Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue (CC-By-2.0)
Several Republican presidential candidates weighed in on a video that was released showing the senior medical advisor for Planned Parenthood Federation of America describing how some Planned Parenthood employees are actively engaging in illegal partial birth abortion procedures and attempting to conduct these abortions so that they leave body parts intact so that they can later be sold on the open market.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced he is ordering the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to launch an investigation into Planned Parenthood. “(Tuesday’s) video of a Planned Parenthood official discussing the systematic harvesting and trafficking of human body parts is shocking and gruesome. This same organization is seeking to open an abortion clinic in New Orleans. I have instructed Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals to conduct an immediate investigation into this alleged evil and illegal activity and to not issue any licenses until this investigation is complete. I am also asking the FBI to assist DHH in investigating this alleged criminal activity by this organization,” Jindal said in a released statement.
“The video showing a Planned Parenthood employee selling the body parts of aborted children is a disturbing reminder of the organization’s penchant for profiting off the tragedy of a destroyed human life. It is because of stories like this that I signed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood in the state of Texas – to protect human life and the health and safety of Texans,” former Texas Governor Rick Perry said in a released statement.
“I am proudly pro-life. I believe that every human life has potential and that every human life is precious. This latest news is tragic and outrageous. This isn’t about ‘choice.’ It’s about profiting on the death of the unborn while telling women it’s about empowerment,” former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina wrote on her Facebook wall.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said in a released statement, “Congress should immediately begin an investigation of Planned Parenthood’s activities regarding the sale and transfer of aborted body parts, including who is obtaining them and what they are being used for. And it should renew efforts to fully defund Planned Parenthood to ensure that its morally bankrupt business receives not one penny of taxpayer money.”
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) said on Twitter:
Always have been & always will be in favor of defunding @PPact & their destruction & now exploitation of human life. https://t.co/sL8LWW3w0b
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) July 14, 2015
“Planned Parenthood and the Democrats who vote to fund this organization owe the American people an explanation for these heinous, and possibly illegal, actions. Practices like this cannot be tolerated, which is why as governor, I defunded Planned Parenthood,” Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker told BuzzFeed.
Former Florida Jeb Bush tweeted:
This is a shocking and horrific reminder that we must do so much more to foster a culture of life in America: http://t.co/2BeGBHlYfs
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) July 15, 2015
“I, like many of you, was sickened when I saw the video of Dr. Deborah Nucatola of Planned Parenthood secretly video taped discussing selling aborted baby parts. I was more than sickened, I was enraged,” former neurosurgeon Ben Carson said on a petition page his campaign launched calling on Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.
Calling it “grotesque and utterly disturbing,” former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee told WND, “The apparent selling of aborted body parts by Planned Parenthood is just the latest disturbing news out of the abortion industry.”
U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) had a series of three tweets:
I believe that if Republicans stand strong for life, we can finally put Democrats on the defensive for their pro-abortion record. (1/3)
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 15, 2015
They're the ones with a record of supporting partial-birth abortion by keeping taxpayer dollars flowing to Planned Parenthood. (2/3)
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 15, 2015
Congress must feel the pressure. Will you sign your "Defund Planned Parenthood" petition now? https://t.co/HLIpBk3Y9s
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 15, 2015
Email us at story@caffeinatedthoughts.com if you see any additional candidate reaction.
Note: The above photo was used because of the Creative Commons license not meant to imply the St. Paul clinic is directly involved in the sale of baby body parts.