Likely GOP Presidential Candidates Want Planned Parenthood De-Funded

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 4, 2011   |   11:29AM   |   Washington, DC

This week, the Susan B. Anthony List contacted Republican presidential hopefuls to ask them where they stand on defunding Planned Parenthood.

Several potential candidates, including Gov. Haley Barbour, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Gov. Sarah Palin, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty provided statements directly to the SBA List that were lengthy and clearly advocated revoking the tens of millions of dollars the abortion business receives annually from the federal government.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, former Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Rick Santorum had already publicly spoken out or provided statements to media outlets in support of defunding America’s largest abortion business, which receives about one-third of its annual income from federal, state and local taxpayer grants.

The comments from each of the potential Republican presidential candidates appear below:

Gov. Haley Barbour: “I support a halt to any federal funds going to America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.”
 
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee: “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.” 
 
Former Gov. Sarah Palin: “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.”
 
Gov. Tim Pawlenty:  “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.” 
 
Rep. 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
 
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.”

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich: “…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 Gov. Mitt Romney: “Mitt Romney supports the Pence amendment.” –NRO, “The Defunding of Planned Parenthood Litmus Test?” April 2, 2010
 
Former Sen. Rick Santorum: “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.”