Speaking on Meet the Press on Sunday, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman became the first 2012 GOP presidential hopeful to publicly express concerns with the “fetal personhood” amendment that appears on Mississippi’s ballot today.
Though Huntsman spoke about Mississippi’s Amendment 26 in vague terms, he did say he feels that the amendment “goes too far.”
“I think it goes too far,” Huntsman said. “I mean, I’m pro-life and always have been. I have two little adopted girls to prove the point. But I think life begins at conception. And I, you know, have certain caveats or exclusions in the case of rape, incest and life of the mother. But I’ve, I’ve always been — I’ve always been pro-life and proud of my record.”
The personhood amendment, if passed, would define life from the moment of conception — which could not only ban abortion but could have negative effects on in vitro fertilization, intra-uterine devices and birth control.
Though similar initiatives have appeared across the country support hasn’t been as strong as in Mississippi. While the proposal has been heavily criticized for its potential ramifications, Amendment 26 has been endorsed by both candidates for governor and attorney general. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour voted in favor of the amendment via absentee ballot last Thursday.
