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WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2013 (LifeSiteNews) – Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was attacked Tuesday morning by MSNBC’s Craig Melvin over her support for the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on mounting scientific evidence that babies of that age are neurologically developed enough to feel pain.

Melvin questioned why, given the near-certainty that the bill will not pass the Democrat-controlled Senate and the impossibility of obtaining the signature of President Obama, the Republicans are spending time holding debate on the 20-week ban.

“Why are Republicans still going down this road right now, Congresswoman?” Melvin asked. “Even though we both know that this has no chance of ever passing.”

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“[T]his is something that the American people have said, ‘You need to do something about this,’” Blackburn replied. “Women have said, ‘You need to do something about these late-term abortions.’ It is – there's a tremendous amount of public support for taking an action, for putting a ban on these late term abortions.”

Late-term abortions are notoriously brutal, as in some cases abortionists must literally dismember the child in order to remove him or her in pieces from the mother.

Melvin then accuses Republicans of putting on a show for the Christian conservative base.

Said Melvin, “Congresswoman, is this purely pandering?”

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“No, it isn’t pandering at all,” replied a visibly appalled Blackburn. “Is saving the life of women and of babies pandering? Absolutely not. I can't believe you would say something like that.”

Again, Melvin pointed out the futility of passing a ban without Democratic support. “You and I both know that the president’s not going to sign it, the Senate’s not going to take it up, so clearly this is a measure that’s symbolic, is it not?”

But Blackburn said even if a 20-week ban can’t pass the Senate, it’s worth having a public discussion about.

Said Blackburn, “It would be terrible if we sat on our hands, knowing what we found out through [late-term abortionist and convicted murderer] Kermit Gosnell's trial, knowing that even his own attorney said 24 weeks is a bad determiner. The law needs to be moved back to 16 or 17 weeks. We're not moving this back as far as Kermit Gosnell's attorney said it should be moved back. We are taking a very reasonable step because the American people have spoken out and said they wanted something done.”

Added Blackburn, “The U.S. House of Representatives is the people's house. There are so many debates that are up to us to start the discussion.”