CNN guest Christine Quinn argued on Monday’s “Cuomo Prime Time” that, “When a woman gets pregnant, that is not a human being inside of her.”
As Quinn debated former Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, host Chris Cuomo interjected several times, seemingly helping her to find the best attack against the pro-life former senator.
WATCH:
Cuomo began by asking Santorum how he could support a heartbeat bill like the one that just passed in the state of Georgia, when it clearly violated Roe v. Wade. (RELATED: Santorum: Obama Used His Presidency To Exacerbate Racism)
Santorum responded, arguing that many local or state laws violate federal standards — recreational marijuana and sanctuary cities, for example — and the court then determines which will stand.
“If you really care about the health of human beings, you would never take an issue like this away from a woman and her doctor,” Quinn argued, adding, “You are doing an end run around the Constitution.”
“Around the Supreme Court,” Santorum corrected. “They’re not the same thing.”
Quinn tried again, arguing that Santorum’s position was bad for women. “You talk about caring about human beings’ lives. Then why would you take away a woman’s ability, with her doctor, to make decisions when her life may be at risk?” she asked, then answered herself. “You take it away because you actually do not care about women. You take it away …”
Santorum interrupted, “You realize a baby dies in an abortion. Do you realize that? Are you ignoring that fact? That’s a reality. This is a human life.”
Cuomo interrupted then, noting, “That’s not a legal fact.”
“It’s not a legal fact,” Quinn parroted.
The sparring continued for several minutes until Cuomo offered the last word to Quinn.
“Let’s be clear here, Rick, with all of your distortions and horrible tales: When a woman gets pregnant, that is not a human being inside of her,” she claimed. “It is part of her body and this is about a woman having full agency and control of her body and making decisions about her body and what is part of her body with medical professionals. Those are the facts and that is the law.”
“Chattel. So it’s their property and they can do whatever they want to it?” Santorum asked. “They can maim the baby or torture the baby?”
“You’re so desperate here,” Quinn responded, to which Santorum fired back, “I’m not desperate. I’m just asking questions.”
Santorum continued to press, and Cuomo turned on him, saying that he was perverting the truth to make an emotional argument and attacking him on religious grounds. “You’re better than this as a Catholic and you’re better than this as a consumer of public thought … It’s not square with your religion. I’ll tell you that. Go ask a priest if he’s okay with you arguing the case that way.”
“I will. I’ll be happy to,” Santorum agreed.
“They don’t believe in lying, priests,” Quinn smiled.
“No priest is going to like that,” Cuomo argued, and Quinn echoed, “No priest is going to condone lying.”
“What did I lie about?”
Cuomo then referenced the comments made by Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, which Santorum had not mentioned, asking, “You tell me what state allows you to swaddle a full-term baby and then have a side conversation about whether or not to kill it …”
Cuomo gave no further indication of what he believed Santorum had lied about.