The delegate-rich primaries of Texas and Ohio will happen tomorrow, and the remaining candidates have been campaigning as hard as they can in the final days before the vote. I live in Texas and have been seeing a flurry of television ads in the last week or so.
I’ve also gotten telephone calls from the McCain, Huckabee, and Obama campaigns. Last week my answering machine had a pre-recorded message from Barack Obama himself. Earlier today, the Huckabee campaign called with a pre-recorded “push-poll.”
But the most interesting phone-call I have received was one that came about 8:45pm on Sunday evening. It wasn’t a pre-recorded message. There was a live voice on the other end of the line, and he was calling to drum-up support for Barack Obama. The conversation went something like this.
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Obama Supporter: Good evening. May I speak to either Dennis or [my wife’s name]?
Denny: Who’s calling?
Obama Supporter: I’m calling in behalf of the Barack Obama campaign. As you know, the Texas primaries are on Tuesday, and the polls will be open from 7am to 7pm. Can we count on you to cast your vote and to caucus for Senator Barack Obama?
Denny: Isn’t he pro-choice?
Obama Supporter: Yes, sir. I believe he is.
Denny: Doesn’t he think that it should be legal for a child to be killed at any stage of pregnancy from 0-9 months?
Obama Supporter: I’m not sure about that. Can we count on your support?
Denny: Didn’t I read that Senator Obama opposed a measure that would have protected the lives of infants who survived abortions? I think that’s barbaric.
Obama Supporter: Thank you for your time.
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I wasn’t making up the part about Obama’s refusal to defend infants who survived abortions. In 2003 when he was an Illinois state senator, he voted against and killed a bill that would have protected babies who survived abortions. As far as I can tell, that puts him to the left of NARAL on the abortion question (read here and here).
For infants dying on metal utility tables while gasping for breath in their final hours of life (read here), Senator Obama’s campaign is anything but a campaign of hope. His refusal to defend live-born infants was indeed barbaric, and I wouldn’t vote for him for dog-catcher, much less for President of the United States.
29 Comments
Brett
And I wouldn’t vote for Mike Huckabee or John McCain for septic tank cleaner, much less the president of the United States.
Mark Gibson
You’ve got to love the commentary of eight year olds.
Denny Burk
Brett,
Do you agree with Obama’s opposition to protecting in law the infant survivors of abortion? Do you think it should be legal for babies who survive abortions to be left to die?
Denny
Brett
Denny,
Of course not. However, I honestly don’t trust word of mouth or some article to tell me the facts. I would have to hear words from his mouth before I took a stance on the issue. It sounds like one of the most inhumane and barbaric acts known to mankind though…so if he is opposed to it, then he better have a darn good reason. You can build up straw man’s to make anybody look evil though.
I mean, do you agree with Bush’s preemptive strike on Iraq that killed thousands of innocent civilians? Not his decision for a preemptive strike (I know you probably agree with that), but the death of thousands of innocents?
Do you agree with John Calvin consenting and defending the case that Michael Servetus be executed? I would sure hope not, but I know you’re certainly pro-Calvin. Even if Obama did agree with this at some point in time, it doesn’t mean he does now. Every living person has something in their past that can tear them down and make them look bad.
I just think people are worried to death because it looks like Obama actually has a shot at winning. 20 years worth of pro-life presidents and straw man arguments hasn’t gotten Roe v Wade changed, and I am not placing my hope in it for this election either.
The main thing I take issue with is that we think if we can just get it overturned, then all will be well. I argue that the law is not the problem…the problem is sin. This is what Christians should be focusing on…not promoting Republican agendas and slandering Democrats.
I wasn’t disagreeing with your point about how bad and wrong it is, I’m arguing that we have a misguided focus. Sorry for the confusion, I just want people to see that their is more to this issue than the right-wing agenda.
brian
“pro-Calvin”
What does that even mean?
Denny Burk
No right-wing agenda here. If the tables were turned and a Democrat candidate were pro-life and the Republican were pro-choice, I’d vote Democrat in a heart beat. This is not a partisan issue for me.
Obama thinks it should be legal to for an unborn human to be killed anytime from 0-9 months gestation. He further believes that infants that survive abortions should be left to die. This is not the candidate of hope–at least not as far as the unborn are concerned.
Brett
Let me ask you an honest question then. Lets say (a hypothetical case) one candidate will do all in his/her power to fight for global poverty, for world hunger, to combat global warming and protect the environment, against discrimination, against unjust wars (e.g. Darfur), against the greed of the health, insurance, and oil companies, to better education, and to defeat terrorism…This person is mainly driven by making this world better and more peaceful. However, they are pro-choice when it comes to abortion.
Now the next candidate has no plans and does not care about global poverty, world hunger, the environment, discrimination, unjust wars, the greed of the health, insurance, and oil companies, bettering education, and defeating terrorism. This person is driven by greed and power. However, they are pro-life when it comes to abortion.
Who would you choose?
(This is a hypothetical case and does not reflect the beliefs of any candidates. The only reason I ask is out of curiosity…not to make a point, not to promote an agenda).
This is open to all, not just Denny.
Brett
Brian,
it means he likes Calvin. What kind of a question is that? Was that supposed to be making fun of me or something? It showed more of an ignorance than a shrewdness.
Quixote
This comment might fall on deaf ears, but I haven’t the self-control to keep silent.
Brett, regardless of political stance, your comments are full of contradiction. Case in point, you wrote: “However, I honestly don’t trust word of mouth or some article to tell me the facts. I would have to hear words from his mouth before I took a stance on the issue.”
That said, how can you be so venomous toward Huckabee and McCain? Have you spoken with each of them personally? What’s the difference (based on your criteria for belief) between them and Obama?
However, and perhaps more importantly, Obama’s stance on abortion is clear. And certainly NOT a thing of his past. Have you even been to his web site? Have you even listened to his speeches? His debates? He’s not trying to hide it. He’s using it to garner votes from prochoice citizens.
david h
Brett,
If I had to choose I would pick Mexico!
Fletch'sbud
Brett, you need to refrain from drinking that liberal Koolaid
Joe
Brett, it might do you well to check Obama’s record…That should be proof enough for you…Stay away from that farleft Koolaid
Brett
Fletch’sbud and Joe,
Stay away and refrain from drinking the extreme right guava juice.
Funny, nobody answered my question. Odd how that works.
Euphranor
Brett,
Your hypothetical assumes abortion is just one among many issues. In fact, it is a foundational issue because it assumes the sanctity of life. Why care about Darfur if human life is expendable? The right to life starts at conception and extends to all people at all times, in all circumstances, and in all places. So I do not think it is unreasonable to make it a primary issue, although to be sure, candidate B holds a corect view on abortion that is in contradition to his other positions.
Also, in regard to your second post, a candidates voting record is his/her (ha ha) position. They act as words from her own mouth. More proof is unnecessary.
Paul
Euphranor,
if what you say is true, then it only proves what many on the left have been saying for years:
the pro-life issue is ONLY on the Republican agenda because it brings evangelical right wingers to the voting booths.
Because, let’s face it, for all of Bush’s compassion for the unborn, where is his compassion for the life that is already born? It’s certainly not in Africa. It’s certainly not with our troops. It’s certainly not with those that have died during the natural disasters that have taken many lives during his tenure. And it’s certainly not with the relatives of impoverished folks in Texas, where he signed into law a bill that allows hospitals to pull the plug on terminal patients who can’t foot the bill.
And, since Denny will never mention this on the compassion front: where’s the compassion of Justice John Roberts, nearly in tears over the thought that Exxon would have to pay punitive damages for the tens of thousands of livelihoods destroyed in the Exxon Valdez wreck. This country’s republicans know little about compassion, and so to claim that being pro-life is some sort of magic door to compassionate thought is nothing short of ridiculous.
Let’s face it, if abortion is criminalized, the evangelical vote is then no longer crucial, at which point, they’ll have no bargaining chip to get you guys out in November. And if that’s the case, I know and you know that abortion will only be a carrot on a stick from now until Christ comes back.
Joe
Paul & Brett;
So far as I’m concerned abortion and late term abortion have naught to do with politics.Can’t speak for anyone else, just for me.
Paul
Joe,
I agree. But when it gets forced into the political realm, all of the sudden, there are some very strange bedfellows that one needs to deal with.
Thus is the situation that we deal with now. I am pro-life, but I cannot be a single issue voter, especially considering what the rest of the pro-life candidate’s platform is. Which is gut wrenching, honestly.
Lyn
I agree with this article and with the assessment of Obama’s outrageous stance. This is not just a freak story on the internet – it is Obama’s real commitment to abortion. How anyone could be so pro-choice is disturbing. I just hope that more people learn about the real Obama and that his fake, feel-good image fades as quickly as possible.
Quixote
Paul,
Kudos on not mentioning music, but it’s hard to take your comments seriously when you say things like, “…for all of Bush’s compassion for the unborn, where is his compassion for the life that is already born? It’s certainly not in Africa.”
Are you kidding me? Have you read non-Bushie Gedolf’s article about Bush? Check it out. Say what you want about Bush, but the man has done some amazing things for Africa.
So when you spout off the accusations that are proven to be false, it makes readers (like me) wonder if the rest of your comment is false too.
Brett
They will know that we are Christians by our laws, by our laws…Yes they’ll know that we are Christians by our laws!
Surely Jesus would be a Republican. He would vote if he lived in America. Jesus had a big emphasis on politics in his life, so we should too!
Quixote
Denny,
Is there a reason why all of my comments now have to go through moderation? Did I say something at some point to garner being put on the watch list? Regardless of my comment, each one is having to await moderation.
???
Don
Stop all the nonsense… Just look at the guys {obama} record and see he has like 97% record on lib topics… You people hated rudy fine … This guy makes rudy look like Rush Limbaugh… Wake up … Right wing left wing that’s all BS this guy stinks clinton stinks… McCain smells… That’s the choice.
Paul
Don,
why is “liberal” always a bad thing? Do you send your kids to public schools? That was a liberal notion. Do you take comfort in your 40 hour work week? Yet another liberal notion. If you served your country, did you go to college on the G.I. Bill? Yet another liberal invention. We could go on and on. Liberal rarely means bad, unless it’s bad to want to (not saying it always pans out) level the playing field.
True conservatism will only work when every person on the planet is the nicest guy ever. But as long as there are multinational corporations that believe that their bottom line is more important than the little guy, conservatism is a pipe dream. The sooner you realize that, the better.
Paul
Quixote,
“Kudos on not mentioning music…”
And kudos to you on hating your own culture so much that you refuse to support it. Take a shot when you can back it up with season tickets to the symphony, mang.
“…but it’s hard to take your comments seriously when you say things like, “…for all of Bush’s compassion for the unborn, where is his compassion for the life that is already born? It’s certainly not in Africa.â€
Are you kidding me? Have you read non-Bushie Geldolf’s (fixed) article about Bush? Check it out. Say what you want about Bush, but the man has done some amazing things for Africa.”
Great. He goes there, sees the tragedy up close and personal, and THEN decides to do something about it. He knew there were problems before he went, but sat on his hands until forced to see it in person. I don’t know why, but the picture of Jesus and Thomas really comes to mind here.
And while we’re at it, let’s talk about Bush’s completely insane demand that all U.S. funds for AIDS prevention have to go towards abstinence only programs. Talk about ethnocentrism in the extreme! Ethnocentrism and the classism that Bush often seems to embrace are both the products of a lack of compassion.
“So when you spout off the accusations that are proven to be false, it makes readers (like me) wonder if the rest of your comment is false too.”
One or two of my accusations here and there are proven to be false. I’m not a prophet, and I don’t claim to be one. If you’re going to hold me to prophet like standards, then I’m flattered, but really, I’m just a guy.
Trent G.
“One or two of my accusations here and there are proven to be false. I’m not a prophet, and I don’t claim to be one. If you’re going to hold me to prophet like standards, then I’m flattered, but really, I’m just a guy.”
So Paul, you admittedly spout off about things which you have no idea?
Good to know in the future.
P.S. I have seasons tickets to the symphony. Does that make me an authority?
Euphranor
Paul,
I am not arguing that Bush has taken the sanctity of life to its conclusion with his policies, only that sanctity of life *does* ground the other issues. If you are right then Bush is inconsistent, but someone can be inconsistently pro-life or pro-abortion, cant they. Also, I didnt say anything about getting out the republican vote nor am I interested in the pragmatics of getting votes. My concern is that Brett and others understand that your view on human life grounds other views. Again, you may be inconsistent, but they logically do ground other positions.
Quixote
Paul,
I have no idea what your first little rant was about…season tickets? hate my culture? huh? Anyway…
Did you READ the Geldof article? Bush has been doing MUCH in Africa for YEARS!! I won’t talk about it further until you read the article in full for yourself.
And, accusations are one thing, prophets as mouthpieces of God are another. I don’t think you’re a prophet. But even as “just guys” we ought not to slander.
Denny Burk
Obama’s refusal to defend infant survivors of abortion is a part of the public record. This is not a matter of dispute. Even he doesn’t dispute it. For more on his record, read here: http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/03/obamas-opposition-to-born-alive-infant.html.
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