Above his "pay grade?"

[question everything]

What do you think about Obama's response, during the appearance at the Saddleback church, when asked of when an embryo should be considered full human deserved of protection?

[polichick]

1. I took it to mean that only God knows the answer.

[Mz Pip]

2. An honest answer

but perhaps too subtle for the folks who only understand issues in terms of black and white.

[ogneopasno]

3. I thought it was flippant.

"No" is a lot simpler and clearer. Unless he doesn't.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

5. "No"? It wasn't a yes/no question. nt

[hendo]

10. It definately was not

but never underestimate some one's attempt to simplify it so that only yes or no are acceptable answers.

beware the person who does that.

[glowing]

4. I took it to mean that he is not paid enough to tell a woman/ family what to do

with their bodies.. That it is up individual and God (I'll use God since he's a Christian) to make any decisions like this.. AND it is way above what he should be doing.

[MadrasT]

7. That's how I interpreted it as well

:hi:

[azzig49]

11. nice kitty

both of them. i don't have enough posts to send you a PM. just another cat lover here.

[question everything]

8. Then, perhaps this is how he should have replied

or, at least, leave it to the medical profession.

My concern is that this can be interpreted as one more chip in what used to be a solid pro-choice, call it pro-privacy, stand of Democrats.

First it was Kerry putting his hand on his heart saying: "I am personally opposed to abortion," then it was Obama hoping that women choose abortion prayerfully..

And, of course, the whole idea of putting bridges to evangelicals is an oxymoron (in my opinion). They get their marching orders from god and, of course, there is no compromise there, while politics is the art of compromise.

He'd better be well prepared for the real debates.

[Warpy]

6. I agree that instead of being witty, he should have said

"only god can know that answer. We can't." However, he said much the same thing, even though it went over the heads of most of the people who heard it.

Morons will think that was evasive simply because they lack the intelligence to understand the answer. There's nothing we can do about that.

Perhaps he's come to the same conclusion and will phrase his answer more clearly in the debates.

[jobycom]

9. It's becoming a cliche in action films, and he was trying to dodge the question.

He figured if he said "no" he'd upset some people who might be wavering towards him, and if he tried a lengthy explanation, he'd just get the evangelicals like James Dobson parsing his answer and using it to attack him.

So he dodged the question with a cute answer people have seen in a lot of films lately. He was implying that the nature of an embryo is above mortal understanding, I thought.

[azzig49]

12. damned if you do......

damned if you don't. there's NO way he could answer that won't get picked on, scrutinized...ect. I just wish this whole damn thing was over.

[Pterodactyl]

13. I was disappointed with his answer.

I mean, I've thought heavily about this and I can come up with an answer that meets with my religous beliefs. So much about God is unknowable, but I think He's given us humans enought to work with. I honestly have trouble believing he hasn't worked out an answer consistent with his religous beliefs. I mean, he has an opinion on just about everything else that is touched on by religous belief, such as aiding the poor, protecting the innocent and opposing war, but why not that topic?

Also, in contrast with McCain's answer, it really did not win any points.

[patriotvoice]

14. He meant only God and the Supreme Court decide.

He's a legislator, not a judge, though I'm sure he has an opinion that is, frankly, irrelevant (as he is neither God nor the Supreme Court).