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To: smoothsailing
He has said he had a change of heart because of a personal friend. Do you think it's possible for a person to change from pro-choice to pro-life?

Again, from 1999: "When Russert asked Trump about abortion, he said he's "pro-choice in every respect" and again cited his New York background, which he said has a "different attitude" from most of the country

http://www.mediaite.com/online/heres-the-1999-donald-trump-new-york-values-interview-cruz-has-been-talking-about/
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"the way Trump described his "evolution" from the pro-choice to pro-life position raises some interesting questions.

He said: "Friends of mine years ago were going to have a child, and it was going to be aborted. And it wasn't aborted. And that child today is a total superstar, a great, great child. And I saw that. And I saw other instances."

Now, I'm one who cheers whenever someone publicly switches from supporting abortion rights to supporting human rights for all - including the unborn. I am glad to see people like Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, or Bernard Nathanson, founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, become pro-life activists.

But I find it difficult to cheer Trump's conversion, because the reason he gives for being pro-life doesn't correspond to the pro-life ethic.

Trump says he is pro-life because of a "superstar" child who could have been aborted.

Consider how he responded to a reporter who wondered if he would have become pro-life had the child been a "loser":

"Probably not, but I've never thought of it. I would say no, but in this case it was an easy one because he's such an outstanding person."

To summarize Trump's view: "I'm pro-life because we shouldn't abort fetuses that may grow up to be outstanding people."

But opponents of abortion take a different position: "I'm pro-life because we shouldn't kill innocent human beings, no matter who they might grow up to be."

Trump's reason for being pro-life depends on the potential outcome of the child in the womb, rather than the fact that there is a child in the womb. But the pro-life ethic is grounded in the inherent worth of all humanity. It is wrong to commit violence against innocent human beings. Full stop.

And that's where, ironically, Trump's position sounds similar to the pro-choice idea that the human fetus is "potential life" or that the value of the unborn depends on whether or not the child is "wanted."

Extending Trump's logic leads to more problems. If we adopt the position of abortion opponents merely because of what a child may grow up to be (a "superstar!"), then why should we care if 67 percent of Down syndrome children are aborted after a prenatal diagnosis? What would Trump say if he were told there's a better chance an "unwanted" child from an impoverished or minority neighborhood would grow up to be involved in crime? ..."

http://www.religionnews.com/2016/01/26/problem-trumps-change-heart-abortion-commentary/

91 posted on 02/15/2016 2:33:26 PM PST by ETL (Ted Cruz 2016!! -- For a better, safer America)
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To: ETL

Instead of answering my questions you prefer to engage in distraction by cutting and pasting someone’s opinion.

I don’t play that game. Answer my questions, or end our conversation. Your call.


92 posted on 02/15/2016 2:43:29 PM PST by smoothsailing
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