Obama Shifts on Abortion

clipped from tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com In a sign that he wants to reach out to pro-life voters, Barack Obama has told a Christian magazine that he would be against overly-broad exceptions to the prohibition on late-term abortions. "Now, I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother," Obama told Relevant Magazine. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term. Otherwise, as long as there is such a medical exception in place, I think we can prohibit late-term abortions." During the primaries, Obama was critical of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the federal ban on late-term abortions, saying that the court had disregarded "a woman's medical concerns and the very personal decisions between a doctor and patient."

Another disappointment, really. Obama's not a doctor -- and it shows. By making a distinction between "mental distress" and "a serious physical issue," he makes the far too common mistake of discounting mental illness -- like depression -- as a "real" and damaging illness.

What he should do is leave the medical stuff alone and think like a lawyer -- which he is. Is there a reason to limit a woman's choices at a certain stage of pregnancy and, if so, what are they?

Arguing from a position of ignorance is never a good idea.