Political Reporter, The Huffington Post
WASHINGTON -- Top aides to Rick Santorum's presidential campaign are denying new reports that the former Pennsylvania senator subscribed to a pro-choice philosophy prior to entering electoral politics.
"Rick Santorum has always been pro-life," Hogan Gidley, Santorum's top spokesman, told The Huffington Post. "He ran as a pro-life candidate and got elected as a pro-life candidate. He was always a solid pro-life vote, wrote and passed pro-life legislation and consistently received the highest rankings from pro-life groups."
Gidley's statement came hours after The Huffington Post unearthed an issue statement made by Santorum during his 1990 campaign for the House of Representatives in which he acknowledged that it was "very difficult to criminalize" abortion when "a large portion of society" viewed it as "a right." He added that he supported abortion in cases of rape and incest. In a 1995 Philadelphia magazine article, meanwhile, Santorum conceded that he "was basically pro-choice all my life, until I ran for Congress."
Gidley did not address or dispute that specific quote. But his argument that Santorum's record on abortion was both consistent and purely "pro-life" was also made by the senator's top adviser, John Brabender, who told the Washington Post that he had checked directly with the candidate himself.
"He never held a pro-choice position," Brabender said.
It's tough, if not impossible, to square Santorum's past comments with the statement his campaign is making now. If the Philadelphia magazine interview had been the one instance in which he ever acknowledged pro-choice leanings, it would be easier to dismiss. But as Thomas Schaller pointed out in a Jan. 10 Baltimore Sun column, Santorum copped to trying to "dance around the [abortion] issue" during his 1990 campaign. He also, at one point, said he was fine with abortion unless one was paid for with taxpayer money or performed during the third trimester.
And yet the Santorum campaign likely won't have difficulty refuting these statements. Few political observers question Santorum's credentials as a staunch opponent of abortion rights. There certainly isn't a perception that he's modified his beliefs for political convenience. So while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is dogged with criticism and mockery over his evolution on abortion, Santorum's past statements have prompted more curiosity than concern among conservatives.
Also on HuffPost:
Santorum In '95: 'I Was Basically Pro-Choice All My Life, Until I Ran ...
Santorum says prenatal testing coverage encourages more women to have abortion
The Ten Commandments CPAC version.
I. Thou shalt talk about Christian principles, but not live by them.
II. Thou shalt slur the character of opponents personally when you can't win on policies.
III. Thou shalt call yourself pro-life, but be in favor of executions.
IV. Thou shalt see the corporations as your personal Read More... saviors.
V. Thou shalt give lip service to democracy while taking away civil
liberties.
VI. Profit is the Lord Thy God, thou shalt not put the people's interest
above those of your corporate contributors and personal greed.
VII. Thou shalt make sure fetuses have health coverage, but leave children
and babies behind.
VIII. Thou shalt bear false witness against your opponents.
IX. Thou shalt induce fear and paranoia as a holy sacrament, to disguise your intentions.
X. Thou shalt call the media liberal, so that people forget that the media
is owned by corporations with a conservative fiscal agenda
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Posted: 02/22/12 11:42 AM ET | Updated: 02/22/12 12:35 PM ET