Franks aide clarifies 'enemy of humanity' comment
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/29/art.franks0929.gi.jpg caption="In a recent speech to conservative activists, Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks said President Obama was 'an enemy of humanity.'"]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - A spokeswoman for a Republican congressman who called President Obama "an enemy of humanity" said Tuesday that he should have clarified that he was talking about the president's policies on abortion.
Bethany Haley, a spokeswoman for Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, told CNN on Tuesday the congressman was actually referring to "unborn humanity" - a specific reference to the president's policies on abortion.
Franks used the term in a speech to conservative activists Saturday in St. Louis, pointing to Obama's decision to aid international family planning clinics that perform abortions.
"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.
Franks' speech was recorded by the liberal group People for the American Way.
In an interview with the Washington Independent after the speech, Franks also renewed a call for Obama to produce a copy of his birth certificate to end the questions by "birthers" who doubt the president's birthplace. Franks said he had once considered filing a lawsuit to get it, but did his own investigation and became convinced that the president was born in the United States.
Haley called the controversy a "silly debate" and said it is "ridiculous that the president doesn't just produce [the birth certificate] and make it go away." In the interview, Franks implied that the president might be trying to hide something else.
"Probably, Barack Obama could solve this problem and make the birthers, you know, back off, by simply showing us his long-form birth certificate," Franks said. "That'd solve the problem. There's some other issue, I don't know what it is, that he doesn't want people to see the birth certificate on."
From CNN Politics
- Supreme Court rearranges its seating chart as Jackson takes the bench
- Want To Travel Practically Free? Get This Card
- Untitled
- DOJ asks court to speed up appeal of special master review
- Government shutdown averted as Biden signs funding bill
- Austin condemns 'nuclear saber-rattling' but says he doesn't believe Putin has decided to use nuclear weapons
Preach it brother!!!
All Republicans are Insane.
--- I Clarify --–
Actually I was referring to "All Republicans in Psychiatric Hospitals".
I guess we should pass laws to protect our ovaries and testicles too, then?
Does Glenn Beck share Rupert's fondness for China?
I am always so amazed that Republicans that claim they are so against BIG goverment and big brother getting in their business always make abortion to be a political deal. I personally don't like abortion either, but I don't think I have the right to tell another person what to do in their situation. They are against abortion but pro death penalty and war and guns. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it. I just wonder how some of these anti-abortion people would really feel if they had a loved one become pregnant due to a rape or incest relationship, and God forbid if they are really a white conservative if that sexual assult was done by an evil "MINORITY". I'm sure they would want their loved one to carry that demon seed full term and put the child up for adoption right? Yeah..sure they would.
Wrongo. If he meant "unborn humanity" he would have said it. Nice try at the walk back, but it doesn't fly.
What century is this guy living in?
Hey wingnuts! YOU LIE
Wow! Really? I guess the President is going around killing humans before they are born? I never thought an unborn was a little fellow but ok, I'll buy it. An enemy of humanity? So, is that a call for someone to assasinate him? I find it hard to interpret this comment any other way. Exactly who is holy and religeous in your opinion Franks? Did you change something in the Constitution to permit religion and politics to mix? No birth certificate? Really? Did he not submit it when he started campaigning like the rules imply? Funny, I can pull his birth certificate up on line. You must not know how to navigate google.
Obama IS, clearly, an "enemy of humanity". It is all about HIM. He cares more about Chicago getting an Olympic Bid than he is about our troops' success in Afghanistan. He cares more about big government takeovers of every conceivable industry, despite a majority of Americans against such takeovers. He is for indoctrination of our children who praise HIM, not God. We are in big trouble, and if you cannot see it, you are truly blind.
"Unborn Humanity", "Living Humanity", "Dead Humanity"
Ha Ha Ha
The GOP is the enemy of every American.
He didn't say anything stupid...he should defend the rights of the unborn....they are dead in flesh but not in spirit..and there is an accounting for any harm done. What does God need to do to show he is REAL....you have rumors of wars, you have floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, .....he has tried to arise your senses.....be smart and open your eyes, or at least listen.
I don't agree attacking President Obama...this is not a war of the flesh.
Do as God commands, pray for our leader. It would be wrong not to.
Another republican that has his mouth in gear before he has his brain in gear. How sad.
Imagine the outrage that Rush, Beck, Hannity, Faux News, the Washington Times & the rest of the right-wing echo chamber would have whipped up had a Democrat called President Bush an "enemy of humanity." The only question would be whether the poor soul should be crucified, flayed alive, or drawn and quartered for his "treason." "How dare you criticize the President in a time of war!" they would thunder in unison. "Democrats want the terrorists to win!" we'd hear over and over.
Now, crickets. Heck, they're probably getting ready to throw the guy a ticker-tape parade. But remember–the GOP is the party of principles!
If we put these clowns back in power in 2010 or anytime in the foreseeable future, we as a country deserve whatever the hell happens to us.
are there any smart repugnant reptiles.....they are the disgrace of this country....raccoon meat eaters in the swamplands
I could be President Obama Pr person and i would shut the repigs down. All they do all day is post negative comments about the President. All they do is lie
Yes, fighting for health care for all certainly puts President Obama in the "enemy of humanity"category.
GOP = horrible role models for our children
Republicans have so much hate in their hearts, you wonder how they can call themselves CHRISTIANS... I call them FRAUDS
Both Bethany Haley and Trent Franks are great arguments FOR abortion.
Obama renewed funding for international family planning, not abortion per se. Seems logical for pro-lifers to support him on this. Wouldn't friends of "humanity" want to help prevent unwanted pregnancies and save mothers' lives?
I thought this was already decided in the Roe v.Wade Supreme Court case. What has Obamarma got to do with it ? It is US Law. If you think it should be changed, then introduce Legislation to change it. Your a Congressman. CONGRESS SOMETHING, instead of mealy mouthing the President. You didn't do or say ANYTHING when Bush was President, so why are you shooting off your mouth now ? Typical Flat Earth Blowhard christian terrorist.
Republicans are the enemy of humanity. Another birther-what a wind bag idiot. and we know he meant it, why backtrack. YOU LIE!
Just when you think the GOP can't sink any lower...
Franks looks like an enemy of humanity.
I am pro-choice. That does not equate me a proponent of abortion. It simply means a woman should have the choice in the matter–not government.
Do GOP members know the difference?
I think not.