whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity … is above my pay grade.”
Then, in being asked a similar question, Nancy Pelosi responded this way.
would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And Senator—St. Augustine said at three months. We don’t know. The point is, is that it shouldn’t have an impact on the woman’s right to choose. Roe v. Wade talks about very clear definitions of when the child—first trimester, certain considerations; second trimester; not so third trimester. I don’t think anybody can tell you when life begins, human life begins. As I say, the Catholic Church for centuries has been discussing this, and there are those who’ve decided…
Finally, again, asked about when life begins, Joe Biden made this response.
They believe in their faith and they believe in human life, and they have differing views as to when life — I’m prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception.”
Then, Biden went on to explain that even though based on his faith he believes life begins at conception, he is still pro abortion because he doesn't want to legislate his faith upon those that don't share it.
Obama's answer was remarkable in its slimy political sort of a way of not answering an uncomfortable question. Pelosi's answer was an outright lie that was challenged and condemned by clergy everywhere. Biden's answer was remarkable in its circular logic.
All three are seasoned politicians. They all know that abortion is always at least a relatively important issue. All of them must know that they can at any time be asked what their view is on when life begins. That's why it is so stunning that each of them answered this question in such a hideous way.
What these answers reveal, to me at least, is a party that takes great pain to understand its side of the abortion debate and takes absolutely no concern to understand the other side at all. In any debate, there are at least two sides. In order to formulate a position properly, one not only needs to understand the positive and negatives of their own position but they must also understand the other side. The position an individual holds must take all of these things into account and be able to outweight the positives of the opposite position with their own.
It's clear that liberals see abortion as a decision only a woman should make and that no one else, not the government or a man, has the right to dictate to her that decision. What is also clear is that the life of the unborn fetus is not only not important enough to sway them from taking that right from a woman, but in fact, it doesn't even play a role in their decision.
Given that the abortion debate has been raging for decades, everyone should be shocked and dismayed that Democrats still can't answer with clarity when life begins. It's as though such a question holds no relevance to the debate. Of course, it is central to the debate. How does a politician take a stand on abortion without first defining in their minds when life begins? The question of when life begins is one that is open for debate and I think people of reasonable minds can disagree while still respecting another position. What most Americans will not accept is obfuscation, lies, and circular logic when answering that question. If one is unwilling or unable to clearly answer when they believe life begins, they can't reasonably take a position on abortion, let alone when that allows it in most cases. What the Democrats have proven over the last month is that they have formulated a position on abortion without being able to answer the central question to it. I believe that is something most Americans will not stand for.
Biden said that life begins at conception, but that he could still support a woman's right to choose. The end of that is then, the life of the child is therefore worth less than the life of the mother. In supporting abortion, the Democrats have long argued from Obama's standpoint "we don't know when life begins" They shy away from this question, because they know that any answer works against their position. Better to ignore the product of conception, and focus on the rights of the mother.
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