Leslee Unruh Condemns Espenscheid's Political Dirty Tricks

I just had my first conversation with Leslee Unruh of the Abstinence Clearinghouse. I've had hard words for the anti-abortion crusader here on the blog. Heck, I even parodied her—à la Fey-on-Palin, using her own words—in a one-act play. So speaking directly to her—that same voice from the news, right here, on my phone, in my living room—carries a certain frisson.

Unruh called me this morning at my request because of a comment that she left on the KELO branch of the Madville Times. I actually wasn't sure if the comment was from her: the comment was only signed "Leslee," but it included an Abstinence Clearinghouse e-mail address. The comment was caught in the spam filter. I thus e-mailed the Abstinence Clearinghouse to confirm authorship of the comment before hitting "Publish." Unruh confirmed that, yes, she wrote that comment.

Unruh commented in response to my post last week on the last-minute attack ad circulated around District 15 by Christina Dena Espenscheid and her sham "District 15 PAC." Espenscheid pretended to be an ultra-liberal group supporting incumbent Democratic State Rep. Martha Vanderlinde, when in fact Espenscheid was trying to drive votes for ultimately victorious "Independent" challenger Jenna Haggar. I also implied that Espenscheid's political dirty tricks were connected to Leslee Unruh's abstinence/anti-abortion organization.

Leslee Unruh responded online thus:

I find the underlying attack on Martha Vanderlinde was despicable. The person who did it did not consult me and does not work for me. No fair minded person can condone it. It shouldn’t have been done to Martha or anyone else. But Martha’s supporters are guilty of the very same thing they are complaining about. I condemn and object to what was done to her and what was done to me. Personal attacks are uncivil and need to stop. People disagree with issues but there is no need for personal attacks on character. It is unethical to attack an individual wrongly instead of debating the merits [Leslee Unruh, comment, 2010.11.11, on "Sham PAC, Fake Flyer Boost Haggar," Cory Allen Heidelberger, KELOLand.com Blogs, 2010.11.05].

Hit that screen cap button, save this for posterity: Leslee Unruh and I agree. She even said so on the phone, saying we might agree on much more than our online antagonism might indicate.

And unless evidence is presented to the contrary, I retract my previous implication and accept Unruh's statement that Espenscheid's dirty tricks were not orchestrated or approved by Leslee Unruh.

When it comes to civil discourse, Unruh's comment above agrees with my principles: Debate the merits. Be civil. Be truthful. You can still criticize your opponent's record, contradictions, and use of bad science. You can argue hard for your passionate beliefs... but you can still be totally honest... and totally open to a polite conversation on the phone.

Next up: Cory bikes up to Castlewood to ride horses and talk farm policy with Rep.-Elect Kristi Noem. ;-)

Leslee Unruh Lie Update: Sure Sounds Like She Likes Federal Money

Last spring, Leslee Unruh lied to our faces in that Sioux Falls paper, telling us, "I've never liked federal money."

Unruh hums a different tune in a recent Newsweek article on the Obama Administration's plan to save a couple hundred million a year by cutting funding for an empirically proven failure:

"If the president's [budget] proposal is enacted similar to what he recommended, it will have a chilling effect on abstinence education across the country," says Leslee Unruh, director of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, a national association of abstinence-only organizations [Sarah Kliff, "The Future of Abstinence," Newsweek, 2009.10.27].

Sure doesn't sound like the cheery optimism of someone glad to see federal funds disappear.

Leslee's Latest Laughable Lie: "I've Never Liked Federal Money"

Big hat tip to DakotaWomen for pointing out the biggest whopper Leslee Unruh has ever told:

"I've never liked federal money," she said, decrying the restrictions attached to such grants. "If I had my way, I'd want no federal money going for this" [Josh Verges, "Abstinence-Only Focus Loses Favor, Money," that Sioux Falls paper, 2009.05.24].

Never?!?

Abstinence-until-marriage education was first given federal money in the early 1990s. The introduction of abstinence funds and abstinence education in schools coincided with the dramatic decreases in the teen pregnancy and abortion rates [Leslee J. Unruh, expressing no distaste for federal funds at all in testimony before U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, 2001.11.15]

The U.S. government has increased funding for the the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) grant program by $11 million for 2006. Leslee Unruh, president of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, told the Dakota Voice that the decision was “a victory for America's children.”

The increase was made to the appropriations bill by the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.

President George W. Bush had initially requested an increase of $39 million for abstinence education in his proposed budget. But Unruh said she is grateful for the $11-million increase in this year of fiscal restraint.

Unruh said the increased funding is “a clear mandate to improve the health of the next generation and abstinence education is the best way to do that"[Catholic News Agency, "Federal Funding Increased for Abstinence Programs," 2005.06.14].

“The million dollar question remains: What will lawmakers do on the floor?" Unruh asked. "Are they going to continue to take the evidence to heart, stand up for the health and well-being of our young people, and fund programs that work? If the increase in abstinence finding is any indication, I think the answer is yes. Unfortunately, more than a billion dollars remain in the budget to fund ideologically driven programs that put youth at risk by promoting promiscuity."

"The Abstinence Clearinghouse thanks Members of the House of Representatives who paid close attention to the mounting research, and appropriated an increase to responsible education about sexual integrity. Tonight’s decision was a clear mandate to improve the health of the next generation. Abstinence education is the best way to do that," Unruh concluded ["Lawmakers Hear Students' Voices Loud and Clear, Says Abstinence Clearinghouse," available at strangely malfunctioning Dakota Voice webpage, 2005.06.17. Also posted at "This is not a job for superheroes: Voices carry" 2005.06.25].

But Unruh's agenda does not rely on elections going her way. It's cash she's after, and she feels certain she can get it, whoever occupies the White House. "If we can't get abstinence money, we'll apply for education grants or antidrug funds," she says. "I know how Washington works now" [Amanda Robb, "Leslee Unruh's Facts of Life," More, September 2008].

I cannot conceive of telling lies as big as the ones Leslee Unruh is willing to put in the press. To lie that big, I would have to abandon any sense of a coherent, integral self.

Leslee Unruh has actively lobbied to win federal funding for her preferred social programs. She has praised such funding. And now she says she never liked that federal funding. Nothing describes this turn of phrase more aptly than one word: lie.

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Update 14:55 CDT: Doug Wiken offers more good perspective on Leslee's lying, as does SD Humanist (thanks for the mention!). Pat Powers conspicuously avoids commentary.

Victory for Tea Parties: Obama Defunds Abstinence Education!

Hooray and hat tip for DakotaWomen, who give first SD press to President Obama's proposal to eliminate funding for abstinence education, which, as we all know, doesn't work. Further kudos to DakotaWomen for keeping an eye out for Leslee Unruh's inevitable denial of reality:

Leslee Unruh, President and Founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, said "I believe there will be a political backlash for those who oppose these life saving abstinence programs. The enemies of sexual integrity programs will feel the heat from the army of youth who have seen the light through these programs as they approach voting age" [Abstinence Clearinghouse press release, 2009.05.07].

Army of youth. Yeah. The kids I've heard expressing opinions about abstinence education aren't taking that one to the voting booth.

Alas, Leslee has no one to blame but her husband Allen*. He put on the tricorner hat, roused the rabble for that tea party, and howled for an end to wasteful government spending. Be careful what you wish for....

But hey, the Unruhs are resourceful. I'm sure they'll find some donors to bring Bristol Palin to South Dakota to keep our faith in abstinence alive.

*O.K., Allen and a majority of the American electorate.

Leslee Unruh out of Ideas, Plagiarizing Leadership Coach?

So is it still plagiarism if all you're copying are the empty platitudes of life coaches?

A second consecutive defeat at the ballot box must really have taken the wind out of the Abstinence Clearinghouse's sails. Perhaps in anticipation of the end of the federal gravy train, Leslee Unruh appears to be looking into a new career as a life/leadership coach. In a departure from the usual stream of abstinence and abortion propaganda, Unruh has been busy posting little self-help nuggets on the Abstinence Clearinghouse blog.

Now Kelsey at DakotaWomen first drew our attention to these "Nuggets of Leadership from Leslee Unruh." I can't find the link, but I think the DakotaWomen or someone else in the blogosphere might have commented on Leslee's ironic and uncharacteristic emphasis of the word choice.

Uncharacteristic indeed: They weren't her words in the first place.

Here's a little free career coaching: if you're trying to break into the self-help industry, at least try to come up with your own material. Leslee appears to be quoting extensively (i.e., cutting and pasting) from Dr. Lee J. Colan, "high-energy executive advisor, author and leadership expert."

Sometimes Unruh remembers (here and here) to include an incomplete and linkless citation to Dr. Colan's book Orchestrating Attitude; more often, though, she just plops Dr. Colan's text on her website and claims it as her own (as seen March 24^th, March 27^th, and April 3^rd entries).

To avoid a stern lecture about the ills of plagiarism, Leslee, feel free to copy the following citations:

• March 24 ("Some people measure their success by financial security, career growth.... Tomorrow you will become what you choose today."): Lee J. Colan, "Orchestrating Attitude: Getting the Best from Yourself and Others," The Letter: Official Report of the L Group, 2005. Excerpted from book of same name.
  
• March 27 ("Remember, your mind is your ultimate personal computer.... Seek positive input and you will improve your chances of producting positive output."): Lee J. Colan, "Control Your Inputs," The Letter: Official Report of the L Group, 2008.
• April 3 ("Life’s rewards — loving relationships, meaningful work.... the rewards go to those who let their actions rise above their excuses."): Lee J. Colan, "A Moment to Act," The Letter: Official Report of the L Group, 2008. Excerpted from 7 Moments That Define Excellent Leaders.

There I go again, helping my neighbors. Darned socialist mentality.

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Update 2009.04.06 07:52 CDT: By the way, Dave Munger offers a fine explanation of why it is more accurate to refer to the Unruhs as "anti-sex" rather than "pro-life."

Tax Day Tea Party: Lovely Day in the Park with Unruh Hypocrites

Mr. Powers is kind enough to extend an invitation to all taxpayers to attend the Grand South Dakota Tax Day Tea Party, April 15, noon to 13:30, at Terrace Park in Sioux Falls. According to the event's Facebook page, cranky patriots will gather "To Protest Political Pork Barrel Spending and Government Waste. See an re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party - The spark that ignited the Revolutionary War."

Hmm... are we to derive some meaning from that last phrase?

No word yet on whether organizers have obtained an environmental permit for dumping tea into Covell Lake, but you'll want to bring your high boots for this amusing combination of goose poop and bull-puckey. Leading the rally (in feathered headdress and loincloth, I do so dearly hope) is Dr. Allen Unruh, whose wife Leslee made her living during the Bush Administration on millions of dollars of federal funding for abstinence education programs that don't work.

Obviously the Unruhs can speak with great personal authority on wasteful government spending. Forward the revolution!

Unruh on Board for Political and Fiscal Reality; How About Brunner?

Another possible upside to the recession: maybe the legislature will focus on real bread-and-butter issues. Hope on this score comes from none other than abortion crusader Leslee Unruh (hat tip to Dakota Women!), who tells that Sioux Falls paper that she has no plans to push an abortion ban in the 2009 Legislature. Says Unruh, "I think legislators have some major budget issues to take care of."

For perhaps the first time in Madville Times history, I say, right on, Leslee.

Now, what about Representative Tom Brunner (R-29/Nisland)? A source with an ear to Pierre says Brunner may be ready to revive the 2008 guns on campus bill. That idea is worth a little pre-emptive blogging:

Rep. Brunner, before you introduce any guns legislation, please ask yourself these questions:

1. How many students have been injured or killed in the past year due to their lack of firearms?
2. How many students, professors, and other campus denizens list packing heat as their main legislative priority?
3. How will allowing guns on campus help create jobs, pave roads, pay teachers, cover Medicaid costs, or address any other serious practical policy issue we face during this recession?
   

Recession, budget shortfall, rising unemployment: even Leslee Unruh recognizes we have bigger fish to fry than rehashing the culture war. Rep. Brunner, I hope you will show similar common sense.

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Update 2009.01.13 17:36 CST: Just heard Charles Michael Ray on South Dakota Public Broadcasting confirm that Rep. Brunner is looking to revisit the guns-on-campus issue. The budget outlook gets worse, and Brunner still wants to fritter away legislative time on irrelevant pet issues? Arrrggghhh!