Ryan: Elected officials — not judges — should decide on the legality of abortion

Biden believes women should make decisions about their bodies. Ryan believes his faith tells us what those decisions should be. #debatehealth

’ Vivek Murthy (@vivek_murthy) October 12, 2012

 

Whether you thought that Martha Raddatz was biased from the start or that she was the best moderator ever, she did bring up a topic that needed to be addressed: Abortion.

She waited until the end of the debate and asked both candidates to give their personal views on the medical procedure.

“This is the first time we’ve had two Catholics on stage,” she said. “Please talk personally about this very personal issue.”

Rep. Paul Ryan said his stance against abortion is not simply because of his faith, but also because of reason and science. He said seeing an ultrasound early in his wife’s first pregnancy influenced his belief that abortion is wrong.

“We saw our baby in the shape of a bean, and to this day our first born is nicknamed bean,” he said. “I believe life begins at conception, but I respect people who believe differently.”

He also said that the Romney campaign opposes abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and the life the mother. This suggests Ryan has moderated his stance against abortion in all cases except to save the life of the woman. He has also sponsored a “personhood” bill last year with notorious forcible rape amendment.

Vice President Joe Biden said he accepts his church’s position on abortion in his personal life, but he refuses to impose it on people of other faiths.

“I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that they can’t control their own body,” he said. “It is a decision between them and their doctor.”

Raddatz then asked if people who believe abortion should be legal should be worried about a Romney/Ryan win.

Ryan paused for several seconds and took a deep breath before replying. He repeated his belief that life begins at conception and that a Romney administration would support abortion in a few, narrow cases.

“We don’t think that unelected judges should make this decision,” he said. “We think that people through their elected representatives should make this determination.”

Biden closed the topic by reminding the audience that the next president will pick at least two Supreme Court nominees.

“Robert Bork is Romney’s chief adviser on the court, who do you think he is likely to select?”

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