A prominent Iowa pastor joined Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday in slamming Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley for saying her stance on abortion was based on her “truth” rather than “God’s truth” at a forum last week.
Haley has taken a moderate stance on the abortion issue, arguing that Republicans should be “honest” about the slim chance of passing a nationwide ban on the procedure and instead focus on restricting late-term abortions and making contraception widely available.
“Even though I’m pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” the former ambassador to the United Nations said at the third Republican primary debate earlier this month. “Let’s find common ground … We don’t need to divide America on this issue anymore.”
Haley defended her remarks at Friday’s FAMILY Leaders Appreciation Forum in Iowa after CEO Bob Vander Plaats said her policy sounded pro-choice rather than “repentantly pro-life” as she claimed.
“What you heard me say at the debate was my truth,” Haley replied.
That prompted DeSantis to issue an attack on the use of the phrase “my truth” as the two White House candidates battle for support in the Hawkeye State.
“When you talk about my truth — no, it’s not your truth or this person’s truth, there is truth. And we have to stand on the truth and not get involved in saying everyone has their own,” DeSantis said, arguing Haley’s answer on abortion “didn’t sit well with the crowd” in Iowa.
Both DeSantis and Haley defended their abortion policies at the final GOP debate in Miami.REUTERS
A Haley representative responded to the attack by calling DeSantis a “desperate” and “failed” candidate.
“Ron DeSantis and his PAC have spent $100 million only to see his support plummet. He is a failed and desperate candidate whose attacks on Nikki Haley have failed,” the spokesman said.
“Nikki’s support in New Hampshire and Iowa continues to grow, as we saw on Friday when a key Iowa pro-life leader announced her support for Haley,” the Haley spokesman said, referring to the former executive director of the Iowa GOP and former executive director of Iowa Right to Life Marlys Popma supported Haley at the town hall in Newton.
DeSantis criticized Haley for saying she spoke “my truth” about abortion.AP
Several Iowa religious leaders who have supported DeSantis voiced opposition to the “subjective” nature of the offensive phrase.
“Truth is not subjective. There is no my truth and your truth. There is only God’s truth. Period. Failure to protect the lives of innocent babies is ignorance of God’s truth and we cannot afford to elect a president who bases his position on the political winds or his own opinions,” said Liberty Baptist Church Pastor Darran Whiting.
“Governor DeSantis is not basing his opinion on what he believes to be his ‘truth.’ He knows that when it comes to saving the most vulnerable lives, there is only one truth to stand for: God’s truth,” added Jon Dunwell, a pastor and Iowa state representative.
“We need leaders who will reject this growing ideology in America that claims we individually decide what is true and what is not. God’s Word is the only determiner of what is true and right,” said Pastor Brad Cranston, founder and president of Baptists for Biblical Values.
Haley was joined by DeSantis and Ramaswamy at the FAMiLY Leader Appreciation forum on Friday.Getty Images
The criticism of Haley’s pro-abortion stance comes as a recent Des Moines Register poll showed Haley and DeSantis tied at 16% among likely Iowa caucus goers. Another Des Moines Register poll showed 41% of likely Republican caucusgoers say abortion policy is “very important” in choosing who they will vote for, while 38% say it is “important.”
Haley has previously said she would support a 15-week federal abortion ban but has reiterated during her campaign that such a restriction would be nearly impossible to get through Congress. As governor of South Carolina, Haley signed the 20-week abortion ban into law.
DeSantis signed a statewide six-week abortion ban as Florida governor, and also said he would support a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
