Obama: Mental distress can't justify late abortion
"WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says "mental distress" should not qualify as a health exception for late term-abortions, a key distinction not embraced by many supporters of abortion rights.
In an interview this week with "Relevant," a Christian magazine, Obama said prohibitions on late-term abortions must contain "a strict, well defined exception for the health of the mother."
Obama then added: "Now, I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term."
Last year, after the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on late-term abortions, Obama said he "strongly disagreed" with the ruling because it "dramatically departs form previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women."
The health care exception is crucial to abortion rights advocates and is considered a legal loophole by abortion opponents. By limiting the health exception to a "serious physical issue," Obama set himself apart from other abortion rights proponents.
The official position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group that endorsed Obama in May, states: "A health exception must also account for the mental health problems that may occur in pregnancy. Severe fetal anomalies, for example, can exact a tremendous emotional toll on a pregnant woman and her family."
The 1973 landmark abortion case, Roe v. Wade, established a right to an abortion, and a concurrent case, Doe v. Bolton, established that medical judgments about the need for an abortion could include physical, emotional and psychological health factors."
...
"David N. O'Steen, the executive director of National Right to Life, said Obama's remarks to the magazine "are either quite disingenuous or they reflect that Obama does not know what he is talking about."
"You cannot believe that abortion should not be allowed for mental health reasons and support Roe v Wade," O'Steen said."
SOURCE
I really hate the term "flip-flop" and the way it's thrown around...but Jesus Christ, this sorry excuse for a Presidential candidate is giving me whiplash! {See more on this in my next entry.}
People ask me why I hate him so much...this is why. I'm very much against the death penalty in all cases...during the primary so was he...and now there's exceptions. I'm very much for a woman's right to choose without question or apology...during the primary so was he...and now there's exceptions. I'm very much all about an immediate end to the illegal and irresponsible Iraq war...during the primary so was he...and now he's reconsidering. It's more than maddening, it's disgusting. He has played his left-wing supporters...and while I was never amongst them {saw it coming...yes I did!} I find it appalling. I'm disappointed {although not surprised} in him AND his followers. Ugh - to the whole thing. You know it's bad when you prefer Russian politics...seriously.
There is one good thing about this, however. The literal brick that NARAL must be shitting behind the scenes after this fills me with glee. They can make all the excuses they want, this looks really, really bad for them. After the way they endorsed Obama very close to the end as a blatant move to push Hillary out of the race, this is what they deserve. I hope Emily's List is getting a good laugh.
In an interview this week with "Relevant," a Christian magazine, Obama said prohibitions on late-term abortions must contain "a strict, well defined exception for the health of the mother."
Obama then added: "Now, I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term."
Last year, after the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on late-term abortions, Obama said he "strongly disagreed" with the ruling because it "dramatically departs form previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women."
The health care exception is crucial to abortion rights advocates and is considered a legal loophole by abortion opponents. By limiting the health exception to a "serious physical issue," Obama set himself apart from other abortion rights proponents.
The official position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group that endorsed Obama in May, states: "A health exception must also account for the mental health problems that may occur in pregnancy. Severe fetal anomalies, for example, can exact a tremendous emotional toll on a pregnant woman and her family."
The 1973 landmark abortion case, Roe v. Wade, established a right to an abortion, and a concurrent case, Doe v. Bolton, established that medical judgments about the need for an abortion could include physical, emotional and psychological health factors."
...
"David N. O'Steen, the executive director of National Right to Life, said Obama's remarks to the magazine "are either quite disingenuous or they reflect that Obama does not know what he is talking about."
"You cannot believe that abortion should not be allowed for mental health reasons and support Roe v Wade," O'Steen said."
SOURCE
I really hate the term "flip-flop" and the way it's thrown around...but Jesus Christ, this sorry excuse for a Presidential candidate is giving me whiplash! {See more on this in my next entry.}
People ask me why I hate him so much...this is why. I'm very much against the death penalty in all cases...during the primary so was he...and now there's exceptions. I'm very much for a woman's right to choose without question or apology...during the primary so was he...and now there's exceptions. I'm very much all about an immediate end to the illegal and irresponsible Iraq war...during the primary so was he...and now he's reconsidering. It's more than maddening, it's disgusting. He has played his left-wing supporters...and while I was never amongst them {saw it coming...yes I did!} I find it appalling. I'm disappointed {although not surprised} in him AND his followers. Ugh - to the whole thing. You know it's bad when you prefer Russian politics...seriously.
There is one good thing about this, however. The literal brick that NARAL must be shitting behind the scenes after this fills me with glee. They can make all the excuses they want, this looks really, really bad for them. After the way they endorsed Obama very close to the end as a blatant move to push Hillary out of the race, this is what they deserve. I hope Emily's List is getting a good laugh.