Barack Obama in Democratic Candidates Compassion Forum, April 13, 2008

On Abortion: We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life

Q: The terms pro-choice and pro-life, do they encapsulate that reality in our 21st Century setting and can we find common ground?

A: I absolutely think we can find common ground. And it requires a couple of things. It requires us to acknowledge that..

There is a moral dimension to abortion, which I think that all too often those of us who are pro-choice have not talked about or tried to tamp down. I think that's a mistake because I think all of us understand that it is a wrenching choice for anybody to think about.
People of good will can exist on both sides. That nobody wishes to be placed in a circumstance where they are even confronted with the choice of abortion. How we determine what's right at that moment, I think, people of good will can differ.

And if we can acknowledge that much, then we can certainly agree on the fact that we should be doing everything we can to avoid unwanted pregnancies that might even lead somebody to consider having an abortion. Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008

On Principles & Values: Religion is foundational; not clinging nor elitist

Q: You said about people here in small towns suffering economic hardship, "It's not surprising they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them." It may have come across to many as you attacking their values or their religion, suggesting that people are "clinging" to religion.

A: Scripture talks about clinging to what's good. My words may have been clumsy, but [I meant] religion is a foundation when other things aren't going well. That's true in my own life, through trials and tribulations.

Q: Hillary Clinton says you're being elitist.

A: My entire trajectory, not just during this campaign, but long before, has been to talk about how Democrats need to get in church, reach out to evangelicals, link faith with the work that we do. The notion that somehow I am standing above that when that essentially describes much of what I've been doing over the last 20 years doesn't make much sense.

Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008

The above quotations are from Democratic Candidates Compassion Forum at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Back-to-back interviews by faith leaders, moderated by Jon Meacham (editor of Newsweek) and CNN.. Click here for a profile of Barack Obama. Click here for Barack Obama on all issues.
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