Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AK) tells listeners that if Robert Dear meant to act on behalf of the anti-abortion movement, then members of that movement should condemn him. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee called on anti-abortion advocates to condemn Friday's shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo., if the shooter claimed to act on behalf of the anti-abortion movement.
On his Huckabee Exclusive podcast, the Republican presidential hopeful referred to a report by The Guardian in which law enforcement officials heard Robert Dear say "no more baby parts" shortly after surrendering. Dear opened fire inside the clinic, killing three on Friday.
Huckabee attributed the report to an "anonymous Internet source" despite The Gaurdian's confirmation that it came from law enforcement.
The phrase is believed to reference undercover videos released by the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion group. The videos claim to show evidence of Planned Parenthood employees selling aborted fetus parts.
Huckabee says the comment may have had nothing to do with the videos, and said not enough was known about Dear's motives to point fingers.
"If it turned out that Dear was motivated by viewing the Planned Parenthood videos, then pro-life people should publicly denounce his actions as I'm sure they will," said Huckabee. "That type of disregard for human life is the antithesis of everything we believe in. If one violent nut claimed to be acting on behalf of the pro-life cause then he will be rightfully repudiated and condemned. But that doesn't exonerate Planned Parenthood for its own reprehensible past actions."
Huckabee has rallied behind the videos, even posting them on his campaign website, where he also refers to Planned Parenthood as "butchers." He has been a part of the push among conservatives to de-fund the group since the release of the videos.
An analysis of the videos in August by Fusion GPS, a Washington-based research company, found them to be unreliable due to "manipulation." The New York Times reported the analysis was commissioned by Planned Parenthood.
