WASHINGTON -- In early August, Carly Fiorina called on congressional Republicans to shut down the government in order to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding. On Sunday, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO appeared to back down from that stance somewhat.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Fiorina said she was open to a government shutdown if it would make President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party defend "the butchery" of Planned Parenthood.
"I believe there are a variety of ways to deal with this. But I believe this is something we must stand up and fight for. Because it is about the character of our nation," she said.
Fiorina was more explicit about her support for the tactic in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in August, according to a transcript from Real Clear Politics:
They should close the government down...
The point is this, however -- we have a long way to go between now and then. Beginning with this vote today, every single Republican out there, as well as, I hope, every media outlet, needs to ask the question that I have been asking for weeks:
How does any Democrat justify their position, the continued taxpayer funding of this organization?
We have to hammer the Democrats on this, honestly, their position, which most Americans do not understand... it is not a life until it leaves the hospital... most Americans do not agree with that position.
Planned Parenthood supporters threw condoms at Fiorina while she campaigned in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, after fact checkers found the candidate exaggerated her account of watching an undercover video taken by the conservative Center for Medical Progress.
Watch the video above.