Posted on 08/20/2008 12:30:43 PM PDT by mojito
If you want to understand just how potent the issue of abortion can be in this campaign, take a look at this segment from Hannity & Colmes last night. Sean Hannity laid out for Bob Beckel — in a specific, careful, calm way — the fact that Barack Obama opposed legislation protecting children who had survived an abortion attempt. (For more on this issue, go here, here, and here).
In response, Beckel’s head began to explode.
Beckel seemed quite unfamiliar with the specifics of the issue (for example, he asserted existing Illinois law protected children who survived an abortion attempt, even though the state attorney general said it did not; that reality is what launched the national debate in the first place). Beckel therefore decided to go on the offensive. Enraged, he said that while he knew Republicans would go low, even he didn’t think they would go this low. Why don’t conservatives go back to accusing Obama of being a Muslim, Beckel shouted, rather than accusing him of supporting infanticide? What Republicans were doing was “obscene and disgraceful.” Alan Colmes decided to join the festivities as well; he said what Republicans were saying about Obama was “outrageous and insulting.”
In fact, it’s not. Regardless of what Obama’s personal beliefs on the matter are, he voted against legislation that would have protected the rights of children who survived an attempted abortion. That fact is so stunning, and the implications so brutal, that Beckel and Colmes simply could not process it. They assumed it had to be impossible. But it’s not only possible, it’s true. Obama cast the vote he did. And it’s clear from last night’s exchange that Democrats understand how explosive this issue can be.
It doesn’t help matters, of course, that Obama’s story is falling apart. Obama has been insisting that if the wording of the Illinois Born-Alive Infant Protection legislation had been similar to the wording of federal legislation, he would have voted for the legislation. But as the Washington Post reports today, “Obama aides acknowledged yesterday that the wording of the state and federal bills was virtually identical.”
Oops.
It’s worth noting as well that the effort by the New York Times to provide a political life-raft to Obama on this issue has been taken apart by my colleague Yuval Levin here.
While a state senator in Illinois, Barack Obama cast the most extreme vote imaginable on abortion, worse even than supporting partial-birth abortion. Children who had been targeted for abortion but were born alive were still not safe; in Barack Obama’s America, they still do not possess rights or the protection of the law. Obama’s effort to explain his vote away is in the process of collapsing. And the gap between him and McCain continues to close. For the first time in this campaign, Obama is on the defensive, a bit rattled, and worried. He has reason to be.
Their Golden Child has turned to brass......................
Beckel and Colmes were just following the Progressive Playbook, Page One: when the facts are against you (which is virtually all of the time,) go on the offensive and attack the character and mean-spiritedness of those who are offering the facts. Attack Bob Bork, Ken Starr, The Swiftboaters, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and on and on. Can’t refute the facts? Call them names—racists, homophones, bigots, morons, whatever. Amazingly, about 50% of the American people fall for this crap.
“A liar, a thief, a rapist, and a murderer. That’s not a man; take it away.” Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe with regard to the liar, thief, rapist, and murderer Obadiah Hakeswill.
“A liar, a fraud, a misuser of tax exempt church resources, and an enabler of racists, anti-Semites, and child murderers. That’s not a man; take it away.” Our assessment of Barack Obama.
Obama doesn’t lie-he’s just too “nuanced” for us hicks to comprehend.
Beckel, as usual when facts get in the way, resorted to name calling, and attacking the messenger instead of answering the question put forth. You could see the panic in his eyes.
Look, while I err on the side of Pro-life, it's not one of my big issues. It's not hot topic issues like national defense and taxes are to me. (flame away)That being said, I find this practice absolutely horrific and barbaric.
What i said in a few post later lol
Sharpe rocks.
That pic makes my blood boil.
That line begs me to create a limerick:
Their Golden Child has turned to brass
And the libs are just getting more crass
McCain's a war hero
But their guy's a zero
I've got more intellect in my ass
My husband and I were watching that show and I was commenting (in a rather loud voice) how ASTOUNDING it was that these people seemed so ignorant of the facts. In a country where people are becoming more and more pro-life.....it’s a major fact they should be aware of!!
Juan needs to get on the ball!
The turth is coming out on Obama's stand on the born alive act.
What I find amazing is that the folks here have known about Obama's stand on this issue for over a year. Did the Dem's really think this issue was not a deal breaker with the American people?
Good to see you around, Friend!
Continued good fortune to your G Men, unless they’re playing my Birds of course.
Or even homophobes.
Juan is typical of the average dhimmirat that I’ve talked to about the issue.
Simply deny Obama’s position on the issue. Ignore any evidence, say it is out of context.
maybe homophobe & homophone are two of those words that sound alike but have different meaning... I don’t remember what the word for that is... :)
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