SleepingDogLies

This afternoon Barack Obama spoke to The Gazette. The last question on the tape is in regards to Amendment 48 which would amend to the Colorado Constitution the definition of a person to include a fertilized egg. Barack touches on the complexities of the simple words in the amendment “shall include the definition of a fertilized egg”:

You can listen to it here and here.

Obama: This has been an ongoing battle, I very much respect people whose religious faith tells them that human life begins at the moment of conception and I think that the important thing for the people of Colorado to just consider is as a practical matter what are the consequences of the kind of amendment that you’re talking about. What does it do for example to in vitro fertilization; couples who are trying to conceive, if the egg is fertilized, and you’ve got a set of embryos one of which takes, but many of which aren’t implanted, what’s required in terms of embryos that are currently discarded? I mean there are a whole host of questions. I think that would have to be asked but you know my general position is is that when it comes to questions of abortion, that those are deeply moral questions and that we should do everything we can to discourage the unwanted pregnancies that can lead to an abortion, and that we should encourage adoption but what I don’t want to do is criminalize women or their doctors. And if the amendment is intended to reach beyond that to issues like in vitro fertilization or stem cell research, then frankly I can’t support an approach that would prohibit stem cell research where appropriate ethical guidelines have been put in place or would prohibit in vitro fertilization where appropriate ethical guidelines have been put in place, I respect those who may disagree with me on that but that’s my position.

Everyone knows and hopefully loves someone who would be adversely affected by such an amendment. Like Barack says, these are deeply moral issues. Included in that moral consideration, I am sure you have seen someone struggle with disease that could have been cured by the products of stem cell research, or perhaps you know someone who should start a family but has had complications that could be lessened by in vitro fertilization. These are only a few of the myriad reasons why this amendment goes too far.

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