THERE IS NO ONE SO BLIND
AS THE ONE WHO REFUSES TO
SEE
Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi was being interviewed by Tom Brokaw
on 24 August 2008.
As part of the interview, Mr. Brokaw played a portion of a videotape
of a conversation between Pastor
Rick Warren and Senator Barack Obama. This
conversation took place on 16 August 2008.
Please read the following:
MR. BROKAW (addressing Speaker Pelosi): There was a very well
publicized and very effective interview by Pastor Rick Warren
at the Saddleback Church in California of the two candidates
recently. And on the right - especially - response from Senator
Obama to the question of when life begins has been getting a
lot of attention. We want to just share with you how that went,
and then you can take a look at it and, and respond to it for
us.
(Plays videotape from 16 Aug)
PASTOR WARREN: At what point does a baby get human rights, in
your view?
SEN. OBAMA: Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking
at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective,
answering that question with specificity, you know, is, is above
my pay grade.
MR. BROKAW: Senator Obama saying the question of when life begins
is above his pay grade, whether you're looking at it scientifically
or theologically. If he were to come to you and say, "Help
me out here, Madame Speaker. When does life begin?" what
would you tell him?
SPEAKER PELOSI: I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic,
this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what
I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have
not been able to make that definition. And Senator--St. Augustine
said at three months. We don't know. The point is, is that it
shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose. Roe
v. Wade talks about very clear definitions of when the child--first
trimester, certain considerations; second trimester; not so third
trimester. There's very clear distinctions. This isn't about
abortion on demand, it's about a careful, careful consideration
of all factors and--to--that a woman has to make with her doctor
and her god. And so I don't think anybody can tell you when
life begins, human life begins. As I say, the Catholic Church
for centuries has been discussing this, and there are those who've
decided...
MR. BROKAW: The Catholic Church at the moment feels very strongly
that it...
SPEAKER PELOSI: I understand that.
MR. BROKAW: ...begins at the point of conception.
SPEAKER PELOSI: I understand. And this is like maybe 50 years or
something like that. So again, over the history of the church,
this is an issue of controversy. But it is, it is also true
that God has given us, each of us, a free will and a responsibility
to answer for our actions. And we want abortions to be safe,
rare, and reduce the number of abortions. That's why we have
this fight in Congress over contraception. My Republican colleagues
do not support contraception. If you want to reduce the number
of abortions, and we all do, we must--it would behoove you to
support family planning and, and contraception, you would think.
But that is not the case. So we have to take--you know, we
have to handle this as respectfully--this is sacred ground. We
have to handle it very respectfully and not politicize it, as
it has been--and I'm not saying Rick Warren did, because I don't
think he did, but others will try to.
MR. BROKAW: Madame Speaker, thanks very much for being with
us.
SPEAKER PELOSI: It's my pleasure. Thank you. |
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Saturday, 30 August