FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2011
Contact: Ciara Matthews (202) 630-7067
Ignores Grassroots Americans Who Want Assurance of Pro-Life Leadership
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Susan B. Anthony List today announced that Jon Huntsman is now officially the fourth candidate to refuse to sign the Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge, after the deadline for his signature passed on Wednesday at the close of business.
“It is extremely disappointing to see another candidate who is running on a pro-life message refuse to sign the promise to voters that he will act as a leader for our movement if elected to the White House,” said SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser.
Huntsman came out publically not long after announcing his candidacy to say that he does “not sign pledges,” an explanation that is not sitting well with pro-life Americans.
“In order to become President of the United States one has to take the pledge of all pledges: the Presidential oath of office,” Dannenfelser explained. “So really, Huntsman does take pledges, just not the kind which address specific issues he will face if elected President.”
In addition to Huntsman, Governor Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, and Governor Gary Johnson have also refused to sign the pledge.
“There is a groundswell of support from the pro-life grassroots for the Presidential Pledge. So much so that our Citizen’s Pledge – signed by voters who vow to only vote for a presidential candidate who has signed the Presidential Pledge – garnered 10,000 signatures in its first week. We certainly hope those candidate who have not signed take a good look at that growing number.”
The Susan B. Anthony List spent $11 million during the 2010 midterm election cycle. Overall, the SBA List was involved in 90 races including 62 wins and 28 losses. Successes included: defeating 15 of 20 so-called “pro-life” Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care reform bill; increasing the number of pro-life women in the House by 70 percent; filling the void of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate and increasing the number of pro-life women governors from one to four.
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