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Trent Franks Clarifies Remarks About Obama Being "Enemy of Humanity"
Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2009, 2:29PM
Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)
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Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) has clarified his comments from the How to Take Back America conference, where he called President Obama an "enemy of humanity" -- with his spokesperson saying that he should have made it clear that he was referring to Obama's abortion policies.
As the Associated Press reports:
Trent Franks of Arizona said in a speech to conservatives Saturday in St. Louis that Obama's decision to fund international family planning organizations that support legal abortion shows "he has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity."
Bethany Haley, spokeswoman for Franks, said the congressman was referring to "unborn humanity" and should have clarified his statement.
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Schmed
September 29, 2009 2:40 PM
But....but....but I thought there was no distinction between born humans and unborn humans. So if Obama's an "enemey of unborn humanity," he's still an "enemy of humanity," right?
Difference without a distinction, or distinction without a difference?
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CT Voter
September 29, 2009 3:13 PM in reply to Schmed
Of course there's a distinction. Republicans zealously guard the health and well-being of unborn humans, and don't give a rat's ass about born humans.
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Schmed
September 29, 2009 3:18 PM in reply to CT Voter
As someone on another blog said:
The GOP didn't give a damn for me when I was poor and a fetus. Why should I believe they give a damn about me now that I'm poor and homeless (or sick) (or black) (or gay).
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CT Voter
September 29, 2009 3:35 PM in reply to Schmed
You're right. I was a little to kind to Republicans. They care about rich unborn humans. Poor unborn humans, and humans? Not so much.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
September 29, 2009 3:39 PM in reply to CT Voter
Rich unborn humans unless it's their own teenage daughter who's carrying the rich fetus, that is.
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SchrodingersCat
September 29, 2009 2:46 PM
I wonder what Mr. Franks' stances are on government programs providing prenatal care, childcare, or how he voted on SCHIP. I have a pretty good idea....
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CT Voter
September 29, 2009 3:01 PM in reply to SchrodingersCat
Nailed it!
And let me just speculate that he's probably against insurance covering contraception and in favor of insurance covering Viagra!!
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Powkat
September 29, 2009 3:09 PM
"Unborn humanity"? WTF
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SchrodingersCat
September 29, 2009 3:14 PM in reply to Powkat
Yep. That's like hitting for the cycle in republican politics.
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SchrodingersCat
September 29, 2009 3:15 PM in reply to SchrodingersCat
D'oh....stupid internets. That was meant as a reply to CT Voter.
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Kuyleh
September 29, 2009 4:51 PM
I'm still waiting for a solid reason why a woman should be forced to carry a fetus. Especially under extreme circumstances. There is no proof whatsoever that the fetus is alive, or would live without said woman.
Disclaimer: Yes, I realize that after 37 or 38 weeks, the baby has a chance of making it on it's own. I was under the impression that third term abortions are illegal, and feel that if they aren't somewhere, they should be. But before that point, I stick to what I said above.
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slb
September 29, 2009 6:00 PM in reply to Kuyleh
Actually, anything from 37 to 42 weeks is considered full term; a fetus can be born much earlier than that and still have a very good chance of survival. The point of viability established in Roe (and the point at which the Court said states can prohibit abortion except when necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother) is 24 weeks. 50-70 percent of babies born at 24-25 weeks of gestation survive; more than 90 percent born at 26-27 weeks survive. Prior to 24 weeks, the survival rate is 20-35 percent.
These are not bright lines, of course; there are lots of different factors that affect the rate of fetal growth. One of them is the presence of other fetuses. Twins develop more rapidly than single babies; triplets even faster than twins.
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SchrodingersCat
September 29, 2009 6:55 PM in reply to slb
Do you have any cites for that? I'm not arguing with your statement, it's just that I have twins and not once in any of my reading, doctors' visits, etc., did I ever hear any mention of a faster development rate.
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Kuyleh
September 29, 2009 11:49 PM in reply to slb
Yes, but they couldn't survive without intervention. They survive with a ton of medical help, IE machines and doctors. And that's the point of what I was saying...Until that fetus can breathe on it's own, pump it's own blood, handle it's own bodily functions, it isn't viable. It's not a live being. It is tissue, dependent on a woman and a ton of circumstances.
Disclaimer Round 2: I left out feeding on purpose. I've seen very few babies of any species that are born with the knowledge and skill to find their own food.
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ohyeathatsright
September 29, 2009 4:58 PM
Obama is the enemy to a lot of things the GOP makes up...
Let's tally a partial list of things Obama hates:
Unborn Humanity (as Powkat said...WTF?)
Senior Citizens (Death Panels, oh noes!)
White people or "white culture" (What is "white culture" anyway?)
America (and Americans)
Main Street
Wall Street
Guns (despite the only legislation he's passed has been pro-gun)
Black Governors (he's racist of course)
White Governors (he's racist of course)
...I've tired myself out already...
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NobleCommentDecider
September 29, 2009 8:43 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
You forgot Stem Cells!...an essential component of the GOP Kingdom of the Unborn!
..maybe if fetuses and stem cells could 'carry' those baby killers would get a big surprise, take it from my cold dead blastocoele!
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lousgirl84
September 29, 2009 5:00 PM
I am so sick of living on the same planet with these reprobates
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Savannah Evans
September 29, 2009 5:01 PM
"Unborn humanity"? Does that make us all "undead humanity"?
And what of the living dead among us, i.e., Glenn Beck fans?
Inquiring minds got to know.
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J. Clarence
September 29, 2009 5:08 PM
I do appreciate the occasional Republican foolishness. It adds entertainment to an other wise boring day. I love how they always try to clarify what they are saying, but only dig themselves deeper.
Also isn't funny how a Republican can say this and essentially get a away with it, but if a Democrat suggests even slightly that women should have a right to be covered by a legal medical procedure which the Supreme Court recognized as a right they are labeled the most outlandish things.
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numediaman
September 29, 2009 5:08 PM
I can't believe that good nice gay guy would say such an awful thing about our President.
What? He's not that gay guy?
Oh, he's from Arizona?
Nevermind.
Sincerely, Emily Latella
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elle a
September 29, 2009 6:11 PM in reply to numediaman
who's emily latella?
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bluesplashy
September 29, 2009 6:54 PM in reply to elle a
She was so funny! Here is the wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Litella
Someone with better skills then me can probably find a Youtube.
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Giggidy
September 29, 2009 6:33 PM
Politicians don't care about the unborn (except for a few certifiable, holding their breath for the rapture whackjobs). They care about the money and power they can gain for themselves and their corporate donors. Pandering to people who care about the unborn is an easy stepping stone.
If there was a button they could push to ban abortion, they wouldn't do it.
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mikedrevguy
September 29, 2009 8:13 PM
for those wondering - here's Mr. Franks record on health care.
http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Trent_Franks_Health_Care.htm
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NobleCommentDecider
September 29, 2009 9:17 PM
You and the GOP ARE ENEMIES OF HUMANITY TRENT, YOU A**HOLE!
Who the hell are you to speak for humanity?
You, who are trying to destroy the organizations throughout the world which endeavor only to assist in voluntary family planning in order to lift people out of poverty!
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Hermagoras
September 29, 2009 9:49 PM
"Clarifies"? I do not think that means what you think it means.
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ttilley
September 29, 2009 10:09 PM
That's nice.
So...why didn't he?
And, as a member of "born humanity", I kind of like Obama as President.
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driftless
September 29, 2009 11:38 PM in reply to ttilley
"I'm a vile dumbass who will say virtually anything," he clarified.
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Rantcaster
September 30, 2009 12:39 AM
Hearing Mr. Franks, I wish we could make birth control retroactive.
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gtomkins
September 30, 2009 7:45 AM
The enemy of mankind
This is one of the traditional ways to refer to the Devil, and presumably the close approximation to this of what Franks said is his way to link in to the idea prevalent among his tribe that Obama is the Anti-Christ.
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billp
September 30, 2009 11:47 AM
Like a good soldier, Franks is doing his part in executing the GOP Playbook:
1. Use apocalyptic rhetoric that exacerbates fear, bigotry and extremism among the uneducated and intolerant.
2. Counter any liberal criticism of your inflammatory calls for action by saying they can't take a joke or you misspoke.
3. Keep turning up the heat and act surprised when somebody finally heeds your calls for extreme action.
4. Be sure to maintain you were only speaking figuratively and you are being unfairly blamed when violence occurs.
5. Keep your celebrations behind closed doors.
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