South Carolina's new senator once backed aborted fetus monument

Pro-life groups couldn't be happier with South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) for appointing a man to the U.S. Senate who supported erecting a monument for aborted fetuses in the state's capitol.

Pro-life groups on Monday cheered the appointment of Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) to replace retiring South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R), noting Scott had a 100 percent pro-life voting record with the National Right to Life Committee.

“At a point where our nation is hungry for leadership, Congressman Scott has demonstrated compassion and clarity on the abortion issue, never backing down when asked the tough questions," Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said. "He has made it clear that defending the most vulnerable is an indispensible first principle in his own political philosophy."

Scott, an evangelical Christian, has long been an opponent of abortion. While serving as a South Carolina state representative, he co-sponsored legislation in 2009 to create a "monument on the statehouse grounds to remember all the aborted babies in" the state.

Riding a wave of tea party candidates, Scott was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and maintained his staunch opposition to abortion. He has voted to revoke all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, prohibit federal funds from being spent on abortions, restrict abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy in Washington, D.C., and ban so-called "sex selective" abortions.

Scott takes office on January 3 and will serve until a special election is held in 2014.

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