Both oppose abortion, but differences emerge on the issue among GOP candidates in Tennessee's US Senate race

The Tennessean today reported the position differences between Bill Hagerty and Many Sethi on the question of abortion. The Tennessean referenced a statement Hagerty made last Tuesday at First Tuesday. I was at this luncheon and while the Tennessean did not name the group, the "Republican gathering" the Tennessee mentioned was First Tuesday. The Tennessean reports:

Addressing the crowd, Hagerty said, "I hate the thought of abortion in any case."

Noting that he and his wife, Chrissy, have four children, Hagerty added, "Situations like rape and incest and the life of the mother I think are ones that I would look at as possible exceptions."

Although Hagerty was not pressed further on the issue by the audience, he later elaborated on his position in an interview with The Tennessean and The Tennessee Journal.

"I think it's a very challenging situation — the situation of rape or incest," he said. "It's terrible. I think it's a very infrequent situation. And were it ever to come up, I hope to make sure that it's one of the least frequent thing that ever happens and that other alternatives are made available to people.

The Tennessean writes this about Sethi:

Asked Tuesday, Sethi said the only exception he would consider for abortion would be in cases in which the life of the mother is in jeopardy.

"I also believe that those are the rarest of cases and usually you can save both the mother and baby," he said.

In terms of exceptions for cases of rape and incest, Sethi said the issue was personal. "I've taken care of patients who were conceived (after) rape," he said, adding he is opposed to such exceptions.

To read the full Tennessean report follow this link.  

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