Here is a New York Times story about President Obama's speech at the University of Notre Dame, in which he called for "dialogue" about abortion. To what end? Rational persuasion? If so, why didn't he use the speech to make a case for liberal abortion laws? That's what the abortion debate is about, after all. It's not about the morality of abortion; nor is it about how to reduce the number of abortions. Those are side issues. The debate is about the legal status of fetuses. Suppose Obama had made a case. Then critics could reply, either by (1) challenging the validity of his reasoning or (2) challenging the truth of his premises. I hate to be cynical, but I'm not sure he wants a dialogue. What he wants is for those who disagree with him to agree to disagree with him. But how can they? In their view, he is facilitating murder.
Abortion
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