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Republicans tout anti-abortion credentials at Right to Life Convention Republicans tout anti-abortion credentials at Right to Life Convention
(35 minutes later)
Six Republican candidates touted their anti-abortion credentials on Friday at the National Right to Life Convention in New Orleans.Six Republican candidates touted their anti-abortion credentials on Friday at the National Right to Life Convention in New Orleans.
Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Ben Carson all appeared on stage in front of numerous American flags and a sign that said “We are a voice for the voiceless”, while Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz sent video messages to the gathering.Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Ben Carson all appeared on stage in front of numerous American flags and a sign that said “We are a voice for the voiceless”, while Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz sent video messages to the gathering.
In recent weeks, Republicans have been pushing legislation that would ban women from having abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but candidates at the convention focused less on legislation and instead touted their deep opposition to abortion and their anger with the supreme court.In recent weeks, Republicans have been pushing legislation that would ban women from having abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but candidates at the convention focused less on legislation and instead touted their deep opposition to abortion and their anger with the supreme court.
“We have reached a point in America where the will of the people is subjugated to an oligarchy of nine lawyers and that is no longer a democracy,” said former senator Rick Santorum. “And we have an obligation to fight and we have to have people leading our country who are willing to engage in that battle.”“We have reached a point in America where the will of the people is subjugated to an oligarchy of nine lawyers and that is no longer a democracy,” said former senator Rick Santorum. “And we have an obligation to fight and we have to have people leading our country who are willing to engage in that battle.”
Santorum announced in May that he would make his second bid for president and said that he has been targeted because of his beliefs. “But you know that the area that is the hardest to fight on, the one where you pay the biggest price, is on the moral and cultural issues – and none bigger than life,” he said.Santorum announced in May that he would make his second bid for president and said that he has been targeted because of his beliefs. “But you know that the area that is the hardest to fight on, the one where you pay the biggest price, is on the moral and cultural issues – and none bigger than life,” he said.
He drew a clear line between the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade supreme court decision that said women have the right to seek an abortion and last month’s historic ruling Obergefell v Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal across the United States.He drew a clear line between the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade supreme court decision that said women have the right to seek an abortion and last month’s historic ruling Obergefell v Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal across the United States.
When did it become the law of the land that the supreme court has the final say on anything?When did it become the law of the land that the supreme court has the final say on anything?
“When did it become the law of the land that the supreme court has the final say on anything?” Santorum said. “The American people have the final say on everything. That’s the country I live in – is that the country you live in?”“When did it become the law of the land that the supreme court has the final say on anything?” Santorum said. “The American people have the final say on everything. That’s the country I live in – is that the country you live in?”
While Santorum boosted himself as the strongest “pro-life” candidate in the field, his friend Texas governor Rick Perry spent most of his 20-minute speech discussing his childhood and the importance of Christianity in his life. He spoke comparatively little about abortion, though he has create a situation where only nine abortion clinics are open in Texas, the second most populous state. While Santorum boosted himself as the strongest “pro-life” candidate in the field, his friend Texas governor Rick Perry spent most of his 20-minute speech discussing his childhood and the importance of Christianity in his life. He spoke comparatively little about abortion, though he has created a situation where only nine abortion clinics are open in Texas, the second most populous state.
“Our most basic right that we have emanates from our creator and it is that unalienable right to life,” Perry said.“Our most basic right that we have emanates from our creator and it is that unalienable right to life,” Perry said.
He too insisted on reforming the supreme court, saying that the next president could have the opportunity to pick three supreme court justices. There is already a 5 to 4 conservative majority in the court and three of the justices are going to be more than 80 years old for the 2016 election, provoking speculation that the next president could have the opportunity to fill their seats if they retire.He too insisted on reforming the supreme court, saying that the next president could have the opportunity to pick three supreme court justices. There is already a 5 to 4 conservative majority in the court and three of the justices are going to be more than 80 years old for the 2016 election, provoking speculation that the next president could have the opportunity to fill their seats if they retire.
“We need to make sure that we come together, that we take aim, that our candidate to be nominee, not only will win, but understands how to pick credentialed conservatives for the United States supreme court because we are probably going to put three on there,” Perry said.“We need to make sure that we come together, that we take aim, that our candidate to be nominee, not only will win, but understands how to pick credentialed conservatives for the United States supreme court because we are probably going to put three on there,” Perry said.
Florida senator Marco Rubio, a co-sponsor of the 20-week abortion ban, spoke more generally about the supreme court. He said Roe v Wade was “a historically, egregiously flawed decision” that “has condoned the taking of innocent life on a massive scale”.Florida senator Marco Rubio, a co-sponsor of the 20-week abortion ban, spoke more generally about the supreme court. He said Roe v Wade was “a historically, egregiously flawed decision” that “has condoned the taking of innocent life on a massive scale”.
He said: “It is fundamentally impossible for America to reach her destiny as a nation founded on the equal rights of all if our government believes an entire segment of the human population doesn’t have a right to exist.”He said: “It is fundamentally impossible for America to reach her destiny as a nation founded on the equal rights of all if our government believes an entire segment of the human population doesn’t have a right to exist.”
Related: Marco Rubio: abortion debate is a 'definitional issue' for American societyRelated: Marco Rubio: abortion debate is a 'definitional issue' for American society
Ben Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, was the only of the four candidates to not condemn the supreme court in his speech and instead warned about “baby killers” and other perceived health threats.Ben Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, was the only of the four candidates to not condemn the supreme court in his speech and instead warned about “baby killers” and other perceived health threats.
“The baby killers, that’s what they do, they manipulate you into thinking this is not a human being and they capitalize on people’s lack of knowledge and understanding,” Carson said.“The baby killers, that’s what they do, they manipulate you into thinking this is not a human being and they capitalize on people’s lack of knowledge and understanding,” Carson said.
Carson implied that liberal policies could lead to euthanasia and rationed healthcare. “It is the natural consequences of the kind of thinking that has become pervasive in our society,” he said.Carson implied that liberal policies could lead to euthanasia and rationed healthcare. “It is the natural consequences of the kind of thinking that has become pervasive in our society,” he said.
Two Republican presidential hopefuls sent videos to the convention. Florida governor Jeb Bush’s video was less than three minutes long and focused on what he did in Florida to restrict abortion.Two Republican presidential hopefuls sent videos to the convention. Florida governor Jeb Bush’s video was less than three minutes long and focused on what he did in Florida to restrict abortion.
“When we devalue life, whether it’s at the beginning of life or at the end, we devalue our society, we devalue our culture,” Bush said in his campaign-style video.“When we devalue life, whether it’s at the beginning of life or at the end, we devalue our society, we devalue our culture,” Bush said in his campaign-style video.
Texas senator Ted Cruz provided a six-minute address where he spoke extensively about how conservative Texas politicians defeated state senator Wendy Davis, who filibustered for 11 hours to stall a bill that would close nearly every abortion clinic in the state.Texas senator Ted Cruz provided a six-minute address where he spoke extensively about how conservative Texas politicians defeated state senator Wendy Davis, who filibustered for 11 hours to stall a bill that would close nearly every abortion clinic in the state.
“Our founders had the foreknowledge to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, in that order,” Cruz said. “Without life, there is no liberty, Without life, there is no pursuit of happiness. Abortion is a stain on our nation’s history.”“Our founders had the foreknowledge to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, in that order,” Cruz said. “Without life, there is no liberty, Without life, there is no pursuit of happiness. Abortion is a stain on our nation’s history.”