His decision to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case has put the Rev. Jesse Jackson on the hot seat over the question of abortion - and his support for Democrats who are almost always pro-choice.
The civil rights leader seemed to be struggling with the issue Wednesday morning, when he tried to defend the apparent contradiction during a New York City radio interview.
Story Continues Below
"I do not support late-term abortion," Jackson told WWRL Radio's Steve Malzberg and Karen Hunter.
"But you know, on the other hand, if a girl of 10 is pregnant, she cannot carry the baby. If a child of 13 is raped - as is so often the case by a step-parent or somebody - and feels they cannot carry it, in those cases a woman has a right to self-determination."
When pressed on whether he thought life began at conception, Jackson said flatly, "I'm not sure."
He quickly added, however: "One cannot really compare an embryo with a grown woman struggling for the right for food and medicine. That, to me, is a great contrast."
The civil rights leader said he was concerned about "those who fight for the fetus - but then fight against prenatal care, Head Start and day care.
"There are those who will fight for Terri Schiavo but won't fight for long-term health care," he complained.
Asked why he wouldn't "err on the side of life" when it comes to abortion, Jackson responded: "These are very difficult questions with which we all must be concerned. But in the end I err on the side of women's right to self-determination."
Get Steve Malzberg's exclusive NewsMax.com column e-mailed directly to you at www.newsmax.com/malzberg.
Editor's note:
Find the secrets to long life from the Mayo Clinic – Click Here
Hat Protects Your from Sun and Cancer! Get the Desert Hat Worn By Our Troops – Click Here Now!
Attention, women! Dr. Laura tells how to use "Woman Power" – Go Here Now
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Health Issues
Print Page 
Forward Page 
