Herman Cain released the following statement today given the controversy over his answers last night on abortion (h/t: Hotair):
Thursday, October 20, 2011
“Yesterday in an interview with Piers Morgan on CNN, I was asked questions about abortion policy and the role of the President.
I understood the thrust of the question to ask whether that I, as president, would simply “order” people to not seek an abortion.
My answer was focused on the role of the President. The President has no constitutional authority to order any such action by anyone. That was the point I was trying to convey.
As to my political policy view on abortion, I am 100% pro-life. End of story.
I will appoint judges who understand the original intent of the Constitution. Judges who are committed to the rule of law know that the Constitution contains no right to take the life of unborn children.
I will oppose government funding of abortion. I will veto any legislation that contains funds for Planned Parenthood. I will do everything that a President can do, consistent with his constitutional role, to advance the culture of life.”
Herman Cain
I’m apt to take him at his word on this one, especially given his initial response after the rape question was “You’re mixing two things here, Piers.” I don’t think he would have said that had he not been thinking what he said above:
CAIN: Ask the tricky question.
MORGAN: But you’ve had children, grandchildren. If one of your female children, grandchildren was raped, you would honestly want her to bring up that baby as her own?
CAIN: You’re mixing two things here, Piers.
Answering based on the constitutionality of ‘ordering’ someone to have/not have an abortion is indeed a very odd interpretation of that question, but I can kinda see him envisioning himself as president when he was asked that question and answering as he did. But yes, it’s very awkward.
But even if you can’t see that or you think it’s a stretch, in the Stossel interview he clearly says at the end he believes abortion should be illegal and opposes it in every instance. And even last night, he said “I believe that life begins at conception. And abortion under no circumstances.” He’s at least been consistent on that point, which is the most important point, in all of his interviews.
So yes, I’m going to take him at his word and I seriously hope someone advises him to stop making this issue awkward. He’s in the big leagues now and he’s got to run like a pro.
—