Huntsman, Romney & Cain Face Grassroots Pressure to Sign Pro-life Leadership Pledge

For Immediate Release: June 24, 2011
Contact: Ciara Matthews (702) 339-3104

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) today announced that in its first week the Pro-Life Citizen’s Pledge has received 10,000 signatures. These activists will only support presidential candidates who sign the Pro-Life Leadership Presidential Pledge, which commits candidates to actively advance pro-life policies and legislation if they are elected to the White House.  Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum all signed the pledge, but Herman Cain, Mitt Romney and newcomer Jon Huntsman have thus far refused to sign.

“Voters are hungry for leaders who make concrete commitments—not just those who tout a label,” said Marilyn Musgrave, former Congresswoman and Project Director for SBA List.  “Though his record in Utah is promising, Mr. Huntsman has not served in the highly partisan political environment that is Washington, D.C.  He has not appointed federal judges, hasn’t pushed for the passage of legislation ending taxpayer funding of abortion, nor has he appointed cabinet members relevant to the issue to uphold and enforce pro-life legislation, like Attorney General or Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“Right now, voters can only guess how he will lead in protecting women and unborn children from abortion.  They shouldn’t have to guess, and this pledge is their tool to hold candidates accountable.  He has one week to quell their doubts.”

According to the pledge, available at www.prolifepledge.com, if elected President, candidates will:

  • Only nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal bench judges who are committed to restraint and applying the original meaning of the Constitution, not legislating from the bench;
  • Select pro-life appointees for relevant Cabinet and Executive Branch positions, in particular the head of National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health & Human Services, and the Department of Justice;
  • Advance pro-life legislation to permanently end all taxpayer funding of abortion in all domestic and international spending programs, and defund Planned Parenthood and all other contractors and recipients of federal funds with affiliates that perform or fund abortions;
  • Advance and sign into law a Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain from abortion.

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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