Presidential Candidates Speak Out Against Planned Parenthood, Defend Unborn at Values Voter Summit
Another stalwart conservative leader, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee emphasized his track record in state politics — both as an outsider to Washington, and one who had faced down the "Clinton machine."
He minced no words regarding his pro-life stance.
"For 42 years, we have lived under the notion that it is a human right and privilege to take the life of an unborn child," said Huckabee.
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"Since it is a human being [in the womb], we already have the constitutional protection," he stated. "It's called the Fifth Amendment, which says there will be due process before you deprive a person of life or liberty."
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal shared his own personal story related to the abortion issue.
"I'll tell you what we did in Louisiana," he began. "We're not just talking about defunding Planned Parenthood.
"When that first video came out, we launched an investigation with the FBI. Then the other videos came out. We canceled their Medicaid contract, so they're getting no taxpayer dollars in the state of Louisiana," said Governor Jindal.
"They didn't like that. They decided to come protest at my house in Baton Rouge," Jindal continued. "Now, they've got a constitutional right to do that, but we're Southerners. We like to provide hospitality. We put big projection screens and cameras out there, and I showed those Planned Parenthood videos over and over and over."
Aside from the candidates, other leading voices in public policy spoke with conviction on pro-life issues. Previous presidential contender Senator John McCain opened the summit, staunchly defending the value of every life.
"Our greatest moral obligation is to oppose the taking of innocent life," said McCain. "The right to life is the most sacred of all. No other rights exist without it."
Pro-life leaders Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation and Star Parker of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education used their personal stories as backdrops for exploring why the cause of life is gaining such traction among millennials.
Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, focused her comments on why her organization pursues undercover investigations of Planned Parenthood.
She said, "This is a war. There are real victims, there are people who are dying. Over three thousand children are being killed every day in this country, and mothers are being lied to."
"When that's being covered up, and it's being funded by the government — over half a billion dollars per year — and no one is exposing it," said Rose. "We are going there to try to bring justice to the oppressed. We expose evil and uplift the truth."
As the three-day summit wrapped up, the next flashpoint over values issues came into view. A conflict over the continuing resolution looms large in Congress — specifically, whether it will include funding for Planned Parenthood.
Such a weighty issue demands specifics from presidential candidates, as conservative voters consider who will boldly raise their voice for the voiceless.
Reprinted with permission from Bound4LIFE.
