by Roger Resler

My last blog entry covered the first part of a Chris Cuomo CNN interview with GOP Presidental candidate Marco Rubio last week. The interview goes fairly quickly if you’re watching it on youtube, but in written form it’s a bit lengthy, mainly because Cuomo and Rubio are talking over each other a lot. Still I think the content of this interview is such a classic example of how the pro-choice crowd attempts to railroad pro-life people into a no-win situation, it’s worth making and posting a transcript here, so I can comment on it for my next entry. This transcript is mine. I think it’s pretty accurate but it hasn’t been done by any official company. Here it is:

Chris Cuomo Interviews Marco Rubio on CNN, August 7, 2015.

Chris Cuomo: Why do you not see rape and incest as areas for potential carve-outs even if you are pro-life?

Marco Rubio: First, I think both of those instances are horrifying and fortunately they’re extremely rare. It happens. And any time it happens it’s horrifying. It’s a tragedy. But I personally and honestly and deeply believe that all human life is worthy of protection irrespective of the circumstances in which that human life was created. I personally believe that you do not correct one tragedy with a second tragedy. That’s how I personally feel very strongly about. I believe all human life – irrespective of the circumstances in which it came into being is worthy of the protection of our laws. And I recognize this is a tough question. It’s a very difficult question. And I understand that. Believe me, I do.

But by the same token, if I have to weigh the two equities here, I’m always going to err on the side of life. And that’s, that’s how – and I think that’s a timeless principle. Certainly our economy has evolved. But when it comes to issues like the value of every human life I think that’s a timeless principle. It was true before, it’s true now and it will be true in the future.

Chris Cuomo: It’s interesting that you draw distinctions about the old and the new in certain regards but in this one you say, “It’s timeless,” because as you know, cultural mores in this country and certainly the opinions of women are not in step with what you’re saying right now. You’re comfortable with that?

Marco Rubio: But the value of life is timeless. No, no, no, the value of life is timeless. The idea that a human life is worthy of the protection of our laws is not something that over time anybody should evolve on. I mean you can change your economic policies…

Chris Cuomo: right but the idea – you’re, you’re deciding…

Marco Rubio:   …to address the fact that the economy’s different. You can [inaudible] changes… The idea that human life is worthy of protection is a timeless principle. I don’t care how much the world changes.

Chris Cuomo: I know but you’re deciding when it is human life. Let me ask you something, you… Uh…   When you’re looking at the future…

Marco Rubio: No, science has decided when it is human life.

Chris Cuomo: Science has not decided it’s at conception.

Marco Rubio: No, no, let me correct you. Science has, absolutely it has.

Chris Cuomo: Not at conception.

Marco Rubio: Science has decided that… science has concluded. Absolutely it has. What else can it be? It cannot turn into an animal; it can’t turn into a donkey.

Chris Cuomo: No, but you know that the law has perused this. The fact that it…

Marco Rubio: The only thing it can become is a human being.

Chris Cuomo: Look, of course, I understand the logic but it’s a little too simple that…

Marco Rubio: Everything – it’s a human life, it can’t be anything else.

Chris Cuomo: Senator, I understand that but it’s oversimplifying it a little bit…

Marco Rubio: It is simple and straightforward.

Chris Cuomo: This is not my argument. This is a presented argument of science – it having a DNA map, so does a plant. Uh, it’s about when it becomes a human being. I’m not saying what I think, in answer to that question, that’s not my position. But don’t you think, if you want to be a leader of the future, that’s a question that deserves an answer that is definitive beyond your faith? When does life begin? None of you…

Marco Rubio: At conception.

Chris Cuomo: …are calling for any type of panel…

Marco Rubio: At conception.

Chris Cuomo: That’s your faith. That’s your faith. That’s not science.

Marco Rubio: No it isn’t. It’s science.

Chris Cuomo: It is not definitive science.

Marco Rubio: Absolutely it is.

Chris Cuomo:   I will have scientists on this show…

Marco Rubio: It absolutely is.

Chris Cuomo: …all morning, from all walks of life who will say: “We cannot say it is definitely human life at conception.”

Marco Rubio: So what are…

Chris Cuomo: It’s more faith than it is science.

Marco Rubio: Oh, so… well if they can’t say it would be human life, what would it become then?

Chris Cuomo: You’re talking about the potential of it…

Marco Rubio: Could it become a cat?

Chris Cuomo: It’s when it becomes an actual human being.

Marco Rubio: Could it become a…

Chris Cuomo: I’m not saying what my position is on it. I am also a Catholic. What I’m telling you is…

Marco Rubio: Well, I can tell you this… no I can tell you this: that every single one of us started at the same stage. That it can’t become anything other than a human being. And that…

Chris Cuomo: But it is about science.

Marco Rubio: And that it’s neither up to you, nor I, nor any politicians to decide that we’re going to allow this life to move forward and this life not to.

Chris Cuomo: But…

Marco Rubio: A human being. It’s heart starts beating within, you know, very early on in that process.

Chris Cuomo: Yeah but not right away.

Marco Rubio: By the time people find out they’re even pregnant it is well developed.

Chris Cuomo: But not right away. And I’m not arguing for…

Marco Rubio: Chris, do you really want to have a government in the [position] of deciding what a human life is and what’s not a human life?

Chris Cuomo: No, I don’t . No I don’t.

Marco Rubio: That’s a human life. It can’t be anything else.

Chris Cuomo: No I don’t.

Marco Rubio: Well that’s a radical position you’re taking.

Chris Cuomo: Senator that’s what I’m saying. You’re over-talking the question. And that’s your right of tactic. But I’ll tell you this: ‘when it begins’ should not be a focus of faith or of suggestion. It should be of science. Just like we did when one life ends. We used to have these same arguments 25, 30 years ago. You had scientists come together and talk about brain activity and the end of life, and it clarified a lot of positions. I’m saying, if you’re going to be a leader of the future, this is something that deserves an answer that goes beyond faith. That’s all I’m saying as a suggestion. Not as an answer…

Marco Rubio: And again, I’m just telling you that…

Chris Cuomo: Not as a suggestion to the answer of the question.

Marco Rubio: First of all I’m happy that my faith… Let me tell you something, I’m happy that my faith influences my political position because my faith teaches me to care for the needy; my faith teaches me to respect and love even my enemies; my faith teaches me to forgive those who slight me. So people should hope that my faith influences my political position. And in this case, yes, I’m proud to say that my faith influences me.