Bill Bennett: “My personal position on abortion is under the pro-life banner. I am one who would be willing to consider an abortion in…”

“My personal position on abortion is under the pro-life banner. I am one who would be willing to consider an abortion in a circumstance where the pregnancy came about as a result of a rape or incest-- which is really nothing more than another form of rape--or where the life of the mother is in fact in jeopardy by virtue of the pregnancy. I was, therefore, somewhat troubled with the initial debate by those who kept insisting that the sole justification for this procedure was because the life of the mother was at risk, and I worried about Congress micromanaging medical procedures. But I have come completely to the conclusion that we did the right thing in passing the bill in the first place. I voted for it. I intend to vote for the override, and I am heartened by the comment of my friend from New York, who is known for his independence, who is a pro-choice Senator on this issue but who summarized I think better than any of us can in a single sentence when he said, ``For me, this comes too close to infanticide.'' Infanticide, for whatever purpose, is not something with which I wish to be associated.”