Last week in an interview on Piers Morgan Tonight, Herman Cain, Republican presidential candidate/possible long-gestating Punk’d prank gone awry, made some confusing statements about his stance on abortion, saying it shouldn’t be legal under any circumstances and is also a woman’s choice when she’s been raped or her life is at risk. Some conservatives were angered by his suggestion that sometimes ladies should get to make their own health decisions, so last night at a campaign event in Iowa, Cain reassured everyone that he’s extremely pro-life. In fact, he won’t let the government pay for abortions. And he wants to refund the Planned Parenthood! Bureaucrats shouldn’t even think about making choices from the bench! And a bunch of other things his staff told him to say!
At the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition in Des Moines, Cain tried to clear up the confusion once and for all, noting that our founders got it right when they said we have certain unalienable rights and “among these are life, from conception — no abortions, no exceptions.” (We didn’t realize Thomas Jefferson was so passionate on the abortion issue). Later he was asked what exactly he’ll do to prevent “abortion on demand.” From CNN:
“In terms of preventing abortion on demand, I would not sign any legislation where government funded abortion … I would not sign any legislation that, in a way, allowed the government to get involved in it. I would strengthen all of our current laws that prevent abortion. I believe that abortion should be illegal across this country. And I would work to de-fund Planned Parenthood. And I would make sure that I appoint judges that will enforce the Constitution — no activist judges. And I would also make sure that we didn’t allow any bureaucrats to get in the way in order to protect the life of the unborn.”
Yet, some Republicans were disappointed that Cain didn’t offer a more detailed explanation of his views on abortion. While other Republicans mingled with people in the crowd, according to the New York Times, Cain stayed on his campaign bus until it was time for him to speak, and left shortly after his speech, leaving little time to be angrily confronted by anti-choice nutjobs.
Though it seems Cain may have backed down from his plan for government to stay out of the abortion decision while simulataneously outlawing abortion, the other candidates attacked him for momentarily suggesting that they shouldn’t get to impose their views on other people. Rick Perry said:
“Being pro-life is not a matter of campaign convenience; it is a core conviction … It is a liberal canard to say I am personally pro-life, but government should stay out of that decision … If that is your view, you are not pro-life, you are pro-having your cake and eating it too.”
That’s a pretty surprising statement coming from Perry. It’s not like him to pass up the opportunity to say, “pro-having your pizza and eating it too.”
Cain Tries To End Doubts About His Abortion Stance [CNN]
Abortion Takes Center Stage At Iowa G.O.P. Forum [NYT]
Earlier: Herman Cain’s Confuzzling Pro-Life Ladies’ Choice Stance