Governor Rick Perry appeared with Texas Alliance for Life and other pro-life groups at the Capitol, to signal his support of "Choose Life" specialized license plates. This measure has failed in five previous legislative sessions, but Perry says he hopes he will sign the bill into law in 2009. (Video story here.)

KVUE-TV "Choose Life" plate design

Perry said he wasn't sure if he has ever championed the previous Choose Life legislation. Why the vocal support now? Critics like Sara Cleveland of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas think political motives are at play. (So does DMN columnist Wayne Slater.)

"This was a politically motivated move by Governor Perry to garner the favor of the right-to-life vote in the 2010 race for governor," Cleveland said.

Governor Perry said it's not inconsistent for him to be taking a stand on the issue.

"If there's been a more pro-life governor in Texas history, I'd be hard-pressed to think who it was," he said.

But shining the light on his pro-life credentials does brightly contrast his position with that of Republican US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who's formally raising money for a gubernatorial run. Hutchison is pro-choice, which could be an obstacle for her in the Republican primary.

When reporters asked Perry about whether he was posturing for 2010, he chided us for asking a "process" question and said, "Right now, I only know one person running for governor -- and you're talking to him."

Hutchison, in an interview with Belo brethren WFAA-TV had this to say:

"I have seen the races that Governor Perry has run before and I would not like that kind of race. But am I tough enough to do it? Absolutely."

1 Comments

Stan said:

"This was a politically motivated move by Governor Perry to garner the favor of the right-to-life vote in the 2010 race for governor,"

Swap RTL with the more appropriate "terrorist", and you've got it. The more time I waste in Texas, the more proud I am to be a Kentuckian.

December 19, 2008 12:10 AM

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