Hon. Thaddeus G. McCotter: The Apparatchik Press Substancebook

Conservative News DailyFebruary 13, 2023

I raised the rhetorical question last summer about the censorship in civic discourse. “Who Makes These Rules?” The patent solution is that of the self-anointed “woke” The cult believes it is entitled to transmogrify language beyond recognition as part of their fatal ideological vanity project of recreating humanity and perfecting human relations through identity politics and socialism.

The republic founded on the God-given freedom of speech, has seen some of its most respected beneficiaries undermine it. Reddit, the Associated Press and Merriam-Webster Dictionary were some of those who attempted to undermine it. “redefine” words and language in the service of politics; and, as time and again we’ve seen, once these “redefinitions” If it does, the next step is to enforce the censorship.

The Associated Press news agency (a.k.a. “The Associated Press”) was at that moment. “Apparatchik Press”) was revising its purported Stylebook to “adopt and promote the preferred language and ideology of the LGBTQ movement, which is sharply at odds with Catholic teaching on transgenderism,” As reported by the Catholic News Agency. These changes included:

Redefining “transgender” As “a person whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth;”

Informing authors to replace terms such “biological sex,” “sex change,” “male or female hormones” (which I’ve just written – EEK!) substituting terms like “sex assigned at birth,” “gender transition;”

Censoring “slurs,” which includes uttering a person’s previous name, i.e., “deadname;”

A cautionary note throughout this entire section regarding transgender sport discussion “not to ‘misgender or imply doubt’ about transgender athletes, specifically males competing in women’s sports,” And so on.

The CNA article cited Professor Abigail Favale, “a leading Catholic expert on gender issues [who warned] that the changes disregard the inherent dignity of the human body and will have a major impact on society at large.” This University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life professor frames the issue succinctly, by noting how “[the style book] feels like both catechesis and guidelines – there’s a sense in which the reader is being taught what language to use, as well as how to view the topic.”

So, what’s the current hot button “Don’t!” on the Apparatchik Press’ cancel culture checklist? Per The Daily Signal’s Elizabeth Troutman and Tyler O’Neil:

The Associated Press added a section to its style guide directing journalists how to spell the term “crisis pregnancy center” Scare-quotes and to Use “anti-abortion center” Instead, you can convey that “the centers’ general aim is to prevent abortions…”

The AP added this entry between Nov. 20 and Nov. 27, 2022, according to The Daily Signal’s search… The guide describes the centers as “set up to divert or discourage women from having abortions” Writers are warned against “potentially misleading terms” Like “pregnancy resource centers or pregnancy counseling centers.” [Emphasis mine.]

The following response was provided The Daily SignalThomas Glessner, president of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates was direct:

“It’s disgraceful that so-called journalistic professionals succumb to pro-abortion political activists to do their bidding… These centers are the backbone of the pro-life movement, serving as boots-on-the-ground representatives of a movement that cares deeply for both mom and baby. [Again,] it’s a disgrace that the media have taken such an active stance against these centers, especially at a time in our history when women really need help, acknowledgement, and someone to lean on during a difficult time.”

It’s also a dangerous and difficult time for the Pro-Life movement.

The AP’s pregnancy center definition follows at least 80 attacks against pregnancy centers since the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade in early May, according to the Catholic Vote tracker. The centers provide free financial and medical support to new and pregnant mothers. Abortion advocates have spray-painted them with anarchist symbols and messages.

This is yet another example of the Apparatchik Press’ and the entire Left’s war on the Pro-Life movement. The Left’s goal is to unilaterally “deadname” Pro-Life movement and muscle its transition in the public’s mind as hateful extremists, which the AP made clear in December when it “issued guidelines on abortion in December, prohibiting the use of ‘pro-life’ and instead advising ‘anti-abortion or abortion-rights.’”

The Apparatchik Press, and the Left in general, seem to have little concern about the fact that the war against the Pro-Life movement in particular and crisis pregnancy centres in particular has contributed to the escalation of violence against them and their support. Little cogitation, let alone consternation, has occurred regarding how the arbitrary, weaponized rebranding of the Pro-Life movement has helped obfuscate the Biden administration ignoring violence against crisis pregnancy centers and other pro-life entities, while actively engaging in the persecution of the movement’s supporters. This begs the question of how long it will take for the A.P. appends the modifiers “extremist” “domestic terrorist” This coercively named movement is it?

Doubtless, the new epithets will occur long before the Apparatchik Press’ Substancebook rebrands Planned Parenthood clinics as “taxpayer funded, pro-abortion centers.” Logic, objectivity, and fairness became déclassé after the Left decided it was not enough for abortion to be “safe, legal, and rare.” The promotion of abortion as a positive social good was essential, since it is on the verge of becoming a secular sacrament. Recall, the AP’s professed rationale for their arbitrary rebranding, namely how crisis pregnancy centers are “set up to divert or discourage women from having abortions.” Evidently, a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s birth are societal injuries to be discouraged, not abortion, which is to be encouraged and protected from any dissent.

This is what happens when woke propagandists attempt to weaponize the language against their ideological opponents by intentionally blurring the line between style and substance. “Birth bad. Abortion good.” Apparatchik Press Substancebook will seal your approval when you bring your bumper sticker to a shop near you.

There is a better approach, which affirms both the dignity and sanctity of human life as well as the independence and objectivity that the press can provide. But it would require an open mind… An open heart.

As the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s Charlotte Lozier Institute, Chuck Donovan, told The Daily Signal:

“Offer(ing) love and practical resources…[Pregnancy help centers] help everyone and their doors are open to women who seek counseling and support after all forms of pregnancy loss. It is well past time that the AP Guide’s authors visit some of the thousands of thriving centers everywhere in the U.S. and get the guide back to a standard of high-quality reportorial content and ethics.”

I am hesitant to violate the Apparatchik Substancebook’s guidelines. “Amen.”

The Hon. Thaddeus G. McKotter (M.C. Ret. represented Michigan’s 11th Congressional district from 2003-2012, and served as Chair of the Republican House Policy Committee. Although he is not a lobbyist, his public speaking skills are well-known and he is also a moderator for seminars on public policy. He is also a Monday host of the Monday Morning Show. “John Batchelor Radio Show,” There are many media appearances.