Obama Infanticide Attack Being Readied By 527s, Pat Buchanan Says

A few weeks ago, the Huffington Post's Seth Colter Walls reported that Republican officials and outside groups were set to launch a smear campaign against Barack Obama, accusing the Senator of enabling infanticide.

The issue stems from a state version of the federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which proposed that any "viable" fetus surviving a late-term abortion receive sustaining medical care. Obama opposed the measure not because he disagreed with overarching purpose, but because of objectionable side-provisions such as a failure to immunize doctors from legal prosecution.

It was, Seth concluded, a ginned-up argument made more complicated by the fact the bill passed in 2005, "free of any other measures Obama had previously opposed."

And yet, the GOP seems hell bent on furthering the line of attack. In the minutes preceding Saturday's values forum with the presidential candidates, Pat Buchanan discussed Obama's alleged vulnerabilities on the issue of abortion before letting it slip that conservative groups were set to hit the Illinois Democrat on charges of infanticide.

"Barack Obama on the issue of life is further left than anybody in the Congress of the United States. He not only pro abortion but pro-abortion on demand, he is pro-late term abortion, pro-partial birth abortion, he objected to the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the ban. But most important, Barack Obama and the Illinois legislature supported, or rather opposed a bill that would have protected the life of babies born from a botched abortion who were alive, three times. And I do know Republicans are planning, or rather 527s are planning attack ads on this and I will be interested to see if Rick Warren brings it up."

Already, it seems, the wheels are turning. On Sunday, the Associated Press reported that, "a group purporting to tell the "real truth" about Barack Obama's views on abortion wants a judge to rule it is not subject to federal election restrictions on fundraising and advertising. The Real Truth About Obama Inc., a group formed by anti-abortion activists, is trying to establish a Web site and air radio ads. But the group's attorney says his clients fear they will be prosecuted for breaking federal rules that restrict fundraising and advertising by political action committees, or PACs."

As for Warren, he didn't bring up the issue of infanticide during the values forum, though he did quiz Obama to define when "a baby get[s] human rights."

"Well," replied the Senator. "I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade. But let me just speak more generally about the issue of abortion because this is something obviously the country wrestles with. One thing that I'm absolutely convinced of is there is a moral and ethical content to this issue. So I think that anybody who tries to deny the moral difficulties and gravity of the abortion issue, I think is not paying attention."

Comments

[valleygent]

And the women in this country will be protesting when Roe vs Wade goes down, should Obama lose this election. Seems to me that it is rather time for those that are Pro-Choice to vote in solidarity. Perhaps the Pro-Life movement is on the verge of a victory?

[joanjourne]

A radio caller today raised a very good point: Progressives need to frame this not as "the abortion issue" but as "woman's right to choose" issue. "Pro-Choice" does not mean pro-abortion, as anyone with a brain is aware. No one is "pro" abortion. The right uses the term 'abortion' because it emphasizes the negative and ignores, as Obama said, the ethical and moral aspect, as well as the difficulty and gravity of making this sort of decision.
This "infanticide" charge is so unbelievably low and ugly, but more importantly, so absurd that I think Obama can successfully counter it with humor, with incredulity . He's done such before. Quite honestly, I think it's actually imperative for him to laugh at these people.

[suec03]

The right to make difficult choices about childbearing without government interference. Not so different from the Terri Schiavo situation of family members making difficult health decisions privately without government interference. Treat us as adults capable of making a decision, not little girls who need politicians in Washington to tell us what to do.

[mike53]

Instead of pro-abortion maybe it should be pro-dead baby.

[Penny123]

I agree with you joanjourne. Obama have to constantly take his time when he speaks because he's always reminding himself that he has a tendency to talk over peoples heads. He appears to speak deliberately and even in doing so often forget that he is talking to people who are oftentime very narrowminded.

[useyourbrain]

To these pinheads it doesn't matter. They don't do subtle. To them, pro-choice is pro-abortion. Don't waste your time trying to educate them. If they were open to information they wouldn't be the ignorant dolts they are.

[independentblogger]

"No one is 'pro' abortion". Why not?

Why, if it's not a "life", and thus not worthy of legal protection, are you not pro abortion? Nothing wrong with being pro-abortion if you don't believe it's life.

You Dems just say this stuff to pander. Your real position is that you don't care either way, because you don't consider a fetus a person. That would be your honest position. And it's a legitimate one, logically speaking.

But, you go on and on about wanting to minimise abortion rates. Why? Who cares about the rates if it's not life? If you truly believe they need to be minimised, then you concede that there's something morally wrong with it, in which case what is it that's morally wrong? Umm... that you're taking a life?

You people just suck so badly. (The Republicans are just as bad, btw, but you guys on here are all Dems so I'm taking you lot down today).

[sharonh]

You mean the surge worked?

[thinklib]

Relax.

IF Roe v. Wade ever goes down, and that's a big IF, it's not going to outlaw abortion. It will simply send the issue back to the state/local level.

If you live in a liberal area (basically any big city), you'll still be able to get your precious abortion.

[Gidster]

You speak as if an abortion is a celebrated event. That simply shows your ignorance of the issue. A woman should have the right to choose how and what to do with her body, she alone must make that agonizing choice.

[valleygent]

Listen ThinkLib I am a man well beyond the years to have to consider anything to do with an abortion, so your lilttle crack about precious abortion is simply uncalled for, ASSumptive, and juvenile in its intellectual dialectic. My statement is not pro abortion in any way...my statement is a remark on American women voting for an issue that they claim is important to them. I am well aware of the legal ramifications between state rights and Roe. If you are going to post on another's comments try to at least sound as though you read them.

[Tommygun264]

Yeah, Buchanan really has his finger on the nation's pulse. Does he even have a pulse?

[useyourbrain]

Wait a minute. Buchanan does not have any children and is married. Since he and others say that marriage is only for procreation, why is he allowed to be married? Doesn't seem fair, does it?

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

This is going to back fire on them in a BIG WAY. No one, not even in America, is stupid enough to fall for this ploy!

[useyourbrain]

Come again? Almost everyone in America is dumb enough to fall for this stuff. They did for the celebrity ad. They think McDonalds is food.

[orangepetal]

Hey Obama, why you so radical ? What were you thinking ?

[sunshine2you]

Calling a politician a liar is like calling the pope cathoic. McCain and Obama have no true values other than getting elected. The only way we will know the true man is after the election.

[SDindependent]

The number of lies grow.................

McCain voted FOR the bear DNA study he decries in his town hall meetings.
Cindy is not an only child as she claims when on the stump with McBush
The cross in the dirt story was lifted the second speech line that has been plagerized

[darthmaul]

"Barack Obama on the issue of life is further left than anybody in the Congress" I just heard almost these exact words from a guest on NPR's newshour discussing the talk at Saddleback. The talking points have been distributed. This will be the party line. Note that this NPR piece didn't mention any of the questions that have been raised as to McCain getting prepped on the questions ahead of time. Wasn't brought up at all.

[useyourbrain]

It's almost funny how evangelicals, et al, are so caught up in the fetus' life. I wish they were one tenth as concerned about the child and young adult that follows? They aren't. They are not really Christian or they would adopt every baby and make sure all children had health care, shelter, food and an education. But they truly believe you only deserve these things if you have money. What was it that Christ said about the most unfortunate of us? What were we supposed to do? I have been soooo busy shopping, texting, watching videos and everything, it just slipped my mind.

[aquarharris688]

It is ultimately up to the woman and her god about what decision she makes. Who are we to judge?
This is a personal issue and no man has a right to make this decision for any woman unless they are willing to carry to full term. Get my drift, you may have your opinion but you do not control.
The Republicans are liars just like Obama said.

[mexicanamerican1948]

That is an opinion and it an opinion if there is a god, which your right. Rights of children are in play here and so many here disagree with your opinion. The issue is more than you.

[AzRealProgressive]

good point.

[suec03]

I think most women understand instinctively that in matters of pregnancy there is another potential life at stake. What is insulting is the assumption that we aren't already taking into account the kind of life we want to provide for that child. We may want children at some point but know that this pregnancy is in spite of our best precautions (rape, using contraception that malfunctioned, etc.) or due to very poor decisionmaking when under the influence of alcohol, etc. Whether to bring that pregnancy to term is a very serious, often wrenching, always personal decision. A woman may consult her family, her closest friends, her doctor, her minister, but women should be supported in being the makers of the decision.

[independentblogger]

okay, as someone from the UK who follows this all very closely, and genuinely independent, just one question for each:

McCain: if he believes life starts at conception, and believes that all abortions should as a result be illegal, then how can he support stem cell research? if it's a life, then taking it is wrong, and taking life is never justified for "science".

Obama: why does he and all democrats insist on the mantra "abortion is not right, we need to cut the number of abortions, but it should be legal, etc. etc.". If you don't believe that a foetus at, say 12 weeks, is "life", then who gives a damn what the hell the woman does with it? If it's not life, then why not 100m abortions not 40m? If you want to cut abortions because you do think it's life, how can you possibly argue that it's the decision of a woman whether to end that life? Pro-choice only works if the choice is not killing a person.

both huge contradictions. thoughts?

[kellygrrrl]

MkKain is OK with "adult" stem cells being used.

0bama is OK with embryonic stem cells from frozen embryos that are going to be discarded

[Scarlet57]

The whole point is that when life starts is open to interpretation - does anyone know with certainty? Can science anwer? Can theologians answer? I know I can't....That's why people including myself support choice. Supporting choice leaves open the question and lets each person come to the conclusion that in their mind, heart and soul is correct for them and their circumstance. Being pro-choice is not the same as being pro-abortion.
Further it's very clear that children and babies who have found themselves targets of American made weapons were alive and I don't hear pro-lifers worrying about that...The whole pro-life thing is something that gets pulled out every election year to get the "base" worked up. We have a pro-life president right now but do we still have abortions? Yes - because it like gay marriage is just an election year issue.

[Savetheworld]

Well said, Scarlet. Republicans are only concerned about being "pro-life" when it benefits them. They don't want abortions yet they'll cut social programs that benefit young and poor unwed mothers....dispicable. I can't believe people continue to fall for this crap.

[sunshine2you]

I picked up on McCain's hypocricy in support of embrionic stem cell reasearch right away. That is why Evangelicals do not trust him. Myself included. Obama will not persuade evangelicals to vote for him unless he says that he will not use a litmus test for judges on abortion. Name one judge that a Democratic president appointed that was pro life. Souter and Stevens were nominated by Republicans and are pro-choice. Fool me once shame on you, McCain won't fool me this time. We will stay home.

[ParanoidPollyanna]

Mothers Against Drunk Driving should make a Commercial about Beer Company Owners OPPOSING Mothers who are trying to prevent deaths of innocent babies, children & teenagers from drivers under the influence of ALCOHOL. The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) should run a PSA Commercial, about how ALCOHOL such as in the BEER which made McCains WEALTHY & bought their fancy JETSETTER Elite LIFESTYLE, with EIGHT or more Expensive HOMES, how it is a cause of not only Babies being born permanently DAMAGED by Alcohol, but Babies born with CLEFT PALATE & CLEFT LIP -- serious facial deformities which require extensive SURGERY, for the Baby as it grows to not be treated like a FREAK.

While the SMEAR Campaign Ad is running against Senator Obama, let's have a PSA about how many INFANT miscarriages -- which means the BABY DIES -- are caused by ALCOHOL? How many Pregnant Women, Babies & Children are BEATEN by drunk?
Sen. John McCain makes JOKES about Drinking and REHAB. I guess he thinks PONG PARTIES for College Kids? If Sen. McCain becomes President, there goes the National ALCOHOL Prevention Programs' FUNDING for our Schools!

INFANTICIDE?? Ask the local Hospital EMERGENCY ROOM how many teenagers and even younger, are admitted with ALCOHOL POISONING. Ask the local Obstetricians and Pediatricians how much a problem DRINKING by pregnant women. And since John McCain believes life begins at Conception, he needs to support a LAW banning ALCOHOL SALES to ALL Women of CHILD-BEARING AGE, from age 11 yrs. old to

[ning3000]

I don't see abortion as an evil to be lessened. 90 some percent of abortions are performed on a clump of cells, not so different from a heavy period. If it can't live outside the mother, then it's a part of the mother. Most people draw the line at consciousness. When the fetus becomes cognizant, when the brain lights up. That's why third trimester abortions are not done save for medical reasons. When it can perceive and interact out of the womb it's an independent being. Before that, it's an unactivated human vessel. Life means conscious awareness to most. An afterlife almost always means awareness surviving death. We see no point in continuing the financial burden on families who have a loved one in a coma but could live for decades, and be horrified at a family who pulled the plug on their conscious relative suffering from terminal cancer, even though she has only days left. The squirming you see is democrats not wanting to look callous because god forbid they uttered in public that first and second trimester fetuses are not alive in any significant way. The republicans hedge the other way because they want to seem moderate. Most politicians are pro-choice, it's just a wedge issue for republicans. It's a similar cultural quirk to the presidential candidates being interviewed in a church by a preacher. Abortion and religion both need to be adequately genuflected to in American politics or you will be seen as a monster.

[unity08]

I am pro choice and a democrat but I beg to differ with the statement "that first and second trimester fetuses are not alive in any significant way."
I do wish that we could find ways to cut abortion. Better more easily available contraception, Also easier more affordable adoption (if thats choice is viable) This is such a wedge issue because the two sides cant agree on anything at all.
Its not about all or nothing here. Its always the womans right to choose but more real choices and reducing the abortion rate would be a good thing.
It would be even better if more effective male contraception was thrown into the mix.

[sstansbe]

Obama never said whether he believes if a fetus is or is not life. He says he doesn't know the answer to that question. But knowing that this is a huge moral issue to many, he recognizes the need to reduce the number of abortions. To say that pro-choice "only works if the choice is not killing a person" is a rather limited take on the subject. Pro-choice doesn't need the question of whether or not the fetus is a person to be answered. It is about a woman's choice to do with her body as she chooses, regardless of whether or not you think the fetus is life.

[independentblogger]

"knowing that this is a huge moral issue to many, he recognises the need to reduce the number of abortions". my god, is that your best? it's like saying recognising that the iraq war is a huge moral issue to many, he recognises the need to pull out troops. you can only have a view on whether abortions should be reduced in number if you have a view on whether aborting a foetus is wrong for some reason - if it's not, because it's not "life", then you have no reason to care.

"Pro-choice... is about a woman's choice to do with her body as she chooses". And you said my statement was a "limited take"!!!? Are you kidding? Again, the question of whether it is just a woman's choice what she does with HER body can only be answered if you have a view on whether a foetus is life or not. If it's life, she can't do as she likes. If it is not life, she can, and again, no one should care what the hell she does with it.

I love the arrogance of you people (R and D). You think you've got the points nailed, but you're just not clever enough to make logical argument.

[dartagnan]

Why hasn't HuffPo picked up the story about McBush either making up or stealing (from Aleksander Solzhenitsyn) his touching story about the prison guard drawing a cross in the dirt when he was a POW? Andrew Sullivan at Atlantic Monthly broke it. If it holds up it will be absolutely devastating to McBush, especially with the evangelical crowd.

[AzRealProgressive]

Somehow I thought this thread had to do with abortion.

[AZM]

Let us hope that we continue to live in a country where minorities do not make laws for the rest of us. The decision to have an abortion is a personal decision, it is not a decision made by the state (or federal government). Imagine if a minority were able to get laws passed that affect the rest of us. Some small group might just decide that women should not be allowed to drive (e.g., Saudi Arabia), or some other small group might decide that women should wear full-length garments that conceal all but their hands and eyes (e.g., Iran).

[Savetheworld]

Hmm...interesting post considering that it's the majority making decisions that affect minorities that have caused the most problems....we have several examples of t his in American History...don't think i really need to get that specific. Can you imagine what would happen if gay marriage went on the ballot...it would be the majority deciding about the rights of a very small minority. I agree, abortion is a personal decision, but your reasoning is off.

[ParanoidPollyanna]

I wonder how many WIVES have husbands who leave them when they get PREGNANT, for another WOMAN or WOMEN? I wonder how many women whose husbands leave them, struggle to raise their babies alone? There are too damn many "FAITHFUL" Husbands like John Sydney McCain the III, who dance off merrily into the Sunset, leaving a young teen mother or an older Wife, with kids who maybe isn't so young or healthy or pretty anymore?

I would bet that the ECONOMIC situation that faces MOST women whose Husbands DESERT them, causes a lot of unwanted but desperately decided upon ABORTIONS. Most deserted Wives don't have the RICH SECOND WIFE to come to the "Rescue", to support them. (How HUMILIATING that must have been, to have your HUSBAND run off with a man EIGHTEEN Years younger, and then have to BEG for her to help you and your Kids SURVIVE because you can't work due to Car Accident and serious Injuries? It must have been a SILENT "hushed up" HELL for Carol McCain.

Probably they told her, "Now, we'll give you $$$$$$ amount of MONEY to support you and the children, but you CAN NEVER SPEAK THE TRUTH about who JOHN MCCAIN really is."
Facing massive hospital and doctor bills, with kids to support, I don't BLAME her for keeping her MOUTH shut.

[BeltwayBette]

And how did Cindy injure her arm? You know,the second wife who committed adultery with McCain for 9 monhts in Carol's home town and is now willing to let Cain call her C**T. Now they are a really charming couple to be First Lady and Prez. Really classy.
But like I asked: How did Cindy the Kazillionaire injure her arm?
My the3or4y is a manwho willcallhis wife thatname because, as he said, she didn't like his haircut, will not stop at just words.
So... how did Cindy injure her arm? It's in a cast and silence reigns. It's not like McCain to pass up a chance to make folks feel sorry for him or her. So?????
Can you see Obama less than loving to Michelle? Nope.

[Hammerkraut]

The NRLC, the org. that obtained the Illinois Senate documents on this matter, has challenged Obama to declare their documents forgeries or admit that he's been lying and apologize to the NRLC. They sound pretty confident that they've got Obama dead to rights on this.

[AzRealProgressive]

I had not heard that, can you elaborate more?

[rosiebond007]

I AM REALLY TIRED OF THESE GREY HAIRED OLD, OLD MEN TELLING US WOMEN WHAT TO DO.

THEY HAVE TOTALLY LET US DOWN BY CONSIGNING US A DUMB AND STUPID.. WE WOMEN ARE WELL AND ABLE TO THINK FOR OURSELVES WITHOUT THEIR LAWS OF RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT FOR US. BY AND LARGE, WOMEN DO NOT MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT ABORTION LIGHTLY. THEY WOULD FAR PREFER TO HAVE ADEQUATE AND FREE FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE FOR EVERYONE WITH GOOD UNBIASED INFORMATION. WE HAVE BRAINS AND WE CAN THINK IT THROUGH.

HOW ABOUT PENALIZING THE MEN WHO IMPREGNATE WOMEN WHO SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE TO REQUEST AN ABORTION ???????? OR CHARGES AGAINST MEN FOR "OVERUSAGE" OF VIAGRA AND FORGED PRESCRIPTIONS ??? LET'S RE-DIRECT SOME ENERGY HERE.

CAN'T THEY FOCUS ON SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT - LIKE OVERPOPULATION, SENATORIAL SCANDALS, IMPEACHMENT, LOBBY GROUPS, CORRUPTION ??????

[AzRealProgressive]

Reproductive rights. A womans choice according to you. Why would you penalize any man for impregnating a woman when it is her choice alone to get pregnant, or not ? How then is he responsible for her choice?

[seriously29]

This is to ignite the evangelist. He doesn't care at all about anyone else or what they think. He wants to win.

It is up to women to take their power back. mcevil is hoping women stay home barefoot and pregnant instead of coming out in November,

[chelliza]

I think McCain should have been prodded as to what he would do with all of the baby's he thinks he would save if abortion became illigal. (If they weren't aborted by a back street butcher or from the use of a coathanger). Will he make sure the child's mother has health care during her pregnancy? Will he make sure the child has enough food, clothing, etc.? Will he make sure it gets equal opportunities? I think he is pro birth and it stops there. There is nothing Christian about this man.

[Toonadude]

McCain's plans for the unaborted is obvious....... they will fight the future, endless wars. They are also needed to pay down the debt to China. He knows women with money can always get a safe abortion in Canada.

And if you don't have money? Well.....................

[AzRealProgressive]

Here is an eternal optimist. He just can't see anything positive happening to America if Mccain is elected. Somehow history will blow up America if that happens.

[daniebordo]

Hey Chelliza: Mothers ought to know how not to get pregnant...easy asj that ...then you don't have to deal with all the [and, if's}....now Obama is wanting to protect the Doctors who have to take care of the byproduct of a failed abortion...come on now....they're big boys those doc's... ...and I believe doctors can take care of themselves....don't need Obama....when you finish Medical school, you take the Hippocratic Oath whereby you swear to defend Life....An Oath is between You and God...Enough food or clothing and a fear that tomorrow you'll need some and have none is no reason to kill your baby.....

[dartagnan]

"I think he is pro birth and it stops there. "

"Right-wingers believe the right to life begins at conception and ends at birth."

At the fundamental level, it's not compassion or love for the poor innocent little "babies" (fetuses) that motivates the right-to-life fanatics -- it's the conviction that sex is sinful and the "sinner" must be made to "pay." If they really were so full of Christian compassion and love they would be outraged that children -- real, living, breathing, already-born CHILDREN, not blobs of tissue the size of a pinhead -- are DYING every day in this country from treatable and preventable diseases.

[Scorpio13]

Excellent post!

[seriously29]

mccain is a narcasist. he doesn't care. he just wants to slander and or destroy Obama in order to win.

then he will rule in an unbelievable horrific way. just as he has in his marriages. cindy looks like a stepford wife. it means trouble if she gets out of line.

[ParanoidPollyanna]

They WANT overpopulation, lots and lots of babies, it is a demographic thing, they want their WHITE women to have lots of babies, or the teeming hordes that give xenophobe Pat Buchanan such nightmares he has to wear ADULT DIAPERS to beddy bye time, will "win" the population competition!

As for the baby Cindy McCain adopted, I think maybe that was either to garner sympathy, cuz she knew the KEATING FIVE Scandal was about to erupt, or her DRUG THEFTS and Drug Addictions were about to be revealed, or maybe the McCains wanted to DEFLECT the News Media from doing any serious INVESTIGATIVE Reporting to see if there were any little McCAIN children amongst all the Jetset Playboy's WOMEN he had all those Sexual Affairs with!

Just one of the STRANGE oddities in the McCain Family saga. Cindy McCain doesn't strike me as the kind of woman who would just drag home a stray BABY, especially an AFRICAN baby? Hi Honey, I'm HOME, and guess what I brought you from AFRICA, John?

[seriously29]

Actually mother teresa knew that cindy was kind hearted and begged her to take the little girl.

when she got back home she said to mcevil, "meet your daughter", mcevil just walked off and has never made any connection to the child ever.

[takeamericanback08]

Bring it on 527's because there's nothing you can say or do that will erase the dissappointment and embarrassment that McCain has shown to the world.