Four GOP presidential candidates are scheduled to participate in a national presidential “pro-life forum” tonight in which callers will have an opportunity to question the contenders on their views about abortion.
The 90-minute town hall, co-sponsored by Personhood USA, is expected to include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
A fifth candidate, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, signed Personhood USA’s Personhood Republican Presidential Pledge, but is not confirmed to participate in the event, which will be carried live on Steve Deace’s nationally-syndicated radio show on the Salem Network from 8 to 9:30 p.m., Central Time.
“If you believe, as we do, that the battle for the lives of the preborn is the most pressing issue of our day, and you have questions for the candidates, this event is your opportunity to get the answers you deserve,” said Personhood USA President Keith Mason.
Callers will have the opportunity to ask questions of the presidential candidates and to give instant feedback to comments, according to event organizers.
In signing the pledge, Paul included a statement in which he said, “You can’t have Liberty without Life” but then added language that appeared to contradict one of the fundamental tenets of the pro-life movement.
“I don't just believe life begins at conception; I know it as a scientific certainty,” writes Paul.
Personhood USA subsequently requested clarification from the Paul campaign for what they described as inconsistencies between the statement and pledge language.
The pledge requires that candidates “stand . . . with the Republican Party platform in affirming that [they] support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and endorse legislation to make clear that the 14th Amendment protections apply to unborn children.”
Personhood USA legal analyst Gualberto Garcia Jones questioned Paul’s response.
“Personhood USA understands and agrees with Rep. Paul, that crimes, including murder, are to be prohibited by state laws,” said Garcia Jones. “However, pro-lifers are left wondering how a President Paul would seek to protect the right to life in states that would choose to continue to allow abortion after Roe vs. Wade is overturned.”
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