By Peter J. Smith
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 25, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Pro-life GOP presidential contenders Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee both took part in leading pro-life rallies in Washington and Atlanta protesting 35 years of abortion since the infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and called for legislation protecting life from the moment of conception. Republican frontrunner John McCain, however, reiterated his support for embryo destroying stem-cell research even as his Senate colleague Sam Brownback reaffirmed his endorsement of McCain at the National March for Life.
“The debate about when life begins should not be a debate,” Rep. Ron Paul told the tens of thousands of marchers rallied together on the Washington Mall. “Let me assure you that all life begins at conception.”
Paul, an OB/GYN doctor who delivered more than 4,000 babies in his career, told the crowds that in medical school he “quickly learned” that “when I dealt with a pregnant woman I always had two patients.”
Paul has sponsored pro-life bills such as H.R. 300, which would nullify the legal force of Roe v. Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state laws regarding abortion. Paul also wrote legislation that would define life as beginning at conception (H.R. 1094) and renewed his call to make legal protections for life from conception.
“You cannot defend liberty without defending life,” Paul firmly stated.
Paul has gained the endorsement of Norma McCorvey, “Jane Roe” of Roe v. Wade, who is reported in a press release from the Paul campaign as saying, “He has never wavered on the issue of being pro-life and has a voting record to prove it.” McCorvey goes on to say, “He understands the importance of civil liberties for all, including the unborn.”
“After taking all of the presidential candidates into consideration, it is obvious that Ron Paul is the only one that doesn’t just talk the talk,” McCorvey stated.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee also led a record crowd of more than 5,000 pro-life demonstrators at a rally in Atlanta organized by Georgia Right to Life to show his support for a new state amendment that would directly challenge the foundations of Roe v. Wade.
“The Paramount Right to Human Life Amendment” or HR 536 sponsored by Rep. Martin Scott, R-Rossville would define human life as beginning at conception and state life is a right to be held above all others.
“We’re in the middle of 35 years of a national nightmare that needs to end soon,” Huckabee said. “I’ve always said I got into politics because I’m pro-life.”
“There cannot be a geographical distinction when it comes down to something that is either right or wrong,” Huckabee continued. “The logic that each of the states can come up with their own definition of how to respect human life is the logic of the Civil War. And we saw how that turned out.”
Huckabee emphasized that abortion “is not a political issue, it is a moral issue” and called for a similar amendment protecting life to the US constitution. The candidate did not mention his own run for the GOP nomination, which is struggling from lack of funds. Huckabee has received the endorsement of Georgia Right to Life.
While campaigning in Florida where he hopes to pick up another primary win, Arizona Sen. John McCain told the Catholic News Agency (CNA) that he still stands by his support for embryonic stem-cell research on what he called “surplus” embryos. The statements came even as staunchly pro-life Sen. Sam Brownback repeated his strong endorsement of McCain at the National March for Life and tried to reassure the crowds of McCain’s pro-life credentials. McCain’s choice appeared to convey the agony of “personally pro-life” politicians who support legal abortion saying his vote was “a very agonizing and tough decision.”
“All I can say to you is that I went back and forth, back and forth on it and I came in on one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had, in favor of that research. And one reason being very frankly is those embryos will be either discarded or kept in permanent frozen status,” he told CNA. McCain then added, “I understand how divisive this is among the pro-life community.”
The latest poll from NBC and the Wall Street Journal shows Sen. McCain as the national frontrunner with 29% support, followed by Huckabee with 23 percent, former Gov. Mitt Romney at 20 percent, Rudy Giuliani at 15 percent, and Ron Paul at 4 percent. McCain and Romney are currently neck-and-neck going into Florida, January 29, the last primary before the Super Tuesday primary on February 5.