Ed Henry Uses Gosnell Trial to Grill Jay Carney Over Obama's Policy Stance on Babies 'Born After a Botched Abortion

President Barack Obama's past policy opinions came back to haunt him earlier today when Fox News' Chief White House corespondent Ed Henry posed some tough questions to White House spokesman Jay Carney. The subject of the inquiries was post-birth abortion and the horrific murder allegations being waged against Dr. Kermit Gosnell of Philadelphia, Pa.

Henry began by questioning Carney over Obama's past voting record in Illinois. While he noted that he knows Carney cannot comment specifically on the Gosnell case, he asked about potential legislative options to prevent clinics from operating in a renegade and dangerous fashion.

This Nov. 30, 2012 publicity photo provided by FOX News Channel shows Chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry reporting outside of the White House in Washington, D.C. Credit: AP

"The president, as a state senator in 2003, voted against a bill that would provide medical care, as I understand, to babies who would be born after a botched abortion like this," the reporter said. "The president at the time said he couldn't support it as a state senator because he felt like any doctor in that situation would take care of a child. When you hear this kind of evidence, it suggests there's at least one doctor who apparently did not."

After setting up the scenario, Henry questioned whether a discussion about this needs to happen in Washington. He invoked the administration's comments on guns to ask whether the Gosnell case should be leading Americans to ask similar questions about measures that should be taken to save and preserve life.

Carney, clearly not looking to address the question with a direct answer, avoided getting into specifics.

"Well, again, you're relating it to a case that I can't comment on and the president can't comment on. I would simply say that the president's position on choice is very clear," the spokesman responded. "His position on the basic principle that, as President Clinton said, abortions ought to be safe, legal and rare is very clear. I just don't have comment that could shed light on this specific case."

White House press secretary Jay Carney listens to a question during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Friday, April 12, 2013. Credit: AP

Henry, of course, wasn't satisfied. Borrowing a phrase used by the White House and the president himself, quite frequently, he asked, "Is there any sort of common-sense reform though without restricting abortion rights?"

"Does the White House see any line in there where if there is a baby that is still alive, they should be taken care of without restricting abortion rights?," the journalist continued.

Still, Carney was unwavering.

"You're asking for hypotheticals about legislation or proposed legislation that I haven't seen, so it's hard for me to comment on it," he responded.

Watch the exchange, below:

(H/T: Real Clear Politics)

--

Other Must-Read Stories:

• Muslim Brotherhood Leader Pens Bizarre Boston Bombing Note Pointing to Widespread Conspiracy
• Go Inside Philly Abortion Doctor’s Shocking Murder Trial: More Disturbing Details Emerge (WARNING: Graphic)
• Chris Matthews on Boston Bombings: ‘Domestic Terrorists…Tend to Be on the Far Right’
• Who Wore a T-Shirt Mixing Sandy Hook Victims and Trayvon Martin to the MTV Movie Awards and Said It Wasn’t ‘Political’?
• Meet the Teacher Who’s Bringing God Back Into Public Schools — But Who Says He’s a Big ‘Threat’ to Religious Conservatives