Words Matter 

Media bias is a fact of life for conservatives. The left-wing spin on the evening news is bad enough, but it is not the only impediment we face. The media spike inconvenient stories that contradict their liberal worldview. 

For example, the shocking testimony in Florida by a Planned Parenthood representative in favor of post-birth abortions was largely ignored. And the ongoing trial of Kermit Gosnell, an abortionist who kept a "trophy collection" of feet from the babies he killed, has received scant coverage. 

In addition to the selective reporting, the words the media use also matter. ABC News has refused for years to use the term "illegal immigrant" to describe someone who breaks our laws by entering the country. 

Now the Associated Press, which publishes the extremely influential Stylebook, has decided that "illegal immigrant" is an unacceptable term. From now on, it will refer to such individuals as those who are "living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission." 

The fallout will be widespread. Every journalism school and media outlet will drop the term simply claiming to be following the Stylebook. Other outlets have been using "undocumented immigrant" as if the only problem is paperwork. But Jay Leno has perhaps identified the best description -- "undocumented Democrats." 

Poverty On The Rise 

Here is a good example of media bias. Poverty in America has spiked to its highest levels since the 1960s. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 20% of American children live at or below the poverty level. But yesterday the Associated Press spun this news as if it were a result of sequestration budget cuts! The whole story lamented how anti-poverty programs are facing potential cuts at a time of rising poverty. 

But the reality is the exact opposite. This spike in poverty is coming at a time of record transfers of wealth. The Social Security program ran a $48 billion deficit last year in part because of a record number of Americans collecting disability benefits. Food stamp usage is also at a record high. 

We are now into the fifth year of "hope and change" and this is the state of our union. Four years after the trillion-dollar stimulus bill, the economy is barely limping along. The military is shrinking. The space program is shrinking. But the only things that are growing are poverty, the national debt and our tax bills. 

Second Senate Republican For Redefining Marriage 

Yesterday Illinois Senator Mark Kirk became the second Senate Republican to embrace the notion of men "marrying" other men. His announcement has added to the daily drumbeat of "inevitability." At least that is what the media would like us to believe. 

For the moment, the problem is not elected Republicans. You could count on one hand the number of congressional Republicans who have publicly endorsed same-sex marriage. 

The problem, in my opinion, has been the unwillingness of those in elected office who support normal marriage to make an intellectual case for why marriage should remain what it always has been -- the union of one man and one woman. Their silence signals to the public that they are embarrassed by their position and suggests that others who also cherish traditional marriage should be as well. 

The second problem is the unelected GOP establishment -- pollsters, strategists and consultants -- who rarely venture outside the Washington, D.C., Beltway and can go months without interacting with average Americans who live and work on Main Street, U.S.A. Among the so-called "elites," the drift is clear. 

My friends, this may be a good time to contact your representative and senators and ask them to clarify their positions. (Use our online Congressional Directory to find contact information for your members of Congress.) Let them know where you stand. Ask for their last public statement defending marriage as union of one man and one woman. 

If they are hearing from only one side in this debate, many will make the mistake of thinking that pro-family conservatives have given up or no longer care. Our silence will only reinforce the arguments of misguided consultants and those of our opponents. Complacency is equivalent to surrender, and I refuse to give up!