Obama's biggest regret? Not more energetically letting Terri Schiavo die.

American Papist ^ | February 27, 2008 | Thomas Peters

[NYer]

In last night's democratic debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - their last one before the Texas/Ohio showdown on March 4th - Barack Obama made a surprising (to me, shocking) statement:

RUSSERT: Senator Obama, any statements or vote you'd like to takeback?

OBAMA: Well, you know, when I first arrived in the Senate that first year, we had a situation surrounding Terri Schiavo. And I remember how we adjourned with a unanimous agreement that eventually allowed Congress to interject itself into that decision making process of the families. It wasn't something I was comfortable with, but it was not something that I stood on the floor and stopped. And I think that was a mistake, and I think the American people understood that that was a mistake. And as a constitutional law professor, I knew better. And so that's an example I think of where inaction...

RUSSERT: This is the young woman with the feeding tube...

OBAMA: That's exactly right.

RUSSERT: ... and the family disagreed as to whether it should be removed or not.

OBAMA: And I think that's an example of inaction, and sometimes that can be as costly as action.

Obama's choice of example and statement about the Terri Schiavo case confound me quite a bit. For one thing, this represents a clear case of him reaching out to an extreme position, and therefore distancing himself from the more conservative position on end-of-life issues that many Americans hold, thus reminding us how liberal Obama actually is on these types of issues. He went looking for it.

Furthermore, the proposition that "the American people understood that [getting involved in the Terri Schiavo case] was a mistake" I don't personally agree with, and at any rate, I'd like to see the poll numbers on it. Since when did this become a consensus position, that it is wrong for there to be laws to protect the disabled from having their ordinary care and nutrition removed?!

Regardless, Obama's lack of action was ultimately fruitless, as Schiavo did indeed have her feeding tube removed and was indeed starved to death, several legal battles later.

In the end, all Obama managed to do with his response to the moderator's question was to inform the American people, "Yes, I was in favor of letting Terri Schiavo be starved to death."

If anything, that was the inaction he chose: not helping Terri live.

LifeNews points out that Obama, in fact, said basically the same thing back in 2007:

This isn't the first time Obama has said the biggest mistake he made as senator was voting to help try to stop Terri from being euthanized.

During an April 2007 debate, Obama said, "I think professionally the biggest mistake that I made was when I first arrived in the Senate. There was a debate about Terri Schiavo, and a lot of us, including me, left the Senate with a bill that allowed Congress to intrude where it shouldn't have.”

"And I think I should have stayed in the Senate and fought more for making sure [Terri's parents couldn't take their case to federal court to save her life]," he explained.

Again, it's scary to think that Obama has to say this sort of thing to win over democratic voters.

Kathryn Jean Lopez at NRO's The Corner has this to say:

"I thought Terri Schiavo was a jarring presence at the debate last night. When Senator Obama was asked what legislative regrets, he didn’t try to walk away from his radical ways any by citing his votes against born-alive infant protection or against banning the transport of children across state lines to circumvent parental notification/consent laws. Instead he said he would have voted to stop Congress from intervening to save the life of Terri Schiavo.

On Meet the Press, John McCain left open the possibility that Congress wasn't wrong to get involved. He should embrace life (and autonomy!) and get comfortable with running against Barack Obama, a radical on these issues."

To which Andrew Sullivan responds "is she nuts?"

Oh wait, that's right, McCain shouldn't point out Obama's anti-life positions, that would be foolish.

If anyone has YouTube or other embedded video of Obama's response, I'd appreciate the link.

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
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[raybbr]

Obama said, "I think professionally the biggest mistake that I made was when I first arrived in the Senate.

Holy moly! I wonder if Michelle was or was not proud of the way Obama, at the time, stood up for a woman't life?

[Pinkbell]

I was hoping we would see some good quality when they asked that question, something to make me believe he isn’t evil. I was hoping he would say that he wished he hadn’t fought against the Infants Born Alive Act or shouldn’t have supported minors getting abortions in other states without parental consent. No, he continued to pander to the culture of death. Obama is one of its most radical members.

[RetiredArmy]

Their agenda is simple: They want to tell you when and when you cannot be born. They want to tell you what to do, how to do it, when to do it, where to do it, with whom to do it, where to go to school, what type of school, what type of job you can have, where you get a job, what your salary is, what your donation to the federal government is in taxes, where you get your health care, what level of health care you get, where you can live, what type of home, how many people in that home, how much energy you can use, what car you can drive, what food you can eat, what you can drink. Basically, the federal government want TOTAL DOMINATION over your life from birth to grave. Sad that so many Americans want that also. Our country is slowly committing suicide.

[DarthVader]

Obama is an offspring of Liberation Theology or what we call the Emerging Church which is a Christian cult movement. Call it Christian Socialism or Christian Marxism which is more of a philosophical movement than it is a spiritual one. It’s deception is highly dangerous and can ensnare even well meaning Christians who are not savvy on doctrine nor the Scriptures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology

We Christians should be studying 2 Timothy 3 which is an apt description of what we are seeing today. If Obama is elected it will have grave consequences for America.

[netmilsmom]

She wasn’t a woman, she was a mass of cells /s/

[cthemfly25]

You are, dare i say, dead on.

[bmwcyle]

Add Ghoul to Obama’s list of adjectives.

[DarthVader]

Here is another thread you should find interesting:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1976919/posts?page=25

[Campion]

Our country is slowly committing suicide.

Rapidly, I think, not so slowly.

Obama will continue and escalate the relentless war on the unborn and the disabled and the elderly in America, while he will discard our ability to defend ourselves against the enemies of our country abroad.

The New Left has wanted to destroy America since the 1960's, and in Obama, they have the vehicle for their hopes.

[Resolute Conservative]

You need to read “The Marketing of Evil” if you have not already. Be prepared to be mad.

[DarthVader]

Here is a powerful prophetic insight given by Jim Robison a few years ago. Read this and contrast with today’s current events. This is very chilling but this is where America is headed and what we may be in store for:

http://www.lifetoday.org/site/DocServer/WeHaveAChoice.pdf?docID=381

[AliVeritas]

Read this first... check his spending details:
George Soros Backs Obama (But Hedges His Bets)
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/27/george-soros-backs-obama-but-hedges-his-bets/

Soros, Obama, and the Millionaires Exception
http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/04/soros_obama_and_the_millionair.html

Check this out (from one of my sources, see sidebar):
http://bsimmons.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/global-warming-theory-and-the-eugenics-movement/

Ok already... red meat, (feel free to scroll down and double check):
http://theuniversalseduction.com/articles/holding-barack-obama-accountable-plus-soros-brzezinski-etc

Okay, that should keep you busy... all I can give you for now.

[SE Mom]

Assuming you’ve heard this- but JUST in case...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs

[polymuser]

Surprising he actually called her by name, instead of ‘useless breather’. This man (and the woman behind him) becomes more worrisome by the day.

[SoCalPol]

When will folks stop making nice to this Marxist.

[marshmallow]

This is the man who will be the next President of the USA, I believe.

The apparent hypnotic trance of the American people in the face of Obama's almost messiah-like rise out of nowhere, suggests that this man is the agent of evil spiritual forces.

I see him as part of America's ongoing chastisement.

[trisham]

After saying that I would never vote for McCain, I confess I am now considering doing exactly that if Obama is the Democrat nominee.

[NYer]

The apparent hypnotic trance of the American people in the face of Obama's almost messiah-like rise out of nowhere, suggests that this man is the agent of evil spiritual forces. I see him as part of America's ongoing chastisement.

Well stated. It is reminiscent of the 'hypnotic trance' Bill Clinton had on women. The media interviewed some of them on his inauguration day. I recall one oggle-eyed woman talk about the dream she had of Bill!

I had not thought of this in terms of chastisement; perhaps you are correct. This country's political process is beginning to resemble what I witnessed in Europe, 25 years ago. Lots of talk & discussion but no consensus. The average term for an Italian President is 2 years. Nothing is accomplished.