GOP lawmaker clarifies remarks critical of Obama ("enemy of humanity")

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — A Republican congressman who called President Barack Obama an "enemy of humanity" said Tuesday through a spokeswoman that he should have made clear that he was referring to the president's policies related to abortion.

Trent Franks of Arizona said in a speech to conservatives Saturday in St. Louis that given Obama's decision to fund international family planning organizations that support legal abortion, "we shouldn't be shocked that he does all these other insane things."

"A president that has lost his way that badly, that has no ability to see the image of God in these little fellow human beings, if he can't do that right, then he has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity," Franks said to the "How to Take Back America" conference.

Bethany Haley, spokeswoman for Franks, said the congressman was referring to "unborn humanity" and should have clarified his statement. She also said that Franks meant to say that Obama's abortion-related policies have no place in government, rather than that Obama has no place in government.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j316yGgo15WC2Udklz0_RtE_etRAD9B14DF00

[denverbill]

1. Trent Franks is an enemy of America.

Calling the President, the leader of the United States, an enemy, clearly makes him a traitor.

[Mechatanketra]

18. Oh, do not go there.

I'll say up front: I believe the "clarification" is absolute bull. It's not a lie, per se, it's just pointless: there's no doubt in my mind that asked under Hollywood-fiction truth serum he'd end up saying that an "enemy of unborn humanity" is an enemy of humanity, period, and likewise that anyone with pro-choice policies themselves inherently has no place in politics as a whole. And of course his base knows he said what he meant, and won't give a damn about his sorta-kinda retraction.

That said ... no. No, no, no. What you're espousing is lese majeste, and it's antithetical to the core concept of democracy. People shouldn't be thinking of the President as their leader, but a guy we hire to do a job for us. If the eight years before Obama taught us nothing else, it's that even the President can be actively hostile to the people he's supposed to be serving; the last thing I want to do is characterize admitting that as inherently criminal or treasonous just because I don't agree with the specifics of this instance.

[rexcat]

2. Bullshit...

It was very clear as to what he said!

[Turbineguy]

3. Hey wimp!

don't back peddle. Those who elected you will think you have three brain cells and will replace you with somebody with two.

[tularetom]

4. I don't believe that Trent Franks is a pedophile.

I repeat. I don't think Trent Franks is a pedophile.

[wilt the stilt]

14. Read his wikipedia

he has always been very interested in children and he is part of Focus on the family.

pedophile warning
I believe this man is a pedophile.
it is rare that a man without a family becomes very interested in children.

[omega minimo]

5. Yes, he should have made clear that he's a bigot as well as a seditionist.

[quiet.american]

6. Will someone inform this fool that abortion is LEGAL. nt

[No Elephants]

7. For the second time today, I will post this: The RW has totally jumped the shark.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Who can see the image of God here?

[Harry Monroe]

10. I see the image of "Mr. Peanut" (the Planters Peanuts guy on the peanut jar)

Is Mr. Peanut God?

[Harry Monroe]

9. Funny how these assholes have to "clarify" their remarks after they speak them!

He meant what he said. The clarification is pure bullshit. Asshole!!

[NOLALady]

11. He "meant to say"....

:rofl:

[AlbertCat]

12. Perhaps if he got the "god" out of his eyes and ears...

He'd see that family planning reduces the need for abortions, and...

he might hear the ridiculous hyperbole in his head before he says it out loud.

His state has the death penalty. He voted no on the GI bill.... and no of an Iraq withdrawal timetable (duh)... so he cares about the unborn but not so much adults in harm's way.


Religious hypocritical moron!.

[notadmblnd]

13. "image of God in these little fellow human beings"

what a crock! And as soon as they're born, he says screw em.

[tonekat]

15. Franks probably sees god in his morning toast... N/T

[daleo]

16. He is stirring up nutbars

And inciting murderers.

[harvey007]

17. Contact Trent Franks

Let the Arizona Representative know what you think of his remarks:

http://www.house.gov/franks/