Rick Perry Says His Wife Misspoke on Abortion

Anita Perry called it a woman's choice
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 1, 2013 3:58 PM CDT

Texas first lady Anita Perry seemed to make the point pretty clearly last week that she believes women have the right to choose an abortion. But today, her husband said she misspoke, reports Bloomberg. “From time to time we’ll stick the wrong word in the wrong place, and you pounce upon it,” Texas Gov. Rick Perry told reporters while campaigning for GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan in New Jersey.

The original statement from his wife at the Texas Tribune Festival, as quoted by the Washington Post: "I see it as a woman's right. If they want to do that, that is their decision. They have to live with that decision." Pressed to clarify, she said, "Yeah, that could be a woman's right. Just like it's a man right if he wants to have some kind of procedure. But I don't agree with it and that's not my view." The issue of abortion has become much bigger in the state, of course, now that pro-choice advocate Wendy Davis has decided to run for governor. In fact, prior to Rick Perry's statement today, a Slate blogger thought his wife's comments might help him if he chooses to run for president again. (More Rick Perry stories.)

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