Obama considered joining military, regrets abortion answer

[Miss Chybil]

Source: Politico

Barack Obama says his answer about abortion at the Saddleback Church forum was “probably” too flip.

-clip-

Now, Obama tells ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an interview taped for “This Week”: “What I intended to say is that, as a Christian, I have a lot of humility about understanding when does the soul enter into … It's a pretty tough question. And so, all I meant to communicate was that I don't presume to be able to answer these kinds of theological questions.”

In the ABC interview, Obama goes on to give the answer he wishes he’d given: “What I do know is that abortion is a moral issue, that it's one that families struggle with all the time. And that in wrestling with those issues, I don't think that the government criminalizing the choices that families make is the best answer for reducing abortions.

“I think the better answer — and this was reflected in the Democratic platform — is to figure out, how do we make sure the young mothers, or women who have a pregnancy that's unexpected or difficult, have the kind of support they need to make a whole range of choices, including adoption and keeping the child.

-lots more-


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13217.html

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This is an excellent article. There is so much more. A must read. I really love this guy!

[Miss Chybil]

1. He took a few shots at "she who must not be named" in this article, as well.

Shameless self-kick. This is a really good piece.

[nightrain]

2. glad he did better this time on the abortion issue.

[whybaltimore]

3. joining the military shouldn't be a requirement

To be a president. I think it's a plus NOT to have belonged in a group that's sent all over the world to sow hatred and violence.

[Buenaventura]

6. It wasn't a requirement for both Adams (J & JQ), Jefferson, Van Buren,

Cleveland, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, FDR or Clinton.

[checks-n-balances]

11. Or NIXON or REAGAN either!! n/t

[tomg]

14. Actually, both Nixon and

Reagan were in the service. Nixon served in the South Pacific and Reagan first joined the Army Enlisted Reserve in 1937. Neither of them saw combat, but that is beside the point. Of my relatives who served in WWII, my father saw quite a bit of combat. Some uncles also did and others did not. They always saw each other as having served. Oh, as a CO, I obviously don't think military service should be a prerequisite for election to anything.

[anakie]

20. Clinton has military experience

It was just overlooked at the time. As Governor of Arkansas he was C.I.C of the Arkansas National Guard.


Peace

[EC]

4. He should have just said that it is above him

He's not God and only God gives life and it's not for him to say...

Then should have gone on from there to say there are proven ways to eliminate abortions if that were indeed the goal, that crimilizing it would make no difference, that it would only create a black market and of course we could then close our eyes to it still happening by saying "oh, no it doesn't happen, it's illegal" because that's how the right deals with everything, with closed eyes...

[ohio2007]

5. "regrets" abortion answer ? No, never admit being wrong

Barack Obama says his answer about abortion at the Saddleback Church forum was “probably” too flip.


I hope this type of flip flop comment won't be exploited or show up in the polls next week.

[tosh]

9. This is not a flip-flop or an admission. It is a rephrasing.

But you are right, it may be exploited.

[ohio2007]

15. it will be by the look of it

Obama Gaffe: "My Muslim Faith"

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGdkqfBICw

unless he clarifies he mis spoke it may be picked up by the MSM

[Divine Discontent]

7. I pray he's not too intelligent and breathtakingly positive-change for the voters...

they seem to fall for stupid stunts (Willie Horton ad) a bit too often. I'm very hopeful this time - B*sh has destroyed their party and Palin as McCain's pick - are you KIDDING ME?

MORE AT www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[snappyturtle]

8. I did not use the word regret. He answered, "Probably" when

asked if his answer on abortion at Saddleback may have been flippant....I thought he handled it honestly. It's not like he had the questions beforehand....ahem!

[trthnd4jstc]

10. I watched the Stephanopoulos interview.

To paraphrase what he said, he said that it the determination of when the sould entered the body was a determination by G-d, and not himself. We all make mistakes. Sen. Obama admits it when he does. Presidenting is hard. At least Sen. Obama is not a neo-conservative like John McCain, and at least Sen. Obama will work to improve our economy, and the plight of the 90%, unlike Sen. McCain.

Gobama!

[Miss Chybil]

12. I totally agree.

We don't need another "I've never done anything I regret" president. We need one who has the grit to take responsibility for his words and to clarify when them when he feels he needs to.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

18. That was his reply? Then he's being sensitive. In the Jewish religion the soul

is not supposed to enter the body of a baby until after it's born.

Joe Biden pointed out to Brokaw today that in his Catholic church it's at conception but Jews believe that life begins at birth and in Islam, once the baby is viable for birth.

[Quantess]

13. If this is about Obama's reply to a question "when does life begin?"

and Obama answering that, declaring when life begins is "above my pay grade"
---I don't think that was a flip answer at all.

It is not a President's job to decide when life begins. That is a personal matter, between a woman and her doctor. I don't want government to dictate when life begins.

[rayofreason]

16. Problem.

Obama said "I had to sign up for Selective Service when I graduated from high school..... But keep in mind that I graduated in 1979."

Selective Service was not reestablished until 1980 under Carter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System

Obama screwed up and misspoke. It is not a good sign.

[my3boyz]

19. He should avoid interviews like Palin and McCain. He is slipping up big time!

First the muslim comment and now this. He needs to let Biden handle the interviews. Biden did a great job today...........

[rayofreason]

21. People can get tired....

...and slip up.

A rest can rejuvenate.

[ohio2007]

25. Wasn't he in Hawaii on vacation the week of Russian troop movements ?

Going from +7 to a -5 = 12 pt swing


Now Barack trails by double digit swing in the polls !
wtf
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008...

I don't think it is due to a post convention bounce.Imo, it may be turning into a hemorrhage by the end of the week. Barack is going to have to demand a debate.

[FiveGoodMen]

27. You think it's a major problem that he forgot there were 12 or 13 months between

graduation and having to sign up?

'A year after I graduated' would have been more accurate, but it's the same message and a very minor error. He was just out of school and they started the registration back up.

[MadAsHell]

22. Well, I am also a 1979 grad ...

and I had to sign up. I am not quite sure when but I did sign up. IIRC, I had to sign up by my 18th birthday in the fall of 1979.

[rayofreason]

24. Turns out...

...Obama signed up in 1980, not 1979 when he graduated. Not a big deal, but any misstatement is a problem. Just like the "Muslim faith" slip. We know what he was saying, and it was a slight slip of the tongue with no import and immediately corrected.

But a couple of those in a debate......

[Miss Chybil]

28. Yes, he should have said "right after" high school. Now we're going to lose.

/sarcasm

Give me a break.

[amandabeech]

29. When registration for Selective Service was re-established in 1980,

it was made retroactive so that men of draftable age, as Obama then was, were required to sign up even though there had been no requirement for 5 or so years.

My recollection of that time was that young men had to show compliance with the Selective Service in order to get government guaranteed or government issued student loans, which I believe Obama received in college and law school.

Undoubtedly Obama did sign up, but it would have been during his freshman year in college.

His memory failed him on the time of his sign-up.

Your wiki article discusses the retroactivity but not the student loan requirement, which is purely from my memory, which is even older than Obama's. I would love to stand corrected on that point.

[Mesteryo]

17. He may need to be less academic...

Instead of going into a detailed informative description of why he's pro-choice he needs to just say it's not about when human life begins but how to balance a woman's right to control her body and the rights of a pre-born embryo/fetus.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

23. I read the clarification by Obama regarding his position on abortion and think to myself, "exactly!"

Which is often what I think when I read an Obama statement, or hear him speak. That's why he's my president.

The fact is, life is full of complicated issues, and these issues must be addressed using critical thought to come up with an appropriate solution. Unfortunately, life is such that complex problems often also come with complex solutions. Intelligent people, like Obama, understand this. Many Americans, however, simply don't like complicated answers to their questions, mostly, I believe, because they just don't have the patience for them. That's why so many Americans turn to the Republican party, for short, simple answers. The abortion issue is an excellent example of this and Obama nailed it.

Also, too many people make their decisions based on emotional bias, without giving the issue enough real thought. The Republican party exploits this behavior in Americans as well. Referring to their position as being "pro-life", for example, the Republican conservative is attempting to use rhetoric to give the appearance of being on higher moral ground, which, of course, isn't necessarily true. After all, who doesn't want to be considered "pro-life?" Lost in this gross over simplification are the millions of Americans affected by the issue. A reality Democrats like Obama are all too aware of and that's reflected in his position and in his statements here. If certain Americans took the time to really listen to Obama's assessment, perhaps they would realize his position not only better addresses the issue by protecting the rights of all affected, but also better fits the characterization of someone who could be considered "pro-life."

[and-justice-for-all]

26. When will they learn that religion has NOTHING to do with...

politics.

Religion distorts ones perspective of reality and reasoning.

[1Hippiechick]

30. I never had a problem w/his abortion answer. I GOT it & thought it was brilliant, insightful,

thoughtful, and demonstrated all the characteristics I would like to see in the leader of this country.

He is NOT advocating his PERSONAL beliefs; rather, he is trying to govern based on the constitution. That's what irritate the crap out of me about the fundies & Palin and the rest of the far right kooks: they want to legislate their PERSONAL beliefs into LAW.