Huckabee Endorses Colo. Proposal That Would Define Fertilized Embryo As Person, Provide It Constitutional Rights

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 28 Feb 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) on Monday endorsed a Colorado ballot proposal that would define a fertilized embryo as a person and extend to it rights and protections under the state constitution, the Denver Post reports.

Huckabee in a statement said, "With this amendment, Colorado has an opportunity to send a clear message that every human life has value." He added, "Passing this amendment will mean the people of Colorado will protect the sanctity of life from conception until natural death occurs" (Draper, Denver Post, 2/25).

The proposed November 2008 ballot initiative would amend the state constitution to define "any human being from the moment of fertilization" as a "person" for purposes of the state's constitutional provisions "relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice, and due process of law." The group Colorado for Equal Rights, which is advocating for the proposal, must collect more than 76,000 signatures to put the measure on the statewide ballot (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/8/07).

Opponents of the amendment said it would have "sweeping consequences" not only for women seeking abortions, but also for women using hormone-based contraception and couples using in vitro fertilization. The proposal is opposed by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado (Denver Post, 2/25). Kristi Burton of Colorado for Equal Rights said Huckabee's endorsement is "an amazing boost" to the group's petition-gathering efforts (AP/Fox 21, 2/25).

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