Obama “clarifies” yet another position
Last Thursday, I noted comments Barack Obama made to the Christian magazine “Relevant” regarding whether or not he believed it was ok for a woman to have a late-term abortion due to “mental distress.” Here was his answer:
I have repeatedly said that I think it’s entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. 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. Otherwise, as long as there is such a medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term abortions.
Probably sensing that his position on the issue has alarmed The Ususal Suspectsâ„¢, he “clarified” his position today:
Reporter: You said that mental distress shouldn’t be a reason for late-term abortion?
Obama: “My only point is this — historically I have been a strong believer in a women’s right to choose with her doctor, her pastor and her family. And it is ..I have consistently been saying that you have to have a health exception on many significant restrictions or bans on abortions including late-term abortions.
In the past there has been some fear on the part of people who, not only people who are anti-abortion, but people who may be in the middle, that that means that if a woman just doesn’t feel good then that is an exception. That’s never been the case.
I don’t think that is how it has been interpreted. My only point is that in an area like partial-birth abortion having a mental, having a health exception can be defined rigorously. It can be defined through physical health, It can be defined by serious clinical mental-health diseases. It is not just a matter of feeling blue. I don’t think that’s how pro-choice folks have interpreted it. I don’t think that’s how the courts have interpreted it and I think that’s important to emphasize and understand.”
Here’s more “clarification” from the Obama camp:
According to Linda Douglass, the Obama campaign’s senior spokesperson, the senator from Illinois was making a distinction in the magazine interview between medically diagnosed mental illness and the kind of mental distress that an unwanted pregnancy causes many a pregnant mother.
“Mental distress is not an illness.” Douglass said. “He absolutely believes and has always said there has to be a health exception for serious physical and mental illness.”
Yeah, ok. Whatever.
This guy has got to have one of the most flexible political platforms in political history. No matter the issue, whether it be Iraq, FISA, NAFTA, public financing, special interests, or abortion (just to name a few), clearly he has no qualms about “shifting” his positions whenever he feels it’s necessary politically to do so, even at the expense of major grumbling amongst his most loyal supporters.
Barack Obama: Change You Can Believe In You Can Believe He Will Change His Positions On Any Given Day.
“Just words? Just speeches?“
Update 1: I meant to mention in this post that this afternoon when I got home from running some errands there was a message on my home from from BO’s Charlotte office asking me if I wanted to do some volunteering for him next week. LOL! Apparently they got my number off the slip of paper I filled out in order to obtain the ticket I did for the May campaign stop he made in Charlotte. Too bad I didn’t save the number – I might have called the guy back on Monday and asked him if he even knew who Barack Obama was anymore.
Update 2: ST reader Anthony quips in the comments:
On my own blog, I described it as the “Lazy Susan platform:” If you don’t like one choice, just spin the platter until you find one you do.
The Obama campaign: all things to all people, all in one day.
Perfect!