Santorum Ad Hammers Herman Cain on Abortion
Former Pennsylvania Congressman Rick Santorum is refusing to let up on fellow GOP presidential contender Herman Cain’s abortion stance, exposing other instances where Cain supported families’ right to choose abortion in a new political ad.
Cain said he had laid the issue to rest after telling conservatives at a Des Moines, Iowa, Faith and Freedom Coalition dinner last week that he “would not sign any legislation for government-funded abortion.”
However, Santorum’s YouTube attack ad, titled “What’s Next,” shows the issue is far from settled. The ad features a long list of pro-life groups and leaders condemning Cain’s abortion answers to CNN’s Piers Morgan as obviously pro-choice.
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The ad quoted Iowa conservatives calling Cain’s no-government involvement position on abortion pro-choice and favoring “baby murder in cases of rape and incest.”
The harshest quotes were statements from conservative political activist Alan Keyes and American Family Association’s director of Issue Analysis for Government and Public Policy, Bryan Fischer. Keyes was quoted saying Cain’s abortion position “is the position taken by abortion rights Democrats like Hillary Clinton,” while Fischer said Cain’s abortion position “could have come right out of the Planned Parenthood playbook.”
Two weeks ago, Cain told CNN host Morgan he believes life begins at conception and abortion is wrong even in the case of rape or incest.
However, when Morgan asked Cain if he would want his daughter or granddaughter to bear a child conceived during a rape, the GOP candidate replied, "It comes down to it's not the government's role or anybody else's role to make that decision."
When pressed further, Cain said, “I can have an opinion on an issue without it being a directive on the nation. The government shouldn't be trying to tell people everything to do, especially when it comes to social decisions that they need to make."
Social conservatives, however, believe that its political leaders should be outspoken about their pro-life stance and should take every step to ensure that there is no longer a lawful alternative to carrying an unborn child full term.
Cain explained to conservatives in Iowa, “I believe that abortion should be clearly stated as illegal across this country and I would work to defund Planned Parenthood.”
Cain’s campaign staff has tried to blame a loaded schedule as the source of his most recent gaffes. His spokesman, J.D. Gordon, told NewsMax that Cain often does eight events a day without using a teleprompter.
“We’re trying to slow down a little bit, make sure he’s rested, make sure he’s focused,” he shared with the news wire.
However, Santorum’s ad displayed video clips of various interviews with Fox News’ John Stossel and morning show Fox and Friends.
Again and again Cain told interviewers, “That’s her choice; that is not government’s choice” and “no,” abortion “should not” be a part of the political discussion.
Santorum also used the ad to attack Cain’s support of the TARP bailout and his 9-9-9 economic plan, which CNN Money said would increase taxes for 84 percent of Americans.
