This article first appeared online at One News Now on October 18, 2011.
2012 campaign not only about economy
by Charlie Butts and Jody Brown
The economy is indeed a major issue as Election Day 2012 approaches — but the issue of life remains critical as well for many voters.
Herman Cain has left no doubt that he is an extremely strong pro-life candidate for president. Appearing Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, he stated clearly his opposition to abortion “under any circumstances.”
Asked about abortion exceptions for rape and incest or the life of the mother, he responded: “Not for rape and incest … because if you look [those circumstances], the percentage of those instances is so miniscule that there are other options. If it’s the life of the mother, that family is going to have to make that decision.”
While Barack Obama’s actions have shown him to be a strong proponent of abortion, most of the contenders for the GOP nomination are strong defenders of life. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, for example, co-sponsored legislation to defund Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal dollars. And Rick Santorum, while a member of the U.S. Senate, sponsored legislation outlawing partial-birth abortion.
Marilyn Musgrave heads Votes Have Consequences, a project of the Susan B. Anthony List. She tells OneNewsNow it is vital for candidates to be clear about where they stand on the issue of life.
“When we’re working hard to defund Planned Parenthood, when people look at these candidates and the voters determine who the nominee will be, there will be a very sharp contrast between Barack Obama, the most pro-abortion president ever, and probably, very likely, a strong pro-life Republican candidate,” she explains.
Musgrave acknowledges that abortion is not the only strong issue in the presidential campaign. “You bet the economy is front and center,” she says, “but there are people who are pro-life, pro-marriage who will faithfully vote — and they want a candidate who will reflect their values.”
Susan B. Anthony List wants all presidential candidates to openly and fully declare their stance on the life issue as the campaign progresses. Three GOP hopefuls have not signed the SBA’s Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge: Cain, Gary Johnson, and Mitt Romney
