Susan B. Anthony List contacted several Presidential candidates to see where they stood on defunding Planned Parenthood. They included those statements, along with public remarks already made by other candidates:
Governor Haley Barbour (R-AL): "I support a halt to any federal funds going to America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood." (Statement provided to SBA List)
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR): "We need to demand this Congress vote to defund Planned Parenthood. Our tax dollars should never be used to provide abortions and our government should put an end to it immediately." (Statement provided to SBA List)
Former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK): "I join Rep. Mike Pence and others of conscience and common sense who are leading the charge to end the taxpayer funding of the nation’s largest abortion provider. We recognize that not only is our country buried under Mt. McKinley-sized debt, but that the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves." (Statement provided to SBA List)
Former Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN): "Washington has a massive spending problem, and we need to set priorities. Recent undercover videos show that employees of America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, aided alleged human traffickers wishing to exploit young girls. Yet, they continue to receive significant taxpayer funding. That should come to an end." (statement provided to SBA List, April 1, 2011)
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN): "…one thing that we can do, quite simply, is to withhold funding from Planned Parenthood." (CNS News, "Rep. Michele Bachmann: De-Fund Planned Parenthood," December 6, 2010)
Former Godfathers’ Pizza CEO and Radio Host Herman Cain: "I absolutely would defund Planned Parenthood…people who know the history of Margaret Sanger, who started Planned Parenthood, they know that the intention was not to help young women who get pregnant to plan their parenthood. No — it was a sham to be able to kill black babies." —www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/110118
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA): "…I want to say I strongly endorse his cutting out all funding for Planned Parenthood which has become a major source of abortion in America." (Speech at Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, March 7, 2011)
Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA): "Mitt Romney supports the Pence amendment." (NRO, "The Defunding of Planned Parenthood Litmus Test?" April 2, 2010)
Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA): "If you look at Planned Parenthood; if you look at the abortion industry…they fight every single regulation every single bit of information that should be given to the patient, they all fight it as an affront to the right of abortion." (Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson, February 24, 2011)
It’s good to see Presidential candidates weighing in on this issue as I’m sure President Obama and Senate Democrats will go to bat for taxpayer money going to this corrupt organization. I’m pretty confident of each candidate on this issue as it is also a fiscal issue. I do find it interesting that Ron Paul was left off the list though. I’m pretty sure where he stands though, I can’t possibly see him being in favor of funding Planned Parenthood. I’m going to contact his office and see if I can’t get a statement from him. I’ll update later.
Update: Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX): "As a father, Christian and Obstetrician, I find it shameful that our government uses the tax dollars of citizens to fund planned Planned Parent. This is why I am an original cosponsor the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act (HR 217). I have also introduced the Taxpayers’ Freedom of Conscience Act (HR 1099), legislation prohibiting any federal official from spending any federal funds for any population control or population planning program or any family planning activity."