Possible 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Agree on Abortion Bans

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 3, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Possible 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Agree on Abortion Bans Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 3, 2006

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Potential 2008 Republican presidential candidates take slightly different views on what they would do if they were governors in states where bans on abortion are advancing. Most of them look favorably on such bans or would want additional exceptions to them.

Virginia Senator George Allen, who is pro-life, supports the ability of state’s to pass their own laws to ban abortions, according to his chief of staff Dick Wadhams.

"Sen. Allen has consistently supported the rights of the people in their states to pass laws which reflect their views and values," he told the Hotline, a political newsletter.

Mitt Romney, the formerly pro-abortion governor of Massachusetts, says he would sign such an abortion ban, were the governor of a state like South Dakota where the legislature has approved it.

"If Governor Romney were the Governor of South Dakota he would sign it," spokeswoman Julie Teer indicated. "The Governor believes that states should have the right to be pro-life if that is the will of the people."

Teer said Romney supports exceptions for rape and incest and would "take action to provide the exceptions that he favors," she told the Boston Herald.

That’s the same thing Arizona senator John McCain would do, a representative told the Hotline.

McCain "would have signed the legislation, but would also take the appropriate steps under state law — in whatever state — to ensure that the exceptions of rape, incest or life of the mother were included," the spokesman said.

Leading pro-life Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas is very clear. He would sign an abortion ban and hopes other states will do the same.

“I do not believe, and there are legal scholars left and right that do not believe, that the right to abortion is in the Constitution,” Brownback, who opposes abortion, said in a teleconference with Kansas print and broadcast reporters. “Therefore, it belongs, as it did prior to 1973, in the states.”

“I do not believe, and there are legal scholars left and right that do not believe, that the right to abortion is in the Constitution,” Brownback, said in a teleconference with reporters. “Therefore, it belongs, as it did prior to 1973, in the states.”

Pro-abortion Republicans like former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, New York governor George Pataki and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have not commented on the abortions bans, which have been introduced in several states.