Planned Parenthood Defunded in New Jersey: Is Governor Christie Preparing to Run for President?

Governor Chris Christie has responded to the recent expose of Planned Parenthood by LiveAction (see previous post) by taking advantage of this moment to announce his veto of a bill restoring the Planned Parenthood funding he previously eliminated in New Jersey. LifeNews.com reports:

"Following the release of a video that has received nationwide attention showing Planned Parenthood staff at a New Jersey abortion center helping alleged sexual traffickers cover up their crimes with abortions and STD testing, Governor Chris Christie has vetoed a bill funding Planned Parenthood.

A new undercover video shows Planned Parenthood officials in New Jersey telling a pimp and his prostitute assistant how they can get abortions for young teenage girls who, Planned Parenthood officials are informed, are Asians in the country illegally and forced into the sex trade. The staffer was later fired for her actions.

The Perth Amboy abortion center where the video is filmed is the second-largest Planned Parenthood center operated by Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey and the abortion business plans to double its number of abortion centers in the state.

Christie has already yanked state taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood but the state legislature sent him a bill to restore the taxpayer funds.

Marie Tasy, Executive Director for New Jersey Right to Life, applauded the veto in an email to LifeNews.com.

“We thank Governor Christie for vetoing this bill. A3273/S2393 would have forced taxpayers to support the activities and expansion of an organization that was caught on tape aiding and abetting in the sex trafficking and abortions of minors as young as 14. In vetoing this bill, Governor Christie has ensured that NJ taxpayers will not be complicit in the sexual abuse and exploitation of poor women and minors under the pretense of ‘women’s health,’” she said.

“Over the last year, several New Jersey lawmakers endorsed by Planned Parenthood have continued to defy the Governor and push legislation to use taxpayer money to fund these clinics,” she said. “Using buzz words and phrases like ‘gender equity’ and ‘poor women’s access to health care,’ these lawmakers have invoked ‘mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and friends who may one day find themselves without health care’ to try to obtain support for their misguided attempts to fund Planned Parenthood.”

“After viewing this video, we ask, who in their right mind would trust their mother, wife, sister, friend and especially their minor daughter to Planned Parenthood?” she added.

Family research Council President Tony Perkins also praised Christie:

“As the unethical and illegal activities of Planned Parenthood continue to be exposed, the pressure will build not only here in Washington but in states across the nation to end taxpayer subsidies to the nation’s largest abortion organization. Undercover sting operations in New Jersey and around the country demonstrate Planned Parenthood’s willingness to cover-up sexual abuse and even exploit victims of child prostitution,” he said. “I commend Governor Chris Christie for refusing to underwrite the apparent criminal behavior of Planned Parenthood. His commitment to both human dignity and fiscal responsibility deserve high praise.”

The bill would have restored the family planning funds his administration cut from the state budget because of deep economic troubles. The money flows in part to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business.

The funds go to 58 family planning clinics but Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion chain, runs 29 of the facilities.

Although the tax money doesn’t directly fund abortions, Christie thinks there’s little reason to send the abortion centers $7.5 million when the state currently faces an $11 billion deficit.

As of June, Christie had been resolute in his decision to cut the funds.

“I don’t believe that is a priority in a budget where you have to cut $11 billion,” the governor said. “I believe that women have the opportunity to access health care all across New Jersey. Family planning has nothing to do with mammograms, and don’t put the two of them together.”

Christie headlined a pro-life rally marking the recent anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that allowed virtually unlimited abortions.

Contact Governor Christie at http://www.nj.gov/nj/feedback.html to thank him for the veto.

Good for Governor Christie. Now, I'm sure he is acting out of conviction and I'm sure he is sincere in saying that he has not been Governor of New Jersey long enough to run for President. But here are the facts:

1. The Republican field is wide open. The front-runner, Romney, is a lame duck because of Romneycare. The most popular Republican among conservatives, Sarah Palin, may not have enough appeal to Independents to win a general election. No one has a big lead in the polls. The field is wide open to a late entry. Christie? Ryan? Rubio? Perry? Daniels?

2. Christie has been taking pains to do what Mitch Daniels should have been doing during the past few months, namely shoring up his social conservative credentials, particularly on abortion. Christie's bold moves contrast favorably with Daniels' lame call for a "truce" on social issues - as if the other side would ever do that.

3. Christie's moment may be now because the 2016 Republican field will be crowded - unless a 2012 winner is in place going for a second term.

Can you imagine how successful Christie would be at raising money online nationally? I think that if he goes for it he might very well win.