Brazile: Forget Obama's Abortion Radicalism—Gas is $4!

Brazile: Forget Obama's Abortion Radicalism—Gas is $4!

By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
June 25, 2008 - 17:20 ET

Donna Brazile & Bill Bennett, CNN Who cares if Barack Obama won't protect a child who is born alive after an abortion? Gas is over $4/gallon!

So argued Donna Brazile when Bill Bennett pressed her on the matter today. The issue arose during a post-Obama press conference kibitzing session on CNN's Situation Room. Bennett was making the point that the complaisant media in attendance had failed to press the candidate on tough issues.

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WOLF BLITZER: If you had been at that news conference, Bill, and you had a chance to ask one question, today, what would you have asked, if you were a reporter?

BILL BENNETT: I think when he brought up Chicago I would have said "why are you to the left of NARAL, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein when it comes to abortion? Are you really there?" Not that it's the only issue in the campaign, but I gotta question the guy's moral judgment, who doesn't see a problem with killing a baby after it's been born after eight months.

DONNA BRAZILE: But he's had an opportunity in several debates to talk about his position on abortion --

BENNETT: What is the answer to that question?

BRAZILE: Bill, look --

BENNETT: What is the answer?!

BRAZILE: You want to have a conversation about narrow issues --

BENNETT: That is not: that is fundamental!

BRAZILE: It is a fundamental issue, but the American people want to talk about gas prices --

BENNETT: Fine.

BRAZILE: They want to talk about the economy.

BENNETT: Fine.

BRAZILE: They want to talk about housing [inaudible] --

BENNETT: I want to talk about all of that. Wolf asked me if there were one, if there were one [question I could ask.]

BRAZILE: So if you want to go back to talking about same-sex marriages and abortions --

BENNETT: I didn't say anything about same-sex marriage. I asked about that [Obama's abortion position].

BRAZILE: Again, Bill, Senator Obama, perhaps you missed all of the Democratic debates—I didn't—Senator Obama has talked about all these issues.

BENNETT: He hasn't answered the question.

Bennett was alluding to the fact that, as CNSNews editor Terry Jeffrey has observed:

Barack Obama is the most pro-abortion presidential candidate ever.

He is so pro-abortion that he refused as an Illinois state senator to support legislation to protect babies who survived late-term abortions because he did not want to concede -- as he explained in a cold-blooded speech on the Illinois Senate floor -- that these babies, fully outside their mothers' wombs, with their hearts beating and lungs heaving, were in fact "persons."

The Illinois bill that Obama refused to support had language identical to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act that passed the U.S. Senate 98-0, with such senators as Barbara Boxer voting in favor.

But who cares about such stuff when gas is over four bucks a gallon? Not Donna Brazile or the MSM, apparently.

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.

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Bill was asking this about

June 25, 2008 - 17:28 ET by GregE

Bill was asking this about Obama's abortion record? The nerve of Bill Bennett, racist.

Yeah, totally out of bounds.

June 25, 2008 - 17:29 ET by Mark Finkelstein

Yeah, totally out of bounds. Let's stick to substance, like hope and change.

Good thing Donna Brazile

June 25, 2008 - 17:29 ET by motherbelt

Good thing Donna Brazile came along to tell us what the American people want to talk about! And good thing we have Obama to tell us what we're all "tired of."

I guess we should just put ourselves into their hands...they know us better than we know ourselves!

How could we want to talk about babies being left to die when gas is $4 a gallon!

The arrogance is just jaw-dropping!

Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson

The arrogance is just

June 25, 2008 - 17:40 ET by liberal_bug_zapper

The arrogance is just jaw-dropping!

Not really. I mean we are talking about the crew who brazenly have stated they want to nationalize the oil industry this close to Hugo Chavez, an obvious Communist Thug, without batting an eye. These people think they have enough of the population of the country convinced that Socialism is better than what we currently have, and are not afraid to campaign on it now.

____________________________________________________

"We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities." ~ Thomas Paine

Donna doesn't like $4 gas?

June 25, 2008 - 22:16 ET by motherbelt

Donna doesn't like $4 gas? Maybe OPEC will help? Don't count on it.

But..but...but....Her Speakerness said the Democrats had a plan!

Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson

DemocRats? Plan?

June 25, 2008 - 22:46 ET by Rukus

DemocRats? Plan? Hahahahahahahaha! Snort! Excuse me! Those two words is the same sentence is just hilarious! Plan, hah! Thanks Mother, they have only plans to take over and control every part of our lives. Let's fight them all the way! You are right, she said that and hasn't fulfilled any of it, too much Bush hatin' to have time to do anything. You are so spot on with the sarc! Let's keep the pressure up!

"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"

Well, said. Funny how all

June 25, 2008 - 22:30 ET by zf

Well, said. Funny how all "Americans wanted to talk about" was Iraq, not that things are improving over there, it's not "all they want to talk about is 4 dollar gas!" And since the media loves to talk about "speculators" how about when before gas was up to four dollars and they kept claiming it already was? Wonder how THAT affected prices...not to mention the Democratic saber rattling against oil companies threatining to take away their 'excessive' profits? And notice they don't attack Chavez or OPEC, no, it's only our fellow Americans who are to blame. It's sick.

That has been discussed before

June 25, 2008 - 23:03 ET by KC Mulville

Whenever a politician says, "That's all been discussed before," the reply is: "you may have discussed it, but you never answered it."

Why do they keep asking Obama about his associations with radical leftists? Because he hasn't given a satisfactory answer.
Why do they keep asking Obama about abortion? Because he hasn't given a satisfactory answer. The fact that Obama mentioned abortion in a Democrat debate doesn't mean that he doesn't have to talk about it ever again.
Good for Bill Bennett to press Brazile on her oh-so-obvious dodge. We want to talk about gas prices?
That's just an even more obnoxious version of the "What's wrong with Kansas?" argument. In that liberal "theory," people who have social concerns are just stupid. Economics is the only concern, unless it favors Republicans, in which case we care about anything else that isn't going so well for the Republicans.

And now they're just telegraphing their punches. We can predict the media stall game they're going to try. If anyone asks Obama about abortion, he's going to try to divert the question by saying either (a) He's answered that question before, or (b) He's not going to answer that question because it's an issue that just divides us. Let's see how many courageous journalists hold his feet to the fire on that lame answer.

Obama thinks politics is about all of us going to our happy place.

"it's the economy, stupid"

June 25, 2008 - 17:34 ET by wizardjr

That's still true today. I agree with Mr. Bennett that Barry has no morals, or backbone in regards to international killers and tyrants, but in the end the election will swing on the perceived economy. The MSM and the Demoncrats have spent a couple years talking down the economy. Most people actually believe we're in a recession even though we're not and haven't been. It's Barry's only real talking point. Of course, he has absolutely no experience as a chief executive, or any high level econ training, or high level state craft, etc., etc. The Dims knew this going in so its why they worked so hard to tank the economy or at least make it look that way. If President Bush would only tell the public who the actual culprits of the $4 gasoline are, and do it over and over again then Barry and the Dim will loose big time. Otherwise we're screwed.

You bet it is

June 26, 2008 - 07:12 ET by pbanks7

In an interview with CNBC, John Harwood asked him, "So could these high prices help us?"

Obama's reply: "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing.

McCain (and if he won't, then every other conservative outlet) needs to hammer the Obamassiah over him not minding $4 gas. Also His ban on offshore drilling. 60% of the American people support offshore drilling.

MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe.

I agree with Brazile

June 25, 2008 - 17:46 ET by landshark

Why talk about abortion, which so narrowly focuses on issues of morality and protecting the most vulnerable. $4 gas is a totally multi-faceted issue. You know, what with gas being so expensive... and... so forth.

I mean, $4! Issues just do not get any more important than this.

Help!

June 25, 2008 - 17:46 ET by Mark Finkelstein

I'd appreciate help from sharp-eared readers who can make out what Bill Bennett said at the end of this statement:

BENNETT: I want to talk about all of [inaudible]

Thanks!

Donna already told you, Mark

June 25, 2008 - 17:50 ET by Mike Bratton

It had to be either same-sex marriage or abortion...

--Mike

www.thebrattonreport.com

I listened several

June 25, 2008 - 17:55 ET by GregE

I listened several times. I assume your at the 45 second mark.

Bennett: "I want to talk about all of that, Wolf asked me if there were one, if there were one"

Thanks! I've gone back and

June 25, 2008 - 17:56 ET by Mark Finkelstein

Thanks! I've gone back and listened and see that you're right on!

Yes: you guys are good!

June 25, 2008 - 17:58 ET by Mark Finkelstein

Yes: you guys are good! Thanks!

delete

June 25, 2008 - 19:32 ET by motherbelt

delete

Mark...Thank you.I

June 25, 2008 - 17:53 ET by bigtimer

Mark...

Thank you.

I heard this after the press conference...

I was furious with Donna...for her to think the majority in this country just don't care about any of this is absolutely insane...we are supposed to move on, it matters not whatsoever...heck murdering babies is zilch....can't we just order lunch now?

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson

The brown round mound of obnoxious liberal sound

June 25, 2008 - 18:12 ET by jefflebowski

is just spilling the same old tired liberal verbal diahreah that they always do. They don't care about human life, they really don't care about gas prices. They care about power.

I cannot stomach to watch Donna Brazile. Why that liberal hack gets so much face time is beyond me.

Jeff Lebowski

www.angrywhitedude.c...

Any thing Liberals are weak on they deem out of bounds

June 25, 2008 - 18:28 ET by Dee Bunk

They don't want talk about abortion, Gay marriage, terrorism, Supreme court decisions ever.

Now that the War in Iraq is going well, that's off limits too. McCain's not allowed to even ask Obama to go to Iraq without it being considered a personal attack

They only want to talk about the economy and gas prices because they can place false blame. They have no solutions. Just blame. If they can't blame a Republican for something then it's off limits.

JUNE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: EXACT SAME AS

June 25, 2008 - 18:38 ET by reelman46

JUNE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: EXACT SAME AS…

Let the record show that at 5:42pm CST on June 25, 2008 Fox News reminded us
BHO (the strident secular socialist) is ahead of JM by the exact same
percentage as Kerry (the strident secular socialist) was ahead of Bush
on this day…6 points.

Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)

Bingo reelman... I have

June 25, 2008 - 18:49 ET by bigtimer

Bingo reelman...

I have thought along your same lines with these polls.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson

And Gallup has them tied.

June 25, 2008 - 20:53 ET by ckc1227

And Gallup has them tied. But who knows, the polls are all over the place.

Don't forget the Bradley Effect

June 26, 2008 - 07:26 ET by pbanks7

Don't forget the Bradley Effect. It's worth 6-8 points in the polls. That puts McLame even or up.

MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe.

→ pbanks

June 26, 2008 - 07:36 ET by Cool Arrow

This Bradley effect?

LYDSEXICS UNTIE

The Bradley Effect!

June 26, 2008 - 12:14 ET by Roger the Shrubber

The Bradley Effect!

Meanwhile, in an alternate universe . . .

June 25, 2008 - 19:23 ET by Galvanic

BENNETT: The economy is rolling along. Unemployment is down, and gasoline is under $2.00 a gallon. I would ask Obama, "What policies will you pursue to keep gas prices down?

BRAZILE: Bill, he's already addressed that many times. With so many important issues to address, why wouldn't you ask him about gay-marriage and a woman's right to choose? You want to talk about gas.

BENNETT: I'm interested in those, too, but Wolf gave me one question to ask, and that's my question.

BRAZILE: Nobody cares about $2.00 gasoline. They want to know how Obama will protect their right to choose, and gay-marriage. Those are questions you ought to be asking.

Whatever Donna says, is the

June 25, 2008 - 19:34 ET by motherbelt

Whatever Donna says, is the message.....

Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson

Evil is as Evil Does

June 25, 2008 - 19:36 ET by Chasvs

These Democrats are the most Evil beings on the planet. If we don't stop them NOW we will witness the destruction of our Democracy as we know it!

These are Marxists at the door!

STOP the insanity NOW!

"O, O, Donna."

June 25, 2008 - 20:07 ET by Crash

Is there a single liberal on this planet who will answer a simple question without trying to change the subject?

Crash... Zero. "Never

June 25, 2008 - 20:12 ET by bigtimer

Crash...

Zero.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson

There are times when

June 25, 2008 - 20:55 ET by Delsa

this woman almost sounds lucid and then........

How sick is it when democrats put life on such low level of concern.

The supreme court says we can't put child rapists to death and Brazile puts $4 gas over the "narrow issue" of the lives of children.

This world is so far gone.

Morality vs. economics?

June 25, 2008 - 22:10 ET by savvyconsumer7

Brazile wants to deflect the conversation from morals to economics ... $4 gas is just the current case-in-point. Alan Keyes tells us it is not morality vs. economics, but instead morality lays the foundation for economic life. He says,

... So, I think that a real heart for helping people deal with the challenges of economic life (remember the root of that word economic. I’ve tried to get people to do this time and again. It comes from the Greek oikos meaning home or household and nomos meaning the rule or convention that governs the household.)

So, the ultimate meaning of economics is to remind us of the absolutely fundamental role that family plays, and strong family plays, and the meaning family obligation plays in developing and maintaining economic life for people. That’s something that’s been totally forgotten, in this country.

All these socialists and liberals and others, they want to focus on income instead of focusing on the substantive truth that the solid foundation that one must lay for economic life is a foundation that begins in the spirit, soul and character that is required to understand and accept the responsibilities of family life, meaning to say especially the responsibility parents have for their children and children have toward their parents. Understand those things, put those things together, build relationships built upon that and you lay the solid foundation for progress in economic terms.

Conference Call: June 3rd, 2008 - Question #10

Vote Alan Keyes for President 2008, Independent Candidate www.alankeyes.com

America's Independent Party National Committee ... a new political party and home for true patriots. www.SelfGovernment.US or www.aipnc.com

savvy

June 25, 2008 - 22:35 ET by lotr

Love Alan Keyes, the truly ideal candidate, but won't be voting for him I learned the long painful way back in '92. Spent the next eight years regretting it and telling myself "never again will I vote for an independent." The stakes are just too high. Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, in spite of what they say, were very socially liberal, and they took us in a direction that not even 8 years of Bush have been able to completely reverse. I've said it before, I'll keep saying it: It is not a straightfoward thing to simply reverse the policies set into motion by an adminstation (or SCOTUS for that matter).

lotr - I agree I like Alan Keyes a lot also

June 25, 2008 - 23:24 ET by Dee Bunk

and would prefer him any day to McCain. I just know my vote would be wasted.

I voted for him for senate here in IL when he ran against Obama.

2004

June 25, 2008 - 23:53 ET by jaywl

Ah yes, if only more people had voted for Keyes in 2004 we wouldn't be having all the trouble we are having now.... Oops, republicans are allowed to say things like that. Sorry.

→ jaywl

June 26, 2008 - 06:53 ET by Cool Arrow

Certainly didn't work for Trent Lott.

LYDSEXICS UNTIE

She's right

June 26, 2008 - 06:49 ET by Mulligan22

Brazile is right, gas is 4 bucks a gallon. Something must be done. After all with gas that high it makes it unaffordable for Obama's constituants to drive to the abortion clinic.