Fred Thompson Continues to Shake Up Republican Presidential Race
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest Rasmussen poll shows that talk of Fred Thompson entering into the race continues to change how Republican voters are thinking about the field. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support dips below the 30% mark for the first time in seven weeks. With Thompson in the mix, Giuliani’s support tumbles to 26%, down nine points from a week ago. That’s the lowest level of support measured for Giuliani in any Rasmussen Reports poll this year. Support for Arizona Senator John McCain remains steady at 16%, but McCain’s hold on second place is threatened by Thompson. The lawyer turned Senator turned movie and TV star weighs in with 14% support among those likely to vote in a GOP primary. Among Very Conservative voters, Giuliani attracts 20% support followed closely by Thompson at 19%, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (who hasn't said he's running) at 18% and McCain at 14%. More than anything else, this poll shows that Fred Thompson is mucking up the pecking order for Republican voters.

Assisted Suicide Watchdog Says The Practice is Fraught With Problems
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading watchdog of end of life issues says the practice of assisted suicide is fraught with problems that don't normally get mentioned in the mainstream media treatment of the issue. Rita Marker, the executive director of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide talked about these concerns in an interview with the Messenger of St. Anthony. Euthanasia, said Marker, “means intentionally and directly killing someone by, for example, a lethal injection or holding a pillow over their face.” In assisted suicide, however, a third party “provides the means, knowing and intending that the person to whom they are given to commit suicide will use [as] the means.” Oregon doctors have claimed to have assisted with hundreds of suicides without complications. But, said Marker, “it’s always important to remember that those carrying out the assisted suicides write those reports.” Basically, in Oregon, doctors assisting with suicides police themselves. And despite the “safeguards” a law might have, “people should recognize that if assisted suicide becomes a medical treatment, which it has in the state of Oregon, there is no way to maintain any of the so-called boundaries or so-called safeguards,” said Marker. “It is inevitable that if it becomes available it will be available for any reason or any purpose.” Even though a law might allow suicide only for “competent adults,” “the first time there is a court challenge, that will change,” said Marker. “As for regulation, there is no way of verifying the numbers reported by the proponents. We do not know if those numbers are accurate or not. Certainly they are not going to say that they violated the law.”

One Hundred Iowa Conservatives Sign Petition Against Rudy Giuliani
Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- More than one hundred conservatives in Iowa, including many local officials and Republican activists, have signed a petition against Rudy Giuliani. They say the pro-abortion former New York City mayor isn't qualified to be president because of his pro-abortion position and his views on other issues. A Christian Coalition organizer spearheaded the petition drive and issued what he called "The Conservative Declaration of Independence" just before Giuliani was due to visit Iowa. Onawa City Councilman Dick Schlitter signed the petition. "I'm a social conservative and I really don't think I should apologize for that," Schlitter says. "That's the reason I'm involved in politics is because I believe in the conservative issues." Schlitter admires Giuliani's leadership as Mayor of New York after the terrorist attack on September 11th, but Schlitter disagrees with Giuliani on abortion. "I think the reason that the election went the other way this last time was because we didn't live up to those basic, conservative, Republican principles," Schlitter says. "I'm not willing to compromise those...You either stand for principle or you don't." Giuliani came under fire this week for saying he supported taxpayer-funded abortions and then backing off of the position just one day later.

Senator Brownback Also Applauds South Carolina Abortion-Ultrasound Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Last week, LifeNews.com reported on several Republican presidential candidates and their views on a South Carolina bill that would help reduce abortions. The measure requires abortion practitioners to show women an ultrasound of their unborn child before the abortion can be done. In a statement sent to LifeNews.com, the campaign of Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said he supported the bill as well. "I applaud the South Carolina legislature for considering this strong pro-life legislation," said Brownback. "An unborn child deserves as much protection as we can offer, and I believe this legislation moves us toward that goal." Brownback continued, "Throughout my career in the United States Senate, I have been committed to upholding and fighting for pro-life policy. I believe, and always have, that we must defend life at every stage."