“At what point does a baby get human rights?” It’s a philosophically profound question, but for those who truly support human rights, it’s an easy one to answer. When Pastor Rick Warren asked this question of the presidential candidates during the Saddleback Civil Forum in August, their responses provided a distinctive contrast between the two.
Barack Obama tried to tiptoe around the political landmine by pleading compensation-capped ignorance: “it’s above my pay grade.” Knowing he had to kowtow to the radical abortion supporters while not offending the many pro-life Democrats or undecided voters, Obama took the easy way out—something a president is not able to do. John McCain’s response was clear and direct: “At the moment of conception.” Whether you support abortion or you’re pro-life, such honesty is refreshing and necessary in a leader.
So I give props to 4th Congressional District candidate Charlie Brown for his equal candor in a debate with fellow candidate Senator Tom McClintock earlier this week. Asked when life begins, he responded, “At birth.”
In being so clear and direct in his response, Charlie Brown has firmly established himself as a radical liberal, completely out of touch with the very conservative voters in the 4th CD. In 2006, 52% of Placer County voters approved Proposition 85’s attempt to notify parents when a minor seeks an abortion—a decidedly pro-life position.
Charlie Brown’s stance is even at odds with the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which recognizes that babies have human rights while still in the womb. Does Brown realize that his definition means partial-birth abortion would be acceptable? When, during the process of birth, do the human rights begin? During partial-birth abortion, the child technically is not fully birthed when it is callously murdered.
Voters in the 4th CD should be shocked by this candidate’s response to such a profound question. Maybe Brown should have followed Barack Obama’s easy (and cowardly) way out by declaring such knowledge “above his pay grade.”