Posted on 10/20/2011 10:01:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Maybe Herman Cain is trying too hard to be likable. He doesn’t need to enter attack mode or anything, but it would help if he didn’t pander to lefty media hosts, either. I have to assume that’s what this is — unless Cain really doesn’t think it’s the government’s business to ban abortion?
Last night, Cain told Piers Morgan that “life begins at conception” and said he opposes abortion “in all cases.” But when Morgan pressed him with typical questions about whether Cain would want his daughter or granddaughter to have a child conceived by rape or incest, Cain dodged. First, he told Morgan he was confusing two separate matters (apples and oranges, perhaps?). But, then, he said this, apparently still in reference to what he thinks about cases involving rape:
No, it comes down to is, it’s not the government’s role — or anybody else’s role — to make that decision. Secondly, if you look at the statistical incidents, you’re not talking about that big a number. So what I’m saying is, it ultimately gets down to a choice that that family or that mother has to make. Not me as president. Not some politician. Not a bureaucrat. It gets down to that family. And whatever they decide, they decide. I shouldn’t try to tell them what decision to make for such a sensitive decision.
Watch:
Huh?
This isn’t the first time Cain has seemed to contradict himself on the abortion issue. In an interview with John Stossel earlier this month, Cain circled around and around Stossel’s frank questions, defaulting to stock phrases like “I’m pro-life” and “life begins at conception” — but also “that’s her choice.” When Stossel asked him if abortion should be legal, though, he flat-out said “no.” That suggests that, in general at least, he does think it’s the government’s role to “make that decision.”
And in an interview with Meet the Press’ David Gregory, Cain said he opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest because “the percentage of those instances is so minuscule that there are other options.” But “if it’s the life of the mother, that family is going to have to make that decision.”
If you put all the pieces together, at best it seems Cain believes abortion is wrong “in all cases,” should be illegal in most cases and should be a choice in some cases.
But it’s also possible he meant what he said to Piers Morgan, when he used pretty sweeping language to supposedly address exceptional cases: “It’s not the government’s role — or anybody else’s role — to make that decision.” It seems possible he’s bought into the idea that a complete government ban on abortion would somehow be an encroachment on individual freedom, rather than the most fundamental protection of it possible. Without life, what is liberty?
Yet, in 2003, he said he would support a Human Life Amendment, which would ultimately completely ban abortion. And, again, he told Stossel he thinks abortion should be illegal.
Quite confusing — and we can’t turn to his executive or legislative record to see what his actions on the issue have said. Whether his circumlocution should disqualify him with strictly pro-life voters is a matter for debate, but it would certainly help if Cain would clarify this by stating his position unequivocally.
For example (if this is his position), he could simply say: “I think abortion should be illegal and whether a person has a right to life is never another person’s choice to make.”
Or (if this is his position), he could say: “I think abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at stake.”
Or (if this is his position), he could say: “I think abortion should be legal, but, culturally speaking, will work to oppose it because I personally believe it is wrong.”
Whatever it is, Mr. Cain, just spit it out.
Rick Perry already walked back...
...to 6th place in Iowa.
You have to listen very carefully, because honestly I was fooled the first two times too, but what Cain is actually referring to is whether the government should force a woman to raise a child from rape or incest. He had already stated he was pro life with no exceptions.
But I don’t know anyone who says that the government should force a woman to raise a child that she wasn’t allowed to abort.
The issue was forced parenting not abortion
Funny, I never heard the word “adoption” mentioned, so I didn’t come to that conclusion.
I think the point was more “my own opinion should not be the basis for governmental action, the people’s opinion should.”
People, people, people! PLEASE don’t let some commentary deceive you. Herman Cain has never said that murdering an unborn child should be anybody’s legal choice. All these comments were in the context of Cain being asked directly whether he would want his raped daughter to raise the baby as her own, and Morgan’s suggestion that whatever he would want his daughter to do is what he would FORCE everybody else to do. IOW, these comments were in reference to the KEEP THE BABY v GIVE THE BABY UP FOR ADOPTION issue.
People who don’t like Cain want to take his comments out of context. The choice Cain doesn’t want government to legislate is who will RAISE the baby once it is born.
“There are a lot of people who are against abortion who would make an exception for rape or incest.”
I admit to being one of those.
This is an issue forced on us by the RINO’s at HotAir.com... Heck they don’t mind Pro Choice Romney, but they have a problem with this.
Cain is Pro Life and doesn’t believe the government should force the abortion decision on young women, nor does he believe the Federal government should pay for it.
“You have to listen very carefully, because honestly I was fooled the first two times too, but what Cain is actually referring to is whether the government should force a woman to raise a child from rape or incest. “
That makes zero sense because the government doesn’t force one to adopt or not.
Did you hear “Raise the child as her own”?
The ANTI-CAIN Campaigners:
SeekAndFind
I personally enjoy a good argument
Their motto:
“We besmirch and malign because that’s how we’re defined.”
Cain exemplifies an important distinction. An individual or a governmental body can believe something is bad, but that doesn’t mean a law needs to be made forbidding it.
Transcript here:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1110/19/pmt.01.html
He was talking about raising the child vs adoption. This is quite clear if you are at all interested in context or truth.
Typical of so many Leftwingtards (e.g. even Biden) he just doesn't know how to leave it alone.
Cain would be well advised to get a prohibitory order against Piers as soon as possible.
Piers badgered him into the phrase he wanted him to say. It in the end had nothing to do with abortion.
Pray for America
ADD to list:
The ANTI-CAIN Campaigners:
SeekAndFind
independent in tx
Their motto:
“We besmirch and malign because that’s how we’re defined.”
It's only fair.
THAT'S IT: No confusion. you can't "bring up" a baby you've killed. The real question is: Why is Tina Korbe and HotAit lying about what Cain said and patronizing him for being "unclear"? Are they carrying water for Mittens like RedState has?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.