California candidate for governor aims to reduce abortions, thinks Prop. 8 ‘settled’ marriage

Sacramento, Calif., Mar 17, 2010 / 05:20 am

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner is committed to reducing the number of abortions to zero and thinks same-sex “marriage” was “settled” by Proposition 8, a campaign official has said.

Poizner, a Republican who is presently State Insurance Commissioner, faces former eBay CEO Meg Whitman in the Republican primary.

In a Tuesday interview, CNA spoke with Lanhee Chen, the policy director for Poizner’s campaign.

Asked about Poizner’s policy on abortion, he said Poizner is “committed to driving the number of abortions to zero” and opposes late-term abortions.

“It’s an issue that I think he’s personally examined since he’s entered public life,” Chen added.

His view comes to him “from being a father as well as from his personal faith, which is Jewish. It’s a combination of all those factors.”

However, Chen told CNA the gubernatorial candidate would not be supportive of outlawing all abortions.

Rather, for him the question is how policymakers can work together to bring the number of abortions down to zero.

Poizner favors parental notification as “one very good way” to advance that goal.

“That’s where the fight is going to be,” Chen commented, reporting the candidate favors the 2010 Parental Notification Initiative.

On the issue of same-sex marriage, Poizner voted in favor of Proposition 8 and “believes strongly in traditional marriage.”

“On marriage the voters of California have spoken pretty resoundingly twice now in the last several years” Chen continued.

For Chen and “a lot of people,” the marriage issue is “a settled question.”

“Advocates aren’t going to stop trying to bring the issue up again, but from Steve’s perspective it is settled,” he told CNA.

“He’s really well-positioned in this race. He is the conservative alternative here in California,” Chen continued, saying he is “what California voters are looking for right now.”

The policy director cited the state’s “huge” budget problem and the departure of businesses and individuals from the state.

Supporters of social conservatism and “values voters,” claimed Chen, are “coalescing” around Poizner and “feel pretty strongly he is going to be the best alternative for social conservatives in this election.”