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His exact words on the Senate floor (see [[Obama born alive controversy#1996-2003 Illinois Senate Transcripts|1996-2003 Illinois Senate Transcripts]]) show that he recognized at the time newborn children were being left to die but opposed the bills for various reasons, including that (a) the child wasn't born to a full 9-month term and therefore is a pre-viable fetus, (b) The Illinois Medical Society opposed the bill, and (c) if children were being left to die an abortion physician would care for the child and requiring a 2nd physician verify the child is alive just burdens abortion doctors.

His exact words on the Senate floor (see [[Obama born alive controversy#1996-2003 Illinois Senate Transcripts|1996-2003 Illinois Senate Transcripts]]) show that he recognized at the time newborn children were being left to die but opposed the bills for various reasons, including that (a) the child wasn't born to a full 9-month term and therefore is a pre-viable fetus, (b) The Illinois Medical Society opposed the bill, and (c) if children were being left to die an abortion physician would care for the child and requiring a 2nd physician verify the child is alive just burdens abortion doctors.

[[File:Hunter-Obama-1024x717.png|right|300px|thumb|[[Hunter Biden]] meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office.<br>''Official White House Photograph'']]

[[File:Hunter Biden Barack Obama offical WHite House photo.PNG|right|300px|thumb|[[Hunter Biden]] meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office.<br>''Official White House Photograph'']]

The issue resurfaced in February 2012 when Newt Gingrich said, "If we’re going to have a debate about who the extremist is on these issues, it is President Obama, who as a state senator voted to protect doctors who killed babies who survived the abortion".<ref>Woodward, C. & Raum, T. (2012, February 23). "[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/gop-debate-candidates-errant-claims-auto-bailout/?page=all#pagebreak FACT CHECK: Candidates make errant claims during GOP debate]." ''Associated Press''.</ref> Rick Santorum likewise repeated this, saying, "any child born prematurely, according to the president, in his own words, can be killed."<ref>Yellin, J. & Metzger, T. (2012, February 24). "[http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-24/politics/politics_fact-checking-gingrich-infanticide-charge_1_bar-abortions-opponents-of-abortion-rights-barack-obama?_s=PM:POLITICS Fact-checking Gingrich's charge Obama voted in favor of 'infanticide']." ''CNN Politics''.</ref> Newt Gingrich later accused the national media of not covering Obama's controversial history on the Born Alive bills.<ref>Brennan, P. (2012, February 29). "[https://www.nationalreview.com/articles/292204/obama-s-infanticide-votes-patrick-brennan Obama's Infanticide Votes]." ''National Review''.<br>Farley, R. (2012, February 23). "[https://www.factcheck.org/2012/02/did-elite-media-ignore-infanticide/ Did Elite Media Ignore Infanticide?]" ''FactCheck.org''.</ref>

The issue resurfaced in February 2012 when Newt Gingrich said, "If we’re going to have a debate about who the extremist is on these issues, it is President Obama, who as a state senator voted to protect doctors who killed babies who survived the abortion".<ref>Woodward, C. & Raum, T. (2012, February 23). "[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/gop-debate-candidates-errant-claims-auto-bailout/?page=all#pagebreak FACT CHECK: Candidates make errant claims during GOP debate]." ''Associated Press''.</ref> Rick Santorum likewise repeated this, saying, "any child born prematurely, according to the president, in his own words, can be killed."<ref>Yellin, J. & Metzger, T. (2012, February 24). "[http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-24/politics/politics_fact-checking-gingrich-infanticide-charge_1_bar-abortions-opponents-of-abortion-rights-barack-obama?_s=PM:POLITICS Fact-checking Gingrich's charge Obama voted in favor of 'infanticide']." ''CNN Politics''.</ref> Newt Gingrich later accused the national media of not covering Obama's controversial history on the Born Alive bills.<ref>Brennan, P. (2012, February 29). "[https://www.nationalreview.com/articles/292204/obama-s-infanticide-votes-patrick-brennan Obama's Infanticide Votes]." ''National Review''.<br>Farley, R. (2012, February 23). "[https://www.factcheck.org/2012/02/did-elite-media-ignore-infanticide/ Did Elite Media Ignore Infanticide?]" ''FactCheck.org''.</ref>