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John Kerry Sidesteps Abortion Comment, Says Unborn a "Form of Life"
LifeNews ^ | Newburgh, NY August 2, 2004 | Steven Ertelt

Posted on 08/03/2004 7:11:04 PM PDT by miltonim

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is further distancing himself from comments he made last month that human life begins at conception.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, Kerry reiterated his support for the so-called right to abortion, but seemingly changed his position on the beginning of life.

Asked whether he thought abortion constituted the taking of human life, Kerry said that an unborn child is a "form of life.''

"The Bible itself - I mean, everything talks about different layers of development," Kerry said. "That's what Roe v Wade does. It talks about viability. It's the law of the land.''

Kerry's comments drew guffaws from pro-life advocates.

"John Kerry's statement that a fetus is potential life is scientific nonsense," Nikolas Nikas, an attorney with Americans United for Life, told LifeNews.com. "A fetus is a human being at the fetal stage of life. It is not potential life, but human life with potential. Check any medical textbook."

Nikas also took issue with Kerry's view of the Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion.

"[H]is view that, since abortion on demand is mandated by the Supreme Court, it cannot be challenged flies in the face of American history," Nikas explained. "The Supreme Court once held that slaves were property. Should we accept that African Americans are property because the Court once held that?"

In his Friday interview, Kerry, once again, said he could not put his Catholic views on abortion into policy.

"I don't believe personally that it's the government's job to step in and take my article of faith and transfer it to somebody who doesn't share that article of faith,'' said Kerry.

While campaigning in a heavily Catholic part of Iowa in early July, Kerry told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, "I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception."

Kerry also backed away from those comments in an interview with ABC news anchor Peter Jennings late last month.

Kerry said he thought the "fertilization process" is when a human being "is first formed and created." However, Kerry added, "[w]ithin weeks, you look and see the development of it, but that's not a person yet, and it's certainly not what somebody, in my judgment, ought to have the government of the United States intervening in."

The contradictory statements, designed to keep his pro-abortion supporters and mollify voters who back him on other issues but have qualms with his abortion position, reveal Kerry's nature as a flip-flopper, pro-life advocates say.

"Senator Kerry now claims that he believes that 'a human being is first formed and created' at fertilization, but for 20 years he has consistently voted against any legal protection for those human beings," says Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee.

"When it comes to abortion, John Kerry's views are on the wrong side of science, the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of morality," Nikas concluded.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; kerry; kerryabortion; prolife
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To: miltonim

"The Bible itself - I mean, everything talks about different layers of development," Kerry said.

I wonder if he also says the Bible speaks of different layers of death.


21 posted on 08/03/2004 7:46:31 PM PDT by taxesareforever
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To: miltonim

**Kerry said he thought the "fertilization process" is when a human being "is first formed and created." However, Kerry added, "[w]ithin weeks, you look and see the development of it, but that's not a person yet, and it's certainly not what somebody, in my judgment, ought to have the government of the United States intervening in."**

He speaketh out of both sides of his mouth, doesn't he?


22 posted on 08/03/2004 7:47:38 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: miltonim

Apostate Catholic warning.


23 posted on 08/03/2004 7:49:53 PM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: taxesareforever

John Kerry is a life form. As are pond scum, lice, maggots, viruses...


24 posted on 08/03/2004 7:50:59 PM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (Democrats are Communists in Americans' clothing.)
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To: miltonim

"It's certainly not what somebody, in my judgment, ought to have the government of the United States intervening in."
The intellectual and erudite Mr. Kerry doesn't sound quite so bright. Everyone knows that: "A sentence is something you shouldn't end a preposition with."


25 posted on 08/03/2004 7:54:57 PM PDT by norwaypinesavage
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To: Wild Irish Rogue

i think this difference life vs. personhood is about the most honest "pro-choice" point of view, Kerry is correct to some extent - there was/is ?? a Christian Doctine of "Ensoulment" see http://www.sspx.org/against_the_sound_bites/life_ensoulment_of_matter.htm and Islamic law says "The Oxford Dictionary of Islam ... Ensoulment of the fetus is understood to occur 120 days after conception; after ensoulment, abortion constitutes homicide and...". So Kerry does have some philosophical grounds to stand on in being "pro-choice". None in relation to partial birth abortion though or is absolutist pro-abortion voting record


26 posted on 08/03/2004 8:00:29 PM PDT by Murtyo
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To: goldstategop
"The Bible itself - I mean, everything talks about different layers of development," Kerry said. "That's what Roe v Wade does. It talks about viability. It's the law of the land.''

Translated meaning????????????

This is the craziest , most confused man on the political scene right now!!This doesn't even make a lick of sense.!!!!!!!

27 posted on 08/03/2004 8:04:10 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: PLMerite

....and Kerry, Bones...his political future ?

" HE'S DEAD JIM "


28 posted on 08/03/2004 8:07:26 PM PDT by JediForce (Never underestimate the power of the Dark side of the Force....keep the blasters' fully charged.)
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To: Viet-Boat-Rider

wow that is a awesome video. Is there any way I could copy that off and use it??


29 posted on 08/03/2004 8:08:21 PM PDT by pollywog (Psalm 121;1 I Lift mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.)
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To: miltonim
"The Bible itself - I mean, everything talks about different layers of development"

Selections from the King John Kerry Bible:

GENESIS 2:42a: P3 revC "And then the Lord consulted the Garden of Eden branch of the ACLU, and upon their approval, declared Adam to be viable."

GENESIS 4:62 subsection 3, revB: "And Cain said to God: 'You can't lay this mark upon me, for I shall be discriminated against. After all, I only performed a very late term abortion on my brother Abel which my Mother intended to do while he was in-utero but there were no Heaven-financed abortion clinics available in the Garden"

30 posted on 08/03/2004 8:12:12 PM PDT by montag813 ("A nation can survive fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.")
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To: miltonim
This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog!


31 posted on 08/03/2004 8:14:16 PM PDT by DoctorZIn (Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")
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To: Viet-Boat-Rider

Chill.

I should have put a /humor or /sarcasm switch on the end.


32 posted on 08/03/2004 8:35:24 PM PDT by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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To: miltonim
In his Friday interview, Kerry, once again, said he could not put his Catholic views on abortion into policy.

"I don't believe personally that it's the government's job to step in and take my article of faith and transfer it to somebody who doesn't share that article of faith,'' said Kerry.

Note to Frenchy: 1. You can't serve two masters. 2. Some people find it morally okay to murder people(people by a legal definition), so based on your logic should we empty out all of the prisons because to do otherwise would be forcing our Catholic views on society?

Grrrr.

33 posted on 08/03/2004 8:39:57 PM PDT by Jaded ((Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. - Mark Twain))
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To: All

Save the hamster! Kill the baby?? My hero???


34 posted on 08/03/2004 8:48:13 PM PDT by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
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To: pollywog; ahadams2; redgolum
This is the craziest , most confused man on the political scene right now!!This doesn't even make a lick of sense.!!!!!!! 27 posted on 08/03/2004 8:04:10 PM PDT by pollywog

You got that one right. I just heard that liberal has-been Bill Maher say (on Hardball with Chris Matthews) that he "loves" Mrs. Heinz Kerry because...(get this...) she's so "politically incorrect." ???!!! What planet are these people from?

Mrs. Heinz's speech at the Dems' Convention was so packed with hald-baked 1960s liberal pieties it was hard not to burst out laughing at how silly she sounded. I think one liberal commentator even said he wondered if she would start calling for bra burning protests.

35 posted on 08/03/2004 9:05:43 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: jwalsh07
I'm a bit more clear than Kerry where I stand, and why, aren't I? :) Poor Kerry. It must be awful trimming here there and everywhere. The lush for power can be a debilitating experience for the "un-centered."
36 posted on 08/03/2004 9:06:58 PM PDT by Torie
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To: Spanaway Lori

Kerry is an idiot. If a Republican spouted such drivel, rest assured we'd never hear the end of it from the presstitutes......


37 posted on 08/03/2004 9:14:22 PM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: miltonim

38 posted on 08/03/2004 11:38:44 PM PDT by Gorons
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To: John Jorsett
Today my position shall be ...

Upon closer inspection...


39 posted on 08/04/2004 1:58:46 AM PDT by pookie18
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To: miltonim
"The Bible itself - I mean, everything talks about different layers of development," Kerry said.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." -God

Kerry said he thought the "fertilization process" is when a human being "is first formed and created." However, Kerry added, "[w]ithin weeks, you look and see the development of it, but that's not a person yet,

Sounds like the old concept of "quickening." Is Kerry's scientific understanding really this far behind the times? If he really doesn't know what fetus' are, why is he so anxious to kill them?

40 posted on 08/04/2004 4:26:28 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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