| REVIEWER | RATING & REVIEW |
 | Moosekarloff (22)
10/30/2008 |  Since this issue hasn't been indisputably determined by science, or prescribed by law, Obama's answer was just a glib response to a question no one can definitely answer. Yet, that doesn't keep the rightwingers on this board from getting all over his case about it. They should give it a rest already, because they're coming off as a not-so-swift cadre of small-minded and petty soreheads who are (1) cheezed that the GOP candidate is very likely to get stomped next week, (2) uncomfortable with the idea of a half-black man being President, and you have to question their motives for that, (3) childishly resistant to the idea that major change is about to occur in this country, (4) chagrined that the left side of the political ledger is going to seize the day, and quite possibly call the shots for many years to come. Their side had the opportunity to lead for the better part of the last decade, and they ended up leading us to Hell in a handbasket. And the rightwing dingbats who oppose Obama are, for the most part, the idiots who put Handjob Bush in office, and thereby contibuted significantly to the major problems now facing the country. They should stow it, already, because their shtick is really, really old. It was once quite tiresome, but now it's getting downright annoying.
(3 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 2 agree) |
 | numbah16tdhaha (166)
10/29/2008 | Who else thought this was the stupidest thing he said at that event?
UPDATE: So I gotta take another cheapshot. Its seems to me like Obama would sign off on mother's having the right to smother any difficult child under the age of 18. Sorry, but that's how he came off...
UPDATE: For all the carrying on I've heard about this, I'm going to put this as plainly as I can. HE DUCKED THE QUESTION. Why? You tell me...
(5 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 2 agree) |
 | SilverFox (36)
10/29/2008 | Note that the question of when human life begins is separate from the issue of abortion, as recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade (1973). Those below who accuse Obama of not stating his position on abortion therefore missed the point. They aren't the same issue.
Obama, being a constitutional scholar and former professor of constitutional law for many years, undoubtedly knows that there's no consensus yet as to when human life begins, and that ultimately the issue may have to be decided in the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal minds at least as great as his have struggled with this exact question. In Roe v. Wade (1973), which dealt with the issue of abortion, the court stated that it was not necessary to decide the issue of when life begins: "We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer."
The answer to the question of when life begins is not as simple as some below would have us believe. Has life begun the instant a female egg is fertilized, even if it hasn't yet implanted into the uterus? Is it even an embryo, or does it first have to implant in the uterus to be an embryo? Does life begin when an embryo implants, or only when it becomes a fetus after the eighth week of development? The answers to these and related questions vary depending on who defines the terms.
I think Obama knew very well that there's no consensus definition yet. My interpretation of his answer is that he was saying, in effect, "at this point, only God knows."
(2 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 1 agree) |
 | Victor83 (62)
10/28/2008 | This was not an answer- it was and evasion. But then, we all know where Obama stands on the abortion issue, including and up to infanticide.
(2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 2 agree) |
 | CanadaSucks (51)
10/11/2008 | The intelligent were intrigued as they mused over an interesting answer that wavered between a positive or a moderate response. The zealotry and 'faithful' were obviously horrified.
("How dar u not tri tuh put mah noledge of gawd intu a secular constitution!")
(4 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 0 agree) |
 | frenchiefastwaves (6)
10/11/2008 | So what if he's pro-choice and didn't want to scream it out loud? What's wrong with the idea that "women should have complete control over their fertility and their pregnancy"?
(2 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 2 agree) |
 | lmorovan (20)
10/10/2008 | I would say many things are above his pay grade. Except, of course, brainwashing. He has many years of experience and had some very good (questionable) advisers in the field.
(1 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 2 agree) |
 | spinette (17)
09/04/2008 | The idea of the conception of life is vital in understanding human life in and of itself. Imagine a kid who wants to grow a plant. He plants some seeds in the dirt, gives the seeds water, and waits for 6-8 days to watch it begin to sprout. Life for people that are anticipating life feel that same sense of anticipation. If the sense of right or wrong of the idea of conception gets triped up and we begin a cats craddel of what is right and wrong with conception, according to major theorist, major debate, and bring in the leftist and rightest of the pro and con debate, by gosh we never have conception anymore. Both sides would be so dead set against the others agenda, that finding the needle in the haystack would only colude the one with the other. People need to stop agonizing over the right and wrong and just be responsible for their choices. But getting back to the kid watering the seeds, yea.
(3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | FranksWildYears (63)
09/04/2008 | I think he was misquoted actually. I heard he said that in terms of priority "knowing when human life begins was above the gay parade".
In the same manner that the televised debate sank Nixon in '60 in spite of the fact that radio listeners thought he won, the extent that YouTube has focused the national discussion on whether a candidate misspoke, fumbled for an answer, burped or farted has seriously divereted the discussion from the issues. This thing; Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran; 57 states; and not knowing how many houses you have has nothing to do with whether someone will make a good President.
(2 voted this helpful, 4 funny and 4 agree) |
 | pugwash01 (17)
09/04/2008 | If you really think about this statement you may understand what he is trying to say!! I will admit that I initially thought badly of this, but after much thought I started to see were he was coming from!! Think on this; is it really a presidents job to decide for others weather something is moral or not? Is it a presidents job to decide a personal choice between life and death? Is it a presidents job to out rightly speak about something that does not affect him physically? Is it a presidents job to speak about other peoples rights and then decide for himself?
Hey I'm pro life through and through, but I could never make such a hard choice because I'm a man and secondary I'm accountable to God alone. All my decisions will be judge by God! To false an issue and grade a person on one response is not right. But to understand that a man thinks that this is a decision for others IE the people, Hmmm just think about that!
(2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | louiethe20th (79)
08/27/2008 | This was almost as dumb as the comments he made about his Uncle in WWII, but why am I not surprised at this answer? I agree with Eschew, it never stopped Obama before from exclaiming his pro-choice (murder) stance. What happened to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Does abortion extend these rights to the unborn child?
(5 voted this helpful, 4 funny and 2 agree) |
 | irishgit (161)
08/26/2008 | This is exactly the kind of moment that makes political aides wince. I suspect this was off the cuff rather than a planned response, which is always dangerous for a candidate.
If this was a planned response, his staff needs a rehaul.
In today`s political climate a candidates flippancy is reported ad nauseum. So we will hear this, as we will hear McCain`s `Bomb bomb bomb Iran` again and again. We are working in an environment where candidates for high office are under a microscope that almost no one can withstand. Mis-speaks are bound to happen. Fifty years ago they would have been ignored, or not reported at all. Today, they are constant fodder.
(5 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree) |
 | GenghisTheHun (184)
08/26/2008 | Superbly stupid! His pay grade, that he is trying to achieve, is to have answers. What else is above his pay grade?
(2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree) |
 | EschewObfuscation (71)
08/26/2008 | Liberals find this deft, verbal gamesmanship admirable. Does the most stalwart advocate of reproductive rights in the Senate really not know his own stance on this simple fundamental question? Above his "pay grade? " It should remain so. Stand for something or you'll fall for anything. It's not a trick question.
(3 voted this helpful, 2 funny and 1 agree) |
 | magellan (179)
08/26/2008 | I don't understand why this is offensive. It's a big, complicated question, and if anything, Obama's answer shows a bit of humbleness - which is unusual for him.
(4 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 1 agree) |
 | tthom64 (0)
08/25/2008 | Since science has not proven an exact time for the beginning of life, we as a society must make a choice. If we all do as Obama and decide not to decide, then this issue will rage on. If we can effectively come to a consensus on something logical from what we know - either at conception or at time of birth - then we can move on and address ways to protect life from that point.
Though this is not a pressure issue to me, it is one more reason I would not vote for Obama. He needs more experience and time to think about these things and take a stand.
(0 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Donovan (142)
08/25/2008 | Just answer the question please! I think his failure to answer was simply his way of avoiding conflict. Will he do the same thing if he's elected President and is asked a difficult question.
(3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Automatt (47)
08/25/2008 | I think that this is a clever thing to say. What's all the fuss about?
(1 voted this helpful, 2 funny and 1 agree) |
 | Wiseguy (57)
08/25/2008 | A simple I don't know would have been alright, although this would not
have worked when McCain was asked how many houses he owned, McCain
should have said; I can fit all my houses inside one John Edwards house.
(2 voted this helpful, 5 funny and 1 agree) |
 | fitman (52)
08/25/2008 |
(4 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 0 agree) |
 | twansalem (48)
08/25/2008 | It certainly has a lot to do with why I'm not voting for him.
(2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | nesher (16)
08/25/2008 | Tha was really stupid. But who said that the President has to be a smartest man in the country? If he can choose the good team, he might be fine...
(2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree) |
 | Ridgewalker (69)
08/25/2008 | I think this is a huge part of a larger issue, in that he sat on the committe that constantly turned down bans on partial birth abortions and says a lot about his value system. This ranks as one of the most high level bob-and-weaves I've ever seen...
(5 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
| 1-23 OF 23 | View All |
