Obama's Fumble #2: Abortion.

This YouTube video is a compelling illustration of what the video states as "the Catholic vote". The video starts with a basic appeal to Catholic voters on what they should center their vote on:

This November, America's future hangs in the balance. Catholics across the nation will have the responsibility to make their voices heard. Many issues are at stake. Some (picture of baby) are more important than others (gas prices). No issue can be ignored but none are more critical to the foundation of our country than life and family. The family must be strengthened, not refined. Human life is paramount and must be protected from conception to natural death.

The Catholic vote clearly points to abortion being an extremely important issue for Catholic voters. Though poll numbers state that Obama is getting more of the Catholic vote, the question remains: Where does Obama stand on the issue of the most fragile of lives, the life of the human fetus?

How important is the issue of life to Obama if he decides not
to protect the most fragile? -- Helen Hughes/MCT

Let's use a three-point outline to explore Obama's possible "extreme" abortion views:

1. He opposed the partial birth abortion ban and voiced his displeasure of the ban being passed early 2008. Though the term 'partial birth' is debated, a partial birth abortion would occur in the second trimester (12 to 24 weeks). Mind you, babies have been born as early as 21 weeks into the pregnancy.
   
   
2. As a Senator, he opposed an act titled the Induced Infant Liability Act, which is similar to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Both acts extend protection to an infant born alive after a failed attempt at induced abortion.
   
   
3. In late March 2008 at a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Obama spoke about his sex education policies (YouTube link):
   

"When it comes specifically to HIV/AIDS, the most important prevention is education, which should include -- which should include abstinence education and teaching the children -- teaching children, you know, that sex is not something casual. But it should also include -- it should also include other, you know, information about contraception because, look, I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

The language and actions Obama has shown in his short time in the Senate and in the blinding public eye has clearly explained his abortion views. In some ideas, especially the Pro-Life movement, his views are labeled as "extreme".

Yes, abortion is one of the numerous issues on the table for voters to consider, but unlike many issues, abortion deals with both the potential and the most fragile of life. Regardless if you are an Obama supporter or not, his abortion views should make one question his value on life from its beginnings to end.

If one believes a candidate doesn't truly value life, what is the motivation to vote for that candidate?