I'm an atheist. I've had an abortion. I'm not offended by what Obama said on the 700 Club!

I'm not only not offended, I approve of what he did.

There, I said it.

Obama is pro-choice, for ALL women. His record shows it. He appeared on a popular religious program to discuss, among other things, his position on abortion. His PRO-CHOICE position. He didn't go on there and pretend to be anti-choice. He did a brave thing and he stuck by his principles.

When he said women were prayerful when making the decision to abort, he was addressing his comments to the people watching the 700 Club. He wasn't talking to me. I frankly don't need to have it spelled out to me that Obama includes non-religious women like me when he talks about his views on reproductive freedom.

Here's why I'm glad he did it: Believe it or not, some of the women who watch the 700 Club have probably had abortions. For medical reasons or otherwise. Yes Virginia, Christian women have abortions. All the time. In fact, I'll wager that since the majority of women in the U.S. identify as Christian, it follows that the majority of women who get abortions are probably Christian. Many of those women probably pray about it, because that's what religious people tend to do when they are faced with tough decisions.

And what if some of those devoutly Christian women who had gotten abortions, for medical reasons or otherwise, were watching the 700 Club that day? What if, for the first time, they saw a politician who professed to be Christian talking about how he trusted them to make the right decision and knew that they had prayed about it? How often do you suppose they hear anything like that coming from conservative politicians who profess to be Christian? You know, the ones who proclaim that pretty much all abortion is murder and that later-term abortions are mostly done for "convenience"?

And yes, Obama needed to say "prayerful" instead of "thoughtful" or whatever secular term you'd prefer in that context for him to be effective. Because for the people he was talking to on the 700 Club that day, the issue of abortion is inextricably linked to their morality and thier faith. It's not that way for me, but like I said, Obama wasn't talking to me that day.

Just another POV about the whole thing.

:thumbsup:

He says things like "I trust women to make decisions about their healthcare."

He recognizes that women are capable of making the decisions they need to make but what's more, he recognizes that they have a right to make them.

nt

So there.

I think you've choosen poorly. As Democrats we should reach out to as many people as possible with our message and values.

Exactly. This was such a courageous thing to do. Somebody went on the 700 Club and talked to Christians about the reality of abortion.

It's HUGE. And Obama does this again and again, on issue after issue. I wish people would understand what he's doing.

I don't think women need Obama to speak for them and I frankly find that offensive.

He is assuming that most women are Christian. It's wrong for him to go on the 700 club---an organization that is the antithesis to women's right to privacy---to make assumptions about personal decisions women have to make.

Women don't need Mr. Obama to soften the blow on the underbelly of hypocrisy.

Thank God you're here. I have so many questions about women and it's a great relief to finally find the person who speaks for all of them.

1. Many or most of the women who watch the 700 club with any seriousness are Christian.
2. Some of those women may have had abortions.
3. They would like to have been trusted to have made the decision in a way that was careful and deliberative. Just as a non believer would.

That would transfer to myself as a nonbeliever if I insert the word "thoughtful" and is a statement that is actually very courageous.
Most candidates put more distance between themself and the issue.

Besides, the more that our candidates go on shows like the 700 Club, the more credibility it gives to slimeball shows like that. We shouldn't go crawling to people like the 700 Club who are little more than fake Christians shilling for the neocon agenda of the Republican Party.

How soon everyone forgets though...

So no, that isn't a false assumption.

He's running for President. He's expected to talk about this issue. How is that speaking "for" women?

Thanks.

Gobama!

Really? When?

And to think, I wanted him for Edwards VP, I think I've change my mind :cry:

He's a true leader and he's not afraid to sell progressive ideas to fundies. Ain't that beautiful?

while relating to the 700 Club audience. Nothing wrong with that! GObama!

Than me having an abortion. That's why I love this place! :hi:

Obama isn't running to be the President of Democrats, he's running to the President of the United States. That includes crazy fundies whether we like it or not. If Obama wants to be President it makes sense to go on a tv show that generally has an opposite view from him and debate issues with them. Isn't that what democracy is all about?

Helped me to see it differently. Thanks. :hi:

Is there another way to look at that one?

I completely missed whatever you're talking about. (I haven't been in touch much lately, been sleeping off a bad cold.) Would you fill me in on who said what about whom?

:boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring:

...then become enraged if Obama talks to the 700 Club.

Thanks for your post.

A :toast: and a recommendation for you!

Thanks for speaking up. :applause:

Obama actually gives the show a level of credibility that it DOES NOT DESERVE! Have any of yall ever watched that terrible show? OMG. They have all these segments talking about people who have basically NO MONEY, but then they saw Pat Robertson (ugh) on TV saying that whatever they give to the "700 Club" they will get back 10 fold. So these super poor (and sometimes not very bright) people send him money that they can not afford to spend, hoping to hit it rich based on Pat's lies and bullshit.

Also, know why it's called the "700 Club"? Because that's the MINIMUM amount of money they want you to donate each year. Unfuckingbelievable. Pat Robertson is a predator - and his prey are the poor, the elderly, and well lets face it, not so bright people. Obama should NEVER have gone on a show like this, and neither should any self respecting person. Just like the Democrats refused a debate on FoxNews, Democratic candidates need to really research what these shows are all about before going on them. A bad call by Obama in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, his going on the show would have absolutely no effect on whether or not I vote for him, it was just plain and simple the wrong thing to do in my opinion.

*edited for spelling

I think. He's trying to garner those votes that usually would stay away from pro-choice candidates. Some of the tactics candidates use turn me off, but I understand why they are doing them and I cut them some slack for it.

excellent post.

But, as a non-religious pro-choice voter, I'm glad Obama is emphasizing common ground ~ which I see as thoughtful respect regarding the abortion decision.

It is important to recognize the value of candidates speaking the language of constituents they are speaking with.

:eyes:

Have a good one!

I have to say, I was dismayed he appeared on the 700 Club. But it looked like he used his time well.

I don't have the slightest idea what people like Obama (and Howard Dean) think they're going to accomplish going on that show. Pat Robertson is basically the enemy. There is no chance whatsoever that anyone will change Robertson's mind at all. Or that of his supporters.

I respect your POV, but I'm just sayin' that it's a shame when Democrats have to go on a lame show like that for any reason whatsoever. That goes for any of them who stoop to go on that show, whether it's Obama or anyone else.

Those people on the "700 Club" are NOT what true Christians are supposed to be. They are not the type of Christians that say my grandmother is. She believes in helping the poor, not judgeing others, not forcing your religion on others, is very anti-war, and believes in just generally being a good person. And being a good person has nothing to do with money - but try telling Pat that. Especially during one of his $300,000 dollar challenges in which supposedly "God" tells him people need to donate a collective $300,000 within a certain amount of time. And you know what - most of the time it works. I acutally watch this show from time to time when I visit my parents (I don't have TV) just to see what these weasely little fuckers are up to - and I can tell you this - it is no good. Obama either didn't research what this show is all about, or he has sunk to a political low that I am very uncomfortable with. We do NOT need the "700 Club" audience to win an election. Those people will vote Republican til the day they die. A pointless effort by Obama, and honestly a terrible move on his part because he will have gained none of their audience to his side (at least that's what I would assume after watching that show) and has only pissed off liberal democrats who really might actually consider voteing for him.

Like I said in an earlier post, this would not stop ME for voting for him, but it does make me question his sensibility for going on such a TERRIBLE EVIL show. If this is what Obama thinks he needs to do to win an election, then maybe he should just sit this one out and re-think things. Unless he's going on there to call out Pat on his evil money grubbing tactics and fake christianity, then he should ignore that show the same way one ignores FoxNews. We do NOT want to give any credibility to shows like this, which is what happens when people running for president go on these shows. I can't help but be dissapointed in him for doing so.

When I am trying to convince a religious person that he/she should support progressive viewpoints I have no problem using biblical and other religious references.