Obama, McCain, and A Defining Issue

Last night I watched the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency. Here's a link to a summary on the event found at Marketwatch. I found the two interviews of Obama and McCain (one hour each) very helpful. Since they were both asked the same questions, the format allowed for easy comparison.

Abortion is a defining issue. So I was very interested in the answers of the two candidates to this question: "At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?" Here is Obama's response: "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 added, "I am pro-choice, not because I'm pro-abortion, but because I don't think women make these decisions casually."

My take on Obama's position is that he doesn't feel qualified as a scientist or theologian to articulate an opinion about when a baby gets human rights. His response is essentially an "I don't know." His second statement is more than a little unsettling. He seems to be saying that we should allow women the right to choose abortion because they don't make that choice lightly. Would this kind of logic serve our society well as it pertains to other activities? I am not trying to be ridiculous here, just trying to get at his logic. Would we respect the rights of one man to murder another because the murderer agonized over the decision to pull the trigger?

McCain's response to the same question was neither similarly nuanced nor hesitant. Warren: "At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?" McCain: "At the moment of conception." McCain added, "I have a twenty-five year pro-life record . . . and as President of the United States, I will be a pro-life President and this presidency will have pro-life policies."

I like the sound of that. His record suggests it is more than just sound.

Comments

[ms]

Like Obama, I have struggled with this issue: When does life begin? With Adam, it began with breath. Perhaps that first breath and cry is when the fetus/newborn is given a spirit or soul?
Although I am now pro-life, I have had to do some serious soul-searching to reach this position. My previous work with alcoholic mothers had me convinced that many of their children would have been better off going straight to God (if they did have souls). My sympathies were with the women who were part of the dreadful cycle of abuse and addiction.
Thank God He is compassionate; our sins mess us up from beginning to end.