Presidential Aspirations I: Republicans pondering 2008 presidential runs are already making their way to the primary battleground of New Hampshire. Sen. George Allen (Va.) will be the next to venture to the Granite State. Allen, who faces re-election to the Senate in ’06, will be the special guest of the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women for its 61st Annual Lilac Luncheon in Manchester on June 25. To reserve a seat at the $25-per-plate event, contact Shirley Frank at (603) 627-4518 or Carol Carlisle at [email protected].
Presidential Aspirations II: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R.-Neb.), another likely GOP ’08 presidential contender, apparently plans to make free trade a major campaign issue. Hagel outlined his vision on trade during a June 10 address to the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the subject of “global economic imbalances.” Hagel called the U.S. trade deficit “one of the most important issues of our time” and said that members of Congress are growing discontent with U.S. trade policies. He predicted the Senate would easily pass legislation sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.-N.Y.) that threatens China with huge tariffs if it doesn’t float its currency. Hagel opposes the bill. He blamed ’round-the-clock news coverage for the “insidious pounding” of the issue that drives the populist sentiments against free trade, and he warned that the “answer for America is not to retreat into the fortress of protection.” Instead, Hagel advocated faith in free trade and a return to fiscal discipline.
Pharmacy Politics: Liberal members of Congress are sponsoring legislation that targets the growing number of pharmacists who counsel their customers about birth control and emergency contraception. The Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act (ALPhA) was introduced in the House and Senate in April. At a recent Capitol Hill press conference, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D.-N.Y.) said, “ALPhA would protect an individual’s right to legal contraception that requires pharmacies to ensure that all legal prescriptions are filled, even if a particular pharmacist has a particular objection.” Many conservatives were quick to counter the liberal coalition that is backing the bill, which includes Democrat Senators Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Jon Corzine (N.J.) and Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), along with GOP Rep. Chris Shays (Conn.), who is one of 18 House sponsors. Concerned Women for America’s Wendy Wright, a senior policy director for the group, told Human Events that pharmacists “have the right to follow their religious beliefs.” She said pharmacists understand certain drugs more than a doctor might and are therefore justified in counseling customers. “Pharmacists are not just vending machines. They are experienced. They are educated,” she said. “And there are times where pharmacists may know more about a drug than a doctor would.”
Religious Repression: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released findings earlier this month that suggest Egypt has made little progress regarding religious tolerance. Since the commission’s last visit in 2001, Egypt engaged in widespread and egregious instances of discrimination, intolerance and other human rights violations against members of religious minorities, including Christians, Jews and groups of non-conforming Muslims, according to the commission’s report. Even though the Egyptian government endorsed several measures supporting diverse religious and ethnic factions, discriminatory abuse based on religion has persisted. Egypt has also failed to punish many of those responsible for violence and other breaches of religious freedom, and it hasn’t taken steps to stifle the growing anti-Semitism in the media and elsewhere. The commission urged the White House to increase pressure on Egypt—the second largest recipient of U.S. aid, totaling nearly $2 billion annually. “Where we want to make the biggest impact is with regard to U.S. government policy and aid,” said Dwight Bashir, a senior policy analyst for the commission. “The U.S. government has given more than $70 billion in aid over the last 30-plus years. What are we getting?” Among the commission’s recommendations: repealing Egypt’s “state of emergency” law, which was introduced during the British occupation and has been used to curtail religious freedoms.
