Declared 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Current Governor of Texas
Rick Perry
Perry position on Abortion
Pro-Life
Perry is a staunch pro-life advocate.
“Gov. Perry is proudly pro-life and successfully championed strong pro-life legislation in Texas including parental consent, this year’s sonogram bill and a budget that significantly defunds abortions in Texas”
July 29, 2011, Katherine Cesinger, Perry’s spokeswoman
Federal ban on abortions
Perry supports the 10th Amendment, and as such, believe that abortions should be under the control of individual states, and not the federal government.
“You either have to believe in the 10th Amendment or you don’t,” Perry told reporters after a bill signing in Houston. You can’t believe in the 10th Amendment for a few issues and then [for] something that doesn’t suit you say, ‘We’d rather not have states decide that.”
July 27, 2011, ABC News
Adoption
Perry is a supporter of adoption as an alternative to abortion and threw his weight behind a proposed legislation to offer vehicle owners the option of a “choose life” license plate, to promote the cause. In addition, the $30 fees will be used towards funding the campaign.
“That is why I am wholeheartedly supporting proposed legislation authorizing a new license plate with a simple message: “choose life.” … For those who are champions of choice, this is a wonderful approach. Here in Texas, vehicle owners can choose from roughly 150 different license plate designs and show their support for causes ranging from coastal conservation to the March of Dimes to my alma mater… No driver will ever be forced to purchase this plate. However, those who make that choice will not only have a visible sign of their values, but will also be contributing to programs that encourage and support adoption. Texans who believe in the sanctity of life will have another to way to tell the world in a subtle but meaningful way. I hope that our Legislature will unite to offer them that opportunity.”
December 18, 2008, Press Release from Office of The Governor
The Choose Life plate bill, HB 238, was passed in the Texas House of Representative in May 2011 and Rick Perry, as Governor, signed the legislation on May 17, 2011.
Roe v. Wade
Perry has on numerous occasions referred to the Roe v. Wade decision as a ‘tragedy’.
He was invited to be the keynote speaker in the Texas Rally For Life organized by the Texas Alliance For Life in Austin on Jan 22, 2010.
“Why do legislators hide behind Roe v. Wade claiming it somehow protects babies? We know it doesn’t… Let’s let them know that Texas is here and Texas is Pro-Life… We need to strengthen our laws to better defend the defenseless, including a ban on using our tax dollars on abortion procedures in this state.”
Texas Rally for Life: kxan.com
Parental notification
Perry, as Lt. Governor, was a strong supporter of the Parental Notification Act of 1999 which was signed into law by former Texas Governor and United States President, George Bush in June 1999.
Parental Consent
Perry signed the Parental Consent Bill that would compel healthcare providers and minors to obtain parental consent before performing any abortion-related procedures
“Today we are laying down a significant marker in the effort to create a culture of life by protecting those who can’t protect themselves, by giving voice to the voiceless who yearn for life... It has been a tragedy of unspeakable consequences that, for decades, activist courts denied many Texas parents their right to be involved in one of the most important decision their young daughter could ever make: whether to end the life that was growing inside her... Because of it, an entire generation of unborn children have been forever lost to the tragedy of abortion... And certainly most of us can agree, when it is a child making such a weighty life and death decision, parents should be involved to provide proper guidance... For years we have not allowed a minor to get a tattoo or to receive an aspirin from a school nurse without parental permission. Should we not apply the same standard to such a life and death decision such as abortion?”
June 05, 2005, Press Release from Office of The Governor
Planned Parenthood
Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 7, which will defund Planned Parenthood of state funds valued at approximately $34 million and prevent state funding for elective abortions.
“Additionally, this bill helps protect those who need our protection the most, the unborn, underscoring our ongoing commitment that taxpayer money never be used to fund abortions.”
July 20, 2011
Embryonic stem cell research
While Perry is not against stem cell research involving adults, he is against embryonic stem cell research or using taxpayer funds for the same purpose.
“Every life is precious… the direction of stem cell research under the Obama administration was turning the remains of unborn children into nothing more than raw material... The Obama administration is ignoring the overriding responsibility of every government — that is to protect citizens at every stage of their lives, especially those who cannot protect themselves… Under Obama our federal tax dollars can now be used to fund abortion all over the world. With the stroke of a pen, abortion essentially became a U.S. foreign export,”
June 13, 2011, Rick Perry speaking at the ‘United For Life’ event at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles – via Associated Press
You forgot the asterisk *except in the case of rape, incest or mother’s life. A man who claims to be an evangelical Christian supporting the murder of an innocent child...
Perry has a strong pro-life record. He has accomplished in his state several pro-life priorities. Until we get a new supreme court that will allow us to legislate abortion, it really doesn’t matter if a candidate wouldn’t make abortion illegal in the case of rape and incest.
And so far as I can tell, none of the candidates with a chance to win is going to meet this criteria. Not Romney, not Perry, and certainly not Herman Cain, who can’t even CLARIFY that he supports ANY law that would make abortion illegal for any reason.