Karen Handel in Planned Bullyhood, by Karen Handel

On Abortion: Pro-life beliefs deepened by failure to conceive

Steve and I had to make a decision--for the sake of our marriage; for my sake. Do we cross the bridge to a life without children of our own or do we stay in a place so filled with pain that it is tearing us apart and destroying us both emotionally? We crossed the bridge--together, with Steve holding my hand the entire way--trusting that God would indeed "make the rough places smooth."

Out of this very personal, painful struggle, my pro-life beliefs were deepened.

On Abortion: Who am I to prevent a couple from fertility treatments?

I was immediately uncomfortable, and my focus drifted as the sadness and pain of not having a child pushed their way to the surface. Then I thought I heard Becker say something about fertility treatments being immoral, that they would be outlawed.

What do fertility treatments have to do with pro-abortion or pro-life?

During our nearly 10-year journey, Steve and I tried nearly every fertility treatment that was available at the time--all to no avail. If a married couple can benefit from fertility treatments, including in vitro, who was I to prevent that couple from being a family--to prevent that woman from being a mom?

Becker went off on a tangent about the California "Octomom"--as if she was a fair representation of the hundreds of thousands of married couples pursuing fertility in hopes of having even just one child of their own.

On Abortion: Planned Parenthood is country's leading abortion provider

Whatever the reality, Planned Parenthood is the country's leading abortion provider. In 2010, Planned Parenthood performed 329, 445 surgical abortions or abortions using the RU486 pill, commonly known as the morning-after pill. That's more than 27% of all abortions performed in the US every year. Further, just 841 adoption referrals were made.

On Abortion: End $500M annual federal funding of Planned Parenthood

It should concern all of us that an overly political interest group like Planned Parenthood receives nearly $500 million a year-- that's nearly $1.5 million each and every year--in government funding.

Planned Parenthood's funding is legally funneled to its many political arms to be doled out to candidates who will be Planned Parenthood champions for yet more government funding.

A corrupt triangle has been empowered: government money flows to Planned Parenthood; Planned Parenthood money is then used to attack its opponents and elect its friends; those friends funnel more taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood. Without their permission, the American taxpayers--that's you and me--have turned into subsidizers not only of abortion but also of political propagandizing. This must end.

On Abortion: FactCheck: Yes, ObamaCare allows states to fund abortions

We want to fact-check: Does the health care law provide a means for coverage for abortions? A US Department of Health and Human Services weblink contradicts Handel's claim that the law provides coverage for abortions. It says the health care law does not pay for abortions, citing a decades-old federal policy called the Hyde Amendment.

But if a state chooses to, it can use its own funds to cover abortions, & states will continue to have this option under the health care law. So, can women get abortions through the ObamaCare exchanges? It depends which state you reside in. Because that bit of detail was not mentioned, we rate Handel's entire claim Mostly True.

On Civil Rights: 2010: Woman running for governor "raised some eyebrows"

My decision was cheered--and criticized. Many were enthusiastic about my reform-minded, no-nonsense approach. Others said I was overly ambitious--my rise up the political ladder was too quick. I was only 49, so what was the rush? Interestingly, these criticisms had not been raised about the lieutenant governor, who is 4 years younger than I, when he decided to run just 2 years into his first term. And while it was fine for a woman to be secretary of state, a woman running for governor raised eyebrows.

On Civil Rights: Sponsored gay group event for Log Cabin Republicans

At the same time, I was being hammered on the abortion issue, and I was being called pro-gay. I had spoken to the gay Republican group Log Cabin Republicans and had sponsored one of their events during an earlier campaign for the Fulton County commission. Deal had his opening to question my conservative values.

On Civil Rights: Cultural outreach via Circle of Promise & Lazos Que Perduran

On Civil Rights: "War on women" coined by feminist Left to attack Right

On Environment: 1992: Spokesperson for Fur Info Council, against PETA

On Government Reform: Implemented ban on Georgia legislative gifts & nepotism

I couldn't control the ethics rules of the state legislature, but I did control the ethics within the secretary of state's office. My 1st month in office, we implemented a ban on gifts, abolished the time-honored tradition of nepotism, and even established a one-year cooling-off period during which no former staffer could lobby the agency. And these rules applied to me as well.

On Health Care: ObamaCare forces insurance plans to provide contraceptives

On Principles & Values: Avid runner, covering 12-15 miles per week

I was already bored. I hadn't sorted out what was next, but I needed something to do--a challenge for myself. That challenge was running-- literally. I'd never run before (except campaigns). My goal: 5K by Christmas. I did it--and in the process, got in better shape and used the time to reflect and rejuvenate. Today I'm an avid runner, covering 12 to 15 miles of pavement a week.

On Principles & Values: Resigned Komen for the Cure over Planned Parenthood issue

The calls for my resignation were growing. There were hundreds of emails and phone calls, and petitions circulating the Internet that had already garnered thousands of signatures. The left had taken a page directly out of the Saul Alinsky playbook: pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. They needed someone to demonize--and that someone was me.

The apology was a total reversal of the new grants policy and focused on reinstating Planned Parenthood's eligibility.

The message for Republicans and the faith community was that Komen was only backing down for now; it would take more time to transition out of Planned Parenthood grants. [Handel ultimately did resign]

On Tax Reform: 2003: Closed county budget deficit without tax increase

I had pledged to be a leader who could get things done--no tax increases; strong ethics. First up: a new budget. Finally, after some losses, some compromises, and an effective parliamentary strategy, the budget passed. The deficit was closed. The budget was balanced. There was NO tax increase that year.

I would have to beat back tax increases each year. And somehow, with the help of a great team and the support of Fulton County citizens, we balanced the county budget without tax increases each and every year under my tenure as chairman.