Related: No middle ground from Obama on the issue of abortion anywhere...Now Major Pro-Life groups had no seat at Health Care Summit and more
Below is a link to the only news organization that gets the issue of abortion out in the public. Hats off to CBNNews.com for giving the public this discussion.
Take note that the hard questions were all avoided by Barnes like the repealing of the Hyde Amendment and whether or not Health Care coverage would include abortions and the Freedom of Choice Act.
Brody makes an excellent point at one point in the interview that the Obama adminstration team says he wants to find common ground and at the same time not one recognized pro-life nominee is anywhere to be found surrounding Obama. And at his recent health care forum not one major pro-life group was found. See No middle ground from Obama on the issue of abortion anywhere...Now Major Pro-Life groups had no seat at Health Care Summit and more.
The only answer she gave as evidence that Obama is serious about reducing abortions and middle ground is her answer concerning the Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships which has yet to make any common ground in any area whatsoever itself. See Americans will not only be funding abortions via taxes worldwide and in America but now in the name of faith Americans will be forced to fund....... and Will Obama's faith based initiative allow organizations to remain faithful to their faith when receiving federal funds... and Faith discrimination in the name of Obama's faith based initiative?. Brody could have followed up with a question on this faith based initiative program of Obama's as to the unanswered questions as whether or not these initiatives will allow the funding of abortion in the name of faith or no and allow organizations of each respected faith to have members of their organization who are of their respected faiths.
Thus far this was a pitch but to the ignorant. Brody did a fair job in getting how the Obama administration would respond to these questions and thus far we have what many expected. Just claims of middle ground desires and reduced abortions but no real proof or actions in that direction at all and much the contrary.
Lastly, forcing Americans to pay for organizations that advocate the choice of abortion is hardly seeking middle ground. Middle ground would be to not force one side to pay for the advocacy of the other side and each side to carry their own cost load unless of course you are going to equally fund both sides which I bet will not happen under the Obama administration.
EXCLUSIVE: The White House Talks Abortion
CBNNews.com - The Obama Administration has not decided if abortions will be covered under any future universal health care plans, a top White House official told CBN News.
In an exclusive interview, White House Policy Director Melody Barnes told CBN News that President Obama is still committed to reducing abortions in America. But she emphasized that funding for family planning services remains crucial.
Click on The Brody File links below for more on Barne's conversation with David Brody on the abortion issue and the White House.
Barnes said that it's important that family planning services be a part of a discussion on reducing abortions in this country.
"There are some who may disagree on that issue, but I think the vast majority of Americans believe that that is important," she said. "It's something that should be available to women, so that's an area for discussion."
"There are people. who have a pro-life record but at the same time are strong supporters of family planning and contraception," Barnes explained. "So I think bringing people around the table who may disagree on some issues, but again are looking for those places where we can agree and we can move the debate forward, is important."
Adoption is another area where the White House believes common ground can be found.
"The President has talked about both reducing unintended pregnancies," Barnes told CBN News. "But he's also talked about supporting maternal and child health and supporting adoption in this country, all of those things being part and parcel of a whole."
Many pro-life groups are skeptical of the Obama Administration on the abortion issue because of recent moves to lift restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, rescind the pro-life Mexico City policy. and provide a more narrow definition of abortion conscious clause protections.
Bit Barnes believes the President is an honest broker and cites the creation of his Faith Based Office of Neighborhood partnerships as evidence.
"I think that sends a strong signal that he is committed to working with and talking to people who may have views different from his own and again looking for those areas of common ground," she said.
Pro-life groups believe it's just a matter of time before Congress takes up The Freedom of Choice Act, a bill they say would wipe out many pro-life laws across the country.
Obama has expressed a willingness to sign it into law, but Barnes says that is not the focus of his efforts.
"When that issue and if that issue were to come before him, then he would make a decision about it," she said.
The White House has been consistent in saying that they want the focus to center on the need to reduce abortions in America. But can there be any true common ground? Some on both sides of the abortion war remain skeptical.
Barnes says it's important to make a good faith effort.
"You don't know until you try, and if we continue to stay in our corners and not engage with one another and not try to find those areas of compromise or common ground or common belief we won't ever know if we'll have the opportunity to really create a better life for women and families and children that are struggling," she said.
"That's what I think motivates this President to do the work that he does," she explained. "We also believe that it's important to bring people around that table, to have some of those difficult conversations to try and move the country forward. "
