Possible GOP presidential hopeful, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, suggests that Christians set aside hot button social issues to turn focus to more critical issues in America.
UPDATE 3/9/11 Gov. Daniels insists truce is warranted (video):
-- From "Right attacks Daniels comment" by Niki Kelly, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette 6/12/10
He was quoted in a Weekly Standard cover story as saying the next president “would have to call a truce on the so-called social issues,” such as abortion and gay marriage, until the economic crisis is resolved.
The response from prominent Republicans concerned about social issues was swift.
First, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, took offense to the statements in a newsletter sent out Thursday, noting many of the social issues at hand are supported by the majority of Americans such as not using federal funding to support abortion.
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and 2012 presidential hopeful, followed up Friday in a fundraising plea on his website by saying Daniels’ suggestion of a truce is “absolutely heartbreaking.”
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From "No 'truce' in sight" by Mary Beth Schneider, Indianapolis Star 6/12/10
"For those of us who have labored long and hard in the fight to educate the Democrats, voters, the media and even some Republicans on the importance of strong families, traditional marriage and life to our society, this is absolutely heartbreaking," Huckabee said. "And that one of our Republican leaders would suggest this truce, even more so."
. . .
Although the comment has rankled some national conservatives, it mirrors Daniels' 5 1/2 years as Indiana's leader -- not pushing hot-button social issues but making fiscal matters a priority.
During a 2005 partisan battle over the right to pray to Jesus in the General Assembly, Daniels said prayers in government venues must be inclusive, though he called a court decision mandating inclusion "regrettable." In the same session, property tax reform was the No. 1 issue.
Daniels warned lawmakers in the last legislative session to be wary of making it harder for businesses to hire employees when a measure was proposed that penalized businesses that knowingly hired illegal immigrants.
Of a measure that would have made it illegal for most Hoosier women, including victims of rape and incest, to have an abortion, Daniels said he opposed abortion rights but questioned whether Indiana should devote time and money to overturning the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that made the procedure legal.
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