CHUCK TODD:

The question really is, is when do you believe a fetus has constitutional rights?

SEN. TOM COTTON:

Chuck, like a lot of folks here in Arkansas, I'm pro-life. And I think a basic responsibility of government, in a civilized society, is to protect innocent life. I know that that's a passionate question on both sides. One of the problems of having unelected judges in Washington make that kind of decision for us, as a nation, is that you can't have space for democratic debate, where you can reach consensus and try to find some common ground. I think that's unfortunate. But I think that what I'm most proud of here, in Arkansas, is that we have recognized that the frontiers of medical science are being pushed back. So doctors are saving the lives of babies born in NICUs in this state at 22 or 20 or even earlier times. I think that's the kind of common ground that we can look for right now, at a time when unelected judges are still setting the basic rules on this very passionate issue.

CHUCK TODD:

But you, you, you yourself must have an opinion on this. When does ― when does a fetus have constitutional rights, in your mind?

SEN. TOM COTTON:

Chuck, what I want to try to find, in this debate, is area where we can, where we can agree on what we should do in a civilized society. If a baby can survive outside of its mother’s womb, in a NICU, as the amazing doctors that we have in this country are able to do, at 22, 20 weeks, then we should protect that life. I know there’s a lot of divisive issues and divisive debates. . . .

CHUCK TODD:

You had, at one time, sponsored a bill, though, that wanted to declare that life began at conception. You did that in the House. But you do not support a similar bill that Sen. Rand Paul introduced. Why the change?

SEN. TOM COTTON:

Chuck, I haven’t reviewed Sen. Paul’s bill. I personally believe that life does begin at conception. . . .

CHUCK TODD:

Is it, is it hard to make the ― if you believe that life begins at conception, then how do you justify an exception for rape and incest?

SEN. TOM COTTON:

Chuck, because we live in a democratic society. I recognize not everyone shares my views or the views of the vast majority of Americans or of Arkansans. That’s why I say that one of the major problems of having unelected judges make these kinds of decisions is we don’t have the ability to have those democratic debates.