http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/15/pence-abortion-planned-parenthood-emilys-list-susan-b-anthony-list/87130220/Donald Trump's selection of Mike Pence as his running mate on Friday brought out immediate reactions from supporters and opponents of abortion rights.
Pence is known as a staunch opponent of abortion and Planned Parenthood. He was one of the original lawmakers to sponsor legislation to defund the group, first introducing a measure in 2007 while a member of the House.
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund — which has endorsed Trump’s Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton — issued a scathing statement on the Pence selection:
“The reason anyone in America could pick Mike Pence out of a one man lineup is because of his long history of targeted political attacks against the care provided at Planned Parenthood health centers in Indiana and across the country."
“Other than that, he doesn’t have a single distinguishing characteristic,” she added.
Dawn Laguens, the group's executive vice president, said Trump’s decision to select Pence sends a “terrifying message to the women of America.”
A spokeswoman for Emily’s List, an organization which focuses on getting women who support abortion rights into elected office and supports Clinton, called the pair “a perfect storm of classic, out of touch, GOP extremism.”
“Pence has a rich history of marginalizing women as a politician, the same way Donald Trump has throughout his career and this campaign,” Marcy Stech, a spokeswoman for EMILY’s List, said in a statement. “Together, they are a perfect storm of classic, out of touch, GOP extremism.”
On the other side of the debate, Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group, praised the Pence pick.
Susan B Anthony List @SBAList
Congratulations #ProLife champion @GovPenceIN!!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/753965070003109888 …
10:00 AM - 15 Jul 2016
3 3 Retweets 8 8 likes
“Mr. Trump’s selection of Gov. Mike Pence is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he’s made and will rally the pro-life grassroots,” the group's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said in a statement.
She added:
“Gov. Pence has proven to be a pro-life champion both during his time in Congress and as Governor of Indiana. It was Mike Pence who led the effort to defund Planned Parenthood in Congress, and it was Gov. Pence who signed into law a historic bill protecting unborn children from lethal discrimination in the womb. Mike Pence is a pro-life trailblazer and Mr. Trump could not have made a better choice.”
The praise of Pence from the anti-abortion group is noteworthy because it has had issues with Trump.
SBA List was one of a group of anti-abortion organizations that issued a letter in January urging Republicans in Iowa to “support anyone but Donald Trump” because of a track record of backing candidates who supported abortion rights.
