event, instead they are testaments of strength and endurance. A strange thing happened to Conservative women as we took up the cause of politics. Secretly, we wondered about our qualifications, our lack of political finesse, our time away from the family. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is a gifted narrator and her words reassure women everywhere that we are not alone. Bachmann speaks of the strength of the American woman and the instinctual "Mama Grizzly" reaction that many women are feeling right now. Bachmann, who was the keynote speaker at this past week's Smart Girl Summit, reiterated that same message during her speech to a crowd of Smart Girls. The event also screened the movie and many of the cast members were either speakers or present. Fire from the Heartland is a powerful film that spotlights the true grit of the Conservative woman. Read More...

Red State - Out of Darkness

09/28/2010

...Recently we attended the RedState Gathering in the great state of Texas; which is, incidentally, a really great state. I hadn't known we'd be previewing Fire From The Heartland at the gathering, but I knew once I saw the trailer that I might cry during the movie. While I've learned a great deal about the history of my country and what I have to fight for, I've also learned that the rules of engagement are different for a conservative woman in the fight. I'd never seen a family viciously attacked before Sarah Palin came on the scene. I'd never heard of threats of death and rape for speaking out politically until I met other conservative women. The message had been received and my biggest concern was how to protect my family while working to protect their future. Watching Fire From The Heartland was a renewal of the spirit for me. I learned there are inspirational women of the past that I know nothing about who paved the way for me. I saw familiar and unfamiliar faces of women across the country fighting the same fight as me. We share the same values and struggles. Most importantly though I saw that the Conservative American Woman has not been defeated. From the women of the past, washing clothes by hand (washing clothes by hand!!!) to the women of today, still standing tall after being ripped apart in the media; our spirit is still so very alive. The American Dream dies without us. We are an integral part of our country and freedom is indeed not free. I look forward to sharing this film with every woman I know and, someday, sharing it with my daughters. It's a celebration of a beautiful creation by God that, like the history of our country, should not be glossed over. It's an awakening, or a re-awakening, of the strength we as American women have within us to fight the fight we have always been fighting. The fight for freedom is not only off in far-away countries, as many have been led to believe, but right here in the heartland.

Washington Times - Film on Conservative Women to be Filmed at Smart Girl Summit this Week

09/27/2010

Citizen's United premiered its film Fire from the Heartland in Washington D.C last week at the Georgetown Loews theater. The film, which spotlights the rise of conservative women, includes commentary from Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio, and a number of conservative luminaries from Phyllis Schlafly to Ann Coulter among others.

Fire from the Heartland, directed by Stephen Bannon and produced by David Bossie,covers various stories about women within the contemporary conservative movement from Clare Boothe Luce to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. A number of women took activist roles within the tea party movement following the election of President Barack Obama. Mr. Bannon took note of these first time political activists.

"I told Dave, that it's amazing you not only have women leading this [tea party movement] but that most of them have been apolitical up until a couple of years ago. Most of them are in their mid thirties to their mid-forties, and they're tremendous leaders," said Mr. Bannon when I asked what made him want to make this film now...

America Freedom - Battle for America

09/27/2010

I had the pleasure and privilege of seeing this movie at the Red State Gathering 2010 in Austin, Texas. It's inspiring for women, educational and most of all it shares with the world all that conservation have done in helping shape our nation. The table I was sitting at during the showing had comments ranging from:

I can't believe a man wrote and directed this...
A man captured the essence of a woman's thinking...
He has told how women feel about our country....
He's shown how women have made a difference...
He's exhibited that women can be activist and retain their femininity..
He makes me proud to be a woman and a activist, new media blogger...
The comments ran the gambit, however without a doubt, they all praised the work of the author and director Stephen F. Bannon.
To listen to Mr. Bannon interview with Barbara go to www.blogtalkradio.com/haironfire

Big Hollywood: 'Fire From the Heartland' Premieres Tonight in DC

09/22/2010

... I've been lucky enough to meet two of the women featured in "Fire From The Heartland" and work through social media with a couple others. But this movement goes far beyond the fifteen voices in the film. This is a strong, ubiquitous movement that isn't going away. What's clear after watching "Fire From The Heartland" is that the women of the Right are very no-nonsense and in the mood to get things done both in the short and long runs. They are taking the quiet strength that American women have always had and giving it a clear, powerful voice. While each is a strong individual, the motivation is selfless and passionate because of deep and abiding patriotism.

"Fire From The Heartland" premieres tonight in Washington, D.C. and is a wonderful glimpse into a nascent political power that may do more to help this country than we can even begin to imagine at the moment. Conservative Americans should be grateful for the work these women have done and will do. And we should be very, very thankful that they're on our side.

Red State: Fire From the Heartland

09/22/2010

The conservative woman is at the same time underestimated and misunderstood by the national media and leftists in general. Often, liberals will poke fun at the conservative woman, whom they believe has resigned herself to subservience to the patriarchal dreams of conservative men. At the RedState Gathering in Austin, TX this past weekend, I had the opportunity to view a fascinating film. "Fire From the Heartland" is a stylized look into the heart and mind of the recently awakened conservative woman referred - to these days as "Mama Grizzlies". From the perspective of a broad spectrum of women like Michelle Malkin, Dana Loesch & Deneen Borelli, this film tells the story of how the conservative awakening taking place across America is spearheaded these upstarts. ... Read More...

Big Hollywood - 'Fire From the Heartland' Review: Conservative Women in Their Own Voice

09/20/2010

Not only did Citizen's United's new film "Fire from the Heartland" teach me quite a few things I didn't know about some of my favorite women in the conservative movement, but at times it moved me to tears. What was most fascinating though, was viewing today's tea party movement leaders in the context of history. "Fire from the Heartland" follows the progression of the conservative movement and the role women have played in it and helps the viewer understand why so many women are at the forefront of today's tea party movement. The story is told in a very personal way through the eyes (and words) of 15 of the leading women in the conservative movement, but also by looking at it "from the outside in" through video and still shots. Through the lens of history, we get an interesting overview. From women during the frontier pioneer days to individuals like Clare Boothe Luce, Phylis Schlafly (whose interview is featured) and Margaret Thatcher to women who have only in the past couple of years become political leaders, we see how women came to be such a driving force in the conservative movement. Read More...

WashPost: The Disclose Act isn't campaign finance reform

09/17/2010

Letter to the Editor on Disclose Act by David N. Bossie

E.J. Dionne Jr.'s Sept. 13 op-ed column, "The price of independence," called for passage of the Disclose Act, a bill that would provide little transparency or tangible benefits to the American public, at the cost of their First Amendment rights. The Disclose Act is not about meaningful reform. In drafting the bill, the Democratic Party's leadership played politics with the First Amendment by providing unfair carve-outs to special-interest groups that could have marshaled support against incumbent Democrats. As the Supreme Court noted in Citizens United v. FEC, the "FEC has adopted 568 pages of regulations, 1,278 pages of explanations and justifications for those regulations, and 1,771 advisory opinions since 1975." It is nearly impossible to navigate this draconian system without the aid of an attorney. The Disclose Act would only add to this problem. Mr. Dionne should be calling for a meaningful and nonpartisan review of our nation's campaign finance rules and regulations rather than advocating for legislation that was cobbled together to protect vulnerable incumbents.

Politco: Letter to the editor - DISCLOSE Act not the answer

09/17/2010

Citizens United fights in defense of the First Amendment by CU President, David N. Bossie:

In his Sept. 17 op-ed, "Secret Funds Flow into Races," Fred Wertheimer alleges that "secret money has returned to U.S. politics" and argues that the DISCLOSE Act is the solution. Unfortunately, the deceptively named DISCLOSE Act has little to do with transparency in elections. In reality is an attempt to chill speech. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) revealed the effect of the DISCLOSE Act on political advertisements: "There'll be many fewer of them."

Wertheimer has been an advocate for campaign finance restrictions for some time. He has seen the legislative process that delivered pervious campaign finance legislation, like the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("BCRA"). BCRA was not forced through the legislative process overnight. It was developed in an open and transparent fashion and drew support across party lines.

CBS News - Documentary Celebrates "Awakening of the Conservative Woman"

09/17/2010

The conservative filmmakers at Citizens United are out with a new documentary called "Fire From The Heartland" they bill as "a powerful statement about America at a crossroads and the women who have awakened to the crisis."

"With role models such as Clare Boothe Luce, Margaret Thatcher, and Phyllis Schlafly as inspiration, these women are the unintended consequence of the liberal feminist movement."

Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Michele Bachmann and Schlafly are among the women who appear in the film, which celebrates Sarah Palin and other conservative women. The film also appears to take aim at what it sees as liberal cultural figures like Lady Gaga and the women in the "Sex and the City" films, who, Coulter suggests, are part of a culture that has "tried to take everything that makes women so strong away from them. Their femininity, their morality."

Politico - Film Focuses on Women of the Right

09/15/2010

The timing couldn't be sweeter for the makers of "Fire From the Heartland: The Reawakening of the Conservative Woman." Just days after the Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell pulled off a stunning upset against GOP establishment pick Mike Castle, Citizens United will premiere a documentary in Washington next week that they say is the first "to tell the story of the awakening of a new generation of women that are at the forefront of today's reborn conservative movement."

The film capitalizes on what political observers and activists have already noted of this election cycle-the riders on this year's political storm are women, a sagebrush set well-positioned to help the GOP reclaim the congress.

Following in the bootsteps of history-making 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin - an Alaskan with an affinity for "Mama Grizzlies" - a number of women candidates, including O'Donnell, Nevada's Sharron Angle, and South Carolina's Nikki Haley, are reshaping and reenergizing the face of the GOP. While women are filling in on the top of the party ticket, the documentary explores the flip side of the equation - looking at the Tea Party's grassroots activists, like Jenny Beth Martin, and starring the more familiar female stars of the conservative movement, including Rep. Michele Bachmann, Ann Coulter and Phyllis Schlafly.

"I'm usually very loath to engage in identity politics," says conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, who appears in the film. "I don't know if it's that mama grizzly instinct being awakened, if women are feeling threatened, or if it's because women are just feeling neglected or because they're feeling empowered but you can't deny that there's something happening today." The trailer for the film, which was directed by "Generation Zero" director Steven K. Bannon, begins with Bachmann asking Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner a question during the financial crisis, and crescendos with quotes from Coulter and Palin. Lady Gaga, the women of "Sex and the City" and a mama grizzly also make an appearance.

Citizens United and Conservative Leaders Urge Senate to Reject Nomination of Elena Kagan: An Inexperienced Rubber Stamp

07/13/2010

Nominate for the people, not for an agenda

The Senate should reject Kagan's nomination and urge President Obama to nominate someone who is in the mainstream of American legal thought. Because of her extreme approach to analyzing the Constitution and results orientated philosophy the Senate should delay any final action until all documents are released.

Read the "Memo For The Movement"

Charlotte Observer: In Disclose Act, Democrats are muzzling free speech

07/09/2010

George Will speaks out against the Disclose Act:

WASHINGTON Two splendid recent developments have highlighted how campaign finance "reforms" have become the disease they pretend to cure. In Arizona and in Congress, measures ostensibly aimed at eliminating corruption or the "appearance" thereof illustrate the corruption inherent in incumbents writing laws that regulate political competition by rationing political speech.

The Supreme Court has blocked implementation of Arizona's Clean Elections Act. Under it, candidates who accept taxpayer funding of their campaigns receive extra infusions of tax dollars to match funds raised by competitors who choose to rely on voluntary contributions. The law punishes people who do not take taxpayer funds.

USA Today: Campaign finance shaped 2009-10 term

07/01/2010

WASHINGTON — After nine months and 73 decisions, the Supreme Court's newly concluded 2009-10 term is defined by a single case whose continuing political ramifications were on display this week in Senate hearings for Elena Kagan.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which stripped away federal limits on corporate and union spending in political campaigns, was invoked repeatedly — by Democrats and Republicans— during the questioning of high court nominee Kagan. Reverberations are likely into the fall elections and the next term.