Obama says pointed abortion query “above his pay grade”
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DALLAS – U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama side-stepped a pointed query about abortion on Saturday by “mega-pastor” Rick Warren during a televised forum.
Asked at what point a baby gets “human rights,” Obama, who strongly supports abortion rights, said: “… whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity … is above my pay grade.”
He went on to reiterate his view that it was important to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who followed Obama onto the stage of the nationally televised event, was more blunt and more emphatic.
He said a baby’s human rights began “at the moment of conception … I have a 25-year pro-life record.”
Both candidates were vying for the “faith vote,” in particular the one in four U.S. adults who count themselves as evangelical.
Obama took questions first from Warren and McCain followed. The two shared the stage together briefly.
Some centrist evangelicals have said they appreciate moves by the Democratic Party to “soften” the edges of its pro-choice stand by stressing the need to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions — and by also working harder in areas like adoption.
But for many conservative evangelicals — a key part of the evangelical base — life begins at conception and the argument ends there.
The issue remains one of the most divisive and partisan in America — as Obama and McCain highlighted on Warren’s stage.
(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason)
(Photo credit: REUTERS/Rebecca Cook, Files, USA)
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Take a look at Obama’s (admittedly sparse) voting record as a state and U.S. senator. Whatever slippery language he wants to use now, his pro-abortion voting record speaks for itself.
What I’d like to know is how does he expect the federal government to reduce unwanted pregnancies? Through forced sterilizations like they do it in China? Of course not. It’s just talk. The government has no real power (nor should it) to change human nature. Unwanted pregnancies will always happen. And abortion will remain a divisive issue.
Hey, Barack “Who’s Sayin’” Obama….if a straight answer is “above your paygrade” then so is the Presidency of the United States, the position of Commander in Chief and leader of the Free World…
NObama is SO not ready for Prime Time…
Since when is LIFE an unimportant issue? And if you don’t want a child, either use a condom or get yourself sterilized, or don’t have sex…those should be your choices. Abortion is choosing murder.
The gov’t will “force women to have babies “? I thought sex caused children, not government.
Sex leads to babies. Don’t want children, then don’t have sex w/o birth control. REALLY 100% don’t want kids? Then don’t have any sex. It’s time people realize that many actions have entirely predictable outcomes.
OK. Let’s take Obama at his word and assume his pay grade stops at Senator. The President of the United States is absolutely cabable (and required) to take a stand on seminal ideas like the beginning of life.
The State isn’t forcing women to carry unwanted children. Women make that choice when they choose either not to use contraceptive(s) or not to refrain.
Did any catch the forum with obama and McCain, what a crock obama, when they talked about religion Obama wanted to still say like he did 7 months ago, and in his book Rev, Wright, was his Mentor and spiritual advisor,
but like alway Obama fliped floped again and again,
Obama showed today he is not ready for the 3am phone call,, he would get scared, and start stammering again,
When Obama and McCain when they really debate, is Obama going to agree with everything McCain says, like he did with Hillary Clinton, and him give Obama all the answers ,,, and take him as his own later,,,
Just like Hillary,, Even CNN News claims Obama Adopted all of Hillary’s Agendas, Why so many Obama supporter can not think for them self, the love the reality TV crap, Rock star image, Boy is this country going to suffer if Obama elected,,, I am a Hillary Supporter, this will be the first year I vote Republican because I don’t believe in throwing alway my Vote, and to me it still best for the job,
I don’t think the point of this story is pro-life vs pro-choice. We knew the cantidate’s stances on these issues long ago, so no surprise there. What IS surprising is Obama’s answer to the question. Maybe because of the forum he didn’t feel he could answer the question as directly as he might have wanted to. But isn’t the point of running for president answering tough questions regardless of how it makes you look? I’ve just changed my vote for November.
Democrats have aborted so many of their voters is why they are now trying to get to-be-released felons registered to vote in this election. They are pathetic.
Barry’s answer sure clears that up! Barry Hussein Saddam Obama, a guy who has loved every aborted fetus he’s ever seen. Such compassion.
ok.. for those of you who don’t get it.. which seems to be most of the people commenting here.. he was trying to imply that only God know the answer as to when life begins..(which is true because everything else is just conjecture or faith) that’s what “above the pay grade means”
So can we please stop criticizing the fact that he simply pointed out something that was true in a clever way. Everyone knows he’s pro-choice and so did Rick Warren when he asked the question. He knew it was a loaded question when he asked it and Obama dodged it.. BRILLIANT move. If our president had half that tact, the rest of the world wouldn’t love him right now more the Alpha-male moron that you people elected.
We can argue back and forth about abortion. The fact is this: a pro-life president has been in power for 8 years and we still have abortions in this country. Electing a pro-choice president will not change this. It’s a moot point regardless of belief.
My personal belief is that when in doubt, do not do it. Period. Can’t go wrong there. When given a choice as to possibly committing a murder or forcing nature to take its course is a no-brainer in my book.
Amb–
I’m afraid that your unfounded elitism is showing your ignorance. Were these men in front of a group of Christians? Yes. Does that make them a bunch of medievalists (implication being uneducated, ignorant, lacking sophistication)? Hardly. In fact, I’d venture that most are as intelligent and sophisticated in their thinking–probably more so–as you. Would you rather have them in front of a group of environmentalists (by they way, they can also be accused of superstition and a lack of sophistication in their thinking) or college kids (not too sophisticated thinkers by the way)? Instead of complaining about the group they were in front of, you would have been better off to have listened to the questions and their responses–heck, you might have learned something.
I know y’all had your minds made up already, but it’s pretty clear that none of you are very religious. If you are religious, then your not the kind who believes God knows more than us. When he said “above my pay grade,” he meant that God alone knows about spirit. The real problem with Obama’s answers was that they all required you to think. It’s clear that the man truly is searching for a way to use his faith to make hard judgements. McCain was able to answer quickly due to his having to memorize answers forced on him by the need to coddle fudamentalists. He’s a good, moderate man, and you could tell he hated having to put on the Ultracon mask just to get votes. He ain’t who you think he is. And he damn sure knows that the real challenge of the 21st century is not Islamic extremism, but rather the matter of Energy, and the competition to secure it. Both of them know it and will support well-balanced plans to help us face it.
Final line is, I don’t care what they said, either one will choose better staff than the current administration. I’m just worried that the fools we put in the House will wreck anything good either one tries to do.
To Andrew Austin – The state forces women to have babies!!! What state do you live in? I think the state of delusion. This absolutely the most truncated thinking I have ever heard. Take some responsibility for yourself, you petulant child. The state did not force you to have sex and it doesn’t force you to have a baby. It has nothing to do with human freedom or tyranny. Do you understand that you are killing your own children? For heavens sake – grow up.
When asked if he were President who he would consult on issues important to the country, Obama responded he would consult with his wife Michelle and his grandmother. If the US gets hit again by terrorists, Obama’s first reaction is to run home to his wife and his grandmother for advise on what to do. God help us. This is not a man but a boy. He lacks the gravitas and experience to be president. In contrast McCain came across confident and knowing exactly what to do with no equivocation. McCain is a leader and Obama is a canned candidate programed like a wind up toy. He makes wonderful speeches with a teleprompter but resorts to long winded pablum answers trying to straddle the fence. There is no CHANGE in that.
Obama, Did you happen read in the part in the BIBLE that spoke about loving your brother/sister as yourself. Those children that are being killed on a daily basis are your brothers and sisters created by God for His good pleasure Not for your sporting fun. REALITY CHECK!!!
Since Roe v. Wade, abortions are allowed by Federal law. A majority of Constitutional scholars agree it is a bad law in that it is not in the power of the Federal Government to restrict State’s rights in such a way. So many liberals shout that if Republicans/Conservatives have their way, women who want an abortion would be relegated to back alleys like in the past. (There are posts like this above.) If Roe v. Wade is ever declared unconstitutional, it would fall on State’s rights to allow or not allow abortions, just like it is now with civil unions. If a woman wants an abortion and it is not allowed in your state, they would need to go to a state where it is allowed.
obama not ready for primetime. Speaking to evangicals u think he would have a better answer for abortion. hes not the brightest bulb, hes your typical affirmative action ive league grad
The problems that confront America involve a LOT more than abortion, which I do not favor.
Sen. Obama’s answers were more than satisfactory for me, as are his economic and foreign policy plans. Sen. McCain has no vision for America save war and “Obama is bad.” He’s too old and too angry to be president.
This is an easy vote: Obama by a landslide
My vote is for Ronald Reagan. I don’t like either of these two turkeys. We need a ballot that: a) allows for write-ins and b) allows for a box “NONE OF THE ABOVE”. If NONE OF THE ABOVE wins, then each party starts all over again until we get what we want.
Typically, a democrat who needs to be paid to be moral. A hundred years from now, they will look back at us as barely civil. Just as we cannot fathom slavery, abortion will someday baffle our future generations.
Up until recently I had planned on voting for Obama. Recent events have shown me that that is out of the question.
1. The recent endorsement of Obama by the Communist Party USA (www.cpusa.com)
2. Caving in to Hillary regarding the convention (If he caves and surrenders to Hillary, what will happen with China, Russia, Iran and Korea?)
3. Has everyone forgotten Obamas trip to North Carolina to seek Edwards endorsement? Then he runs away to Hawaii when the heat is on Edwards?
4. “Above My Pay grade”??????? (Not exactly presidential
THIS is “Change we can believe In”? KEEP THE CHANGE BARACK
“Better to sacrifice the fetus for the sake of human freedom than kill grown men with names and personalities.”
Comparing grown men who have commited horrendous murders, been given due process including at least one trial, numerous appeals and a warm snug bed and three hot meals a day (all on the public’s dime) while the families of their victims continue to suffer……with the unborn who have committed no offense other than being inconvenient?
It’s not even close.
I’m not sure how the religious hypocrites out there can bring themselves to vote for an adulterer like McSame… isn’t breaking one of the commandments a bigger issue for you than whether or not a politician takes a firm stance on an issue that is (quite frankly) one of the least of our problems today? You claim to be pro-life, yet you’ll vote for a butcher who openly admits he’ll keep killing innocent people in Iraq for the next hundred years? How is that in line with the teachings of Christ?
A woman has a right to choose what to do with her body. She can kill the unborn.
You’ve got 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree murder. Dude gets drunk and wipes out a family of five in a minivan; unintentional murder. Stupid, stupid man. Girl gets drunk and forced into sex, rape, whatever; has a baby. Poor poor girl.
If abortion is her choice . . . it is murder. I’d say 6th degree as a starting point.
Should I have to pay for this crime no matter the degree?
BHO thinks so.
Above the Messiah’s pay grade?
What isn’t above his pay grade except for infanticide?
Liberals have gone from claiming that an unborn child is not alive (insanely ignorant) to claiming that a woman has a right to terminate the life — because of the 14th Amendment’s “right to privacy.” This was the basis for Roe v. Wade in 1973.
Does the “right to privacy” extend to anything that we think is proper? Do I have a “right” to kill a person who walks into my home — simply because I own the house? Yes — but only if my physical life is in danger of death. Thus, with this “castle law” rule of “privacy,” a woman should only be permitted to kill her unborn child if her life is in danger.
No matter how much the liberals like Obama bemoan this fundamental restriction, abortion is destroying a life.
Of course, Barack Obama wants to hide his hyper-liberal views about abortion for fear of alienating his supporters (especially the wealthy liberals who fund his political agenda).
Obama’s record in the Illinois state legistature speaks for itself (even though Obama tries to sidestep his record): He voted to uphold the barbaric practice fo “partial birth” abortion, to fund “secret” abortions paid for by the state for children as young as 10 yrs old without their parents ever knowing, and he voted to not extend health insurance coverage to unborn children for prenatal surgical procedures. Obama also opposed prosecuting or fining abortion doctors for killing a child that “accidentally” survives an abortion. Yeah, Obama’s position is clear — just don’t tell anyone!
While I don’t oppose abortion because of the numerous problems we would have if you have all these unwanted kids running around in the future, Obama’s answer was disgusting. This guy is afraid to give direct answers because he knows the American people won’t like it. He can give all the great speeches he wants with all sorts of catch phrases, but when it comes down to real policy issues, he hasn’t got a clue. Should come as no surprise from a guy whose only real job in life was as a community activist, give me a break. Even if you disagree with McCain on issues like the Iraq War, etc. you at least know you’ll have a president who gets it. The Obama ship is sinking.
Andrew makes a specious argument. The State is not forcing women to do anything at all, certainly not getting them pregnant by force. The argument is not about a personal belief as to the rightness or wrongness of abortion, but whether this country was, or was not, founded on the ideals of states’ rights. If it was, then Roe v Wade should offend every American based the fact that it circumvents the state’s right to decide for itself.
I think senator Obama weasled on the answer trying to hide his pro-abortion position.
I believe life starts before conception, spiritually.
This culture of sexual immorality and death in this country should no longer be condoned or supported financially by the government. Additional wrongs include masturbation, pornography, and most entertainment that depicts wrong doing.
End government grants to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
End abortion on-demand.
To the end of contraceptive pills and condoms.
To the end of forced abortions in communist China.
The comment from the atheist gives me hope. I’ve heard the bogus theory of evolution used as a reason for abortion.
Freedom of Choice for men and women:
1. Abstinence at any and all times
2. Sexual intercourse in a loving stable marriage ready to raise the children.
Not only are these choices within God’s ways, they will keep people from getting into trouble.
The only valid marriage is between one man and one woman.
Perhaps its semantics but shouldn’t a baby have human rights. A fetus (unborn child) is what most question as whether human rights are involved. It wasn’t that hard of a question. President of the United States is the top pay grade. Take a stand America!!!
Obama, again afraid to say what he really thinks. What he believes is, abort any baby any time during the pregnancy. That is his voting record. Why doesn’t he just come clean and admit that is what he believes?
Barack Obama would probably support abortion if there were some way that an unborn baby could vote for him.
His policies are, like other hyper-liberals, guided by his voters.
What pay grade is above that of the president? What a pathetic answer…..
The democrats say they are out to help the little people, the people who can’t help themselves? However they fail to protect the “littlest”, those people who are truly the most vulernable and cannot protect themselves. Hypocrites!
When asked about America’s greatest moral responsibility, Barack quoted from Matthew: “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” This was a good answer.
However, moments later when he indicated he would not support the protection of the very lives of truly the “least of these” — our unborn babies — he proved that he is no moral leader, and in fact that he is an unashamed hypocrite when it comes to moral responsibility.
I am pro-life based on scientific principles. Does this mean I am an un-educated fear-mongering redneck?
Senator’s Obama answer should have been the truth…that life begins at conception…for EVERY living organism. And that he, Senator Obama, believes it is the right of every woman in the USA to terminate that life, either while inside the womb, or outside (after a botched abortion) once delivered.
These are the FACTS.
Then, it is a choice for the American people as to which candidate they support on this issue.
Why can’t these politicians just say what they mean, and mean what they say ? It would make the whole “democratic” process so much more relevant, and meaningful.
If the comments, were a poll McCain wins hands down. Obama is out classed.
Above his pay grade??? What exactly does that mean?? I’m very serious – it made no sense to me. Did this make sense to anyone out there? If so – PLEASE explain as I would like to give Obama a fair chance.
Obama wasn’t making a joke when he said the decision was above his pay grade. He was saying the the choice of life or death is up to God and God alone. Are you so ignorant that you can’t see that? A president should always pale in comparison to God and by giving anyman the power to decide fate over the mother is to ratify a movement towards dictatorship. Is it a requirement to be blatenly blind and ignorant if you are a conservative?
Hurrah for Obamas refusal to pander to the right wing.
Only a few years back Mc Cain referred to their pastors as evil. But sheep don’t have long term memory I suppose.
Absurd!
Everybody knows that life begins when the stork arrives with a blessed bundle.
And abortion? All aborted fetuses go straight to Heaven where they play all day with God and Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and all the Apostles. So what’s the problem?
And marriage? Marry them all and let God sort them out.
noboidy fiorces you to have a baby but something as cruel as late term abortion is murder and being a mother i would not live live that down …let alone the emational havok you will face later in life
Let’s say that Obama really does want to reduce the number of abortions. (Who would be dumb enough to say publicly that they want MORE abortions?) What is his plan to do that? More training on how to put condoms on bananas?
As usual, Obama assumed that voters care more about his charisma than convictions–assuming he has convictions. It seems like people are beginning to recognize this.
The person who made the comment”Abortion is NOT a Contitutional government issue”. I must agree. However, it was made a constutional issue by liberal judges who have their own agenda as to what our society should be. Activist judges who make law have placed this issue before us. I certainly would not vote for a presidental candidate who would nominate more activist judges. No matter what his pay grade is. Obama is nothing more than a marketing creation puppet of the Left.
Obama made a very strong case that the Presidency is way above his pay grade.
I’m always amused by the “Against abortion? don’t have one” folks.
Against slavery? Don’t own one. Against killing abortion providers? Don’t kill one. Against beating up women? Don’t beat one up.
Some issues require champions that will stand and say “Some choices are wrong.” It astounds me that one of the most basic moral debates of our time is reduced by the “pro-choice” side to the moral equivalent of a trip to Baskin Robins.
No one is talking about forcing a woman to have a baby. There are lots of choices that get made before a baby enters the picture. To shift the burden of responsibility to the voiceless is cowardly and depraved.
When he said abortion was above his pay grade, it very obviously meant to me that he was saying he is not GOD – who McCain seems rather comfortable trying to mock.
If a woman has an abortion, it is between her and her God, not between her and her president. Abortions have gone down in the last decade due to improved birth control methods and the morning after pill, not because George Bush sleeps in the White House.
And I hate to be the one to break it to you, but if you believe that abortion is okay in the case of rape or incest, you are pro choice.
Barry, barrack voted 3 times to allow post live birth abortions. His friends in the Illinois legislature want to help hide the truth but he is a radical left wing socialist that hates the values that many in the “fly over” states value. His slogan- America is the greatest country on Earth- lets change it! what a moron – he is running for President and says a question is too sophisicated – guess he was in Harvard b/c of affirmative action- we don’t need a “victim” for prez