Joe Biden not only showed Paul Ryan as the Galtian fool that he his, he showed viewers just how extreme Paul Ryan is, and he used women's health as the contrast. Martha Raddatz asked a question of both candidates relating specifically to their Catholic faith, and how that shapes their view on abortion rights for women. Here's Paul Ryan's response (not on the video):
That's why -- those are the reasons why I'm pro-life. Now I understand this is a difficult issue, and I respect people who don't agree with me on this, but the policy of a Romney administration will be to oppose abortions with the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. What troubles me more is how this administration has handled all of these issues. Look at what they're doing through Obamacare with respect to assaulting the religious liberties of this country. They're infringing upon our first freedom, the freedom of religion, by infringing on Catholic charities, Catholic churches, Catholic hospitals.
Joe Biden had a response to that, which is at the beginning of this video:
BIDEN: My religion defines who I am, and I've been a practicing Catholic my whole life. And has particularly informed my social doctrine. The Catholic social doctrine talks about taking care of those who -- who can't take care of themselves, people who need help. With regard to -- with regard to abortion, I accept my church's position on abortion as a -- what we call a (inaudible) doctrine. Life begins at conception in the church's judgment. I accept it in my personal life.
But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews, and I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the -- the congressman. I -- I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that -- women they can't control their body. It's a decision between them and their doctor. In my view and the Supreme Court, I'm not going to interfere with that.
He goes on to rebut Ryan's lie about the infringement on religious freedom, and then hits the truth about the danger of a Romney-Ryan administration, particularly with regard to the shape of the United States Supreme Court. Ryan's extreme views come through loud and clear here:
RYAN: We don't think that unelected judges should make this decision; that people through their elected representatives in reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process should make this determination.
Got that? Ryan doesn't believe that the United States Supreme Court is a legitimate institution which shares powers with the Congress and the Executive.
Paul Ryan does not believe the Supreme Court is a legitimate arbiter of questions of law. He said that.
That's an extreme, extreme, far right position. Biden calls it out, looking straight in to the camera and reminding everyone about what's at stake here, not only with respect to women's health, but the health of our democracy.
BIDEN: The court -- the next president will get one or two Supreme Court nominees. That's how close Roe v. Wade is. Just ask yourself, with Robert Bork being the chief adviser on the court for -- for Mr. Romney, who do you think he's likely to appoint? Do you think he's likely to appoint someone like Scalia or someone else on the court far right that would outlaw (inaudible) -- outlaw abortion? I suspect that would happen.
I guarantee you, that will not happen. We picked two people. We pick people who are open-minded. They've been good justices. So keep an eye on the Supreme Court...
If people remember nothing else, they should remember this: Paul Ryan does not believe in the legitimacy of the United States Supreme Court. That applies to women's health and everything else he disagrees with. When he doesn't like the ruling, it's illegitimate.
That's extreme. It's unAmerican. And it's a disqualifying answer, as far as I'm concerned.
