Mike Huckabee Takes Issue With Mich Daniels’ Call for "Truce" on Abortion

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 11, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Mike Huckabee Takes Issue With Mich Daniels’ Call for "Truce" on Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 11
, 2010

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — In what could become a preview of the 2012 presidential campaign, pro-life former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is taking issue with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who said this week that there should be "truce" on social issues like abortion while the economy is addressed.

Daniels also said he "didn’t know" if he would sign an executive order overturning one President Barack Obama issued forcing taxpayers to fund groups that perform and promote abortions overseas.

Today, Huckabee released a statement to Politico saying he took exception to the "truce" comment.

He said pro-life issues "are not bargaining chips nor or they political issues. They are moral issues."

"I didn’t get involved in politics just to lower taxes and deficit spending though I believe in both and have done it as a governor. But I want to stay true to the basic premises of our civilization," he said.

"Apparently, a 2012 Republican presidential prospect in an interview with a reporter has made the suggestion that the next president should call for a ‘truce’ on social issues like abortion and traditional marriage to focus on fiscal problems," Huckabee continued. "In other words, stop fighting to end abortion and don’t make protecting traditional marriage a priority."

"For those of us who have labored long and hard in the fight to educate the Democrats, voters, the media and even some Republicans on the importance of [pro-life issues] this is absolutely heartbreaking. And that one of our Republican ‘leaders’ would suggest this truce, even more so," Huckabee told Politico.

"Governor Daniels is a personal friend and a terrific governor, and I’m very disappointed that he would think that pro-life and pro-family activists would just lie down," he added.

Yesterday, pro-life groups and leaders responded to Daniels’ comments noting he has been solid on pro-life issues as governor but saying if he truly believes abortion should be taken off the table or that he won’t reinstate the Mexico City Policy that he may not be the right candidate to represent Republicans against Obama, who has compiled a thorough pro-abortion record.

Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, agrees, saying Daniels’ comments "raise serious questions about his level of commitment to fundamental issues like life — leading many of us to wonder if he has the ability to lead a unified conservative movement."

Calling the remarks a "surprising departure from his pro-family record," Perkins said it was "astonishing" to see that "not only is he noncommittal about his role as a pro-life leader, but the Governor wouldn’t even agree to a modest step like banning taxpayer-funded promotion of abortion overseas-which President Bush did on his first day in office with 65% of the country’s support."

 

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