Now we learn that Barack Obama thinks mental distress should not justify late term abortions. That is an entirely defensible and reasoned position — but it contradicts nearly everything Obama has said to date on abortion. The natural implication of his constitutional positions is utterly inconsistent with his new found moderation on abortion. Roe v. Wade, to which he is devoted ( and to which his Supreme Court appointees would need to swear allegiance), does not permit the government to ban late term abortions for this reason. Heck, Obama wouldn’t even support limits on partial birth abortion– railing at the Supreme Court’s ruling which upheld the federal ban.

If the New York Times was upset with him before, its editors will likely be apoplectic when they learn about this one. And the NARAL folks who endorsed Obama over Hillary Clinton before the primary was over and incurred the wrath of Emily’s List and many women’s rights advocates? They certainly would have been interested to hear this before they signed on with Obama. But for Obama on this and every single significant issue — that was then and this was now.