Time magazine’s Scherer 3x blind
On September 25, Time magazine’s Michael Scherer wrote in a web article entitled, “Smear Wars: Welcome to negative ad season,” which was included in the October 6 print edition:
BornAliveTruth.org has been advertising in swing states with the misleading claim that Obama supports the death of fetuses born after failed abortions. (Obama opposed an IL senate bill he said could have jeopardized other abortion statutes; at the time, IL law required doctors to save the lives of all viable fetuses after birth.)
He followed it up with a September 29 MSNBC appearance stating:
So the Born Alive Truth ad, it is true that Obama when he was in the State House in IL opposed a bill that would have declared a human person those fetuses who survived an abortion. What’s not true is that it somehow meant he supported infanticide. At the time it was very clear under IL state law that any viable fetus who survived abortion had to be saved by the doctors during the procedure.
I appreciate that Scherer took my call after the first article was posted, and I note he avoided calling abortion survivors fetuses in his third botch. But botch he threepeated….
I explained to Scherer that Obama made no such claim at the time that Born Alive “could have jeopardized other abortion statutes.” (And an objective journalist would question exactly what those were.) I pointed Sherer to Obama’s original claim, made during his 2001 state senate floor speech opposing Born Alive, that:
… [T]his is probably not going to survive constitutional scrutiny….
[W]henever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we’re really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a – a child, a 9-month-old – child that was delivered to term….
[I]t would essentially ban abortions, because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an anti-abortion statute. For that purpose, I think it would probably be found unconstitutional.
Obama simply argued IL’s Born Alive was unconstitutional. Why? If previable abortion survivors were declared legal persons, they couldn’t be legally killed. He used the word, I simply repeated.
I don’t know how that cannot be considered support of infanticide, which according to the dictionary is “the act of killing an infant,” with no age restriction.
I asked Scherer what would be wrong with stabbing a previable born human to death or drowning one in a bucket of water if they weren’t legal persons? No answer.
I also reminded Scherer that Obama never mentioned IL abortion law at the time, likely because no one had come up with that soundbite but perhaps because he would have had to admit the babies in discussion (previable or potentially viable) weren’t covered by the law, so it is actually a mute point.
That said, I explained the various loopholes in IL abortion law, such as the aborting physician is the one deciding predelivery whether a baby is viable – a loophole Obama voted against closing – and such as the definition of “born alive” was enjoined in 1993.
I had another long conversation with Scherer, pointing him to the statement on the right currently on Obama’s website.
What can that statement possibly mean except Obama did not want abortion survivors (no age restriction) to be considered human and protected by law? That’s exaxctly what Obama maintains would threaten Roe. Roe allows the killing of preborns. That’s all Roe does. This is the 2nd example showing Obama thinks Roe covers the killing of abortion surviving postborns.
I also pointed Scherer to this audio of Obama arguing against calling a 2nd physician to assess an abortion survivor because it would be a “burden” to the “original decision” of the aborting mother.
What can that statement possibly mean except Obama wanted to ensure a pregnancy termination results in a dead baby, yet a 3rd example?
Given the time spent with and information given to Scherer, I should have been shocked today by his Groundhog Day follow-up article, “How valid is Palin’s abortion attack on Obama?” but by now I’m used to MSM’s willing suspension of belief in the truth about Obama, because the truth is just so incredibly awful, and he seems so nice. Obama couldn’t possibly support infanticide of certain preborns, despite the fact he does. He just couldn’t.
Scherer wrote that Sarah Palin’s recent statements condemning Obama for his Born Alive votes were “quite misleading, as they suggested that Obama supported the death of babies after birth who had a chance of survival.”
What about babies with questionable or no chance of survival? Was Scherer equivocating that Obama supported their death?
Scherer repeated – “as the Obama campaign has pointed out” – that IL law covered viable abortion survivors without mentioning the loopholes, that Obama voted against closing the loopholes, and that Obama opposed potentially viable babies from getting a 2nd opinion beyond their paid killer.
Without ever questioning how Born Alive was unclear, Scherer added this:
“It would have completely eviscerated Roe v. Wade,” says Pam Sutherland, who was president of the state’s Planned Parenthood chapter at the time. “[The] bills were so unclear that it would have been litigated forever.”
Scherer repeated that BornAliveTruth.org’s Gianna ad was misleading due to this statement, “if Barack Obama had his way, I wouldn’t be here,” despite Obama’s own words to the contrary.
And what about Obama’s Big Lie, that he would have voted for IL’s Born Alive had it been identical to the federal version, when we now know he indeed voted against an identical version?
Funny, Scherer didn’t bring that up.



Please everyone view this video interview and Spread Far and Wide.
http://www.myfoxtoledo.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=7637919&version=1&locale=EN-US
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Blog It! Email It! Inform Hannity! Inform All Republicians!!!
THIS IS THE OCTOBER SUPRISE!!!! LET THERE BE NO DOUBT!!!!
october surprise is so stupid.. be smart James… have a better arguement.. nobody cares!
“Nobody”? I beg to differ……
Do you all think that if Obama murdered somebody the press would report correctly?
I wonder what kind of spin they would put on it?
I can just hear them thinking…’how are we gonna whitewash this one’…
How any person could even begin to defend Nobama on abortion is beyond my comprehension.
But you do admit that a subtext or sub-goal of “Born alive” is to undo abortion laws. If you admit that then it is plausable that Obama would not vote for the bill. It is not a clean bill.
“Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. What is taking place in America is a war against the child. And if we accept that the mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?” ~ Mother Theresa of Calcutta
How any person could even begin to defend Nobama on abortion is beyond my comprehension.
Posted by: Joanne at October 13, 2008 11:32 PM
Joanne, that is because you are sane
Face it, Jill, while you might have a sound and logical reason for your political opinions, the company you keep tends to be fringe at best, and your arguements seem to be more attacking a person than making a point about your issue. You seem angry, and that just isn’t going to fly in this campaign season. You curry favor with those who think Obama is a Muslim and leave decent reasonable people scratching their heads – they want to believe you, but they just don’t trust the company you keep.
Yo, why do you waste out time here? Your venom and hatred simply makes your side look idiotic. Why not donate your vitriol to a far left lunatic fringe blog, where they will appreciate your madness?
Yo,
I hope you stay. You make me LOL!
a ***VIDEO – New Ad Exposes How Obama Wants All Laws Reducing Abortion Overturned***.
Mike
Please, all prolifers on this blog – step away from your American preoccupation today and pray for your neighbour to the north – Canada.
We are having our elections today and there is a serious chance that another minority Conservative government will be elected. Or it may be that there will be an NDP (socialist)-Liberal-Green Party coalition. The latter will be disastrous for our country.
While none of the parties are prolife, there are many more prolife candidates in the Conservative party than in the other parties. I would be surprised if there are ANY in the NDP.
We NEED your prayers!
God bless!
The denial is no surprise – Scherer is worshipping at the same altar as Hal and PPC.
Why does their chances of survival matter? We’re all going to die, so I suppose it’s okay to put everyone down, by someone else’s choice.
Right Patricia.
We gave the Order of Canada last week to an abortionist, Henry Morgantaler, who has boasted of doing over 100,000 abortions. I’m still sick about this!
I ask also for prayers today. A Liberal/NPD coalition would be a disaster.
I’m betting a few of my French Catholic ancestors were doing backflips in their graves, Joanne.
Morgentaler received his “award” at the Citadel in Quebec.
october surprise is so stupid.. be smart James… have a better arguement.. nobody cares!
Carla, the real “October Surprise” for James comes in November.
And no, I’m not talking about “Turkey Day.” ; )
Commenting on the video, when Obama supporters are pushed to explain why Obama voted against BAIPA, the only thing I’ve ever heard them do is accuse pro-lifers of accusing Obama of infanticide. That seems to be the best defense they have. Every now and then you’ll hear the old “he was afraid it would chip away at Roe” but that’s pretty lame.
It’s funny. When it comes to this Obama supporting “infanticide” or not, all of a sudden, pro-choicers understand the difference between active and passive killing. “Obama would never support the direct killing of born babies; he just will allow them to die.” Yet they are completely blind to this distinction when ever we hear the tired “kidney” analogy in favor of abortion. “Can you force someone to donate their kidney? Then you can’t force someone to donate their body!” But in the kidney case, you have a passive death and in the abortion case, you have an active death. They don’t seem to get it in this analogy, but when it comes to Obama, they VERY much make the distinction between the fact that Obama does not support the active death of infants but does support the passive death. And of course, when it comes to defending Obama, there is a HUGE moral distinction between active and passive death. But in the kidney analogy, no moral difference what-so-ever.
“Obama would never support the direct killing of born babies; he just will allow them to die.”
Yeah. Kinda like Terri Schaivo was “allowed to die”. I know one proabort who says she has a right to be a “bad Samaritan”. Wow, chalk up another “right” we didn’t know we had.
Jess comes to mind.
“he would have had to admit the babies in discussion (previable or potentially viable) weren’t covered by the law, so it is actually a mute point.”
Jill, I’m wondering if you mean to say ‘moot’ point.
I am sorry folks..but pro-life extends way farther than just obliterating abortion.. Answer a question for me..for interest sake… “How do you justify the thousands and thousands of uninsured children, the ignored families that have maxed their insurance policies and cannot qualify for any assistance..?”
For the record, then-Illinois Attorney Jim Ryan, after investigating Jill’s testimony, found no violation of Ilinois law. Senator O’Malley then had the first state “born alive” bills drafted and introduced.
Obama clearly supported leaving these babies to die.
anna,
for interest sake…although a tragedy that far too many families are without insurance, I can find NO MORAL JUSTIFICATION for the killing of innocent human beings.
and taking care of people has no moral justification– sorry sweetheart..but you need to read your bible.
not to mention the poor- and helpless.. Includes all.
So feel free to support both— You just confirmed my point, not seeing past the one issue, YES, Abortion is wrong.. BUT YES not taking care of people is wrong also..
I agree with anna…a major problem with our politics… I have to say— I am torn, because I hate that the Right side is so anti-assistance driven…but yet wants to preach morals… Abortion is wrong..but the Jesus I know and love also wants us to care for the poor-helpless… it seems to me that we have an issue here.
It isn’t my fault people are poor and don’t have insurance..that is one of the main reasons I am a republican, I take care of myself and have nobody to blame for my problems but myself…. murder is wrong though and abortion is murder..
ok..my perspective on helping people, compassion, and complete moral behavior is pointless when you have someone like Travis blogging.. What right does anyone have to say we are just about ourselves..My point made! UGh!
Ooh. A setup question. You must have been waiting to pounce, sweetheart.
Read my bible everyday, thank you very much.
I did not say to NOT take care of children without insurance did I? My family was without insurance. 4 kids, unemployed husband…we made it for a time until my husband found a job.
The poorest, most helpless and weakest among us are the unborn.
I will feel free to support or not support those things which line up with my values. Feel free to do the same, anna.
And I do see past abortion to help others, but after 35 years of the killing and struggling to get through my own abortion recovery I know what is important to me.
Thanks for the snarkiness as well. I have almost met my quota here for the day.
We all have the same right to come here and discuss or not discuss.
Danielle,
Who is more helpless than the unborn?
oops, Carla, you said the same thing. I should have hit the refresh button before commenting!
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Patricia, I’m praying for the voters in Canada today!
But you do admit that a subtext or sub-goal of “Born alive” is to undo abortion laws. If you admit that then it is plausable that Obama would not vote for the bill. It is not a clean bill.
Posted by: Yo La Tango at October 14, 2008 1:21 AM
The only purpose of BAIPA was to protect babies who survived a late term abortion. It’s very cut and dried with no hidden agenda. Where’s the sub-text?
and taking care of people has no moral justification– sorry sweetheart..but you need to read your bible.
not to mention the poor- and helpless.. Includes all.
So feel free to support both— You just confirmed my point, not seeing past the one issue, YES, Abortion is wrong.. BUT YES not taking care of people is wrong also..
Posted by: anna at October 14, 2008 11:49 AM
Yes, Anna, we should take care of the poor and helpless but what makes you think that many of us don’t? I do and I would venture to say that most of the pro-lifers at this site do too in a variety of ways. That being said, there is no moral equivalent — abortion is killing an innocent, helpless human being.
anon is me, sorry!
I have a really quick question—how come Travis isn’t getting feedback for saying that ” It isn’t his fault people are poor–etc etc..”– Wow, I am really sickened.. Yes, I agree.. abortion and the unborn is sickening..and morally wrong– but when do morals have not have equals.. I guess, that you all have chosen your one issue.. However, I really don’t think you are seeing the side that forgets about all the children that aren’t receieving care and health prevention..
We ARE killing people with our medical system.. and it is wrong…
anna,
Anyone can get emergency care in this country.
It sounds like you have chosen your “one issue”.
anna,
I have a really quick question—how come Travis isn’t getting feedback for saying that ” It isn’t his fault people are poor–etc etc..”– Wow, I am really sickened..
Because his comment was clearly inflammatory, not worthy of further discussion, IMHO. I can’t speak for anyone else.
Eileen #2 addressed your question about other issues. If you read other threads at Jill’s, you’ll see there are plenty of commenters who support all of the issues.
We ARE killing people with our medical system.. and it is wrong…
It’s horrible that people cannot afford healthcare, I agree with you. I wish I had the answers.
Each person can only do so much with the time and resources they have. As you know, good people are working for all kinds of causes. Our passion for the unborn does not negate our ability to see other issues as well. God bless you.
My passion for the unborn continues after they are born as well. :)
Emergency care is a fortunate good thing.. however… those of you that support abortion should check out more of the world that doesn’t get care and what it does to children.
Have any of you been aware of the amount of insurance driven care that has actually withheld care from children? Have any of you actually thought of what our healthcare system can do to make our mother’s who choose to continue a preganncy with possibly a disabled child easier…
I really think that we have two sides to this issue… We have those who are against abortion morally— and ethically…and we have those who are against Abortion, but torn about all the social injustices that the Republican Party has enforced these past 8 yrs…
This anti-abortion issue is multi-faceted and I really wish that you all could discuss that with more depth! Jill’s stance is great, however, you have alot of the same bloggers and if you want to win folks over, you MUST start discussing the other part of pro-life.. get into the cracks of the system and start evaluating how ethical it is to let insurance companies run our healthcare system… I think deep down, you all know that we need a change.. or maybe you all are comfortable with not really being socially aware of the rest of the world..
Lynn, insurance companies are not God. Neither is the civil government, though it in some ways represents Him. We all must die, and disease is one cause of death. The fact is that both governments and insurance companies have only a limited amount of money to work with. Governments tax. Insurance companies charge fees.
I’m not in the insurance industry, so I don’t know how they operate, but I would think that an insurance company offers different plans based on the level of coverage that the customer is willing to pay for. If you want a better plan, you will have to pay for a better plan. If you don’t have the money for a better plan, why should someone else have to pay for your plan? Do you have a right to your neighbour’s money? So it is ethical to let insurance companies run the health care system.
I’m not saying that insurance companies never have immoral policies. There probably is a place for some government regulation. I am saying that the system itself is ethical.
Contrary to what the poor masses might think–and the unlimited democracies they control–it’s not ethical for the civil government to redistribute wealth. There is no right to a free lunch. Socialized health care often ends up doing that. If you want to find an institution dedicated to care for the poor, then look to the church. The church, in fact, began the universities and hospitals we have today. The civil government’s job is to keep justice and order, to prevent violence, and to protect citizens from evil-doers inside and outside of the country.
I hope this brief analysis has not been too simplistic. I have to admit that I’m not an economist. I think my main point can be expressed in this way: do you want to help? Do you want to improve the world? Please do! But don’t blame the insurance companies.