During Ben Carson’s “Meet the Press” interview that aired Sunday, host Chuck Todd asked the Republican presidential candidate about abortion.
“Does life begin at conception?” Todd asked. “I believe it does,” Carson answered.
Image source: YouTube
Image source: YouTube
Todd came back with a query about which individual has greater rights when the abortion issue comes up — the mother or the unborn child.
“In the ideal situation, the mother should not believe that the baby is her enemy,” Carson replied, “and should not be looking to terminate the baby.” He went on to say that while mothers’ protective instincts for their babies are stronger than anyone else’s, expectant mothers are being told that “that baby is their enemy and that they have the right to kill it.”
“Can you see how perverted that line of thinking is?” Carson asked.
Todd then asked Carson if someone should have the right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy; the former neurosurgeon replied “no.”
“During slavery — and I know that’s one of those words you’re not supposed to say, but I’m saying it — during slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave,” Carson said. “Anything that they chose to do. And, you know, what if the abolitionist had said, you know, ‘I don’t believe in slavery. I think it’s wrong. But you guys do whatever you want to do’? Where would we be?”
Carson also offered what appeared to be a cutting remark aimed at abortion proponents: “I’m reasonable person, and if people can come up with a reasonable explanation of why they would like to kill a baby, I’ll listen.”
Carson added that he “would love” to see Roe v. Wade overturned. He said he’s against abortion in cases of rape or incest — given “the many stories of people who have led very useful lives who were the result of rape or incest.” In regard to when the life or health of the mother is at risk, Carson said “that’s a extraordinarily rare situation. But if in that very rare situation it occurred, I believe there’s room to discuss that.”
This story has been updated.