Your historical knowledge is thoroughly underwhelming. First of all, he was NEVER a pro-abortion Democrat. There was no such thing as a "pro-abortion" politician until the era of Roe v. Wade. He left the Democrat party a long time before that... unlike Perry, he never was elected as a Democrat. Secondly, yours is a misguided reference to legislation that he was misled on. Some of that early legislation was represented to be "libertarian" and that it would lead to FEWER incidents. Goldwater was a champion of that. As it was soon to be, it was anything but.
As for the rest, I find it singularly appalling that in order to elevate Perry, people like Reagan have to be attacked, diminished and lied about. When a candidate and his supporters have to "go there", as both Perry and Slick Willard have, it tells me all I need to know about why I'd never support them.
I’m sorry, but Reagan was “pro-choice”, as it were.
Here’s a FR article on the very subject.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959005/posts
Taken from Wiki (for what it’s worth) - Early in 1967, the national debate on abortion was beginning. Democratic California state senator Anthony Beilenson introduced the “Therapeutic Abortion Act,” in an effort to reduce the number of “back-room abortions” performed in California.[74] The State Legislature sent the bill to Reagan’s desk where, after many days of indecision, he signed it.[77] About two million abortions would be performed as a result, most because of a provision in the bill allowing abortions for the well-being of the mother.[77] Reagan had been in office for only four months when he signed the bill, and stated that had he been more experienced as governor, it would not have been signed. After he recognized what he called the “consequences” of the bill, he announced that he was pro-life.[77] He maintained that position later in his political career, writing extensively about abortion.[78]
I’m not attacking Ronald Reagan - he was singularly the greatest President of the United States in my lifetime (41 years). I joined the United States Navy in 1987, and he was my Commander in Chief for all too brief a time. However, attacking Perry for stances he had 20 or more years ago is ridiculous. When I was 21 I had vastly different views on the world, and my place in it, than I do now.
And, while he may not have been elected to office as a Democrat, he supported them, and self-identified as one until 1962. Taken from Wiki (for what THAT’s worth) - Reagan began his political career as a liberal Democrat, admirer of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and an active supporter of New Deal policies. In the early 1950s, as his relationship with Republican actress Nancy Davis grew,[52][53] he shifted to the right and, while remaining a Democrat, endorsed the presidential candidacies of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 as well as Richard Nixon in 1960.[54]
Perry changed parties in 1989 - yes, many years after Reagan did it. However, it was 5 years after being elected as a Democrat.
You do not have to support any candidate. Of the ones who have declared, I like Perry’s chance to unseat Obama the most.
You also do not have to open these links and snip, yip, and snipe at everything you disagree with.