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Obama urges "fair-minded" abortion debate
Reuters ^ | 5/17/2009 | Caren Bohan

Posted on 05/17/2009 6:38:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged both sides in the abortion debate on Sunday to pursue a "fair-minded" discussion as he sought to quell a firestorm over his invitation to speak at Notre Dame, a premier U.S. Catholic university.

Notre Dame's decision to confer an honorary degree on Obama and invite him to be the keynote speaker for the commencement sparked petitions and several days of protests. Some students vowed to boycott the commencement.

But the speech itself drew mostly cheers, applause, standing ovations.

Critics who said Obama's support for abortion rights violated Catholic Church doctrine had sought to have invitation rescinded but university refused.

Interrupted at times by hecklers, Obama said he recognized the strong emotions stirred up by the abortion debate but he urged the two sides to try to find common ground, such as preventing unintended pregnancies.

"I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away," Obama said. "Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature."

"Let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions. Let's reduce unintended pregnancies. Let's make adoption more available. Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their child to term," Obama told the crowd of 12,000 at a huge athletic facility.

His appearance was mostly warmly welcomed by the crowd, which gave him several standing ovations.

But at a few points during the speech, he was interrupted by hecklers, including one who shouted, "Abortion is murder." That heckler was booed by the audience.

Some graduates displayed a print of a cross symbol and two baby feet on their caps while others wore caps that said "Viva Obama."

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: 2009commencements; abortion; abortionistinchief; babykiller; barackobortion; bhoabortion; bhocommencements; notredame; obama
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1 posted on 05/17/2009 6:38:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

There’s nothing fair about a dead child. Period.


2 posted on 05/17/2009 6:40:29 PM PDT by swatbuznik
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To: SeekAndFind

...and by “fair minded” 0bama means that anyone who disagrees with the leftists will be silenced...


3 posted on 05/17/2009 6:41:45 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: SeekAndFind

Howsaout we have an open mind about killing people OLDER than babies at random? Everyone’s name, including all politicians and their families, goes into the hat and we pull 2 million a year.

That seems “fair minded” to me.


4 posted on 05/17/2009 6:42:26 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: SeekAndFind

Lying scumbag. He means not a single word of it.


5 posted on 05/17/2009 6:42:45 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: SeekAndFind

How does one conduct a fair minded debate with the dead child?


6 posted on 05/17/2009 6:43:15 PM PDT by Bahbah
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To: SeekAndFind
Obama assumes his Mussolini stance:


7 posted on 05/17/2009 6:44:07 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie (Obama promised a gold mine, but he will give us the shaft.)
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To: SeekAndFind
"I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away ... But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature." "Let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions. Let's reduce unintended pregnancies. Let's make adoption more available. Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their child to term," Obama told the crowd of 12,000 at a huge athletic facility.

How much of the $3.6T budget for next year is intended to reduce the number of abortions? How much for adoption? How much for prenatal care or other services to reduce the incentive to have an abortion? Zero? Not that I think those are federal issues in any case, but Obama is pretending they are without actually doing anything except talk. It looks to me like the only thing Obama offers to those who think babies are good rather than a punishment is empty words. As usual.

8 posted on 05/17/2009 6:44:12 PM PDT by TurtleUp (So this is how liberty dies - to thunderous applause!)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Fair”

As in “Fairness” censorship doctrine?

He wants a discussion. Or so he said. Later he said the two positions are irreconcilable.

TOTUS with its tassle is schizophrenic.


9 posted on 05/17/2009 6:45:08 PM PDT by combat_boots (The 5 Stages of Collapse: http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47157)
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To: SeekAndFind
Fair minded? He means, "just capitulate to me".

Which Notre Dame did.

Fair minded from the man who will sign FOCA, who voted against stopping partial birth abortion, who voted against outlwawing live birth abortions in Illinois, who resumed federal funding for abortions.

There is NO middle ground on the wanton killing of innocent children in the womb.


OBAMA & DISHONOR AT NOTRE DAME

IOW, just listen to the teleprompter and ignore what the man actually does

10 posted on 05/17/2009 6:45:36 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: SeekAndFind

"I'll tell you what's fair, and what's not."

11 posted on 05/17/2009 6:46:19 PM PDT by dfwgator (1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
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To: SeekAndFind

I watched his address to ND. I thought it was incredibly patronizing and condescending......as if he was ‘slapping the hands’ of his critics. But, what else was I to expect.


12 posted on 05/17/2009 6:46:33 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Obama. Clear and Pres__ent Danger.)
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To: swatbuznik

Can’t add to that.


13 posted on 05/17/2009 6:46:47 PM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: SeekAndFind

A “fair-minded” discussion about abortion?! I can’t have a “fair minded” discussion with people who have the blood of innocents on their hands and on their souls.


14 posted on 05/17/2009 6:47:53 PM PDT by Tamar1973 (Riding the Korean Wave, one Bae Yong Joon drama at a time!)
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To: SeekAndFind

HOLOCAUST = A NAZI’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE


15 posted on 05/17/2009 6:48:52 PM PDT by Always A Marine
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To: freedumb2003
Howsaout we have an open mind about killing people OLDER than babies at random? Everyone’s name, including all politicians and their families, goes into the hat and we pull 2 million a year. That seems “fair minded” to me.

But since abortionists disproportionately target minorities, especially blacks, to be "fair minded" we should tilt that lottery disproportionately so more minorities are killed too, right?

16 posted on 05/17/2009 6:49:39 PM PDT by Tamar1973 (Riding the Korean Wave, one Bae Yong Joon drama at a time!)
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To: LibFreeOrDie

Yes, he had that nose up in the air the entire time. I HATED it when he put his finger to his lips during the ND president’s speech. This ‘man’ doesn’t have a humble bone in his body. I despised his fake, self-deprecating bad jokes. It’s ALWAYS about.....................HIM.


17 posted on 05/17/2009 6:49:52 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Obama. Clear and Pres__ent Danger.)
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To: SeekAndFind
And in other news...

Hitler urges "fair minded" genocide debate.

18 posted on 05/17/2009 6:52:06 PM PDT by thatdewd (2010 is coming soon...and THEY know it! THEY are afraid.)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear


19 posted on 05/17/2009 6:52:28 PM PDT by Tamar1973 (Riding the Korean Wave, one Bae Yong Joon drama at a time!)
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To: Tamar1973

>>We should tilt that lottery disproportionately so more minorities are killed too, right?<<

3:1 Blacks to whites

2:1 Latinos to whites

I mean, we do want to be “fair minded” and all...


20 posted on 05/17/2009 6:52:43 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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