Dec 27, 2011 8:45pm

After ‘Transformation,’ Rick Perry Opposes Abortion in Cases of Rape and Incest

ht the gift of life jef 111213 wblog After Transformation, Rick Perry Opposes Abortion in Cases of Rape and Incest

Mike Huckabee in the "The Gift of Life." (Thegiftoflifemovie.com)

OSCEOLA, Iowa – Rick Perry admitted to Iowa voters this evening that his views on abortion have undergone a “transformation,” shifting from a stance that allowed for abortion in cases of rape, incest and risk to a mother’s life, to one that opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, but allows for it if the mother’s life is endangered.

“You’re seeing a transformation,” Perry said in response to a voter’s question about his changed stance at a town hall meeting here. “That transformation was after watching the DVD ‘Gift of Life,’ and I really started giving some … thought about the issue of rape and incest, and some powerful stories in that DVD.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee joined forces with conservative non-profit group Citizens United to produce and host the premiere in Des Moines, Iowa, earlier this month of  “The Gift of Life,” a new anti-abortion documentary.

Asked if there was a defining moment in the DVD that inspired the change in his position, Perry cited a conversation he had with a woman featured in the movie who was conceived during a rape.

“It was actually before it when the lady who was in the DVD was looking me in the eye and said, ‘You need to really think this through because,’ she said, ‘I am the product of a rape and,’ she said, ‘My life has worth.’ It was a powerful moment,”  the Texas governor said to applause at the town hall.

Nearly two weeks ago, Perry signed the Personhood USA pledge, which opposes all forms of abortion. Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum have also signed the pledge.

User Comments

Rick Perry is an abortion or do I mean abomination?

Posted by: Al Gore III | December 27, 2011, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm

apparently no one told him that pro-choicers don’t want mandatory abortions, either. it’s like – A CHOICE. glad that lady’s mom HAD THAT CHOICE.

Posted by: bajacalla | December 27, 2011, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm

Yep, this guy is a politician, alright. He doesn’t know his……..

Posted by: AlnHouston | December 27, 2011, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm

wow YOU GUYS ARE PATHETIC. these pro-abortionists trying to bash someone else’s views. PATHETIC PATHETIC PATHETIC. if it were the other way around, and a pro-lifer were to have come into the picture that wouldn’t have been acceptable. GROW UP PEOPLE. I applaud this man. my son was the result of a rape and i love him with all my heart.

Posted by: denise | December 27, 2011, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm

Good for you, Denise, but that was your CHOICE. And the term is pro-CHOICE, not pro-ABORTION. It means we believe in the individual’s right to CHOOSE what is right for them. Don’t try to force what you believe on to others, it is a very futile effort.

Posted by: Natattack | December 27, 2011, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm

Ironic. We’ve got a dead girl in the news today, who’s father is nowhere to be found, killed and chopped into bits because the mom was sick and no father anywhere. We bring children into this world far too frivolously. Men walk away from their children at alarming rates, and women are living in poverty trying to do it all, welfare roles are through the roof due to one parent households. Why anyone would advocate women being forced to bring pregnancies to term when they have no way to support or raise a child on their own, you’ve got to be daffed. honestly. It’s insane policy. Single motherhood contributes to poverty, crime, welfare ……….sorry folks, but if you’re single and unable to raise a child affectively, I think an abortion is the RESPONSIBLE CHOICE. yes I do!

Posted by: GrannyNosBest | December 27, 2011, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm

‘I am the product of a rape and,’ she said, ‘My life has worth.’ —yea but ya know, had you never been born, you’d never know. None of us would know anything about you and we’d be fine, wouldn’t we? There are eggs everyday that die and we dont know who they would turn out to be thanks to spermicide. Those sperm die, those eggs die, who would they have been? Do they not have worth? Does your mother’s life have no worth? WHy is it women and girls’s lives have no worth. She can continue her education. grow up, mature, marry and THEN THOSE sperm and eggs can be the ones who get to have life. Why are you more important than the children she would have later in life if she doesn’t have you? It’s all so stupid and arbitrary, and narcissistic. Oh MY life has worth. really?????? and no one else’s then? just YOU, huh? Not your mom, not the OTHER would-be children if you ARE NOT born???? really? says who?

Posted by: marsha marsha | December 27, 2011, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm

Good for him. When Rick gets pregnant and has to make that decision for himself we know where he stands.

Posted by: Gina Smith | December 27, 2011, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm

but hey, you want to raise a kid with half the DNA of a violent criminal— no kidding!!! Most women have maybe 2 kids in thier lives. That’s it. So WHEN do they have them, is really the question. Do they have them young, or later, more established, more mature. Do they carry the rape pregnancy to term, or wait until they’re in a better place emotionally, and get married and then have children from their husband and raise their kids, of normal people DNA, and live in peace.

Posted by: marsha marsha | December 27, 2011, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm

When wil republicans ever practice what they preach about the government getting out of people’s lives. Funny how their concern for life ends once the child is born. These are the same bunch that are in favor of eliminating welfare and free school lunches that help poor child who have nothing.

Posted by: ryan | December 27, 2011, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm

As usual, another group trying to enforce their beliefs upon everyone else. If they went beyond “birth” to making sure the child was well-fed, educated, and accepted, much of my attitude would fade. I’d still be pro-choice, but I wouldn’t feel the need for belligerence and the need to push back. I fought for womens rights to be themselves, I have granddaughters and grandsons, I want what’s Right and Just for them as well as everyone else. I understand why, but the plan is faulty because it’s based in force and coercion, never a good sign for anyone no matter what sex they are or aren’t.
My first reaction was to say “keep your nose out of my uterus” but this goes so much deeper. It’s about enslaving all of us who are not part of the Elite. If I could empower just one who hasn’t looked forward, I’d say this. If your self-respect is taking 2nd place to an outside interference, then rethink your position, because whatever you “choose” will affect us all. And it does not matter the subject – it is all about “power” over others. I choose to be free to choose just how and whom I will be, because I respect myself, and do all “in Love” by my will. Doesn’t matter your spirituality, ethnicity, sexuality, or even mental capability, as long as you do everything with Love as your guide, nothing else matters, you cannot be enslaved by any temptation.

Posted by: Barbara Whitney | December 28, 2011, 12:21 am 12:21 am

Its official another Republican sells his soul to the Christian Taliban. Government must remain secular or we will have the violence of the Middle East here.

Posted by: Thomas Hudson | December 28, 2011, 12:21 am 12:21 am

i use to be pro-abortion… But I am now very pro life… so a person can change his view

Posted by: thetnrebel | December 28, 2011, 12:27 am 12:27 am

i use to be pro-abortion… But I am now very pro life… so a person can change his view— yeah, that’s called hypocracy. When YOU and YOUR life were in danger of having to raise a child before you were ready, before you were able to support yourself and a child and before you were mature enough to raise a child, you were prochoice> Now that you can’t, or are older, and are in a better place, or are no longer in danger you are ‘pro life’ aka “anti choice” because YOU no longer are in danger of needing to make that choice. That you are a selfish hypocrite who only cared when it affect YOU is hardly something to brag about.

Posted by: GrannyNosBest | December 28, 2011, 1:11 am 1:11 am

Really people? If it was your daughter who was raped would you really be saying she NO MATTER what has to keep it? Or do you think you and your daughter thinking things through and coming up with a CHOICE would be better for the family? I bet the “Gift of Life Movies” would be a whole Entirely different story if it was your daughter.

Posted by: LP | December 28, 2011, 2:37 am 2:37 am

So…the mom wasn’t raped; she was ‘given the gift of life?’ F’n seriously? Wow. If we gave more (any) rapists the “gift of death”…I might not be so darned ProChoice. Plus, I would never even consider using DNA that flawed to create a child for my family.

Posted by: PinkKitty | December 28, 2011, 4:06 am 4:06 am

Lets take one of those frozen embryos and plant ti inside Perry and then tell him to choke on his own rhetoric, literally.

Posted by: T0m | December 28, 2011, 4:38 am 4:38 am

Perry is signing declarations for a lot of religious fanatics but we have yet to hear of his commitment to the country.

Perry is not running for POTUS. Perry is running for leader of the christian taliban.

Posted by: raggmopp | December 28, 2011, 6:02 am 6:02 am

It’s not what he BELIEVES it’s what will get him VOTES!!! That goes for about 70% of anyone running. They don’t really have beliefs, just a need to WIN!! As for Perry, NEVER, EVER, another IDIOT Gov. from Texas!!!!!

Posted by: demNme5 | December 28, 2011, 11:06 am 11:06 am

Perry hates women. No surprise. He’s a Republican.

Posted by: A Cynic | December 28, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am

I would call myself a “conservative” Republican, and am also a Texan. Perry has been quite good for our state and I would re-elect him as our governor, again, but… I could never support the federal government having control over a woman’s life to the extent that is addressed in the above article. Hopefully, a woman who has survived rape is able to get to a point where she has the emotional strength to give birth and raise the baby in a loving home… but if she is not, she can not be blamed and how dare we judge her for deciding otherwise? So first, she has control over her life torn away by a rapist… and then we feel that we are so wise and holy that we can play God and take it away from her AGAIN?? No, I will not be a part of that hypocrisy.

Posted by: Anne | December 28, 2011, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm

I’m glad his views have undergone this transformation. However, why does he still allow for an abortion in the case of a mother’s life being at risk? Doesn’t that baby’s life have worth too? It’s either a POSSIBILITY of natural death (the mother) or a DELIBERATE MURDER (the baby), and I say, let God be the giver and taker of life!

Posted by: JMH | December 28, 2011, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm

I think it is fine that he has changed his mind – however, when it comes to rape, I feel that should be the choice of the person involved and each situation will be different. As an adoptive mom i would be grateful if the victim of the rape would be able to give birth and put that child up for adoption – its would be very hard but also the result of having an abortion is also very hard down the road. She would at least feel she had something positive to come out of a horrible violent crime which she will live with forever – why not have something positive to focus on to also help with her own personal healing?

Posted by: emf | December 28, 2011, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm

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