Last night, Fox News hosted the first 2012 presidential debate in Greenville, SC. Though many candidates or potential candidates did not participate, it was still an insightful and revealing debate. Participating were former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Congressman Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain, and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
The issue of abortion was first raised in a question for Governor Johnson, who has identified himself in the past as pro-choice:
He believes that ultimately it is a woman’s right to make such a decision during the early stage of pregnancy.
Governor Johnson does not hide from his position that abortion should be legal until the unborn child is viable outside the womb.
Senator Santorum was then asked about Governor Daniels’s called for a truce on social issues:
Santorum eloquently made the perfect case for Life. He showed why Governor Johnson is dead wrong, especially as a libertarian-leaner, and why Governor Daniel’s truce comments were ridiculous.
It is yet to be seen whether Governor Daniels will disown his truce remarks if he decides to make a run for the Republican nomination. He took one step in correcting his mistake last week, announcing he would sign a bill to defund Planned Parenthood of Indiana.
Senator Santorum showed why social issues remain incredibly relevant to national politics and helped ensure that abortion is not looked over in the nominating process.
Here is Governor Pawlenty on stem cell research:
