Trump Vets Abortion Rights Supporter for VP

And I’m not talking about Chris Christie.

Reports emerged July 9 that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (Ret.) is being vetted for the vice presidential nomination. Flynn is a registered Democrat who served in the Obama Administration until 2014 and has been sharply critical of Hillary Clinton.

While Trump’s advisors are divided over the merits of putting a military person on the ticket, Trump is reportedly intrigued by the idea.

Things got interesting Sunday morning. CNN:

“Abortion, I think for women, these are difficult issues,” he told ABC’s Martha Raddatz on “This Week.” “I think that’s a difficult legal decision, and I think that women are so important in that decision-making process. They are the ones that have to make the decision because they are the ones that will decide to bring up that child or not.”

Groups opposing legal abortion immediately reacted. Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser said, “General Flynn has disqualified himself from consideration as Vice President.”

The pro-life activist’s next comment was interesting: “His pro-abortion position is unacceptable and would undermine the pro-life policy commitments that Mr. Trump has made throughout the campaign.” One wonders how trustworthy Trump’s commitments are.

These promises include defunding Planned Parenthood and appointing pro-lifers to the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Recall that James Dobson says Trump is “tender to the things of the Spirit.” Author Eric Metaxas says Christians “must” vote for Trump. Many leaders in the religious right seem satisfied that Trump shares their commitment to criminalizing abortion.

Trump is reportedly leaning toward Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for the VP nomination. But he clearly thinks that Flynn could help him win the White House.

I wonder what social conservatives think of their nominee and their party putting a pro-choice Democrat one 70 year-old’s heartbeat away from the presidency.

UPDATE July 11, 6:00 p.m. — Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn (Ret.), a finalist being vetted by the Trump campaign for the vice presidential nomination, says he’s a pro-life Democrat.