Parsing The Born Alive Attacks On Obama

One of the most opaque, misleading and emotionally-charged attacks on Barack Obama focuses on his votes as a state senator in Illinois on so called "Born Alive" legislation. Late last week, the criticism became an official part of the McCain campaign's regular messaging. From my new Time.com story on the topic:

"As a state senator, Barack Obama wouldn't even stand up for the rights of infants born alive during an abortion," [Sarah] Palin said on Saturday, during a Johnstown, Penn. rally. "These infants, often babies with special needs, are simply left to die." . . .

Two days earlier, during an appearance on the Laura Ingraham radio program, Palin said Obama had voted against providing medical care to babies who are alive after abortions. "It's very appalling," Palin said. "If more Americans could understand how absolutely extreme that position is, there would be a heck of a lot more outrage than we have already seen." Hours later, in Wisconsin, she repeated the charge that Obama had voted against providing "health care for a child who was born alive as a result of a botched abortion."

In each case, Palin's words were carefully chosen for maximum effect, without employing any outright falsehoods. Taken in isolation, however, her statements were also quite misleading, as they suggested Obama supported the death of babies after birth who had a chance of survival. The reality is very different.

Read the whole story here.