Newsweek’s Jon Meacham, who co-hosted the weirdly titled “Compassion Forum” with CNN’s Campbell Brown, wasted little time before asking both candidates whether they believe life begins at conception. He should be applauded for asking the question even though the candidates danced around like long tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs.

The candidates know that this is one question they cannot answer so they parry.

Here’s Hillary’s response:

“I believe that the potential for life begins at conception…But for me, it is also not only about a potential life…. And, therefore, I have concluded, after great, you know, concern and searching my own mind and heart over many years, that our task should be, in this pluralistic, diverse life of ours in this nation, that individuals must be entrusted to make this profound decision…. I think abortion should remain legal.”

Ok? Where’s the answer? What does “potential for life begins at conception” even mean?

You know, sometimes I wonder if candidates who support abortion just haven’t really thought it all through. But an answer like this really shows that not only have they thought it through but they’ve thought up a clever obfuscation to get out of it. There’s no denying that life begins at conception. Scientifically that’s obviously true. Now it’s just a matter of whether it’s life you want to protect or not.

If you thought Hillary’s response was poor wait until you hear Obama’s response:

“This is something that I have not, I think, come to a firm resolution on. I think it’s very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So, I don’t presume to know the answer to that question. What I know, as I’ve said before, is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we’re having these debates.”

Now, he absolutely said nothing. Firstly, he’s going to this forum in his limousine, was there no consultant, aide, campaign worker who didn’t see this question coming? How could his response be worse? “This is something that I have not, I think, come to a firm resolution on. I think it’s very hard to know what that means, when life begins.” But I have no problem stamping out that life even though I’m not firmly resolved on what it is. It’s so cavalier about the issue that it’s sickening.

It is these responses which make me believe that in the end we will gain major victories in the fight against abortion. Because they don’t really believe in what they’re saying. When politics meets morality, morality will win…eventually.