Republican presidential candidates gathered for a forum Friday evening‚ exclusively livestreamed by The Daily Signal. The 2023 Presidential Thanksgiving FAMiLY Forum in Des Moines‚ Iowa featured Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis‚ former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley‚ and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Here are some of the highlights from their conversation. The Privilege of Having Two Parents The candidates were asked how to restore the values of marriage for the next generation and make family central again. Ramaswamy said that it wasn’t just going to be “one silver bullet” that turns things around. He said that part of the problem is that the government pays people more money “not to have a man in the house‚” as a part of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs. What we need to begin with is to stop paying people not to start a nuclear family‚ he said‚ while calling the nuclear family unit “the greatest form of governance known to mankind.” Ramaswamy said that people ask him if he grew up in privilege. His parents were immigrants with little money‚ but he said he did have the privilege of having two parents in the house who focused on education and instilling a belief in God. “I think it’s perfectly right for us‚ for whoever is the next president of the United States to want to set an example so that every kid in this country can enjoy that same privilege and I don’t think we should apologize for it‚” he said. 2. Black Lives Matter Riots “We didn’t have [BLM riots] in Florida because I called out the National Guard and said it’s not going to happen in my state‚” said DeSantis. 3. ‘America’s Not Racist‚ We’re Blessed’ Haley said she was alarmed about the “national self loathing that has taken over our country‚ the idea that they say America’s bad or rotten or racist.” “America’s not racist‚ we’re blessed‚ the former South Carolina governor continued. “Our kids need to know to love America. They need to be saying the Pledge of Allegiance when they start school every day.” 4. ‘You Have a Right to Go to Church’ DeSantis spoke about the COVID-19 lockdowns and addressed what he would do during a future‚ similar crisis. The Florida governor said that he could be trusted in a crisis because he did “what was right” during the pandemic. “What bothers me is how wrong all these people were‚ all these agencies‚ the federal government‚ [Anthony] Fauci‚ on almost everything about this‚ about these lockdowns‚ masks‚ school closures‚ vax mandates‚ on and on down the line‚” he said‚ referring to the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. DeSantis said that even though all these people and groups were wrong‚ he and the few state governors who got it right were “getting lambasted by the Left‚ by the media‚ and even by a lot of Republicans.” “People like Fauci were telling people not to go to church‚” he said. “I had some local governments that were not trying to not let people go to church so I immediately did an executive order that said ‘you have a right to go to church‚ you have the right to worship‚ and government can’t infringe on your right to worship.” He said that it’s “easy to lead when the wind is at your back. The question is that when you are leading into the teeth of the media machine‚ the bureaucracy‚ the Left‚ all these different things‚ are you going to be willing to stand strong or are you going to fold your tent?” 5. Ramaswamy Shares What His Hindu Faith Means to Him Ramaswamy welcomed a question about his Hindu faith‚ referring to it as an “elephant in the room.” “I’m Hindu. I believe there’s one true God. I believe God put each of us here for a purpose. My faith teaches me that we have a duty‚ a moral duty to realize that purpose‚ that we’re God’s instruments‚” the entrepreneur said. He continued: My parents taught me family is the foundation. Respect your parents. Marriage is sacred. Abstinence before marriage is the way to go. Adultery is wrong. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Divorce is not just some preference you opt for. That when you get married‚ you get married before God. And you make an oath to God and you make an oath to your family.  That the good things in life involve a sacrifice. That there’s more to life than the aimless passage of time. We’re here for a purpose. He also said he believed the United States was “founded on Judeo-Christian values.” “They’re values that I deeply share‚ not as a pastor‚ but as a president‚” Ramaswamy said. “I think it’s my responsibility to make faith and family and hard work and patriotism‚ but faith included‚ cool again in this country for the next generation.” 6. DeSantis: My Kids Will Bring Homework‚ Not Cocaine‚ to White House Alluding to the cocaine found earlier this year in the White House‚ the Florida Republican pledged it wouldn’t occur if he was elected. “My wife and I will raise our kids in the White House‚” said DeSantis. “I can tell you with [them being ages] 6‚ 5‚ and 3‚ the only thing they’re going to be bringing back to the White House is homework‚ not cocaine. Don’t worry about that.” 7. From Welfare to Work Haley talked about how she moved people from welfare to work as governor of South Carolina. “The focus was‚ how do we lift up everybody? How do we do something so that we can move them to a better place?” she recalled “We had thousands of people on welfare. And so I would take that person who would be sitting on the couch‚ and I would match them up with a business. And I told my businesses‚ if you will take this person and train them‚ I will pay for them for X number of weeks. And after that‚ you decide if you want to hire them. We moved 35‚000.” 9. Hold China ‘Accountable’ Ramaswamy signaled he would take an aggressive approach to China. “We cannot depend on an enemy for our modern way of life‚” he said. If he had the opportunity to sit across from Chinese President Xi Jinping‚ it would be “a very different meeting than the one [President Joe] Biden had” earlier this week. “You won’t buy land in this country‚” Ramaswamy said he would tell Xi. “You won’t donate to universities in this country. We won’t actually even be in the WTO [World Trade organization] anymore.” “We will hold you accountable using every financial lever we have for unleashing that man-made virus on the world‚ or else we can expect even worse in the future‚” he added. 10. The Problem of China Haley spoke about the issue of how we deal with a rising China. She mentioned that they are an authoritarian regime that does not share our values. The former U.N. ambassador said that food security is a huge issue‚ because many American foods are sent to China.  “What we will focus on is having that move over to our friends‚ have that go to India‚ have that go to our other allies‚ so that our farmers never feel beholden to an enemy‚” she said. Haley said that we shouldn’t be dependent on China in any sense. “If they pulled the rug out from under us tomorrow‚ would we be ready?” she asked. She said this means we need to be dominant when it comes to energy‚ but ensure that we aren’t dependent on the Chinese regime before something happens. Right now we have a “perfect opportunity” to coordinate with other countries to become collectively less dependent on China‚ she said. 11. Western Civilization Came From Holy Land DeSantis‚ who visited Israel in April‚ noted the impact visiting the nation had had on him. “It will change you when you walk in the footsteps of where Jesus walked‚” he said. “You can walk in the different way. My son came with us. He loves David and Goliath. We literally were in Israel in April. You can go to the valley where David fought Goliath. So it all comes to life.And it’s all something that’s very meaningful. And I think it just carries with it a significance that is unlike any place I’ve ever been to.” DeSantis also discussed how western civilization came from the Holy Land. 12. Losing Children Both Ramaswamy and DeSantis shared personal stories of losing a child to miscarriage—and of their joy of later having a healthy child who was born. “Unfortunately‚ we lost that first baby and‚ it was a tough thing because this is something that we had so much hopes for‚ so much aspirations‚”recalled DeSantis. “But yeah‚ we just kept the faith. We just kept praying. We knew that there would be a path that God would lead us on. And‚ lo and behold‚ short time after‚ we did it‚ and we had our first baby girl.” Ramaswamy shared that while he and his wife‚ Apoorva‚ hadn’t intended to get pregnant at the time‚ they soon started rejoicing about their new child. “We wrote a letter to our child‚ what we wanted to impart‚ what were the stories from our parents and our grandparents we wanted to tell‚” he said. “About three and a half months in‚ Apoorva‚ one day she woke up—She’s bleeding. She had a miscarriage. We lost our first child‚ and that was the loss of a life.” Later‚ the couple feared they were experiencing another miscarriage. “I get the call that we dreaded. Apoorva was on the phone. She’s crying. She’s bleeding. And we lost our child in a miscarriage‚” Ramaswamy recalled‚ before detailing the trouble the couple faced getting a doctor’s appointment. “And so the next day I was waiting for a call. She goes in for the doctor’s appointment. I get the call. She’s crying. I’m getting ready to console her. And she said they found a heartbeat.” “That was our son‚ Karthik. And [he] was alive‚ right? It’s this guy right here‚” said Ramaswamy as his son joined him on stage. 13. America More United Than Media Shows Ramaswamy also argued that his experience campaigning had shown him that there was less division in the United States than reported. “I don’t think we’re nearly as divided as the media teaches us that we are‚ right? If you turn on the social media apps on your phone‚ or you watch cable television on a given night‚ sure‚ you’re led to believe that we’re divided. And I think the way we call the bluff on that national division is all of us starting to speak openly again.” “There’s a gap between what people are willing to say in private and what they’re willing to say in public‚” he continued. “I think that’s the measure of our country’s health. How big is that gap?” Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post 13 Takeaways From GOP Candidate Forum on Faith‚ Family appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The latest mRNA COVID-19 boosters have been authorized since late August 2023. Nine weeks later‚ where are all the photos of politicians and celebrities getting vaccinated to encourage the general public to get their shots? Despite eschewing much of social media‚ television‚ and trendy media stories‚ I still couldn’t avoid major mainstream news reports in 2021 and 2022 about gormless Hollywood types and political officials (who increasingly seem to preen about like Hollywood entertainers) making embarrassing spectacles of themselves getting their mRNA shots and/or gushing online about it afterward with “vaxxies” (an amalgamation of words “vaccine” and “selfies”). Sometimes they even called for the press to witness them getting mRNA injections – and of course‚ the press always came. Are Americans Reticent to Get 2023 mRNA ‘Boosters’? If So‚ Why? Initial mRNA shots from Pfizer were granted emergency-use authorization by the FDA on Dec. 11‚ 2020‚ and authorization of Moderna’s version quickly followed on Dec. 18. Americans immediately and eagerly lined up for their shots‚ encouraged by politicians and celebrities. Unlike then‚ why aren’t we seeing pictures of people waiting in line for hours alongside pictures of celebrities gleefully posing in a sea of flashbulbs for fall 2023 mRNA shots? What is different this time around? Could it be that previous incentives‚ motivation‚ or clinical claims that existed then don’t exist now? Were those incentives and the subsequent enthusiasm contrived? Is it because earlier monovalent/bivalent COVID-19 shots did not live up to their promises? Not Just mRNA; Americans Don’t Seem to Want Any ‘Vaccines’ in 2023 According to an Oct. 24 Politico article—two months after the 2023 updated COVID-19 boosters were authorized—only a mere 3.6% (12 million) of Americans have gotten their updated shot. Only about 4.8% (16 million have gotten the influenza vaccine; so‚ it seems they just aren’t disinterested in COVID-19 mRNA shots. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration‚ flu vaccines are supposed to all be administered prior to Oct. 31. It is presumed that the fall deadline would be the same for COVID-19 shots as well‚ in sync with cooler weather. After all‚ both are respiratory diseases spread via droplet transmission. Plus‚ with the coronavirus’ high rate of mutation‚ mRNA shots would have to be given as quickly as possible‚ lest the shots become irrelevant to mutation. Researchers from the Universities of Bath and Edinburgh have published findings showing that the virus mutates as quickly as every two weeks. That is faster than influenza‚ potentially making COVID-19 vaccines irrelevant faster than influenza vaccines‚ hence making the now-expired Oct. 31 deadline critically important for COVID-19. Still‚ it seems that today‚ Americans don’t want any “vaccines.” The CDC called the 3.6% COVID-19 compliance figure “on track‚” which isn’t really accurate. And the flu vaccine’s 4.8% compliance rate a week ahead of an Oct. 31 deadline is not on track either.  This is a noteworthy aberration from historical data illustrating around 50% of all Americans typically receive flu vaccines each year. Not to be outdone by consumer hesitancy‚ Pfizer is currently in late-stage testing of a combination influenza/COVID-19 mRNA injection after the FDA awarded it the highly coveted “fast track” review status in late 2022. Does that mean that in the future‚ consumers may not have the choice to just get an influenza vaccine without an mRNA COVID-19 shot? Who Makes the Recommendations for the Shots and on What Scientific Bases? While the FDA evaluates the actual COVID-19 shot approval/authorization‚ the CDC sets recommendations of when and who should get them. Despite epidemiology stating otherwise‚ especially in kids‚ the CDC recommends that everyone six months and older receive an updated 2023 mRNA COVID-19 shot. Recommendations need justification.  So‚ where is the CDC’s big data set epidemiologically justifying that vaccinating everyone six months and older is what is most appropriate? Could that lack of evidence explain why not everyone seems to be taking their CDC marching instructions as before. Could it be that the CDC is losing its authority with Americans because they‚ too‚ have an abundance of unanswered questions over the mRNA technology and want more transparency from big pharma and the federal government? Despite Lack of 2023 Boosters‚ No Widespread Pandemic Appears to Be Taking Place Even prior to the release of newest COVID-19 shots on Aug. 31‚ 2023‚ infection numbers were already fairly low. Despite the White House predicted “seasonal surge‚” they are even dropping further. CDC’s data tracker now reports that only 9% of those tested are positive for COVID-19 (and that is trending downwards) and only 1.2% of emergency department visits (and falling) are diagnosed with COVID-19. Hospitalizations are not surging with only 2.5% of deaths due to COVID-19—but both hospitalization and death figures are non-specific and nebulous. That’s because we don’t know age‚ non-COVID-19 co-admission diagnoses‚ underlying co-morbidities‚ or those dying “with COVID-19” versus “because of COVID-19‚” etc.   Previous or current COVID-19 shot(s)  would also be important to know. Latest available CDC website data as of Oct. 28‚ 2023‚ reported Nov. 6.  The regular updates specified in the image header are not taking place. Is the Lack of Celebrity Following Trickling Down to a Lack of Public Acceptance? Whatever the reason‚ enthusiasm for boosters seems much lower this time. Other than President Joe Biden‚ and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra‚ few other politicians or celebrities are bloviating about getting new injections. Perhaps celebrities and politicians are all just quietly‚ privately‚ getting them‚ but why are they subdued about it this time? It’s out of character for that attention-hungry demographic. If they are choosing not to get updated shots‚ it would be good to know if something has changed their minds. If so‚ what? Could it be at least in part because initial shots were authorized over a nine-month timeline when all other vaccines took around a decade? Or could it be that the shots have resulted in an abundance of reported safety concerns‚ in both the CDC’s V-safe database as well as in FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System‚ which let the public report adverse effects after receiving a vaccine? Is There a Lack of Clarity on What Constitutes ‘Safe and Effective’ to the Point That Even Hollywood Won’t Follow the White House? Investigational medicine scientists like myself have all heard officials state over and over again that “correlation is not causation.” But does that that mean regulators and manufacturers should just continue to deliberately ignore more than 987‚000 adverse event reports from COVID-19 shots in the U.S. alone‚ especially when it has been shown that vaccine adverse event numbers are underreported by massive (over 95%) margins‚ according to a recent government-funded Harvard study? Maybe safety skepticism isn’t beingbrushed off by celebrities and politicians and their receptive followers. Of note‚ epidemiologists that The New York Times interviewed have already “fact-checked” and declared that “there isn’t much evidence proving that [celebrities] boost vaccine uptake [in their admirers]‚” but that’s likely debatable. After all‚ absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence—a phrase that The Times has quoted multiple times‚ along with government agencies‚ including the FDA. Plus‚ if “there isn’t much evidence‚” then why did the White House use its time and efforts to enlist an army of social media influencers to promote vaccines in 2021 and 2022? Why did Pfizer do the same? From 2020 to 2022‚ we saw politicians‚ Hollywood stars‚ and online influencers mugging for the cameras. We saw articles like “Every Celebrity Vaccine Selfie‚ Ranked From Worst to Best‚” “Celebrity Kids Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine‚” and “Dr. Fauci Gets His Booster Shot LIVE on The Late Show.” You can see many more examples of these types articles at the end of this piece. With So Little Interest‚ Why Is the White House Still Funding Tens of Millions of Injections and Tests? If people don’t seem interested in getting 2023 boosters‚ then why does the White House keep buying them? Interest in mRNA shots started waning back in 2022‚ forcing the government to waste 82 million vaccine doses when they expired in pharmacies. Back then‚ each dose cost between $25-$30‚ so somewhere between $2 billion to $2.5 billion were tossed out. On a side note‚ 2023 boosters are costing taxpayers three times what they cost in previous years‚ at $80-$85 per dose. And there’s more waste: Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services has provided $600 million in taxpayer funding so that every American household can also request up to four COVID-19 tests‚ “for free‚” despite a lack of a widespread problem or any particular danger. It also ignores prior statements by the FDA that those tests can be inaccurate and are not adequately regulated. The White House isn’t listening to epidemiology or Americans’ disinterest is proceeding full-speed ahead purchasing more shots and tests that are likely to go unused and expire or become unusable due to COVID-19 mutations. The remarkably low inoculation rate seems to be illustrative of the fact that Americans no longer trust federal or HHS officials’ recommendations for COVID-19 shots. In summary‚ and to answer the initial question asked at the beginning of this piece: What has changed in fall 2023 from when mRNA shots were released around three years ago? Americans are thoughtful people and don’t like secrets‚ bullies‚ or mandates‚ especially when it comes to their own bodies. They aren’t blindly doing as they are told by the federal government any longer. The unusually low uptake of vaccines in 2023 also indicates that America’s public health agencies likely aren’t doing their jobs in several regards‚ namely in the form of transparently backing their public health decisions with cold‚ hard‚ epidemiologic and scientific justification. After all‚ wouldn’t Americans all rally around a transparently safe and effective vaccine‚ maybe even having pictures taken of their own volition‚ without having to be pressured into so doing by a White House-hired legion of Hollywood celebrities? Americans can read between the lines and are showing their distrust even if they aren’t outright saying it out loud. What additional proof do they need when even pliant‚ follow-the-leader celebrities and politicians seem to be avoiding CDC‚ FDA‚ and White House recommendations for COVID-19 and influenza “vaccines?” Hollywood Celebrities Showing off Getting Their Vaccines and Boosters in 2021 and 2022 People Magazine’s Celebrities and Politicians Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine: See the Photos Coronavirus Vaccine: All the Celebrities and Public Figures Who Have Received It So Far Celebs Recognize Importance of COVID-19 Vaccine at 73rd Emmys All the Celebrities Who Have Received the COVID-19 Vaccine Celebrity Kids Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine: Photos Britney Spears Takes to Instagram After Getting the Vaccine Amy Schumer Chronicled Her Vaccine Experience‚ Even Wearing “Her Nicest” Sparkling Mini-Dress to Mark the Occasion Ariana Grande and the Instagram Celebs Telling Their Fans to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Are Loving Vaccinated Life! Pfizer Uses Star Power to Emphasize Risk Factors and COVID in Latest Vaccine Ad Push Politicians Touting Their Vaccinations and Boosters 2020-2022 Photos of Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell Vaccinated Kamala Harris Receives COVID-19 Vaccine Biden Gets 2nd Dose of Vaccine Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla Getting mRNA Booster Dr. Fauci Gets His Booster Shot Live on The Late Show Biden Administration to Use Celebrities‚ Athletes in Campaign to Combat COVID Vaccine Hesitancy Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Only 3.6% of Americans Got Updated COVID-19 Shots as of Oct. 31 appeared first on The Daily Signal.

#Bidenomic Update: Alexa‚ Find Me a 'New Job'

Sam Altman‚ CEO of OpenAI‚ Fired by Board of Directors

Americans are in for the second-most expensive Thanksgiving dinner on record next week‚ according to the country’s leading agricultural advocacy group. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported Turkey Day will cost the average U.S. citizen 25 percent more in 2023 than it did in 2019 — the final year of former President Donald Trump’s presidency… The post Here’s What Bidenomics Has Done to Thanksgiving Dinner This Year appeared first on The Federalist Papers.

The more they persecute him‚ the stronger he becomes. During Saturday’s Ultimate Fighting Championship 295 event in New York City‚ former President Donald Trump — accompanied by Kid Rock‚ Tucker Carlson and UFC President and CEO Dana White — made an iconic entrance into Madison Square Garden. Comedian‚ podcaster and longtime UFC color commentator Joe… The post Joe Rogan’s Story About ‘Right-Wing Avengers’ Should Terrify the Left appeared first on The Federalist Papers.

Target’s second quarter earnings report proved the retail giant still hasn’t rebounded from its “Pride” fallout over the summer‚ showing a 5.4% decrease in sales—the first drop in roughly six years. The company’s third quarter report was no better‚ revealing an additional 4.9% drop. Thanks to Target’s partnership with a satanist designer and its highly controversial “Pride” line—which pushed transgender extremism on an audience largely of children—the backlash continues to hurt the stores’ bottom line.  Brian Cornell‚ Target’s CEO‚ reflected on the reports and admitted sales “have clearly been tougher than we expected this year‚ and we are firmly focused on getting back to growth.” Although Cornell confessed the company has struggled‚ one would expect the mega-retailer to learn from its mistakes‚ readjust to what their clientele wants‚ and get back to selling products‚ not politics. Well‚ Target officials clearly haven’t learned their lesson. Rather than pivoting after the backlash‚ the boycotts‚ and plummeting sales‚ they have decided to continue swimming upstream. To most people’s surprise‚ Target has leaned into the very agenda that caused its demise‚ hiring a “Senior LGBTQIA+ Segmentation Strategist and Pride Lead‚” whose very job is to woke-ify the aisles. With summer behind us‚ tucking swimsuits are clearly out of season. So‚ naturally‚ with Christmas around the corner‚ Pride ornaments are next on the agenda. Never mind the fact that this strategy completely failed in June. So much for Cornell saying he is “firmly focused on getting back to growth.” Target’s LGBTQ Christmas line includes items such as a nutcracker figurine holding a “Progress Pride” Flag and wearing a “Pride” hat. It’s advertised with the slogan‚ “Show your love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.” Like a blast from the past‚ these items were met with immediate mockery. “Wow. Just wow‚” Brian Frye posted on X. “You would think they would have learned from the last time. When will companies finally start to realize it? Go woke … go broke!” But before Target gets all the heat‚ it’s only fair to highlight the other companies that have tried the same extremism and failed. Ever since Bud Light partnered with transgender-identifying Dylan Mulvaney‚ Anheuser-Busch’s revenue is down 13.5%‚ according to a report earlier this month. The Post Millennial wrote: “Bud Light lost some $390 million in the marketing disaster‚ and $6 billion in lost value.” And recent reports revealed the beer company‚ after saying otherwise‚ did‚ in fact‚ pay Mulvaney $185‚000 for the campaign—only for it to destroy the brand and drive consumers away. However‚ where Target and Bud Light differ is that Benoit Garbe‚ chief U.S. marketing officer for Anheuser-Busch‚ has decided to step down at the end of the year. Unlike Target’s high-ranking officials‚ Garbe seemed to know when to quit. But with new leadership in place‚ the question remains: Did they learn from the past? I suppose only time will tell. In the meantime‚ there are alternative stores to shop for everything from ornaments to beer‚ many of which have conservative or Christian values. Meg Kilgannon‚ senior fellow for education studies at Family Research Council‚ said it’s especially important to avoid shopping at places such as Target during Christmas. Kilgannon commented to The Washington Stand: “Target selling sexually themed Christmas ornaments is more evidence that we live in a post-Christian society. The virgin birth of the savior of the world in a stable in Bethlehem is what we celebrate. The goodness‚ truth‚ and beauty of that reality is not improved or enhanced by woke merchandising campaigns.” “If Americans—and especially people of faith—have some money left to spend at Christmas this year‚” Kilgannon said‚ “I hope they don’t spend it at Target.” Originally published by The Washington Stand The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation.  Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Target Pushes Ahead With Woke Holiday Merch‚ Despite Losses appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy‚ both Republican presidential candidates‚ opened up about losing their children during miscarriages while discussing abortion in an Iowa Thanksgiving forum. Both miscarriages appear not to have been previously reported. “We wanted to have a family‚ and it didn’t happen at first‚” DeSantis said at the 2023 Presidential Thanksgiving FAMiLY Forum in Des Moines on Friday. The FAMiLY Leader hosted the forum‚ streamed exclusively at The Daily Signal. The Florida governor recalled visiting Israel when he was a congressman. “We went to Ruth’s Tomb in Hebron‚ and we prayed—we prayed a lot—to have a family‚ and then‚ lo and behold‚ we go back to the United States‚ and a little time later‚ we got pregnant‚ but unfortunately‚ we lost that first baby‚” the governor said. “It was a tough thing.” “We just kept the faith‚” he added. “We just kept praying. We knew that there would be a path that God would lead us on‚ and‚ lo and behold‚ a short time after‚ we did it‚ and we had our first baby girl.” He said the experience taught him‚ “I’ve got to fight for these kids.” WATCH: @RonDeSantis opens up about losing a child through miscarriage as he explains why he's pro-life at @theFAMiLYLeader forum pic.twitter.com/gPljsg1iKk— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) November 17‚ 2023 Ramaswamy emphasized the humanity of the child he and his wife lost in a miscarriage. He recalled learning that his wife‚ Apoorva‚ was pregnant: “We were ecstatic‚ actually.” He recalled writing a letter to their unborn child‚ but three and a half months in‚ “we lost our first child‚ and that was the loss of a life. It was our family’s loss.” His wife “went into a state of depression after that‚” but he said their faith consoled them. “Our faith teaches us that our child joined his creator‚ and one day‚ we will too‚” Ramaswamy added. He went on to describe the birth of his son Karthik through a particularly tumultuous pregnancy. “You protect all life‚ born and unborn‚” he explained. BREAKING: @VivekRamaswamy opens up about having a miscarriage — "the loss of a life." This is one of the reasons he opposes abortion."Our faith teaches us that our child joined his Creator‚ and one day‚ we will too." pic.twitter.com/znNEPeRIFq— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) November 17‚ 2023 Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.  The post ‘LOSS OF A LIFE’: DeSantis‚ Ramaswamy Open Up About Miscarriages in Abortion Discussion appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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