Biden and Ryan Clash Over Abortion, Clarify Their Positions
VP debate moderator Martha Raddatz asked both candidates to describe the role their religion has played in their views on abortion.
Congressman Ryan started by saying, “I don’t see how a person can separate their public life from their private life or from their faith. Our faith informs us in everything we do.”
“The policy of a Romney administration will be to oppose abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother,” Ryan said, going on to claim that Obamacare is infringing on our freedom of religion by mandating coverage of abortion.
VP Biden countered that “my religion defines who I am...and it has particularly informed my social doctrine. ... With regard to abortion, I accept my church’s position on abortion...but I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews -- I just refuse to impose that on others like my friend the congressman.”
When it comes to the legality of abortion, Ryan said that, “we don’t think that unelected judges should make this decision.” Biden pointed out that the next administration will likely appoint two justices to the Supreme Court, whose positions on abortion will be key to this issue in the coming years.
