(CNN) – Several likely GOP presidential candidates have spent the bulk of their time stressing fiscal and economic issues, but Mike Huckabee said Monday that for him the issue of abortion still trumps all other pressing concerns facing the country.
"For me this is an issue that - as I've said before - it transcends all of the political issues," Huckabee said at a fundraiser in Tennessee for the Center for Bioethical Reform, an anti-abortion group.
"I've often said I would gladly lose an election before I would ever yield on the issue of the sanctity of human life," Huckabee added.
The former presidential candidate and former governor of Arkansas has not said if he will run for president again, though he is a leading candidate, according to several recent national polls of the hypothetical battle for the Republican presidential nomination.
His comments differ significantly from potential White House rivals who have spoken little of social issues so far this cycle as Americans continue to overwhelmingly point to the economy as the No. 1 issue on their minds.
From CNN Politics
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Anyone thought that he was going to say anything else?
He is, in his mind, a Paladin. Which means that his beliefs are way more important than the actual needs of the population of any place (city, state or... who knows?... country) he might end up governing.
Abortion isn't even on the table. Abortion is legal. End of story.
The BIG story right now is creating jobs in this country. The president is doing everything he can to get our economy back on track and get us working again. The Pubes are doing nothing but wasting time, creating smoke and shouting at the rain.
This is why the Republicans are going to lose big time in 2012. It is the ecnomy stupid.
I've often said I would gladly lose an election before I would ever yield on the issue of the sanctity of human life," Huckabee added.
Keep chruch out of the business of government.
WRONG.... The great majority of Americans couldn't care less about abortion. Besides that, abortion is a social issue, not a political one.
What an idiot. What does he think about the sanctity of life of our troops in combat in 2 wars that are bankrupting this country? You know when Bush did all those supplemental appropriations and did the support the troops bit? How about energy subsidies for the poor and elderly in the North East US? $600 heating bills a month are not uncommon. Or prenatal care for the poor that public health clinics sometimes do? Its time to bury the Republican party under a rock. And put the tax rates for the richest Americans what they were on the day Reagan took office.
Of course the Huckster Bible-thumping pastor would say that. How many of those babies would he adopt before abortion? It's always been my philosophy that if you are anti-abortion great, but you should put your money where your mouth is and adopt one or more. Being an Arkansan myself, ask Huckster how many Mexican illegals did he give free OB/GYN clinics to? Plenty, look it up.
and this is why you will never be President.
When I say he gave free OB/GYN clinics to illegal women, I meant Arkansas taxpayers paid, not out of his own pocket. He also sold for $1.00 a state building to the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock. He's willing to spend other people's money, but then he left our State and moved to Florida, building a mansion there, preventing Arkansas workers some construction jobs.
I give him credit for his convictions. That said, it is why he would not be elected. Right now the economy is the single most important issue we face.
No womb.......No vote. Shut up Huckleberry.
Just what the US needs – a bunch of good ol' boys sitting in the ob/gyn's office telling the doctor and patient what they can do.
Welcome to 1911.
You have got to be kidding me – dude, you have your head where the sun don't shine! As a woman, you, as a man, have no business dictating to women what you believe.
Huckabee might have been a formidable candidate for the Republicans, since he can play to both the cultural and the economic right. But I think pushing the abortion issue to the front is suicidal for him. Republicans can use culture war issues only if they push them in the background, just as they can only win by playing the race card in coded ways, pretending to talk about "crime" or "welfare dependency" or, most recently, the deficit.
"Huckabee: Abortion issue trumps all " On what planet?
Law was settled 30 years ago on abortion, yet the retreads keep condescending to their rabid base and keep them frothing by churing up the same old issues. Move on already, it's 2011.
Where are the jobs??????
For all of those so-called Conservative Christians who think that abortion is either the preeminent or the only issue about which God cares, please read Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV): "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren..." ..So now before you get up on your high moral horse, realize that God is not only interested in "hands that shed innocent blood", if we want to characterize abortion like that, but ALSO, clearly about a man's personal character and behavior!! Lying, speaking falsely against someone (a la the way Republicans have "murdered" their brother President Obama with their tongue by running him down in the mud), devising wicked imaginations, running to mischief and sowing discord (a la "crosshairs", "2nd Amendment remedies", "socialist/nazi/communist killer of Grandma", etc.) are clearly things that God hates, but for some reasons Republicans who call themselves part of the Christian Conservative Right find it convenient to ignore the other SIX things and focus on abortion (and ignoring the other sanctity of life issues like WAR).
Trying to have cake and eat it too. Can't have government out of your life and try to regulate what people do with their bodies.
Good. I hope he does not win an election for president.
I am glad to hear him say that, it guarantees he has no shot at the White House.
that won't get him far!
Fantastic. So he will only focus on a single issue while our economy, foreign policy and domestic policy will be in the background? Seriously.
Mike Huckabee truly seems to be a nice guy. However, he also seems too far to the right (and might not be electable).
Beyond this, his doubters see him as an ultra-religious version of Gomer Pyle? Not exactly the material one needs to be leader of the free world (but certainly would be a MASSIVE improvement, over an imbecile like Sarah Palin).
Standard-issue right wing-nut.
"it's the economy, stupid" does not ring a bell with them, as they do not believe in history, unless it's written in the bible.
Can't we just go back to the civil war and lose, so the south can be it's own country and leave the rest of us alone?
what a bunch of morons.
I really think he is off on this one... I consider myself conservative, at least fiscally, and as with almost EVERYBODY I know, Abortion and Gay Marriage are the two least important subjects on the agenda. I want to control spending, have low taxes, and not be held hostage by PC special interest groups. This is a ridiculous statement!
It shows the man should not be our President. He's a good guy, but the Presidents job is our financial and physical safety- not that of our personal choice. The reason the Supreme Court has upheld abortion as legel is the Constitutional freedom we are given of choice.
So while EVERYONE else in the nation is worried about the economy, this guy's main concern is making sure no woman has the right to choose. First of all, that won't happen. Second, get a clue dude.
If HUckabee is so concerned about avoiding abortions, then, he must be passionate about encouraging the use of birth control. Much fewer unplanned pregnanncies, fewer reasons to even consider an abortion, more control by the woman. But is he? Does he push for birth control? Does he care about giving the woman more control over her life? Sadly, no. These guys are one dimensional when it comes to this social issue – and put women in a no win situation.
That's just what America wants to hear Huckabee, Your spot on, NOT!
Mr. Huckabee, if yo uare so concerned about human life than bring our troops home, close our borders and find a way to stimulate jobs in the US. Then when you have accomplished all that you can pursue personal subjects like abortion. So happy for you that you can make the choice for you and your family but please let everyone else make thier own decissions. That's freedom. Keep the goverenment out of it as we currently have it. You call the president a socialist but yet you want your beliefs inflicted on everyone simply because that is your belief. What do you call that? You cannot lead this country when you have no allowance for others. Will you have us all go to the same church and read the same books based on your choice? Sorry you won't get my vote. I don't endorse abortion but I believe that the choice to have one needs to remain available.
Huckabee should observe the separation of church and state and quit trying to force his religious beliefs on others.
That's because he is putting religion ahead of everything else. Precisely why he should NOT be elected to office.
"I've often said I would gladly lose an election before I would ever yield on the issue of the sanctity of human life,"
No, you actually won't yield on the issue of the sanctity of a fetus, once born you could care less...
Just goes to show how out of touch Huckabee is! The biggest problem in this country is an unsustainable economy without job creation and all he can think about is putting the government in every woman's womb! I thought Republicans were for smaller, less intrusive government?????
Ok Huckster, if it transcends all politics, then keep it the eff out of politics, it's a woman's RIGHT to choose, not yours, not the government's, HER'S.
The only reason he has a head, is to keep the rain out of his neck.
The abortion issue trumps all? And what is your Republican stance on guns in society? You want to make it a top priority to save babies not born but want to do nothing to curb the violence cause by guns to existing humans? Isn't that an overt contradiction?
And abortion is an issue that trumps all? How about the millions that are out of work because of endless corporate downsizing to maintain/increase profits? Or the wars that a member of your party started?
Yep, you're a Republican and you have your priorities right. I hope Wasilla's Village Idiot defeats you for the Republican nomination. And I know who'd win between she and Obama so I won't waste time commenting on that.
If you don't have any jobs the babies can't eat huck.
Mr Huckabee, how many pregnancies have you had and how many children have you adopted? This is an issue that should be the business of only those involved. I would rather see abortion than read about all of the little ones that are horribly abused by their own parents.
Yeah this is solve all of our problems. What is it with people wanting a theocracy in America?
Which is why he will never be President. Face it people: Roe vs Wade will NEVER be overturned.
Well the reason that the republicans tend to avoid the social issues side is because most of their stances are widely unpopular with the general public. Forcing their viewpoints onto others and having the government tell them what to do. Exact the opposite of what their economic policies are. Opinions are strong on both sides whether government needs to interact more or less in the economy but only idiots would vote to have the government impose restrictions on social issues.
How many "pro-life" types can actually account for every time they had unprotected heterosexual intercourse? If there is no difference between a fertilized ovum and a new-born, as they would have it, then are they not unfit, if not murderous parents, if they cannot account for all possbile children they believe they have?
This is why you will never be President. You cannot see the issues that are most important to the majority of the people. More people care that they don't have jobs and are losing their homes and their way of life than about morality issues such as abortion, gay marriage, etc.
(P.S. I am a Republican)
Abortion transcends all other political issues for Huck because it is his only chance of leverageing voter groups enough to win a nomination.
Like every other GOPster, an opportunist to the core.
The famous quote goes, "It's the ecnomy ... stupid.' Abortion rights won't mean anything if the american economy collapses. This is exactly why Huckabee won't be president, he allows his spiritual thoughts to rule his judgement. Usually this isn't a bad thing unless of course you are releasing hardened criminals back into society just because they claim to of found God.
If America could imprison all Dr.s & Mothers who do or have abortions, all of our many problems would simply evaporate. Whoever can't abide by that philosophy needs to leave the country immediately.
Separation of Church and State, Huckabee. Your extreme religious views effecting your governmental decisions should cause you to lose an election.
and that's why you'll never be president Mike. Move along now.
Huckabee: The self proclaimed minister who wants to be POTUS. If his moral convictions are so strong on abortion, how can he work for a network that is so negative and spews hate and division. He's a hypocrite whenever he opens his mouth.
Cross Huckabee off the list of prospective presidential contenders for me. Just like a Democrat who focuses more on the environment, I won't vote a Republican who focuses more on abortion.
#1 priority right now is between the economy or the budget deficit. That's it. Any candidate who wants to talk about other issues loses my vote.
That is settled law, IDIOT. Your one-issue campaign will get you very few votes. Go ahead and waste the money your followers send you. YOU CAN'T WIN ON ONE ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I will give Huckabee this – he sticks to his ideals. He'll never be President but he does stick to his words. Too bad one of the qualities essential to leadership IS the ability to compromise.
So this doofus thinks imposing his theology on the people of this country, a very large percentage of whom disagree with him, is more important than saving the economy.
This, as far as I'm concerned, utterly disqualifies Huckabee from consideration as President. Not only does it make him a single-issue fanatic, it makes him a fanatic about something that pales to insignificance compared to the overwhelmingly more urgent issue of the American economy. Further, it reflects a profound contempt for the individual liberties of those whose philosophies differ from his own, and that makes him a would-be theological tyrant and utterly unfit to be President. He quite apparently puts his religion before the interests of this country and those of its citizens.
Typical nutballs. With all that's going on in the world, they focus in invading the privacy of women to take away their freedom to chose based on imposing some made up religious nonsense.
By bringing abortion to the forefront as an issue that transcends all political issues, Huckabee has no intention of attracting moderates and independent voters. Guess he rather lose a presidential election.
Nothing like religious basis for running a country.
Oh, I don't mean Iran, I mean USA.
Why is this an issue? Federal funding is NOT being used. Let it be an individual's choice. Focus on what will help all the people. Not this minority group. Last I heard the majority agrees it is an individual's choice. I know its hard for some to understand that, but it is America. I like to think we have some rights.
Huckabee – The one candidate who will speak candidly about his views on EVERY issue.
This is where the fiscal conservatives and social conservatives must part ways.
Heartless as it may sound, it is not fiscally conservative to force people to have unwanted children. These people do not want children and we will only watch our national entitlements grow as we must take care of more abandoned / neglected / abused children.
I am personally against using abortion as a stop-gap birth control option. However, it is such a complex issue and there are already so many unwanted / orphaned children already living with the state that currently need to be placed. As a society we should take care of those children already born before moving on to the next step in this complicated controversy.
Let me get this right, I don't have a job however, the only thing I sould worry about is what goes on in the doctors office between a woman and her doctor. These retards are absolutely unbelievable and when I give it further thought, there are those fox news crowd who absolutly believe this garbage. Wake up America!!
Am sick to death of this continued parade of "holier than thou" old white men trying to tell women what to do with their bodies. Since they are not willing to adopt all these orphans and unwanted children born out of wedlock,don't want to suport them with tax dollars, don't approve of planned parenthood, have never been pregnant themselves, nor been a victim of rape of incest, they should just shut up.. And Huckabee, why does he still have a show on Fox News if he is going to run for the presidency?