Perry toughens anti-abortion stance

Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during a campaign stop at the Glenn Miller Museum in Clarinda, Iowa, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. / AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

OSCEOLA, Iowa -- In a move that cements his stature on the Republican Party's conservative wing, Texas Gov. Rick Perry confirmed to a pastor on Tuesday that he no longer supports abortion in any cases, including rape.

"You're seeing a transformation," Perry told Joshua Verwers, the pastor of the Full Faith Christian Center, at an event in nearby Chariton, Iowa. The event was part of the governor's ongoing effort to demonstrate his appeal to the Hawkeye State's Christian conservatives.

Verwers asked Perry about his signature on a pledge from the anti-abortion group Personhood USA that requires candidates to oppose abortion for any reason. Verwers said Perry told him at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition dinner in October that he did support abortion in certain cases.

What brought about the change? Perry said he was moved by a woman he met who appeared in former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's movie, "The Gift of Life," which he screened in Des Moines on Dec. 14. The woman has been conceived during a rape, and Perry said she told him, "My life has worth." He described the moment as "powerful." The next day, he signed the Personhood USA pledge.

Perry specifically said the film made him rethink the exceptions for rape and incest, though in his conversation with Verwers he did not mention the life of the mother, the traditional third exception that many who oppose abortion will allow.

The Personhood USA pledge leaves some wiggle room on the issue, saying, "I recognize that in cases where a mother's life is at risk, every effort should be made to save the baby's life as well; leaving the death of an innocent child as an unintended tragedy rather than an intentional killing." The implication is that saving a mother's life over her child might be the only acceptable case for an abortion.

Verwers was pleased with the governor's answer when he spoke to reporters after the event. What Perry said was "too perfect for it to be something that any political pundit or any type of a campaign advisor's going to be able to tell him," he said. Seeing Perry answer the question in person, he said, made him believe it was a sincere response.

Until now Perry had supported abortion in certain situations, though he is by no means soft on the issue. He advocated for a law in Texas that requires physicians to conduct a sonogram and describe the fetus to a pregnant woman seeking an abortion. It is currently facing several court challenges.

Perry reiterated his opposition to the procedure later in the evening on a tele-town hall hosted by conservative radio host Steve Deace and Personhood USA. "God was working on my heart," he said of the shift.

"My view is that life begins at conception and the end of human life should be protected until human death. And that has guided me as governor of my home state," Perry said, explaining that his position was a product of studying both the Founding Fathers and the Bible. He pledged that on his first day in office he would reinstate the so-called "Mexico City policy," which requires all non-governmental organizations that receive federal funding not to perform abortions and has been a constant point of struggle between Democrats and Republicans in the abortion debate.

Perry also echoed Newt Gingrich's dismissal of court opinions by suggesting that if legislators were to pass a law banning abortion, he would not enforce a court decision ruling the law unconstitutional. Instead, he said he would hope to pass a "human life" amendment and appoint justices to the court who are strict constructionists.

[_Liann_]

At a press conference at his Cainshead Ranch, Rick Perry gave this statement: "If a black pizzaman raped a white job applicant and made her pregnant, I would force her to have the rapist's baby."

[mb99]

"Perry also echoed Newt Gingrich's dismissal of court opinions by suggesting that if legislators were to pass a law banning abortion, he would not enforce a court decision ruling the law unconstitutional."
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Yes... we should ALL ignore the laws we don't agree with... especially the President.. ah, I mean the "King".

[haroldamaio]

I do not believe I want Mr. Perry directing my doctor. Though he may wish to control other people's bodies, his is quite enough for him.

[oftenplayful]

Maybe the most dangerous thing about Perry is the way he runs around the country constantly bragging about all the jobs "I created" in Texas. Well, a great percentage of those jobs were below minimum wage among all the Mexican immigrants that have come into Texas the past ten years. For the rest, they were created just like Obama did.....by issuing government debt as a stimulus to hiring. In the ten years he has been governor, government debt in Texas at all levels has gone up 281%--more than the national debt did! So for now he gets to brag about all the jobs, but for many years the people of Texas will be faced with increased taxes over and over to try to pay all those bonds. Rick Perry is the absolute most two faced phony around, parading as a goody goody Christian, griping the most about everyone else's record.

[kansas1946]

"My view is that life begins at conception and the end of human life should be protected until human death. And that has guided me as governor of my home state,"
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Oh, well, isn't that just so sweet. Maybe we should just all break out singing "Jesus Loves Me."
That is the most simplistic, ignorant, naive, immature, statement I have ever heard. Wouldn't it be nice if life were that simple, just like we thought it was in Sunday school. Well, it isn't, and anyone who thinks it is should certainly not be leading this country.

[steeepe]

Wow, no abortion in cases of rape or incest. That's the compassionate party for you! Too bad the tea party GOP can't distinguish between fertilized eggs and fetuses and infants and adults like our laws do. To them, it's all the same. More science education needed! American Taliban is an apt description of these zealots.

[Howdy14]

I am sick and tired of "men" having the last say when it comes to women's issues! Bet your bottom dollar that none of these Republicans running for President of the US have NEVER been in a position where their wife, daughter, neice or aunt have become pregnant due to rape or incest.

[euge005]

Or unable to give them first class health care in lieu of a back alley abortionist.

[ijbtheterrible]

I agree abortion is wrong but in most cases, the child and mother suffer because of problems of neglect, drugs, and basic ignorance. Religion has lost the appeal it once had so morality is lost to lust, greed,and self interrest. People need faith in something to give them hope and nothing is left. Gods are a joke but many are afraid to openly say so for fear of hell and damnation. Yet inside, they have no faith and less hope.An illigal person may have one out of fear of being deported and what about the child? Aghetto person because of no job and fear that our changing morals in this country may send her to jail or a work program and the child would have no care. You cannot make abortion illegal and expect the law to be obeyed any more than the congressmen and senators not using their office to become rich.

[Zann-Zel]

Unenforceable laws solve nothing.

[bythway]

Congressmand and Sentaors using their office to become rich! I am shocked, shocked I tell you....

[AdelbertAmes]

How many more bandwagons are there to go before he has jumped on all of them. These remarkable changes in belief usually mean only one thing, he doesn't believe in anything. Why doesn't somebody arrange for him to talk to the KKK, no doubt he will decide they were right too.

[euge005]

They changed their name and joined the Tea Party, DUH. Oh, he has the militarist and anti-muslim band wagons to go. And if his pollsters think it will help, he will climb on board. How about an ethics in Government act, break it once and go to jail.

[X2670]

The Republican Party is full of part time holy rollers. They turn holy when the time is right.

[Jhihmoac]

The only thing "holy" about them is their socks...and their cache of mistresses...

[kainos2]

You're right. Deciding whether killing is morally right is circumstantially dependent. I love coherent logic...