Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who did not confirm reports that he is being vetted for the position, remarked that he is "honored" to just be in the discussion. | Getty Lt. Gen. Flynn: U.S. won't 'collapse' because of same-sex marriage, abortion The potential Trump VP pick discusses a range of issues.

Issues like abortion and same-sex marriage are not at the top of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn's list of priorities, the former intelligence official and registered Democrat who is reportedly being vetted as Donald Trump's running mate said Sunday.

"What people do in their private lives, these are not big issues that our country is dealing with that will cause our country to collapse," Flynn told ABC's Martha Raddatz on "This Week." "I'm more concerned that our country could collapse because we are not dealing with education issues, immigration issues."


Flynn, who did not confirm reports that he is being vetted for the position, remarked that he is "honored" to just be in the discussion.

"For a kid from a little town in the smallest state in the union, Rhode Island, it's a pretty, pretty big deal, and I take it very seriously. If people are serious about it, you know, I have to be serious about it," Flynn said, noting that although he grew up as a Democrat in a Democratic family, the current incarnation of the party is "not at all" the one from his youth.

Asked his stance on non-military issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, Flynn suggested that he is not particularly concerned about either.

On abortion, he said, "I think it's a — I think for women — and these are difficult issues, but I think women have to be able to choose what they — you know, sort of the right of choice, but I think that that's a difficult legal decision that — 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're the ones that are going to decide to bring up that child or not," Flynn said.

Flynn's remark drew condemnation from at least one national anti-abortion group.

“General Flynn has disqualified himself from consideration as Vice President. His pro-abortion position is unacceptable and would undermine the pro-life policy commitments that Mr. Trump has made throughout the campaign," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement.

At the other end of the spectrum, Planned Parenthood was equally dubious. “Women in America are not fooled — Donald Trump doesn’t understand or care about women’s health or lives," said Dawn Laguens, an executive vice president with the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

As far as the Supreme Court's decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationally, Flynn responded, "You know what? I'm like — I'm about national security. I'm not going to, you know, I mean."

"But if you become a vice president, you have to be prepared to be president," Raddatz said. "Sure, sure," Flynn responded.

On immigration, as Raddatz referred to "undocumented immigrants," Flynn took issue with the term.

"So, undocumented or illegal?" he asked. "OK, so if it's illegal, it's illegal. If they're here illegally then, it's illegal. Back to my very first point, the rule of law in this country is probably the single biggest strategic advantage that we have above and beyond all other countries in the world, and we cannot allow the rule of law to break down."