Next session: an impressive display of semantic gymnastics

According to Philokalia Republic's latest post, Ted Harvey--R, a representative to the Colorado Legislature, related in an article how he shook up that assembly. Having recently met Gianna Jessen, a recording artist and cerebral palsy advocate who is herself affected by the condition, he decided it would be a great idea to invite her to sing the National Anthem at the beginning of a session. And she did--but that wasn't the end of it.

On the agenda for that day was a bill to commend Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for 90 years of service. Jessen isn't just a cerebral palsy advocate; she's a pro-life advocate--and with good reason. Her CP probably stems from a traumatic birth-related event--she survived a saline abortion at a PPFA clinic at about 7 months' gestation. Needless to say, Harvey's revelation of this fact after her performance left the Legislature in an uproar and a number of unfriendly remarks were made about Harvey's lack of 'decorum' by some of his colleagues. Reports in The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post weren't specific, but it doesn't look like the resolution went anywhere that day.

'DUH' award of the week for gratuitous gum-flapping while completely missing the point: Kate Horle of PPRM, who commented,"There's no statistical evidence that cerebral palsy has been caused by failed abortions."