This post originally appeared online at One News Now on June 22, 2011.
Lead on the ‘life issue’ — don’t just check the box
by Charlie Butts
As part of the 2012 presidential campaign, Susan B. Anthony List continues to look for candidates to sign a pro-life pledge.
At the recent Republican Leadership Conference, five contenders signed the Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge: Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and Rick Santorum. Three presidential hopefuls — Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, and Gary Johnson (who was not at the conference) — did not.
Susan B. Anthony List projects director Marilyn Musgrave tells OneNewsNow the pledge is a bare minimum of what the organization would expect.
“We are asking that they appoint pro-life justices to the Supreme Court,” she explains. “We’re asking that they choose cabinet members who are pro-life, [that they] also agree to defund pro-abortion organizations domestically and internationally, and also [that they] lead on the life issue.”
That includes passing a ban on abortions after 20 weeks gestation, says the former member of Congress.
Musgrave says she has seen many candidates who gained office who campaigned on being pro-life — “but never lead on the issue [and] never break a sweat….” That obviously concerns her.
“Susan B. Anthony List has come up with this pledge because we expect when candidates say they’re pro-life, it really means something and they will lead on the issue that is so very important to many Americans,” she remarks.
Asked about those candidates who declined to sign the pledge, Musgrave says the Susan B. Anthony List will defer to them for an explanation as to why. But LifeNews.com reports Romney described the pledge as “well-meaning” but “overly broad [resulting in] unintended consequences.” And Cain has stated he based his decision on the claim he would be unable to “advance” pro-life legislation since he is not a member of Congress.
The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
See Their Rating
