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Text: Obama's response to CNN question on Notre Dame, FOCA and abortion
American Papist ^ | April 30, 2009 | Thomas Peters

Posted on 04/30/2009 2:01:55 PM PDT by NYer

Last night during Obama's press conference Ed Henry of CNN asked an excellent question.

Here is the text of the question and Barack Obama's response:

CNN's Ed Henry: Thank you, Mr. President. In a couple of weeks, you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame. And, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion.

As a candidate, you vowed that one of the very things you wanted to do was sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which, as you know, would eliminate federal, state and local restrictions on abortion. And at one point in the campaign when asked about abortion and life, you said that it was above — quote, above my pay grade.

Now that you've been president for 100 days, obviously, your pay grade is a little higher than when you were a senator.

Do you still hope that Congress quickly sends you the Freedom of Choice Act so you can sign it?

OBAMA: You know, the — my view on — on abortion, I think, has been very consistent. I think abortion is a moral issue and an ethical issue.

I think that those who are pro-choice make a mistake when they — if they suggest — and I don't want to create straw men here, but I think there are some who suggest that this is simply an issue about women's freedom and that there's no other considerations. I think, look, this is an issue that people have to wrestle with and families and individual women have to wrestle with.

The reason I'm pro-choice is because I don't think women take that — that position casually. I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day. And I think they are in a better position to make these decisions ultimately than members of Congress or a president of the United States, in consultation with their families, with their doctors, with their clergy.

So — so that has been my consistent position. The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion, or at least considering getting an abortion, particularly if we can reduce the number of teen pregnancies, which has started to spike up again.

And so I've got a task force within the Domestic Policy Council in the West Wing of the White House that is working with groups both in the pro-choice camp and in the pro-life camp, to see if we can arrive at some consensus on that.

Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's — that's where I'm going to focus.
I will refrain from commenting at this point. Do note, however, that Obama makes no comment about the Notre Dame scandal. I'm not quite sure immediately what significance there may be to that omission.

And props to Ed Henry for playing hardball. I wouldn't be surprised if he's taking hits for it.

[photo credit: CNN]

update - video of this question (via the SuzyB blog):


TOPICS: Catholic; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: bhusseinobama; chairmanmaobama; cnn; foca; maobama; ndu; obama; obamaonabortion; obamaquotes; obamatranscript; obamatruthfile; prolife
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1 posted on 04/30/2009 2:01:56 PM PDT by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 04/30/2009 2:02:18 PM PDT by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: NYer

He didn’t say it wasn’t a legislative priority - just not his highest priority. He’ll cue up Pelosi and Reid on FOCA later....


3 posted on 04/30/2009 2:07:50 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: NYer
I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies

Can someone please tell me what the hell an unwanted pregnancy is! Did these women miss health class when they talked about the after effects of sex? Do they still think a stalk delivers babies? It's simple, if you want sex, you deal with the responsibility. Don't be a coward and kill a baby because you don't want it. Just stop having sex.

4 posted on 04/30/2009 2:09:48 PM PDT by Mind Freed ("Every man has the right to be a fool 5 minutes a day. Wisdom is not exceeding the limit.")
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To: NYer; wagglebee
The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion

So he wants to put an end to unwanted abortions?

5 posted on 04/30/2009 2:12:17 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (IRONY - we know more about the First Dog's historical papers than we do of President Barack.)
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To: Mind Freed

He said that it doesn’t make you a man just because you make a baby.

What steps can the men take after they face an unwanted pregnancy so they aren’t punished for the next 18 years with child support payments?


6 posted on 04/30/2009 2:13:33 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (IRONY - we know more about the First Dog's historical papers than we do of President Barack.)
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To: NYer; Victoria Delsoul; kstewskis
Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's — that's where I'm going to focus.

Yep... Mr. President... those crazy pro-life people are a little upset because we are murdering infants in the womb. Darn... that's such a stiking point for those who value life, Mr. President.

I'll tell you what... let's stop abortions all together. That will save the lives of millions of children, and it really won't be a punishment for these women, Mr. President. They may actually come to learn to love and nurture their very own children.

Now that's something we can all agree on.

7 posted on 04/30/2009 2:13:49 PM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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To: NYer
" I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day. And I think they are in a better position to make these decisions ultimately than members of Congress or a president of the United States"

Decisions, decisions, decisions... What to eat, what to wear, when to have unprotected sex, to kill an innocent or let live...

8 posted on 04/30/2009 2:14:52 PM PDT by uncommonsense (liberals see what they believe and conservatives believe what they see)
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To: NYer; Revolting cat!
But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's — that's where I'm going to focus.

He's got the Department of Homeland Security cracking down on those who are vocal on this issue...

9 posted on 04/30/2009 2:14:57 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (IRONY - we know more about the First Dog's historical papers than we do of President Barack.)
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To: uncommonsense

Ask him if he believes in parental notification or if he believes a 14-year old is in a better position to make this decision...


10 posted on 04/30/2009 2:15:51 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (IRONY - we know more about the First Dog's historical papers than we do of President Barack.)
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To: NYer
"And so I've got a task force within the Domestic Policy Council in the West Wing of the White House that is working with groups both in the pro-choice camp and in the pro-life camp, to see if we can arrive at some consensus on that."

How could there possibly be a consensus on this issue!!??
11 posted on 04/30/2009 2:18:36 PM PDT by jaydubya2
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To: jaydubya2

Not when we have the mosr radical abortion law in the wold outside the Communist and formerly Communist states. One thing to besaid” one this issue Obama may be LESS radical than Hillary is. She wants a China-like policy. Heck, she had just one kid, didn’t she! Didn’t want to chance reproducing Bill.


12 posted on 04/30/2009 2:26:32 PM PDT by RobbyS (ECCE homo)
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To: NYer

Obama is very good at sounding as though he opposes abortion, whereas he has never opposed a pro abortion measure.

He is a very sneaky deceiver.


13 posted on 04/30/2009 2:36:05 PM PDT by Williams (It's The Policies, Stupid.)
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To: Williams

God and GOOD men and women are NOT DECEIVED!!


14 posted on 04/30/2009 3:00:39 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: RobbyS

Silly me...all along I thought Webster Hubbell was Chelsea’s dad.


15 posted on 04/30/2009 3:03:56 PM PDT by skimask (When you deal with people who value death over life, traditional means of deterence will not work)
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To: NYer

Bump for later reading


16 posted on 04/30/2009 3:08:08 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: NYer

There is nothing to struggle about. Abortion is murder. We’re no better then those who cast their children on the burning altars of Baal. I’m sure they had politicians who claimed it to be alright.

It’s no wonder that we’re turning into a God-less society.


17 posted on 04/30/2009 3:28:07 PM PDT by HarleyD (US-Borrowing money from China to pay for abortions in Mexico)
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To: NYer
**OBAMA: You know, the — my view on — on abortion, I think, has been very consistent. I think abortion is a moral issue and an ethical issue.**

Obortion Obama, you have a judgment coming at the moment of your death, and I don't think you will like it, for

Please Pray for the Unborn
 
Are you really acting in a moral and ethical way?  Are you treasuring the precious gift of life?
 
 
 

18 posted on 04/30/2009 3:29:24 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: a fool in paradise



19 posted on 04/30/2009 3:33:39 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Northern Yankee
I'll tell you what... let's stop abortions all together. That will save the lives of millions of children, and it really won't be a punishment for these women, Mr. President. They may actually come to learn to love and nurture their very own children.

And the best part, Mr. President, is that it will increase your tax base, while reducing the debt on future generations.

20 posted on 04/30/2009 3:55:35 PM PDT by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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