Santorum, Bachmann hammer Cain on abortion comments

Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Herman Cain participate during the Republican presidential debate airing on CNN, October 18, 2011 in Las Vegas.

/ Getty Images/Ethan Miller

Republican presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum blasted rival Herman Cain after Cain's unclear statements on abortion Wednesday.

Speaking on CNN Wednesday, Cain initially said he opposed abortions even in cases of rape and incest, but later suggested the decision should be left to families.

"It ultimately gets down to a choice that that family or that mother has to make. Not me as president, not some politician, not a bureaucrat. It gets down to that family. And whatever they decide, they decide," Cain said. He later tweeted that he is "100% pro life."

Alice Stewart said, Bachmann's communications director, noted in response to the comments that "Michele has always been 100 percent pro-life from conception to natural death."

"This year, more than ever, we cannot settle on a candidate who is not consistent on this critical issue," she added.

While the Bachmann campaign has been relatively restrained in response to Cain's comments, whould could have serious implications in evangelical-heavy Iowa, Santorum has aggressively criticized his rival for the comments, most recently sending out an email blast to his supporters titled "Floored."

"Probably like me, you were absolutely floored by what Herman Cain said on CNN last night," Santorum told supporters.

Earlier Thursday, Santorum's campaign sent reporters a statement the candidate made in New Hampshire about Cain's comments. Santorum said Cain's stance put him on the same side as the "liberal left" when it comes to abortion and likened Cain to President Obama.

"I find it gravely troubling that Herman believes it's a life, but that he doesn't consider it a life worth fighting for," the former Pennsylvania senator said.

Cain's statement gives Santorum an opportunity to tout his record opposing abortion rights to social conservative voters. Santorum, who proposed several pieces of legislation opposing abortion rights during his time in Congress, frequently brings up his personal experience dealing with a sick child who had what was predicted to be a fatal birth defect - and his decision not to terminate the child's life.

Cain's abortion comments could prove damaging in Iowa

[Progress4USA]

Oh and while were on the subject of abortion... Herman, where is your birth certificate...why wont you show us your birth certificate???? Maybe because it was issued from French Guiana???????? Why will FOX NEWS not cover this story!?!??!?!!??!?!?!?!?!!?

I WANT MY CUNTTREEEEEEEE BACK!

[realist51]

More important things in the nation and the world. What about the JOBS,JOBS,JOBS,thingy? or the fact that another global dictator /terrorist was again taken out. And all bachman,cain and santorium and the house of represenatives can discuss is a non issue to most Americans right now.

[southpaw99]

These republicans just keep showing everyone how out-of-touch they are with real Americans.
They are nothing but a BIG joke....

[Freedomisgood]

Herman Cain was pro-life before he was pro-choice, but now he is pro-life again! Just like during the debate when asked if he would negotiate with terrorist, he would would not, just after he said earlier in the evening that he would! He is starting to sound like every other politician in Washington!(cannot give a straight answer)

Vote Ron Paul! The only honest candidate!

[SeriouslyD]

That kind of Republican is pro life except when they are pro-death penalty and pro-war. They want all fetuses to live, but when parents can't feed, take care of, get medical care for the resulting child, not so much. Babies are precious, with the added benefit that they are just punishment for a woman getting pregnant out of wedlock, even if the woman is raped, even if the rape is by her father. I appreciate wanting to help every woman who is pregnant have a healthy baby if she is anti-abortion, but I can't get into this mindset of Republicans who hate a nanny state that tries to help and protect people, but they want a police state to keep women from aborting pregnancies they don't want and can't afford. Catholic hospitals supposedly shouldn't have to give a woman an abortion even if the woman is going to die from continuing a pregnancy, and pregnant women should be forced to have babies even if they were raped to get in that condition. Crazy sick.

[getcentered]

Nailed it!! Talk about abortion is all for show and simply to get right-wing fake Christians out to vote.

[Henri_Rochard]

so that's it... No matter how good Cain is on every other issue, the holy rollers scream 'abortion, abortion, abortion..' that's the bottom line. period. end of story.

religion trumps everything